The Canadians quickly excuse themselves after the dinner to go whet their whistle.  The Swiss excuse themselves as well.  Ian drifts to the side of the room and observes the mulling of the crowd.  The Governor stays only for a few minutes then retires for the evening.  Mr Dewey, speaks to several of the League of Nations people, and the Olympic committee people.  You notice that old man Dewey is only passively listening to the men, his real attention is on the young women in the room, he leers at them in an unnatural way.

All this time old Mr Dewey has played the role of the venerable wizened, academic, do gooder.  Always looking out for what's best in society, supporting prohibition because the evils of liquor were bad for society, supporting the government getting into everyones business for the betterment of man.  Yet here he was, in a moment, his façade down, his old wrinkled face, paper thin skin and trembling hands, he licks his lips as he eyes the young ladies in the room.

A friendly voice breaks Si's focus on the old man, What's got you all fired up tonight friend ?  It's Vay Morley.

The people around the table disperse slowly giving friendly goodbyes.  The Archduke goes an meets with the League of Nations people.  The Cardinal moves over to the Italians and the Italians react with a great deal of respect for the clergyman.  General Butler is talking with a French military officer.  Mr Mangano, is in a side hallway talking with two large men in pinstriped suits.  Professor Mercurius and Dr Sorgel are now speaking with the Japanese.

As Artemis watches the various parties Aleister Crowley passes right by him, lightly brushing Artemis, but not noticing him as he moves through the crowd.  Aliester pauses for a moment a foot away from Artemis.  Artemis can see sticking out of his pocket is a train ticket for tomorrow morning at 7:15.  Aliester moves through the room and exits.

 Outside

  Si sips on , whatever  flavored   drink he could get, when Vay  gets his attention, a small smile  grow as his head  , jerks  to the room.

  ... many people here  are not what they seem.  some of those need to be   taught a very good  lessen, But it is not somehting you can do in polite  gatherings. he looked around to see if he could notice  any of his  fiends,

 Cowboy and I were at some partied  in  Hollywood, were a  few people  would 'take it outside'...but this is not that type of  crowd. What of you, how  fair you  tonight?

Vay is dressed smartly in a double breasted white tuxedo jacket and black pants.

Vay chuckles, Well, they are all politicians.  They invest in image, warnings and warm feelings.   Isn't it amazing how politicians can make you aware of problems you didn't know you had, and magically have a solution ready for the problem.

Yes, my friend, compared this gathering, Burbank is the Wild Wild West.

I fair well, and I've learned a great deal from this international gathering.  I'm amazed to learn that the wealthy and powerful around the world seem to be not only susceptible, but actively embracing Occultism of different stripes.  New religions for the 20th Century, mixed with science, but retaining all the dedication and furvor.

What have you learned ? 

  Eyeing the  Table were  Sparks  sat.I have learned there are some folks  here...or at least one, who has the power of the mind, in some form....he  subverted  the woman who hired us, and caused  some  damage, of sorts, to our pilot.

 He  Looks  around , nodding a bit  as he takes a  sip of his drink,..There are darker folks here, you can bet on that.some asian types beat on my friends.. then ran off....There is somehting here, that isn't  right. I think it  has something to do with the Dig...

Vay raises an eyebrow, Why would the Japanese be involved in a German dig in New Foundland ?

The Japanese have their own mythology, with anyone not Japanese, a lesser race.  Perhaps they are just competing ?

Artemis:

Out of the corner of Artemis' eye he catches a familiar image, a bright colored pin on a black silk tuxedo jacket.  The likeness of Chief Sitting Bull, the symbol of the Lafayette Escadrille, who were the American volunteer pilots of the Great War.



Artemis then sees the face, and recognizes him as Lamont Cranston.  But the last Artemis had heard, Lamont had crashed his plane in the South American jungle and was lost.  Yet, here he was, talking with a gentleman with a pencil thin moustache.

