Active investigators: Dr. Mannerheim

Venice, Thursday 31 January, 1923

The stench was getting unbearable from the canals. Also the tide had risen and foul water started sipping through into the piazzas and alleys. Some of the investigators needed a break. They were feverish, injured, and right out fatigued. Dr.Mannerheim ordered 24 hours consecutive uninterrupted rest. He himself felt fine as he had joined the group later. He would continue some of the research and represent the investigators at Maria Stagliani’s dad’s funeral.

Dr.Mannerheim started with an early visit to the local police station. He wanted to find out more about the disturbing murder in the canal the other night, where a man was impaled by a large pole through the chest. The visit was a disaster (failed Persuade and Credit Rating rolls) and the language barrier proved to strong as well.

Gasparetti was true to his word and picked up Dr.Mannerheim by the canal as agreed upon. There was short boat trip to the cemetery island of St. Michele where a funeral procession was held.

There were many relatives of Maria’s father from Milan and Venice. Rossini was there, sweating as a pig, being his usual self. Maria greeted Dr.Mannerheim warmly and asked about the other investigators whereabouts. Dr.Mannerheim noted that Rossini could barely take his angry eyes off of Gasparetti. At the same time Gasparetti and Maria exchanged caring glances.

After the funeral there was a gathering with food and wine at Maria’s dad’s house. It was a lovely building several stories where Maria’s family held the two first levels. The living areas was like a museum full with books and art with Venetian origin.

Early afternoon Dr.Mannerheim left the house with Gasparetti and they took a gondola. As the gondola took of down the canals something was wrong. Gasparetti started yelling at the gondolier. Dr.Mannerheim walked up to the ruder trying to grab it but failed (missed opposed Str-rolls).

The gondola entered a marina just outside the city center. There was a gang of six black-shirts waiting. A trap! “You can leave” said Gasparetti, being noble and wanting to save Dr.Mannerheim. “I shall not leave you to these thugs!” replied the battle proven Finn. “I stay by your side.”

Above: Dr.Mannerheim.

After a couple of thrown punches, Dr.Mannerheim pulled his .45 Automatic. “Down boys, down. I will not hesitate to fire this pistol to kill. Understood?” The ferociousness of the Finn made the blackshirts stop. Dr.Mannerheim had fought the bloody civil war against the communists. He was not a man to play with. Slowly the six blackshirts backed up from Gasparetti and then ran off. Gasparetti was dizzy but still conscious. “They will probably kill me one day.” He said calmly, as a matter of fact. “Not as long as I am here” replied the Finn.

The evening was for study and Dr.Mannerheim had now completed 4 out of 7 days of the Brother of the Skin tome. Horrible reading that made his dreams twist and turn. What an evil kult. They have to be stopped. Midnight he crashed.

The next morning there had been a second murder. A gondolier Paulo Rizo had been torn to pieces and found without blood in his gondola. A witness had seen the murder (apparently) pole away in inhuman speed from the scene. Dr.Mannerheim focused on the task at hand and decided to visit Maria. Perhaps she knew something about the letter and it’s exotic seal of a winged cherub with a doll in its grasp. Dr.Mannerheim went there alone but as he landed on the quay ask the gondolier to fetch Gasparetti as well. He noticed a blackshirt in the window and tried to rush in. Door locked. Dr.Mannerheim pulled his pistol and fired a .45 bullet straight at the lock that exploded in pieces. He ran in and saw two blackshirts afar at the courtyard. As they ran towards him he shot one of them straight in the heart and he died instantly. The second blackshirt ran away up the stairs. Dr.Mannerheim ran forward but was ambushed at the side corridor. Another blackshirt wrestled for his gun and after a couple of heavy blows Dr.Mannerheim fell to the ground unconscious.

He woke up tied to a chair. There was Rossini and three blackshirts. They were upset. Dr.Mannerheim acted surprised. “Rossini? What the hell is going on here!? I come here and spotted a burglary.” Rossini stared him down. “What is going on!!?? You just shot and killed one of my men! Now We have a lot of problems. But I will resolve it. WE will blame it on the communists.” Dr.Mannerheim had managed to convince Rossini he thought it was a burglary and had reacted accordingly. Rossini took his .45 automatic and told him to immediately get back to his hotel and say nothing about the whole thing.

Above: Rossini, fascist leader of Venice.

Precious time was lost and Dr.Mannerheim woke up Saturday at dawn. He wanted to try another charge at Maria’s house. He called for Gasparetti and asked him to gather his anarkist friends. Six of them arrived so they were now a group of eight, versus Rossini’s five (one killed). A numerous advantage. Furthermore, Dr.Mannerheim readied his 12-gauge shotgun which surely would give firepower advantage to Rossini’s fine calibre Derringer pistol.

The group went in motor boat to Maria’s house and divided into two assault teams. Dr.Mannerheim and three anarkists went to the back, and Gasparetti with three anarkists charged the main entrance by the canal quay. Dr.Mannerheim had the anarkists break down the door and they charged inside full speed. Two blackshirts were there but they fled up the stairs. One was remaining at the other side of the courtyard so Dr.Mannerheim fired and hit “01” critical hit. The blackshirt fell dead on the ground. He ordered two anarkists upstairs to follow suit and then went to help Gasparetti break through the main entrance which was a bit more sturdy. Then he heard two shots upstairs. “Oh no, Rossini with his gun.” He ran towards the stairs and met the two anarkists retreating with bullet wounds. “He has a gun and there are several of them up there. We also saw a young woman.” Maria. “Follow me!” he shouted and ran up the stairs. He caught another blackshirt but this one was too fast and escaped into the living room. Rossini showed up in the door with his pistol aimed at them and they fired at each other simultaneously. Dr.Mannerheim missed, but Rossini hit. Dr.Mannerheim fell unconscious to the floor. Darkness.

