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Fond Memory:
Ollie enjoys a strip steak while responding, "I spent a number of weekends as a student in his office, looking over drawings of archaeological sites, trying to understand what various structures were for. It was enlightening." "Ollie Vandermeer, architect." With a sigh, he adds, "But I suppose that was clear from the will reading. I suspect we'll be continuing to work together to find out what all the papers and whatever we've gathered fully means."
Ollie welcomes the dean. "I'm glad you made it. Please, relax, and don't worry about a thing. I also wanted to make sure you had a good, private place to reminisce about everything Prof. Farnwright meant to us."
GM: Ollie gathers the documents bequeathed to him, along with the note in the one book. He also notes the name of the book and the page the crumpled note fell from; he figures he should be able to find a similar textbook at the university.
He stares at the tin for a moment, shakes his head, and pockets it as well. Something tells him he's going to need it, or at least, this room does not. What a strange thought, a room needing a medallion.
Prof. Farnsworth's Townhouse: Ollie stood in the study and breathed in the musty, argillaceous character of the room. He started looking over the books, shaking his head at the professor's filing system--just as haphazard as he remembers it from previously. Geology, philosophy, a volume on Persian qanats... there we are. That's where architecture begins. The slightest odor tickles his nose. Almost instinctively, he looked back to the desk, opening one of the lower drawers. Jackpot! He pulled out a crystal decanter, took a sniff, and there it was. Kentucky bourbon. Ollie reminisced about how the prof would share a drink with him during his time studying at Columbia. He even recognized the decanter as the same one as from his university office. No doubt Prohibition meant he had to take it back home where it wouldn't be seen. He checked the drawer, and sure enough, there was a prescription for medicinal whiskey should it ever become an issue. Ollie returned the decanter and looked over the filing cabinet, realizing there had to be a spare key somewhere... And then he remembered. It was true back in his college days, why not now? Returning to the drawer, he opened it, looked past the decanter, and behind it, he found something.
Navigating buildings is a second nature for Ollie. Design of hallway placement, exits, and other safety features are always what he's aware of in any space.
"Gentlemen," Ollie speaks up, "I've got a private wake scheduled around 5-6pm downtown. The dean, at the very least, will be there. You're all welcome to join."
"I've been given a folio of sketches, ostensibly of a building or other structure. Sight unseen, there's little more I can say about it at this time."
Ollie considered his note and watched the others in the room. "In all honesty, there's only so much conjecture we can create before recognizing that we really just have to see for ourselves what has been bequeathed."
Ollie easily makes the walk from his downtown office to 40 Wall, arriving under a black umbrella.
"Wonderful. I think it will be good for all of us." Ollie shakes Harrow's hand and takes his leave. Offering perfunctory condolences to Ms. Dunn (who seems to be distracted by a much better looking socialite) he makes his leave of the event, checks his watch, and stops by his office on the way to the attorney's. "Hello, Delores," He greeted his secretary, a young woman appropriately dressed in gray, "I'm going to need a reservation tonight for dinner. Party of..." he counts on his fingers a moment "six, maybe seven. A private wake for the funeral I just attended. The dean of Columbia's College of Archaeology will be there. We'll want some discretion, so a private room at Voisin or similar would be appropriate. I've got a second appointment I need to rush to, so wherever you can get is fine. Secure it with the company account. Thanks for your help. I should be back for any details or messages before five." Business done, he rushes to the will reading.
"They certainly can be," Ollie agrees. He looks around a moment before lowering his voice. "Listen, I know everyone here is offering their condolences to Ms. Dunn, as is right, but this certainly hasn't been easy on anyone, yourself included. Why don't you come by my office this evening, and we can hold our own wake over your late colleague? I can arrange for a room at a local restaurant. Bring whomever you like. Just a chance to celebrate the man and friend."
Changes made, thanks!
Ollie grabs a drink and heads over to Prof. Harrow. "Dean Harrow? Ollie Vandermeer. I worked some with Prof. Farnwright back when I was a student. This can't be an easy time. I was surprised to hear of his passing, but I know it's been a long time since he and I had last spoken in any case. But it seems like it was a surprise to far more of us? Faculty, alumni, everyone?"
No worries! I'm still thinking changing the skills is the best thing to do, because then everything is set up for the proper edition. If the GM agrees with the change, I'll make it.
Okay, if my skill list is using the wrong edition, then can I make the following updates: Bargain -> Appraise Reputation -> Law This means I've got one free personal skill (since Law was one of them). I'll change that from Law to Science(Mechanics). That's the science of how things move, stress and strain, how buildings fail, that sort of thing. The skill sheet also doesn't mention my personal skills, just my occupation skills. It's on my character sheet: Occult 25, Archaeology 20, History 25, Law 25 -> Science(Mechanics) 20.
I used the list from the Obsidian Portal. But perhaps it uses a previous edition?
Ollie recognized that Farnwright's family and colleagues wouldn't remember what the two of them worked on together, so he accepted sitting in silence throughout the funeral. Once the funeral ends, he surreptitiously checks his watch, making sure he has time to attend the reception and pay his respects to the family before leaving for his 2pm appointment. It was strange that I was invited to the will reading, Ollie thought. Perhaps there was some old diagram available he wanted me to have. Would make a nice curio for the office.
Ollie thinks he notices something, but focuses more readily on the candle flames themselves. He then pushes them out of his mind to listen to the eulogy. Time just keeps passing, doesn't it, he thinks. He remembers his college days, identifying what was a crypt and what was a cistern, how ancient civilizations put their buildings together. I wonder what he was working on at the end?
Ollie leaves his office, informing his secretary, Delores, to inform passersby to his absence this afternoon. The walk to the Columbia chapel is close enough, so he takes a moment to reflect before he arrives. He arrives at the chapel, not tall, perhaps a bit more heavy-set than most. He removes his fedora as he enters the chapel, and gathers his leather gloves and overcoat over his arm. Underneath, he wears a three-piece suit and tie, both in black in mourning. His hair already shows signs of graying, and appears slightly gray. He wears a mustache over large jowls. He heads near the front to take a seat. It's been a while, he thinks. He treats a hand on the pew he's chosen, genuflects, and takes a seat.
I'm satisfied with expectations and don't have any content I'm worried about. And, as a high-POW, high-EDU, low-LUCK character, it'll be fun to try to stick around, anyway!
There's no real "starting wealth" in the game. Instead, the Credit Rating skill is a vague measure of your ability to procure stuff. Your actual accurate wealth level is not measured in game. Thank you for choosing me! And, to mirror Malcolm, Call of Cthulhu is definitely more of a team exercise; this is not a game where you train your character up to beat the baddies up like a dungeon adventure. I'm happy to work with everyone to figure out how to take care of ourselves and each other in the face of insurmountable terror.
Sweet! Let me know if you need anything further in my background (in my profile). Both the deep secret and the connection with Prof. Farnwright have been added.
@Wrong John Silver: fantastic! Don’t forget to include his connection to the professor, tenuous as it may be, and his deep secret in the final product. Here's the character. Just finishing a couple extra things I need to roll
This is very exciting! Looking forward to this!
Here's the character sheet for Sluagh. Let me know if you have any questions; I bought 100 common inn stays to represent a bunch of holes in the wall, sewer locations, etc. that she can hole up in and spend the night as necessary. Mei'ska has not participated in any online campaigns. |
