Expedition part 10:  Going Home pt 1


The Agents had finally felt thawed out after a long while in very cold temperatures.  Their time aboard the Natalia had been stressful, at least until the mutiny had been stopped, and now land, with civilisation apparent, was close at hand.

No one save the Agents had gone anywhere near their cargo, fearing (justifiably) the horrible retribution that such an act would warrant.  The dogs seemed fine, enthused to be in a new place, apart from Bruno, who seemed sulky.  Ben once again laid an illusion spell on the Hellhound, so a gloomy Saint Bernard was sprawled on the deck, head down on his massive paws.

As the Agents prepared their gear for transport off the ship, seven of the crew came forward to ask for dogs, including Van Rooyen, who wanted two females as he had two daughters at home.  Thorne took care of the transactions of money and trinkets, collecting two scrimshaw pieces, a gold chain, a jade Buddha, and about thirty dollars to part with most of the dogs, leaving them eleven huskies, which included Fritz's team leader and of course, Bruno.  The dogs seemed perfectly all right with their new owners, including the one that de Vink got for Jannes.  The Captain's son hid somewhere as the Agents left the ship, their cargo lifted off by crane and secured in a wagon that Thorne rented.  Bruno accepted pulling the load, which was mostly their finds from the City of the Elder Things.

Captain de Vink waved them off the ship, and Van Rooyen bellowed, "Safe Travels !".  As for travel home, it would take a meeting with the harbormaster to check on what ships might be sailing.  The port was busy; there were steamers and even clippers, along with an array of fishing boats for local use.

"Gentlemen, we will take rooms at the Mount Nelson Hotel," Thorne announced, "As it is the best hotel in Cape Town.  Orange Street.  This way."
"I will telephone Washington when we get there," Ben said, shrugging a backpack of gear onto his shoulder.  The warm air was too much for their furs.  Their appearance was scruffy, unshorn and unkempt, but Thorne strode along like the King of the World.  The beckoning hope of hot running water, real food, and clean clothes was very tempting.  Trailing along with them were the remaining huskies, joyfully taking in the new scents of Cape Town.
Fritz fell into stride with Thorne, saying something too quiet for the others to catch. Thorne paused, looking at him, and said, "I'm sorry, Fritzi.  I am."
"I'm not the one you need to say that to." Fritz replied, then looking to Spider.  "Boss - see you in a few years."   He waved once, ducked around a pile of crates and was gone.
"Dammit," Thorne muttered, and set off towards the hotel again.  A bell began ringing out the hour - three in the afternoon.

The hotel staff might well have been shocked and dismayed to see such rabble arriving, but were far too well trained to say anything, especially since Thorne slapped gold coins on the counter and reached for the register book.  "I would like a suite of rooms for the five of us, private baths, a great deal of hot water and soap, a barber sent to the rooms, laundry service, and a steak dinner.  The dogs will be kept with us.  Where is your telephone ?"
"In the cabinet, there, Sir," the concierge immediately replied, then snapped his fingers for the bellhop to take charge of their fur coats.  Thorne began signing the book, then stopped. "I see Mr. Trachenberg is already here."
"He arrived this morning...Mr. Thorne.  The fourth floor balcony rooms are most suitable, and adjoin Mr. Trachenberg's room.  What time would you like dinner to be served, Mr. Thorne ?"
"Six o'clock.  Where is the best jeweler in town ?"
"On High Street, Imperial Jewelers," the concierge replied.  "Their diamonds are straight from de Beers and they do bespoke work for royalty."
"Excellent.  Send whiskey - bourbon, if you have it -to the rooms.  We will take most of the luggage up ourselves."

The hotel was posh, with Louis XV furniture, Persian carpets, lavishly ornate chandeliers, plastering and decoration.  The staff were all properly uniformed, unfailingly polite, and accepting of all the eccentricities of the guests, even if it meant unkempt, unshorn men wanting to carry their own odd luggage into their rooms, with an entourage of yipping, yowling wolf-like dogs trailing along.  The lift in the hotel could only accommodate one man with his gear at a time, making the transport upwards a slow process, but that gave the staff time to bring up a tray of light snacks with the bottles of alcohol.  The porcelain clawed-foot bathtubs were a thing of beauty.  Ben opted to telephone Washington at what was local time, 4 pm - which would be 8 am in the morning back in DC.  Fritz - the one from 1925 - had arrived with four extra suitcases of luggage, including suits, shoes and other clothing for each of the Agents, a resupply of ammunition, and a tin of baked treats from Edith's kitchen.

Ben returned to the suite of rooms after the others had gotten their baths and a barber was calmly trimming Jack's hair.  Spider was in the bath, but the door was ajar so that he could hear the conversation.  Five of the huskies were spread across one of the beds, while the rest were sunbathing on the balcony, while Bruno idly chewed on a large bone the kitchen had brought up for him.  Their treasures were heaped in a closet, under the heavy furs.

"All is well at home," their boss reported, "The office is in good order.  Apparently some help was sent in from the other branch to keep the place running.  The office manager is making some calls to get us home - we'll check in again after dinner."
"Good.  I'm going into town to do some shopping."  Thorne said, buttoning up his suit coat, his hair and beard already cleaned up quite fashionably.

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GM:: Glad you liked the Mountains of Madness.  Actions, etc, for the next hour of game time, where are you going in the hotel, or in the town ?  Please respond by Saturday, 27 January, next post Sunday

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This message was last edited by the GM at 22:19, Mon 22 Jan.

Jack greets the “new” Fritz and gladly accepts the luggage. He thoroughly enjoys the bath and barbering, then happily dons a smart suit. Feeling reinvigorated and civilized, he heads out to send a telegram informing his parents of his safe arrival in Capetown. On his way back to the suite for dinner, he’ll ask a few folks where the most interesting curio and antique shops may be found, in preparation for an outing the next morning.

Expedition Part 10:   Going Home pt 2

Jack greeted the 1925 Fritz, who greeted the agents with his typical German reserve and then departed.   Something was different, though - Jack had spent too much time in close quarters with Fritz not to spot that there was something wrong.   Probably when Fritz dumped Thorne's suitcase on the floor and strode off in a huff.

 Just getting cleaned up, a fresh shave and cut and a familiar, well-pressed suit is a good feeling.  He headed downstairs, noting Ben was on the telephone again, apparently talking to his family, to judge from the man's expression.  The concierge provided Jack with directions to the telegraph office, a short way down the road.

As Jack stepped off the hotel patio to go send a telegram, he heard a delightful feminine laugh, with something in Africaans, and hears a familiar voice reply - Fritz.  The woman laughed again, and Jack can catch sight of the lush garden alongside the hotel, where a pretty woman, very richly dressed in grey silk and diamonds, was flirting with Fritz Trachenberg.  She was about thirty years old, dark hair swept up and pinned with a fancy feathered hat, and she seems quite taken with the German.  They both have cocktails in hand; a martini for her and an old-fashioned for Fritz.

A chubby woman in a checked cotton dress is driving a small open carriage toward the harbour and the telegraph office; two young girls, one in a blue dress and another in pink, are seated in the back, and the bay pony pulling the carriage has been decked out in ribbons and bows.  The sun - warm and fine, is bright enough that all of the women are wearing sun bonnets.
As Jack tips his hat to the ladies, he spots another motion that attracts his attention - Thorne, moving fast down another street, further into town.

Jack sent his telegram via a clerk who spoke four languages, English among them.  "Welcome to Cape Town," the clerk said.  "If there is a reply, where shall I send it ?"