Dr.Mannerheim woke up in a bed. He shouted for help and Bice, Maria’s assistent, appeared. Dead in the corridor was poor Gasparetti and an anarkist youth. “They forced her to marry him” said Bice and cried. She was in hysterical condition. “Please help her”. Dr.Mannerheim was in bad condition (1 hitpoint) but managed to search the house before retreating back to his hotel for medical aid. Dr.Enea gave him first aid (1+3=4 hit points by now) and told him to get some rest. It was 10 am Saturday morning and Dr.Mannerheim had no time to rest. He had gotten help from Bice regarding the wax seal. “It is the Gremanci doll works” she said. “They are right here in Venice”. Dr.Mannerheim went there without further delay.

Above: Gremanci doll works.

He was greeted by an assistant and then showed into the office of Antonio Gremanci, the owner. An old, fragile man. He showed him the letter and wax seal. Antonio was shocked and had to sit down. He called for his son Sebastian who spoke excellent English. “This was my grandfather. My brother died in the battle at Monte Grappa. I will help you find this client.” A frantic search started in the archives in Antonio’s office. Eventually they found a lead.

“…my old friends in the clock tower….” Could they be the statues we were looking for? “Thank you so kindly” said Dr.Mannerheim and rushed onto the canals heading for Palazzo Rezzoniani.

Above: Gremanci doll works at work.

To be continued…

Venice, Wednesday 30th January, 1923

Active investigators: Dr Mannerheim, Professor Scott, Ian Flannigan.

The investigators continued their research. Professor Scott and Ian went off to the Marciana Library once again where they persuaded one of the old librarians to assist them. They searched the whole day and managed finally to recover ancient manuscripts of The Devil’s Simulare_. Apparently this work had been lost for some time but now recovered from the dusty cellar of the Marciana institution. "_You are only allowed to read it here" said the old librarian and pointed her finger. The investigators considered using Sleight of Hand to knick it, but then avoided an unnecessary risk. Professor Scott was a master of Latin language at 80 % and thought he could read it fully in 1-2 days. In the meantime Dr Mannerheim was meticulously studying the Brothers of the Skin tome. By the end of the day he would have completed 3 out of 7 days.

The leads so far pointed to the San Marco Basilica in the center of Venice. The investigators had a decent dinner at the Pilsen restaurant just across the square. They carefully looked for followers and rightly so they glimpsed a larger group now of black shirts, 3-4 men, in the distance trying to hide. The investigators disregarded them, convinced they would not try anything here in the center full of international visitors.

The basilica was closed for casual visits but open for religious groups all night. Hence the investigators snuck in with them and after a short while found the chapel of Saint Isidoro. They went inside and the confined space was lit with candles revealing the specially prepared stone as per the diary they found. Unfortunately (bad Luck roll) a group of German tourists entered as they were about to work the stone. There was also a watch with them. Dr Mannerheim tried to entertain the watchman but he was as thorough as courteous and remained vigilant. The investigators instead tried to hide but both Dr Mannerheim and Professor Scott was firmly told to climb down from the winged cherubs or the police would be notified. Ian however made a (03 on 65 %) great hiding and later snuck down back into the chapel of Saint Isidoro. He noticed the brick layer was darkened around the stone, that seemed to be of a more shining material then the rest. He tried a Strength check and rolled 18 on 85 % but could not lift it up. They needed to be at least two persons. Ian walked back out to gather his friends.

Tired of the cat-and-mouse play the three investigators went straight for the chapel. The watchmen followed suit and watched them carefully. Dr Mannerheim stopped by the entrance and started talking loudly to them in Finnish and Turkish, hindering any movement past him. Ian and Professor Scott hurried down and lifted up the stone. It was immensely heavy, not of any material they had seen before. Under was just an envelope, but they could clearly see the pattern of a missing leg in the lighter dust.

The wax seal was that of a winged cherub against a shield gripping a doll. What on heaven’s earth could that be?

Tired after a long day of research the investigators went home to their suite at Palazzo Gritti and talked it over. tomorrow was the funeral of Maria’s father but they would still have time to investigate further about the leg and also The Devil’s Simulare. Dr Mannerheim was also interested in further investigation of the murder in the canals. Whatever could thrust a full grown man onto a pole was perhaps pertaining to the Mythos.

To be continued…

Active investigators: Dr Mannerheim, Ian Flannigan, Professor Walter Scott.

Venice, Monday 25th January 1923

Having destroyed the Milan chapter of the Brothers of the Skin, the investigators took the next day’s Orient Express to Venice.

Professor Smith’s instructions was clear. Napoleon’s soldiers had brought with them one piece of the Sedafkar Simulacrum as they marched into Venice.

Entering the train they met with beautiful Maria Stagiliani and her assistent Bice. Maria was very friendly, but sad due to her father’s passing away. The funeral would be in a couple of days. He had accidentally slipped into the canal and caught a lethal pneumonia.

Ian thought there was something fishy about the whole story. Falling into a canal? This had to be looked at closer.

The train arrived at a dark Venice station with intense fog beleaguering the town. At the station a group of fascist blackshirts awaited with their leader eager to court Maria. She seemed uneasy about going with the fascists and suddenly a young man dashed forward trying to protect her. The fascists grabbed him and a fracas commenced. Maria asked the investigators to intervene. “Hey, what is going on here?” Ian stepped up clenching the knuckle brass in his coat pocket hard. The fascist leader looked at the investigators. Well-dressed foreigners arriving with the Orient Express. He then looked at Maria. “They are friends of my mother. They are invited to the funeral.” The fascist let go of the young man and retracted. “Next time you will be fish food.”

Maria asked the investigators pardon and told them that was Alberto Rossini, a high ranking official of the Venice fascist organization. A dangerous man. The young man courting Maria was Giorgio Gasparetti. They seemed to hold each other dear. Giorgio took off and Maria offered to share a cab with the investigators. She recommended the Gritti Palace hotel which was on the way to her parents home.

At the hotel a telegram waited, apparently from Professor Smith. The 2nd telegram so far.

“How do we really know they are from Professor Smith?” asked a suspicious Ian. Not trusting anyone or anything. “Wasn’t he badly burnt?” Dr Mannerheim replied: “Indeed, he mediates through his manservant Beddows.” Ian shook his head. “And what if the turks got him? I suggest we return a message asking for him to verify his identity.” The investigators argued whether they should be head on or rather sending a more subtle telegram back. They Replied hence: “Kindly prove your identity.” The message was head on.

