In reply to Colonel Endicott (msg # 35):

Tiny...monkey-like bites... Rachel wrote down in a little notebook. With TJ's retching at the back of the car and the bumpy ride, Rachel decided to drop the subject and try to sleep off the rest of the ride. She'd mention the teeth marks to Art later on, if she remembered.

The lodge was beautiful, the rest of the night certainly better than the car ride. With the men deciding to join the hunt, Rachel figured there was nothing for her to do if she stayed behind, although she had never hunted anything in her life--except for husbands. It would seem she fared better with husbands than she did hunting animals though, and at some point during the hunting trip, elected to stay in the vehicle having no luck at all.

As they reached the viewing platform, Rachel eyed the huts & supplies suspiciously.

"Are we... staying here for the night?" Rachel asked, trying to keep her voice light and cheerful, although she was almost sure of the answer.

"Is... this where your visitors got eaten? Not that I'm worried or anything," Rachel said dryly, eyeing the ladder. "Perhaps we'd best mend that ladder before we fall and break our necks, don't you think so, Colonel?"
This message was last edited by the player at 13:20, Mon 17 June 2019.

As you reach the viewing platform, Rachel eyes it suspiciously.

"Are we... staying here for the night?" Rachel asked, trying to keep her voice light and cheerful, although she was almost sure of the answer.

"Is... this where your visitors got eaten? Not that I'm worried or anything," Rachel said dryly, eyeing the ladder. "Perhaps we'd best mend that ladder before we fall and break our necks, don't you think so, Colonel?"

Seeing the ladder, TJ becomes worried. "Are you sure the ladder is safe? It seems it's not maintained well." Looking around, he admits the view is suitable, despite the ladder's condition.

Dermot is glad to have had some small success in the hunt. He’s having a grand old time with the blustery huntsman. Hearing TJ’s concern for the stability of the ladder, he scoffs.

“Haven’t ye got a sense of adventure, lad? We’re out in the African wilderness hunting exotic game, and yer worried about a rickety ladder? These young children don’t come out like they used to, tell ya what! ‘Is it safe?’ He asks....”

"I'd rather that we climb without risking getting hurt," TJ replied. "I'm all up for adventure, but safety first is my concern."

“Nonsense!” scoffs the Colonel. “It’s perfectly safe! I have climbed up and down this thing for years!”

He gives the ladder a brisk shake and places his foot on the first rung. No sooner is this done, before the ladder snaps off the top of the viewing platform and swings down towards Gustav. He tries to move aside, but is hindered by his cast, and the falling ladder grazes him as it lands, leaving him with a nasty cut to his head.

Art makes his way to Gustav and tends to his injury, while the Colonel looks at the ladder with dismay.

“Well, bugger me sideways!” he exclaims. “Frightfully sorry about that, old chap! Looks like someone will have to climb up and reattach the bloody thing.” He points at a rope dangling off the other side of the platform.

“Anyone feeling up for a climb, wot? Or I can drive back and get Silent Joe. He’s a great climber!”

This would be a fairly easy climb - with a bonus die
This message was last edited by the player at 18:27, Wed 19 June 2019.

TJ easily climbs the rope. The rest of you lift the ladder up again and you manage to secure it to the platform. Rachel struggles a bit to climb the ladder but soon reaches the top.

After Art finishes patching up Gustav he offers to help him up the ladder if he still wishes to go up. And then Art goes up himself.

Once you're all up on the platform, the view is absolutely stunning. It is late afternoon and you can see for miles. The beauty of the African scenery nearly takes your breath away. "Good, eh?" smiles the Colonel.

"Almost worth breaking our necks for." Rachel agrees wryly.

“May the horrors of the Great War never touch this Eden....” Johan states quietly

"I'll drink to that!" growls the Colonel. "So, this is where most of the accidents have happened. I suspect a rogue animal of some sorts. Any ideas?"

"You mentioned small bites," Rachel says, "I'll defer to Art's medical skills, but I don't think that sounds like lions. What did the bodies look like? At the risk of asking the obvious, what was the actual cause of death?"

"Animals killed them, Miss" says the colonel, opening a large bottle of whiskey. "Gnawed on their bones and ate their flesh. It's the way of the bush. They were careless. Wanted to hunt larger and larger game." He pours a generous shot and sips it slowly, gazing at the wilderness. "Life and death... it's all out there..."

"Can you show us some of the bite marked animals who died?" asks TJ.

