After changing his mind about abandoning his comrades, Professor Fulty disembarked from the White Star liner SS Britannic before she was to start her Atlantic run in Southampton and embarked on a different ship, the SS Egyptian Prince of the Prince line.

The British Prince was instead was on a Mediterranean route, docking in Alexandria to offload some passengers and then Port Said to pick up cargo for the return trip to London.


The trip to Alexandria would take twelve days. Before he departed Southampton Fulty sent a telegram to the home of Alexander Mahfouz in Cairo. He made it back to the wharf with minutes to spare before the Egyptian Prince cast off and was thus unsure if his message had been received. He could only hope, and at least he had a destination in mind once he arrived there.
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:43, Sun 09 Aug 2015.

At the beginning of the week, Professor Fulty had some vaguely disturbing dreams. He forgot all about them come morning time.

After a pleasant enough trip aboard the SS Egyptian Prince, Ralph arrived off the coast of Egypt and the port of Alexandria. On a headland off to the right as they passed the harbour entrance was the ancient fortress of Ras el-Tin palace. Below it was a modern lighthouse built upon the Temple of Poseidon. Once in the harbour they passed the warships HMS Warspite and Iron Duke, berthed here during and after the Great War.

Once they arrived at their assigned berth, the Egyptian Prince dropped anchor. Immediately, the ship was surrounded by innumerable small boats. These were boats with tour guides (aka "dragomen") and from the Egyptian hotels and tour companies. It reminded him of something not unlike a feeding frenzy of Piranhas from the deepest Amazon.

The purser informed Ralph in a voice with a slight Irish lilt, "'tis the end of the journey, sir. From here, you must take one of them boats ashore and go t'rough customs. I can sell you a rail ticket if you are not planning on staying in Alexandria."

In reply to Purser O'Brien (msg # 3):

The twelve days of traveling to Alexandria had been mostly monotonous, with the weather being mostly pleasant. Thankfully, he had brought a few good books along to distract himself from troublesome thoughts. He did continue to wonder about whether his telegram had reached his destination, and at times had wondered if maybe he should have delayed his departure until he had heard news. The dreams that he knew he had, but was not able to remember in the morning, gave him a certain sense of trepidation, though he knew he had made the right choice in pursuing his companions to Egypt.

Upon arriving in Port, he found the whole scene quite amusing. The small ships rushed to and fro, seeking for attention and patronage. When the purser greeted him, he responded, "Why yes, good fellow, I am considering that I may want to get a ticket to head to Cairo as soon as possible. I have a friend that I am a little anxious to meet up with as soon as possible. I did wonder though whether it may be worth my while to seek out some provision for my journeying here in Alexandria before I depart?"

His last sentence almost seemed at first a statement, though in the end, he inflected it as an obvious question. He had a certain unsure feeling still, as his concern about his friend and whether the message had reached him or not still bugged him.

The purser opined that the train ride to Cairo would take three and a half hours on the express. If he could wait that long, literally anything that could be bought, sold or made on the spot could be had in its endless markets. Food could be bought on the train if he bought a first class ticket. Otherwise, food could be bought at the station.

"Would you be wanting a first class ticket? That will be one Egyptian pound and sixty-six piastres. I can also change other funds, British pounds or even American dollars, if you have any."

In reply to Purser O'Brien (msg # 5):

'Well, I think a first class ticket may be worth my while, and as you say, once I arrive in Cairo, I can definitely find there whatever I may need.'

In reply to Prof. Ralph T. Fulty (msg # 6):

The purser sold Ralph his train ticket, changed some British pounds into Egyptian pounds and Piastres, tipped his hat and then left to attend his duties.

There was a thick smell of coal smoke over the harbour. Overlaid was a stench of fish from the fish market and the many fishing boats that served them.

After randomly paying a boatman a reasonable-seeming fare, Ralph was transferred to the wharf at the Customs house.


OOC: How many bags/suitcases/trunks? Any weapons or drugs to declare (or try and smuggle in)?

Aside from his personal bag that he was carrying, Ralph had a trunk of his clothing and a few other assorted necessities for his journey.

Besides this, Ralph carried with him a small revolver, that he felt it wiser to declare at the customs rather than attempt to smuggle. He hoped that they would take kindly to an older gentlemen such as himself, in his standing, to maintain personal defence in a strange land. He also hoped that his credentials with the University would hold him in good stead with negotiating his way through customs.

