In reply to Reverend Stratton (msg # 23):

"Αυτό είναι λίγο άλογο ...  Language is my stock and trade, and anyone who takes the time to study an unfamiliar language has my respect Reverend. I would be happy to assist you with the translation and speed your way to the knowledge within.  My colleagues and I are very the very picture of διακριτικότητα."

In reply to Reverend Stratton (msg # 23):

Dermot has fallen into a jovial mood by now. He looks over toward Jonathan.

"Aye, as long as our ambitious lad here keeps you out of the papers, we're all silent as tombs. I'll hop on him if he so much as looks at a pencil with a twinkle in his eye. Please, do tell."

The vicar glances at Jonathan with a skeptical look but then nods. “I am a man of the cloth, but I also know that there is more between heaven and earth than we can tell. I have found that some legends have more than a grain of truth to them.”

He explains that after the murder of the two victims, he began to translate an old journal written by a long-dead vicar of the village. Some of the journal was in English but a portion was in classical Greek. That portion dealt with a ‘Vane family curse’, and Vicar Stratton has been translating it ever since. He is not competent in Greek, but has uncovered enough to understand that “something” untoward happens to Vane women around their 21st birthdays.

The vicar pushes the journal over to Johan and indicates a page. "This is the chapter I'm trying to decipher."

Johan takes a look and easily summarizes the words. Local legend speaks of a large, hound-like creature, said to walk the land around Edale. The legend recalls the beast was once the working dog of the last squire of the village, which howled for three days and nights at the passing of its master. Edale folk say that if the howling should ever start again, it means someone will die.

One passage relates to the trial of the Witches of Bakewell in Lester Illingworth’s Derbyshire Haunts and Tales (1884). The short piece mentions a Lady Evangeline Vane who, in 1608, was a prosecution witness at the trial of Annie Stafford and Jenny Greene. The two women were found guilty and hung for witchcraft. The book alleges that Annie Stafford called out a curse during Lady Vane’s testimony, putting the “Mark of the Beast” on the Vane bloodline.

In reply to Reverend Stratton (msg # 26):

"If the lass managed to put a curse on Vane's Oul Wan, she musta been guilty after all! I've heard some lads refer to their mots in canine terms, though I doubt they were slashed apart in the fog afterwards. Do he think there's any truth in the matter?" 
This message was last edited by the player at 21:14, Sat 29 Sept 2018.

"I must confess I do not know," frowns the vicar. "But I saw those bodies and that was no 'large dog' what did that. They were practically gutted." He looks at Rachel apologetically. "Pardon my language, Miss."

"I am a good friend of Lord Vane," he continues. "And I would hate for the Vane family name to be slandered or for its secrets to become public knowledge and fuel for local gossip. There does not seem to be any details about the curse in the journal, but perhaps you might be able to discover more, being such scholars. Did you visit Plum Castle yet?"
This message was last edited by the player at 23:48, Sat 29 Sept 2018.

"We haven't. It's a good thing we visited you first then. Do you think you accompany us, since the Vanes trust you? We'd like to know more about this 'curse' on the Vanes." Gesturing at Johan, Rachel adds, "Perhaps  my learned colleagues know something that may be of help to them."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:02, Sun 30 Sept 2018.

"It is not really my place to impose on Lord Vane," says the vicar hesitantly. But Rachel soon manages to wear down his defences, and he agrees to accompany you to Plum Castle.

"Interesting fact about the castle, by the way," he adds, and goes on to explain how Plum Castle’s name is falsely said to have derived from when it fell into the hands of Edward III “liketh a plum” when a rebellious former owner neglected to close the castle gate. In fact, the name comes from the Norman French “le plomb” meaning lead; thus, Lead Castle. The area was an important source of lead for more than five centuries, hence the castle’s name.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:21, Sun 30 Sept 2018.

You bid goodbye to Stratton for now and leave the church, heading back to the Laughing Horse to meet with Constable Tumwell. The inn is fairly empty, but Tumwell is sitting at the bar, chatting with a few locals.

"Ah, you're back," he says when he spots you. "Oi've spoken with his Lordship and he has invited you to dinner this evening, at 7 PM. Nothing fancy, he said. Just a five-course meal."