"Plenty of animal bones around here, son" says the Colonel. "As for the guests, we've given them Christian burials back in Nairobi."

TJ carefully climbs down the ladder again, and starts to inspect the area around the lodge. Close scrutiny reveals curious prints dotting the sand in places around the platform. There are also remnants of animal bones here and there.

Rachel pressed her lips together, paranoia settling over her once more like the sun over the horizon. Perhaps TJ would have a better chance asking the colonel about the deaths. For someone so concerned about his business' good name, the colonel had given them little to nothing substantial. Her patience had always been short.

Small, monkey-like bites... Rachel mused. Suddenly, she drew a quick, short breath as memories of the Juju house flashed in her mind.

Gustav notices Rachel's sudden change of behavior and quietly, as his injuries allow, approaches her and tries to comfort her with a flask of brandy 'Here, for the peace of mind.'

"No, no. Remember the Ju-Ju House?" Rachel waves off the brandy, meeting Gustav halfway, a little further from the Colonel.

Gustav stops midway when realization hits him. He takes a swig from the offered brandy and looks Rachel in the eye. knowing and comprehension is present as only with people who had shared experiences unique to them.

Memories of the animated ciimbas – and the horror that Bromley saw in the pit, and subsequently whispered of when he was drunk;

‘An enormous and horrid thing squirmed around at the bottom of the pit. It was composed of dozens of human faces set into a thickly cylindrical, worm-like mass of sickly, purple veined muscle. The faces wept, shouted, and cried out with great woeful feeling. One of the faces looked directly at me, silently pleading for help. I recognized the face from a newspaper article on the recent disappearances - a young woman who went missing a few months ago…’

"Just... Just be wary, okay?" Rachel whispers. In all honesty, she could feel herself jumping into conclusions-- she had no solid evidence of anything. Still, she wasn't about to be caught unaware like the last time. Excusing herself, Rachel moves a little way from the group. She pulls out a compact, pretending to check her face, but watches the Colonel through the mirror. When she's sure he's distracted by the others, Rachel pulls out a bottle and a syringe, trying to discreetly fill it with belladonna and morphine.

You are all quiet for a while, speechless at the majesty of the landscape. TJ climbs back up again and joins you. Gradually you become aware of Colonel Endicott talking to himself in a low whisper.

“Perhaps tonight?” he mumbles. “This time they might know me and talk to me again. Ah, Susan… I miss you so much..”
This message was last edited by the player at 01:04, Wed 26 June 2019.

In reply to Colonel Endicott (msg # 47):

TJ, upon hearing this, went near the Colonel. "Who's Susan? And who are 'they' that you want to talk to again?" he asked curiously.

Colonel Endicott, barely acknowledging TJ's question, continues to gaze at the scenery. At long last he replies in a soft voice.  “Susan is my wife, of course. She fell ill and passed away. My son fell ill to the same disease. Then Penhew and Huston came along. Said they could bring them back to me. Did some mumbo-jumbo magic right here. Something came back alright, but I’m not sure it was them.”

As he speaks, the wind picks up, and whirlwinds of dust dance in the air in front of the platform. Bits of bone, combined with dust and debris, rises up from the ground in a mocking semblance of life.

Seven figures form down below, vaguely resembling people dressed in safari gear. One appears female, and next to her is a smaller shape, looking like a young boy. As one, they suddenly begin to move, approaching the platform with startling speed.

“Ah, there they are now!” sighs the Colonel.

Gustav takes out his handgun from his belt and aims it directly at the Colonel’s face. “You have five seconds to tell me who sent you before I blow your brains out. I'm getting tired of this. Scheisse!”

TJ raises his hand as he sees Gustav pointing the gun. "Alright, no need for violence here."

Seeing that the dust monsters are now approaching, TJ looks at the group he is with. Will he risk it? He's not quite sure. It's better for him to get out of here. But they have helped him. And he thinks it's better to fall with his current comrades.

"Ah, fuck this," he says as he pulls out a pendant from around his neck. It is shaped like a pointed egg but with two holes near the top, resembling a pair of eyes. He cuts his thumb with the tip of the pendant, blood now seeping out lightly.

He quickly goes around the platform, writing some runes only familiar to him. They seem to be ancient in nature. As soon as he is done writing, he goes back to the center, facing the dust creatures running towards you. He starts muttering something, language unfamiliar but spoken by TJ as if it was his native tongue. By the end of the muttering, so fast that no one caught a word of it, TJ screams something, which sounds like "Black Man, aid me!"

