" I am not suggesting a vild goose chase Ms Josephine, just that I should probably make a report to zee police... " he follows her over to the front desk, looking a little apprehensive about the crowd of reporters.
n
Arnault looks at the note on the desk and then at the others jerking his head at the note. He makes a show of yawning and stretching and lets a hand fall on the note, sliding it off the desk, he tries to pocket it.
Meeley touches Sleazy Jack's cheek, and talk to his ear.
"I can if you can... let's meet in the corner, in 5 minutes, would you dear?"
A thin wiry well dressed man with a large pocket watch on a chain walks in, his manner well kept and his walk brisk he ignores the reporters as if they were indeed the insects beneath his feet and enters the lobby approaching the large crowd at the desk.
pardon, I am looking for those in charge of the expidition as I must speak to them immediately on the matter of a portion of their funding, could you inform me who that is and where they may be?
September 9th, 1933
Phoebe - SS Gabriele
Christopher groans, "I think it's September 8. The last thing I remember is walking on the docks investigating the ship which is supposed to be used by Acacia Lexington. Then I think somebody approached me... then I don't remember... what happened to me?"
Do you remember what that person looked like? Waiting for some sort of answer before answering his questions.
It is the 9th. You took a blow to the back of your head and feel overboard last night. I pulled you out. If there is anything you can remember that would help us figure out what happened.
September 9th, 1933
Reginald Farley - Miskatonic University
Dr. Abbot smiles, "I would yes thank you Reginald". After you pour him a cup he sighs and begins speaking, "Tell me, have you heard of the University's trip a few years back to the Antarctic?"
Reginald shakes his head from side to side. Unfortunately, No sir, I don't.
The conversation was going off into a direction that Reginald could not divine. At the risk of sounding ignorant, Is it something I should know about?
I have nothing for you dogs. My business is none of your concern. Now remove yourselves from my path. I have work to do.
Wading through the crowd, Dr. Roman quickly pushes through to the hotel lobby, trying to find someone else from the expedition, avoiding anyone that even looks like a reporter.
September 9th, 1933
Meeley, Arnault & Stanley - Amherst Hotel
Jack grins at Meeley but then spots Arnault grab the note, 'Hey are you supposed to have taken that?" he asks in a loud voice. The clerk merely ignores his statement.
He then whispers to Meeley, "Trying to distract me Meeley? I'll be sticking to you like glue doll!"
Before any of you can react a thin wiry well dressed man approaches you all at the desk.
"Pardon, I am looking for those in charge of the expedition as I must speak to them immediately on the matter of a portion of their funding, could you inform me who that is and where they may be?" he asks.
September 9th, 1933
Phoebe - SS Gabriele
Christopher shakes his head, "Wait I remember footsteps and then before I could turn around a figure struck me, after that I don't remember anything until... well this".
He sighs, "I feel like a fool, I should have known that this was no mere expedition for pleasure and is a high stakes game. No I do know better..." He winces at feels his head laying back down in bed.
Meeley laughs at Sleazy Jack.
"I would be hopelessly in love with you. If you weren't such an idiot. Ok, stay with me."
She looks at the others.
"Take care of business, I will be here in the lobby if you need me."
Then she turns to Sleazy Jack.
"Ok, let's go, lover-boy."
She moves towards the exit of the hotel
September 9th, 1933
Reginald Farley - Miskatonic University
Dr. Abbot replies, "Indeed. In 1930-31 Miskatonic University funded an Antarctic Expedition which ventured forth into the icy wastes of the southern continent in search of new discoveries. Instead the intrepid adventurers found horror, tragedy, and very few discoveries. It is not clear what happened and the survivors of the trip had not had much to say about it. My friend, Professor Moore has taken Sabbatical to make another go at it. This rip is financed by an adventurer, for lack of a better term, names James Starkweather who is financing the trip.
I did not think much of it until I saw this..."
He hands you the Boston Globe and turns to page 6:
Watery Death for Commander Douglas
New York (AP)—J. B. Douglas, fifty years old, was discovered last night in the water off Battery Wharf. Two fishermen brought the unconscious mariner ashore after an assault by person or persons unknown. Commander Douglas died on the way to the hospital.
A respected officer of the Merchant Marine for many years, Douglas will be remembered as the captain of the SS Arkham, one of the vessels
which carried the Miskatonic University Expedition to the Antarctic in 1930. Douglas was reportedly in New York City to speak with the leaders of the Starkweather-Moore Expedition, which will leave in a few
days.
