[D20 CoC] Beyond the Mountains of Madness - Chapter 1; Recruiting Alternate Players

[Drowned Hero]

Øyvind looks around and sees Martin standing at his door 'hey Martin you are the reader type' 'you know who this Acacia Lexington is?' 'seems this Acacia is not of the taste of Starkweather' 'I would say or he hates her guts or he loves her more then anything in this world' he padds Martin shoulder while he laughs 'yeah just a woman could make that man so angry dont you agree?'

 

[Taokanf]

A sharp rap on her door woke Camille from a dead sleep. For a fevered moment she believed it to be the American policeman come to arrest her for eating illegal duck.

Shaking the vestiges of sleep away, Camille stumbled over to the door and pressed her left eye up to the small viewing hole. The distorted face of one of the men from the party peered up at her. A second tap near her ear startled her.

The gentleman's voice, muffled through it was by an inch or so of plywood, was audible through the door. ''Miss Bardier escuse me, my name is George Barrow and I'm here to talk to you about your integration to the Starkweather—Moore Expedition, miss you there?"

Well, that certainly changes things. "Just a moment, Monsieur!"

Reaching up slightly, Camille unlatched the chain lock and swung the door open. "Good morning, Monsieur."

The man repeated the greeting and offered to talk things over in the hotel restaraunt. "Of course. Let me get my wallet."

The man made a weak protest, but by that time Camille had leaned to her left and latched onto her battered flight bag from the doorside table. "Shall we go?"

The restaraunt was very quiet, and had few patrons. The waiters and busboys that were visible were stifling yawns and drinking fragrant coffees.

The two were shown to a corner booth and seated. Camille ordered a light tea, shaking her head in negation when the waiter asked if she wanted anything else. As the waiter scurried off with their drink orders, Camille eyed the man. In the light, he appeared tired. But who wouldn't, at this ungodly hour? Mornings should be taken out back and shot, she thought grumpily.

Setting her tea aside, Camille said, "Monsieur Barrow, isn't it? I recall you from the dinner. You were very gallant."

"Now Monsieur," the pilot added more stiffly, "I am not a fool. You did not knock on my door from the goodness of your heart, or, even more unlikely, that of Monsieur Starkweather. If we are to talk about my integration, either Mr. Moore is in charge of this conversation or Monsieur Starkweather is no longer quite so keen on protecting my virtue from you insatiable adventuring types. Am I on the right track, Monsieur?"

At that point the waiter returns with their drinks. Camille smiles at the young man as she accepts her tea. "Merci. So," she adds as the waiter retreats, "for the sake of my curiosity, which of those is it, if not both?"

 

[Drowned Hero]

Well, that certainly changes things. "Just a moment, Monsieur!"

Reaching up slightly, Camille unlatched the chain lock and swung the door open. "Good morning, Monsieur."

The man repeated the greeting and offered to talk things over in the hotel restaraunt. "Of course. Let me get my wallet."

The man made a weak protest, but by that time Camille had leaned to her left and latched onto her battered flight bag from the doorside table. "Shall we go?"

"Monsieur Barrow, isn't it? I recall you from the dinner. You were very gallant."

"Now Monsieur," the pilot added more stiffly, "I am not a fool. You did not knock on my door from the goodness of your heart, or, even more unlikely, that of Monsieur Starkweather. If we are to talk about my integration, either Mr. Moore is in charge of this conversation or Monsieur Starkweather is no longer quite so keen on protecting my virtue from you insatiable adventuring types. Am I on the right track, Monsieur?"

At that point the waiter returns with their drinks. Camille smiles at the young man as she accepts her tea. "Merci. So," she adds as the waiter retreats, "for the sake of my curiosity, which of those is it, if not both?"