The next day (Tuesday 26th January) was spent in the library and they found some interesting documents pertaining to the Sedafkar Simulacrum and Napoleon’s soldiers:

They were getting “warm”. Dr Mannerheim in the meantime studied the Brother of the Skin mythos tome and had now competed 2 out of 7 days of study. The evening brought a visitor in Giorgio Gasparetti who shared with the investigators his suspicions that Maria’s father was murdered by the fascists.* Alberto Rossini* wanted Maria’s hand and her father had forbidden it. He was a proud Venetian intellectual and would not have fascists in the family. Giorgio left with pleads for the investigators to join the funeral in two days time.

The investigators had been followed by blackshirts during the day and had punched two of them in the face, one falling unconscious in the street and the other running away. Hence they asked the hotel to please keep an extra eye on their suite. As the night settled in they kept turns guarding the large salon fronting each bedroom. At 4 am Ian heard a woman crying for help “Morte! Morte!” He dashed to the balcony and could see just a glimpse of a woman running through the mists. Ian ran down to the street after having woken up Dr Mannerheim and Professor Scott. But nothing was to be found. The night portier called the police who asked the investigators questions and then searched the neighborhood. Unruly the investigators went back to bed for a few hours.

The next morning the papers were full of a murder having taken place in the early hours. The woman was apparently the wife of a man who had been impaled by an iron stake in the canals. His throat had been slit open, perhaps by a wild beast. The police had detained the shocked woman for further questioning. It was the woman they had seen and heard just a few hours ago. The investigators also received a letter with a formal invitation for Maria’s father’s funeral at 9:30 the following day, Thursday on an island in the lagoon. Lunch at her family estate would follow. The investigators accepted the invitation.

Morning on Wednesday the 27th they received an answer from Professor Smith in London: “It is me, Professor Smith.” End message. They checked the sender and it was indeed from a Professor Smith in London. The investigators looked up the aspects of telegram services and you could put any name as sender without proper identification. You could however not easily falsify the origin of telegrams as it was officially stamped by the sender office, in this case London. Ian questioned whether it could really be Professor Smith in person as sender since he was recently badly burnt. It should have been manservant Beddows answering them rather, on behalf of the Professor. The investigators discussed this without reaching a conclusive understanding of the matter. The rest of the day was spent successfully in the city archives where they found more interesting documents:

Now they had not only names and leads, they had a place. The San Marco Basilica! Off they were before lunch. Soon they would have the third piece of the Sedafkar Simulacrum. Half the way to completing their task.

_In the distance in the fog, something moved towards Venice…

To be continued…_

Sunday, January 24

Active investigators: Frank, Hermann, Dr Mannerheim.

The wealthy businessman Flavio Conti had lost his mind. The traces pointed to his acquaintance the rich industrialist Arturo Faccia. Both men had strings to the La Scala opera. The investigators went back to their hotel in the Vittorio Emanuele galleria and planned. It was still early afternoon and the opera wouldn’t start until 7 pm that same evening. A knock on the door. They reached for their pistols, but relaxed as a Nordic gentleman, a certain Dr Erik Mannerheim, appeared. “I am a friend of Professor Smith’s. He wanted me to join ranks with you. He sent me a letter. I am sorry I could not join you earlier.”

Dr Mannerheim fought in the Finnish civil war for the white army, the anti-communists. His name revealed kinship with the famous military officer Von Mannerheim (who would many years later defend Finland against the Bolsheviks). Link: see Characters soon! He had a large trunk with him filled with not only medicine and band aid, but also heavy weaponry like Elephant-gun and 10-gauge shotgun. This doctor meant serious business! And welcome to our friend Sammy Almedal who joins our great campaign and plays Dr Mannerheim! :-)

All traces went to Signore Faccia and his large warehouse in the Northern outskirts of Milan. The investigators assembled their weapons and put them in one koffert that they had carried down to a waiting cab. They gave 20 dollars to the driver to make him happy and silent. As they drove up about 45 minutes to the empty industry area of Northern Milan, they saw the warehouse in the distance.

Four guards, well dressed, were outside the main doors on the front and back. Two at each place.

The investigators elaborated at length how to infiltrate. Here are some of the ideas:

1) Fake a fight to get the guards attention, then sneak past them.
2) Pretend to be members of the Turkish Cult since Dr Mannerheim speaks Turkish (89 %).
3) Make the cab car speed up towards the guards and scare them off.
4) Trying to sneak past the guards straight on.
5) Drive down the side alley pretending to get car engine malfunction and lure the guards there.

There were some critics to the early ideas, for instance nr 2 pretending to be cultists and speaking Turkish, but what if the guards didn’t speak Turkish? This was after all the Milan chapter of the cult and these were just the muscles, not the leadership. Point 3 counted on the driver being that crazy which they feared he was not. Point 4 was difficult in plain daylight and no obstacles to hide behind. At least one penalty dice. So they settled for nr 5, the alley and car trouble.

Dr Mannerheim was left behind as to be able to sneak past the guards if they were to follow into the alley. As the car sped up and turned into the alley, the guards simply remained in front of the doors, making a note in a pad. The plan failed. At the other side of the alley two other guards looked around the corner. Now there was at least four guards. Two on the front of the warehouse and two on the back. The investigators took up to reassess the situation.

“Lets front them and ask them to see Signore Faccia. “Lets tell them we have occult artifacts. There is no way around this, just head-on.” Dr Mannerheim was tired of the fuzzing about. Frank and Hermann agreed. The driver would drive up to the guards at the front and they would carry off their koffert pretending to have the artifacts within. Instead they would show them their heavy weaponry. A persuasion they could not resist.

The investigators managed to Persuade the driver to join their prank. They had also succeeded with a Credit Rating earlier, and given him 20 USD, so the driver was inclined to assist them and long as there was no evident crime or violence.