Jack then goes to have a look around town, figuring he had about an hour to browse the shops before getting back for dinner.  There were shops along High Street, including the jeweler's place that Thorne had asked about.  A shop with the simple signage "Antiques and Curiosities" got Jack's attention.  The inside was a riot of glass-fronted cases with a variety of items, from African tribal masks and weapons, ivory carvings, brass statuettes, pottery, trinkets and knick knacks.  Some looked far too new and cheap to be anything good, but there were a few items in the one case that caught his eye.  The proprietor, a thin, bald man in a dark suit, greeted him in Africaans.

In the case were three items that seemed noteworthy.  A polished rock crystal magnifying glass, obviously old, set in darkly tarnished silver, about the size of his palm.  A ratty-looking old book, no discernable title, ripped leather cover and tattered parchment pages. A man's ring, shiny silver or white gold, set with a band of mother of pearl, in a blue velvet ring box.

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GM:  Actions, please, for the next half hour of game time, by Saturday 3 February, next post Sunday

Spider knows if he comes back without a present for Cress, and some for the kids, he'll be inn even worse trouble.  And she will need something unusual.  He asks the concierge for a place with unique pieces or objet d'art or jewelry.

[OC Sorry so late, dealing with family drama all week]
   Jack leaves his comrades to their pursuits. He tells the telegraph clerk the name of his hotel, although he does not expect a reply.
   Jack is intrigued by the objects in the shop’s case, and asks (in apologetic English) to see the book and the magnifying glass. He will examine them and try to get a “feel” for them. Unless they feel dangerous, he will ask the prices for both, and then ask for a deal if the ring is thrown in, too. (After all, he doubts he will be back in this area any time soon!)

Expedition part 10: Going Home pt 3

---Jack---
Jack's query in English prompts the old shopkeeper to give him a gentle
'please wait' hand signal, and then he shuffled to a door in the back of the store, calling for "Annika !"  Presently there is the tromp of shoes on the stairs coming down to the store, and a lovely woman of about 25, wearing a black dress, looks around the door at Jack as the old man speaks in Africaans.  Her hair is waist-long, chestnut brown, she's holding a hair brush.

"I speak English," she said.  Jack explains he wants to look at the three items, and she rapidly translates.  The old man lays out a velvet cloth on the counter and brings out the magnifying glass first.  As soon as Jack touches it, he feels a sharp tingle, just as when he holds the wand.  The crystal is chipped and scratched, and it seems very old.  He can't make out the symbols on the edge, they are rough hashmarks, the pattern giving a clue that it's a language.

The old man begins speaking, and Annika translates.  "It's very old, possibly from the city of Babylon.  The most unique item in the shop.  The price is 600 dollars US."  Jack could buy a new deluxe Model T sedan for that !  "The book is also very old, it was purchased in a lot from an estate sale in Johannesburg, an Englishman.  My uncle asks you to not touch it or open it without gloves on, it is fragile."  She offers Jack a pair of clean cotton gloves if he wants to examine the book.  "The book is 500 dollars US.  The ring is white gold, with mother of pearl, a man's ring, also from the Englishman's estate.  It costs 50 dollars US."   The prices seem high.

The book's pages are age-stained dark brown and brittle, and he can make out some kind of drawings and spidery writing, but it looks as if a child had gotten hold of the book at some point and made a hash of scribbles.  It would require significant restoration to be readable.  As far as bargaining might go, he'd have to try his chances and roll to Persuade....

---Spider---
Spider goes to the concierge to ask about where to shop.  "There is the jeweler's shop on High Street," the man says, giving directions, "And if you follow High Street to Second Avenue, there is a toy shop, called Spieeltjes.  Also on High Street is a curiosities shop, but be careful what you buy there.   There are some bargains...and some surprises."

Spider sets out to see the town, spotting Fritz talking to a lovely woman in a grey dress; the two of them are strolling around the garden of the hotel.  Ben was in the lobby, in the phone cabinet; Jack has gone into town, as has Thorne.  Spider takes in the sights of the city, noting people about their business, a teenage boy piling up baskets of vegetables onto a produce stand, two older men playing chess at a table outside a cafe, a woman in a businesslike green dress carrying a leather briefcase.  On the way down High Street, Spider spots Thorne through the window of the jeweler's.  The window displays were the sort of stuff Cressida wore, artsy designs in gold and platinum.  Thorne was looking at rings, and the debate over them was pretty lively with the shopkeeper, a middle-aged man in grey suit.  Watching Thorne in action was always entertaining; it looked like the object of interest was a man's diamond ring set in gold; the diamond was huge, at least three carats.  The bargaining was spirited, both of them evenly matched, but it was all in Africaans.  Finally, Thorne gave in, pulled out his wallet, and started counting out money - over a thousand dollars.  "Spider, you want anything ?"  Thorne asked, having noticed Spider was there.

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GM:  Glad to have you both back !  Please respond with actions, etc, for the next few minutes of game time, by Saturday, 10 February, next post Sunday.  We are now at 26 years of MU (and post MU).
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Jack tries taking a look at the book and the ring through the crystal, and also checks for any inscription inside the ring.
   In any case, he wants some new items to occupy himself on the voyage home. Unless he picks up signs of danger, he will smile at the young lady and her uncle and make his offer.
   “Most interesting curios, indeed. I can offer you $900 American for all three, along with any information you have on them, such as the previous owner’s name.” He is willing to go to $1000 if the man haggles.
   [sending Persuasion roll following this post]

Spider grins at Thorne.  "Yeah, I need to get something nice for Cress.  Maybe a choker of some kind?"  He looks around the shop, hoping for inspiration.  "If not a choker, something with a pendant."

Expedition part 10: Going Home pt 4
---Spider----
Spider walked over to the glass cases, as the man in the suit placed Thorne's purchase in a blue velvet ring box.  There was an abundance of fancy jewelery on display, some ostentatious pieces, some more reserved.  Thorne pocketed the ring box and sauntered over.  "This is for the girl who drives a Rolls Royce and leaves it on the streets of DC," he said. "The pretty brunette.  Hey, this emerald and diamond choker, smarag en diamant halssnoer, watter soort winskoop kan ons daarvoor maak ?"  The choker in question was an elegant one, loops of gold and platinum holding rich green emeralds and bright diamonds in a leaf pattern.  Thorne had good taste.
The subsequent bargaining went back and forth for a while, until Thorne told Spider, "He'll go as low as 560 dollars, he says it's a French design."  In an undertone, the Southerner added, "I can loan you the money if you want.  You have back pay coming from work."  He allows Spider to think about that and engages with the jeweler again, this time about some earrings, a petite pair featuring pearls and small diamonds, then a second pair of ruby studs.  These are soon wrapped up in gift boxes and more money is exchanged.

As the accounts are settled, Thorne says to Spider, "I'm heading back to the hotel - I have something important to do." He checked his reflection in one of the many mirrors in the shop, adjusting the set of his pocket handkerchief and his collar.

---Jack-----
Jack tries to bargain, using Annika as a translator.  He's pretty sure that the girl is arguing with the older man, as well as translating, and he's picked up a few Africaans words in the weeks aboard the Natalia.  They were in some kind of hurry.  Annika put down her hair brush and started winding up her long hair into a bun, which she pinned in place using some fancy long hair pins from a display case.  "Ons kan nie laat wees nie," Annika told the man.  There was a pause, as the old man looked at the ticking grandfather clock, and said something.
"No less than 1000 US dollars," Annika said.  "The items came from the estate of Sir Basil Rose.  Some kind of English adventurer.  He died six months ago and there was an auction.  We had two more items, a metal puzzle box and a clockwork bird, they sold very quickly.  I am sorry, we must leave soon, we have to be at a funeral."  She was pinning a black velvet hat to her bun, with a mesh veil drapery attached to it.

