Hi, all. Just checking in.

Amaya looks to Oukonunaka as he speaks. He affects Amaya with both a calm and an intensity.

"...stick close to me..."

Amaya bends her knees―this time more consciously as she studies how the two men are holding themselves. She barely listens to the rest that is said.

Senses. Fight. Gunfire. Cover. Melee. Combat. Wield. Advance. Cover. Quickly. Slow. The ideas wash over her and are palled by her self-comforting incredulity.

"Do you agree?"

Amaya looks up, thinking that she has been addressed. She sees Oukonunaka looking at Luther and looks to him as well. She shifts her weight in order to follow Oukonunaka when the time comes.

I'm not trying to make Amaya be difficult; this is as much as I can think of in character. Perhaps there are two options:

1) she gets over this initial shock, considers the other two to be overreacting, and marches up to the ruins ahead of them

2) the other two march off saying something like "don't die" and she begrudgingly follows along

I guess there is a (3) where Luther tosses her an extra gun, Oukonunaka tosses her an extra knife, and they both shout "Cover me!" as they storm off, but I don't think that's the answer.

Any other thoughts? I'm glad that we're playing this out.

PS - I'm getting the vibe of the Doctor and Capt Jack dragging Rose through the London hospital during the blitz, but I'm trying to stay focused on Amaya being a Lovecraftian mid-career pedant who's about to see some serious s**!.

Amaya―eyes wide, lips parted―leans her head forward to listen to Luther. When he turns away to look at the Catholicon, she does as well.

...have a look around this place at some point...

You haven't seen anything there?! This is a look around? Questions well up in Amaya but she contents herself with silently manufacturing an understanding. She exhales; more incredulous and helpless than frightened.

The professor died there. Amaya presses her lips together. Alone and at night: though, I cannot begrudge these men their preparations. Amaya looks again at their weapons, then looks down at herself and realizes that she is tightly clutching her folder to her chest. She relaxes and looks at the folder, then up toward Luther.

"What should I do?"

Amaya follows the men as they search for tracks and inch eastward along the shore. She trails them by only ten feet or so as they move at a slow but steady pace. Amaya is mildly fascinated by their efforts, often taking her own look at a piece of ground after Luther and Oukonunaka have conferred over it and moved on. But, she notices nothing remarkable when she inspects these spots and so she eventually settles into an absently pensive stroll. Suddenly―from Amaya’s perspective―the men cease making progress and double back several times to the ground on which Amaya is treading.

Oh, dear. Have I walked into their work? But they seem no more interested in her location than others.

For some time, the group does not move along and Amaya eventually seats herself down by the trail and opens up her folder. She has nothing to write down―simply leaning over her notebook serves to compose her thoughts. She considers the day so far and the future errands into town. Eventually, she does jot a few notes.
Helorus monument. chicken sacrifices.
George Shultz―Vernor Schnieder.

As the men’s tracking takes them along a rougher path, Amaya is forced to pay attention to each step rather than to follow without attending as previously. The men seem to her to be slowing―not because of the difficulty of their task but because they are tense. She notices for the first time that they are moving with their knees bent, looking not only at the ground at their feet but also up into the woods at times. Amaya instinctively glances around, spending more time looking to her left and right than straight ahead as she walks. When the trail begins to pitch uphill, she looks ahead for the first time in a while and is somewhat surprised by the sight of a building atop the hill.

Oh! After viewing nothing but woods and trails, Amaya is not initially prepared to capably inspect the ruin. The sight of the scorching on the walls rights her mind. My word. The Catholicon!

She looks down in order to mention the building to Luther and Oukonunaka. Just as she opens her mouth, she notices them crouched at the sides of the trail, Luther with a gun drawn and Oukonunaka with a knife.

Goodness gracious! Amaya unwittingly moves to the side of the trail. She looks from one man to the other, sometimes at their eyes, sometimes at their weapons. The two men exchange words, but Amaya is not listening.

Amaya has enough wits about her to whisper loudly rather than shout: “What is going on?!”

Alright! Catholicon!

I currently going back and reading all of the old gameplay to figure out what is known to Amaya and what is known to me. Regardless, she is certainly more interested in the tracks now than before, so carry on. I'll post whenever it seems appropriate (and when I've sorted out my info).