The car drove up and the investigators went out the car and got the koffert out. The driver tried to talk to the guards. They were stone cold and told the investigators to get away. The investigators asked the driver to tell the guards that they were there to see Signore Faccia and that they had the koffert full with artifacts for him. The guards knocked on the door and two more men appeared. One looked like a leader type. “Show me the artifacts!” he commanded brusquely. The investigators were caught between a rock and a hard place, and reached for the heavy guns. Combat commenced.

We checked initiative (Dex) and got the following set-up including the inside cultists:

70 Frank
65 Cultist Guard 1
65 Hermann
60 Cultist Guard 2 (front door)
60 Cultist Guard 3
60 Cultist Guard 4
60 Old Lady (inside warehouse)
55 Sig. Arturo Faccia (inside warehouse)
55 Cultist Guard 5 (front door)
55 Cultist Guard 6 (inside warehouse)
50 Dr Mannerheim
45 Sig. Flavio Conti (inside warehouse)
40 Cab driver
14 Andriani, Cult Guard boss

The initiative was heavily tilted towards the cultists with 8 out of 10 first actions. Frank knew he had to even out the odds numerically as well. He fired automatic fire (2 bursts x 3 bullets) towards them. He rolled a “96” and with skill value 39 it was a fumble. The Thompson machine gun jammed! The players were silent. One of the cultists ran up to Frank and hit him with a hard blow of his club for 6 damage. That was more than half of Frank’s hit points! “One more blow like that and he’s dead” cried his player. Hermann decided to retake the initiative. He fired two bullets with his 10-gauge and hit two of the cultists, including their captain, straight in the face. Gray brain tissue and bone splitter was all over the place. Hermann didn’t move a finger, just prepared to reload. With two cultists dead early in the first round, things started looking good. Dr Mannerheim applied First Aid on Frank for 3 hit points (rolled a 6 for max). The remaning two cultists ran inside, they also had only clubs, not a great challenge for the heavy arms that the investigators were carrying.

The cab driver sped off, wheels screaming. “Will he be a problem?” wondered Dr Mannerheim. “Not at all.” answered Frank. “He knows the fascists would hang him as well just for the 20 bucks.”

The investigators reloaded and Frank managed a skill check (Firearms machine gun 39 %) to fix his Tommy gun (took 3 rounds (1d6)). They headed straight for the backdoor. Hermann fired with his 10-gauge and blew out the lock and handle. The door was open. Inside they saw the rest of the cult. There were 5 more guards and an industrial spool that had been flipped over as a table. That table entertained three more cultists, two gentlemen and an elderly woman. The investigators thought they heard Miss Cavollaro’s voice coming from that very table. The fight ensued and as two more guards fell dead with their heads blown off (Hermann was on a high, rolling 3 straight crits with impaling damages at 30, 39 and 35), the rest fled out the Northern main entrance. The cultists at the table tried to make a last saving effort. Signore Faccia trend to parley, walking up to the brute investigators. He spoke with a feminine voice, that reminded them of Miss Cavollaro. “Ah finally you are here. How lovely. Let us talk about this in a friendly manner.”

Frank killed him with another head shot. Signore Conti fired back with his revolver .38, missing 3 shots and then it jammed.

The investigators shouted to him to throw away his weapon. He refused and Frank shot him causing a major wound and -2 hit points. Dr Mannerheim however applied First Aid (89 %) and Medicine (89 %) to stabilize him. Perhaps they could interrogate him.

A search of the premises found them a Cthulhu Mythos grimoire tome, a cultist skin knife for skinning humans, some weapons. The tome was bound in human flesh with parts of a human face on the front. It contained instructions and spells how to work and control human flesh.

Dr Mannerheim took the book. He wanted to study his first Mythos tome. Later he checked for Turkish (89 %), the language of the tome, and succeeded. He would need a full week of study to comprehend the full book.

The elderly woman was crying and in chock. Dr Mannerheim used Psychology (89 %) to analyze her and Psychoanalysis (89 %) to stabilize her and she regained 3 Sanity points (rolled 6 (3) on 1d3). Her diagnosis was “temporarily insane”. Something was weird with her voice, it sounded coarse as a man’s voice. Dr Mannerheim also found a huge scar on her neck as if a recent major surgery had taken place. The same scar was found on Arturo Faccia’s neck, the old industrialist.

Roll of the day: Dr Mannerheim passing his English check at “01” (Skill value 01). He later checked for experience and rolled 9, increasing the skill 900 % to “10”.

We rounded up the session and the scenario. The investigators were again successful, finding the Torso early on and rounding up the entire Milan chapter of the Brothers of the Skin. Further east, someone was watching them from afar. They were getting close. Too close….

“A mannequin, we need a mannequin. Where can we find one at this god forsaken hour?” Lord Fyrom Squibb noticed it was just about an hour before midnight. They dashed back to their luxury hotel in galleria Vittorio Emanuele. Milan was after all the fashion center of the world. “Certainly Sire, we will have a taylor with you within the hour.” Impeccable service. The hotel had taylors on call. The galleria Vittorio Emanuele the heart of the pulsating fashion city.

The taylor agreed to sell his mannequin for about 50 francs equivalent in pounds. The investigators dashed back to La Scala and the Stage Manager, Paolo Rischonti, took them to the deepest basement with flickering electric lights. Behind a locked storage door there it was. It’s opalescent marble making identical to that of the left arm. This must indeed be the torso of the Sedafkar Simulacrum. The investigators agreed that Ian should carry the torso. With his Strength 80 and Dexterity 80 he was well suited for the task.

The night was calm and the investigators had four suites in line, so only one investigator at a time watched the corridor outside. Milan was cold this January.

The next day, Monday 25th January, 1923, was the day of the premiere for the opera Aida. According to the news the opera singer Miss Cavollaro was still no where to be found. Her spare would sing instead.

The investigators decided to go to the main library and do research. They had until the evening free.

They got interested in this Flavio Conti. How did he recover so quickly from TBC? They investigated him further and found his address in a fashionable part of Milan and also that he had an Alfa-Romeo RL. Now this was a sharp lead! Off they went to see Signore Conti.

His apartment was on 3rd floor and surprisingly all the windows were wide open in the middle of the winter. Cold winds blew from Monte Bianco straight into the apartment. “Wait here I will see to him.” answered one of the servants in broken English. There were three servants altogether. The investigators were admitted.