Jack forks over the cash and Annika deftly, swiftly wraps the book in a silk cloth, then sets it into a sturdy pasteboard box, while her uncle carefully shuts the ring box and places it in a satin bag, cinching it shut with the bag cords.  The magnifying glass is wrapped in wads of cotton and placed in another pasteboard box with the curiosity shop's logo, an eye set in curliques, and all of this is placed in a strong canvas carrying bag for Jack to take away.  Without any further ado, and the briefest of thanks, the two hurry Jack out of the shop, lock the doors, and rush off down the street.

Outside the store, Jack hears a familiar sound - huskies talking.  Sitting in the back of the little carriage he saw earlier, now parked by the cafe, are two familiar-looking huskies, yowling and yipping, tails wagging, looking at the cafe.  The two girls he had seen earlier run from the cafe, holding sausage links.  The girls are giggling as the huskies happily gobble down their treats.  The pony, feeling left out, stomps a hoof and whinnies.

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GM:  Please respond with actions, etc, for the next few minutes of game time, by Saturday, 17 February, next post Sunday.
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Spider thanks Thorne for his offer and gladly accepts.  "I'l pay you back as soon as I get paid.  Now I just need to decide what to get the kids."  After the box with the choker is safely in his pocket he goes in search of the shop for presents for his children, still unsure what they might like.

Jack tries to get out of their way quickly, offering sincere thanks and condolences. He smiles at the girls with the huskies, then begins strolling back towards the hotel. He keeps an eye out for shifty characters who might try to swipe his bag, and avoids any alleyways or other isolated areas.
At the hotel suite, he removes the ring and puts it in his pocket, then places the bag with the other items in the secure closet with the alien technology. If Ben is around, Jack will tell him of his purchases and ask if he knows anything about the former owner, or about the crystal lens. Otherwise, he will descend to the hotel bar and have a drink before dinner. Whenever he meets up with Thorne, Jack will show him the ring and ask his opinion of it.

Expedition Part 10: Going Home pt 5

----Spider----
Spider loads the velvet jewelry case into his inside jacket pocket.  "You're welcome," Thorne told him. "You'd better keep her happy with you - she's a rare one."  Then he was gone, back in the direction of the hotel.

Spider moves into the town, noting the normal business of the day.  People in normal clothes, not layered in furs, are going about their errands.  A woman in a green dress walks up to a plain grey stone building and knocks, and is let inside.  A pair of old women are sizing up the offerings at a produce stand while a teenage boy in an apron arranges vegetables on display.
The street signs are clear, though in Africaans, and he is able to find the toy shop without difficulty, as there is a huge rocking horse on display in the window.  Inside, the shelves are laden with brightly painted wooden toys, while vivid kites hang from the ceiling.  A tiny, plump woman with curly grey hair is doing something complex with small tools to a miniature metal train; she wears goggles that magnify the job and an apron laden with more tools over a plain grey dress.  "Net 'n minuut,"  she mutters, acknowledging Spider's arrival.  "Hoe kan ek jou help ?"

At Spider's greeting in English, the woman nodded. "I speak English pretty good.  My first husband was English.  You have children ?  They are stay at home, or they are adventure ?"
She carefully set down the train, a gleaming engine in black and gold paint, clearly an expensive item.  The goggles were propped up on her curls, and she wiped her hands clean of grease on a handy towel.   "What can I show you ?"

--Jack----

Jack sees the huskies and the girls, and headed back to the hotel.  The quick brush-off at the Curiosities shop seemed a little strange, but this was a different country.

No one seemed too interested in Jack, though he did notice the locals were looking at him now and then - Cape Town was a major port and his clothes were not European cut or fashion.  The concierge at the hotel nodded a polite greeting to him, and Jack went up the luxurious suite of rooms, finding Ben snoozing in a chaise longue on the balcony, a tall drink next to him - some kind of lemonade, while Bruno was sprawled just inside the room, in front of the pile of gear. There were a bunch of huskies sunning themselves on the balcony as well.

Ben woke with little intervention, picked up his lemonade, then promptly spat it across the balcony as Jack mentioned the name Basil Rose.  "WHAT ?!  He's dead ?  Are you sure ?"  It turned out that Algernon Maxwell and Basil Rose were bitter rivals, and Rose's wallet was deeper than Maxwell's, so many items they had bid on at auction were won by Rose.  "Hell, if you got anything from that estate, it's bound to be something."  Ben looked at the book, just a brief glance, and didn't touch it.  "That needs a lot of work to restore it.  Marcus Faulkner can probably fix it over at Orne Library."  The ring got a second look.  "There's something odd about it.  Don't touch it or put it on right now, just in case it's cursed. Rose liked cursed items."  The magnifying glass was another matter; Ben squinted at it, holding it in his handkerchief.  "It's not from Babylon.  It's not Akkadian either.  The inscription is in Ogham, which means it could more than a millennia old.  I don't know the language well enough to translate it, but I'm sure we have resources back in DC that will help.  And it's got that feel to it.  Did you look through it at anything ?"

A husky got up, slurped at Ben's forgotten lemonade, and complained about it, raising the rest of the loafers from their repose.  Suddenly the huskies were active and demanding.  "I think they may need a walk outside," Ben said. "I fed them an hour ago."

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GM:  Actions, for the next few minutes of game time, please respond by Saturday, 24 February, next post is Sunday
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Jack is pleased that his purchases seem to be good stuff, if Ben’s reaction is anything to go by. Jack tells him about the two items that got away, and also about the proprietors leaving immediately for a funeral.
“I did try looking at the journal and the ring through the crystal, but didn’t see much.”
While Ben is examining the items, Jack calls the concierge and asks if there are any prominent or unusual people being buried today. He will also inquire about whether Basil Rose died in Capetown, and any related particulars.

Spider grins at the woman and says, "I've got twins, a boy and a girl, and they're both fairly adventurous.  What have you got?"

Expedition part 10, Going Home pt 6

---Jack-----

"There's probably an activation incantation on the looking glass - which would hide its abilities.  Probably in ancient Gaulish, or Irish,"  was Ben's theory on the looking glass.
As for the two items that were already sold, Ben just shook his head.  "I don't like the idea of the stuff Rose collected being out and about.  And the shopkeepers are probably being vultures, looking to get first chance at the estate sale."

Ben started trying to herd, lead and jolly the huskies along to get them out of the room before they'd have to ring the front desk for cleaning supplies.  "You dogs, all of you, come on then, outside, walkies, AND you, let's go."  The dogs didn't listen to him like they listened to Fritz, but he was prepared to bribe them.  "Bacon for the good dogs.  Let's go. Bruno, you too, I'll put an illusion up."

Jack rang the front desk, pleased that the room had its own telephone, quite the extravagance in this day and age.  "Yes, sir, there's the burial of a town elder today, Elisa Sophia Steyn, who was related to the great Stephanus Kruger, 5th state president of the South African Republic. She was quite a philanthropist and collector of historical relics."

The concierge didn't know where Basil Rose had died, but knew he lived in Johannesburg, and had several times visited the Hotel.  "A rich man, an Englishman," was the comment.

