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

[Job]

Dear Mr. Starkweather,

... My name is Wade Watkins. I was born in Boston, but moved to New York around 9 years ago. I am a physician employed the Mercy Hospital. I am skilled in first aid as well as surgery. I started out in the emergency room, so I have experience with emergency situations. I am also a bit of an adventurer, although it can be hard to find time. I have spoken with the proper officals and have managed to obtain some time off.

This leads to my proposal. I would like to join your party on their journey. I believe that a physician would be useful, especially given the shootings. I am not afraid of the danger or the work. I am an able body. If you would like further information, I would be happy to meet you at a place and time to be determined by you. I do not know if the members of your party are expecting payment, but I assure you, I do not require such. I will use my equipment, and my money for things that are reasonably seen as my responsibility. You may wonder why a doctor would not ask for money for his services, well the short answer is, I crave the adventure.

... I look forward to hearing a response.


Sincerely,

Wade Watkins

1120 East 9th Street
Lexington Apartments #602
New York, New York

There is a soft knock at the door of room #602 of the Lexington apartments in New York City.

Through the door is heard a voice, "Hotel staff, sir. Dr. Watkins? I have an urgent message for you, sir."

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Job (the tortured one).

 

[OnlytheStrong]

The door is unlocked. Please let yourself in, I am quite busy currently. Wade is bent over a desk in his apartment, nose buried in a book. He quickly glances up at the person as they enter the room.

 

[Job]

The door is unlocked. Please let yourself in, I am quite busy currently. Wade is bent over a desk in his apartment, nose buried in a book. He quickly glances up at the person as they enter the room.

In the doorway, you initially see a young male bellhop in the traditional hotel uniform, but he steps aside to allow another individual to step into your room; a smartly-dressed man of medium build. This man asks, "Dr. Watkins? Dr. Wade Watkins? I am first Officer Paul Turlow of the U.S.S. Gabrielle." Once you've signaled that you are indeed the one whom he is seeking, he reaches out to shake your hand.

"I have been sent by Commander Starkweather. He has reviewed your recent letter requesting to join our expedition--with an exceedingly positive reaction, I might add---and asked if you'd be kind enough to accompany me back to the ship for a brief meeting. Unfortunately, the Commander is quite busy at this moment with preparations as we have less than two days before departure. Because we are in the twilight of our time in New York, he'd prefer to dispense with the formalities of paper and instead wishes to hold a brief interview.

"Are you available, good sir? I have a car waiting outside." The first officer pauses, and awaits your reply.

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Job (the tortured one).

 

[OnlytheStrong]

Of course, of course! Please allow me a moment to gather my belongings! At least those that I do not leave home without. I shall be but a second. Wade gathers up his medical bag and signals that he is ready to leave.

 

[Job]

Of course, of course! Please allow me a moment to gather my belongings! At least those that I do not leave home without. I shall be but a second. Wade gathers up his medical bag and signals that he is ready to leave.

"Excellent, sir! Follow me please." First Officer Turlow exits the room and walks briskly down the hall to the stairs, down a number of staircases and through the lobby to the cab. He takes your bags and loads them into the trunk while you enter the cab. A short ride later, you're making your way through the guardshack and onto the pier.

[OOC - This interview with James Starkweather occurs the afternoon prior to the nighttime fire on the pier, and Dr. Watkins will be accepted into the expedition prior to that catastrophe. In chapter 4, Dr. Watkins is free to notice the explosions from wherever on the ship makes sense, probably from his room or from the medical facility.]

In the afternoon sun, the New York City docks are chaotic, noisy, and smell strongly of seawater and fish. Swarms of deckhands are in constant motion and the crane is lifting barrels and crates overhead.

Officer Turlow leads you up the gangway, across the main deck and into the aftercastle to James Starkweather's stateroom. Turlow knocks softly on the door. "Commander, Dr. Watkins is here to see you."

The door opens and you are greeted by a tall, striking, brown-haired individual with a mustache and dressed in an open-collared white shirt and brown slacks. He reaches to shake your hand and enthusiastically invites you in, "Welcome, Dr. Watkins! Welcome to our home for the next year!"

Link to photo and introduction of James Starkweather

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Job (the tortured one).

 

[OnlytheStrong]

Greetings sir. It is an honor to meet one such as yourself. Wade says as he firmly grasps Commander Starkweather's hand. I must say, the ship appears to be in excellent shape although I must admit my knowledge to be limited in this situation.

 

[Job]

Greetings sir. It is an honor to meet one such as yourself. Wade says as he firmly grasps Commander Starkweather's hand. I must say, the ship appears to be in excellent shape although I must admit my knowledge to be limited in this situation.

James grips your hand for a number of long seconds while smiling and looking directly into your eyes, then finally gestures towards a wooden chair near his desk and says, "I'm excited to have you aboard, Dr. Watkins! Please have a seat. We have much to do. Much to do."

While you're making yourself comfortable, James closes the door and then stops for a moment while carefully watching you. He then begins, "So! You're an emergency room physician working at Mercy Hospital and you are eager to court death, eh? Tell me, Dr. Watkins, what would make a big-city surgeon so eager to give up a comfortable apartment and all the trappings of civilization to journey to the most godforsaken corner of the globe? A bit of trouble at the hospital perhaps? A courtship gone bad, perhaps?"