I've been busy so haven't been posting. If I get some time, I'll post what Amaya is thinking for some color, but I don't plan on really contributing to the tracking. Please carry on without my input and simply narrate her along. If she is precluding some sort of stealthy endeavor, just let me know if we need to semi-break up the group...

Or, if she can spend this time in thought about the Stone or other Arcana, I'm happy to provide a roll...

Absolutely. Amaya is fine with that.

Ed, I'm on cruise control for the tracking, so feel free to narrate Amaya along with Luther and Oukonunaka. Of course, I'll jump in if anything catches my fancy me in the gameplay.

If there is anything to be had from a closer examination of the Stone by Amaya (connecting the dots with her Etruscan reading, etc.), then she would do that at this time. If you need a roll from me, let me know---or go ahead and make one yourself, as needed.

I agree that Shutlz may be annoyed if we bolted off after Karl right now.

I feel that the trackers are driving the bus now. Do your thing and Amaya will try to keep up and will run interference, if any is necessary. If that means talking to Karl, so be it, but I'm leaning toward not otherwise pursuing him.

A thin smile grows on Amaya's lips as Shultz offers his invitation. Finally, a civil opportunity in this town.

Amaya smiles more openly and looks at Luther. "My word, Mr Clark," she begins, and soon looks back to Shultz, "it is refreshing to have a civil conversation at a civil pace. It would be our pleasure to continue it with you at the Inn."

"Another colleague of ours is a doctor and currently looking after Katherine. He may join us as well. What time may we meet you there?"

***

"I look forward to meeting your cousin in the meantime."

Amaya would argue against Shultz also inviting Katherine, if that comes up. Otherwise, she is happy to close out this conversation.

Sounds good.

Does Luther have anything else to ask Schulz at this point? or shall we excuse ourselves until dinner?

Ed, will these tracks take us toward Karl? Amaya wouldn't know about the tracks (yet), but once she does she might run ahead in that direction and get in some chat while Oukonunaka works---let's play that out if it would get Amaya (and Luther?) busy with Karl.

If Oukonunaka explained something to Luther about the tracks ("look for more like these," etc.), would Luther then get some plusses to subsequent help?

Shultz is in fact suggesting that everyone go to dinner together, he's just talking to Amaya rather than Luther.

Sweet.

It seems that we should wrap it up here at the lake for now. Does Oukonunaka want anything more with these fresh tracks? Or do we want to catch up with Karl?

If not, then let's play our way out of this conversation and back into town.

Luther: nice save on the Diplomacy. This investigation seems to be paying off.

So, Shultz is kind of creeping Amaya out now. Looking ahead, I'm thinking of having her ensure that someone (Luther or Stanislav) accompanies her to dinner with Shultz, but I should probably make a roll now to see if she notices anything. I see that I can use Sense Motive untrained, but what are my modifiers? I don't think that I can use Irrepressible to apply Cha modifiers in this case: correct?

Once I get a ruling and a roll, I'll post in gameplay. Luther can certainly continue the conversation in the meantime.

I think asking about what was written is a good idea, maybe Amaya could charm Karl once he is away from constable (assuming he can read).

I think that Karl has already walked off (but is still around the site somewhere). Earnest is the one scrubbing the blood---he may remember Amaya from the graveyard...I don't know if that's good or bad. Luther and/or Amaya can chat them up in separate conversations without breaking up our group at the lake.

Maybe we can ask one of them about that later on as well?

Agree. Not only have we got Karl here at the lake, we've got the Mayor later today. I'd hope to get at least one solid Diplomacy roll on somebody.

Plus, this conversation with Shultz isn't over yet---he may yet volunteer something. Depending on his upcoming response, I think we could manage one more round of prying.

We've got a lot to learn yet today. Another 20 from Mark at the mausoleum, for example, might turn up that the boot prints are the same as at the lake... or the same as at the Catholicon (if Shultz's answers entice us to go there soon)... Pre-dawn raids are not Amaya's default setting, but with compelling evidence from our investigations today, there may be a lot of plans for tomorrow that she'd be surprised to be joining.

I'm okay with waiting for the conversation to finish, the tracks aren't going anywhere, unless it's going to rain. My idea is we track as far as we can then find a spot to set up an ambush, or at least hide and tail the culprit assuming he will come again pre-dawn.

I don't know that Amaya would join a pre-dawn ambush, but I think that's a good plan.