There is no immediate effect, but then one of the dust creatures approaches the ladder. It begins to climb up but then hesitates, glaring up at you with inhuman hatred. It lets go of the ladder and falls to the ground, dissipating back into a pile of dust and bone.

The other apparitions also attempt to reach you, but one by one they are repelled by whatever protects the platform. The Colonel gives a startled gasp as ‘Susan’ and the smaller figure howl in anger and then return to the dust where they came from.

In reply to GM (msg # 50):

Upon seeing the humanoid dusts crumble, TJ adresses the Colonel. "Now, tell us what's going on here?"

But sadly, a voice familiar to him spoke back. "I thought you don't want my help?"

Talking to the wind, TJ said, "Desperate times calls for desperate measures."

In reply to TJ (msg # 51):

Dermot Murphy has seen some wild things since meeting Jackson Elias years ago. This may just take the cake.

Having seen the creatures approach the ladder, and Gustav drawing his sidearm, Dermot had reached for his own, only to be shocked into silence as the new addition to the party whips out some surprise blood magic. As the monsters crumble into dust, Dermot’s eyes go wide. He shifts his gaze between the colonel and TJ a couple of times before raising his pistol to waist height. He points it directly at TJ.

“WHAT. WAS. THAT?”
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 02:26, Fri 28 June 2019.

In reply to Dermot Murphy (msg # 52):

Johan shaking off the horror of the sight of the unearth abominations. Johan wheels around to join Dermot in confronting TJ and Colonel, "Was zum Teufel!  Someone please start talking before my friend here ends that opportunity."

As the creatures of dust began to rise from the dirt, Rachel heard screaming--and then realized it came from her. She scrambled for her gun, but suddenly, she heard TJ chant with unearthly speed. She found the hilt of her knife and pulled that out instead, watching as the monsters crumble, Rachel's eyes go from the colonel to TJ, darting back and forth between the two.

Quickly, she looks around for the Colonel's pack, grabbing it when she found it, intending to keep him away from anything he could use against them.

Art stumbles back at hearing TJ mumble chants. He begins to think back to all the cultists that they have encountered and grow suspicious of TJ. Paranoia and a cold sweat begin to overtake him. At the sight of the creatures crumbling down, he becomes a little less paranoid and begins to feel a sense of relief. Questions start to fill his head (is TJ one of us? is he just biding his time waiting till when we are vulnerable to attack?). He thinks back to the time he has spent so far with TJ, and he cannot find any sign of any malice. (This world is crazy, and the rules of it are continually changing, may-haps some magic can be a useful thing for us even if it reminds me of the cultists.)

As everyone is focused on TJ after casting his spell, there is a quiet ‘thud’ from below. When you turn around to look, you see the body of the Colonel lying on the ground. He landed next to the pile of dust and bones that was his long-dead family…

Climbing down to check on the body, Art confirms that the Colonel died from the fall - no unusual marking or anything untoward on the body.

"Can we drive back now? I don't fancy staying here tonight. We'll have to report the Colonel's death too. I'd rather deal with him near civilization." Rachel says, motioning towards TJ.

Johan pauses for a moment. “My friends it is definitely a time for answers, but we are exposed here and our quarry might know where we are...we should go somewhere, more private”

TJ, seeing that everyone is on him, sighed. "I'll tell you everything once we are back in town. I will tell you everything."

“We may have to review the strength of our trust in Jonah Kensington. For now, seeing as the lad seems to be helping us....” Dermot lowers his weapon with some hesitation. “Just know I’ve got my eye on ye.”

"I don't suppose forging the colonel's hand writing and bequeathing the lodge to us is an option." Rachel sighs to herself.

“No, but I’ll bet they wouldn’t miss a few pieces of silver if you need the money.” Dermot gives her a dry, sardonic look.

“We all need a pub after this day...” says Johan.

“I’ll drink to that. In fact, I’m sure the colonel won’t miss his spirits either....” Dermot suddenly looks preoccupied.

"Always thinking small," Rachel sighed. "Can we just go now?"

It takes a while to find your way back. Silent Joe comes out to greet you. When he sees the Colonel's corpse, he raises his eyebrows. "What happened?" he asks, in perfectly good English.

Art solemnly answers silent Joe. “He mentioned his dead wife and child while we were on the viewing platform and a short while later we heard a thud and the Colonel’s body was on the ground”

Dermot glares at Joe with a look that says it all. Why does this man suddenly speak?

