Re: 31 March 1925: A Week Later...
Elsewhere, in Woking, SW of London, Imam Muhammad al-Nasir poured tea for his guest.
"It is a strange tale indeed, my friend, involving this Count Bathony you seek at tonight's book launch. For I believe Allah delivered he and his associates to us, that they might help recover those who were taken by the most foulest infidels, and bring them to justice. And so that has come to pass a week ago.
"The Count and his companions took matters into their own hands, delivering Allah's swift judgement without mercy on the group of infidels who worshipped the pagan Black Pharaoh, and also called themselves "Black Brotherhood"."
Alexander was vaguely familiar with this supposed ruler of ancient Egypt, who's identity was shrouded in mist and uncertainty. It was said by the ignorant that the Black Pharaoh was not really a man, but a god. An evil spirit, then, as here are no gods except for God. (And Mohammed is His prophet, a thousand blessings be upon his name.)
"How do I know this story? A few days ago, one of the friends of the Count, a Professor Ralph Fulty of America, spoke to me and imparted some details. We had become good friends, you see. All of this I must ask you to swear you will not reveal to any improper parties!
"The story does not truly begin here in London, although the part I am familar with does. Many of the "forgotten" in society, along with some of the faithful, went missing over the last few years, it was known they were killed although not all their bodies were recovered for proper burial. All were associated with the Blue Pyramid club in the wicked Soho quarter of London, a place popular with the less devout of our people and other foreigners, mostly from the Orient. Someone called the "Soho Slayer", according to the London Scoop and Miss Molly Fuller, was suspected of being the killer, but this was a ruse. It was really the Black Brotherhood. The leader was Edward Gavigan, head of the respected Penhew Foundation. His foul dog, Tewfik al-Sayid, undertook his dirty work. The police, save one or two, were of no help. Those that looked too close feared for their lives, even police."
The names Tewfik al-Sayid and Gavigan did not ring any bells for him at that time, but the Penhew Foundation did. They were located in London and had organised and undertaken some expeditions to uncover Egypt's lost treasures over the years. Their last expedition had ended in failure and death. The Carlyle Expedition had arrived in Egypt in 1919, made little progress, in a couple months left on a side trip to Kenya where they were killed to a man by natives who were then dealt with by the Colonial authorities.
Sir Aubrey Penhew disappeared, along with the rich playboy Roger Carlyle. Several others, British and American, disappeared as well, presumed dead.
"This cult had been kidnapping people for many years and sacrificing them to their blasphemous Dark Pharaoh. The unwanted, the unnoticed, the forgotten. The foreigners, like us. This Black Brotherhood was very well connected in the police and government, and the first Detective Inspector on the "Soho Slayer" case disappeared, a victim of the Brotherhood. And so the next police Inspector, Barrington, used our friends to carry out his investigation... outside a law that does not protect the likes of us. He persuaded Detective Sergeant Darlington to watch over them and provide unofficial assistance.
"Once they were certain that Gavigan and Tewfik were part of the Brotherhood, our friends investigated Tewfik's spice shop. They did not find much, but later, along with Detective Sergeant Darlington, they investigated the Penhew Foundation. In the basement they found documents linking London to Shanghai and Melbourne. Shipping only God knows what and for what purposes. It was also made certain that Gavigan had taken over the Foundation's assets. And Penhew had left his considerable wealth and resources to the Foundation. Buildings, properties, even a steam motor-yacht.
"The Detective Sergeant puzzled out the pattern of sacrifices and rituals, blood sacrifice and unholy rituals, these were being practiced at the New Moon.
"Using the probate papers kept in London, they traced Gavigan and the Penhew Foundation's ownership to a warehouse on the waterfront, and with police help raided it, discovering a stockpile of weapons left over from the war, hashish, opium, morphine and other contraband, and clothing and articles belonging to victims of the Brotherhood. From the warehouse they discovered a ship, the Ivory Wind, that the Brotherhood used to transport goods around the world to Shanghai, China, and Port Darwin, Australia. The captain and crew of the Ivory Wind are still being held by police, to my knowledge, along with the warehousemen.
"Finally, it was discovered that the Black Brotherhood used Penhew's mansion near Harwich and Colchester, al Misr House for their rituals. Yes, named by some frivolous Englishman after our own Egypt! Two of our flock, Ai'Yesha and Rashid Ka'im Basara, had been kidnapped, along with some of the investigators. The others, along with Faruk and Haji (Egyptians who served with the British Army, and members of the Mosque's congregation), attacked the estate to rescue their friends and the members of our flock. They killed the cultists, including Gavigan, and burned this to the ground. Two blasphemous monsters were also killed, the size of elephants, but they flew! Faruk and Haji both swear to this upon the Prophet. These abominations are now dead, praise Allah. Tewfik escaped, may he be cursed a thousand times.
"So. It is a strange story this Count has to tell. But it is all true, as both Ai'Yesha and Rashid swear. They are safe, and they thank these brave souls who rescued them, but not without great cost. Several of their friends perished. But the truth of this has been obscured so that attention is not drawn to these deeds."
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:41, Fri 05 July 2013.