Perhaps the sacrifices are to keep us away? I am an Native American after all. An ancient structure to keep away Native Americans? Sounds like bad ju-ju to me.

To be fair, Katherine said "keep peace with the Indians," so maybe we all group hug here... However, in general, I assume that chicken sacrifices are bad ju-ju until convinced otherwise.

I think that gameplay is waiting on the Constable in conversation. If not and you are waiting on me for something, let me know.

Would it be possible to follow the tracks of the animal killer?

In the interest of keeping the group together, if Oukonunaka heads off on a track, Amaya could offer to "keep an eye on him" for the Constable and head off with him. Or, if the conversation with Luther is juicy enough, I'm fine with splitting up momentarily while Oukonunaka completes his study so that we can keep chatting about Pallaver.

"Beggin' your pardon, Miss, but you folks don't seem to be out just for the mornin' air. Anything I can help you with?"

Amaya had been ignoring Oukonunaka during the conversation but now slowly lowers her eyes at his mention. She exhales.

"Really," she begins, looking back up at Shultz with an exasperated smile, "we are just walking about. Katherine said this Stone was the talk of the town—we all have our own way of taking in the sights. We are running some errands while Katherine is resting." She then jovially exclaims, "next stop, post office!" with a smile and a wave of her hands in order to draw attention away from Oukonunaka. "I think that we'll get to meet your cousin there. Mr Vernor Schneider?"

***

She reaches out and lays her right hand on Shultz's arm. "I'm glad to hear from you that Katherine has nothing to worry about. I certainly didn't expect there to be so much fuss at the professor's passing." She removes her hand and sighs, looking over at Luther as if to ask "Wouldn't you agree?"

Amaya's intent is to keep everyone's attention on the conversation and to give Luther the opportunity to probe about either the night of the death or this present notion of "boys playin'," if desired.

Would it be possible to follow the tracks of the animal killer?

Brother: solid roll for the tracking. If I keep rolling like crap, I'll just have Amaya take her top off to provide cover for your pursuit along the shore. Although, I see Schultz listed as Friendly---did Amaya and Luther pull it off with a pair of 14's?

Ugh. That is a garbage Diplomacy roll. Can Luther pile on a little charm, too? Or maybe Schultz is already Friendly to us because our funeral got busted up?

"No, no." Amaya dismisses the concern with a slight shrug and a smile. "I don't think―" she looks up with a measure of innocuous inquisitiveness, in case that invites an explanation from Schultz "―that they had anything against us visitors; rather, simply some water not yet gone under this town's bridge. The older generation certainly has my respect," Amaya smiles, "though they sometimes do not have each other's.” Then, while heavily exhaling as a cover to become loud enough for Ernest to overhear, “Now that the professor is laid to rest, I'd expect everyone to move forward."

Still, I might probe a little. Amaya begins again, more quietly, "Really, I felt bad for Katherine." Amaya leans in and lowers her voice, though still audible to Luther, "Have those folks ever made trouble for Katherine or the Pallaver property before? This constable cannot have arrived here from Texas too long ago. I wonder what he’ll volunteer. "How have they taken to a younger man in your position? Hopefully not as disrespectful as we found them to be."

I'm trying to remember what else I wanted to ask the constable about. There was something, even before the putative fish. I think it was the circumstances around how Pallaver's body was found?

That's all that I recall. Luther spoke with both Keel and Stanislav about the police being involved in the death.

That's not an easy thing to bring up either, though.

Yeah, right? I wonder if we can last a month in this town even without the dead coming to life. It's like Brewster's Millions; we get the money after the 30 days.

Ah, the Helorus monument. Surely not older than the colonies...

Amaya is relieved and strengthened by the civil greeting from the constable. She subtly allies herself on George's side of the group so that she might share George's questioning look at the farmer.

Karl?... Karl Weber, who found it, I suppose.

Amaya smiles understandingly at Schultz's comments about Karl, then extends her hand to shake at his introduction. "Thank you. Yes. My name is Amaya Harvey. I knew Professor Pallaver from conferences and universities, but this is my first visit to his home. I believe that he cared for this town a good deal and I'm happy to be able to see it."

If Luther chooses to follow Amaya in to this conversation, I suppose this is where he would jump in, so I'll pause here. If there is a reaction to Oukonunaka, Amaya will work to rapidly defuse it.

