The Armitage Papers

Game Master greg white 722

Lawrence takes another long draft of beer from his mug before placing it back on the table, perhaps a bit harder than he intended. He glances toward the barkeep, hoping he hadn't noticed. "I'd almost insist on it, as a matter of fact," he adds, looks at Nils intently. His speech is only a bit slurred at this point, but his native New York accent slowly grows more prominent the more he drinks. He waves a hand for effect. "Most things would be better than Dunwich, including joining us in our little conspiracy."

"I will take your advice for now then, it has been some years since I have taken part in anything outside my classroom that was not more than 5 centuries old. Besides, the stones will still be there later and I am already tenured." Nils finishes his mug and extends his hand to each person at the table awkwardly introducing himself the same way as with Ronnie, clearly not used to this level of socialization. He then adds, "So, what is the plan?"

Edward folds his hands on the table. "The tentative plan is for us to visit the Sanatorium outside town* as potential benefactors. We had mused over the idea of one of us being a patient, but that was deemed too problematical. What if our ersatz madman got admitted?! Thus, it seemed best to have Mr. Blakesmith play the role of wealthy donor, while the rest of us accompany him as aides and the like. We had suggested Monday morning as an appropriate time to visit."

*Cirle: As world-building geographer, do you want me to create the sanatorium, or do you already have that mapped out?

"This seems like the best plan to start deciphering Dr. Armitage's 'visions', but I hold no loyalty to this approach. If you gentlemen prefer the standing stones, I will go along to rumor-haunted Dunwich, as long as I can carry a knife and gun."

Edward blows his nose long and hard into a rather elderly handkerchief.

If you have a map, or can get one in order in a few days times, we can certainly put it to use: just remember that the location is rural, and somewhat isolated.

Ollie the book-maker sidles over to where you are sitting.

Ollie the book-maker : Grinning at Ronnie.

"Tell me friend, do you follow the boxing game? Would you like to place a wager on Saturday's fight? "

Ollie : "It'll be the fight of the year, 'The Mad Russian Kolski' and 'Jolting Joe' Frankel!"

Nils to primarily Dr. Mayfield, but also the rest of the group, "As I am a newcomer to this association, please don't let my presence derail your plans. I will accompany you to investigate this 'Dr. Armatige' character. I have some experience with the occult and madness, although none firsthand."

Jimmy, muted from the drinks he's had, stumbles towards his group and gestures at Ollie, suggesting that Ronnie wager a bet.

Like a dog begging for a treat Ollie waits by the bar, clutching his little note-book.

A large man in a shabby gray suit enters the bar, and walks up to the bar and helps himself to some pickled eggs in a jar there.

Man in gray suit : "How's things Ollie?"

Ollie : "Just swell Mr. Fantone. Lot of people interested in the fight. "

Mr. Fantone : "How are the numbers running?"

Ollie : "Frankel is favored, not quite at 2 to 1."

'Mr. Fantone' mulls on this.

Mr. Fantone : "I've seen the Russian fight in Boston, he hits like an armored truck. Put me down for a dollar on the Russian."

Lawrence nods solemnly. "I'm certain we've all had encounters with... strange phenomena," he says, his voice tensing ever so slightly at those last words. "Regardless, the sanatorium was mentioned in Dr. Armitage's papers directly. I believe it's as good a lead as any." He waves a hand dismissively. "Dunwich will remain where it is. Probably."

He looks up from his mug at the rest of the men assembled, smiling. "Now, what say you gentlemen? Shall we each devise some clever name and role for ourselves? Mr. Blakesmith would certainly have many aides and attendants, I'm sure. Perhaps once he places a bet on the fight he might have ideas for us."

Edward slowly scans at the speakeasy and gestures at the place. "Why don't we call ourselves the 7th Avenue Foundation as an homage to our secret hideaway here? The sanatorium is a ways from here. I doubt they'll have heard of a two-bit bar."

I'd better pass on generating the sanatorium. I've had some pressing matters crop up, so I may not have time. But I do enjoy helping with world-building in general.