    Si  smiled   and  , using his  glass   as  a  walk to shiled him talking...all cultures  have myths...some cultures  believe other cultures  myths....  they might be seeking something of  legend...of...power... even if it it just  for  the papers?  it could  swing  things  in thier  favor, as the   make movements  on the worlds stage.

 ..in my travels, i have  heard of such things

As they mingled, Artemis walked about nodding and smiling at folks.  Then he saw a familiar face, but also one that shouldn't be there.  He kept his eye on the screaming chieftain on the man's lapel and slowly worked his way over to the pair of men.  One was a walking ghost, the other man was unknown to him.

Artemis approached them both and said, "Well, now, I must be at a Theosophical Society gathering looking into the great beyond as it appears Mr. Cranston you are in fact here on the mortal plane and not walking amongst the spirits with a tether too far off jungles of South America."

Artemis grinned as he extended his hand out in friendship, "Artemis Richter, it has been a few years, since our meeting in the fields of France."

In reply to Artemis Richter (msg # 609):

Artemis

Cranston slowly cranes his neck around, a quizzical look on his face.  He sees Artemis, his words starting low and slow then growing,
Sergeant Wilhelm Artemis Richter !  He turns and thrusts his hand into Artemis' with a hearty handshake.

Look at you Sergeant Richter, I would have never recognized you in that suit.  You clean up good.  Last I saw you, you were covered in French mud, and losing fluid out of your leg after pulling me out of my downed Nieuport 17.  Damn Jerry's were on their mark that day.  What can I say, I have a habit of wrecking aircraft.

But at least I didn't need to spend 4 days in a shell hole with the rats, mud, rotting corpses, polluted water, and a wounded man. Poking Artemis in the chest.



Cranston pulls Artemis aside.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:38, Thu 08 Apr 2021.

In reply to Scout (msg # 608):
Si


Jimmy Montague wanders over, the New York reporter and friend of Vay Morley that you met in the Speak Easy last night.

Jimmy looks at Si, You and your band of wanderers know how to get attention don't you ?
I was seated with the Governor.  He tells me you wanderers had a scuffle in his room with some of our Asian friends, then sent a warning to him.

He pulls a cigarrette case out of his pocket, offers one to each of the group, then taps the end of the cigarrette on the case before lighting it.

He wanted to know everything about your bunch.  I didn't have much to tell, other than I trusted Vay, and Vay trusted you.  He sent me over here to ask if you know why Goro Adachi, the Japanese Ski jumper, wants a secret meeting with him.



He takes a draw of his tobacco, and mentions off hand.  Vay, we need to get out of here and get a drink

   Si  again,  used  his  drink to  cover  his   lips as he   gave a nod as if he was  agreeing  with  Jimmy.

  1st off?... don't  trust  any of  the asians....and the hire up the shelf you go?.. trust them  less..

 2 of our  friends   were beaten   up  and hung out to  dry like a washed  rug.  The    cars the fellows  used....suffered some  damage..bad luck and all that , i am sure...,,there is  still  a debt to collect from that.... the other  folks, well. they  just added  desert to the bill. My Advice , would  be to make sure two or more folks  are with the Governor, when he meets  any Asian here...

 there is a slight laugh and adds, Cowboy got  so speaking   parts  in the movies we  latched on to.. and his tricks  got his  some  decent parts.. i  did  stage hand  stuff, and got to be   a stand in, and  extra... had a couple small bit  parts, mostly   warning 'pale faces to stay off our land"

 the  rest of us, are just  sorta  swept  along by  the lady who hired us.

Si

Jimmy nods, very well.  I will let him know right now.  Then its off to tip a few back and take this damn tie off.  Do you gentlemen care to join me ?

  Si looks  around,..I may, follow  after  a bit, there are a few folks here i wish to keep my eye one...

Artemis' face lit up as Cranston not only recognized him but remember his name.  He shook the man's hand vigorously as the Captain began recounting their first meeting.  He had a flashback to the events of that day and how he had been wounded by one of those Jerry's, his first of two wounds in that leg.  The first being the quicker to heal and not the source of the need for the walking stick.