'Yes yes Barrow is the last name... Scientist is my roll in this expedition, and your occupation is, miss?' ... 'Miss I've been send here to ask if you are willing to depart with us on very short notice. The new date of departure is the 9th of this month and that is just few days away' he take a sip from his tea 'What motivates Mr. Starkweather on his decision on rethink your contract i really don't know, you should ask him in person, even though goodness i doubt' 'I dont believe goodnes has anything to do on such a dangerous exploration' 'and i don't see any reason for him to protect your virtue from anyone' 'is he worried for your virtue?' he looks a bit confused as he did not even know that the lady in front of him had applied for the expedition before until an hour ago 'well yo sure can fill me in if you accept to come with me to Mr. Moores room to formalize your integration' 'I would be honored to share deck with such a lovely lady as yourself' at this point he waiter returns to ask if they need anything more, on what George says no. 'Feel free to ask me anything miss I will respond as best i can'

 

[Morpheus]

Øyvind looks around and sees Martin standing at his door 'hey Martin you are the reader type' 'you know who this Acacia Lexington is?' 'seems this Acacia is not of the taste of Starkweather' 'I would say or he hates her guts or he loves her more then anything in this world' he padds Martin shoulder while he laughs 'yeah just a woman could make that man so angry dont you agree?'

"I've had the honor of meeting Madamoiselle Lexington when I was doing a story in New York. A real, how do you say, lookee-lou that one."

 

[Taokanf]

'Yes yes Barrow is the last name... Scientist is my roll in this expedition, and your occupation is, miss?'

This question prompts Camille to smile. Few show interest in her career choice, even in the most general of terms. "Pilot, Monsieur. I maintain and fly planes, though I prefer the former. Do you study anything in particular, Monsieur?"

...'Miss I've been send here to ask if you are willing to depart with us on very short notice. The new date of departure is the 9th of this month and that is just few days away'

The pilots eyebrows shoot up. "So soon? I had not thought it was for some time yet. Of course I will go, that is why I am in America. If I may ask, however, why is it so soon?"

The man answers her, then takes a sip from his tea 'What motivates Mr. Starkweather on his decision on rethink your contract i really don't know, you should ask him in person, even though goodness i doubt' 'I dont believe goodnes has anything to do on such a dangerous exploration' 'and i don't see any reason for him to protect your virtue from anyone' 'is he worried for your virtue?' George furrows his eyebrows in confusion.

"Not worried as such, unless it is concerning that of his expedition in general. My virtue, such as it is, will be, according to the aforementioned monsieur, be... No. I will not repeat him. If you wish to hear his opinions, ask him yourself. In regards to my virtue, I hardly think that the team would succumb to my charms, mainly because I focus all of it towards machines. Suffice it to say, sir, that I am not the easiest woman to get along with at the best of times, so I find it hard to believe that anyone will throw themselves upon me in the throes of passion during this trip."

Camille paused a moment, then added, "And I hope you forgive my comments. I'm afraid I took my frustrations out on you. I have spent weeks attempting to join this expedition, and to find a place for me suddenly thrust into my lap is very disconcerting."

'well yo sure can fill me in if you accept to come with me to Mr. Moores room to formalize your integration' 'I would be honored to share deck with such a lovely lady as yourself' at this point he waiter returns to ask if they need anything more, on what George says no. 'Feel free to ask me anything miss I will respond as best i can'

The lovely lady comment was confusing. More people had complimented her on this trip than in years before back home. American men were very strange. Coughing slightly to cover her bewilderment, Camille says, "No, I believe that will be most of my concerns. But tell me, sir, what has the team been doing to prepare so far? The last I saw of it was during the dinner party. Honored Monsieur Starkweather disappeared from the papers after that."

 

[Drowned Hero]

'Yes yes Barrow is the last name... Scientist is my roll in this expedition, and your occupation is, miss?'

This question prompts Camille to smile. Few show interest in her career choice, even in the most general of terms. "Pilot, Monsieur. I maintain and fly planes, though I prefer the former. Do you study anything in particular, Monsieur?"