In reply to Prof. Ralph T. Fulty (msg # 8):

On the water Ralph braved the cacophony of tour guides ("dragomans") and hotel tour boats on the water, shouting "take a tour with us! Stay at our hotel!" to make the wharf. Fighting his way through the crowd to obtain his bags and trunk (each item held by a different dragoman or hotel representative).

He was repeatedly blocked by crafty souvenir sellers hawking small stoppered bottles filled with a cloudy fluid. "Have a Taste of the Nile! Please! Very affordable and a once-in-a-lifetime experience! No, that one is poison! I have the only real Taste of the Nile!" As well, trinket and postcard sellers, foodsellers.

Finally, he was able to fight his way into the wharfside Customs House. His pistol was subject to a stiff permit, which he paid. Finally, he was out the other side and on the sidewalk of the boulevard. From there, he took a horse-drawn cab down the Rue de France past massive European cathedrals to Bab el Gedid station.
This message was last updated by the GM at 11:17, Fri 04 Sept 2015.

Ralph settled in a little once in the coach. It was nice to relax a little in the carriage, though the road was a little bumpy. He could not help but consider whether to remain in Alexandria and take in the sights a little. The many ancient cathedrals and sites of interest were definitely something the Professor could lose himself in quite easily. However, as he approached the station, he thought again about the telegram, as yet unanswered, and of his other friends, and thought it best to do what it took to get to Cairo as soon as possible.

In reply to Prof. Ralph T. Fulty (msg # 10):

Once at Bab el Gedid station, a long, low structure over seventy years old, Ralph paid the cabbie and was let off. The platforms were uncovered, steam and smoke rising in a fog.

Many hands eagerly reached to help him carry his bags, or sell him trinkets or food.

Paying the carriers for their aid in disembarking his luggage, he shoos away the many pestering salespeople. If he would pay any attention to one, he would be overwealmed by them. If he was to buy one of their wares, even one, he would never be left alone. Once settled at the station, Ralph went to find out when he would be expecting the next train to Cairo. Hopefully, there would be much delay.

In reply to Prof. Ralph T. Fulty (msg # 12):

A robed bedouin bumped into Ralph, stopping him in his tracks. The man's face was hidden under cloth but something about the eyes looked familiar. The man loosened the veil across his face and his identity became more clear.

It took a second for him to realise it was the Egyptian man he'd met back in London, Alexander Mahfouz. Alexander led him aside to where they were out of the flow of traffic to the ticket windows. "Mr. Fulty! My friend. I wasn't sure it was you who sent the telegram, so at first I stayed incognito to surveil those getting off the ship. Then I followed you here, mainly to see you were not followed. I don't believe so, at least to the best of my ability. Please, let us get tickets on the next train. An express, that leaves in an hour. We shall be in Cairo in time for supper."

Bidding the porter to follow, he led Ralph up to one of the windows, unwrapping his turban and face covering as he went. Speaking in Egyptian to the ticket-seller, he bought two first-class tickets on the Cairo express. "There. We shall be quite comfortable. Are you hungry? Do you need to wash up? Tea and dinner will be served, of course."

Both a little amazed and relieved, Professor Fulty followed his old friend Alexander, as he led him to where the tickets were sold. It was certainly of great benefit to have a native speaker in this foreign land. It was also encouraging to know that the telegram had in fact arrived, and was received.

"Why certainly, my dear friend, I am certainly a little famished. A few hours of reprieve before we travel on would be nice, and would certainly give us time to catch up a little, as well as converse a little of what has happened in recent times... Of course, with a little caution."

In reply to Prof. Ralph T. Fulty (msg # 14):

Outside, in the heat of the crowded train platform, Alexander led Ralph to the first class rail cars. They climbed the removable elaborately painted wooden steps that were placed to assist passengers in boarding the train.

"We will have time on the train to catch up. First, some drinks in the club car."

They had a private car to themselves and that's where their carry-on bags were stored. In the first-class cars the passage swarmed with various staff and some well-dressed travellers, some Europeans but mostly wealthy Egyptians. As they waited for the conductor to take their ticket, they caught up. (As Ralph went through the following, he was the one who related this to Alexander.)

Basically, the main thing that had happened in England was the uncovering of an Egyptian-themed cult, the Brotherhood of the Black Pharaoh. The Brotherhood had been using a club, the Blue Nile, to regularly kidnap victims in London for sacrifices. The Blue Nike kidnappings, and in fact similar crimes all around the UK, had been carried out by Tewfik al-Sayid, a spice dealer for Cairo and a regular Egyptian guide for the Penhew foundation. The new director of the Penhew Foundation after Lord Penhew's alleged death, Edward Gavigan, had been the leader of the Brotherhood in the UK and Tewfik had been operating under his orders.