The expedition expects to retrace the route of Douglas’ ship three years ago. Thomas Gregor and Phil Jones, sailors resident in New York City, were returning to their fishing boat Bristol when they heard muffled cries and ran to see what was happening. They spotted a man running away and some agitation in the water.
While Jones ran after the fleeing man,Gregor dove into the cold waters of the harbor and found a motionless figure there. He heroically pulled the unconscious man out of the water and onto the dock. He attempted to
revive the drowned man. Meanwhile Jones, who had lost his quarry, went for help. Police later announced that Commander Douglas had been bludgeoned about the head, and began a search for his murderers.
Anyone with information about this terrible crime, or about Mr. Douglas’ whereabouts on the night of the murder, should contact Detective Hansen at the Battery Precinct Station.
See Page 32 for the Commander's Obituary.
He continues, "Douglas was the Captain on the last fateful trip as well.
I believe that the University needs someone on this trip representing our interests and quite frankly looking out for Professor Moore's well being. Someone with a strong scholarly background but who can also handle themselves in case something, untowards should take place. I think you could be the right man for this job. Can I count on you?"
Stanley nods gratefully at Meeley's offer to run interference.
"Probably best to get out of sight before reading that, just in case," he suggests, probably redundantly, to Arnault, while eagerly retreating from the lobby with all its reporters everywhere.
Arnault nods at Stanely, and looks at 'Sleazy Jack' to see if he'll follow Meeley. If not Arnault speaks in a hushed tone
" Listen, vee do not know much more zan you at zis point. Stay vith Ms Stanton and ven vee know more and are ready to make a statement I vill put in a vord vith zee people in charge and get you somezink exclusife. "
Then he leans over to the wiry, well dressed gentleman (Alonzo)
" If you really hafe business vith zose in charge of zee expedition zen follow us. " Arnault strides across the foyer to the stairs heading to his room to read the note. He keeps a hand in his pocket over the note as he walks.
Alphonso will raise an eyebrow and then follow him up to the room
2. From Miskatonic, Moore went to Yale for his graduate work, specializing in stratigraphy, the study of the layers and age of rock formations. Although his studies at Yale were more rigorous than those at Miskatonic, Moore did a great deal of work outside of his academics. He won several trophies in intercollegiate fencing competitions, and participated in an amateur astronomical organization. There is a brief gap in his Academic history following this period.
3. His doctoral thesis, “The Theoretical Compositional Dynamics of Asteroids, Drawn from an Analysis of the Composition and Organization of Elements in Meteorites,” was well received by those competent enough to understand it. In 1922, Moore earned his doctorate at Yale and was quickly hired by his old mentor, Doctor William Dyer of Miskatonic.
4. Moore became interested in the relatively recent technique of radioactive dating, originally proposed by Bertram Boltwood in 1905. Realizing that this concept could be applied to topics of special interest to him, Moore organized a small expedition into the Arctic, where he and his team spent the summer of 1923 drilling ice cores. Dating the deposited volcanic dust led to some very interesting results and some interesting climatological speculations, based on the depth at which various samples were found. Although the expedition was a success, some felt that Moore could have achieved greater things if he had not withdrawn the expedition at the first sign of bad weather—in fact the autumnal storms did not arrive for another three weeks.
5. In the summer of 1925, Moore was involved with a Miskatonic University expedition to survey the Himalayan plateau. Scientifically, the expedition was a great success, though it was marred by the unfortunate deaths of a number of local bearers, a local guide, and several yaks. Moore himself spent much of the summer collecting paleontological samples and specimens of the surrounding rock for subsequent dating. This expedition also marked the beginning of the strange friendship between Moore and the English explorer, James Starkweather.
6. The summers of 1927 and 1928 saw expeditions to South Africa and Minnesota, respectively; the surface rocks of both areas are particularly old, and Moore hoped to find and date rocks of sufficient age to validate certain predictions made in his own post-graduate work. In 1929 he organized a trip to Costa Rica, prevailing on his old friend James Starkweather to help. The Costa Rican expedition, designed to compare current species with the limited fossil record of the area, was yet another feather in Moore’s cap.
7. Moore shared in the preparations for the 1930 Miskatonic University expedition to Antarctica. His arctic experience proved to be useful in the planning, but a bout of pneumonia kept him from accompanying Professor Dyer south into the icy wastes.
Most recently, he has obviously agreed to lead this latest expedition to the Antarctic.
