Masks of Nyarlathotep: Chapter 1 (New York City)

[Maerdwyn]

Jibril hung up the telephone, rather unsure of what to make of the call. Mr. Elias had always been rather upbeat when Jibril had seen him. If something was bothering him, Jibril wasn't sure why - unless something's wrong with the painting. Maybe it's been damaged, or stolen, maybe? I can't think of any other reason he take the trouble of phoning me when he was upset. Still, I hope not. I always liked Al-rajulan al-dhougata'an*. It was kind of hard to let it go, even if it did pay last year's tuition. Elias seemed to connect with it even more than I did, though, so at least I sold it to the right man.


An hour or so later, he changed into his (only) suit, and went downstairs to begin the long walk to the Chelsea. Whatever is going on, it will be good to see him again, he thought, as walked across Union Square.





*"The Hooded Men"

 

[Isida Kep'Tukari]

Miss Carlyle shakes her head slightly and gives Miriam a brief smile. "I am sorry Mrs. LeGou, I don't have the time or inclination for such things. I have not believed in ghosts or spirits since I was a small child."

One of Miss Carlyle's companions at the table speaks up. "Oh, Erica! Give it a try! It would be so fun. Don't you think?" The rest of the people at the table voice their agreement.

"Well, if you put it that way. I guess I could do it for a lark!" Miss Carlyle then speaks to Miriam. "But if you think your going to get any money out of me your very mistaken. Lets get a chair for Mrs. LeGou."

"Thank you my dear, that's very sweet of you. Now, we shall see what the spirits have to say about you. I need you to hand me something that was important in your past, so that the spirits can channel through me," Miriam says with grand gestures. "Just put it right on the table, I'll need to touch it for a minute or two..."

*Normally Miriam didn't use her talents like this, but with distressingly little juicy gossip on Miss Carlyle, and the fact that Elias was getting them involved, they would need every edge they could get. Once Miriam had something, she would concentrate on it, attemping to draw something important from its past to the surface.*

 

[Gomez]

"Thank you my dear, that's very sweet of you. Now, we shall see what the spirits have to say about you. I need you to hand me something that was important in your past, so that the spirits can channel through me," Miriam says with grand gestures. "Just put it right on the table, I'll need to touch it for a minute or two..."

*Normally Miriam didn't use her talents like this, but with distressingly little juicy gossip on Miss Carlyle, and the fact that Elias was getting them involved, they would need every edge they could get. Once Miriam had something, she would concentrate on it, attemping to draw something important from its past to the surface.*

Miss Carlyle opens her purse and takes a silver monogramed cigarette case out and hands it to Miriam. "This has been in my family for generations." Takin g the case, Miriam holds it and begins to go into her "trance". But something strange happens. Staring at the case, Miriam feels herself being pulled into it...falling into it.....her vision beings to narrow down to a tunnel focused on the cigarette case. Then everything goes black.....Seconds pass, years pass, and suddenly Miriam finds herself seated in a large room with lots of bookcases on the walls. Two people are arguing, a young man and a woman. The woman is Erica Carlyle though younger.

Man "...why don't you leave me alone. I know what I am doing.."

Erica "What your doing is ruining the family finances. You cannot keep spending money like it grew on trees."

Man "We...I have plenty of money. Don't worry about it. And stop harping at me. My head is killing me." He puts his hands up to his head.

Erica "Are you still having those nightmares? Have you talked to Dr. Huson yet. I think he can help you. Personally if you stopped spending so much time with that Negro Woman the better. Staying out all night, the drinking, reading those strange books, and I have heard worst. I looked at one of those books and it scared me to death."

Man "Leave her out of this and leave me alone, it's my life, and I am in control of the family finances. Don't you forget it. I am going to bed...."

There is a sudden tearing sound and your back, sitting at the table in the speakeasy. Everyone at the table is staring at you with shocked looks on their faces. Erica Carlyle looks frightened and angry. "I will not take this kind of abuse from the likes of you. John, get the car, we are leaving." With that she and her group get up to leave.