----Spider------

Spider received a merry grin from the proprietress of the toy shop.  "Oh, many things.  I have kites, all kinds; I have camping kits for small children.  Butterfly nets, fishing poles, all kinds of footballs and throwing games."  She led Spider down one of the aisles, where the items were, though the kites of course were all above him.  "This one, I sell a lot," she showed him a board and beanbag game where the scoring was best if you could pitch the beanbag into the smallest holes. "The kites are all different prices, and I sell strong silk cord.  They are hand made, by a Japanese woman in town."  The kites were amazing - from bright geometric shapes, to fanciful birds, lions, dragons, butterflies, wolves and monsters.  There were also child-sized camping kits, fully functional with bedroll, shovel, compass, canteen, firestarter, and whistles, fishing poles for children, and small tents for camping out.  The items were all quality, too, but the prices reflected that.  There were also spinning tops, porcelain-headed dolls in lavish dresses, and all kinds of blocks made of wood and clay, toy soldiers, and complex electric trains for those with very good wallets.  There were board games, puzzles and domino sets, puppets and soft plush toys, and wind-up animals made of painted tin.  As he was perusing the merchandise, the door opened, the bell above it ringing; a middle-aged man in a banker's suit, walking into the shop.  "Goeie middag mevrou, het jy enige nuwe treine in ?  Ek het net 'n paar minute, jammer om haastig te wees."  the man asked, finding the proprietress in the store.  He seemed to be in a rush.
"Ja, ek het 'n lieflike nuwe treinenjin wat jy sal geniet,"  she replied.  She looked to Spider. "Are you all right to look for a moment ? Mr. Hoerval will have to go back to the office quickly."

The man hurried to the counter, where the train she'd been working on was sitting.  "Conrad's enjin, jy het dit al reggemaak ?"
"Ja, die onderstel was vasgekeer," the woman said. "Die nuwe treinwaens het vanoggend uit Duitsland gekom.  Ek sit die caboose vir jou eenkant."
She reached under the counter, producing a box with German print on it; the man was already reaching for his wallet, and forked over a wad of cash; he went out with his treasure, smiling.
"Mr. Hoerval loves his trains," she said to Spider, by way of explanation. "They are very expensive, but he is very happy to have them."

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GM:  Actions, etc, for the next half hour of game time, please respond by Saturday 3 March, next post Sunday
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Jack will accompany Ben to walk the dogs, and tell him about the funeral for the lady who collected artifacts. Jack doesn’t feel a need to search for more esoterica to buy, but if Ben thinks going to her (hypothetical) estate sale might benefit their efforts against the Mythos, he will try to locate it and attend. Otherwise he will soak up the ambience of their hotel.

Spider allows the woman to deal with her hurried customer, and peruses a few items.  He thinks the children might really enjoy camping, but he then pictures Cressida out in the wilderness.  She could always take care of herself, but camping was not really her style.  He grins for a moment, then speaks with the owner.  "The kites are amazing, but fairly fragile.  Could we have them shipped?  In my bags they'd probably get crushed.  I'll take two wolves, a dragon and a peacock.  And 2 children's camping kits."  Maybe Cress would love it...

Expedition Part 10: Going Home pt 7

---Spider----

Spider shops, racking up a goodly bill, but thanks to Thorne's generosity, can afford to pay for the items.  The shopkeeper smiles.  "I can pack the kites very safely in sturdy boxes.  I mail them out all the time, if you want, for the extra shipping fee.  It will take about six weeks to send to Australia."

She begins packing up his purchases with care, taking time to secure them properly so that nothing will be damaged, and nods when he corrects the address.  "Maybe five weeks then, to ship.  You live in the Capitol of America !  That must be interesting !  Have you seen the President ? Have you met Nikola Tesla, or Thomas Edison ?"  She deftly knots string around the boxes so that Spider can easily carry them.

---Jack-----

Jack goes with Ben, the herding huskies.  "I can't afford anything with the spending budget this year for the Bureau," Ben says.  "This trip exhausted the account, and if Thorne hadn't gone ahead and bought a lot of the equipment with his own money, we'd never have made it.  As much as I would like to limit the arcane artefacts from being out in the world, there's only so much that can be done."  The dogs go bounding down the staircase, causing some startled yelps and shrieks from other guests, but are relatively well-behaved otherwise.  They head to the garden, stampeding past an irate woman in a grey dress, and then mob Thorne and Fritz, before galloping off to attend to their business.  The gardener will NOT be happy.

Neither, apparently, is Fritz.  At the look on his face - icy anger - Ben pauses, holding out his hand to pause Jack from approaching them.  Neither of the two men had noticed them, both looking at each other, Thorne grinning and Fritz scowling.

"Ten words.  Say one more and I will shoot you dead right now." Fritz says coldly, to Thorne, who looks about to launch one of his long-winded charming monologues.  Thorne sets his jaw, thinking, and nods ever so slightly.  Then he goes onto one knee, holding out a small jewelry box to Fritz.

"I am sorry.  Please forgive me.  Will you marry me ?"  Thorne flips the box open to present it to Fritz, who looked stunned, as Ben grabs Jack's arm and pulls him backwards behind a large piece of topiary.
"None of our business," Ben whispered to Jack. "So long as they don't shoot each other or anyone else.  We'll walk around the other side of the hotel and call for the dogs."

---later----

The Agents met again in the dining room, since Bruno was again in place on guard duty and the rest of the huskies were settled for the evening.  No bullets had been fired and everyone was alive.  The steak dinner was served in full splendour of a 5 star hotel, in a four-course session of great food well presented.

 Thorne had of course ordered champagne for the final toasts.
"To the success of the expedition and the gentlemen who went forth !"  He declared, raising his champagne flute.
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GM:  Actions, etc, for the next half hour of game time, please respond by Saturday, 9 March, next post Sunday
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Spider assures the woman she has not met any of the political luminaries, nor Edison or Tesla, though he would be honored.  He thanks her and heads back to the hotel.

He raises his glass to Thorne's toast, and adds, "And to getting home safe.  Until then, we're not done."

Jack does as Ben says and minds his own business. He enjoys the dinner and champagne toasts that evening, and asks, “How soon will we be able to find passage home? Are there any sights we should take in before we go?”

Expedition part 10: Going home pt 8
---Spider----
The shopkeeper smiles.  "I hope your children are happy with your generous gifts !  Have a lovely visit in Cape Town."


---Everyone, at dinner---

Spider raises his glass to Thorne's toast, and adds, "And to getting home safe.  Until then, we're not done."

Spider's toast was honoured with some more champagne.  It seemed danger was a world away, after a day in civilisation.  Jack had three mysterious items stowed in his luggage, Ben looked as if he'd caught up on his sleep, and Thorne and Fritz seemed on normal speaking terms with everyone.

As for the return home, Ben responds, checking his watch.  "We're calling home in a few minutes, to find out what they've arranged.  I'm sure there's plenty to do around town, but we won't know how much time we have until we check with the office."

And then, one of the hotel staff hurried up to the table, wringing his hands.  "I beg pardon for this unseemly intrusion," he said. "There's a disturbance upstairs with your dogs.  They are - making noise, and some of the guests have complained."

----Upstairs-----

There were indeed huskies making noise in the rooms, specifically the one where the excavated treasure was stored.  The sound is a grating howl, made by several of the dogs, and a raspier one from Bruno.  Upon the Agents' arrival, the dogs quieted, still making concerned yowls and yips; several of them were surrounding another husky, which lay quiet and still on the floor.  The husky was dead - sprawled on the shredded carpet, and its mouth was open.  It had apparently had a seizure during its death.  Bruno stood guard over the stash, hackles raised.

