zombiedude
First Post
"Well, I for one am just glad it isn't the HMS Friday."
[COC] Beyond the Mountains of Madness
- Thread starter Yellow Sign
- Start date
Toric_Arthendain
Explorer
September 1st, 1933
2:00PM
SS Gabrielle, Pier 74
The dock where the Gabrielle is tied up is only 13 blocks from the hotel and takes only a few minutes by taxi or private car. The Hudson River docks are a place of constant motion. Smells of sea water, oil, fish, and damp wood are mixed with the sweat of the stevedores, and fill the air. Dozens of ships of all sizes and descriptions are tied up here, in various stages of loading and unloading. Huge cranes swing heavy loads overhead, and the ground is littered with cast-off packing materials, broken glass and bits of metal. It takes nimble footwork to avoid being knocked over or yelled at by the bustling dockhands.
Tied up on the north side of Pier 74 along the Hudson River shores of New York City is the Gabrielle, its bow facing out. On the south side of the pier, the brightly lit and well-maintained facilities of the Italian Royal Mail line make the expedition's berth seem shabby and unimportant.
The investigators pull up at the foot of West 34th Street, and cross over Twelfth Avenue to the pier shed front. A small sign has been stenciled and nailed up near one of the two large doors.
Starkweather - Moore
Antarctic Expedition
Please Check In
With Guard
No Smoking
An overweight Port Authority guard in the small office at the door checks to see if each investigator's name corresponds to one on his clipboard. Once approved, the guard says, "Go on in, bud."
The pier extends six hundred feet into the river, and is eighty feet wide. A long narrow shed runs down the center of the pier, fifty feet wide and thirty feet high in the center. The shed's interior is piled with cargo - boxes, bales, drums, and pallets, in stacks fifteen feet high, running back from the outdoor work area in three long rows with narrow aisles in between.
Most of the cargo is not for the expedition. Only a few of the crates and drums on the north side of the shed have expedition stencils on them. The interior of the shed is cool and very gloomy.
A railway track runs along each side of the pier between the shed and the ship and is used to move cargo along the dock.
Climbing the gangway up to the deck, and dodging various maritime types who all seem to be in a hurry to go up or down the gangway, the investigators are met at the deck by a member of the crew. He directs them forward to the ship's mess. To this point, Roxie hasn't seen a single sailor who strikes her fancy. All of them are big, burly men who smell of sweat and salt.
Professor Moore is in the ship's mess hall, standing by a table covered with papers, clipboard in one hand, conferring with one of the cargo masters. He is a small neat man with gray-shot dark brown hair, wire-rimmed glasses and a trim goatee. He grees the investigators warmly, but with a distracted air, and gestures to his lists.
"Ah, you've arrived! Capital! Good to have you aboard. There's a lot to do, of course, so we'd best get started. Have you eaten? Sandwiches and coffee are on the table over there. Take what you like, and go see Mr. Sykes in the crew's lounge. Right through that door and down the hall. Oh yes, one more thing. We all meet each morning at eight o'clock, in the Rose Room at the hotel. If I don't see you again today, I trust I'll see you there."
OOC: I'll stop there and give everyone a chance to react and interact before I post more. This post was getting long!
2:00PM
SS Gabrielle, Pier 74
The dock where the Gabrielle is tied up is only 13 blocks from the hotel and takes only a few minutes by taxi or private car. The Hudson River docks are a place of constant motion. Smells of sea water, oil, fish, and damp wood are mixed with the sweat of the stevedores, and fill the air. Dozens of ships of all sizes and descriptions are tied up here, in various stages of loading and unloading. Huge cranes swing heavy loads overhead, and the ground is littered with cast-off packing materials, broken glass and bits of metal. It takes nimble footwork to avoid being knocked over or yelled at by the bustling dockhands.
Tied up on the north side of Pier 74 along the Hudson River shores of New York City is the Gabrielle, its bow facing out. On the south side of the pier, the brightly lit and well-maintained facilities of the Italian Royal Mail line make the expedition's berth seem shabby and unimportant.
The investigators pull up at the foot of West 34th Street, and cross over Twelfth Avenue to the pier shed front. A small sign has been stenciled and nailed up near one of the two large doors.
Starkweather - Moore
Antarctic Expedition
Please Check In
With Guard
No Smoking
An overweight Port Authority guard in the small office at the door checks to see if each investigator's name corresponds to one on his clipboard. Once approved, the guard says, "Go on in, bud."
The pier extends six hundred feet into the river, and is eighty feet wide. A long narrow shed runs down the center of the pier, fifty feet wide and thirty feet high in the center. The shed's interior is piled with cargo - boxes, bales, drums, and pallets, in stacks fifteen feet high, running back from the outdoor work area in three long rows with narrow aisles in between.
