[D20 CoC] Beyond the Mountains of Madness Campaign - Prologue

[Taokan]

Painting a disgustingly cheerful smile on her face, she chirped, "Oh, I'm sorry; I haven't introduced myself yet! I am Mrs. Lockhart. I was simply wondering what other ladies were going to come as well. I have my invitation right here..." Camille pretended to search her person for the invite. She then searched again, with false urgency.

Under the cover of the pretend search, Camille swiftly used the sleight of hand tricks she had learned from a friendly chap in a cafe to place a forged invitation -that she had hidden under the ridiculously large bow on the front of her dress- to a musical to herself with the name, of course, "accidentally" made illegible by constant reading in her hand. Screwing up her face into false panic, she looked up, hiccupping in distress. "Oh dear! I brought my invitation to tonight's musical by mistake! Now I c-can't go! My husband will b-be so upset!"

Crumpling her face up in dispair, Camille wrung her hands and looked with desperation at the clerk. "Do you know if I c-could I have another made?" I hope this works. This is more humiliating than having my father show me off to his pilot friends!

 

[The Shaman]

It takes a moment for the elegant man’s words to register for Paco. Mayor.

“Señor alcalde,” he says as the light breaks through, “Please excuse my mistake. Mucho gusto. It is a great honor to visit your beautiful city.”

Fresh from his faux pas with the mayor, pressed with polite but persistent questions from the dignified gentlemen and ladies, unaccustomed to being at the center of attention, Paco struggles to overcome his reticence by sharing a few anecdotes of Patagonia, of climbing Cerro Eléctrico, named by Padre Agostini for the great lightning storm that broke upon the summit after their assault in the shadow of the mighty Fitzroy, of skiing across slender ice bridges arcing over yawning crevasses while traversing the Hielo Patagonico Sur, of boating in the glacial fjords between the rugged cordilleras. “I am honored to join Señor Starkweather’s expedition to Antarctica,” he repeats several times to the gathered guests.

Able to make his escape at last, Paco searches for table 35 in the crowded ballroom. When he arrives he finds that several guests have already arrived – “Buenos tardes, señors y señora” he says, “I am Fráncisco Guerini,” seating himself as introductions are made. The lone woman at the table, introduced as Mrs. Broughton, immediately asks Paco about his reasons for joining the expedition.

Tired from his exertions of the past days, lost in the strangeness of the massive city, adrift in the glib chatter of the banquet guests, Paco’s shy reserve slips for a moment. “To see the hand of God, señora,” he replies earnestly. “To feel His grace and to fear His majesty.”

He smiles shyly as he glances down, fumbles with his napkin for a moment, and takes a nervous sip from his drink.

 

[taitzu52]

Jim approaches his fellow guests with that square look in the eye and firm handshake that defines a man of solid character in the working West. "Mr. Broughton, very nice to meet you." Jim says to Hubert. Both men have solid grips, and Jim's shake is quite vigorous, if not held too long, but very friendly. "Charmed." he says as Amanda Broughton is introduced. "American Geographic society, eh?" Jim says, "Well, I can certainly see why you've taken such an interest in this expedition. Oh, oh than you for your kind wishes." he responds to Hubert's expression of his high hopes, "Tell me. Have you covered any of Mr. Starkweather's previous exploits before?" he asks the venerable newspaper man, of course, hoping for a story. His attention turns to Amanda Broughton, an engaging lady herself.

what might motivate someone to “climb the Himalayas, or travel to Antarctica."

"Well, ma'am, I'm not so sure that I'm the man who is trying to climb the highest, or run the fastest." Jim (or James, at the moment) says, "I simply feel that if a mission like this is to be successful, Mr. Starkweather's going to need the best. And I've never lost a crewman." he says. Jim is not a man of pride, but this is one point he doesn't mind sharing. He chuckles for a second, seeing that it's not the heroic answer she expected, and adds, "Well, to be honest, it's a bit of a rush, ma'am. Kind of like being Lindbergh at least, or at least some glorified cowboy at best." He laughs again at his own humor, as he chooses not to discuss his personal philosophies with the gentler sex.

“I prefer Douglas, not Doug” Halperin, a fellow crewmember.

"Sure thing, Douglas. But hell, I'll let you call me Jim." he says with a warm smile and a handshake, pretending that he's extending the young man some exclusive right to shorten his own name.

“I sure hope that a certain geologist will ensure that my landing strip is based on a solid rock foundation!”

"Well Douglas, I just pick the spot, it's somebody else's job to make it flapjack flat for you." he says, letting his western accent come out a bit for 'Douglas'. "So can I assume that you're a pilot, or part of the air crew in some fashion?"

Seeing the Hispanic man join the table, James offers his hand, "Mr. Guerini. I'm James Poole. Pleasure to meet you." He says, as he finally takes his seat. Hearing his response to Mrs. Broughton, Jim says, "Good. I think on a trip like this one, one has to have a healthy respect for things that one cannot control. If you don't mind my saying."

 

[Dallas4lr]

July 12, 1933

Mr. James Starkweather
Amherst Hotel
New York City, New York
USA

Greetings,

I am pleasesd to see that you are continuing with this proposed endeavor.

I am the former Dr. J.P. Rucker, former head of the Department of Paleobiology at Miskatonic University. Early last year I took an indefinite leave of absence form the University so I could become the priest of a small local parish. I must admit that I Have an extreme level of interest regarding your proposed expedition and wish to offer my services to you and your team of explorers. I have PHD's in the fields of Paleobiology and Chemistry, and a Masters of Divinity - so I can function both as a scientist and priest/spiritual counsel for your team.