"Ah thank you. Bar keep, take care of the good officer." Rachel says, waving to the bar keep and leaving a few pounds to cover the man's bill.

"Well. Dinner at the Plum Castle then." Rachel sighed, turning to the others. When she was sure the officer wasn't listening to them, she continued in a low voice. "I'll see you when we leave for the Vane's-- I'll just make copies and notes of everything we have. Johan, Bromley, Art? Any of you have any idea about ending curses?"
This message was last edited by the player at 17:26, Sun 30 Sept 2018.

In reply to Rachel Katz (msg # 32):

Art shrugs. "A bullet?"

In reply to Dr. Arthur Digby (Art) (msg # 33):

"Brilliant, let's put a gun to everything." Rachel retorts flatly, rolling her eyes. Looking back at Tumwell, Rachel decides to approach the officer before heading up to start on her letter to Ramsey.

"Officer Tumwell, do you know the vicar well?"

"Aye, Miss." replies the constable. "For some 20 odd years now, since I was posted here from Bakewell. He's a good egg."

Those who decide to visit Mam Tor are in for a bracing walk in the beautiful countryside. Mam Tor (or Mother Hill), is considered to be one of the earliest hillforts in Britain. Standing at 1,700 feet (518 m) above sea level, a large ditch surrounds its summit, on which would have stood the fort. The remains of gateways can be discerned on two paths leading to Mam Nick and Hollins Cross respectively. Also visible are the foundations of the circular huts that once would have comprised living quarters and other buildings of a village.

For those making the trek up the hill, Mam Tor’s pinnacle provides breathtaking views of Derbyshire. At its peak are two Bronze Age burial mounds that are believed to be Mam Tor’s oldest features, some 3,500 years old. Limited excavation of the mounds has taken place over the centuries, with records describing a partial excavation in the early 19th century.

At the appointed hour, you stop by the church to pick up the vicar and then head to your dinner appointment.

Plum Castle stands on a stone bluff, some 200 feet (61 m) above Lesser Edale. A winding road leads directly from the village to the castle’s entrance, while a second, longer road leads from Edale and passes near to the castle; it’s just a short walk to the tumbled walls and towers of the ancient fortress.

You are greeted by the butler, Giles, and taken to the Great Hall. Inside, you can gaze at the wood paneled walls, tapestries, chandeliers, and ornaments while you wait to be joined by Lord Arthur Vane. Before he leaves you, Giles asks how you would like your steak prepared for the dinner.

After a few minutes, the door to the right opens and Lord Vane comes out to greet you. He is in his late 60’s, with a bald pate, heavy walrus mustache and formally attired in dinner wear. With him is a young man in his early 20’s, blond, with angular features and the Vane chin, and a pretty young woman with blonde hair and blue eyes, slim and tall.

“Welcome to Plum Castle,” announces Lord Vane, rather grandly.






This message was last edited by the player at 00:44, Mon 01 Oct 2018.

Reverend Stratton introduces you one by one; "Mr. Aveline-Edgeware, Dr. Digby, Professor Braun, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Schmidt, Mr. Graham and Ms. Katz."

“Aveline-Edgeware, eh?” barks Lord Vance, ignoring the rest of you completely. “I say, any relation to ol’ Barty? Decent fellow, my aide-de-camp during all that nonsense a while ago. And these are your friends? Schmidt – that’s a Jerry name, isn’t it? Hmmm. Still, it’s good to have some visitors. Giles! Is everything ready?”

Giles leads you into the luxurious dining room and shows you to your appointed seats. Lord Vance introduces his two children, Lawrence and Eloise. Lawrence is polite but seems stressed, and Eloise shyly concentrates on her food, hardly speaking.

Dinner consists of an hors d’oeuvres (appetizer of pate), fish (trout), main course (steak), dessert (plum pudding), and a selection of local cheeses, followed by cigars. The steaks are delicious, and all of the Vanes eat their meat very rare.

In reply to Lord Vane (msg # 38):

As if possessed by a overtly polite demon, Bromley's appears unrecognisable when in the presence of Lord Vane - He immediately falls directly into all the social graces he grew up mocking in secret with his sister.

