[D20 CoC] Mountains of Madness - Chap 4: Departure; Recruiting Alternate Players

[Job]

You officially depart the Amherst Hotel on the evening of September 6th, taking all of your belongings in a cab ride to the ship. Your cab pulls up in front of the pier and you exit into the crisp night air. Even from the street, you can clearly hear the hiss and roar of winches and the cries of the men across the water. The driver exits the cab and circles to the rear to retrieve your luggage from the trunk, leaving it at the curb while you pay him.

You pick up your luggage and make your way through the entrance as the guard checks you in with a familiar nod.

The Gabrielle is brightly lit against the darkness of the early evening. The scene is loud and confusing, with shouts, the clang of gasoline barrels, the hum of winches, hammering stevedores, and rumbling dollies. Crews struggle under the lights and the cargo booms are in nearly constant motion overhead. Three of the pier shed's rolling doors are open, facing the Gabrielle and there are clusters of men engaged in activity all along the docks and on the ship's deck.

Bright yellow drums of gasoline are being hoisted aboard and stowed below in an area that you recognize as the number two hold, forward of the deckhouse. Groups of stevedores work in the pier shed and dockside of the ship, moving the drums up to the point where a crane hoists a pie plate sling high into the air to carry them aboard, five drums at a time. You notice that more men labor on the ship's deck at the hatch and you can hear yells from men echoing from below in the hold who are stowing the drums.

At the number three hold, a large gang of stevedores and some of the ship's crew are shoring and tying down two large crates.

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Job (the tortured one).

 

[Drowned Hero]

Øyvind Raknes Sled Driver

The morning had been perfect... Packing up the last of things before the journey, write some final fast postcards to the girl he had knowed in the last weeks in N.Y., promising red roses and champagne at his return, a huge breakfast and read the paper.
At last was the day here when the ship was to leave the pier in seek of adventure and recognition. He was ready he though as he saw Gabrielle been loaded with the final fuel and crates.

'What a day!' 'seems like this baby is going south today' he comments to himself and take the way to Upper Deck and the Crews Mess Hall and look for Mr. Mooretelling him if he was there, if he could be at any assistance.

He does as usual slip a big chunk if snuff under his lip and grab a mug of coffe.

 

[Drowned Hero]

George Barrow - Scientist

George has been worried the last day had he remembered all from the list? was the lab correctly assembled? did he remember to pay that last bill from the apartment, was all his equipment in place at the right hatch?
He arrives the Gabrielle a bit earlier and store his las equipment into his lab and goes to the Crew's Mess Hall and settle down waiting for Dr. Moore to come for the usual morning briefing.

 

[Job]

'What a day!' 'seems like this baby is going south today' he comments to himself and take the way to Upper Deck and the Crews Mess Hall and look for Mr. Mooretelling him if he was there, if he could be at any assistance.

He does as usual slip a big chunk if snuff under his lip and grab a mug of coffe.

Øyvind is met at the top of the gangway by a crewman who takes him to the Ship's Mess where you meet a blonde-haired man of medium build, dressed neatly in a ship's uniform. You've seen him around the ship before. His collar is unbuttoned but he seems very businesslike, crisply introducing himself as First Officer Paul Turlow. He asks your name and checks it off on a pad of paper, then shows you to your cabin which is just off the messhall.

"You'll be bunked here in cabin 14, Mr. Raknes, and sharing your room with two other crew members: Francisco Guerini, a polar guide, and Martin LeBlanc, a journalist. I'm sure that you've gotten to know the ship pretty well over the past couple of weeks and don't need a tour. Do you have any questions?"

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Job (the tortured one).

 

[Drowned Hero]

Øyvind Raknes Sled Driver

"You'll be bunked here in cabin 14, Mr. Raknes, and sharing your room with two other crew members: Francisco Guerini, a polar guide, and Martin LeBlanc, a journalist. I'm sure that you've gotten to know the ship pretty well over the past couple of weeks and don't need a tour. Do you have any questions?"

'14.. ok yes yes' the journalist ive seen around but a polar guide i haven't seen at all and i think a Italian polar guide i would have noticed' 'going to be fun anyways i think, i cant wait to see one of those king penguins... they say they are quite big animals...