I have already submitted a letter of resignation to Cardinal Mahoney, and will be in New York city by the time you recieve this letter. I will look you up upon my arrival.

I look forward to meeting you in person, and would love to accompany your team if I meet your approval.

Respectfully,

Father J.P. Rucker

 

[jdeleski]

Camille's Desperate Ruse

I have my invitation right here..." Camille pretended to search her person for the invite. She then searched again, with false urgency.

Under the cover of the pretend search, Camille swiftly used the sleight of hand tricks she had learned from a friendly chap in a cafe to place a forged invitation -that she had hidden under the ridiculously large bow on the front of her dress- to a musical to herself with the name, of course, "accidentally" made illegible by constant reading in her hand. Screwing up her face into false panic, she looked up, hiccupping in distress. "Oh dear! I brought my invitation to tonight's musical by mistake! Now I c-can't go! My husband will b-be so upset!"

Crumpling her face up in dispair, Camille wrung her hands and looked with desperation at the clerk. "Do you know if I c-could I have another made?"

Camille's Follow-up Attempt to Bluff
[sblock]Camille's very good Sleight of Hand skill (+7) and Forgery skill (+4), coupled with her earlier success at bluffing (and fretting), overwhelms the poor 24-year old desk clerk.[/sblock]

The desk clerk, even though a bit taken aback by Camille's overdramatizing, sees nothing suspicious in her movements whatsoever. His fervent desire is to finish helping this emotional woman and ensure that she finds her way to some other location. Any other location! He dons a smile and reaches into a drawer for a sheet of hotel stationary, while saying “No need to worry yourself, Mrs. Lockhart. I'll fill out a letter to confirm your invitation, and you'll be allowed to join your husband at the event."

He handwrites a note for Camille and signs it with a flourish, then hands it to her. “Here you are. Just hand this to one of the gentlemen at the entrance to the ballroom, and they'll allow you in. And do let me know if there's anything else that I can do!"

 

[Taokan]

Not bothering to hide her beaming smile of success, Camille took the little note and profusely thanked the clerk.

As she headed in the direction of the fundraiser, she absently wondered if she had laid her story on a bit thick. Mentally shrugging her shoulders, Camille handed the note to the doorman at the ballroom entrance, and took the oportunity to ask him, "Excuse me, but has either the Antartica expedition team or Mr. Starkweather himself arrived? I have become quite fascinated with travel, you see."

Before the man could answer, Camille peeked over his shoulders, hoping to catch a glimse of the team or, preferably, the infamous Starkweather himself. If worse came to worse, she could still give Starkweather her response and watch the resulting chaos.

 

[The Shaman]

“Good. I think on a trip like this one, one has to have a healthy respect for things that one cannot control. If you don't mind my saying,” says the geologist – Poole. Paco commits the name to memory.

“Si, si,” Paco replies softly. The Chilean turns to Hubert Broughton – on his lapel is the round pin of the American Geographical Society. “It appears that Señor Starkweather has not yet arrived,” Paco continues. “Are you familiar with him, Señor Broughton? Perhaps you could tell us something of the great man himself.”

 

[Bobitron]

Vittorio makes his way through the crowd, nodding at those who look to him in a silent greeting but keeping his eyes focused on his destination; table 35.

Joining the group, he introduces himself with a round of firm handshakes.

"Pleased to meet you all at last. My name is Vittorio Liuzzi, and I will serve as engineer and mechanical specialist on this endeavor."

A short man balding with age, Vittorio looks more like a mechanic than a renowned technical expert. He has the wide shoulders, weathered skin, and thick, hairy forearms of a working man, coupled with a slightly out-of-place feeling about him, probably directly related to being in a tuxedo at such an exclusive event. His eyes, however, gleam with curiousity and determination.

"I hope you all had a pleasant journey to the Americas."

 

[Morpheus]

Martin surveys the room slowly after some idle chitchat with someone-or-other; spying some rather attractive ladies in a group, he heads over to them with a bright smile upon his face.
"Good evening, ladies. Would any of you care to dance?"

 

[jdeleski]

Paco struggles to overcome his reticence by sharing a few anecdotes of Patagonia, of climbing Cerro Eléctrico, named by Padre Agostini for the great lightning storm that broke upon the summit after their assault in the shadow of the mighty Fitzroy

This anecdote from Paco prompts Mayor O'Brien to comment on the freak thunder and lightning storms that have been ravaging his city. The city has lost power on a number of occasions and a few citizens have died in related accidents, including one who was unfortunate enough to be struck directly by a bolt from the sky.

Tired from his exertions of the past days, lost in the strangeness of the massive city, adrift in the glib chatter of the banquet guests, Paco’s shy reserve slips for a moment. “To see the hand of God, señora,” he replies earnestly. “To feel His grace and to fear His majesty.”

He smiles shyly as he glances down, fumbles with his napkin for a moment, and takes a nervous sip from his drink.

Mrs. Broughton double-blinked at Paco's comment, smiled and touched Paco's arm, and said “My, My, Mr. Guerini, that is a very profound statement! I am intrigued! Most adventurers that I’ve met have been thrill-seekers with overinflated egos and a death wish. You seem quite different!”

Mrs. Broughton then moves in closer and, in a more quiet, intimate conversation, asks Paco more about his experiences and what his feelings are about his upcoming adventure to Antarctica.