In reply to John-Marc Falcon (msg #202):

"Of course! Here's the sketch. I was working on details on the train here. Seems Egyptian to me, certainly."

Putting down his brandy and cigar, Storm took out his sketchpad and flipped to the right page.

"It was covered with ivy. I couldn't see details from the air, of course. I think Professor Fulty with his camera should be the next observer. I damn near froze my balls off! Still shivering."

In reply to Count Sigismund Bathony (msg #203):

Darlington had listened incredulously to the story of the unbalanced Shipley and his poor mum in the shabby Soho home.

"Blimey, that's incredible! 'Es's completely barmey, Oi'll wager. Tell you what. Oi'll talk to Mahoney meself, tomorra, then wi'd a comaplint in 'and Oi can bring in the lot of 'em, mum and 'er nutter son."

"Ah... that brings up an issue. Tewfik and 'is mates, they're goin' ta be showin' up soon at the Blue Pyramid to pick up a victim. The pattern says tomorra noight. Oi'm not sure I wants you lot gettin' involved. Not unless you undserstand there will be risks if we interfere in their business. Oi'm thinkin' of bringin' in Inspecta Barrington, get 'is welcome assistance in stakin' out the club."

"I'm quite sure you're right. Come Monday, we'll be able to widen our search of the records, see if we can get a list of those who might have joined the expedition here in London."

"If you can provide a name and description we can check the proper records."

"That is excellent news inspector, if I am able to be of any further assistance please ask."

The Count turned to Doctor Weston;

"I will bring in the fake credit note when we next meet say lunch tomorrow. As it is I have a prior engagement tonight I must attend and so I must say my goodbyes. It has been wonderful to meet you all, such an exciting day. Well goodbye."

With that the Count collects his hat and gloves and catches a taxi back to his shop.

In reply to Count Sigismund Bathony (msg #208):

Darlington shook his head at the painting, the savagery affecting him as it seemed to do for all that looked at it.

"Cor blimey, wot an 'orrible piece of work, that is."

"Oi'll 'ave a squizz at the note tomorra, as well, Count. Could get lucky, maybe that bloke, 'e used a known alias, yeah? Oi'll be on my way if there's naow other business."
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:32, Sat 21 Jan 2012.

From the package Jonas sent from New York, Ralph brought out something wrapped in brown paper and tied with string.

"I wonder what this is? Jonas said that he was sending something they found on one of those bloody, er, "bloody tongue" cultists they caught in America. Some made it all the way to New Orleans and were trying to arrange passage to England when they were arrested."

He unwrapped the large item. It was a savage-looking ceremonial mask, evidently quite old. When he brought it out to look at it in the light, a musky unpleasant odor filled the suite. A scent of rotting vegetation, sweat, smoke... and perhaps blood.

"My word, this is ugly! I'm no expert on African artifacts, but this definitely looks African, all right!"

"Tchak!" Singh glares reprovingly at Major Storm for using such language in the presence of a lady.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:57, Fri 20 Jan 2012.

"Really, Cynthia, do you think that painting so vital to our investigation that we need to overstep the boundaries of the law? I mean, forgery, really."

He hands Storm's sketch back to him, "Looks Egyptian-inspired, at least."

Lampton moves to Fulty's side to get a better look at the mask.

Howard Lampton rolled 2d100 with rolls of 87,11: Anthropology 50, Archaeology 50.

"Hmmmm... Certainly appears African from the workmanship, but I cannot place the style or tell the significance."
This message was last edited by the player at 14:03, Fri 20 Jan 2012.

"Frankly, yes. That painting matched the frame we got from Al-Sayad. And Al-Sayad we know is connected with these murders. And the paintings that that silly artist is making match our murders in half a dozen other ways. The same weapons, the African mountain. I don't know how he knows these things, but he does. Logically, he's an accomplice of some sort, and the proof is sitting there, locked in his storage closet."

In reply to Imran Singh (msg #211):

Storm reddened at the implied rebuke. "Quite right! Sorry for the language, miss. I meant, er, my nose." He took another sip of brandy to cover his embarrassment and pulled on his cigar.

The painting was quite ghastly.

It was showing what was, quite clearly, a human sacrifice and cannibalistic ritual by tribal African heathens. The details were vivid and graphic, from the bright blood and blue intestines to the reddish-brown bones that some in the foreground were stipped the meat from using white teeth.

The priest overseeing this horrifying ceremony was wearing the same mask.