Finally, the group, along with some allies, had mounted an assault on the cult's HQ in Gavigan's Essex estate, al-Misr House. There, all the cultists present for the sacrifices had died (although Tewfik had escaped). The cost was high. Howard Lampton and Phil Webley had been earlier kidnapped by the cult and had been sacrificed. There was nothing they could do. Major Storm and Perkins' brother had been killed by some kind of fantastic flying beasts summoned by the cultists. Imram Singh disappeared in the battle, likely spirited away somewhere unknown by Tewfik al-Sayid. Their police allies had helped cover up the carnage with coincidental stories of traffic and boating accidents.

A great deal of cult-related material had been recovered. Books, statuettes, scrolls, artefacts (a mirror, powders, ankhs, etc.). As well, they had bought an odd painting of some kind of African ceremony.

Having concluded in relating the details of the past to Alexander, Ralph turned his thoughts towards his companions, "Alexander, I imagine that you have connected with my companions here in Egypt, right? How fares things for them? Did you have opportunity to let them know that I was coming? Originally I was heading to Ireland before removing myself home, but my heart told me that my friends would need me here."

In reply to Prof. Ralph T. Fulty (msg # 16):

"Your friends are here. They are staying at my estate on the Boulaq el Gezirat, an island on the Nile that is the home of the upper class. I have many loyal bedouin that keep a close watch.

"Your companions are currently following up on a lead. Your coming will be something of a surprise, as I decided not to tell them of your telegram until I could verify it was you. I think they will be happy to see you!"

He ordered tea to be brought to their cabin, as well as a hookah pipe.

"On second thought, our private cabin is comfortable enough. I shall have food sent here. There is no need to visit the lounge car, unless you prefer?"

Ralph was glad to hear that his friends had arrived safely and were under Alexander's watchful care. After his friend had made arrangements for tea, he sensed a note of caution in his asking about whether to stay in their cabin or head into more common space, "Well, maybe it would be nicer for us to just get our refreshments brought to our cabin."

In reply to Prof. Ralph T. Fulty (msg # 18):

There were several jolts. A whistle blew and the train began to pull out of the station. Outside was a massive throng of people on the platform, both passengers waiting for other trains, railroad staff and workers, countless beggars, touts, tour guides, and food sellers. Smoke drifted by the window as they began to pick up speed.

A conductor came by and collected their tickets, followed by a waiter for their drink orders.

In reply to The Keeper (msg # 19):

"Gin and tonic. Beastly hot, eh?"

He looked fairly comfortable in his burnoose, but it was rather hot due to the inability to open the window on account of the sparks and cinders from the engine.

"Thank you, I will have the same as my friend."

It was quite different being in a foreign land where the sting of prohibition need not be felt.

"Why yes, my friend, quite different from England at this time of year. Though I must say I am glad for the change. It helps the blood to move. One can even feel a little alive."

In reply to Prof. Ralph T. Fulty (msg # 21):

Alexander laughed as the waiter left.

"Yes! Wait until we are in the desert. Have you been in the desert, Professor?"
This message was last updated by the player at 00:59, Mon 21 Sept 2015.

Ralph laughed as Alexander asked his question, especially being addressed as Professor by his old friend. "Why, of course, though not for many years. In my younger years, I did participate in some digs here in Egypt. There are certainly some interesting sites of antiquity here in your land."

In reply to Prof. Ralph T. Fulty (msg # 23):

"We had some trouble on the way here.

"As you might not know, we travelled here by aeroplane! A novel concept. Mr. Falcon has a couple, and aircrew. We flew in the passenger plane from Paris to Marseilles. From thence to Rome, then Ceylon and finally across the Mediterranean.

"While in Paris we stayed in a magnificent hotel. Dr. Weston received a novel from some American chap named Hemingway that was in the War. He liked to drink in the bar there. Quite good, really, if short, you should have a read."

The drinks arrived, Alexander sipped his appreciatively.

"We got into a spot of trouble in Rome. When in Paris we had heard odd stories of people who were having vivid nightmares. All sorts of people, some sensitive types like artists and musicians, but mainly others who are mentally unbalanced or even mad. Very intense dream activity for a short period of time. Then the dreams just stopped. Some of the group went to investigate the local asylums and found that the dreams had happened there as well, then stopped. The Count visited the Secret Vatican Archives to examine their ancient and restricted materials. He was attacked by criminal ruffians! In the Vatican Library itself! Chased through the catacombs, he and Perkins managed to escape. At the pensione where we were staying, a band of black shirted thugs, fascists, attacked, believing JM and the others were pederasts. They managed to escape to the airfield. They say that Mussolini has gotten the trains running on time there, but one wonders where the trains are heading? And at the airfield, I was helping battle a fire that had mysteriously broken out.