1. In the summer of 1925, he agreed to lead a group of Miskatonic University geologists in a daring survey of the western
Himalayan plateau, despite a general unfamiliarity with mountaineering and an ostensibly closed border. Notwithstanding
losing three weeks’ worth of supplies, a local guide, a number of local bearers, and several yaks to an avalanche, the survey managed to carry out enough data to claim success. This expedition marked the first meeting of Starkweather and Moore.
2. The Himalayan expedition also marked the first of Starkweather’s books. Titled Survival at the World’s Roof, published
in 1926, Starkweather aggrandizes himself and his role in the amount of data collected.
3. James Starkweather had the misfortune to choose the ill-fated Italia expedition, an attempt in 1928 to fly over the North Pole. Despite the confused and indifferent organizing of the expedition, the airship Italia achieved the North Pole, but crashed on the return journey. Although rescue attempts were made by various countries, they were also poorly organized
and were failures. In the end nearly a third of the crew died. Some spent more than two months stranded on the polar ice cap. Starkweather managed to get himself rescued early, and reportedly swore off expeditions involving ice. He returned, quite contentedly, to his safari tours.
4. In 1929 Starkweather retired from the Safari business and began to write his memoirs.
5. As a favor to his friend Doctor Moore, Starkweather accompanied a minor Miskatonic University expedition to Costa Rica
in 1930. Starkweather’s job was to capture small animals alive for study.
Most recently, he has obviously agreed to lead this latest expedition to the Antarctic.
Jack follows you out paying no mind to Arnault leaning towards him to say something. When you get outside he says, "Listen doll I know you have an angle, but I've got more experience than you do. Let's team up on this what do you say?"
Gretchen follows the rest of you to the elevator, "Are you zure vee should leave her alone vith him?"
Arnault clutches onto the note as you all await the elevator's arrival.
You see the reporter and the woman step out of the Hotel while three men and a woman head towards the elevator.
September 9th, 1933
Phoebe - SS Gabriele
Christopher shakes his head, "Wait I remember footsteps and then before I could turn around a figure struck me, after that I don't remember anything until... well this".
He sighs, "I feel like a fool, I should have known that this was no mere expedition for pleasure and is a high stakes game. No I do know better..." He winces at feels his head laying back down in bed.
Closing her eyes and pinching the bridge of her nose, So you did not see their face? A voice? Did it seem like anyone had been following you?
Waiting for an answer and then speaking softly, Try not to touch you head it is going to hurt for awhile. I will be back shortly I am going to let them know you are awake, alright? Is there anything you would like me get for you? Or anyone you want me to contact?
Reginald takes the paper and leans back a little while reading. His left hand grabs a bronze colored tin with black floral stencils on its side from his briefcase. He absentmindedly places in the middle of the desk and flips open the top with his thumb. Inside, The numerous golden color ginger and cinnamon biscuits reside. Reginald silently offers them to his guest, as he takes a one for himself.
He raises the biscuit to his mouth, but stops and says And you see a connection between this foul deed and the expeditions? Pardon me for saying, but the unfortunate Commander Douglas could have just as easily been the victim of a mugging gone wrong.
Reginald folds the paper and sets it on the edge of his desk. On the chance your suspicions are correct, It would mean the secrets buried with the first expedition, are secrets worth killing for. Under that premise, the killer or killers know the secret.
Might I suggest that the remaining survivors of the first expedition would be prime suspects.
Reginald shakes his head. Please forgive my imagination. I respect Doctor Moore immensely. It would be an honor to serve as his protector, and the protector of this university.
Jack follows you out paying no mind to Arnault leaning towards him to say something. When you get outside he says, "Listen doll I know you have an angle, but I've got more experience than you do. Let's team up on this what do you say?"
Meeley looks at Sleazy Jack.
"I'll give you an angle for free. The rest you will have to earn. I have the inside scoop, as I will be joining the expedition. And I could use some good investigative reporter home to help me, in case more of this 'humbug' accidents and dead keep popping up. So, yes, I could use your help, and you could use mine. But give me heartache once more, and I'll find my help elsewhere. Do we have an understanding?"If he accepts, she tasks him with his first mission.
"I need to check what the leaders of the expedition know. You go check your contacts what you can find about the dead captain. We compare notes, you take the exclusive, I get the information I need. We meet at six in the hotel bar. Ok?"
Gretchen follows the rest of you to the elevator, "Are you zure vee should leave her alone vith him?"
