In reply to Cynthia Jane Holloway (msg #337):

Molly took the picture as soon as the lid was lifted and then put down the camera to peer at the ungodly sight that was before her.

The Town House

The statue was a corroded brass statue of a humanoid. It was bloated and tentacled, squatting on a pile of crudely fashioned (and strange looking) human skulls and severed heads. It held another head in one tentacle, while another licked out to suck the brain case clean.


GM Note: need SAN checks for both!

Limehouse

They retreated to the van, and thence returned to the warehouse. Major Storm met them, there wasn't anything new to report, the warehouse truck returned and dropped off the workers, who went inside.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:20, Tue 12 June 2012.

JM compared notes with the others. "We should find out where that ship is sailing.  I would really like to get into that warehouse though."

In reply to The Keeper (msg #339):

Molly automatically took a step back before bracing herself to look at it in more detail.  She at first it looked like somebody's broken pottery that had been a dismal failure but then she noticed that it was planned that way.  Planned for surely such a creature was not real.  Perhaps it was a product of a sanitarium mind...each tentacle representing something that happened to the poor soul.  Of course it also could be one of those African deity statues.  They were also portrayed with gross exaggeration of their body parties.  yes, analytical approach was best.  Put it under a microscope or your cameras eye old girl and you can stand to see it.

"Certainly ghastly isn't it.  Quite imaginative and horrific of course.  It almost looks alive and yet...yet there is something of a twisted mind in there I think.  What do you think Cynthia?"

"The product of mental illness, natural or induced. Regardless, I look forward to smashing it to pieces." Cynthia closes the chest and latches it back up, nice and tight.

"You know, I could stand to go to a show. Somewhere with people, where the only concern is being able to talk without upsetting your neighbors."

In reply to Cynthia Jane Holloway (msg #342):

Molly had to agree with Cynthia on that one.  "Certainly a bad sign for the times we live in.  Yes, I do believe some fun is in store for us for doing this work don't you agree?  I wonder if there is a party going on.  It's not even the break of a new day yet."

"Well lets try to find a access for the warehouse."

The Count uses the shadows to move closer to the building as he looks for a side entrance door or window.

"Count Bathory, wait. That building has several men inside. We cannot hope to look through it undetected. Let us return tomorrow night when most of them will be away. Why invite confrontation?"

Town House

Without noticing, time had gotten away from them. The clock struck one o'clock AM. It's as if the sheer blasphemous nature of the articles under examination were having some kind of subtle effect on their consciousness.

Limehouse

The ship was obviously a no-go. Having passed on the opportunity to have a drink and a 1-on-1 conversation with the dissolute Captain of the Ivory Wind, they decided to look instead into penetrating the warehouse.

Storm was back guarding the van. Everyone else was across the street (Commercial Rd.) from the front entrance.

The brick-sided warehouse had been built by the East India Company some decades earlier, along Commercial Rd. As the company's fortune in India changed and it was eventually dissolved, the fortunes of its former holdings in Limehouse declined.

They knew there was a double door on the rear lane (to the north), a front door on the street (south) and a side alley door to the west. There were blacked out windows into what would be the 2nd story. Earlier glimpses had revealed an open 2-story building, with offices in the SW corner. The open space had some shelves packed with crates and barrels.

A little light seeped out under the doors.


This message was last edited by the GM at 03:13, Wed 13 June 2012.

Darlington looked a little dubiously at the warehouse.

"Lor' luv a duck! Are we goin' inside tonight? By me count, there's eight blokes in there right now. Maybe they'll leave soon, maybe not.

"Blimey! There's a plausible connecshun ter da Black Bruvverhood, 'ere. I can't do i' tonight, but I can call Inspector Barrington an' 'ave 'im conduct a police raid ov da premises. There's a com Know what I mean?"

JM shook his head.  "A police raid might be the best bet now.  I have no desire to charge into the warehouse.  Best to go back to the Count's house unless we want to find that ship's captain and pry information from him."

In reply to Albert Darlington (msg #347):

Called back from his investigations, the Count added:

"Indeed it may be better suited for London finest to make the raid. Do we wish to find the Captain after all or should we call it a night."

In reply to Molly 'Mungo' Fuller (msg #343):

"I'm tempted, but I suspect we may regret it tomorrow. Do you think we need to stay up until the men return? I can already feel my reading stack looming over my head."

In reply to Cynthia Jane Holloway (msg #350):

Molly looked up when the clock struck one and frowned.  "Why look at that.  I thought it wasn't even midnight and it's already one a.m.  No, we'd either be fashionably late for any parties now or they would be ending.  Best leave that to another day then I suppose.  I think we could take a nap and perhaps the men will be here soon.  I can't imagine that they would be out too much later.  Let's put away all these books and papers first and see what time it is then."

In reply to Count Sigismund Bathony (msg #349):

JM nodded in agreement;  "Yes, let Scotland Yard handle these blackguards.  I am for finding this captain and seeing what he has to say.  Is anyone with me?"

In reply to John-Marc Falcon (msg # 352):

Darlington nodded.

"Gawdon Bennet! Let's do that, son. I can put da fear ov God in 'im, an' all right. OK?"

JM will load up in the truck whoever wants to go back down to the docks and drives off.  He'll park discretely and start at the most likely bar.

"Let's go then."

"I will be happy to accompany you and the Detective. Yes lets be off."

In reply to Count Sigismund Bathony (msg # 355):

Fulty and Storm offered to stay with the delivery van, parked somewhere dark and out of sight.

JM, Bathony and Darlington began walking down the pier, looking for the pub the captain had entered.

It wasn't hard to find. Looking inside, they saw he'd chosen the closest one to his ship, within easy staggering distance. It was a rundown dive, called the "Crown and Anchor". Dimly lit, there were a few sailors at one table, a barkeep minding his own business and reading a paper.

The ship captain they'd seen earlier seemed a dissolute sort, badly shaved, threadbare cap, patched pea-coat. He was sitting at the far end of the bar, pint of beer in front of him, smoking a cigar and looking at nothing in particular.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:45, Sat 16 June 2012.

The Count entered the bar and without stopping made his way to the Bar. He caught the barkeeps attention:

"Whiskey straight and four pints of bitter."

He turned slightly on his elbow and surveyed the room. Once the barkeep returned he paid him then asked his companions:

"Do we want to sit or stand ?"

Singh elects to stay with Fulty and the Colonel.

In reply to Count Sigismund Bathony (msg # 357):

"Awright geeezzaa! Let me flip a coin, son.

He was obviously joking. He lit a thin, smelly cigar of his own.

"Looks like we stand. Lead da way! Sorted, mate."

The Count moved along the bar as he downed the whiskey in one. They where closer to the captain now and the Count proceeded to down his pint in short order. He had not glanced at the captain the entire time.

The Count glanced at the sailors seated at the table trying to work out if they knew the Captain. When he was satisfied they where not together he turned to the barkeep, he ordered another for himself, anyone else who had finished and one for the Captain;

"And one for the captain at the end of the bar he looks like he just got in."

He raises his own class if the Captain acknowledges their group.

In reply to Count Sigismund Bathony (msg # 360):

"Ov course, Guvner!"

The captain showed his first glimmer of interest in the rest of the world when the drink was placed in front of him. He tossed down the remains of the last beer, then looked over toasted the Count in turn.

"So which is it my friend, coming in or leaving ? We are looking for passage."