"Son of a bitch," Thorne sounded mad.
"That's the dog that drank my lemonade," Ben said, standing very still.
"You - out." Thorne told the hotel staffer, who quickly retreated.  Fritz came closer to the dead dog, the rest of them shifting to allow him to approach.
"Poisoned.  Something that gave him seizures."  Fritz said, kneeling beside the stricken animal.  "Gums are pale, looks like asphyxiation.  How much did you drink, boss ?"
"Almost none of it, I took a sip then Jack told me news that made me spit it out.  The dog drank from my glass and didn't like it, then I tipped it out in the sink." Ben said.
"Macey told us that you 'would die' on this trip.  Was it a warning ?"  Thorne said.
"I really would rather not die," Ben said.
"We all ate the same meal tonight, apart from the turnips, which I hate," Thorne said. "It is less likely that we would all be poisoned at the same time, and we weren't the only guests eating the steak.  When did you order the lemonade ?"
"Room service said it was complimentary.  The waiter asked how many glasses I wanted, but you were all out and about, so I said, just the one.  Then I fell asleep on the balcony." Ben replied. "I forgot about the lemonade until Jack woke me up."
"Remember what that waiter looked like," Thorne said. "How should we handle this ?"
"First, check in with Edith to find out what our return will take," Ben said. "If someone is trying to kill me, that means they already know who I am, or were taking a calculated risk."
"I signed in under my own name, and so did Fritz," Thorne said.  "Spider sounds Australian, and Jack sounds Southern - Ben, you're the only Northern accent here, so they could easily place you as Ben Weintraub from Maine, especially if they have your physical description.  Too late to switch names.  You'd better stay in the rooms."  Thorne quickly checked the French doors that led to the balcony, then swung the curtains closed.

"All right," Ben said. "Jack, you'll go down to the telephone cabinet, that's the only way to make an international call.  Tell Edith Code Green - that means we may be in danger.  Find out the details on getting us home.  Who can guard him ?"

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GM:  Actions, etc, for the next few minutes of game time, please respond by Saturday, 16 March, next post Sunday
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Spider said, "I'll go with him.  The rest of you lot stay with Ben.  We won't be gone long."

Jack checks his .45 and holsters it under his jacket, and pats his pocket where the wand is no doubt resting, then immediately heads for the lobby with Spider.
   “If we meet any resistance or see anyone suspicious, let’s keep at least one alive to question.”
   He will call Edith and give her the code, as well as getting the info on their departure.
   If everything seems normal, he will approach the concierge and ask about any strange activity in the hotel today, however seemingly unrelated.

Expedition part 10: Going home pt 9

Jack prepares for visiting the hotel lobby in order to make an international telephone call to the Grey Building.   He is armed and ready, and Spider likewise prepares for the worst.  They head downstairs, cautiously.

The hotel lobby seems quiet and relaxed; the night clerk is shuffling some paperwork and looks up to greet them in polite English.  "Good evening, gentlemen, is there anything I may assist you with ?"  Upon hearing they want to make a telephone call, he goes to the cabinet and holds the door open, then returns to the desk, where he sorts the papers and puts them into different slots on the wall.  One person might sit comfortably within the telephone cabinet, but two men would be stuffed.  Spider has the option to lean by the ajar doorway to the cabinet, near a tall potted plant, or to place himself across the room.  Both are good vantage points and offer a view of the front door and the entrance to the dining room and corridor.

The lobby has a generous array of seating, with understated electric lighting.  Only one guest is seated in the lobby, an elderly woman in a Prussian blue dress, a feathered hat pinned to her grey curls, a cane leaning on the cushion next to her.  She has a pair of gloves that she's fussing with, apparently waiting for someone.  There is ambient noise from the dining room, where food and drink is still being served.

Jack goes to the cabinet and dials up the international operator, spending some time to get through; the connection is somewhat scratchy.  "Yes, Sir, I have your party on the line," the operator tells him, and he is connected to the Grey Building.
"Mr. Sterling !"  Edith's voice is warm and cheerful.  He can hear Mills the Mouse in the background, talking to someone.  There was also a clicking sound on the line.  "I have good news about your travel details.  We have arranged for Mr. Gruber to collect you in three days."
Jack relayed the message about Code Green; there was just the slightest hesitation as Edith processed the information.  "Of course.  Wonderful.  I'll see about necessary arrangements.  I trust everyone is all right ?  It is my fondest wish that you are all well.  Mr. Macey presents his compliments to everyone."

Spider sees someone approaching the hotel's main doors, staggering.  It is a woman in a black dress, her long chestnut brown hair straggling from a bun; she is quite pretty but seems to be drunk.  The night clerk also notes the woman, and goes to the door, speaking in concerned Africaans. "Is jy reg, jong dame ? Kan ek jou help ?"  Spider knew something was very wrong with her.

She didn't respond to the night clerk, but lurched forward, stumbling over the carpeting.   The night clerk went to meet her, trying to catch her before she collapsed; she reached out towards Jack, her hand red with blood, and sagged into the night clerk's arms; blood smeared from her over his light grey suit.  The old woman screamed, pointing - there was a dagger in the young woman's back, dug deep.  It was Annika, from the Curiosity Shop, and she was trying to tell Jack something.  "Kyk glas...gevaar..."  Annika coughed, blood staining her lips.

The night clerk yelled towards the dining room, catching the attention of one of the wait staff.  "Is daar 'n dokter in die kamer ?!"
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GM:  Actions, etc, for the next few minutes of game time please, Spider, let me know if you're standing by the telephone cabinet or across the room, as the two vantage points will give different perspectives, and Jack, anything you want to tell Edith or otherwise deal with, please respond by Saturday, 23 March, next post Sunday
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Jack has nothing else to tell Edith. When Annika arrives, Jack likewise runs toward her. As Spider and the night clerk try to help her, Jack runs out the front doors, pulling the wand out, and looking for any threats or escaping parties. If he sees anyone on foot, he will hit them hard with a Magic Fist. If there is a vehicle speeding away, he will use the same spell to try to deflect its path into a light pole or building corner. (Keeper please make any rolls needed.) Either way he will try to subdue the perpetrator so they can't escape.
   If no threats are visible, he will run back inside and join the others trying to help Annika. He'll try to use the wand to stop the bleeding, putting his body between the wand and any curious onlookers if possible.

Spider would have been across the room.  Unless something really distracts him, he will try to render first aid to the woman.

Expedition part 10: Going Home pt 10

---Spider----

Spider, stationed across the room and having a good view of the front of the hotel, the corridor and the garden, sees a dark-clad figure running after Annika, but the person halted before they were within the lights of the foyer.  There was enough motion there to suggest a person taller and wider than Annika.  He is able to communicate this to Jack and go to see Annika, who is slumping to the carpet.

