The closet turns out to be just a built-in wardrobe. There are several suits of clothes hanging in it, a robe, and several pairs of shoes on the bottom.

In reply to GM SteamRoller (msg # 844):

     Joseph frowned as he looked inside the 'closet'--it was just so oddly placed--so strange, according to how he understood nautical design.  Maybe this ship was designed by someone from a remote culture--like Russia.  He'd always found the few Russians he'd ever met to be really strange-thinking people.  He quietly closed the closet door and joined the others at the desk.

     "There is one person aboard this ship, remember!" Joseph says, as he came to stand next to Grimsby, "Miss Brie says that she can, um--sense?--someone sleeping below decks.  Remember?  That's why we're trying to find a way down to the lower decks--so we can tie him up and Miss Brie can relax from her...efforts...to keep him sleeping while we are all stumping around, here."

     Joseph looks over the items around the desk--then frowns as he spots one of the Terra Nova Guidebooks.

     "Hey, did I hear someone mention the word 'bofors' was on one of the telegrams?" Joseph asks, as he takes down one of the books from the shelf, "Long time back, I once ser--um--I once saw an Imperial Mexican coastal cruiser in port at...uh, Galveston, I think it was.  And she had a couple of big naval rifles made by an armaments manufacturer called Bofors AB..."

     Joseph holds up the Travel Guide so everyone can see the cover, "Located in Sweden."

In reply to Joseph Rudyard Hunnisett (msg # 845):

Grimsby responds, "Yes, Bofors really is an arms maker in Sweden. The question is whether Bofors in the telegram really meant Bofors guns or was a code for something else, as many of the other words seem to be. I suppose the one word " Bofors" could have been set en clair, but it seems unlikely."

In reply to Grimsby H. Baskerville (msg # 846):

     "Yes, I suppose it could be a direct reference to the arms maker," Joseph says, starting to thumb through the book, "Though I agree with you that that is unlikely.  More likely it's just a trigger to use this book on Sweden."

     "So, to be safe, I'll assume both, until I disprove either.  First, I'll see if the book makes any mention of the Bofors AB company..."

     Joseph checks the Sweden guidebook for both a Table of Contents and an Index, then checks both to see if the book has a specific section listed for the Bofors AB company.  If it does, then Joseph will turn to that page.

     If, however, there is no specific mention made of Bofors AB in either the Table of Contents or the Index (if any), then Joseph will turn to page 12 of the guidebook and see what is there.

Bofors isn't mentioned in the Table of Contents nor in the index (somewhat surprisingly, there is one).

Turning to page 12 just shows a regional map of a section of Sweden. It does show the town of Karlskoga.

Catherine takes a bit of interest in the clothing, trying to see if she can determine where it is from, then idly flips through the guidebook on Poland. "Hmm, well it would make sense for these fellows to be involved with an arms maker."

The clothing looks just like any normal clothing. There's nothing distinctive about it (such as lederhosen), but Catherine does find a tailor's label on the coats: Hans Reusch, 1881 Belgardstrasse, Munich.

Arthur gave the areas of the ship that he could see another scan with his eyes. His rifle was at the ready, stock into his shoulder should he need it.

"Are we taking the ship or not ? if we are lets clear it of personnel and be on our way. This can wait for another time."


-

In reply to Catherine Harston (msg # 849):

Grimsby comments, "The Poles have revolted twice against their Russian rulers in this century, and many would be glad to do so again, if they had the means. If these people are prepared to supply the Polish revolutionaries with arms, they could easily arrange a rising. Her Majesty's Government has its differences with the Russians over the Afghan frontier and the Black Sea, but I doubt we would welcome a major conflict breaking out in Central Europe."

OOC: I realized this game does not involve the Vril (at least as yet) so I had to revise my message.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:29, Mon 30 Sept 2019.

     Joseph closes the book, and with a shrug, drops it back on the desk.

     "Doctor Russell is correct." Joseph says, "Given that it was a couple of days before the first person Doc Solar's freeze ray was used on got thawed out, time likely isn't an issue--unless Herr Shilling had more associates than we are currently aware of."

     "So let's go gather up the minion that Shilling left aboard, then go tuck him in under a nice shady tree, get Doctor Solar's gear aboard, and set sail.  We can then finish this exploration, as well as settle plans for our next move, once we are on the move."

     "Okay, let's go get the gringo.  We should head for the next deck down."

     Joseph walks over to where Dr. Russell stands, near the doorway.

Grimsby said, "I agree we should collect the fellow below and depart, but should we leave him behind? He might be able to report what we had done, either to possible allies or the local authorities, and make trouble for us."

In reply to Grimsby H. Baskerville (msg # 854):

     "True enough." Joseph agrees with Grimsby, "But still--technically-- Kidnapping.  And to what end?  Killing him achieves the same results, and it's easier...but I'm no murderer.  So that's not going to happen."

In reply to Joseph Rudyard Hunnisett (msg # 855):

Grimsby answers, "Well, strictly speaking, this fellow could probably charge us with stealing this airship if we take off in it. We have the choice between being pursued for theft or, hopefully, not being pursued at all if we take off and carry this witness with us."

