CALL OF CTHULU- THE MASKS OF NYARLHOTEP (Inactive)

Game Master Daniel Penfold 351

You arrive at the police station and fortunately manage to find Lt Poole. Handing over the ledger and the artefacts to him are enough to galvanise him into action. He organises a large body of men who over the next few hours raid the Juju House. N'Kwame is arrested and Poole comes back, face white as if he has seen some horrors.

He explains that N'Kwame has died in custody together with all his followers and they can't explain it. However, it is clear from the evidence collected that Hilton Adams is innocent so he is released. He does reveal that N'Kwame ordered the murder of Jackson although he wouldn't say why. Captain Robson has also been arrested on corruption charges and possible murder charges.

So a couple of housekeeping things to deal with at this point as we are pretty much at the end of the chapter.

Firstly you can all regain 14 sanity (up to your maximum but not over)

Next you call add 2 points to the following Skills:

Henry: Dodge, Handgun and Spot Hidden

Sylvia: Spot Hidden, Psychology and Persuade

Jake: Sword and Charm

Barney - I am happy for you to introduce your new character at this point.

Fourthly- is there anything else you want to do in New York before we move on.

Finally - Assuming there is no more to learn in New York - where do you want to go to next - you have a lot of clues to places all over the world.

That evening, Jake drinks until the memories fade into oblivion...

Jake is very interested in meeting with Erica Carlyle, Jackson's notes say she has some books in her safe.
In fact, the whole Carlyle Expedition excited his imagination. He wants to follow the same trail they took...
He intends to ask Miss Carlyle about it, as well as a newspaper journalist who covered the original story.

[i]The next day you head out to the Westchester estate of Erica Carlyle. It consists of an elegant three storey mansion with 5 acres of grounds. There are two armed gatekeepers who let you in although they are clearly watching you carefully.

Knocking on the door you are greeted by the butler who leads you into the study. You are greeted by Erica Carlyle a young woman in her mid 20s.

"Let me speak plainly. Roger made my life hell. I don't want anything to interfere with my business interests now I've got them out of the mess that Roger left them in, however I am willing to listen. How can I assist you and what information do you have for me?"

Jake leads off with his easy smile while greeting young miss Carlyle, offering her a cigarette and a light as well.
Charm (70%): 1d100 ⇒ 13
"Miss Carlyle, thank you for taking the time to meet with us." He said after introducing everyone.
After finding a place to sit down together, he proceeded to light one himself (and anyone else).
"As for why we have called upon you, well you may have heard of the writer Jackson Elias, and the foul murder he was subjected to in the newspapers?
"As it happens, we..." (Jake gestured to his companions) "...had been called in to assist in a project he was enthused about pursuing. He mentioned that it had to do with the Carlyle Expedition, but nothing else.
"And when we came to his door we found him murdered by an exotic cult ritual."

From a briefcase, Jake shuffled a number of papers. He finally found a copy of the one he wanted.
"In a letter to his editor, he mentioned this:
'There is a possibility that not all of the members of the Carlyle Expedition died. I have a lead.'
He showed Miss Carlyle the letter and pointed out the paragraph.
"Also in his scattered notes we found the phrase; The Books are in Carlyle's safe...'
Leaning back he looked at Miss Carlyle.
"We certainly don't mean to intrude on your family tragedy, but we were hoping you might be able to tell us more about it than a few lurid newspaper headlines can. For you see, in Jackson's honor, we intend to see his investigation through."

"I read about Jackson's death in the Tribune. I never met the man or read his books. Nevertheless I am sorry for your loss.

Shortly afterwards Roger left with Bunay, Huston, Aubrey Penhew an Englishman, Hypatia Masters and a bodyguard of sorts called Jack Brady.

"Thank you for the information Ms. Carlyle. I can assure you we have no intention of going to the press. We simply desire to fulfill Jackson's last wish by investigating the Carlyle expedition and figuring out what really happened. We will of course keep you appraised of whatever information we find."

Sylvia begins to jot down notes based on what Erica is telling them. Nichonka Bunay...Dr. Roger Huston... She looks up. "Ms. Carlyle, what can you tell us about Nichonka Bunay? Where exactly did Mr. Carlyle meet her?" She considers for a moment. "And did he ever mention a place called the Ju Ju House? Or Silas N'Kwame?"