Arnault clutches onto the note as you all await the elevator's arrival.
"She strikes me as the sort of woman who can handle herself," Stanley observes. "I don't understand how people can exist comfortably within a crowd. All that noise and pushing always puts me on edge." He takes a deep breath or two to recover and enjoy the comparative quiet of the spot in front of the elevator. "So what does it say?" he asks Arnault.
Alphonso quietly follows them into the roomand waits listening until someome asks him to speak.
Christopher nods at you but does not respond as he lays back down. He is either ignoring you or simply does not know who did this.
As you step out of the infirmary stretching your back from along uncomfortable night of sleep you notice that the ship is eerily devoid of people. Dr Green, Starkweather, and Moore are nowhere to be found.
Dr. Abbot nods, "My thoughts echo your own.
Good, I am glad you will undertake this favor for me. Pack, you must depart at once. In the meantime, I will pull together my files on what I know of the survivors for you to examine on your train ride to New York City. Speak with Dr. Moore directly about your presence on this Expedition.
If I am not mistaken you were a military man yes? Do you still own a gun?"
"Doll, you got a deal!" He moves in to peck you on the cheek, you manage to duck away and he grins at you as he races out of the alley as knows 6 hours is not a lot of time...
Arnault waits until you all arrive safely within the confines of your room before reading the note aloud.
Mr. Starkweather and Moore are in a penthouse suite which they rented but never told anyone about at the top of the building. They asked that only a few of their most trusted advisors be told this information. They will hold a press conference tomorrow but ask that you all spend the rest of the day looking into this murder with Seamus the policeman also hired on to the Expedition.
Gretchen sighs, "Meeley and I vere zupposed to get her aeroplane today. It zeems that may not happen at all if vee must leave in two days".
She turns to Alphonso, "And who are you? I have never zeen you before".
He goes back into the hotel and tries to rejoin with the others, asking the welcome desk where they went to.
As I said below, my name is Mr Alphonso Wolf. I represent Goldman and Sachs who placed a sizable investment into this expidition, and I wish to speak to the leaders of this endeavor to either collect said investment or protect it and personally ensure its success Alphonso says in quiet and controlled tone his accent lightly showing as he speaks.
Arnault looks at Alphonso as he drops the note down onto a coffee table in the room.
" Vell, it sounds like zee leaders are busy for today... Maybe your business vill hafe to vait until after zee press conference tomorrow. Zough (though) if you vant to protect zis investment maybe you could help us look into zis murder with zee police today, hmm? "
Alphonso raises and eyebrow realizing that this is a terrible situation for him and this group to be mired in and sees quickly enough that gaining the good will of the explorers might well go a long way towards accomplishing his immediate and long term goals.
I will help you Sir although I do not know any of your names or skills, I am an accountant from Goldman Sachs He smiles wanly and pulls out his large pocket watch looking at it and sliding it back into his pocket
"That's the first problem we've run across the last few days that's easily fixed," Stanley says with a wry chuckle. "I'm Stanley Chastain, aircraft engineer. Sleuthing is rather outside my expertise as well." He offers a hand to shake the newcomer's.
"So, to the police station, I suppose?" he asks once his introduction are completed.
Arnault nods. " I am Professor Arnault Schulz, My skills mostly lie in Archeaology and history. I agree vith Stanley, vee should head to zee police station and see vhat vee can do to help. "
Dr. Abbot nods, "My thoughts echo your own.
Good, I am glad you will undertake this favor for me. Pack, you must depart at once. In the meantime, I will pull together my files on what I know of the survivors for you to examine on your train ride to New York City. Speak with Dr. Moore directly about your presence on this Expedition.
If I am not mistaken you were a military man yes? Do you still own a gun?"
Reginald Snaps to attention. His Majesty's Royal Expeditionary Force ASC at your service. He smiles and walks around the desk. I may have brought back a souvenir or two from the war.
In fact, he had bought a Kongsberg Colt from a doughboy, who took it off a dead German Officer. It was a beautiful semi-automatic, 45 caliber, 7 Shot pistol. Reginald is quite fond of it.
Don't worry sir, He'll be as safe as in his mum's arms. Reginald shakes Dr Abbot's hand to seal their agreement.
[dice=Listen 35]1d100+10
You see no one on the ship, do yo want to head above to the deck or return for Christopher?