In reply to Grimsby H. Baskerville (msg # 856):

     "Rather go before el Juez for stealin a ship than stealin a man." Joseph responds, "I hear the Crown, here in España, sentences kidnappers to hard labor--assuming the person that was kidnapped was found alive.  Otherwise it's the Firing Squad."

     At the door with Dr. Russell, Joseph looks out on the deck for a moment, then turns back to look at Grimsby, "Besides, Shilling will thaw out eventually.  He could always tell the authorities--though he's more likely to just come after us."

     "Besides," Joseph adds with a chuckle, "it was Shilling who lied to Doc Solar...who made the Doc all kinds of business promises...then threatened to shoot the Doc if he didn't freeze that poor, innocent goat herder!  Not the goon sleeping below deck!  He's done nothing except choose poorly, and go to work for a piece of human filth."

     "I believe that allowing us to...borrow...his flying yacht is the least that Herr Schilling can do for Doctor Solar.  Don't you agree, Doctor?"

Catherine goes wide-eyed and excited at the idea of having an airship. She fidgets nervously at the talk of firing squads.

"I've been monitoring the man below decks," Brie offers, "to make sure he doesn't wake up before we want him to. I haven't been trying to read his thoughts, though, as that is more difficult and tends to conflict with his sleeping."

In reply to Joseph Rudyard Hunnisett (msg # 857):

Grimsby says, "Your argument is plausible to me,  but I am doubtful that Schilling or the Spanish authorities would agree. We must hope that Schilling and his men will not thaw out sufficiently to report our "theft" until we are well away. Can Dr. Solar give us an estimate of how long they will stay frozen, and how clear their minds will be when they first thaw?""

OOC: This is revised in accordance with Joseph's information.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:47, Wed 16 Oct 2019.

In reply to Grimsby H. Baskerville (msg # 860):

OOC: when we rescued Dr. Solar at the stable, back in town, Schilling & his two compatriots were rendered unconscious, then Brie, with a little help from us, probed Schillings mind for the location of this airship.  After we had that data we asked Dr. Solar to use his device on them, encasing them in ice, while we packed up all of Solar's gear and came out here to...acquire...the airship.  We left Schilling and his goons there at the stable, frozen, in the tack room.

In reply to Joseph Rudyard Hunnisett (msg # 861):

OOC: Thank you for the information. We probably would not try to go back for 3 frozen men.

     "It took a couple of days for the Goatherd to fully thaw out, didn't it?" Joseph says, quietly, from the open door, next to Arthur.

     "I mean--Aubry, that letter you received telling you about the frozen man, didn't the letter say the man was still frozen at the time of the letter's writing?  I think I remember that that was one of the things that had you upset--that you weren't going to be able to get here and make observations while the subject--sorry--I mean Señor Fidalgo was still frozen.  And it was a couple of days before you met us, and we all travelled here.  And by then Señor Fidalgo was unfrozen and in the hospital."

"Yes, I needn't think we have any fear they will thaw out too early" Catherine says. "I hope the fellow below will have some answers."

In reply to Catherine Harston (msg # 864):

     Joseph--who had just started to step past Arthur and back out onto the deck--pauses and turns to look back at Catherine.

     "You really think we should wake the crewman, below, and question him, Miss Catherine?" Joseph asks with a frown, "I've been assuming that the person left behind, here, on Anchor Watch¹, was the lesser member of this Crew.  Thus it's my opinion that he likely has little knowledge that would be of value--or that we do not already know."

     "I thought it best to just put him off-ship and fly away.  But if you think he might know something, Miss Catherine, it probably won't matter if we question him...before we throw him overboard."


OOC:
1 = Anchor Watch: a detail of one or more sailors who keep watch on deck at night when a vessel is at anchor, either at sea or at port.  Source, Merriam-Webster.
*wink-wink*nudge-nudge* a nautical term used by blue-water sailors of large vessels (i.e. Navy men).  Not something a "weekend yachtsman" might say....Catherine ^_^

In reply to Joseph Rudyard Hunnisett (msg # 865):

Grimsby remarks "Given how little we really know of our adversaries, even the 'anchor watch' might have information we could use. I do favor having him questioned before we dispose of him."

In reply to Grimsby H. Baskerville (msg # 866):

     Joseph cocks his head to the side and gives Grimsby a look of mild confusion--as if something Grimsby had just said was puzzling to Joseph.  This momentary look is almost immediately followed by a startled look of realization of exactly what Grimsby had said back at Joseph.

     Joseph quickly turns away--to look back out the open door, next to Arthur--hiding both startled looks from sight.

     "Yes, well--ahem--I did say I would be amenable to interrogating the fellow, if that's what everyone wanted." Joseph said, before slipping past Arthur and stepping out onto the quarterdeck(?)

     "But first we have to secure the rascal." Joseph tosses back into the cabin.

Grimsby responds, "Then we had best be about it. Can Miss O'Malley tell us whether we would be able to seize and bind the fellow without rousing him?"
This message was last edited by the player at 03:58, Fri 06 Dec 2019.