Ronny shakes his head at the Bookie, "I prefer to take my chances with women and wine, if I were to bet on a fight, it would be one where I was the contestant. Thank you but no thank you".

He walks unsteadily away from the Bookie towards his friends once more, "Sanatorium from where I am standing is the best bet to get this started, it's what our first gut reaction was, let's stick with our guts.

Who shall I be committing, my brother perhaps?".

The bar-keep produces a a small cloth satchel from under the bar-counter, and hands it to 'Mr. Fantone', who nods and walks out of the bar.

Ollie, seeing that no one else is apparently going to make wagers on the much-touted fight, retires to his dim corner of the bar.

Nils nods, "I have no objections, this seems like an apt place to take a name from. I have a respectable background in mathematics and physics for personal interest reasons, so masquerading as an accountant is no far stretch. How far is this sanatorium and do we have a means of transportation fitting our personas?"

Can Edward use his connections as member of the Miskatonic faculty to borrow a white coat and stethoscope from the medical school in order to masquerade as a doctor?

Also, are we going to hear the boxing match on the radio?

Might be over-doing it showing up in a lab frock with a stethoscope. It might not hurt though to cram with a few medical textbooks over the week-end, to make sure you're good with the jargon.

And yes, while you're hitting the books you'll be able to tune into the fight.

"Excellent. I will provide the transportation. Let's all get a good night's rest and sleep this drink off then. Shall we meet back here tomorrow night to firm up plans?

Then we can head to the sanatorium on Monday".

"Sounds like a plan," Lawrence responds. He stands shakily, gripping the table to ensure he doesn't lose his balance. "Tomorrow night then. It'll give me some time to look into a few other things."

So on somewhat shaky legs you each make your way home, and in the case of Nils, is that a flop-house in town, or perhaps a sleeping bad and tent in the nearby woods-- I cannot imagine that you're travelling on much of a bank-roll.

Ok. That finishes Thursday. Anything specific anyone wants to do Friday?

Edward is going to be hitting books on medicine in the Arkham college library. Every now and then he feels the irresistible tug of ancient, worm-eaten manuscripts stored and locked away in the library's vaults. He tries his best to resist these urges, but there is this one book that he...

Nils will retire to his cheap motel just on the outskirts of town (it is a university-funded project he is on...or the original project was anyways) and in the morning go to the library with the fellow academic Dr. Mayfield to start learning more about accounting in medicine.

Lawrence is also going to be heading to the university library. He's interested in the occult text mention in Dr. Armitage's notes and plans to spend a bit of time pouring through the archives, seeing if there's any mention of the book in question.

Ronny is going to ensure that he can actually get the transportation that he promised his fellow investigators. He will also pick out an appropriate outfit for the trip.

Then he will see what he can dig up about the Sanatorium itself from local newspaper clippings.

No Library Use skill Dr. Mayfield? A surprising omission for an academic.

Dr. Mayfield taking a crash course in medical terminology. This will be a Library Use roll, using the default percentage (20%). But, as its a difficult subject that's far from your area of expertise there'll be a penalty die (you will roll the 'tens' die twice, and take the worse roll).

Dr. Nils studying Medical Accounting. Also a Library Use roll, using your skill rating of 70%, again with a penalty die, as for the reason above.

Lawrence Pritchard. Looking for references for 'The Tears of Azazoth'.
You realize that this will be a difficult search. Dr. Armitage is well known for his erudition in such matters, and he is not certain that there is such a book. You will also be using Library Use, but as its a Extremely Difficult test you are limited to a 5th of your normal skill rating (10%).

'Ronny' Blakesmith. A normal test of Library Use (20%, Normal test) to review the newspaper cuttings for the Sanatorium. A normal test of your Credit Rating, with a bonus die (roll the tens die twice, and take the better die), to procure a jalopy for the ride out to the sanatorium.

Library Use: 2d10 ⇒ (6, 6) = 12
Penalty: 1d10 ⇒ 5

So if I am reading that correctly, that is a 66 or a 56, because it is at penalty it is a 66, which passes...Yes?