TJ just shifts uncomfortably as you tell Joe what happened. In the back of his mind, he blames himself. "I didn't mean anything to harm him. I guess he just wants to meet his family once again. I should've let him and didn't let the fear get the best of me," said TJ with remorse. He fiddles with the pendant. "I hate this... this curse I have," he continues, slowly raging.

“Simmer down. We’ll hear your story soon enough.” Dermot wants to avoid any further escalation, and in the event that TJ can be trusted, doesn’t want him to incriminate himself.

Silent Joe nods solemnly at Art. “The Colonel was a good man, even though he had many strong opinions on this country. That is why I chose to remain silent while I was here – it made things easier. I am sorry to hear of his death. He mourned for his family for many years. Now they are finally together again.”

He gestures at the lodge. “Please stay as long as you wish. I have some small savings from my wages and will not be sorry to leave this cursed place.”

[Feel free to add interactions here]

You eventually take your leave of Silent Joe and drive back to Nairobi. The streets and hotels are unusually crowded, and you hear languages from all over the world. There is a strange festive air of anticipation in the air.

It is Saturday, 4 April 1925. You are not aware of any particular holidays this week.

You are gathered at the bar at Norfolk Hotel, discussing your next move. It is really crowded in here and it took quite a while for you to get a table.

As you wait for your food, Gustav glances around the room, as always alert for any signs of illegal activity. His gaze stops at a nearby table. Those two… they look familiar…

A large Arabic-looking man with balding hair is deep in conversation with a slender woman, with long dark hair and green eyes.

In reply to GM (msg # 57):

Gustav notifies the group, with shock and disgust, that the witch and her associate are sitting in this very hotel bar. Gustav expresses an immediate desire to put three bullets into her head on the double. Dermot glances over at the two, who don't seem to have spotted the party.

"Belay that, Gustav. There are other ways to capitalize on the element of surprise. But keep those bullets handy anyway."

Dermot stands up with a casual air. He looks intently at Johan, ever the diplomat.

"What say ye head over with me to pay a visit to our old friends?"

Dermot heads over to sit across the table from the two villains. He slides into his chair without deliberation. He begins to speak in a loud, jovial tone. [If Johan accompanies him, he'll direct some of the speech toward Johan.]

"Lookie here, our auld friends from England! Fancy meetin ye all the way out here! Waiter, a round for the table!"

In reply to Dermot Murphy (msg # 58):

Johan taking a cue from Dermot, fixes his coat and heads over.  With the full intent of being heard, he walks up behind his quarry and after a Dermot speaks...”Guten Tag meine Freunde!” Giving the witch a good tap.

Johan proceeds to take an open chair.  Assuming his drink arrives swiftly he takes a good drink and turns his gaze to the man and woman at the table.  Johan lowers his voice, “ so my friends, what brings you to Nairobi?  Hopefully we can have a...civilized conversation...”.

Switching to Arabic, “if your looking for uncivilized conversation then we can entertain that notion as well my friends”.  Nods to Dermot and switch back to English.  “Now I prefer a good drink and story.  As my side purchased the round, the story falls to you all.”
This message was last edited by the player at 02:43, Tue 16 July 2019.

As Johan and Dermot casually sits down at the table, the man looks like he’s about to have a stroke from anger. “You scum!” he hisses angrily. “You sons of diseased camels! How dare you show your faces here!”

The woman, who you recognize as Zahra Shafik, raises one immaculately sculpted eyebrow in surprise. “Do shut up, Abdul” she says to the sputtering London nightclub owner.

She scans the crowded room for a moment, spotting the rest of the group a bit further away. “My my. You’re all here. Even my friend, the trigger-happy German. Seems that my liaison here in town did a very poor job of taking care of you. Still, I should thank you… killing Gavigan did wonders for my career. What do you want?”


This message was last edited by the player at 17:03, Tue 16 July 2019.

In reply to Zahra Shafik (msg # 60):

"We're resilient that way," Dermot responds flatly. "Terrible of ye to hound a group of tourists like us, out seein' the auld world as we please. Do tell us about yer wee cultie. What drives ye? Is it a twistes sense of purpose, or merely delusions of grandeur?"

Zahra laughs and her eyes twinkle. “Delusions of grandeur? You have come all this way, seen all these wondrous sights – and still you scoff and resist? Amazing.”  She shakes her head in disbelief, while Abdul scowls at you.