Amaya finds it a little difficult to keep up with Luther and Oukonunaka as they make their way out of town. She feels that her short strides in heeled boots must be a comic contrast to the easy gait of the engineer and the organic movement of the Indian over the earth. The more they leave the cobbled town street behind, the more Amaya's mind wanders to the other errands of the day.

I hope that the postmaster has some information about the arrival of some of the books... if not, I suppose that I might contact the lawyer that read the will for more contacts at the library at Washington. Oh, and I don't know what I hope to find at the mausoleum―though it can't hurt to look and maybe I'll get lucky and find something useful for that cypher.

Amaya only notices the descent toward the lake well after it has begun, having slipped into absently following the others as they walked over increasingly rural paths. Upon arrival, Amaya expects Oukonunaka to hasten to the fresh tracks that interested him at supper, but instead finds that the party has slowed to a halt within sight of the Stone. I suppose that he may yet bolt off into the woods, she thinks, looking at the young Indian.

And, it looks as though Luther's fish is gone, recognizing one of the men near the Stone from the burial at work cleaning something. Perhaps they have both lost interest.

She is glad that at least one of the three at the Stone seems to be neither a farmer nor a gravedigger. Before she gets within earshot of the townsfolk, she begins, "Well," glancing at her companions, "I suppose that I'll go chat while you all satisfy yourselves." Then, more quietly, while looking ahead toward the lake, “give me a high sign if you―” she pauses and looks sidelong up at Luther in lieu of a shrug “―need anything.”

Amaya straightens her back, collects her thoughts, and strides purposefully toward the three men at the Stone. "Good morning!" she begins, taking in the view of the lake and then letting her eyes fall upon the Stone―upon the upper portions of the structure, as if unaware of Ernest's labors on the ground. "I just heard of this monument yesterday and had to see it for myself during my visit. Are you folks also visitors?"

This first pass of hers only admits of a cursory inspection of the Stone. I'd only expect reflexive Knowledge or Perception rolls at this stage, if needed.

OK. I'll post tonight or tomorrow.

I'm playing tag-a-long at present. If the group wants Amaya to play Face Man, give her a nudge in the gameplay. Otherwise, I'm waiting for one of the gents to make a move.

Amaya nods at Stanislav. "Безопасность прежде всего." She gives him a grateful, if worried, look. "Спасибо."

Sorry for my delay. I think that I am caught up and did not botch the chronology of all of the things to which I needed to respond.

Amaya wakes the next day having slept very well. Although her mind had much to process from the day, she found an ease to thinking of it all as she brushed her hair before bed. As she dresses for her day away from the house, she is pleased to find herself excited for the outing—for both the company and the investigations. She cannot resist reviewing a few notes and jotting a few more before closing her leather folder and taking it downstairs with her.

***

Amaya listens to Stanislav’s account of Katherine’s sleepwalking with concern. Where was she? What was she doing?

"You should stay with Katherine while we go exploring."

Amaya shrugs and nods at Oukonunaka’s suggestion. She looks at the Russian with respect for the competent care that he has offered Katherine. “If you don’t mind staying with her, it seems that it would only help her to have you in the house.”

Amaya listens to the ongoing conversation around the table, taking small bites and engaging each speaker. She nods as Oukonunaka mentions the mausoleum. Her mind is partly occupied with planning her day away from the house as the destinations and their sequence are discussed. As Luther addresses her as a “something of a scholar,” she gives a small smile. Oh, whatever I can muster…

"The Book of Tobit, for example. It's a story about how the angel Rapheal was sent, in the guise of a man, to aid Tobit and his family. Do you know of this book?"

“Yes, I know of it. I don’t think that your finding it is a matter of the date of printing.” She blinks at the recollection of the remarkable date of Pallaver’s edition. “It is common enough in Catholic Bibles of any era, though it would be remarkable to find it used by Protestants, either on the Continent or by Anglicans.”

”The mutilated animal by the Honin stone -- I am quite curious to see if it is an unusual fish, and if the mutilations are the removal of those same organs. It would be an uncomfortable coincidence."

“Perhaps so.” Amaya pauses and glances sympathetically at Oukonunaka, remembering his disinterest at reading these books of mythical rites from the colonists’ Old World. Amaya looks back to Luther with a smile. “This Honin Stone might keep Indians away, but Catholics might prowl undeterred!”