...'Miss I've been send here to ask if you are willing to depart with us on very short notice. The new date of departure is the 9th of this month and that is just few days away'

The pilots eyebrows shoot up. "So soon? I had not thought it was for some time yet. Of course I will go, that is why I am in America. If I may ask, however, why is it so soon?"

The man answers her, then takes a sip from his tea 'What motivates Mr. Starkweather on his decision on rethink your contract i really don't know, you should ask him in person, even though goodness i doubt' 'I dont believe goodnes has anything to do on such a dangerous exploration' 'and i don't see any reason for him to protect your virtue from anyone' 'is he worried for your virtue?' George furrows his eyebrows in confusion.

"Not worried as such, unless it is concerning that of his expedition in general. My virtue, such as it is, will be, according to the aforementioned monsieur, be... No. I will not repeat him. If you wish to hear his opinions, ask him yourself. In regards to my virtue, I hardly think that the team would succumb to my charms, mainly because I focus all of it towards machines. Suffice it to say, sir, that I am not the easiest woman to get along with at the best of times, so I find it hard to believe that anyone will throw themselves upon me in the throes of passion during this trip."

Camille paused a moment, then added, "And I hope you forgive my comments. I'm afraid I took my frustrations out on you. I have spent weeks attempting to join this expedition, and to find a place for me suddenly thrust into my lap is very disconcerting."

'well yo sure can fill me in if you accept to come with me to Mr. Moores room to formalize your integration' 'I would be honored to share deck with such a lovely lady as yourself' at this point he waiter returns to ask if they need anything more, on what George says no. 'Feel free to ask me anything miss I will respond as best i can'

The lovely lady comment was confusing. More people had complimented her on this trip than in years before back home. American men were very strange. Coughing slightly to cover her bewilderment, Camille says, "No, I believe that will be most of my concerns. But tell me, sir, what has the team been doing to prepare so far? The last I saw of it was during the dinner party. Honored Monsieur Starkweather disappeared from the papers after that."

'anything in particular? oh well yes... hmm where to start... you could say that biology and chemistry in more particular biochemistry is my prefered areas, but i have wrote some papers about the new discovery of a natural chemical substance that someone is calling antibiotica. well that is a study in it self and ive been experimenting with different fungus, that is mushrooms, and its effect over the miotical, that is how cells multiply, abilities of different bacterial flora...' George starts off talking about his experiments and the first class equipment they have been ordering at the ship. After a while he realizes his monologe and Camille looking at the other guests daydreaming. He takes no offence as he understand that his monologue could be quite boring for an non-scinetist 'anyway'... 'myself have been more ocupied with the laboratory and finding all the equipment, and see if they are stored at the right hatch. well that is what almost all the crew have been doing this past weeks'' lots of work i ashure you' ... 'are you ready to go?' he waves at the waiter and tells him to sett the bill at his account, Camille protests but George tell her that she must take it as a welcome aboard gift. 'let's go and find Dr.Moore' he starts to walk to the Dr's room.

 

[Job]

Stepping Up the Pace

The sudden advance of the expedition's departure date sets all schedules off-kilter. There is no way to meet the deadlines without shortcuts, scrimping, and taking chances, and everyone on the team [OOC - yes, including your characters] is pressed into extra duties and longer hours. The U.S.S. Gabrielle's loading cranes run day and night to move everything aboard in time.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job (the tortured one).

 

[Job]

'are you ready to go?' [George Barrow asks Camille, as] he waves at the waiter and tells him to sett the bill at his account, Camille protests but George tell her that she must take it as a welcome aboard gift. 'Let's go and find Dr.Moore' he starts to walk to the Dr's room.

George and Camille find Dr. Moore buried in plans in his makeshift office, the Ship's Mess. His desk is littered with stacks of invoices, lists, and notes and he is currently examining and cross-referencing three logbooks simultaneously. Hanging on a wall near the desk are five separate clipboards, each holding over an inch of papers. Two moveable chalkboards are stationed near his desk and are covered with writings, checkmarks, and exclamation points. A wastebasket is overflowing with crumpled balls of paper.