Struck by a memory, Jake ruffled through and found another photograph of one of Jackson's papers; a business card.
======================
Penhew Foundation,
address in London,
Edward Gavigan, Director
======================
"Ah, a connection to Penhew, who was in on the expedition." Muttered Jake. "Perhaps Mr. Gavigan can tell us something."
He showed it to the others as well.

"I'm not entirely sure. I think he met Bunay at some party. I suspect now that Huston had something to do with their meeting. Roger never mentioned the Ju Ju House or N'kwame.

It was Roger, on Huston's advice that founded the expedition. Penhew helped fund the expedition. There was also someone that Roger hired to do some work for him in Egypt, a Frenchman called Besart."

Jake looked through the photostats.
"Ah! Here is a letter from a 'M. Warren Besart' to Mr. Carlyle. The header says it was from Cairo in Egypt."
Jake leaned back and expelled a stream of cigarette smoke.

"And Emerson Imports got a bunch of stuff from Mombasa, in Kenya, for the JuJu House here in New York. Kenya, where Jackson said in his notes that the authorities declared all the members of the Carlyle Expedition dead, but locals say maybe not?
"Quite a cycle. New York, London, Cairo, Mombassa, back to New York? But there are other notes from... Australia? And Hong Kong. Where do they fit in?" Jake mused to himself.
"Terribly sorry, talking to myself.
"Miss Carlyle, I don't think I ever heard the details. What exactly was the Carlyle Expedition intended to actually do?" He asked curiously.

"Roger believed there was a hidden tomb to a 'Dark Pharaoh' in Egypt. From New York they headed to London to pick up Penhew and then sailed to Cairo. After a few weeks Hypatia and Penhew announced that the expedition was going to East Africa for a rest, and that's where the bodies were found."

Jake thought some more.
"Well then; these other people on the expedition. Hypatia Masters and Jack Brady. Can you tell us something about who they were and why they went on this expedition?" Jake asked further.

"Hypatia is heiress to the Masters armament fortune. She attended schools in both Switzerland and France I believe but she was a hedonist like Roger. Its rumoured that she had an affair with a Catholic Marxist and got pregnant and then had an illegal abortion (at least according to that London muckraker rag editor Mickey Mahoney). I do know she dated Roger several times. I'm not sure why he's take her on an expedition to Africa, she had no real skills that I'm aware of, I suspect it was one of Roger's whims.

Brady was crook, he'd been arrested previously for brawling and petty theft. I believe he was in the marines at one point and served in China, before serving on the Western Front in the Great War. Roger managed to get him off a murder charge and Brady became Roger's bodyguard. I suspect he was taken along to provide 'muscle' as needed."

Jake lit another cigarette.
"Brady was a China marine? That might be the Hong Kong connection.
"What of this Dr. Huston? How does this medical doctor wind up going on an international expedition with a patient?"

"Huston is an alienist. He studied under Freud and Jung in Vienna. When he came to the US he became quite popular in dealing with problems of the mind. I saw him briefly after I was unsettled by reading that book in the library. Roger was among his patients, Huston suggested Roger went on the expedition to get him away from the mad lifestyle he was following in New York. Huston went with the expedition to continue Roger's treatment."

"The book in the library. Would it be possible for us to take a look at it? As Jake mentioned, one of Jackson's notes said 'The books are in Carlyle's safe.' If Mr. Carlyle was obsessed with reading them before his departure, it seems that there might be some important information in there."

Sylvia continues jotting down notes. They're learning a lot about the Carlyle expedition, but there's something missing. If Roger wasn't involved with the Ju Ju House or N'Kwame, then why did the cult kill Jackson to keep him from investigating further?

Although just because Erica had never heard of the Ju Ju House didn't mean that Roger wasn't involved. It was apparent the siblings hadn't exactly been close. There's no telling what Roger may have hidden from her. Perhaps the books would shed a new light on the subject.

Erica pauses for a moment, as if afraid and then with a resigned sigh says "Certainly, if you wish to."

Life as a God (written in English) - written by a Montgomery Crompton. It takes the form of a diary and refers to he Brotherhood of the Black Pharoah. It also refers to something called the Bent Pyramid in Egypt.

