Masks of Nyarlathotep: Chapter 1.5 (New York City)

[Maerdwyn]

He drinks his water, and looks down, purposefully not thinking about the zombies.

...And then he looks up, because the thoughts just keep coming. His eyes move to the collected evidence in the room. Finally, Jibril speaks quietly. "We don't know what we're up against, do we. Elias followed this story all the way around the world, and found enough to write a book he thought would make him rich before even finding that shop in Harlem.

"Miriam suggested that the people who killed Elias might be the Bloody Tongue cult that was in his notes. I think she is right. This is the cult that his other letters say might have massacred the Carlyle expedition, even if Jackson was skeptical. His research focused on the fate of that expedition, right? But in tracking them down, he discovered something. Something horrible." He picks up one of Elias's notes, and reads it out loud. "Quote,

"many names, many forms,
but all the same and toward one end--
Need Help--
Too big, too ghastly.
These dreams--dreams like Carlyle's?--
Check that psychoanalyst's files--
all of them survived!
They'll open the gate. Why? --
so the power and danger is
real. They--
many threads beginning--
The books are in Carlyle's safe--
Coming for me. Will the ocean
protect?--
Ho ho no quitters now. Must tell
and make readers Believe. Should
I scream for them? Let's
scream together---"

"Jackson knew what the Bloody Tongues were up to, in the end. 'They'll open the gate,' he says. I don't know what that means, but I guarantee you it will be no good, and I am sure it's not limited to creating zombies in a Harlem basement. Elias didn't live to explain it to us better, but he meant to warn people, to make them believe. He also must have meant to stop it." He waits to see if the others look at him as if he's been in the desert without water for too long.

 

[yangnome]

"I still agree that we need to leave New York for now. We've done what we can here, everything else is left to the police. They'll find the abominations on their own. Any warnings would have made then discount our stories. I'm fairly certain though that with the attack on Lt. Poole, they'll take things seriously now. I still fear that we may be in danger staying here.

I am not however convinced that we need to head to London. we've had a number of clues that point to many different areas. Due to teh fact I was inspecting the JuJu House, I'm not quite aware of everything the other group has found. Miriam, is there a specific reason you've chosen London as our next destination?"

 

[Maerdwyn]

"The way I see it, the key to what Jackson found out was his research into the Carlyle Expedition. Aubrey Penhew was the co-leader of the expedition, and we found a busuness card for his London foundation in Jackson's hotel room. The expedition's research was begin in London. In my opinion, Miriam's suggestion makes sense to me. East Africa might also be a good choice, with the Juju House's connections to Kenya, and our clues pointing to Cairo, ans well as the Carlyle Expedition's stop there. But since London is roughly between here and there, my vote would be for London."

 

[Vendetta]

Jack belches loudly.

 

[Isida Kep'Tukari]

"I would rather not go running off to Africa right away, if you get my meaning," Miriam says tightly. "I am tired, and the rest of you had a terrible night. I think it might be best if we all got a bit of rest. I think... perhaps... Father Paul, would it be too much of an imposition for us to stay the night here? I would rather not sleep alone, as I'm afraid these people would try to do something terrible," she says with resignation in her voice.

 

[Gomez]

"That is a good idea, Mrs. LeGou. I know it has been a very trying day and you all must be exhausted. I don't think that some of you should be going out." says Father Paul as he looks over at Jack. "We have a couple of spare beds and I fine soft couch here at the church if you wish to stay the night. Let me go get them ready for you."


For those who stay at the Church your sleep is fitful. Dreams of men with knives and horrid shambling corpses haunt you. Jack is about the only one who sleeps soundly as he passes out on the couch.

The next morning you wake to the smell of hot coffee, cooking eggs and bacon, and fresh bread. After tending to your tollett, you sit at the table in the kichen. Father Paul serves you a mouth watering breakfast.

"You might want to look at the paper." says Father Paul. There is something about the Ju-Ju house on the front page.

Arson in Harlem

Last night a fire ravaged through several businesses along 137th street off of Ransom Court. It is believed a fire was started in the African art shop known as the Ju-Ju House late last night. It is reported that a Police officer was attacked at the said establishment and when police arrived to an arrest his attackers they found the building on fire. Sources within the police department said that a gang of cutthroats was using the shop as a center for several criminal activities including kidnapping and murder. The owner of the store, Mr. Silas N'Kwane was found outside the shop with his throat cut. It is believed that firemen who responded to the fire found several bodies inside.

 

[Ashy]

"My Lord...", Charles says quietly over his eggs and coffee. "What sort of monsters are we dealing with that would kill their own?!?"

 

[Vendetta]

Pounding down coffee the way he had downed the spirits the night before, Jack, holding his head and wishing the asprine would kick in, looks over the paper. "I'm surprised that they actually got it right. I'd half expected somehow the story would have been spun in such a way that we would have come off looking the villains. Still... someone wanted to cover their tracks pretty desperately, even to the point of assassinating one of their own. I'd like to check in on Lt. Poole and be sure the police are providing addiquate protection... if they'd go so far as to kill one of their own and burn down one of their own houses, they'd certainly make an attempt on Poole."

 

[Maerdwyn]

Jibril nods at Jack, amazed the man is in as good a shape as he's in, considering the shape he was in last evening. "Who should go with you, sadiq?" Turning to include the others, he says, "And what should everyone else do while they are gone? As I said, I think some of us should look into travel preparations, but we need a firm destination first. Lacking that, there is one more area of investigation that may be worthwhile, although Miriam may have already pursued it, I'm not sure. In Jackson's note, he said 'the books are in Carlyle's safe' - what books was he talking about, and do we think we could get a look at them?"



ooc: Like I said, this may have been covered: wasn't sure about what happened with Erica Carlyle before I joined up in the campaign, for example.

 

[yangnome]

"I'm not certain about the books Jibril. Perhaps that is somethign we could investigate while waiting on travel to London. I imagine even if we are able to get arrangements made today, that we'll have to wait a few days before we depart. I'd be more than happy to accompany Jack over to see Lt. Poole. if he saw things similar to what we've seen his faith may be shaken. It might be good for him to have someone to talk to about it."