Flavio Conti sat behind a large oak desk with his back towards two large windows wide opened. The room was freezing cold. Despite it, Conti had his sole shirt three buttons open. The investigators (Spot Hidden_) noticed huge scars on his chest going from top and down in under the shirt. What was going on here? Conti acted nervously and shouted to them in Italian. He was obviously under enormous duress and pressure (Psychology_). Professor Scott tried to calm him using Latin. Colonel Williams switched to English and Conti did speak English. Conti seemed to calm down for a moment (Fast Talk) but then suddenly reached for something in the drawer on his right side. Colonel Williams stared him down forcefully. "Now this is a path you do not want to stride down. We all know how it will end." The investigators moved their hands slowly towards their guns. They were 4 to 1 and had superior firepower. Conti looked as in total despair. He dashed for his .38 revolver and put it to his head, but Ian was quicker and flew over the desk trying to knock the revolver out of his hand. A hard punch for 6 hit points but Conti was still sitting up with the revolver in his hand. Colonel Williams also jumped the desk but missed with his 30 % brawl skill. Professor Scott ran over and managed to grapple the revolver out of Conti’s hands. Lord Fyrom Squibb drew his gun but aimed towards the back door to cover it in case the servants would dash in from behind.

Conti now in total despair tried to jump out the window. The investigators jumped after him and luckily grabbed him by the legs in a last hundred of a second dash. Ian and Colonel Williams were strong men (80 respectively 75 Str). Unfortunately Professor Scott was not as lucky and went out the window himself (fumble 00-roll) but managed to get a grip with his left hand hanging in the balance. Colonel Williams valiantly switched his grip to Professor Scott and saved the day. Ian managed to pull Conti back by himself (80 Str). A short interrogation followed but nothing important came out of Conti except for a few lines: “I cannot die….. A Brother of the Skin lives forever!” Then he just laughed evilly and watched the investigators as in a daze.

Colonel Williams left the crowd and went for a drink with the servants. Using Fast Talk and Persuade he managed to get some information from the otherwise impeccably dignified servants. “Can I see the garage?” “No sorry you have to ask Signore Conti”. A certain Signore Faccia had been seeing Signore Conti recently. Quite often too. He was of great stature apparently. “At least we have something” thought Colonel Williams and convinced the others it was time to leave.

Researching Signore Arturo Faccia they found his address, a mansion in the outskirts of Milan. They went there and using Locksmith gained entry through the backdoor. The mansion was gated and had broken glass as protection on three meter high walls and the gate had long spears discouraging any intruders. The house was almost empty on the inside, no correspondence or leggers except for a description of a major warehouse in Northern Milan.

“We still have time to check the warehouse out before the opera starts” said Colonel Williams. They left the mansion looking for a cab. Arturo Faccia would get visitors soon.

Active investigators: Lord Fyrom Squibb, Colonel Williams, Professor Scott, Ian Flannery.

The investigators hurried down to the train station. The next express train for Milan would be within the hour (successful Luck roll). They got the tickets and waited among the others, about ten or so individuals dressed for Sunday in Milan. Suddenly two policemen walked in. They looked about and then head for the ticket counter. Colonel Williams rose and walked slowly towards them holding up his traveler’s guide, playing the part. He approached them carefully and rolled for Listen_. Failed. However he picked up a couple of words. “Blaissé” Meaning “hurt” in French. The ticket operator having failed to spot Ian’s injurys hidden below thick layers of winter clothing nodded his head. No injured passengers here. The police looked around obviously contemplating asking questions to the passengers. Colonel Williams again caught the moment pointing outdoors through the entrance windows. "_Oh my, look Atatürk is out there heading for the town!" (the Turkish leader that was currently on a conference in Lausanne). We rolled for Fast Talk and again he succeeded. The two police officers went outside in a haste looking to secure any assistance if needed.

Above: Arms of the House of Sforza, notable aristocratic family in Milan during the 14th to 16th century.

The train to Milan was an express train and took about five hours. At the Italian border they were stopped by fascist black shirts checking their passports and visa. British citizens didn’t need any visa (Professor Scott, Ian and Lord Fyrom Squibb), however, the American Colonel Williams was somewhat harassed but being unable to understand any of the vocal harassment the fascists left for better prey.

Arriving in Milan the city was undergoing major overhaul. Scaffolding and construction workers all over the place, carefully monitored by armed groups of fascist black shirts. “Hermann would have come in handy here with all his pals around” muttered Colonel Williams, thinking of his German friend who was a stunt member of the German NSDAP party.

The investigators hasted to their hotel in the beautiful Galleria Vittorio Emmanuele and rightly so the opera diva Miss Cavollaro had not only booked their rooms but also made sure they had been paid for three nights until Wednesday when the Orient Express was due. The investigators asked to see Miss Cavollaro but were surprised to hear that she had not arrived yet. “Not arrived?” bursted Lord Fyrom Squibb. “How is that possible she should have been here 5-6 hours before us?”

The investigators used the hotel telephone services and talked to Miss Cavollaro’s assistant Ysabel who was currently at the diva’s residence in central Milan. She had not heard anything and was worried since this was not usual behavior. She takes her opera very serious and would not freely disappear like this.

The investigators called the orient Express and got confirmation she had indeed left the train with her entourage of five people and they had seen them walk together towards the exit where Miss Cavollaro waved her entourage off and then disappeared out the station doors.

The investigators went up to the Milan Central Station and talked to the porters. A couple of liras loosened their tongues and they found out that Miss Cavollaro had been picked up by a gentleman in a luxury sports car. An Alfa Romeo RL.

The porters could not describe that man’s features unfortuntaly. They had also seen Miss Cavollaro’s manager taking care of her luggage, and the entourage waving Miss Cavollaro off (as confirmed by the staff of the Orient Express).

Next they went to the police. Language was quite an issue here as no one of the investigators spoke Italian. Professor Scott spoke French however and in the Milan Central Police Station they luckily found a Captain from old Savoy, the French-most province of Italy (today Liguria). The police confirmed there was a missing person report filed on Miss Cavollaro, but became somewhat suspect of why the investigators were here.