"The rat was a lot more talkative and cooperative than some officer in that hole, as I recall." Artemis winked and chuckled as the mock dismay Cranston shared with those nearby.

He stepped to the side with Cranston and listened intently.  He spoke down at the carpet so only the Captain could hear him.  "So, how did you end up here?"

He listened to the rest of the story, and his nodded.  "Good fortunate found you again it seems.  Sure will look up your club and who can turn down a penthouse view of the City.  Would love to visit in the future.  Kinda tied up here representing Good Year's efforts with the dirigibles and such.  But, really grateful for the offer."

As they were about to shift and part, Arty paused and asked, "so do you know the story with a few of these gents?  That one table really has been glaring at me all night."

With his thumb, he flicked it towards where Table II was and the group still in close proximity.

Si sees Aleister Crowley move past Artemis on his way out of the room.  The bulk of the room are talking cordially, but people are filtering out.

Aliester just catches Kato Danzo leave the room, the short man got lost in the crowd for a while, but he has left the room.

Lamont chuckles, Well, Commissioner Mulrooney convinced me to take the train up for the kickoff ceremony.  I figured it would be nice to get some fresh air.  So, I came.  Glad I did too.

You should be picking the brain of Professor Mercurius on dirigibles, I hear he is developing an advanced floating battle station.

Lamont looks at the Japanese table, Don't know.  I've had a bunch of dealing with the Chinese, but not much with the Japanese.  With them lurching toward open warfare, I don't think things are going to get better. 

  Si will move   about, slowly. His  eyes  shift about  as he looks to see if  any are overly interested   in himself  or Artemis.

  This  was new, but had some undertones of  hollywood. people posturing, some folks over   nice, some needed taken down by a head...The god  differance here, no one thought of him as anyhting  but an 'injun'..well..save for Kato

There were two men talking, they motioned in Si's direction.  But that was not new, Si stood out in White society, no less High Society.   One was European, the other was, well Si wasn't sure, probably European, but had mannerisms that Si had seen amongst people in South America.

They see Si observing them, and the raise a glass and nod in a friendly gesture.

Si  smiled  raised his Glass and Bowed  his head  a little, he thought  about goig over to talk witht hem, but...he was the  outsiders in these confines, he would wait to  see if they came over, or motioned him over.

The two men approach Si, one with his hand out to shake.  He speaks with a Latin accent.

Hello, I am Ricardo Darre, and this is my business partner,Alfred Rosenberg.

Dick Riphagen told us he had recruited an an American Indian for our project in New Foundland, and that you would act as a guide and hunter to stock the camp as the dig goes on.

We couldn't resist, but to introduce ourselves personally.

 Si grasps thier hands  firmly with a  smile and slight  nod  of his head, as he was wont to do with new folks.

 Si Darkshadow.... The Si came later?..it is rumored my father  saw a Dark being leaving   out  home when i was born...

 Aye, This is true, my friends and I were hired  by a  media woman to help get her set up here for the games, but?.. times are hard and  its  nice to know where your next  bit of change might come from?

 I worked  at a few sites in  peru  and  the  'cliff dwellars' in the west..., i might be needed more as   a guide  and  Hunter , up there... not too many folk have been   too deep in the   trees, and the  flow of  outsiders will ...indeed, make it  a bit scarce  for  folks to  find game, if they do not know the area.. they might even become the Game!

 You seem to know  more about me, then I do you?...what is your interest?..Burial ground   Lost city?...

"Really, the professor," Artemis said with a bit of a surprise. "Will be sure to ask him some questions about this floating battle station.  Interesting idea."

"Another war, really," he sighed and looked at Lamont.  "I suspect you are right, but if we can keep out of it this time, that would be the best for many a young lad.  Who you sitting with tonight Cap?"

The room EXPLODES into excitement.

There is a loud thumping, tumbling of falling.  Then a loud scream from a woman.

A body lays at the bottom of the stairs in the grand foyer.  That body is Goro Adachi.