21:57, Today: Rosalie Elias rolled 3 using 1d3 with rolls of 3.  Sanity Loss.

23:15, Today: Vincent Moretti rolled 1 using 1d3 with rolls of 1.  Sanity Loss.

Looking to the larger of the crates, Vincent can see that it is stenciled on the outside to read Ho Fong Imports, 15 Kaoyang Road, Shanghai, China in both English and Chinese. In smaller letters were the words Attention: Honorable Ho Fong. Opening the crate, he found within it a textured marble statue of a strange looking figure that appeared to be a hideous, bloated woman.



Moving on to the smaller crate, he sees that it is stenciled Randolph Shipping Company, Port Hedland, Western Australia, Dominion of Australia. In smaller letters, it said Personal to Mr. Randolph. Within the smaller crate, he saw a sixteen inch bust of a figure whose head was oddly shaped and beset by tentacles on the lower half.



OOC:

Vincent, give me a SAN roll (0/1d4), as well as Occult and Cthulhu Mythos rolls.

I posted the description openly. If Rosalie or Tommy want to have a look at the statues, they can make the same rolls (except Tommy's will be 0/1d6).

This message was last edited by the GM at 15:01, Tue 27 June 2017.

Shuddering momentarily at the alien appearance of the statues, Moretti took out his pen and notepad, copying the names and addresses on each of the crates.

That done, he ventured to the back of the room, to look over the loose papers on the table.

20:14, Today: Vincent Moretti rolled 40 using 1d100 with rolls of 40.  Cthulhu Mythos - Cthulhu Mythos 6%

20:14, Today: Vincent Moretti rolled 75 using 1d100 with rolls of 75.  Occult - Occult 5%.

20:14, Today: Vincent Moretti rolled 74 using 1d100 with rolls of 74.  Sanity - Sanity 67%.

20:15, Today: Vincent Moretti rolled 2 using 1d4 with rolls of 2.  Sanity Loss.

Well well well...".
Following the others Tommy emerged in the hidden study. He nodded his approval as Rosalie triggered the closing of the entrance and allowed his eyes to wander the room.

With Vincent examining the crates and Rosalie settling to leaf through those papers, Tommy moved to the bookcase to kneel and explore its contents.

ooc:
Seems like it would be impossible not to look at those paintings right? Especially for someone like Tommy who dosnt realize their danger...
10:58, Today: Thomas Cotton rolled 71 using 1d100 with rolls of 71.  Sanity vs 60.
(Ha, I didnt realize my starting Sanity was so obscenely low already!)
11:00, Today: Thomas Cotton rolled 3 using 1d3 with rolls of 3.  Sanity loss.

On the back table, Vincent found a few papers next to a small ornate chest and a stone jar. What had appeared to be papers had resolved themselves into a calendar as he got closer. It was flipped to February, and the first day of the month was circled, and within the circle, the words Misr House were written.

Behind the calendar, there was also a scroll that had a weathered look about it. Peering closer at the scroll, he could make out a few words in Italian.

---

Within the fine walnut case were several glass-protected shelves of books and scrolls, with three volumes set on top of the shelf. Quickly recognizable were volumes in German, French, Russian, Latin, and Spanish. Two were in English. There were three that had been pulled out and stacked on top of the shelf, titled: G’harne Fragments, Ye Booke of Comunicacions with ye Angel Dzyon, and Liber Ivonis.

Looking at the scrolls, he found they were fifteen in number. Six were in Arabic, four in Latin, two in Egyptian Hieroglyphics, two in Medieval French, and one in Old English.

Rosalie slowly put the letter down and stared at it for a long moment before pushing away.  After a brief search of the desk for anything else of import, she rose from the chair and threw another glance about the room.  Her eyes strayed toward the paintings and she felt a roll of nausea welling up inside of her.  Quickly looking away, she moved to join Tommy at the bookshelf.

"We certainly were right to think that this brotherhood was involved.  I found a letter that Gavigan had written a man called Omar Shakil to tell him of the death of the spice merchant.  He mentions the American men that were seen lingering about the shop and that they're suspected of being responsible."  She looked from one man to the other.  "I assume that means the two of you.  He's connected you the visit my uncle and I paid him, and also to Jackson's death.  He also knew Jackson's killer by name.  It is safe to say that they were responsible for my cousin's murder.  He means to kill us all before their ritual."