A roll for Persuade (Colonel Williams used Professor Scott for translation) soften the police up and they admitted no leads as of yet. The investigators mentioned the car, a sports model, but it was built here in Milan and could be out in the streets all over Milan and Italy, or Europe, in the hundreds if not thousands. The police had no register according to model. They had according to license and registration but this data was failing the investigators.

It was dark outside and the clock approaching 9:00 pm. They head back for the hotel and rested in Ian’s room. Ian was at only 4 hit points and somewhat beat. (Since he didn’t rest he didn’t receive 1 hotpoint healing either.)

They searched the room to see if anyone had been there or planted anything. Some what paranoid after current events. In the book shelves they found a vast amount of guides to Milan’s different cultural and culinary spectacles. But only one book was kind of worn out. Thumbed all over. They investigated it and found it to contain a rather curious story. The famous opera composer Verdi believed that by singing along to an aria, you would have your utmost wish fulfilled. But it had to be inside the La Scala of course. They also noticed a picture of a dummy, a torso, that was being dressed by a very small woman, almost a midget. Professor Scott looked closer. “Could it be? It almost has to be. The size and shape would fit. It’s covered by armor but what I can see it reminds of that opaque marble same as the left arm in our possession. Gentlemen, I think we might have found another part of the Sedafkar Simulacrum, if yet not it’s picture.” Rarely had they seen Professor Scott so upbeat. “Hurry on, we must go to the La Scala at once without any further delay!”.

The investigators decided to call first and after many signals the door keeper Marco answered. He did not speak either English nor French, but after a while the Stage Manager Paolo Rischonti took over who indeed spoke French. Professor Scott put forward that they were sent by Il Duce (The Italian dictator Mussolini, currently in Lausanne) from the Lausanne conference to inspect the La Scala ahead of the grand premiere in two days. “Come over then but quickly please” replied a tired Stage Manager. Arriving at the La Scala and meeting up with both the employees, Colonel Williams was successful with a Persuade and so they gained full access to the La Scala.

They immediately asked to be taken to the costumery and after a long passage through dwindling narrow corridors and leaning steps and stairs up and down, they arrived. Three very small women, almost midgets, were frantically attending to six wooden dummies in a row. There was also a young woman there, Luisa Visconti, who thankfully enough spoke quite good English. The investigators interviewed her and were quite disappointed to see that the six wooden dummies were not quite like the one portrayed in the book found in Ian’s room. Talking to Luisa they rolled for Psychology and noticed something was amiss. She was nervous and keeping something from them. The investigators pressed her harder, all in front of the Stage Manager who started to wonder what was going on here, flanked by the door keeper.

The investigators disregarded the other staff. The three small women paused and stood silent. Luisa started to crack under pressure. She had only been employed four months with the costumery but the old ladies, the midgets, had been here for over two decades. They had told of weird sensations connected to a seventh dummy. They felt uneasy around it and for some reason clothing attached to it never had to be fitted. For the last couple of years alone more than twenty helpers and aides had left the costumery because of this weird feeling around the seventh dummy.

The investigators pushed to know where was this seventh dummy…

“We keep it further down, hidden in the dark in the lowest basement.”

To be continued…

Sunday, January 24, 1923

Investigators: Frank, Hermann, Professor Scott, and Ian.

The investigators took up positions within the shop lest the other buyer would arrive. He could be a potent spell caster. Frank hid behind the giant stuffed bear with his .45 Automatic ready aimed towards the door. Ian had a gun and brass knuckles waiting for any intruder just next to the entrance. Hermann took up a more defensive position behind the counter with his double-barrel shotgun. Scott was upstairs glancing through the curtains on the 2nd floor and at the same time guarding Edgar’s unconscious body and William who now as hooded and in a catatonic-like condition.

Ian heard steps getting closer. So did Frank eventually. They signalled each other to confirm probable contact. On the 2nd floor Professor Scott saw a big, round man wobbling towards the entrance of the taxidermy shop. He wore expensive clothes and used a cane to balance himself better. His walk was funny, odd.

Above: The Jigsaw Prince

The man approached the door and stopped for a second. Then he looked up to the window above but Professor Scott hid behind the curtains. The man poked his cane at the door and the door opened up. “Hello any one there” he called in English with French accent. Ian put his hands in front of his mouth and replied: “Oh yes we are here please come in”.

The man walked forward into the store then fell heavily due to the trip wire installed by the investigators. The game was on and we checked for initiative:

1) Ian
2) Hermann
3) The Jigsaw Prince
4) Frank
5) Professor Scott

With the sole antagonist lying down Ian preferred to save his bullets. He hit the man hard in the back of his head and managed a special hit for 8 total damage. However the blow failed to cause damage to the head and instead no damage at all seemed to effect the target. Ian got worried and rolled off his target. Hermann stepped forward and emptied two slugs in the man. Both hit but again no injury. Not even a drop of blood or a so much as a sigh from the big man. Suddenly he rose up. “It will be a pleasure to cut you all into pieces” he said and looked at Ian. He muttered just a few short verses and crucifying pain hit Ian all over as if flames were eating him from the inside. His flesh turned blackened (missed opposed POW-roll even though using a lot of Luck Points). Ian took 15 hit points damage and fell to the floor dying.

Hermann rolled for Cthulhu Mythos to identify the spell. It was Shrivelling_. This guy was a major spell caster no doubt. With a few words Hermann shout out to Frank who was next to act. "_Lethal spell caster!!!" Frank immediately understood the grave danger. Next round the spell caster would probably kill another one of them. Frank aimed with his .45 Automatic carefully against the opponents head, just between the eyes, and pulled the trigger. Perfect hit! (“01” after spending some 20 Luck points). The spell caster fell dead to the floor. The players were cheering but not too much as Ian was still dying. Professor Scott managed his first First Aid roll and at least prevented a CON-roll for death. But now they only had an hour before his wounds would go critical again. They needed a hospital!

The Lausanne hospital was some 20 miles off and they did not have time to move on foot encumbered with Ian and Edgar out, and William severely handicapped.