 

[Job]

George [Barrow] ... arrives the Gabrielle a bit earlier and store his last equipment into his lab and goes to the Crew's Mess Hall and settle down waiting for Dr. Moore to come for the usual morning briefing.

As George departed his room, he noticed a sealed envelope from the Amherst Hotel under his door. Being in a hurry to get to the ship, he tucked it in his suitjacket pocket and left himself a mental reminder to look at it later. "It's probably just a guest survey..," he thought, as he walked down the hallway to the elevator.

Upon his arrival at the SS Gabrielle, George is led by First Officer Turlow to cabin number 13, just off the Mess Hall. Turlow stated that George would be bunking with Vittorio Luzzi, an engineer and demolitionist, and with James Poole, a cartographer and surveyor. He asked George if he had any questions, then left him to settle in.

Similar to the cabin of Øyvind Raknes, the cabin was cramped, barely including enough room for a triple bunk along one wall, a small desk and chair to be shared by the three occupants, and a separate grey metal locker for each man. The circular porthole above the desk provided a small view of the outside, but even so, someone with a touch of claustrophobia would not want to spend much time in here.

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Job (the tortured one).

 

[Job]

'14.. ok yes yes' the journalist ive seen around but a polar guide i haven't seen at all and i think a Italian polar guide i would have noticed' 'going to be fun anyways i think, i cant wait to see one of those king penguins... they say they are quite big animals...

At that moment, a man of average height and solid build with a deeply tanned and lined face, dressed in a flannel shirt, leather belt, and wool pants, moved into the cabin doorway with his rucksack. “Please excuse me, First Officer." he said as he smiled and slipped into the small room.

He looked over at Øyvind and said “Buenos dias, señor. I am Fráncisco Guerini.” while reaching out to shake his hand. Fráncisco's handshake was very firm, his hands rough to the touch, extremely callused and strong. “I am sorry but I could not help but overhear señor. I am not from Italy. I am from Chile, South America. It is an honor to meet you."

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Job (the tortured one).

 

[Drowned Hero]

Øyvind Raknes Sled Driver

He looked over at George and said “Buenos dias, señor. I am Fráncisco Guerini.” while reaching out to shake his hand. Fráncisco's handshake was very firm, his hands rough to the touch, extremely callused and strong. “I am sorry but I could not help but overhear señor. I am not from Italy. I am from Chile, South America. It is an honor to meet you."

'Chile! is it not Chile that is the last stop before the frozen continent?' 'Yes yes i got a friend from Bergen that travels with the bigger ships that does not fit in the panama canal, making the route from Stavanger to Valparaiso' Øyvind slips a portion of snus under his lip and walks out to the mess hall in search of the days first coffe.

 

[Drowned Hero]

George Barrow Scientist

George has been going from the mess hall to his room and back tending to his personal gear and cloths, organizing and cleaning his locker. After an hour or so he settles down in the mess hall catching a magazine about the latest science discoveries. Why a Yale Scientific Magazine was on board he did not know. But the issue was interesting in this number, applied physics was a quite out of his field but nor less interesting.

 

[Job]

'Chile! is it not Chile that is the last stop before the frozen continent?' 'Yes yes i got a friend from Bergen that travels with the bigger ships that does not fit in the panama canal, making the route from Stavanger to Valparaiso'

Fráncisco Guerini looked up at Øyvind and said, "Si, señor, my home country is at the end of the Americas. I grew up in the mountains. The mountains of Antarctica will be different, but I will learn their ways. I will feel much better once we leave this city of New York, where life is very noisy."

Fráncisco then opened his rucksack and began to carefully organize his things in an unused locker. While doing that, he commented to Øyvind, "Your friend is from Bergen, the town between the seven mountains? I have heard that it is beautiful there, in Norway."

Pointing to the three levels of bunkbeds, he asked Øyvind, "Have you chosen which bed is yours, señor?"

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Job (the tortured one).

 

[Job]

George has been going from the mess hall to his room and back tending to his personal gear and cloths, organizing and cleaning his locker. After an hour or so he settles down in the mess hall catching a magazine about the latest science discoveries. Why a Yale Scientific Magazine was on board he did not know. But the issue was interesting in this number, applied physics was a quite out of his field but nor less interesting.