The old woman has stopped screaming but is shaking in terror.  From the dining room, a portly, balding man in a dark grey suit comes hurrying out, still clutching his linen napkin.  "Ek is 'n dokter," the man said, quickly moving to assist Spider.  He used the napkin to wrap the knife hilt, keeping it in place.  And, fortunately for Spider, he spoke English.  "Keep the hole plugged, I will try to judge what we are looking at here," he said.  "My name is Soren Hesselink, I am a doctor of osteopathy, but I served in the War.  Hai, Sophie, kry my sak," he called to a woman looking at them from the dining area.  She nodded and rushed off through the lobby, heading towards the car park.  She quickly returned with a black leather doctor's bag, placing it on the carpet next to Hesselink and kneeling by his side.  Annika was choking, blood dripping from her mouth.  "Bleeding is bad."  Hesselink said, telling Sophie to keep the knife steady, "We turn her on her side, try to get her breathing better.  Miss - we will turn you now.  I will need to find what is bleeding, seal it off. Dieter, water and soap and towels !  And lamps !"  The night clerk ran off to fetch, and so did one of the wait staff.    "Sophie, get the chloroform.  No time to get her to hospital."

Spider's first aid was tasked to its ultimate trying to keep Annika alive, but the doctor seemed competent and ready to deal with the matter, his companion Sophie also, who was loading a cloth with drops of chloroform.  "Between fifth and sixth rib, close to spine," Hesselink said.  "Miss, breath in.  Sophie, carefully.  Young man, keep her steady."  The doctor splashed alcohol onto his hands, then went for his scalpel.  The old woman fainted away onto the sofa she was seated on.

Jack darts for the door, looking for a shadowy figure, and thinks he sees movement in the garden that suggests someone is there.  The garden is a winding, sumptous bounty of flowers and trees, the path a pleasant pattern of brickwork.  The faint rasp of a shoe on the brickwork leads Jack onward.  The wand is again in his hand, unbidden.
"Daar is jy, klein towenaardaar," came a deep breathy voice at his back, all too close. "Ek wil my vergrootglas hê."
Jack whirled, casting the Fist of Yog Sothoth; the punishing invisible punch, but his target, a large figure in dark robes, merely exploded into wisps of black mist.  Harsh laughter echoed through the garden, and Jack was uncomfortably aware that there were more than one person out there; he heard footsteps from two different directions.

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GM:  Actions, etc, for the next minute of game time, please respond by Saturday, 30 March, next post Sunday
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Not keen to offer his back to either enemy, Jack crouches a bit and starts stepping quietly backward, perpendicular to a line between the two points where he heard them.  He hopes to keep both in front of him (though widely spaced) and put his back toward a wall or fence. As he moves, he shifts the wand to his left hand, keeping it pointed outward but near his body, and draws his .45 with his right hand. He will then cast a Deflect Harm on himself as he keeps moving. He is expecting that one enemy will make a distracting feint or attack and the other will try to blindside him immediately thereafter, so he concentrates on keeping his perception wide and unfocused. His intention is to fire his pistol at the first enemy he sees, and then immediately turn his attention to his open side and blast another Fist at whatever is coming that way. (If they don’t appear, he will move back to the garden entrance keeping alert, and head quickly inside.)

Expedition Part 10: Going Home pt 11

-----Jack-----

Jack crouches beside a large bush, then steps backwards as stealthily as possible, trying to figure out where the two people he heard were moving.  They were getting closer.

The attack came swiftly; just as he pulled the .45, he heard the pounding of footsteps to his left side.   The hissing voice came from above his head, now speaking in English.  "I have you now, little mage !"

The figure rushing towards him on the path to his left was dressed in dark clothes, possibly a robe; Jack's wand flicked up and out, and the attacker tumbled off the path like a bouncing ball, landing in some topiary.


Jack's attention was then drawn to his right, and he fired at the onrushing person in a dark robe, prompting a shrill shriek of pain; the person tripped and rolled, sprawling onto the brickwork path in an untidy sprawl.  The report of the firearm echoed against the hotel walls.  The voice above him screeched then, a violent sound that resonated in Jack's bones, but the wand was already whipping in the Deflect Harm spell, faster than Jack had ever cast before. He caught his breath as three black daggers raining down from above impacted on the spell's shielding and froze there, embedded in the spell.

A man's voice, on the path off to Jack's left, maybe twenty paces away, in surprise, "Wat de hel gaan hier aan ?"

Jack was simultaneously happy - and concerned - to see a policeman.  This one was wearing a khaki uniform with black boots, a pith helmet, and had one hand on a truncheon handle, the other on the grip of a holstered handgun.  The handgun was swiftly drawn and pointed at Jack.  "Polisie !  Laat sak jou wapen !  Ek plaas jou in hegtenis !"  The meaning was unmistakeable - the policeman wanted Jack to lower the weapon, and it looked like there might be an arrest in the near future.  The policeman looked fierce; not particularly big and strong, but tough like old leather.

The daggers remained suspended in the air above Jack's head, though he could no longer hear the mocking voice.

---Spider----

Trying to keep Annika alive, the doctor, his assistant and Spider are busy, while the staff hurries up with towels, water, and extra lamps to provide light for an impromptu operating theatre.  The night clerk holds a lamp steady for Hesselink, who is rapidly cutting open Annika's dress to reveal the wound.   "I have called police," Dieter the night clerk tells them, "And for ambulance."

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GM:  Actions, please, for the next minute of game time, please respond by Saturday 6 April, next post Sunday.
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Not wanting to interfere with a true professional, Spider finally backs away and wipes his hands on a towel.  He then notices Jack has vanished and goes in search of him.

Jack lifts his hands, but does knot empty them, and speaks rapidly but clearly.
“Be careful, there are two of them. They attacked a young woman. Stabbed her with a knife. She’s in the hotel with a doctor. I’m trying to catch them.”
He continues to watch for attacks while he speaks, and will not hesitate to fire the wand or pistol again, including to defend the policeman.

Expedition part 10: Going Home pt 12

---Spider----

Spider leaves the hotel foyer, while Hesselink and his assistant are working to save Annika's life.  He thought he'd heard a gunshot outside, and Jack was missing.

--Jack---
Jack raises his hands, the wand emitting a bright white glow that outlined the shapes of the daggers above his head.  The policeman didn't seem to understand much English, but was able to pick up a few words, though he did not lower his weapon or change his stance - and he did glance up briefly and see the suspended daggers.

There was the sound of footsteps on the brickwork path, heading away fast, and another pair of footsteps heading towards them.  Jack noticed the policeman heard this also, with a slight grimace.

"Hokay, Cowboy,"  the policeman said in rough English, again glancing at the daggers in the air.   "Put...gun on ground.  I am Policeman.  You shoot the man ?  You see..die mesaanval...die cut of the...knife ?"

---both-----

Spider skidded around a corner featuring a very pleasantly groomed topiary, nearly tripping on a crumpled body clad in a dark robe sprawled across the brickwork path.  There was no question that the person was dead, no one could survive that much blood loss.  Up ahead, he could see Jack's back; Jack's arms were raised, his right hand holding his sidearm and his left holding the wand, whose white glow illuminated three daggers - the same style as the one in Annika's back - frozen in the air about two feet above Jack's head; facing Jack was a man in a khaki uniform.  The set of the man's stance said 'military' or 'policeman', and he was holding a handgun on Jack.  Spider could hear the man speaking to Jack, but half of it was in Africaans.

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GM:  Please respond with actions, etc, for the next minute of game time, by Saturday, 13 April, next post Sunday.
________________

[OC: Sorry so late, not feeling well.]
Jack steps to his right and drops the pistol a short distance onto soft ground while maintaining the protective spell. If the daggers remain over the spot where he was, he will relax the spell and let them continue to the ground. On the other hand, if they move with him, or point at anyone else, he will try to think of a way to dispel them or fling them away. Failing all of that, he will step behind a tree so they fly into the trunk.
After dealing with the daggers, he will cooperate fully with the policeman except that he will not give up the wand if asked , simply sliding it into a pocket instead.