"Well, if you want more details, we either drive out there, or someone can fly with me that is good with cameras.  While we are doing it, I can maybe scout for a suitable landing position, but from what I recall that is very unlikely.  I just know that something struck me odd about that stone."

In reply to John-Marc Falcon (msg #216):

"We may do that. There are plenty of farmer's fields in the area, many are fallow this time of year. We could find a place to land nearby if needed."

"Ta ta, Oi must be 'ome for the strife."

With that, Darlington left the room, heading home for dinner.

Arriving at the front entrance of the shop, the Count looks past the closed sign an spotting Perkins in the gloom he raps on the door.

"Good to see you Sir I was wondering if I you would be in before I left."
The Count turned to the man of about 45 who stood before him. He was dressed in a brown three piece suit and already had his bowler hat in hand.

"I to wanted to see you before you left. I have a task, short op eyes only on a building and two occupants, no contact. Similar to the Penhew foundation and for the same reason. Trail the son if he leaves carrying a bag or similar. Take backup and go tooled up."

Perkins had served with one of the London regiments during the War. He won the Military Medal and was put forward for a VC. Fearless character who the Count owed a great deal to. Putting his hand on the man's shoulder he added;

"And be careful the sons mentally unstable and the mother .. well she's just odd."

He stood in the shop alone for several minutes after Perkins had left lost in thought. The smell of the books reminded him of his families library or the library of the University of Bucharest where he met Ileana.

He turned and walked up the stairs to the very top landing and using the key from around his neck opened the door. The room took up the entire floor and was filled with fitted bookcases and several display cabinets. He moved to the velvet curtains and slipped behind them as he opened the door onto the terrace.

It was large and had a section covered by an open glass conservatory that housed a small section of potted plants from his homeland. The Count moved past them to a small table and chair retrieving a bottle and tumbler from one of the long bench chairs as he pasted.

The view of the London roof tops was spectacular, seven stories up he could see for miles in each direction. This was the second feature that sold him on the building of course when he moved in it was being used to store rubbish. Now with a large rough paver's and a waist high wrought iron fence and of course the conservatory who's sliding concertina doors could be close in the cold, it was his one place to escape.

He pored the cognac into the glass and spent the next hour before his dinner engagement finishing it.

Taking his leave Darlington left the hotel, heading home by bus. Tomorrow would prove to be a busy day.

In reply to Albert Darlington (msg #220):

Storm had a few more brandies and smoked a couple more cigars in Howard's room before retiring, himself.

In reply to Major Charles Storm (msg #221):

Fulty had a scotch and soda, leafing through the psychiatrist's report. It all baffled him.

"I should be making my way to bed, too."

"Dr. Weston, you should have a look at this, tell us what you find."

In reply to Prof. Ralph T. Fulty (msg #222):

Nodding, Dr. Weston began delving into the files, himself. "Yes... this whole situation involving Carlyle, his analyst, Penhew. Very disturbing. Perhaps there's a clue here, somewhere."

He yawned, about ready for bed himself. Dr. Weston had his own usual room here on the 2nd floor in a different wing and had been moved there during the day. As a result, JM had been moved into Phil's room a ways away down the hall on the 4th floor.

Cynthia hasn't fully adapted to these early bedtimes, what with sharing a hotel with so many, ahem, distinguished gentlemen. But she knows there's not much to accomplish by staying up all night. Perhaps tomorrow, should they begin following up on these disappearances.

JM finishes his drink and sets it to one side "Then I suppose we will discuss plans in the morning.  It seems we are turning up more clues, but what they mean is another story.  Goodnight."

He heads to his room for some well deserved sleep.

"Gonna go play some more darts." He headed out into the London streets, towards the pub he visited before.

"Hang on, Webley, I could use a bit of a walk." He gathers his overcoat and a walking stick and accompanies Phil to the pub. He buys all their drinks.

Singh assists Simmons in putting the rooms to rights, then retires to his room. He exercises and meditates before going to bed.

They reach the Pig and Whistle without incident, enjoying the walk through the London night. As it was Saturday evening, there was a lot of traffic around them, both vehicles in the street and people on the sidewalk.

After enjoying a few rounds of darts and pints of bitters (as was Phil's drink of choice) they left to make their way the dozen blocks back to the hotel. Roughly halfway, they both become aware they're being followed by a man about a half block back on the far side of the street, keeping to the shadows. It was hard to tell for sure, as there were still quite a few people about.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:17, Wed 01 Feb 2012.