While sitting in the mess hall reading his magazine, George notices First Officer Turlow enter the mess hall with a short, balding man wearing a thick, high-collared woolen sweaters with leather patches reinforcing the elbows. The officer leads the man over to your cabin.

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Job (the tortured one).

 

[Drowned Hero]

Øyvind Raknes Sled Driver

Fráncisco then opened his rucksack and began to carefully organize his things in an unused locker. While doing that, he commented to Øyvind, "Your friend is from Bergen, the town between the seven mountains? I have heard that it is beautiful there, in Norway."

'Yes yes seven mountains they claim to have, but im sure once i told it really was 10, depends on how you count, right?' 'but beautifully it is, when it not rains there.... i was there once it had been raining 3 weeks! and with the biggest gasp of wind i ever have seen after' 'clean city though'... Øyvind chittchats about the norwegian coast, telling Fransisco more then one small detail...... as he do he takes the bed straight across the door towards the mess hall.

 

[Drowned Hero]

George Barrow Scientist

While sitting in the mess hall reading his magazine, George notices First Officer Turlow enter the mess hall with a short, balding man wearing a thick, high-collared woolen sweaters with leather patches reinforcing the elbows. The officer leads the man over to your cabin.

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Job (the tortured one).

'Hello Mr?''first day at the ship?' he walks over to the newcomer and help him with his bags... 'George Barrow, scientist, and at your service'

 

[Job]

'Yes yes seven mountains they claim to have, but im sure once i told it really was 10, depends on how you count, right?' 'but beautifully it is, when it not rains there.... i was there once it had been raining 3 weeks! and with the biggest gasp of wind i ever have seen after' 'clean city though'... Øyvind chitchats about the norwegian coast, telling Fransisco more then one small detail...... as he do he takes the bed straight across the door towards the mess hall.

Fráncisco continued talking to Øyvind while he stowed his gear in the locker, all the while asking questions about Øyvind's experiences in the Norwegian mountains. He tucked the rucksack in, then closed the locker door and turned to Øyvind, asking, "It is OK if I take the top bunk, señor?"

Øyvind smiled and nodded in return, saying "Yes, sure."

Fráncisco then carefully placed a small leather-bound book under the pillow of the top bunk. He smiled at Øyvind, saying, "Señor, if we are to be teammates on this long expedition, I would be happy for you to call me Paco."

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Job (the tortured one).

 

[Job]

Camille returned to the ship immediately upon awakening, to continue helping with preparations. She wasn't terribly fond of manual labor and usually would have tried to avoid it, but all the meagre belongings that she'd purchased upon arrival in America had been stowed onboard already, so there wasn't a great deal for her to do besides help, and she far preferred working over being bored.

Not sure about what she should do, precisely, she began scouring the ship for Moore in case he had something specific that she should do.

Upon Camille's arrival at the SS Gabrielle with her luggage, she met First Officer Paul Turlow at the top of the entry ramp. As always, Mr. Turlow's grooming and manners were perfect.

He quickly took Camille's bags and set them to the side, saying, "Good day, Miss. I am First Officer Turlow, and you must be Camille Bardier, the ship's pilot?" When Camille acknowledged, he made a few notes on his writing pad, then picked up her bags and said, "Please follow me to your cabin, number 5, in the ship's aftercastle. As the lone woman on the expedition, you have been assigned a cabin all to yourself, as instructed by Commander Starkweather."

Here is a picture of First Officer Turlow and maps of the ship's aftercastle

As Officer Turlow leads Camille through the Ship's Mess area to her cabin, many of the crew members turn to look at Camille, smiling and nodding politely, tipping their caps. It's apparent that Camille is something of a curiosity on board; a single female amongst the crew of men. Officer Turlow remarks, "Never mind them, Miss Bardier. They're not used to having a female aboard and they've obviously misplaced their manners."

Camille finds her cabin to be fairly spacious compared to most others, particularly those with two and three occupants in bunks. Sunlight shines in through a round porthole above a wooden desk and the room contains a cot and chifferobe. The metal walls are painted light gray and all furniture except the deskchair are firmly bolted to the floor.