"All in all, very exciting. We almost didn't escape Rome with our lives!"

Listening to Alexander's report of the past time since they were in England, he remembered how on his way here, he had a few troubling dreams himself, though nothing that he could really remember.

"Odd you speak of dreams. I know I had a few troubled nights around the same time, though nothing that I can remember. Could it be only a coincidence?"

After hearing of the trouble in Paris and the Vatican, Ralph felt a sense of caution of what could be ahead for them in Egypt. "Well, it seems that maybe there is somebody keeping abreast of our movements, in spite of our best efforts towards secrecy. Have you encountered any trouble since you've been here in Egypt?"

In reply to Prof. Ralph T. Fulty (msg # 25):

"One or two of our party had dreams at that time as well. Some ancient island rising from cyclopean depths? A huge monster roving an accursed city on it. Some kind of bat-winged abomination of a man? Like that statue you found in the cultists' lair in England. But a figure of tremendous size. Rising to the surface and being set free."

He looked out the window as they left the environs of Alexandria and began the trip south along the Nile towards Cairo. The banks were dotted with villages and towns, and lomg lines of palm trees. Fishing boats and cargo vessels were spread across the great and famous waterway.

"Once here, our friends began to investigate the disappearance of the Carlyle expedition. Some information was gained. Many of the foul cultist artifacts you found in England at the Penhew Institute and associated locations can be traced to a seller, Faraz Najir. He describes having men steal them on order from Roger Carlyle's agent, Warren Besart. These items were stolen from Omar Shakti, a very wealthy and powerful man. Also rumoured to be a wicked cultist of a dark, ancient evil... the Black Pharaoh. Who's Brotherhood you destroyed in England, yes?

"There is another archaeological mission being sponsored in Egypt right now by the Penhew institute. The Clive Expedition. They found a mummy inside a sarcophagus in one of the pyramids at Giza. Then is was mysteriously stolen. Sarcophagus and all, before it could be moved! When they explored inside the pyramid chamber, somehow they "lost" time. Just vanished. Those left outside on guard said they were gone for six hours, but they only remember at as an hour passing.

"I think today the others are looking into Warren Besart. As well, a researcher left the Clive Expedition, Jan Vanhuillen or something like that. He is still here in Cairo."
This message was last updated by the player at 02:26, Wed 23 Sept 2015.

A sense of foreboding was in the air, as Alexander related the similar experiences of his companions. Somehow, even though he didn't remember his dreams, a faint sense of horrific recollection swept over him as he told about the ancient cyclopean city and horrible being rising from the sea... This sense of recollection and foreboding affected the way he heard the details of his friends' doings in Cairo.

"Oh, yes... I remember that letter amongst Jackson's belongings...  Yes, the letter from Carlyle from that shopkeeper in Cairo. Another expedition organised by that pernicious Penhew Institute can only spell more trouble. What of this sarcophagus that is stolen?"

In reply to Prof. Ralph T. Fulty (msg # 27):

"We have heard disturbing things about it, my friend. Allah preserve us!

"It was reputed to be the sarcophagus containing the mummy of Queen Nicotris of the Sixth Dynasty. She was an adherent and priestess to the Black Pharaoh, who died earlier. Her sarcophagus was considered lost unto time, until the Clive expedition claimed to find it hidden in Menkaure's pyramid, the smallest at Giza."

http://www.ancientegyptonline.co.uk/QueenNitocris.html

"The night it was discovered, the guards disappeared. Then it was found vanished in the morning. There is no way it could have been removed intact as it was carved from a two ton block of marble. It might have been disassembled, but I don't fancy many could have done that in a few hours time with leaving little or no trace. Not possible.

"But Sir Clive seemed to not be perturbed by this fantastic theft of such a prize find. Instead, they have just moved their digs south to Dashur."

Now the name of Queen Nicotris was rarely spoken of in Archaeology, though the Professor had definitely heard of her name in certain journal articles he had read over the years of his studies. Only vague allusions to her found in certain portions of classical literature gave any clear indication of the belief in her existence. The thought that some relic connected with her could have been discovered would certainly be quite a great occasion for the knowledge of ancient Egypt.