Above: Lausanne 1923

They went for the Cathedral and as they got closer Edgar suddenly woke up. With him was the Sedafkar scroll in a water-tight leather tube. It also contained the English transcript. Mission completed. The investigators asked Edgar for help and agreed to pay him 1500 dollars for his help. 1250 that he wanted for the scroll plus an extra bonus of 250. Edgar assured the investigators he had many friends at the cathedral and could assist them in finding an automobile or a carriage for fast transport.

Above: Edgar Wellington

Sunday morning in Lausanne was indeed a sleepy affair everything was closed and no traffic in the streets. Adding to that there was this international conference in town over the end of the Ottoman Empire with the new state Turkey negotiating Italy, France and the United Kingdom for it’s new statehood.

Edgar’s friend Agathon helped the investigators to the hospital and Ian was rushed to the emergency unit. Edgar asked to leave with his brother William and the investigators agreed. Agathon drove them back home. Ian was hospitalized for almost four hours and the others took up watch positions in the reception, the canteen and Professor Scott just outside Ian’s room. Suddenly a police car pulled up outside the hospital entrance. Frank signalled to Hermann to rush and warn the others. Two police men come into the hospital, one senior officer and one regular police offer. Frank hid behind a newspaper. The policemen talked to the reception for a short while, then rushed towards Ian’s unit. Too late, Professor Scott and Ian were already out the backdoor heading for the tree line. Hermann joined them and Frank remained hidden in the shadows of the reception far corner. The police men ran back to their car and started patrolling the nearby road and houses using a mobile search light.

It was a cold morning and the investigators were contemplating what to do. The train had left them and they needed to reach Milan for the opera they were invited to. They checked their travel guide for airline routes and checked the Orient Express time table. What should they do? They were also discussing all the events they had lived through these days. Professor Scott got stuck on Comte Fenalik. “The Comte Fenalik is the epitomy of evil. His crimes and his story implies he might be behind the life and death as we understand it. Remember the laughing picture in Le Louvre. I am sure he is bound to the painting somehow and perhaps he can trick death itself. Comte Fenalik is our man.”

Above: Picture of Comte Fenalik

With those words the investigators took a break in the cold Sunday morning, wrapped up in a thin layer of snow that had blown down from the Swiss Alps. On the other side of the mountains was Milan and the Orient Express waiting for them. How would they get there in time?

To be continued…

Saturday, January 23, 1923

Investigators: Hermann, Frank, Professor Scott, Ian, Edvard.

Above: The time table for the 1923 Orient Express.

The investigators returned from the Dreamlands with the Lovers’ Heart and the Sorcerer defeated.It was close to midnight and the Orient Express departed Paris Gar de North and then Paris Gar de Lyon close to midnight. The investigators noted crowds gathering outside the train prior to departure from Paris, screaming of joy and throwing red roses on the pavement. The famous soprano Miss Cavallaro was entering the Orient Express and her cabin was next to the investigators.

A party started in the Salon Car and the investigators befriended Miss Cavallaro thanks to the charms of Edvard who’s tricks with Swedish safety matches and his scarred face created excitement in Miss Cavallaro’s entourage.

Miss Cavallaro went off to change to her gala dress once more wearing a beautiful ankh on a chain around her neck and singing her favorite aria from Aida, “Ritorna Vincitor”. She had heard it first time as a five year child at the opera and it had been her favorite ever since.

Aboard the Orient Express joining the party were also:

Above: Lorna Campbell.Barnes, widowed millionaire.

Above: Kerim Mahtuk, Turkish finanzier.

Above: Colonel and Mrs Herring, retired.

Miss Cavallaro invited her new friends the the Opera in Milan three days later and gave the investigators five tickets first row. “I will book there best hotel in Milan for you. It’s in the Milan galleria. You will love it!”

Next morning 06:45 the Orient Express entered Lausanne. The train would only stay briefly but the investigators decided to look for the mysterious Mr Wellington who had written the Loriens outside Paris about the Sedafkar scroll and statue. If the letter was true, they would find the scroll.

It was a cold and grey Sunday morning 24th of January. It was freezing cold and small chokes of ice and even snow could be seen. The investigators checked in a the Hotel Central and found out there was a conference in Lausanne. They even got a glimpse of the Italian leader Mussolini. He was here together with envoys from France, United Kingdom and Turkey to finally lay the Ottoman Empire to rest and establish a new modern Turkish state republic.

Urging to find the Sedafkar scroll, the investigators ordered a taxi and off they went. Arriving at the correct address the investigators scouted the house, a small taxidermic shop, and decided to break in using a crowbar.

They had spotted lights on the backside second floor so they pulled their guns and charged inside. “Who are you, what do you want?” cried a desperate voice upstairs. “We have no money here!”. A large bear stared at the investigators with its glass eyes and wired jaw.

Edgar Wellington was quickly overmanned by the armed investigators and so was his traumatized brother William. William was mute and head major wounds to his head which created an odd shape of his skulle. Professor Scott guarded the entrance downstairs as the rest of the four investigators searched the premises and interrogated Edgar.

Edgar’s diary was found and revealed more than Edgar initially wanted to. Ian lost his temper. “You either be straight with us or I will break all your finger’s and toes!” Edgar yielded and told them that the scroll was hidden in Dream Lausanne. An alternative reality of Lausanne that he would visit at nights due to insomnia. He also told them about a certain Duc Jean Floressas des Esseintes, called “The Duke”, who was on his way this morning to buy the scroll. Perhaps the Duke already knew the scroll was hidden in Dream Lausanne. The Duke was a potent occultist and had certain means to know things he shouldn’t even know. Edgar rounded off by explaining he had been given a dream drug by the Duke to be able to visit Dream Lausanne at his convenience but he also suspected the Duke had a portal in his home.

Above: Lausanne 1923.

The investigators feigned kidnapping his brother William and forced him to take the dream drug and return to them with the Sedafkar Scroll. Edgar had no choice and injected the fluid. The investigators noticed that there were 4-5 doses left in the jar as well.