"If you need anything, ma'am, you'll find that my cabin is directly opposite the officer's mess. I'm in number 6, bunking with the chief engineer. Good day."

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Job (the tortured one).

 

[Job]

'Hello Mr?''first day at the ship?' he walks over to the newcomer and help him with his bags... 'George Barrow, scientist, and at your service'

The man put down his bags, straightened to his full height of 5 foot 6 inches, and energetically shook George's hand. With a broad smile that lit up his entire face, the middle-aged man said, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Barrow! I'm Vittorio. Vittorio Luizzi." You detect a hint of an Italian accent in his speech.

He began moving his bags into the room while continuing his conversation, "This is a fine ship, is it not, Mr. Barrow? I have been on board a number of times working for Professor Moore, crawling over boxes and climbing ladders, checking everything. He is very meticulous, our Professor!"

"What sort of a scientist are you, Mr. Barrow?"

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Job (the tortured one).

 

[Job]

...Vittorio Luizzi...energetically shook George's hand. With a broad smile that lit up his entire face, the middle-aged man said, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Barrow! I'm Vittorio. Vittorio Luizzi." You detect a hint of an Italian accent in his speech.

When shaking hands with Vittorio, George sees the tip of an envelope peeking from his jacket pocket and is reminded of the letter that he picked up when departing the Amherst Hotel this morning.

His memory of this morning's letter

He again reminds himself to later look at the letter.

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Job (the tortured one).

 

[Job]

Since your arrival onboard the SS Gabrielle earlier today, the door to Starkweather and Moore's stateroom has been curiously closed and locked, although you've heard conversation inside and incoming rings from the telephone. You've not seen Starkweather or Moore; all instructions that you've received this day were from Officer Turlow.

Towards late afternoon as the crew is still settling in, a group of 4 policemen arrive on the scene and make their way to the main aftercastle, passing through the Ship's Mess to Commander Starkweather's room. A detective dressed in a rumpled coat and shirt and scuffed brown shoes, knocked on the door to Starkweather and Moore's chamber--and the police were allowed in.

This detective seemed familiar... Yes, some of you had met him at the Amherst hotel gunman incident after the police arrived... A Gunman Halts the Expedition Fundraiser --- Read about it here.

Going about your business of getting settled in your rooms, you overhear that conversations continue within the room for over an hour, but have trouble understanding what is being said. Eventually, the police exit the room with apologies and depart the SS Gabrielle. It's obvious to you that their departure has done nothing to brighten the spirits of Commander Starkweather, who continues ranting within the room about "Delays!", and "Finding someone new at this late date!".

You all suspect that you'll soon be informed.

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Job (the tortured one).

 

[Drowned Hero]

When shaking hands with Vittorio, George sees the tip of an envelope peeking from his jacket pocket and is reminded of the letter that he picked up when departing the Amherst Hotel this morning.

His memory of this morning's letter

He again reminds himself to later look at the letter.

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Job (the tortured one).

[sblock]Jeeezzzz hint hint
and thanks![/sblock]

George gets distracted from Vittorio 'ah! the letter' 'escuse me Señor Vittorio i must read this before i forget again...'

The man put down his bags, straightened to his full height of 5 foot 6 inches, and energetically shook George's hand. With a broad smile that lit up his entire face, the middle-aged man said, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Barrow! I'm Vittorio. Vittorio Luizzi." You detect a hint of an Italian accent in his speech.

He began moving his bags into the room while continuing his conversation, "This is a fine ship, is it not, Mr. Barrow? I have been on board a number of times working for Professor Moore, crawling over boxes and climbing ladders, checking everything. He is very meticulous, our Professor!"

"What sort of a scientist are you, Mr. Barrow?"
.

'Biology and Chemistry Señor' 'haven't done much of that lately as as you say we have been checking crates and boxes since we got here' 'im afraid this sea trip is far more complicated then i thought when i signed in' 'but now that de departure day is getting closer im assembling more of my small laboratory to analyze most of the things i can find at sea'

 

[Morpheus]

Martin looks around New York Harbor from the S.S. Gabrielle and wishes that the journeyt would get underway. His recent conversation with Professor Pabodie and his earlier researches have lead him to believe that it isn't safe in New York any more.