Masks of Nyarlathotep: Chapter 2 (London)

[Isida Kep'Tukari]

"Did you know Jackson Elias personally?" Miriam asks gently, not wanting to upset the fellow.

 

[Gomez]

"Mrs. LeGou, you say your investigating the Carlyle Expedition for a book. Mr. Jackson already talked to Mr. Gavigan a couple of weeks ago about that very subject. Is there something else you would like to talk to Mr. Gavigan about?" says Mr. Bradford.

 

[Isida Kep'Tukari]

"You see Mr. Bradford, that is the very crux of the subject. Jackson Elias was murdered last week in New York. It is suspected that those that murdered him were somehow connected to what happened to the Carlyle Expedition. That is what we wish to talk to Mr. Gavigan about," Miriam says, leaning forward a bit. Her expression is soft when she speaks of Jackson's death, and her face is haunted, but her voice gets a bit harder towards the end.

 

[Gomez]

"That is terrible. Let me see if Mr. Gavigan has a moment to speak to you." he says. Mr. Bradford walks down the hallway behind him about half way down and enters a door on the right. A minute later, he returns. "Mr. Gavigan will see you. Please follow me." Bradford leads you to an magnificently paneled office. Standing up from a large mahagony desk, is Edward Gavigan. He superbly dressed man in his fifties with a long thoughful face and blue-gray eyes.

"Hello, I am Edward Gavigan, administrator of the Penhew Founation. Please be seated. You wanted to speak to me about the Carlyle Expedition?" he says.

 

[Isida Kep'Tukari]

"Yes indeed. I'm Miriam LeGou," she says, and quickly introduces everyone else before sitting down. "Jackson Elias' death was carried out in a most brutal fashion, with elements of ritual about it. He sent telegrams to us earlier in the week, requesting our help. When we arrived at his hotel room.... " Miriam pauses and dabs at her eyes with a handkerchief, "he was already dead, and his murderers, Negro men, were fleeing out the window. All of his research and notes pointed to the Carlyle expedition. We came hear searching for answers. One thing we had a question about..." Miriam digs through her purse until she can find the copy of the symbol carved into Jackson's forehead. "This was carved..." she stop, choaked up, and gestures to her own forehead.

 

[Gomez]

"I am truly saddened to hear of the untimely death of Mr. Elias. I only talked to him once but he seemed a fine fellow. Mr. Elias asked me about the Carlyle Expedition and Sir Aubrey's role in it. I told him all that I knew on the subject." Mr. Gavigan looks at the symbol produced by Miriam. "It does not appear to be Egyptian. I am sorry, I am not familiar with this mark."

 

[Maerdwyn]

Jibril's face is passive, but friendly, as Gavigan speaks and he tries to get a read on the man.

(sense motive +8: Is he lying about either his contact with Elias or recognition of the symbol?)

 

[Isida Kep'Tukari]

"If I may be so bold, what exactly did Jackson inquire about?" Miriam asks.

 

[Ashy]

Charles listens intently, but remains silent during the conversation... In his mind, he keeps thinking, 'tell him about the zombies, Miriam...the zombies! Surely he would be interested in something so...mummy-like!'

 

[Gomez]

"Mr Elias asked about the reasons for the expedition and the subsequent trip to Kenya. I told him that Carlyle had obtained information, apparently from a mysterious African woman, concerning a shadowy time in Egyptian history about which Sir Aubrey had long been interested. In this ancient time a sorcerer was reputed to have ruled the Nile valley. But Alas," he smiles "The whole thing was a hoax. In Egypt, the African woman disappeared with the expedition's ready funds, the amount of some 3500 British pounds. Carlyle counted the lost money as insignificant, but he was deeply affected by the defection of his lover."

"Fearing the heat and disappointment of Egypt would seriously affect her health as well as Carlyle's , Hypatia Masters suggested that the party spend the summer months in the relatively cool Kenya highlands, affording her a wonderful opportunity to use some new lenses to photograph African wildlife. Once there the group injudiciously entered dubious territory and paid for it with their lives."