"I may be able to open the mausoleum door. If we want to have a look inside.”

Amaya halts her internal laughter at her own joke and raises her eyebrows slightly. Break in? This crew of ours is certainly ambitious, if not scholars! Amaya glances around the table. Animal sacrifice and defiling a burial on the same day, anyone? She looks back to Luther, recovers her surprise, and speaks plainly, “I’m certainly interested in the mausoleum, but I’d like to see the outside first. The Professor’s book that is apparently related to it—it is entirely in some sort of cypher and I’m hoping for some sort of clues or ideas from any decorations on the building.” Amaya does not feel particularly scholarly when admitting that she’s no help on the book at present.

Sounds good---the post office and mausoleum aren't necessarily useful stops, but they both seem to be worth a brief stop. I'll let others jump in the conversation about the sleeping schedule and sorting out the watch. Amaya won't hurry to volunteer for third shift...

As Katherine responds to her about Vernon Schneider, Amaya pauses chewing, looks at Katherine, and holds a slight smile. Amaya nods slightly to acknowledge the information.

Presumably the mayor was not among the men at the cemetery—although he did not attend the funeral.

Amaya takes another bite as Katherine describes the Honin Stone to Luther. Thousands? I’d like to see this Stone, as well. This is a small town, but it certainly had much to hold the professor’s attention.

As Katherine remarks about the Indians, Amaya holds still. Oh! Amaya resists the urge to look at Oukonunaka; her mental image of him is still that of clenched teeth. Say something, Amaya! Change the subject. Amaya prepares herself to interject by setting down her knife and fork. In her haste, she nearly speaks over Oukonunaka’s response.

Before even looking up, she begins abruptly, “Oukonunaka, will you accompany me to the mausoleum tomorrow morning? I should like to see it for myself.” After finishing speaking, Amaya finally processes Oukonunaka’s statement about the Stone. She gives a scattered glance around the table. Realizing that the tenor of the table is not as intense as she had feared, “and,” she continues slowly, “also to the Honin Stone?” Now completely gathered, Amaya looks at Katherine. “Is the Stone far from here? easy to get to?” Amaya looks around the table, more deliberately this time. "Perhaps we may all visit it tomorrow?"

So we are going out to the honin stone and possibly to masuleum tomorrow? Whatever we do we need to stick together.

I'd like Amaya to go to the mausoleum and---so that she need not go alone---I'll have her ask Oukonunaka to join her. Since Luther's already been and Stanislav never cared, I don't know if we'd do that all in a group. Maybe Amaya and Oukonunaka set out early and then everybody meets up at the post office before heading to the Stone? What kinds of distances and terrain are we talking about here? I'll ask...

Luther Clark wrote:

I might be able to get us into the mausoleum, if we want to have a look inside.

and/or Oukonunaka investigates and finds interesting tracks

BTW, I don't mean to disrespect the tracking that Luther already did at the mausoleum. I don't think that there's any shame it getting out-tracked by Oukonunaka, if he happens to find anything else. I'm wondering if Oukonunaka is motivated for any of these investigations, which is why I expect to have to gameplay a little to get him going...unless he's about to go over the table on Katherine.

I might be able to get us into the mausoleum, if we want to have a look inside.

Nice. Amaya would be up for that if she finds anything enticing on the outside. Let's hope for a Perception roll above 3! and/or Oukonunaka investigates and finds interesting tracks. Obviously, a tame visit during daylight as we are planning, then breaking and entering after hours.

Amaya cuts her steak while she listens to Katherine's response about the postman. Amaya smiles at the bit of wit displayed by the young woman. Perhaps there is a spark in this professor's daughter. Amaya takes a small bite.

As Katherine relates her "thrilling" gossip, Amaya stops chewing and looks up at Katherine—then at Luther as his eyes widen—then at Oukonunaka clenching his teeth—then back down to her supper as she slowly resumes chewing. Perhaps not... I might as well be back in Michigan if we are to be excited by "Karl Weber found a dead animal"... Amaya cuts another piece of meat on her plate.

Well, if the men are going out to track down a rabid animal tomorrow, I'll walk as far as town with them. The mausoleum. The post office.

Once the conversation about Honin Stone and the animal is concluded:

"Katherine, where is the post office? or, would the postman be more easily found elsewhere during the day tomorrow?"