Sylvia quickly skims the books, (the ones in English anyway). She makes note of the titles and authors for later research. "I wonder if Ms. Atwright would know more about these titles. We should give her a call later, to let her know we found the missing book if nothing else."

From what little she can glean quickly, she definitely sees the link to the hidden tomb Erica had referenced earlier. The 'Bent Pyramid'...I may not know much about archaeology, but I'm pretty sure that one doesn't exist. Or at least hasn't been found, if it does.

So the Carlyle expedition had been looking for a hidden tomb in Egypt, then somehow ended up in Kenya? Sylvia's no more an expert on geography than she is archaeology, but she knows that there's a fair bit of distance between the two countries.

"Ms. Carlyle, you said the expedition supposedly went to East Africa to rest. Do you have any idea why they went so far away? If they needed a break they could have gone back to Cairo instead." Shuffling through her notes, she frowns. "You said this Bunay was East African. Do you think it was her idea?"

"I can only assume that it was Bunay's idea, Roger and the others had no real reason to go to Kenya. As you say it would have been easy enough for them to return to Cairo for a rest. If you are interested in the books I am happy to loan them to you, provided you return them within, oh let's say a year."

Unless anyone wants to ask Erica anything else I'd like to move things on here so that Barney can have a farewell to his character and introduce his new character.

You have now done chapter 1 - New York - where would you like to head to next?

Barney, over to you to do the farewell/introduction.

I can't think of anything else to ask here.
But before we leave New York I want to hire a newspaper clerk to find out what the various New York papers ran about the Carlyle Expedition.
I want to see if we missed anything.
After that, I vote to go to London to check out the Penhew Foundation.

That's fine you can hire a clerk, it will take him a few weeks to run through all the newspapers and periodicals as he will need to look through the old archives.

I would also like to talk to Miriam Atwright about the books before we leave. Otherwise I'm fine with heading to London.

@Sylvia - sure, what would you like to ask her?

While they're making preparations to head to London, Sylvia takes the time to make a day trip out to Harvard. Once in the library, she asks around until she finds Miriam Atwright.

"Hello Ms. Atwright, I'm Sylvia. I am, was, friends with Jackson Elias. You may or may not have heard, but he died a couple weeks ago." It's still hard to say. Hard to think about Jackson's body, torn and mutilated. They'd caught the killers, but the wounds were still fresh.

Sylvia resolutely ignores those thoughts. "In his personal effects we saw that he had been corresponding with you regarding a book that had gone missing from the library. We later found a book, presumably that one as it was marked with the Harvard University Library stamp, in a cultist's basement." (An understatement there, but Miriam probably didn't need or want to know all the details). "The book we found was called Africa's Dark Sects. It's currently in the care of the New York police department. Did Jackson happen to mention what in particular he needed from that book?"

She pulls out her notes from Erica Carlyle's library. "Also, anything you could tell me about these titles would be helpful. The Pnakotic Manuscripts, Among the Stones, Life as a God, and Selections de Livre D'Ivon. Particularly the latter; I can't read French." She offers a wan smile. "I know it's unreasonable to expect you to know anything off the top of your head, but perhaps you could point me in the direction of a colleague who researches similar subjects?"

The gang all receive word that their companion Barney has been admitted to a local hospital, and wishes to speak with them. When they arrive they find their companion in traction with bandages covering most of his body, and a morphine drip keeping him at least partially pain free. He looks up as the others enter, and for the first time they notice a sun weathered presence standing at the foot of the bed.

Barney's eyes move to the group as they take in the scene. His dry lips part and he begins to speak in a whispered pained voice. "Thank you for coming. As you can see I'll be out of action for a time... and honestly I'm not sure if I'm cut out for this type of work. Had too much to drink, and walked out in front of a train... guess I'm lucky to be alive".

He starts to strangle and the stranger approaches and lifts a paper cup with a straw to Barney's lips.

"Once I get on my feet again, I think I need to take some time to deal with my own inner demons before I can help others. This hear's Colt. He's an old friend... almost a brother... we grew up in the same orphanage and have kept in touch over time. He's got some particular skills that might help you guys out, and might be willing to help. I've filled him out on what's happened to date... you can trust him".

Barney twists in discomfort, and eyes the morphine drip as though wishing it was flowing more freely.

The stranger turns to the others and nods in greeting. "Name's Colt Malone. Maybe we better go down to the cafeteria, and I can give you my story".