As either is under your skill rating, that's a success. You're by no means an expert in the field of medical finance, but you can drop a few words from the vocabulary into a conversation, and, if that conversation doesn't go on too long, you might sound like you know what you're actually talking about.

You did say 'Medical Accounting' correct? How hospitals are funded, how patients are billed, right?

So the actual game rules have the 'tens' dice rolled twice, going forward would it be easier just to make two 1d100 rolls? .

So to make sure, I'm just rolling a straight 1d100 here and hoping to get under 10, right?

Library Use: 1d100 ⇒ 82

Lol, always rolling high when I'm trying to go low.

Yes, medical accounting since I am posing as an accountant advising someone who is open to donating to a mental hospital. I did a test roll in the discussion page, that is what you were talking about, correct?

Dr. Edward Mayfield stumbles around the library, hungover, and, quite frankly, nervous, overwhelmed by narrow aisles between the bookcases. He tugs at his collar, his childhood claustrophobia rearing its ugly head again. It doesn't help that that evil, forbidden texts are squirreled away in the library's vaults. He can feel them.

This, he thinks, is exactly why I have my graduate students go to the library for me.

Library Use: 1d100 ⇒ 43.
Library Use: 1d100 ⇒ 33.

"What in the name of Pete is 'Cellulitis', he says to himself, a copy of GRAY's ANATOMY open before him.

Apologies if I did the dice wrong. Edward failed regardless. I'll read up on that section of the rule book this weekend.

Library Use 1d100 ⇒ 16
Credit Rating 1d100 ⇒ 26 Bonus Die 2d10 ⇒ (9, 4) = 13

Dr. Mayfield. You are thoroughly confused and are feeling the beginning of an abiding hatred of the Latin tongue.

Lawrence Pritchard. Not surprising you found no references to 'The Tears of Azazoth' among the library's collection.

Nils Svensson. You have a basic fluency in medical billing practices, nothing that would stand up to a deep examination; but you can fake it if you have to.

'Ronnie' Blakesmith. You found a serviceable coupe that you can use for the week. You found the following items about the Sanatorium and its Director Samuel Havingshill.

Havingshill is a champion for the more human and progressive treatment of the mentally ill, and specializes in the treatment of what he terms 'traumatic psychic disabilments', what in this day and age we would call Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders.

He made his reputation treating the many Great War victims of shell-shock.

His politics appear to somewhat progressive and radical, a little out-of-step with Yankee pragmatism, which some columnists criticize him for.

The sanatorium is was built upon the site of a one sprawling dairy operation; and some of the outlaying milking barns still stand: it is stated in one column that is hoped that the facility will soon convert, or demolish, these structures, as they're frequently used by vagabonds and 'itinerants of the meanest sort' as shelter.

The Gardiners, of Kingsport, and particularly, the patriarch Oliver Gardiner, were instrumental in helping raising funding for the facility.

That concludes 'Friday.'

Nils, if you want you can try to help Dr. Maysfield 'study' tomorrow:
we'll use the average of the Library Skill rating of you and Dr. Maysfield, or 45%.

Nils finds Dr. Maysfield and, seeing that he is struggling a bit, offers to help him with his research (He has a proficiency level of 55% in Latin, could that be used to negate the penalty dice?)

Well, as he has already spent a day in the library, I'll allow you to put aside the penalty dice (but still use the averaged skill roll).

As a scholar in heretical medieval texts, I would expect that even if he cannot read/speak it, Dr. Mayfield as a least a passing familiarity with the Latin, and can recognize a few common words or phrases.

So, 'Ronnie', Lawrence, how are you going to spend the rest of your week-end?

When Nils approaches Edward in the library, Edward is pressing his hands against his temples.

"The bones of the upper appendicular skeleton! Whatever are they talking about?

Around him on the library table and floor are wadded up pieces of notebook paper that he has discarded.