Expedition part 10: Going Home pt 13

Jack stepped carefully out from under the knives and dropped the protective spell and his firearm onto the grass.  The three black daggers immediately drove deep into the bricks, hilts quivering, where he had been standing.

The policeman observed this with only a grimace, and nodded to Jack to step back a few paces, so that the policeman could retrieve Jack's M1911a.  From the courtyard outside the hotel, there were screeching tires and shouting.  "Oi, Hey, hier in die tuin !"  The policeman yells, still holding his handgun on Jack.  There were more sounds of footsteps on the pathways, both coming and going, and abruptly, Spider had two policemen shouting at him while a third ran past him.

"Hey, Kees," the policeman who was now behind Jack.
"Sander, vertaal asseblief vir hierdie man," the first policeman said, and rattled off a lot of South African.  The other officer, younger with a thick brown mustache, began translating.
"Sir, I am placing you under arrest for suspicion of assault, place your hands on your head, turn around and stand there, I am going to hand cuff you.  The - " there was some discussion between the two about the wand, Jack figured, then, "Please put the glowing thing away - carefully."  Confident that it would return if he needed it, Jack set it back into its case.

He was handcuffed, as was Spider, their weapons were confiscated, and they were walked back to the hotel lobby under police escort, where Annika was being loaded onto a rolling gurney and headed towards an ambulance.  One policeman remained behind to observe the daggers, still stuck deep in the bricks.  Hesselink and his companion Sophie looked to be heading with the emergency responders.   Spider and Jack were walked into an office room and sat down on two sturdy wooden chairs.  The desk opposite them was clean, empty of all but a notepad and a pencil, which one of the lower ranked policemen took up and made ready to write down things.  The tough one, Kees, that arrested Jack seemed to outrank the other two police in the room, and began speaking in Africaans.  His manner was efficient and brusque.

Sander, the policeman that spoke good English translated.  "I need your names, your addresses, the reason why you are here at this hotel, what you were doing out in the garden, and we are confiscating your passports until such time as we have cleared you of any involvement in a crime.  A young woman has been seriously injured, but her uncle was killed.  Since neither of you were at the initial crime scene, we know you were not responsible for the murder, but we need to know more.  Did either of you hear or see the assault on Annika Vrees ?"

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GM: Actions, or rather explanations, for the next fifteen minutes of game time, please respond  by Saturday 20 April, next post Sunday, hope you feel better J.
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Jack complies fully. He gives his name and address, the number of their suite in the hotel, and tells Officer Sander truthfully when they arrived here from their university expedition in Antarctica. He offers further the approximate time he entered Annika's uncle's antique shop and bought some expensive curios, and that Annika translated for the transaction. He mentions that they shooed him out because they were in a hurry to go to a funeral. He also mentions the poisoned lemonade just earlier.
   "I did not see either of them after that until Annika appeared at the front door of the hotel as I was talking to our secretary in America on the lobby phone. She came through the door in obvious distress, so Mr. Mallory, the desk clerk, and I all moved to help her. She appeared to be reaching toward me, and said something in Afrikaans; the clerk might know what it was. Then she collapsed and we saw the dagger in her back. Mr. Mallory said he had also seen a large, shadowy person just outside the light of the doorway. I ran out to try to apprehend the person and heard him run into the garden. He yelled something at me in Afrikaans. Then I heard a second set of footsteps, and realized there were two of them. They came at me from both sides, so I shot one. The other I knocked into the bushes, but I heard him run away." Jack adds the direction he heard the retreat.

Spider gives them his personal details and says, "We saw someone do something to the woman.  My mate here went after him, and I moved to help the young lady.  I've got some basic medical skills from the war, so thankfully the doctor came to take over."

---both----

The policemen confer with each other in whispers, and the night clerk, Dieter, was called into the office room.

"The young lady said something about glass, and danger," Dieter reported.  "This guest -" he nodded at Spider, "Was trying to help treat the young lady.  The other guest was at the telephone cabinet.  He ran into the garden, and then they were both in the garden, after I had telephoned from the office for police and ambulance."

There was another conference, with Dieter being sent out to talk to the hotel manager, who looked ruffled - he was still fixing the studs on his sleeve cuffs.  It was about eight o'clock now.  The furor had calmed down and the dining room was back in business, while two handymen went to work at clearing up the mess in the foyer.  The fainting little old lady had also been whisked away into the ambulance.

The policeman in charge, Kees, departed the room, while Sander looked over his notes.

"You purchased items from the Curiousity Shop, Mr. Sterling.  Was one of them made of glass ?  And the person who got this lemonade, they are all right ?  The hotel only delivers drinks ordered by guests to their rooms, and there is no record of anyone delivering lemonade to your rooms."

But before he could get answers, there was a thunderous pounding on the door, with a familiar voice - Thorne, declaring something in loud Africaans. "Maak hierdie vervloekte deur oop, ek is hulle regsadviseur !"
"I speak English, Sir," Sander the policeman said politely, and went to open the door.  Thorne looked angry, but after a quick look at Spider and Jack - handcuffed, but not damaged, he subsided.

Sander stepped back to sit behind the desk.  "These gentlemen have not been arrested yet - not formally.  The handcuffs are a precaution, but Sergeant Kees will find out what is going on."
"I will stay in this room and answer for them if you ask them anything else," Thorne said.
"It's really not necessary, Sir."  Sander said.  "But if you feel you must, then please remain.  In fact, it might be safer if you are in the company of the police if indeed an attempt was made on one of your lives.  May I have your name for the records ?"
"Very well," Thorne replied.  "My name is Captain Thomas Thorne the Third, and I am the expedition facilitator.  These men are my responsibility."
It took a moment, as Sander was jotting down the notes, then his jaw fell open.
"YOU ?"  Sander pushed back from the desk like the Devil himself had just spoken, staring at Thorne.  The candlestick telephone on the desk rang, a local call; the policeman fumbled for the receiver, picking up the transmitter, eyes not leaving Thorne.  "Uh huh....uh huh....Calabar gif....so, wat wil jy hê moet ek doen, Sersant ?"  He listened for a moment, then nodded, and disconnected the call.
"Sergeant Kees will be down immediately," he said, still watching Thorne, who merely raised one eyebrow and glared back.

Kees came into the room, eyes narrowed, taking in Thorne and the tableau.  He went to stand beside Sander, and folded his arms, eyeing the three Agents. "Sê vir hulle dat hulle vanaand in hul kamers moet bly en ons sal wagte plaas.  Vra hulle wanneer hulle gaan."
"Sergeant Kees requests you stay in your rooms tonight and we will post guards, and when are you leaving ?"  Sander translated.
"The cuffs come off now," Thorne said. "Haal die boeie af. Gee hul eiendom terug.  Give them back their weapons."
"Albei die duiwels is hier," Kees said to Sander, who was sweating as he wrote on the notepad.

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GM: Actions, etc, for the next few minutes of game time, please respond by Saturday 27 April, next post is Sunday
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This message had punctuation tweaked by the GM at 01:11, Mon 22 Apr.

Jack will answer about the lemonade and skip the question about the glass. He was not feeling too oppressed, but is nonetheless glad to see Thorne and to be uncuffed. And to get his pistol back.
   “Thank you, Captain Thorne. And now before we remove to our rooms, would you please ask the sergeant what became of the person I shot, and whether they’ve been identified yet? Perhaps we could take a quick look at him. It might help us all determine who the other assailant was that fled.”
   He will also speak to the concierge or the hotel manager, whichever is nearby: “Please have a bottle of Sedgwick’s Old Brown Sherry sent with my compliments to the doctor who helped the young lady, and another to his assistant. Billed to my personal account.”
   After all of that, he will go with his friends (careful not to let anyone be alone) back to their suite to check on the glass and to tell Ben everything.

