The Diogenes Club {Cthulhu by Gaslight d20}

[Guest 11456]

Tasha Velmont : Cat Burglar

Tasha turns to Dobber.

"These foreigners are weird sometimes, aren't they?"

She pauses for a moment and then motions to the club.

"Shall we?"

 

[Douane]

The Diogenes Club

Dr. Schiff rushes over to check Dr. Galvan. As he does, Dr. Galvan sits up coughing and holding his chest near his heart. "Oh my chest!" he says. Dr. Schiff opens Dr. Galvan's shirt to reveal a reddish bruise over his heart. Galvan pulls a sliver cigarette holder out of his coat pocket. It looks to have taken the brunt of the shot. "I am all right gentleman." he says.

The Count's booming laughter fills the room.

"Are you sure, Galvan, that you haven't been travelling the "dark and bloody grounds" under the guise of "Old Surehand"? Good old 'Charlie' would be so proud to hear that these things really happen!" *

Another bout of laughter follows.


Once the immediate mirth has passed and he has made sure that his tentative identification of the good doctor was not in error, the Count steps up to Dr. Schiff and hits him with on of his famous "pats" on the back.

"Paul, it is really you!

What are you doing here? Vienna grew too boring?"



* All of this refers to the contemporary work of the german writer Karl May and will thus be probably a totally obscure reference for everyone present in the club. (With the possible exception of Dr. Schiff)

 

[flyingricepaddy]

Dr Schiff heaves a sigh of relief as Galvan reveals his good fortune. "Gott sei Dank! Euh, but shtill, perhaps I should have a look at that bruise...."

He is interrupted by the booming voice behind him, and he turns, looks up, and smiles somewhat weakly at the man behind the voice, an old friend who promptly gives him a mighty whallop across his back. He staggers forward, barely keeping himself from toppling over onto Galvan, then stands.

"Good evening, Graf, and yes, it is me. Fancy meeting you here, and under such... exciting circumstances." He offers his hand, bracing himself for the grip to follow.

 

[Sherlock]

Tasha turns to Dobber.

"These foreigners are weird sometimes, aren't they?"

She pauses for a moment and then motions to the club.

"Shall we?"

Due to the excitement and confusion, Dobber and Tasha are able to slip into the Diogenes Club with out serious notice. There seems to be quite a commotion going on inside. Many of the members are staring over at an open door, which leads to what looks like a library. The American who hailed your cab returns inside and heads over to the open door. He is followed by a pair of policemen.
As Tasha looks around she sees what appears to be a registration book of some type on a side table by the front door. She quickly picks out the name of Galvan and Count Hardenberg on the page. Her eye also sees a list of club rules above the table. Rule #5 catches her eye. No person of the feminine gender shall be admitted into membership or as a guest to a member of the club.

 

[Sherlock]

Professor Galvan stands up and buttons his shirt. "It does indeed sound like something from a story. I am a lucky man." He turns to Dr. Schiff. "Thank you for coming to my aid, sir. But I am unharmed other than a sore chest." He rubs the place over his heart. He then turns to look at Angus and the young man who shot him. "Inspector McQuinn, I know this young man. His name is Jonathan Willows and he was recently a student of mine at the university. But lately he has become agitated and overly nervous, most likely due to the disappearance of his older sister. For some reason he has fixed the idea in his mind that I have something to do with it. He as made threats against my life more than once. While I don't think he has any true criminal intent, I do believe he as become mental unhinged and requires professional help." Galvan looks around the room. "I don't wish to bring any stain on the reputation of this fine establishment. As I am unharmed, I hope that no charges will be placed against this young man. But, I do insist that he be place in the care of a doctor or sanitarium. For his own safety of coarse."

Angus who is holding the young man's arm feels him slump. All resistance seems to drain from the young man. The young man's face changes from agitated apprehension to blank resignation.

At this point, Dr. Marley and two policemen enter the room.

 

[Tonyfr]

"Dr. Galvan, you are alright!", shouts Dr. Marley as he sees him standing. "What is going on here I thought that you were mortally shoot?"

He looks at Dr. Galvan and then looks at the policemen shrugging his shoulders.

 

[Douane]

Professor Galvan stands up and buttons his shirt. "It does indeed sound like something from a story. I am a lucky man."

"That you can truly say, professor.

Of course, I've heard a lot of stories about occurences like this, but I would have never believed to actually witness such a thing. I guess I should better start smoking, eh? Just in case?"


With a wink the Count turns back to his old friend, Dr. Schiff. Ignorant as ever that a handshake should seldom be a test of strength, he enfolds Paul's hand in his usual crushing grip.


"Yes, indeed. I don't think this altehrwürdige (time-honoured) club has ever seen such a ruckus and, judging from their rules, they probably didn't ever want to.

I could imagine shooting a professor over unjust scores - no offense, professor -, but because he let my sister disappear? Strange, isn't it?


So, what brings you to London?

Better opportunities for a man of education or ... something different?"

He winks slyly at Paul.

 

[DrZombie]

"Inspector McQuinn, I know this young man. His name is Jonathan Willows and he was recently a student of mine at the university. But lately he has become agitated and overly nervous, most likely due to the disappearance of his older sister. For some reason he has fixed the idea in his mind that I have something to do with it. He as made threats against my life more than once. While I don't think he has any true criminal intent, I do believe he as become mental unhinged and requires professional help." Galvan looks around the room. "I don't wish to bring any stain on the reputation of this fine establishment. As I am unharmed, I hope that no charges will be placed against this young man. But, I do insist that he be place in the care of a doctor or sanitarium. For his own safety of coarse."

Angus who is holding the young man's arm feels him slump. All resistance seems to drain from the young man. The young man's face changes from agitated apprehension to blank resignation.

At this point, Dr. Marley and two policemen enter the room.

""Well, doctor, if you don't want to press charges, that's fine with me, but we can't have people firing guns in pulic places now, can we?" To the policemen : "Take him away boys, I'l be there in a minute. Don't be rough on him, he hasn't harmed anyone."
To the professor:"I'm sorry but I'm afraid I'll have to ask you some questions sometime tomorrow. When would it suit you best?"

If he spots Dobber and Tasha : "My my my look what the cat dragged in. Someone tries to shoot a professor and two seconds later you walk in. I should arrest you just on general principle. You're bound to be guilty of something. What brings you here? Not that you're staying, offcourse. You where just about to leave, no? Especially you , young lady, since you're not supposed to enter anyway. And if you think you can scout this place out for another entry later tonight, better think twice. If this place gets burglared I'll arrest the both of you, wether you have something to do with it or not. Out we go, and you better have something interresting to tell me before we part ways, you hear, or we'll walk straight to the police station.

 

[flyingricepaddy]

So, what brings you to London?

Better opportunities for a man of education or ... something different?"

Dr Schiff extracts his hand from the other's grip, managing not to wince.

"Ah, yes, better opportunities, in a way, perhaps...." His demeanor and tone of voice indicates that he'd rather continue this discussion another time.

He then turns to Professor Galvan. "You are sure? I suggest that I examine you briefly. There may be harm that is not apparent."

 

[Sherlock]

He then turns to Professor Galvan. "You are sure? I suggest that I examine you briefly. There may be harm that is not apparent."

"I appreciate your concern doctor. But I quite all right. Though I could do with a brandy." He says with a grin as he buttons up his jacket.