Most of the cargo is not for the expedition. Only a few of the crates and drums on the north side of the shed have expedition stencils on them. The interior of the shed is cool and very gloomy.
A railway track runs along each side of the pier between the shed and the ship and is used to move cargo along the dock.
Climbing the gangway up to the deck, and dodging various maritime types who all seem to be in a hurry to go up or down the gangway, the investigators are met at the deck by a member of the crew. He directs them forward to the ship's mess. To this point, Roxie hasn't seen a single sailor who strikes her fancy. All of them are big, burly men who smell of sweat and salt.
Professor Moore is in the ship's mess hall, standing by a table covered with papers, clipboard in one hand, conferring with one of the cargo masters. He is a small neat man with gray-shot dark brown hair, wire-rimmed glasses and a trim goatee. He grees the investigators warmly, but with a distracted air, and gestures to his lists.
"Ah, you've arrived! Capital! Good to have you aboard. There's a lot to do, of course, so we'd best get started. Have you eaten? Sandwiches and coffee are on the table over there. Take what you like, and go see Mr. Sykes in the crew's lounge. Right through that door and down the hall. Oh yes, one more thing. We all meet each morning at eight o'clock, in the Rose Room at the hotel. If I don't see you again today, I trust I'll see you there."
OOC: I'll stop there and give everyone a chance to react and interact before I post more. This post was getting long!
Last edited:
Father Steele waits for the group to disperse and then approaches Professor Moore. Father Steele approaches the professor and states the following: "Professor Moore. I have a request that might seem strange, but I must ask it anyway. I just hope you will be reasonable enough to grant me this request. The Holy Roman Catholic Church has donated a sizeable sum to assist your expedition, and selected me to accompany you for reasons that I cannot explain at this time. I will state that the Church has an extreme interest in some of the events which befall the last expedition and that is why I am here. In light of the sound and worthy preparations you are making I wish to make an additional request."
Father Steele pauses, and then turns away as he examines some of the articles adorning the mess hall, and continues: "I request permission to bring 3 or 4 guard dogs along with us on the expedition. I will personally purchase and pay for the training of these animals myself. There is adequate time for them to be trained and to be familiarized with the crew and party. These dogs will be attack dogs, specifically trained to guard our party, supplies, and the other sleigh dogs. I will take full responsibility for there actions and upkeep. But the church feels that this is a necessary inconvience.
Father Steele pauses, and then turns away as he examines some of the articles adorning the mess hall, and continues: "I request permission to bring 3 or 4 guard dogs along with us on the expedition. I will personally purchase and pay for the training of these animals myself. There is adequate time for them to be trained and to be familiarized with the crew and party. These dogs will be attack dogs, specifically trained to guard our party, supplies, and the other sleigh dogs. I will take full responsibility for there actions and upkeep. But the church feels that this is a necessary inconvience.
Last edited:
KitanaVorr
First Post
Roxie begins to explore the ship on her way to Mr. Sykes, sniffing at this, sighing at that and squeezing a few biceps here and there. "Well...I think I have time to spruce this place up!" she tells Tony with a wink as her mind whirled with the possibilties. "We can make a very nice game room, a gorgeous bar, all the lovely necessities of home right here!"
zombiedude
First Post
*Looks at Tony*
"I hope she isn't planning on making you haul a complete bar along on the tundra."
*Sizes the ship up*
"She'll do, looks like a fine vessell. Can't say some of us are going to be happy with the cramped quarters though."
"I hope she isn't planning on making you haul a complete bar along on the tundra."
*Sizes the ship up*
"She'll do, looks like a fine vessell. Can't say some of us are going to be happy with the cramped quarters though."
Byrons_Ghost
First Post
Richard Lawton comes up to the edge of the pier, grimaces at the sign, and tosses his cigarette into the water.
Late again, he thinks as he enters. I knew I should've gone home after the party last night. Last time I ride with strangers to a cocktail breakfast...
Still slightly addled, he winces at the smell of the cargo shed. And down in New Jersey of all places! Hopefully no one recognized me...
Slowly climbing the gangplank, Richard follows the sailor's directions to the mess. Entering, he nods woozily at Moore, grabs a cup of coffee, and immediately sits down to nurse his hangover.
Late again, he thinks as he enters. I knew I should've gone home after the party last night. Last time I ride with strangers to a cocktail breakfast...
Still slightly addled, he winces at the smell of the cargo shed. And down in New Jersey of all places! Hopefully no one recognized me...
Slowly climbing the gangplank, Richard follows the sailor's directions to the mess. Entering, he nods woozily at Moore, grabs a cup of coffee, and immediately sits down to nurse his hangover.
Fanog
First Post
Huh, what... This is it?!, is pretty much Antonie's first reaction as he spots the ship and its shabby environs. Well, looks aren't all. Let's see what it's like inside.