However, her connection to the "Black Pharaoh," and to his ancient and sinister cult, only then to be connected once again in the contemporary time to those who had been uncovered in their hideous occult activities was frightening. The thought of what the disappearance of such an artifact! What could it mean? How could such a thing be explained by the rational mind? The Professor was dark and brooding for a moment after his friend had finished recalling the event.

"Oh, may Allah preserve us indeed, my good friend!" Ralph exclaimed after his silence. "I am afraid, that as you are obviously alluding to, that something quite sinister could be afoot here. With what our eyes have seen, no mere rational explanation of the sarcophagus's disappearance could suffice to put the soul at rest."

In reply to Prof. Ralph T. Fulty (msg # 29):

Appetisers arrived as the sun began to sink over the desert in the western sky. At this point, the train was passing by endless irrigated agricultural land, fed by water diverted from the boundless and ancient Nile. Numerous towns passed by but they rarely stopped. The train car ride was smooth, the carriage rocking gently as they click-clacked along southwards towards Cairo.

He nodded as he sipped his drink. "Indeed. I saw heard about the fantastic beasts that caused so much death up at the cultists' mansion in Essex, al Misr house. Which, as you know, means "Egypt" house.

"It's possible that the marble sarcophagus could have been broken up by tools and the pieces spirited away. With the police guards killed or abducted there would have been privacy enough. Cleaning up all fragments and spreading new dust and sand would not be impossible. If there was a hidden or undiscovered exit to the pyramid, all the better.

"But it simply doesn't make sense. Robbers might damage an artefact while stealing it, there would be no point is breaking it up completely into fragments. It's just a lot of marble rubble at that point. An intact or even damaged sarcophagus might still fetch a handsome price. Just all very queer, I should say."

Ralph calmed down over the appetizers. The horrors that had first been uncovered in New York, and then London, together with the loss of the lives of some of his dear friends, had certainly made the Professor more unstable of late than he had ever known himself to be. Usually, he had a calm and mild manner, though warm.

Watching the scenery change out of the train window, he lost himself in the endless farmland, with the occasional town that they passed by. "Well, my friend. I am glad to be here, anyhow. I know with all that we've experienced thus far, that we need each other more than ever. Hopefully, when we arrive in Cairo, our friends may have found out more to share, and together we can tackle this mystery."

In reply to Prof. Ralph T. Fulty (msg # 31):

Looking out the window, Alexander noted that the sun had almost disappeared behind the palms lining the farms to their west. Lights were appearing in the farmer's huts and collections of  buildings that they passed as the shadows began to stretch. The conductor came in and lit the lamp that provided the light for the cabin.

"The sun has almost set across the western desert. We should be in Cairo soon enough, perhaps an hour. We will find out then."

Ralph continued to enjoy the appetizers and beverages, as the dusk descended. "I will be glad, my friend, when we see the others." Aside from this brief comment, Ralph settled into a repose.

Finally, as their destination was rapidly approaching, he felt quite tired from his travelling. The duress of considering what lay ahead, though mostly subconscious, had taken a toll on the Professor. He was hoping that the night ahead for them in Cairo would be restful and uneventful, though nothing could be taken for granted.

In reply to Prof. Ralph T. Fulty (msg # 33):

Night had fallen, barely, when they arrived at Misr Station, the terminus for lines connecting Alexandria to Cairo and the city's main rail station.

They pulled up inside the station, steam hissing and brakes squealing. With some words by Alexander, Ralph's bags were piled on the endless-seeming platform. The huge building smelled of coal smoke, train grease and the crowds the thronged it.

In reply to The Keeper (msg # 34):

"This way, Professor. We have a motor taxi waiting." He engaged a uniformed porter to help move Ralph's luggage from the platform through a side entrance.

Ralph followed after Alexander to the taxi.

In reply to Prof. Ralph T. Fulty (msg # 36):

Darkness had fallen. They loaded up the taxi and, unmolested by the crowds of passengers, sellers and beggars that thronged the train station, departed by taxi.

The city was lit by the glowing fires of countless oil lamps in windows, and by electric street lights, at least on the main boulevards along which they travelled. They passed new and old buildings, mosques, apartments, government buildings and museums in the centre of the city. Traffic began to thin out after dark.

They passed over the dark Nile waters on a bridge to what seemed to be an island populated by palaces and estates, all walled and lit up from within. Eventually, they reached the gate of Alexander's mansion. It was modest, compared to the other mansions nearby. It was of standard Arab layout, with a white building surrounding a courtyard with shade palms, but also with a high-walled yard in back containing a garage and garden.

Alexander led Ralph inside and to the rear patio, where his friends and companions awaited.