A calendar on the wall displays the month of September. Days one, two, and three have been "X'd" out and September 9th has been circled in bright red.

Dr. Moore looks up from his work when you enter the room and immediately stands up. "Ah, Mr. Barrow, I see that you've successfully located our new pilot. I'm very glad to see that you're still in New York, Miss Bardier! I hope that you've been well these past few days? Do you have any questions?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job (the tortured one).

 

[Morpheus]

Martin steps outside the hotel and flags down a cab. The cab pulls up and Martin opens the doo and says, "Take me to the newspaper downtown, please.".

 

[Taokanf]

"Ah, Mr. Barrow, I see that you've successfully located our new pilot. I'm very glad to see that you're still in New York, Miss Bardier! I hope that you've been well these past few days? Do you have any questions?"

Camille smiles, reaching out and gripping Dr. Moore's hand in a brisk handshake. "Very well, Monsieur. I would ask the same," she said, winking to dispell the implied insult, "but judging from the activity in here I'd say that such is not the case."

"I do not have any questions, save two. I understand from Monsieur Barrow that the departure date has been moved up sharply. I asked Monsieur Barrow the reasons as to why, but he was nonspecific."

"The second, sir," Camille gestures at the calendar, "is this: I see that everyone else, including yourself, are quite busy scurrying about with sped up preparations. I myself have all of my supplies back in my room, so I do not very many things to do before our departure. I dislike being idle, so how can I help?"

 

[Drowned Hero]

Øyvind was sitting not far away from Miss Bardier and George in the hotel restaurant, contemplating his meal. He was as usual eating a English breakfast with sausages, bacon and eggs. Ingesting a huge amount of the fatty and protein rich meal. He had after all to conserve is line, and as a good knower of the harsh environment they where about to leave to, he did know that the extra fat layer he had being gaining the las months, where going to disappear in the first weeks or so when they hit the desolation off Antarctica.

He looked over the table and saw Enke and Olav eating with vigour and talking with their mouths full about the new dogs and how much they missed home and its fish, fjords and women.
When he finished the meal he slips a big chunk of 'snus' under his lip and, told Enke and Olav that he was going a short trip in the area to see if he could fin a thing he wanted to take with him on the expedition.

Enke and Olav asked him for what that 'thing' could be, but Øyvind had a cunning smile on his lips for them. He told them to wait and see.

-*-*-*-​

As he walks towards the Mallet he hear a bluegrass tune in the air.

He used the part of the morning walking towards Central Park where there was a concert. He heard some people talking about the how obsolete the bluegrass was and how the new nigro sound was something any American soon would be listening to.

Øyvind curious as he was asked the man that seemed a mulatto what this new music was all about. The man looking up at Øyvind told him about the man from new Orleans that was a prophet with the trumpet Armstrong was his last name, Louis the name.
Convenient did Øyvind think and he that was looking for something special to take with him to the expedition, something that could boost the morale on the long trip journey.

'Mister' 'Excuse me again, but i was exactly looking for a record shop or somewhere i could buy a record player and some records' The man looks up at Øyvind 'what your looking for is a Silvertone 78 record player, its light and made of the best wood' 'walk with me mister and i take you to the shop I have to go to work anyway and the shop is on the way there'

After some minutes of walking they arrived to the record shop and Øyvind thanked the man and entered the shop. After an our or so he walked out of the place with a record player and a collection off new music.



He pick a cab and was in few minutes back at the pier and the USS Gabrielle.

[sblock] I tried to attach a soundfile to the post. Does anyone know if this is possible?[/sblock]

 

[Job]

Martin steps outside the hotel and flags down a cab. The cab pulls up and Martin opens the doo and says, "Take me to the newspaper downtown, please.".

Every time that Martin and the other expedition team members attempt to travel around New York City--even if only traveling between the docks and the Amherst Hotel--they are accosted by newspapermen. This trip of Martin's is no exception.