The stranger moves very stealthily, and his intense gaze and calm demeanor give forth a quiet confidence. When he turns his grey blue eyes on the party, they see kindness, knowledge, and an intensity that promises there is more here than this weathered, frail frame.

The man has a brief coughing spell before turning his attention to matters at hand.

"I know you're all full of questions about my involvement here. As Barney mentioned we grew up to together in an orphanage in St. Louis. I was always a bit frail, but Barney always stood up for me thought he was younger. I aged out a couple of years before Barney, and tried to join the military... but was turned down. Seems I had suffered from Tuberculosis when I was younger, and wasn't healthy enough to die for the country".

The man stops for a moment to get his breath, then continues. "I won't bore you with all the details, but I ended up in New Mexico... the desert country to help with my medical condition. Had some interesting experiences with some of the local native tribes there, and became an teacher on one of the reservations. Met some interesting people and saw some explainable things... which is why Barney reached out to me. He knows I've studied...well... strange things, and thinks my open mind and experience might help. After he shared some of what you've encountered... I agree".

He hesitates, takes a drink, and resumes speaking, straightening up in the chair with pride. "I might not look like much physically, but my minds strong, and I'm offering to help if you want me. If not no hard feelings, and we'll part as acquaintances of mutual friends".

Brief interlude for Sylvia...

You head to Harvard and meet with Miriam Atwright, a middle aged professor who advises you that two months ago Jackson came to see her to track down a copy of a book called Africa's Dark Sects which mysteriously disappeared from her library several months before Jackson requested it. At the time it 'vanished' there was a strong smell of burnt hair.

She explains that she is not an expert on the other tomes you have found, however if you like she can discuss them with some of her colleagues in other departments and study them herself and get back to you. She will contact you through one of her publishing friends in London, Mickey Mahoney, the editor of a paper known as the Scoop.

I will leave you to chat/introduce yourselves to Colt. There is a new link labelled London 1920s which gives you a bit of a basic rundown regarding London/England.

Sylvia smiles at Miriam. "Thank you Ms. Atwright. Any information you can find would be helpful." Satisfied with her results, she heads back to New York.

Upon arrival, she's shocked to hear that Barney has been admitted to a local hospital. He hadn't been around much the past few days, but she had no idea that he was in this bad of a shape. Mentally she berates herself for not checking on him sooner.

In the hospital she very gently takes his hand, first making sure that it won't cause him further hurt. "I'm so sorry Barney. You take care of yourself; don't worry about us. I'll be sure to write and let you know how things are going." She nods at Colt when he suggests moving to the cafeteria, gives Barney's hand one last squeeze, and follows him out the door.

Once in the cafeteria, she offers her hand for a handshake. "I'm sure Barney told you, but I'm Sylvia. I am, well I guess was given that I'm currently on indefinite leave, a doctor at the Downtown Hospital." She looks him over quickly, taking in the frail frame. "If you have any medical requirements, please let me know and I'll see what I can do to help."

"What we've seen...there's some things you can't fight. Any knowledge you bring about what we're facing would be most helpful, and I for one would be grateful to have you join us."

Jake came to see Barney in the hospital.
"Sorry to see you go by the wayside, but you rest and heal up. We'll follow the trail on from here."
He grinned as he set a bottle of fine Kentucky bourbon on a side table.
"Have a drink on us when you're up and about. And a toast to Jackson too!" Jake said, then followed the others down to the Cafeteria.

In the Cafeteria, Jake approached Colt with an open hand and a grin.
"Jake Westfield. Pleased to meet you partner!"
Fishing around in his coat, he produced a pack of cigarettes. He offered one to Colt.
"Need a light? They're supposed to help with that cough."

Going to move things on a little

A few days later you board the Mauritania to head to England. Lt Poole, Hilton and Millie Adams and Rachel Shosenburg are there to see you off. Poole suggests you speak to a friend of his at Scotland Yard Inspector Barrington, while Shosenburg suggests you speak to the newspaper editor of the scoop called Mickey Mahoney. Hilton and Millie say they will keep an eye out in Harlem and let you know if they see anything of interest.

The voyage takes nine days and is uneventful. Jackson's solicitor has booked you all first class cabins. You arrive in Liverpool and then catch a train into London. You arrive at Waterloo station on a dreary Wednesday morning.