PM

PM

In reply to Vincent Moretti (msg # 68):

Moretti was silent for a moment, considering what Rosalie had told them. After a moment, he shook his head. "Rosalie, I don't think Gavigan is referring to Tommy and I. There were three of us that broke into al-Sayed's shop that night. Miss O'Connor served as a lookout, then went in and helped with the search. If someone had seen Tommy and I get in, they would have observed her as well. But the letter only mentions two men."

He frowned. "When Stanley called Avery about what he and Bo had seen while they were watching the spice shop, he said that the two of them had a run in with some workers who were removing a crate out of the place. A crate they thought held the mirror."

"Gavigan is talking about Bo and Stanley. He thinks they killed al-Sayed. I'm not sure how he connected them to you and Leo. It may be nothing but an assumption. Someone comes calling, asking about Jackson, then one of their cult members ends up dead. They presume it's no coincidence."

Any pretence of being civilized fell away from him. He looked at Rosalie. "We're going to put Gavigan in the ground. He's not going to hurt you or anyone else. Not if I've got any say in it."

"We need to move quickly. Search this place and find every bit of documentation we can about Gavigan, the Brotherhood and their activities. Agreed?"

Rosalie gave Vincent a long, hard look before nodding.  "I have no argument with that," she replied with something of a hard edge to her voice.  "Anyone involved in this bloody cult, anyone involved in the death of my dear cousin, will have no mercy from me.  None in the slightest.  Mr. Gavigan has a surprise waiting for him if he thinks we are to be so easily disposed."  And they knew, Vincent especially, that she wasn't one to make idle threats or boasts.

"We cannot possibly take all of these books, but I think the scrolls can be easily managed.  Perhaps one or two of the texts that look important.  I think it is a safe guess that if the mirror was housed here, it would be kept in this room, away from the antiquities of normal business and prying eyes.  Unless... was it small enough to fit down the stairs, do you think?"

He considered the spiral staircase as he removed his scarf. He glanced at Cotton for confirmation, then said, "The mirror was large. It might have proven too awkward to carry down here. It would definitely be heavier than the paintings."

He took out his switchblade, snapping the knife open. "Just to be safe, we should probably do a walk through of the second floor before we go, just to make certain it isn't here. The frame is...grotesque, disquieting. But, it's not so unusual that it wouldn't fit in within a collection of other antiquities."

Working quickly, but carefully, he cut a strip, roughly half an inch in width, from the entire length of the scarf. Once done, he closed the knife and put the scarf back around his neck. He tested the strength of the strip, tugging at it in opposite directions, then placed it in his coat pocket.

Nodding at Rosalie, he said, "We'll make certain that stronzo pays for what he did to Jackson." Shifting his attention back to the table, he retrieved his notepad and pen, writing down the caption "Misr House" from the calendar, noting the February 1st date.

Picking up the scroll for closer examination, he said, "I think that the ritual is tomorrow. And the location is given on this calendar. A place called the Misr House."

PM

Rosalie watched Vincent as he cut his strips, but didn't comment.  She knew they might very well need them before the night was over.  "Tomorrow?  That is rather soon.  Misr House?  Misr is the Arabic word for Egypt.  Do you think there's a place in London called Egypt House?  Or is it alluding to an Egyptian themed place like the Blue Pyramid?"   Opening the glass bookcase, she began removing the scrolls and carefully packing them into her bag.

PM

An expression of mixed interest and amusement crossed Moretti's features as he briefly studied the contents of the scroll. Tucking it into one of his inner coat pockets, he looked back at Rosalie.

"We might discretely ask a staff member at the Savoy. The concierge maybe. See if either the Egypt House or Misr House is a location that's known in the city. If not, I can always ask after the name with one of my business associates here. See if they've heard of it."

He looked over at Cotton. "If those sources can't get us an answer, we might pose the question to Zubaida. I know she said not to contact her unless it was vital, but this would certainly qualify."

Returning his attention to the table, he studied the small chest for a moment before carefully attempting to open it.

"Before the ritual? What ritual?". Tommy set down the book he had been leafing through to look at Rosalie with confusion.
Referenced in msg #66
Vincent soon cleared it up. "Maybe that is where the truck takes people?".

He nodded agreement to Vincent's summary though. "True. I'm sure they didn't see us at the Spice Shop. They must have clocked Stan and Bo earlier today. Bigger problem is if they somehow followed the guys back to the hotel and saw us all together...
If Gavigan planned to enact something before the ritual, he had to know where to hit us right?". The reporter swore under his breath.
"Is there any way we can warn the others?".