“What have you learned while you were here?” she asks playfully. “Have you just been stumbling around and setting things on fire again? Must have been fun to meet Kaur’s fire vampires – pity they did such a poor job.

She raises her voice. “To me, my brethren. Aid me! Subdue these men!”

About twenty men near the table immediately draw daggers and handguns and close in on Dermot and Johan…

In reply to Zahra Shafik (msg # 62):

Johan keeping his cool for the moment, “Dermot,  it appears you were wrong my friend...clearly the frau has no interest in the artifact.”  Turning towards Zahra and speaking in Arabic, “...or do you?”  Johan leans back in his chair and takes a drink.

In reply to Johan Braun (msg # 63):

With an almost imperceptible gesture, Zahra commands the men to back off a bit, but we're still surrounded by cultists of all nations. "Very well", she says. "What artifact?"

Dermot glances at Johan nervously.

“She’s more sensitive than I’da thought....”

As the men back off at a wave of the woman’s hand, Dermot becomes nervous about mentioning the artifact.

He dips his head toward the witch deferentially. “I’ll retract the ‘delusions’ part. Ye’ve got power, that much is clear....”
This message was last edited by the player at 00:59, Wed 17 July 2019.

In reply to Dermot Murphy (msg # 64):

Gustav slips his right hand on his revolver, inside his coat pocket, and glares at Miss Shafik with every vile disgust the German could muster. Wanting nothing more than to put 3 bullet holes in her pretty little forehead.


Holding the pistol provides small comfort with enemies surrounding his friends.


He also keeps a watchful eye on small details around the room: exits, combustible materials, safe hiding spaces and maintains Ms. Katz on the corner of his eyes.


With his free hand he holds up his pint and drinks. holding the glass mug tightly in preparation to throwing it to the nearest cultist if ever a fight breaks out
This message was last edited by the player at 02:41, Wed 17 July 2019.

In reply to Dermot Murphy (msg # 64):

“See Dermot, a little tact can go a long way.”

Addressing Zahra once again and purposely thicking his German accent, “now my lady, if we are to discuss business then perhaps both our respective groups of freunde should go off and have a drink...they do look a tad...tense.  What do say? The four of us, a little drink, some conversation, maybe some light fare, and my friend over there doesn’t have to put some of your friends in the ground.”  Nodding to Gustav.

Zahra laughs again. "By all means, Herr Braun. Wir können uns unterhalten. "

"Stand back, but remain alert," she says in Arabic to men around her. They put their weapons away with sullen expressions and scowl at you. The other patrons of the bar glance uneasily at Zahra, and some make a hasty retreat.

"Come, come! I won't bite!"  Zahra gestures at the rest of the group to come sit down with her.

As you sit down, she greets each of you by name, except TJ. "I do not believe I've had the pleasure, sir." she says to him.

In reply to Zahra Shafik (msg # 67):

"hello," TJ waves to the lady who addressed him. "Professor Tristan Julius Richardson, but my friends call me TJ. I'm a Professor of English at Miskatonic University.. Pleased to meet you, but I prefer to not have any violence here. We can talk with you in peace, can we not? By the way, what's with unnecessary hostilities?"
This message was last edited by the player at 23:39, Thu 18 July 2019.

Summary of your health and sanity;

Art; HP 13/13. SAN 63
Dermot; HP 13/13. SAN 69
Johan; HP 11/11. SAN 37
Gustav; HP 8/12. SAN 84
Rachel; HP 11/11. SAN 39
TJ; HP 11/11. SAN 68

You have in your possession the following;

[Books]
Amongst the Stones (English)
Final Confessions of Gaspar Figuero (Spanish)
Five Scrolls from the Penhew Foundation (Arabic, Egyptian, and Greek)
Life as a God (English)
Sélections de Livre D'Ivon (French commentary on Latin original)
The G’harne Fragments (English)
The Ghoul's Manuscript (English)
The Pnakotic Manuscripts (English)
Ye Booke of Comunicacions with ye Angel Dzyon (English).

[Other items]
The Eye of Light and Darkness (partial)
A Headband of Grey Metal (Ju-Ju House)
The Headdress of Eyes
Three bottles of Plutonian Drugs
A Fly Whisk
The Golden Mirror (a mask from Peru)
The Mask of Hayama (from the Ju-Ju House)
Who-Is-Not-What-She-Seems (caged chameleon)
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:00, Sun 29 Sept 2019.