Where would you like to head to first. Also could you tell me if you are bringing any weapons with you.

On the voyage, Jake reads through the newspaper accounts of the people and travels of the Carlyle Expedition collected for him. He tries to see if there was anything more they had not stumbled across yet.

Aside from his sword cane, amongst his luggage Jake has a locked trunk with a complete movie cowboy outfit, including a fancy engraved Colt .45 Peacemaker in a Hollywood fast draw rig.
Just in case he has to do publicity appearances.

In London he looks up a nice hotel suite for the lot of us while we're here.
Credit Rating 70%: 1d100 ⇒ 36

Tossing his hat on a hatrack, Jake mixed himself a scotch and fell into a chair sighing with relief.
"Well then. What is first up tomorrow fellows? Look up this newsie Mahoney for information on the Penhew Foundation and the Expedition?" He asked aloud.

Jake, you find that there are suites available at the Ritz hotel.

Colt shakes his head no at the offer of a cigarette.

"No thanks. I know their supposed to be good for you, but they only lead me to another coughing fit. Must be allergic or something".

"Thank you for your offer Dr. Bouche. I might have need of some of your expert care. I suffer from Tuberculosis, and this damp weather does me no favors".

Colt says his goodbye's to Barney, and joins the others on their trip across the pond. He says little, making notes in a small leather journal he carries at all times, and perusing a couple of texts written in latin... and struggling... during the trip. He is not unfriendly if approached just a bit shy and bookish... and now sure where he fits into the group dynamic.

Colt takes only a sturdy walking stick, as he's not sure what they'll be able to take aboard the plane.

Sylvia says farewell to her friends at the hospital, particularly Barney and Anne Daniel. "I'll make sure to write frequently. Please keep yourselves safe while I'm gone."

She spends the voyage reading through the books Erica Carlye had generously lent them. She starts with Life as a God, as it seems the most applicable to the expedition. If Colt mentions he's reading texts in Latin, she also offers to help with the translation. It's one of the only other languages she knows.

Upon arrival her eyebrows raise at the hotel rooms Jake finds for them. "These are really nice. Are we going to be able to afford them for the entire duration? We're not sure how long we're going to be here." It's not like she's poor, a doctor's salary is decent, but this is a kind of luxury she's never experienced.

"I think Mr. Mahoney would be a good place to start. In addition to whatever information he might already have about the expedition, Ms. Atwright said she'd send us anything she learned about the books through him."

Sylvia would have brought her gun, a pocket pistol. It was acquired legally and she has all the necessary paperwork.

Life as a God narrates all manner of unspeakable acts commited for someone called the Pharoah of Darkness and describes a hidden throne room in an area called the Bent Pyramid.

Sylvia you think it would take the best part of 10 weeks to fully study the tome.

[i]The Pnakotic Manuscripts are written in English. They purport to speak of an ancient race known as the Great Race of Yith, and the manuscript was stored in the Western Desert of Australia. You think it would take about 45 weeks to fully study the tome.

Selections de Livre D'Ivon is written in French and Latin. It contains many 'spells' and treatises on practical magic, although its focus us more towards the worship of a deity called Tsathoggua. There are border symbols that look like an inverted broken ankh an ancient Egyptian symbol. Fully studying this would take 36 weeks.

Amongst the Stones is written in English made up of several poems. One of the unique poems is The Trappings of a Queen which describes the dread ruler Nitrocis' regal paraphernalia in great detail. Fully studying this tome would take 1 week.

Africa's Dark Sects is written in English. It reveals that there was a witness to a summoning of a creature known as Nyarlthotep in 1916. Studying this in full would take 6 weeks.

From studying the tomes Colt and Sylvia you can both add 2 points yo your Cthulu Mythos score.

The day following your arrival in London, you head to the offices of the Scoop newspaper. They are on the third floor of a shabby building in Fleet Street, not far from Ludgate Circus.

Mickey Mahoney is a red haired, cigar smoking, grubby overweight man in his early 50s.

"Mornin. I got a wire from that New York reporter Shosenburg saying you were comin. Understand you were friends of Jackson's. Me too, he was a good bloke. I was saddened by his death. I saw him only recently, well within the last month or so, he promised me a story about some kind of evil cult operating in the heart of London. Well anyway, what can I do for you?"