You are directed upstairs to Arnault's room. As you open teh door you hear Arnault say.. "I agree vith Stanley, vee should head to zee police station and see vhat vee can do to help. "
Reginald Farley - Miskatonic University
Soon enough you catch a train to New York which should bring you into town by the evening.
Seated across from you is a man reading the Boston Globe, "Dreadful, just dreadful! I hope my own trip does not end so poorly in the 'big apple'". The man is American about 25 years old. He looks to you, "Have you seen this a Captain of a ship murdered?"
Grumbling to herself, Why the hell is no one on this damn ship. Something happened most likely and I am out of the loop. I am just one left with the boy someone tried to kill. Why bother telling me anything. And I am talking to myself again. I need to stop doing this. The people who are not here might think I am crazy. Prowling around for a little while and then heading back to check on Christopher.
If he seems fine she will head up on deck by the fastest route possible but not if she has to leave him for more than 15 or 20 minuets.
"The police? Help? What is going on here?"
Stanley looks to make sure she's lost her "friend" before answering.
"Moore and Starkweather left a note at the desk asking us to help with the investigation into the Late Commander Douglas's murder," he explains, catching her up. "It's a task you may be far more suited for than a random assortment of engineers, accountants and professors, but I'll help however I can."
Reginald went home to his one bedroom apartment right after his meeting with Abbot. He pulls out his steamer trunk that he bought for his sail to America. It had a false bottom, which he opens. He places a Cup, a Wand, a Dagger and a Pentacle, along with his ceremonial robes. Beside them he places his practicing grimoire. He carefully reseals the false bottom.
He pulls an old dufflebag from under his bed. He sets aside his uniform and grabs a gas mask that he used only once in training. Reggie shrugs and places it in the trunk. You never know
He also takes Notebook, Pencil, Oxo cubes, lighter, Canteen, Leather belt with leather pouches for kit, Gun and leather hip holster, Long johns, Trench club, Entrenching tool, Leather pouch for entrenching tool, Mess kit (containing knife, fork spoon, shaving brush, soap, Razor), Gun oil, Ammunition belt, containing clips of bullets, Bayonet and Soldier knife model 1908 He finishes with clothing and archaeology reference books
--------------------------------------------------------------
Reginald Farley - Miskatonic University
Soon enough you catch a train to New York which should bring you into town by the evening.
Seated across from you is a man reading the Boston Globe, "Dreadful, just dreadful! I hope my own trip does not end so poorly in the 'big apple'". The man is American about 25 years old. He looks to you, "Have you seen this a Captain of a ship murdered?"
Reginald's sits with his legs crossed in a figure four while his open briefcase rests on his lap. He lifts his head from the file he'd been reading. Hello? Yes? His eyebrows raised. He looks at the man's paper then at him. Oh yes, Poor sod.
Reggie tries to reassure the young man. I'm sure you can handle yourself. You look like a strapping young lad.
Arnault tucks the note back into his coat pocket and ushers everyone out of his room, making sure to lock the door. " To zee station eferyvone! " he says leading the way downstairs to hail a cab.
Alphonso will follow to the police station to see what may be learned
"Let's go then."
Alphonso, Meeley, Arnault & Stanley - Amherst Hotel
As you step out of the room a man is standing there about to knock on ii, "Ah. Well that was easy enough. Good morning folks, my name is Detective J.J. Hansen of the homicide squad. If I am not mistaken at lest some of you are part of the Expedition which the Captain was supposed to lead right?"
That was... surprisingly easy, Stanley thinks to himself. Perhaps too easy.
"You are not mistaken, but given the strange occurrences surrounding the expedition as of late, would you kindly show us some identification? We were just on our way to the police station, and the coincidence is rather startling."
Phoebe - SS Gabriele
You head back down to ensure Christopher is alright. Besides his head still in pain he seems well enough to leave alone. You head topside and find one of the Expedition crew members screaming over the side of the Ship. A loud din can be heard from below.
"I told you, Moore and Starkweather will release s statement tomorrow. At this time they have no comment regarding the murder of Commander Douglas except to say that this is a sad day and they send condolences to his family!"
Hansen shows you his badge, "Is that so, strange occurrences eh? Is this one of your rooms? Perhaps we can sit down and you can answer a few questions here where it is relatively quite. That be alright?"
ow that you have a better look at him, he appears to be in his mid thirties, caucasian, a little round in the middle. His clothes are a bit rumpled and upon his head sits a fine fedora.
He grins at you affably, "I am Thomas Pickert, heading down on one of the Expeditions, one of the more low key expeditions I hope!"