He shrugged when Zubaida was mentioned.
"Our friend's at the Scoop might be a better option. 'Americans' going anywhere near Zubaida will put her at even more risk, so we should hold back while we have other avenues."

ooc: I guess we've been down here for a good 10 minutes or so? So the guard rotation is still c.30 minutes away?
Is there a wood heater or anything like that down here to burn the books we cant carry?

"Whatever ritual that they're going to be doing with the mirror.  See your enemy, hurt your enemy?" She picked another scroll from the shelf, unrolled it to have a look, then rolled it back up and tucked it into her satchel.  "If the others are going to be at the docks, then we should go there to warn them, but we could call Avery first in case they have already checked in.  We could also ask Avery to find the Egypt House for us.  I'm sure he could easily get that information from the staff for us."

OOC:

Yes, it's been roughly ten minutes down here. You guys have had unbelievable luck with the guard's poor hearing tonight. Hopefully for you it will keep up!

Time Check:
35 minutes till next guard patrol

"But you said they were going after the American's before the ritual? So the ritual is something else?".

With concern mounting for their fellows Tommy looked up through the ceiling, recalling the layout above.
"Maybe one of us needs to get out of here with the scrolls, and get to a phone to warn the others.". It might already be too late, but at least a message to Avery would give a slim chance. "While the other pair of us look for that mirror?".

I presume there is no phone in the secret room? I saw the comment on electrical and water plumbing when we first entered.

Moretti was silent for a long moment, then moved to the desk. Taking a piece of stationary, he wrote down a telephone number with a few words beneath it. He handed it to Cotton.

"You two need to go. Grab what you can and get out of here. My suggestion would be to find a pub nearby that would let you use a phone. Call Avery. Let him know what we've found out."

He pointed to the note he'd given to Cotton. "Then call that number. It's a phone used by the Sabini family's leadership. Use my name. Explain to whoever answers that I told you to call because you need somewhere safe to stay. Tell them I told you to say the phrase on this paper. 'In barca a vela'." He repeated the phrase twice more so both Rosalie and Cotton followed the pronunciation. "They'll get you set up at a safe house here in London."

"Then get to the docks. See if you can find the others. Once you have, head to the address the Sabinis have given you." He glanced at the ceiling. "I'll case the rest of this place for the mirror. If I find it, I'll lift it or destroy it. Then I'll get to the waterfront myself."

"No.  Absolutely not," Rosalie said firmly, after a moment of consideration.  "We're not leaving you here alone.  Didn't we already establish that there is safety in numbers?  I know you're always willing to make whatever sacrifices you need to make, Vincent, but it isn't necessary in this case.  They know that what we're doing is dangerous.  And yes, we need to find the others and make sure to keep everyone safe, but leaving you behind isn't conducive to that goal." 

Her eyes drifted about the room and then back to the stairs.  "If you want more time to look around and are worried about the guard, I can always distract him.  I could approach from the front and even ask to use the phone to call the Savoy.  But for now, we keep going here, search the place, and we all leave together.  If you want to contact your Italian friends to set up a safehouse, then we can do that together, too."

"Mannaggia," Moretti said softly. He took a deep breath. "Rosalie, yours is one of the very few opinions that I hold in the greatest respect. I understand that you want to keep everyone together, to keep everyone as safe as possible. But...I just need to ask you to consider this from my perspective."

"Based on that letter, the others are in real danger. Leo. Bo. Stanley. If they were followed, they might not be aware of what kind of trouble they're in. Yes, they're sharp enough to have noticed someone tailing them. Possibly. But we can't be sure. It's playing the odds. The best course is to make sure they're warned."

"In my world, there are people...leaders, that have to be protected. It's not that different here. Leo, Stanley, Tommy, you...without your taking part, this effort to find out about what happened to Jackson can't go forward. In New York, in Italian Harlem, people like that, like you, are more valuable than the life of a single, insignificant soldato."

He swept his hand in an arc. "Rosalie, I've been doing break-ins like this since my Papa died. I can handle sneaking around upstairs, looking for the mirror, guard or no guard. It's what I do. It's who I am. I'll be fine."

"But I don't want the others to be blindsided, either by enemies at the docks or an ambush at the Savoy. I want to make certain everyone gets somewhere safe."

OOC:

Is anyone waiting on me?

Tommy: You're correct that there's no phone down here.

Time Check:
30 minutes till next guard patrol