After greeting Moore, Antonie makes for the table, grabbing himself a generous cup of coffee and two sandwiches. Responding to Rayburn's comment, the big man just shrugs. He has his mouth full and uses it as a good excuse to leave it at that.
He noticing the silent figure of Lawton and recognizes him from the earlier meeting in the hotel, even though he's not too sure of who the fellow is again. "He, are you doing okay? Not getting sea sick already, are you... More coffee?"
Before he has the chance to make good his offer, Roxie has taken off and Antonie follows her out of the mess hall, still carrying a cup of coffee and a sandwich. "Well, from the sight of things it seems like they're not teaming with money for decoration. I'd start small..." Antonie can't help nmaking comment like these, even though he knows full well that nothing is ever done small around Roxie. To cover up, he takes a full bite of his sandwich. A man has to do something when he can't smoke...
After greeting Moore, Antonie makes for the table, grabbing himself a generous cup of coffee and two sandwiches. Responding to Rayburn's comment, the big man just shrugs. He has his mouth full and uses it as a good excuse to leave it at that.
He noticing the silent figure of Lawton and recognizes him from the earlier meeting in the hotel, even though he's not too sure of who the fellow is again. "He, are you doing okay? Not getting sea sick already, are you... More coffee?"
Before he has the chance to make good his offer, Roxie has taken off and Antonie follows her out of the mess hall, still carrying a cup of coffee and a sandwich. "Well, from the sight of things it seems like they're not teaming with money for decoration. I'd start small..." Antonie can't help nmaking comment like these, even though he knows full well that nothing is ever done small around Roxie. To cover up, he takes a full bite of his sandwich. A man has to do something when he can't smoke...
Toric_Arthendain
Explorer
September 1st, 1933
2:30PM
SS Gabrielle, Pier 74
Moore appears distracted as Father Steele makes his request and actually has to have the request repeated. He rubs his chin in thought and then answers. "Bringing a few extra dogs along shouldn't pose a problem but they will have to remain in the hold caged up with the rest of the dogs. We can't have dogs running around the ship during the voyage and I'm certain that the Captain and crew wouldn't allow it. But they can be kept in the hold with the other dogs and cared for there. Bear in mind though that we are going to Antarctica and there are few dogs on the planet that can handle the extreme weather there. Best choose the animals carefully if you intend to follow through with this plan."
That said, Moore returns his attention to his clipboard and continues greeting arriving members of the expedition.
Once everyone has gotten something to eat and drink, each member of the expedition is then taken through the same routine: each is fitted for clothing, individual photos are taken, and each receives a rather thorough medical and dental examination. This process takes up the rest of the afternoon and into the early evening.
Peter Sykes is in the crew's lounge, along with a large number of chests, racks and open boxes. He is one of the expedition's polar survival experts and has been given the job of measuring the explorers for their cold weather clothing. He is a quick, competent man in his thirties with an instinct for diplomacy. He is Canadian, a rugged adventurer of average height, with long limbs and a narrow, wide-mouthed face and black hair. One by one, he measures each arriving member of the expedition: height, weight, waist, chest, collar, inseam, shoe size, hat size, glove size, and anything else he feels is appropriate. Ladies in the party (Roxie! ) who object to this treatment receive only a small smile and a sigh from Sykes, who in fact is quite professional. "You'll want this done right, miss. It'll save your life, it will."
After measurements are taken and written into a small book, Sykes gives each person a quick instruction on the use of each of the many pieces of clothing (liners, boots, gloves, trousers, parka, hoods and overalls-more than fifteen pounds of clothing in all) and has them try on some for size while he begins measuring the next person in line. "Another day or two," adds Sykes, "and we'll have a kit for each of you. The ski shoes and gloves haven't arrived yet, but they should be here by the end of the week."
Once the fitting is completed, each person must then meet with Dr. Greene, the expedition's physician. Greene is in his late twenties and is lean, youthful, and has the natural grace of a dancer. He performs a modest physical examination and questions each person at length about his or her medical history. If anyone has conditions of obvious symptoms that require attention, he schedules them for a complete examination within the following three days.
Next up is the expedition photographer for a series of publicity pictures. Each person is photographed in street clothes and in cold-weather gear, and asked to pose here and there among the tools, charts and instruments.
Then it is off the ship and downtown for a dental examination. By the time each person has finished with the photographer, Moore has arranged an office visit with a dentist in the midtown area. The meeting with the dentist is a typical cleaning and inspection. Moore has already made arrangements for payment in the event of a need for fillings or extractions before the ship sets sail. If these are required, they will be seen to in the next few days.