I don't know. We do have a few things we could do outside the house.

I might want to go get this mutant fish!

I guess we could also talk to the constable or the other fish guy, or the post office. Or maybe some old fashioned gather info around town would turn up something useful.

I agree. Amaya is probably work down from book work a bit. Tomorrow is Monday so we could probably get a bunch done. Here is Amaya's todo list:

1) check out the mausoleum for any relations (besides the cross) to that book---maybe asking Oukonunaka for an escort will allow him to bust out some tracking skills on the area

2) talk to the postmaster about sent or received materials (charisma seems most useful here)

3) talk to Karl Weber and/or the constable about the animal, if charisma is needed. Is the post office a place or is some dude simply the postmaster? Again, I agree that poking around town---especially on a Monday---is probably wise. Is there a pub besides the Inn? ...stuff Amaya should ask Katherine.

4) Amaya would want Oukonunaka's opinion of the scene at Honin Stone, whether or not there is a hunt that Oukonunaka joins---if accessing it is easy enough for a group...again, something to ask Katherine when I get my gameplay post up.

I wonder how much crap we (or Amaya in particular) can continue to expect from the townspeople.

Maybe Stanislav stay back with Katherine? ...maybe I'll ask him...post later today

Amaya takes the key from Luther and stores it securely in a pocket of her leather folder.

***

Amaya leafs back and forth through the Etrusca Disciplina as she studies it, decreasingly certain that it is a fake or a speculative reconstruction. This French is centuries old...or meant to seem so. Remarkable! What is this source?! Amaya writes on the notepad in her folder, beneath her other jottings from this study, now convinced: Libri Fulgurales! other volumes extant, as well.

Amaya sets her pencil down and stares blankly while in thought. De Umbrarum, as well. What is this collection? To whom are we delivering it? Surely the world would know if these came from the holdings of a library...

***

As Amaya surveys the group gathered for supper, she surprises herself by being happy for the company. Indeed, her day has been a remarkably refreshing balance of longs stretches of book work and short interludes of effective conversation.

Katherine seems to have handled the day well so far, which is also a cause for Amaya’s lighter view of the assembly. Amaya listens politely to Katherine’s blessing and nods solemnly at its close.

“Katherine, it is wonderful to see you up and about. I am glad for your improving health and am certainly grateful that we may all join you for a fine supper.”

Amaya is burning to learn more about her studies from the day. Finally, her patience expires yet she finds time to intentionally sip her water and blot her lips with a napkin—a familiar routine when she fears that she is moving much faster than her company. “I read some of the books from the chest today. These are truly remarkable volumes: perhaps singular. May I ask, are any on loan from a library? perhaps delivered recently? I’m not aware of your father mentioning them in his scholarship.” Amaya takes another bite and—with her eyes on her plate—replays her statement in her mind; convinced that she satisfactorily broached the subject, she looks up and around the table.

At the faculty meeting this afternoon, I cornered a french medieval historian and a medieval illuminated manuscript art historian. I got my IRL Etruscan crap sorted out now!

Huh. I had heard of these books often and had always assumed that they were extant---even googling around now, it is hard to find a clear statement that these texts don't seem to have survived. Good thing Amaya rolled an 18 or I'd still be in the dark!

Well, I suppose that she should be pretty stoked that she's got her hands on some of this---something to bring up over supper! More to the point, this "source" is something to investigate.

Amaya is interested in what "from the same source" means in the margin notes of the Etrusca Disciplina. I'm assuming that the Disciplina would have been relatively widely held in libraries of the time. Can Amaya tell if this particular edition is very peculiar? or would a generic edition suffice? At any rate, she'd like to consult the other volumes in the set for perspective. I'm assuming that she knows what any well-read student of Latin would know of the Etruscans (and has probably read from the Disciplina before), but cannot get much further without proper resources.

In general, I think that it would be very much in character for her to want to get to a library and study these breadcrumbs more thoroughly. I know that we don't want to split the group up, but giving her a few days to travel and research seems in order. Where exactly is Helorus? near Syracuse or Colgate? Cornell was too young at this time, perhaps?

Amaya can certainly exhaust her readings at the estate before we contemplate sending her away.

Though I'm having a hard time telling what's innocuous.

Very good point. I certainly don't want to torture the girl with an interview. My list of guidelines at present is...don't bring up Andrew.