"Lord Arthur, a pleasure I'm sure." - He greets Lord Arthur's children with equal polite candour (being roughly his own age, these people will be his peers one day). He acknowledges the relationship in syrupy demure manner, thankful that the relationship didn't fall down the other side of the watershed.

In reply to Lord Vane (msg # 38):

As Dermot works on the third course of exquisite taste, he ponders Bromley's strange new attitude. "Must be the company," he thinks. "Maybe I'll ask the auld butler after dinner where they get their silverware."

His attention shifts from the delicious beef he's chewing as he takes stock of the silverware. He squints... at what surely ought to be SILVERware! How pretentious! They don't even look like pewter, let alone fine silver. Some big front, slope back host. He leans over innocuously toward Gustav and whispers:

"Mighty fine steak we're havin, but have seen the utensils? I doubt there's an ounce of silver inside. It's incredible where rich old layabouts may opt to go cheap."
This message was last edited by the player at 00:25, Tue 02 Oct 2018.

It was a sit down dinner without drinks prior. Rachel looked at the array of silverware in front of her and was suddenly grateful for the inane ramblings of old friends back in New York who were often too drunk to realize that she hadn't gotten her fine dining spoons and forks down pat.

"Thank you for having us over for dinner--it was certainly a pleasure we did not expect. A welcome such as this is far from the usual greeting we get, considering that we're chasing after death cults and the like." Rachel casually threw out as she, after seeing the rare steaks served with the speculations they had earlier on, happily dug into her salad.

In reply to Lord Vane (msg # 38):

"Danke für deine Gastfreundschaft, Lord Vane.  And yes, I hail from Bavaria."  Johan pauses as memories of the trenches and people lost temporary transport him elsewhere.

Focusing on Lord Vane..."Hopefully both our nations have learned from the non-sense and the horrors that it brings to our world."

In reply to Lord Vane (msg # 38):

Gustav immensely enjoyed the steak and made a casual remark about how steaks are properly eaten very rare. He also compliments the host for their tremendous hospitality and explains that Gustav is a second generation immigrant from Germany and volunteered to fight for the United States Army during the war.

Gustav proceeded to talk about the war and was glad to have something related to talk about against the imposing wealth and fine environment around him.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:44, Tue 02 Oct 2018.

In reply to Dermot Murphy (msg # 40):

Gustav leans over Mr. Murphy and replies, "fake silver? are you sure?"

"I'll take your word for it, but why skimp on utensils tho?"



*Gustav remembers the talk about werewolves and silver*

Today: Gustav Schmidt rolled 17 using 1d100. Appraise (07%/3%/1%): is it silver?

Dermot catches Bromley glaring in the direction of the whispering, almost as if he thinks they'll pinch the silverware.

"Young Bromley's as much a ponce as I'd thought," he whispers to whomever is at hand. "Can't even tell fake silver when he sees it, as fancy as he likes to think he is right now. All that money and youth, wasted I tell ye..."

Lord Vane nods in approval as Gustav tells of his time in the war. Art chimes in with a few of his own war stories and it’s only when Eloise starts to look a bit pale that Lawrence changes the conversation around to the new Buster Keaton movie. The rest of the dinner proceeds fairly smoothly, with the host graciously overlooking your minor etiquette mishaps.

After dinner, Giles brings in the cigars and brandy for the gentlemen. Ladies normally retreat to another room while the men smoke. Eloise’s chaperone, a sour-faced older woman, guides her into the study, with a pointed look at Rachel.
This message was lightly edited by the player at 16:34, Tue 02 Oct 2018.

In reply to Eloise Vane (msg # 46):

"Er." Rachel muttered awkwardly, feeling the chaperone stare daggers at her. A little annoyed at the woman, Rachel leaned back in her chair, smiling at Eloise.

"Eloise, may I call you that? You've got to tell me all about growing up in a castle. What's it like here? Your suitors must literally climb a castle to get to you," Rachel laughed, looking around for any exits

In reply to Eloise Vane (msg # 46):

Jonathan politely declines the offerings of cigars and brandy, wanting only to listen in.