Library use: 1d100 ⇒ 91
well that did not work well
"Dr. Mayfield, I have no idea what you just said." Nils looks around confused at the piles of paper and, not knowing what else to do, starts putting the paper wads in the trash

Finally, after a long and futile day, the librarian ushers you out onto the evening campus grounds.

Come Monday morning it might be best if Dr. Mayfield simply looks thoughtful and remains quiet.

Having made no progress in his search for information regarding an incredibly obscure, and possibly non-existent, occult text, Lawrence decides to do something a bit more mundane the next day. He decides to look around for information regarding exactly what an attaché is and does, in order to appear more convincing during the investigation of the sanatorium.

Use Library: 1d100 ⇒ 92
Apparently he fell asleep or something.

Having secured the transportation and learned a few interesting things about the Sanatorium, which he writes down as he will never remember it all, Ronny spends the rest of Friday night carousing!

He will spend Saturday recovering and if he is able to catch that fight on the radio he will.

By Sunday it occurs to Ronny that he has no idea who the Gardiners, of Kingsport, and particularly, the patriarch Oliver Gardiner, is and are.

He heads back to the Library to see if he can find anything out about them.

Library Use 1d100 ⇒ 10

Lawrence Pritchard: A pottery shard, cuneiform tablets, the funerary ornaments in an ancient king's tomb: these speak volumes to you. The Dewey Decimal system, a mystery.

'Ronny' Blakesmith: Apparently you must have once dated a librarian! The Gardiners of Kingsport are an old and prosperous family, that made their money first in supplying Yankee whalers. They then moved on to the railroad business, and still own a controlling Share in the North-East Atlantic Railroad Co.

You've heard the name before, recently too, Oliver Gardiner is mentioned in Armitage's rambling papers:

Oliver Gardiner
seemed to see through me and to
become progressively more distant
as I talked.

A moment of drunken clarity, perhaps I should have studied drunk in real life as well!

Having given up on medical studies, Edwards whiles the remainder of his weekend absorbed in a novel titled THE THING IN THE TRENCHES by an author of weird fiction named Edward R. Carter, III.

He then sorts out his belongings, believing he should prepare his "Sunday go to meeting clothes" (as his Southern grandmother would've said) for the trip to the sanitarium. He also finds a clipboard, pen and paper so that he can make notes during Monday's meeting.

Being privileged with a telephone in his office, he calls the other members of the group to ask them if they are ready for their endeavor.

Nils wanders the streets of the town during the day, contemplating the role he is to play at the start of the week. At night he is at his motel, reading various books on Nordic culture and their technological advancements that he brought with him.

So you listen to the broadcast of the fight Saturday night, and Frankel looses, in a narrow and controversial decision to the Russian, which clearly doesn't sit well with the announcer, who clearly thinks that the judge from Boston was in 'someone's pocket'.

Next time you visit the speak-easy better take some extra money with you.

Sunday you rest, or perhaps enjoy a leisurely stroll around French Hill.

Monday morning Blakesmith arrives for you in a tan '28 Packard.

There's a link in discussion thread to a picture of the car in question.

"Morning Gentlemen! I've some interesting news to share. Get in, we can discuss on our leisurely ride to the Madhouse".

Edward is a rotund but short man, so he seats himself in the back so as to give others plenty of room.

While he is -- in his opinion -- well groomed, his clothes are wrinkled and bit disheveled, as if he decided to play a game of football on the quad before departure.

As usual, he is sweating, and uses his hat to fan himself.

"Outstanding, Mr. Blakesmith. Please do tell!.

"Good morning everyone, what is the news? Good I trust?" Nils is relatively thin, but starting to feel his age, so he sits in the car a bit slower

"Fortunately someone had better luck finding out something than I did," Lawrence says with a yawn. Slim and still quite young, he seats himself wherever it's most convenient to do so. He is well-dressed and well-groomed, though whether he looks the part of a professional assistant, he knows not.

Curse Melvil Dewey and his library classification system.

So the busy streets of Arkham soon give way to the rolling country-side, where Blakesmith yields to the temptation to let out the V8.