"Jake Westfield. Pleased to meet ya!" Jake said, grabbing Mickey's hand to shake vigorously. He expected to be recognized from the movies as well. "And this is Sylvia Bouche, and this is Colt Malone." He said, introducing his companions.
Depositing a bottle of Macallan Single Malt on the table, Jake offered a splash of scotch to anyone who would have a drink.
"And a toast to new friends!" He proclaimed.
Charm 70%: 1d100 ⇒ 60

"I assume you've heard of the murder of Jackson Elias? Well, in his memory, we are following up on his last story; The Carlyle Expedition.
"We understand that the Penhew Foundation contributed to the expedition financially, to the point of Aubrey Penhew actually joining it.
"What can you tell us about Mister Penhew and the Foundation?" He asked.

"Hey, Jake Westfield. I've seen some of your pictures. What was that last one, the Lonely road, where you dived from the roof of the stagecoach onto a moving horse, wow, just wow!

He hands you some yellowed newspaper cuttings.

Clippings on documents page

"It's a pleasure to meet you Mr. Mahoney." Sylvia smiles warmly at the man. "Thank you for agreeing to meet with us."

The smile fades as she reads through the clippings. The first two seem interesting, but not immediately relevant. A painter? A rapid dog? For Jackson to have taken an interest there must have been something more going on, but what?

The third however...

"These 'Egyptian Murders.'" Sylvia looks up. "Mr. Mahoney, what can you tell us about them? Why are they called that?" Victims beaten, stabbed through the heart...the methods were different, but it nevertheless reminded her too much of the murders in Harlem. And Jackson was apparently here investigating an evil cult. The same one that was operating in New York?

Colt takes up the clippings after the others have finished. He's still having some difficulty not only keeping up with the events, but believing that they're happening, and he's a part of it... but something feels... well he is in the right place at the right time.

"Yes! It seems there is so much going on behind the veil. How easy is it to get an appointment with someone from the Foundation"?

"The Egyptian Murders have been investigated by Inspector Barrington for nearly a year. His predecessor, Inspector Munden disappeared mysteriously and has never been found. A total of 19 murders have been carried out over the last 3 years, each having the same modus operandi.

Oh I almost forgot, Jackson was also interested in something that happened in Scotland 2 years ago."

Documents updated

"Well I think that's about all I can tell you at the moment. Tell you what though, if you're able to find me anything more about any of those events I'm willing to pay you £15 ($75) for the story."

"Thanks again Mr. Mahoney." Sylvia once more extends her hand for a handshake. "We'll be certain to let you know if we find anything. Oh, and Ms. Miriam Atwright said she might contact us through you if she learned anything about some old books we found. Would you mind sending us a message if she does? We're currently staying at the Ritz."

Outside the newspaper office Sylvia shivers in the cold air. "That went...well enough I suppose. We certainly learned a lot." She flips through her notes. "Obviously the Penhew Foundation is our biggest lead. It's possible Mr. Gavigan might know something more about the Carlyle expedition. I'm also worried about these 'Egyptian murders.' Jackson was apparently investigating another cult operating here, and that sounds like it might be related. Shall we see about making an appointment with Mr. Gavigan, then swing by the station to talk to Inspector Barrington?"

[i]Contacting the Penhew Foundation you are able to arrange a visit the following morning.

You manage to catch a cab in fleet street to take you to Scotland Yard. Asking for Inspector Barrington you are introduced to man in his early 50s, thin with a clipped moustache and weary eyes, wearing a shabby suit.

"An acquaintance of man from New York, Lt Poole told me you were coming. How is it I can assist you."

"Greetings Inspector Barrington, I'm Sylvia Bouche. I'm not sure what exactly Lt. Poole told you about us, but we're following up on some investigations our friend Jackson Elias was conducting." Sylvia rifles through her bag and pulls out her notes on the Egyptian Murders. "He was apparently concerned about possible cult activity in the London area, and we believe that this may be connected to the Egyptian Murders you've been investigating. What can you tell us about them?"

Colt has a brief coughing fit as he climbs the steps to Barrington's office. He takes a moment to wipe his mouth with his pocket kerchief.

"I'm OK".

He offers his hand to Barrington... introducing himself, and listens intently as Sylvia speaks.