*Flash!*
*Flash!*
"Mr. LeBlanc! Can you answer a few questions, please?"
*Click*
"Martin LeBanc, just a moment!"
*Snap*
*Flash!*

Martin jumps into his cab and slams the door just as the reporters converge on the spot where he was moments earlier. The cabbie speeds away, occasionally glancing at Martin through the rear view mirror and says, "Eh Mac, are you someone famous? You sure draw attention ... even if you don't LOOK very famous!"

The cabbie drops Martin off at the Times Tower at 42nd and Broadway and 7th Avenue. After showing his press credentials in the lobby, Martin is led to the New York Times newspaper morgue to begin his research.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job (the tortured one).

 

[Job]

Camille [replies to Professor Moore] ... "I do not have any questions, save two. I understand from Monsieur Barrow that the departure date has been moved up sharply. I asked Monsieur Barrow the reasons as to why, but he was nonspecific."

Moore studies Camille for a few uneasy moments, then says "Well, Miss Bardier, that is indeed the question of the day! I believe that our commander has chosen to move up the departure date so that we maintain our momentum and good press. Apparently another expedition has attempted to seize the initiative and, like any good chessplayer, James Starkweather has responded to their maneuvering."

"The second, sir," Camille gestures at the calendar, "is this: I see that everyone else, including yourself, are quite busy scurrying about with sped up preparations. I myself have all of my supplies back in my room, so I do not very many things to do before our departure. I dislike being idle, so how can I help?"

With a smile, Dr. Moore says "Welcome to the team, Miss Bardier! I assume that your presence here and your request for an assignment is an affirmative response to joining our expedition. I'm sure that Commander Starkweather will be pleased."

He reaches for one of the many clipboards hanging on the wall near his desk and flips through its thick sheaf of papers, pulling a set to hand to Camille. "As your first assignment, please examine lower holds number one, two, and three to ensure that they are clear and sufficiently prepared to accept the delivery of our aircraft.

"Mr. Barrow, would you be so kind as to provide Miss Bardier with a brief orientation to the ship and also to lead her to the lower holds? Thank you, and please report back to me by the end of the day with your findings."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job (the tortured one).

 

[Job]

Øyvind ... looked over the table and saw Enke and Olav eating with vigour and talking with their mouths full about the new dogs and how much they missed home and its fish, fjords and women. When he finished the meal he slips a big chunk of 'snus' under his lip and, told Enke and Olav that he was going a short trip in the area to see if he could find a thing he wanted to take with him on the expedition.

Enke and Olav asked him for what that 'thing' could be, but Øyvind had a cunning smile on his lips for them. He told them to wait and see.

Enke and Olav playfully tease Øyvind about "Looking for love", and then ask if they can join him on his "hunt".

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job (the tortured one).

 

[Job]

Enlightening Newsflash

Newspaper coverage of the Starkweather-Moore Expedition remains exhaustive, as evidenced by yet another article the next morning.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job (the tortured one).

 

[Drowned Hero]

George Barrow Scientist

"Mr. Barrow, would you be so kind as to provide Miss Bardier with a brief orientation to the ship and also to lead her to the lower holds? Thank you, and please report back to me by the end of the day with your findings."[/COLOR]

'Of course Dr.Moore' 'Miss let me be kind' George hold up his arm to Camille 'lets grab a cab' he walks out with Camille intending to find a cab. 'I hope we don't meet any of those intruding journalist today, all that flashing with their cameras makes my eyes hurt' 'If you want to grab something from here the Hotel now is the moment to do so. There's lots of hard work to do at the ship' ' remember that the Dr. wants you to report back on him this same day' he takes out some papers from his pockets and hands to Camille a sheet describing the ship ' You see there on the deck? Far inn front of the ship inside the main structure there two hatches going town to the huge cargo room. First you must go to the tweedecks and then further down to the lower holds. Watch out for the rats, I've hear them all the time fooling around the boxes down there'