Spider will keep his mouth shut, trusting in Thorne.  He tries his best to not look smug.

The Agents happily were uncuffed and their weapons were returned.  It looked like Sergeant Kees would rather step on a pile of rattlesnakes than spend another minute in the company of Thomas Thorne.  The night clerk and the manager cordially accepted Jack's order, very happy to have the matter removed from public view.

Sander translated for Jack about the person in the garden.  "The body was taken," was the response.  That meant there were at least two people in the garden, or a very strong one, to pick up and move a dead body that fast.

The police escorted Jack, Spider and Thorne up to their rooms, posting another constable at their door and at the door to the adjoining room.  The Agents could hear the huskies' claws tapping on the flooring, but otherwise it was silent.  Sergeant Kees rapped on the first door, where they had left Ben, Fritz and Thorne, and nodded at Sander, who was sweating and pale.  "Hello, we are returning these gentlemen to their room, please do not shoot us," Sander said.

Inside the room, the first thing the Agents noticed was that there was no sign of Ben, or Fritz; the curtains were still drawn, and the dogs seemed all right; Bruno was slouched near one of the overstuffed chairs.  Thorne seemed a little puffed out from the stairs, and headed for the chair by Bruno, who was disguised as a Saint Bernard; there was a slight draft in the room, then Ben stepped out of nowhere, as Thorne claimed the chair.  "I was getting worried," their boss said, unruffled.

Kees rattled off a lot of Africaans, which Sander translated as, "It was all an unfortunate misunderstanding.  Apologies for interrupting your holiday.  We will share what we can about the ongoing investigation, but we request that, for your own safety, you remain in your rooms.  We will post police here to keep you safe.  When are you leaving ?"
"A week or so," Thorne replied. "We need some rest.  What about the poison ? Are you going to test the dog that died ?"
Sander interpreted for his Sergeant then, and there was a pause as the man, who clearly knew Thorne and did not like him, considered the reply before responding.
"It was likely to be Calabar poison, it's from a local bean plant," Sander translated nervously. "Please do not accept any food from anyone you do not know.  The hotel staff will bring your meals directly to your rooms, and we will ask them to take the dog away so the coroner can test it."

"Waar is die ander duiwel ?"  Kees asked Thorne outright, having done a sweep of the room; the curious huskies were trotting alongside and behind him.
"Hy is wag en kyk, so let op jou manière," Thorne replied.  "Hy is baie gevaarliker as ek.  Ons sal gaan waar ons wil, en dit is te sleg vir jou."

"Ek haat jou, jy rotbastard," Kees muttered, and left the room to Sander.
"We are very sorry for any inconvenience," Constable Sander said, and scurried out after his Sergeant.  The door swung shut, and they heard a policeman stepping up to stand in front of it.
Thorne chuckled, leaning back in the chair, with Bruno nudging his knee to get patted on his scarred, scaly head.  "Yep, he remembers us all right."

Jack went to look at his three new treasures; all were in place.  The magnifying glass seemed fine.  Looking through it produced the same effect as before, magnifying things.

"We will have to keep watches," Fritz said, emerging from a fold of curtain, his rifle slung over his shoulder and his belt carrying two pistols.  "Whomever tried to kill one of us will try again.  And we have to let the huskies out now and then, so they will have opportunity."
"The staff will walk them," Thorne said.
"Do we have anything from the office ?" Ben asked Jack.


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GM: Actions, etc, for the next hour of game time, please respond by Saturday, 4 May, next post Sunday
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“What do you mean, ‘the body was taken’?” Jack asks incredulously. “When? By whom? You officers were right there next to it. Did you get a look at it, Spider?”
   Other than clarifying this point, Jack heads up to the suite as already noted. He repeats his conversation with Edith to everyone, and shows the glass, ring, and notebook to his friends as well.
    “I guess this glass is what caused all the trouble. The figure in the garden — the one who seemed to be speaking from the air above me, and throwing those black daggers — called me “little mage” and spoke both English and Afrikaans. The one I shot and the other one I knocked away with the wand were both wearing dark robes, as near as I could tell.” He answers any other questions as best he can, and will stand watch whenever needed.

Spider volunteers for the first watch.  And he is willing to help the staff walk the huskies around the yard.

Expedition part 10: Going Home pt 16

The Agents had perhaps hoped that their time in a civilized city would be pleasant, or at least, somewhat safe, and so far expectations had not been met.

Jack's query prompted some conversing back and forth from Kees and Sander, but the constable finally said, "It was gone.  We are investigating."  Thorne, meanwhile, had a smug grin on his face.  Spider could not recall much about the body; it could have been a man or a woman, but he was certain that the person was dead.

"They're pretty damn confused about that body too," Thorne reported once the police had departed the room.  "Kees recalls Fritzi and myself from our little job here a while ago.  Seems we made quite the impression upon him.  If he could pin a murder on us, he would - he's in a lather that the body's gone."

"I'm more concerned that you were recognized as a mage," Ben said to Jack. "That means someone - some power, either Elder or Outer god, has established a cult in this city.  Robes means cultists to me.  And they want Basil Rose's collection, that glass in particular.  All three items have magical properties, but I'm not willing to make a close examination of anything that Rose used to own, not without the laboratory back home.  Whom have we ticked off lately, besides the US Navy ?"

"A giant frozen snake ?"  Thorne suggested.
"A race of smelly five-lobed aliens ?"  Fritz asked.  "The list can get pretty long here."
"Why black daggers ?" Ben mused. "Jack, draw a picture of the daggers.  And they stayed stuck in the Deflect Harm spell - that is interesting.  I wonder if they were physical daggers, or metaphysical."

Watches were set, and Spider was firmly encouraged not to go outside with the huskies.  "We're going to make it tough to get at us," Ben said.
"I am not staying cooped up in this hotel for the next however many days it takes to get Gruber here," Thorne objected.
"You could write up your expenses report for reimbursement," Ben said dryly.
"Oh, that's pretty much already done, the draft's in my desk drawer, though I need to type up the addendums," Thorne replied. "I keep notes, receipts...you should know that by now."
"Yes, I've experienced your majestic works of popular fiction," Ben said, to Thorne's amused chuckle.  "If you really must go outside, I can put an illusion spell on you.  It would last about three hours, but - I'm not sure who, or what, is looking for us."
"No one lives forever," Thorne said. "I will not live in fear, though I do appreciate your concern."
"How do we go about looking for a cult ?"  Fritz asked. "Besides waiting for the next attack. I prefer a tactical advantage."
"The fake waiter knew enough to get into the hotel, and deliver to this room," Ben said. "But I don't have Agent Black's fine touch with scrying to try to re-examine the event."

There was a slight commotion outside the closed door; voices, in Africaans.  Fritz ducked to the side of the door, moving silently, drawing both pistols.  A hesitant knock on the door.
"Sirs," came the voice of Corporal Sander, "there is a telegram sent from America.  I will slide it under the door."  An envelope slid under the door.
It was from Washington, DC, and from the Grey Building.  "Beware the black pharaoh." was the message.

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GM: Actions, etc, for the next hour of game time, please respond by Saturday 11 May, next post Sunday
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