 

[Isida Kep'Tukari]

*Miriam is still reeling from the shock of her vision; rarely had it been so strong. She struggled to her feet, trying to stop Erica.*

"Miss Carlyle, wait! I saw something very vivid this time, I am not certain what I said to you under trance, but I can tell you what I saw. Please, I absolutely did not mean to offend you. You were very worried about your brother, weren't you? The books he was reading? The nightmares he was having? How he was handling the finances? The company he kept? I assure you I am no fraud," she says passionately, trying to keep Erica from leaving.

 

[Gomez]

*Miriam is still reeling from the shock of her vision; rarely had it been so strong. She struggled to her feet, trying to stop Erica.*

"Miss Carlyle, wait! I saw something very vivid this time, I am not certain what I said to you under trance, but I can tell you what I saw. Please, I absolutely did not mean to offend you. You were very worried about your brother, weren't you? The books he was reading? The nightmares he was having? How he was handling the finances? The company he kept? I assure you I am no fraud," she says passionately, trying to keep Erica from leaving.

Erica Carlyle looks back at you as she begins to leave. A thick bodied man moves to put himself between you and Miss Carlyle. "No John, it's is ok." she says as she motions him back with a gesture. "Mrs. LeGou, I don't know what kind of scam your working, but everything that you have said could have been found out without speaking to spirits. But what you said to me during your trance is inexcusable. Good day!" She turns and leaves.

Miriam stands there in shock as Charles comes to her side. "Miriam, what was that all about? What was with that deep man's voice telling Miss Carlyle that her family was bad blood and that Roger was the catalyst for great and terrible evils to come. Don't you think you layed it down alittle thick?"

 

[Isida Kep'Tukari]

Erica Carlyle looks back at you as she begins to leave. A thick bodied man moves to put himself between you and Miss Carlyle. "No John, it's is ok." she says as she motions him back with a gesture. "Mrs. LeGou, I don't know what kind of scam your working, but everything that you have said could have been found out without speaking to spirits. But what you said to me during your trance is inexcusable. Good day!" She turns and leaves.

Miriam stands there in shock as Charles comes to her side. "Miriam, what was that all about? What was with that deep man's voice telling Miss Carlyle that her family was bad blood and that Roger was the catalyst for great and terrible evils to come. Don't you think you layed it down alittle thick?"

*Miriam is more than a little pale and she tries to shake off the ghosts of the vision.*

"Charles," she whispers urgently, "I need you to tell me exactly what happened and what I said. Because I don't remember any of it!"

 

[Gomez]

Charles looks at Miriam with a conserned expression. "Well, I had moved over by the table to evesdrop on your conversation. After you were handed the cigarette case, you became all stiff and then you began to speak in a man's voice, deep and with foreign like acent. Humm let me try and remember the words exactly.

"Through the tainted blood of the Carlyle house has evil used to begin a new cycle of death and destruction. The seed of the blind, voiceless, mindless one has been sowed. The return of the giants of old is near. They will crush the cities of man and rise the great cities of power from the sea to rule again. Your brothers actions have started these event to come to pass. Woe be to mankind. Weep for your future."

Charles puts a arm around Miriam to steady her. "Lets get out of here. Ok?"

 

[Isida Kep'Tukari]

*Miriam is shaking both with fear and bone-deep cold she cannot shake.*

"Please, I need to go home now," she says unsteadily. Once home, she'll drink several calming cups of tea before bed, and check for any messages.

 

[Gomez]

The next day, everyone wakes to uneasy feelings.

Father O'Malley feels concern for his friend Jackson. What trouble could he be in.

Miriam feels better after a nights rest but the strange trance that she had last night was like nothing she had ever experienced. It's memory lingers in the back of her mind like a shadow. She finds the message from Father O'Malley. Well maybe she can get some answers out of Elias.

Jibril looks forwards to seeing Jackson again. It has been too long. But what does he want this time?

William's morning is spent with his family and with his writing. But the thoughts of the meeting tonight pop up. Well, what ever Jackson wants help with. It could not be any worse than the Stanford manhunt and he lived through that didn't he?


Around seven that evening, Miriam, William, and Father O'Malley meet outside the Chelsa Hotel. Charles and E.G. were both unable to be there tonight but they said that they wanted a full report tomorrow. The day has been a pleasent one and the sun is just begining to set. Jibril walks up to the Hotel at that moment and hears the three mention Jackson Elias.

 

[yangnome]

"So Miriam, Were you able to turn anything up with Ms. Carlyle?"