Paper Sheet
US Gabrielle

 

[Job]

George hold up his arm to Camille 'lets grab a cab' he walks out with Camille intending to find a cab. 'I hope we don't meet any of those intruding journalist today, all that flashing with their cameras makes my eyes hurt' 'If you want to grab something from here the Hotel now is the moment to do so. There's lots of hard work to do at the ship' ' remember that the Dr. wants you to report back on him this same day'

The moment that George and Camille step from the lobby of the Amherst Hotel onto the public sidewalk, a handful of newspaper reporters stop leaning on the automobiles at curbside and come running to the couple with notepads, pencils, and cameras raised.

*Flash!*
*scribble, scribble*
"Mr. Barrow, could you please comment on Mr. Starkweather's new departure date?"
*scribble*
"Oh my! Are you Miss Bardier, the new pilot of the expedition?
*Flash!*
*Flash!*
*click*
*Flash!*
"Mr. Barrow, could you spare a moment?"*
"Miss Bardier, what are your feelings about joining an all-male expedition?"
*scribble*

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job (the tortured one).

 

[Drowned Hero]

*Flash!*
*scribble, scribble*
"Mr. Barrow, could you please comment on Mr. Starkweather's new departure date?"
*scribble*

'Just to satisfy your curiosity gentelmen' George says on his way to the cab 'The crew and its leading souls has been working very hard to keep clear goals' 'and as the good team we have become, I imagine that Mr.Starweather see this potential in each of us and we can even sett a earlier departure' 'I know for sure that the crew is eager to get this thing going' 'god bye gentelmen I and the lady have much things to do'

 

[Taokanf]

Camille declined the arm George offered. "No thank you, Monsieur Barrow. I've found that accepting such offers remind me of how very short I am compared to most men. That, I believe is why womenkind wear those ghastly high heels." Smirking at the scientist, Camille and George opened the doors of the hotel and stepped out.

As they stepped through the door of the Amherst, reporters approached from the curb, firing questions. Camille's stride to the cab faltered for a moment at the barrage of light and sound. She'd had limited attention sent her way by the press over her lifetime -for which she was grateful- so she'd never had cause to acclimate herself to it.

The man problem was that magazines, she'd long thought, were a mild form of voyeaurism- they allowed people to gaze at intimate details of a stranger's life without repercussions. Then again, answering their questions would hold momentary amusement, especially if she was misquoted in the name of selling the ghastly papers. The morning paper after the dinner party had held a sort of morbid gallow's humor sort of amusement at the blatant disregard for accuracy. The whole thing was horrid and an insult to the dead, of course, but journalists would be journalists.

Ah, the American love for their freedom of speech- the speech did not necessarrily have to have a distant relationship to the truth, so long as it was written. Gods bless the foolish things.

One of the reporters glanced her way after questioning George

"Oh my! Are you Miss Bardier, the new pilot of the expedition?" *Flash!*

Recovering her pace, Camille weaved her way through the reporters, smiling distantly. "If I was not, would I be wearing a flight jacket?"

Another reporter pressed in closer, pen hovering over a tablet of paper.

"Miss Bardier, what are your feelings about joining an all-male expedition?"

The pilot smirked. "As long as the men explore planetary geography instead of my own geography, I will be content. If you'll excuse me, I do have things to do other than stand about the roadside answering questions. Au revoir." Opening the cab door nearest her Camille slid into the seat, closing the door behind her.

 

[Drowned Hero]

At the shopping trip...

Enke and Olav playfully tease Øyvind about "Looking for love", and then ask if they can join him on his "hunt".

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job (the tortured one).

'No love for me today guys' 'But maybe we should hit the night life of NY before we get on that floating can, what you say? I think we even could get Starkweather on that one! Øyvind laugh a mighty laugh and and puts his hand in his pocket and takes out his box with snus'You want some? Is that Swedish kind General its called' He turns to go and grab a cab 'come on, let me show you this thing i want to get'