Man, that Luther is creepy. I hope he doesn't have a hunch to go digging through Amaya's drawers. </joke>

...

If in-game time permits, I'm happy to fast-forward through lunch and to have Amaya start in on the Etruscan volume before bed. It might be good to play out a communal supper where we compare notes semi-formally at the table. I think it would be good to air some of the more innocuous generalities in front of Katherine in case she chimes in with anything useful. If the timeline works and if everyone agrees, please set Amaya to work on the next book and get us together for supper. Regardless, a little bit of gameplay to get the books locked up and an explicit disposition for the key seems in order.

I'd like Amaya to check out the mausoleum in person at some point in case any of the carvings or inscriptions (if any) help with breaking the cypher. I don't think that a dedicated trip is warranted at this point. But, she would volunteer to be a part of the next trip into town.

We could play out supper and maybe chit-chat with Katherine a bit.

If nothing is doing, Amaya can start crushing through the Etruscan volume---she has been hungry for that one. I don't think that it is too late in the day to have supper and at least a start on that book.

Sounds good. I don't have anything else to play out right now.

I'm assuming that Oukonunaka followed us in to the kitchen and heard all of these revelations. I left my post with me reaching for the key because I am wondering if Oukonunaka is going to slap it out of Luther's hand and tell us to leave well enough alone.

We might play out the hand-off of the key regardless in case it matters to anybody (including the GM).

If that goes well, maybe Luther wants to look through the journal more carefully? We've only seen what Amaya (via the narrator) pointed out as important. Amaya would not object to him reading any of them, though.

Amaya is still seated in silence when the men approach the house upon their return. She sees the parcels that they are carrying and does not feel inclined to help—nor to be the person who is tasked with storing it all in the kitchen. She is slow to rise and keeps both her hands busy holding her tea cup. Amaya smiles and nods to the men as they reach the veranda. As they enter the house and speak with Katherine, Amaya stands nearest the door and listens. Amaya smiles at Katherine as the young woman and Stanislav head back out.

Amaya follows Luther to the kitchen. She pours herself another cup of tea as Luther sets down the provisions. She makes sure that he sees that more tea is available to him—however, she hastens nearer to him at the table as he seems eager to talk.

His son?! Betrayal? As she listens, Amaya lowers her tea cup to the table and rests her hands on either side of it. Amaya recalls, for the second time in the last hour, the passage in Pallaver’s journal about Albert’s pursuit of forbidden knowledge—about how they were working on the same project but for different reasons. The only disagreement between Albert and Pallaver seemed to be the direction of the research. I wonder if this “betrayal” is mentioned in the journal.

At the revelation of the deaths in the Catholicon fire, Amaya listens even more intently, bearing more weight on her hands as she leans forward slightly. Oh, my. Amaya was not particularly affected by the plight of the patients when she slogged through her Catholicon reading, but the thought of them perishing in the fire with their doctors saddens her.

“I’m sorry to hear about the hospital fire. I read the doctors’ treatise. They did dedicated work, with some success.” What a tragedy. I don’t blame this town if they are still not healed. Perhaps the farmers at the cemetery were also poking around the Catholicon before Prof Pallaver’s death, leaving the footprints that were seen.

Is all of this talk of forbidden knowledge simply elderly Christians lamenting Albert losing his faith? What was “sewn” at the ruins of the hospital? Perhaps nothing.

If the mausoleum predates this town, then we can study it free from all of these prejudices. I should read the book with the leather cross next. Amaya reaches for the key. “Thank you. I am happy to read that book of the professor’s.”

“I think that we need to investigate all of these matters ourselves.” I wonder if we can trust Pallaver's own opinion of these ideas; surely he was torn—with Grimsby's help—by the estrangement of his son. She looks up at Luther. “Thank you for looking over the mausoleum.”

So we have stalled out a bit. What does everyone want to do in the afternoon/evening?

Amaya should do her duty and study more books, but not if that breaks up the group undesirably. Let's play that out and make sure that it fits in.

As for right now, everybody should probably report out on their day's work so far. I'm fine if Luther initiates that. I got busy but am free this weekend to start/continue that thread.

Sounds good. Amaya (or maybe Oukonunaka) can ask Luther about his investigations (and about the key) next. Or, Luther can just start talking... whoever posts first. I won't get on that until tomorrow, most likely.