After investigators finish with the dentist, the rest of the evening and night are the theirs to enjoy on their own. They are reminded by notes in their rooms to be in the Amherst Hotel Rose Room at 8:00AM for the first official expedition meeting.
2:30PM
SS Gabrielle, Pier 74
Moore appears distracted as Father Steele makes his request and actually has to have the request repeated. He rubs his chin in thought and then answers. "Bringing a few extra dogs along shouldn't pose a problem but they will have to remain in the hold caged up with the rest of the dogs. We can't have dogs running around the ship during the voyage and I'm certain that the Captain and crew wouldn't allow it. But they can be kept in the hold with the other dogs and cared for there. Bear in mind though that we are going to Antarctica and there are few dogs on the planet that can handle the extreme weather there. Best choose the animals carefully if you intend to follow through with this plan."
That said, Moore returns his attention to his clipboard and continues greeting arriving members of the expedition.
Once everyone has gotten something to eat and drink, each member of the expedition is then taken through the same routine: each is fitted for clothing, individual photos are taken, and each receives a rather thorough medical and dental examination. This process takes up the rest of the afternoon and into the early evening.
Peter Sykes is in the crew's lounge, along with a large number of chests, racks and open boxes. He is one of the expedition's polar survival experts and has been given the job of measuring the explorers for their cold weather clothing. He is a quick, competent man in his thirties with an instinct for diplomacy. He is Canadian, a rugged adventurer of average height, with long limbs and a narrow, wide-mouthed face and black hair. One by one, he measures each arriving member of the expedition: height, weight, waist, chest, collar, inseam, shoe size, hat size, glove size, and anything else he feels is appropriate. Ladies in the party (Roxie!
) who object to this treatment receive only a small smile and a sigh from Sykes, who in fact is quite professional. "You'll want this done right, miss. It'll save your life, it will."After measurements are taken and written into a small book, Sykes gives each person a quick instruction on the use of each of the many pieces of clothing (liners, boots, gloves, trousers, parka, hoods and overalls-more than fifteen pounds of clothing in all) and has them try on some for size while he begins measuring the next person in line. "Another day or two," adds Sykes, "and we'll have a kit for each of you. The ski shoes and gloves haven't arrived yet, but they should be here by the end of the week."
Once the fitting is completed, each person must then meet with Dr. Greene, the expedition's physician. Greene is in his late twenties and is lean, youthful, and has the natural grace of a dancer. He performs a modest physical examination and questions each person at length about his or her medical history. If anyone has conditions of obvious symptoms that require attention, he schedules them for a complete examination within the following three days.
Next up is the expedition photographer for a series of publicity pictures. Each person is photographed in street clothes and in cold-weather gear, and asked to pose here and there among the tools, charts and instruments.
Then it is off the ship and downtown for a dental examination. By the time each person has finished with the photographer, Moore has arranged an office visit with a dentist in the midtown area. The meeting with the dentist is a typical cleaning and inspection. Moore has already made arrangements for payment in the event of a need for fillings or extractions before the ship sets sail. If these are required, they will be seen to in the next few days.
After investigators finish with the dentist, the rest of the evening and night are the theirs to enjoy on their own. They are reminded by notes in their rooms to be in the Amherst Hotel Rose Room at 8:00AM for the first official expedition meeting.
September 1st, 1933
2:30PM
SS Gabrielle, Pier 74
Father Steele responds,
"Professor Moore, having the dogs caged in the hold with the others will be fine. I also have considered the weather conditions and that is why I have chosen 4 rough haired chinese chows as the breed of choice. They were used as guard and sled dogs in China. I will immediately secure the animals and have them transported to an adequate training facility after our meetings tomorrow. I do appreciate this greatly."
2:30PM
SS Gabrielle, Pier 74
Father Steele responds,
"Professor Moore, having the dogs caged in the hold with the others will be fine. I also have considered the weather conditions and that is why I have chosen 4 rough haired chinese chows as the breed of choice. They were used as guard and sled dogs in China. I will immediately secure the animals and have them transported to an adequate training facility after our meetings tomorrow. I do appreciate this greatly."
September 1st, 1933
2:30PM
SS Gabrielle, Pier 74
After a few minutes the Father returns and replies, " Professor Moore something just struck me. I was wondering if any strange artifacts were retrieved by the last expedition. Any writings, hieroglpyhs, jewelry, devices, or containers. To me this seems plausible sense the last party apparently uncovered some ancient culture of some type. And if some items were retrieved where are they being kept."
2:30PM
SS Gabrielle, Pier 74
After a few minutes the Father returns and replies, " Professor Moore something just struck me. I was wondering if any strange artifacts were retrieved by the last expedition. Any writings, hieroglpyhs, jewelry, devices, or containers. To me this seems plausible sense the last party apparently uncovered some ancient culture of some type. And if some items were retrieved where are they being kept."
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