When you've had time to think through and respond to that question, he begins pacing the room and follows up with: "Very well, Doctor, based on your experiences so far, what makes you confident that you're up to the torture of months of marrow-freezing temperatures and wind? Or the weeks and weeks of being cooped up in a cramped shack with dozens of depressed scientists and barking dogs? How can you assure me that you are physically and mentally prepared to endure such conditions?"

He then stops and listens.

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Job (the tortured one).

 

[OnlytheStrong]

Tell me, Dr. Watkins, what would make a big-city surgeon so eager to give up a comfortable apartment and all the trappings of civilization to journey to the most godforsaken corner of the globe? A bit of trouble at the hospital perhaps? A courtship gone bad, perhaps?"

"Nothing of the sort good sir. I believe you said the very reason I chose to explore the more dangerous hobbies. My life is a trap sir. Routine has a tendancy to make one rather complacent. I, sir, find that nothing is more grand than to explore a new region."

"Very well, Doctor, based on your experiences so far, what makes you confident that you're up to the torture of months of marrow-freezing temperatures and wind? Or the weeks and weeks of being cooped up in a cramped shack with dozens of depressed scientists and barking dogs? How can you assure me that you are physically and mentally prepared to endure such conditions?"

"I have no such experiance with such conditons, well, not to these extremes. I have stayed for over a week on a journey to climb a couple of mountains, but I know that their cold was not the same as we will experiance. As far as the weather goes, I can only offer my word that no complaints will fall from my lips. I have experience with cramped, crowded places as I have spent quite a large portion of my life hunting wild game, rarely by myself. Assurance is something that I have quite a hard time giving, given my occupation. I have learned that a person is rarely, if ever "sure" of anything. One can only weigh the odds. I, sir, know the odds are in my favor in this voyage."

 

[Job]

"... My life is a trap sir. Routine has a tendency to make one rather complacent. I, sir, find that nothing is more grand than to explore a new region."

This comment elicited a raised eyebrow from the Commander.

"I have no such experiance with such conditons, well, not to these extremes. I have stayed for over a week on a journey to climb a couple of mountains, but I know that their cold was not the same as we will experience. As far as the weather goes, I can only offer my word that no complaints will fall from my lips. I have experience with cramped, crowded places as I have spent quite a large portion of my life hunting wild game, rarely by myself. Assurance is something that I have quite a hard time giving, given my occupation. I have learned that a person is rarely, if ever "sure" of anything. One can only weigh the odds. I, sir, know the odds are in my favor in this voyage."

"The odds are in your favor, you say? Good God, man, what have you been drinking!?! The death rate on all previous expeditions has been over sixty percent! Some expeditions--and some friends--have never returned...", said the commander, his voice trailing off as he looked away, his thoughts apparently drifting to some sad and fading memories.

A moment later, a look of grim resolve crossed his face and he returned his attention to you. "Doctor Watkins," he said in the gravest of tones, "our expedition's stay in New York is running short and I unfortunately haven't the luxury of time to recruit another physician. If it's adventure that you are looking for, and if it's excitement that your life has been lacking, then you most certainly will find them with us--at the end of the earth.

"I will, however, hold you to your commitment, sir! No complaints! And welcome aboard!" he exclaimed, reaching out to firmly shake your hand.

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Job (the tortured one).

 

[OnlytheStrong]

"The odds are in your favor, you say? Good God, man, what have you been drinking!?! The death rate on all previous expeditions has been over sixty percent! Some expeditions--and some friends--have never returned...".

"My pardon sir, as you have lost those dear to you. Death is not something I fear unless that death comes to me in my bed during the night."

Wade stands and shakes the commanders hand, "Perhaps it is for the better that you do not have time to find another physician, for I am the best you can find. Thank you for the welcome aboard. The 60% death rate sir....... shall decrease. Even though I know that you do not need any encouragement, for mean cut of your cloth good sir rarely do, it is for the benefit of all that men such as yourself exist. Whether you realize it or believe it sir, the mere existance of men like you, provide a sense of accomplishment to their entire nation. Sir, thank you again. I shall return promptly with my belongings."

 

[Job]

"Wade stands and shakes the commanders hand, "Perhaps it is for the better that you do not have time to find another physician, for I am the best you can find. Thank you for the welcome aboard. The 60% death rate sir....... shall decrease. Even though I know that you do not need any encouragement, for mean cut of your cloth good sir rarely do, it is for the benefit of all that men such as yourself exist. Whether you realize it or believe it sir, the mere existance of men like you, provide a sense of accomplishment to their entire nation. Sir, thank you again. I shall return promptly with my belongings."

Starkweather smiled at the physician and seemed to almost puff up with pride, then said excitedly, "Yes, from your comments I can tell that you've been studying expeditions such as our own, Dr. Watkins, and that your services will help ensure our physical survival!

"You'll be bunking with our ship's physician, Dr. Richard Greene, in cabin 18 just off the Crew's mess. He's a good man, but his responsibilities require that he remain with the ship whereas you'll accompany all of our critical missions.

"Very well. I'll leave you to your tasks." he said while opening his door and gesturing for you to exit. "We have much to do before departing."

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Job (the tortured one).

 

[OnlytheStrong]

Wade nods his head, "I will return as soon as humanly possible sir, with my belongings. Thank you for accepting my offer of help." Wade exits and heads directly back to his apartment to gather his belongings. He makes sure to grab everything he could possibly need, including his guns.