Above: Edgar applying the dream drug, forced by the investigators to retrieve the Sedafkar scroll in Dream Lausanne.

The investigators seized the remaining dream drug and waited for the Duke to arrive. They set traps in the entrance trip wire and trying to arrange the floor boardings and the stuffed bear. The Duke might be a powerful spell caster but the investigators were ready. They were concerned with the broken door which might alarm the Duke.

Above: 4-5 doses remained of the dream drug and it reminded Professor Scott of laudanum.

Quote of the session: “Can we put him in the incinerator?” German NSDAP member Hermann asking to shove William Wellington into the incinerator for hiding (I hope).

The joy of completing the extremely long 5th scenario The Dreamlands Express has not even vanished until we got shocking news. One of our core players, Lloyd Baltz, will leave the campaign. Lloyd pays the Russian Psychiatrist Boris Vasiliji and the Swedish Aristocrat Edvard Night and Day. Two very heavy investigators that will be sorely missed.

Boris Vasilijev

Edvard Natt och Dag

We hope that Lloyd will find more time in the future and re-enter the campaign at a later stage.

Above: Lloyd toasting us farewell I presume… :-)

We continued the battle from the last session. The allies of the investigators continued to land blows on the Shantaks, distracting them from fulfilling their offensive against the investigators. The cats of Ulthar, Mironim-Mer and Karakov made sure only one Shantak per round could attack. This was a major contribution to the battle as each time a Shantak hit, an ally or investigator would be killed.

Above: Mironim-Mer. Blackjack’s murder who would repent in the final battle against the Sorcerer.

Above: Karakov, Russian arms dealer that fueled the Great War in Europe. In the last dying hours of his life he regretted his deeds confessing to investigator Boris his sins.

The Beings of Ib were quickly reduced from 6 to 4 as the Shantaks bit them in half. They still held the line that was now a front along the middle of the carriage roof that had been torn apart. Their numbers times 2 attacks was also a hindrance to the Shantaks.

Above: Beings of Ib soldiering through during the last battle against the Sorcerer.

The Sorcerer returned carried by a Shantak and joined the battle. Unfortunately the Nightgaunts lacked the speed and agility of the Shantaks and failed to retrieve Edvard and Manfred who fell down into the abyss of the Gulf of Noden. Never again would they ever visit the Dreamlands sadly.

Above: The two Nightgaunts tried to save the falling investigators Edvard and Manfred but failed.

The Nightgaunts returned to the battle and opened up a small second front at the rear of the Shantaks. Unfortunately the Nightgaunts were struggling to have an impact on the Shantaks as their armor was too heavy to penetrate for them.

Ian managed to leap (DEX-check) away from the back of the blinded Shantak in the last minute before it took off in a ferocious speed leaving the battle under horrendous screams. The pain of losing both its’ eyes overwhelming. Ian landed on the side of the torn carriage and was hanging now with a grip onto the edge. He dragged himself up on the remaining roof just in time for the Sorcerer to lounge upon Madame Bruja’s monster form. The Sorcerer gripped her from behind and was trying to reach the Lovers’ Heart. Frank and Hermann were quick on their feet and Frank assaulted the Sorcerer from behind, winning the wrestle and locking him in a firm grip.

At the same time the front line took some heavy blows as the cats and Karakov were wiped out by the Shantaks. These allies had occupied 2-3 Shantaks each round and now that they were gone more heavy attacks from these dragon beasts would land on the investigators…

Above: The powerful dragon like Shantaks threatened the Dreamland Express.

Ian saw this coming and jumped down through the hole in Madame Bruja’s apartment and readied his crossbow. Kneeling he got a good firing angle onto the Shantaks bellies above. He fired and hit a critical! He rolled “8” for the critical damage and totalled damage “20” which might be a new record in the group! (1d8+2 maxed out is 10, + another 1d8+2 rolling 8).

Frank maintained his grapple on the Sorcerer who in turn maintained his grip on Madame Bruja. The Sorcerer had immense strength but Frank’s player rolled well and sacrificed his last remaining Luck Points. This was the final battle and they had to win it. As the 3-part wrestling continued Madame Bruja dropped the Lovers’ Heart and it bounced down on the carriage roof landing at the feet of Hermann. Hermann had just thrown a home made molotov cocktail at the Sorcerer and with his hands now free he quickly bent down to pick the artifact up. Unfortunately Hermann failed his Cthulhu Mythos check, but with the Lovers’ Heart firmly in his hands he felt an intense rage and hate running through his veins and mind and again the artefact shot out rays of light that was only visible in the darkness for some reason. Both the Sorcerer and Madame Bruja, as well as the Zombie took immense damage from the rays (I rolled “10” on 1d10). The Sorcerer wrestled free from Frank and jumped down into Madame Bruja’s compartment. One of the Shantaks landed onto the giant hole to cover him as well. Professor Scott who was holding a defensive position by the compartment took off running towards the kitchen to look for knives. He remembered seeing a butcher’s hackett knife there earlier. Frank was quick on his heels and managed to throw himself under the Shantak, joining Ian who was already there inside the compartment. Ian nailed another quilt on the Sorcerer and Frank also hit him again. The blows and hits were coming down hard on the Sorcerer and his burnt carcass of a body started to fall apart. Hermann made a final lounge trying to dive in under the Shantak, and failed. But he pushed his roll with_ Luck Points_ and managed to join Frank and Ian. The Lovers’ Heart sent out another burst of raw energy and the Sorcerer froze before he was destroyed into shambling pieces. The red light in his eye sockets went out. Unfortunately so was Madame Bruja. She was killed by the radiating light and had returned to her human self. The investigators caught a wryly smile on her as Szuzsa was crying by her side.

Above: Madame Bruja fell during the last battle returning to her human form.

The Zombie was still “alive” and looked at the investigators shortly before lounging himself into the abyss for ever gone. Unfortunately Mironim-Mer and Karakov were killed in the battle but their brave fighting had saved the front. With Mironim-Mer dead the remaining cats were satisfied that justice had been done and he had died for a good cause in the end. The cats left for their compartment waiting to return to their country of Ulthar. The investigators felt a strange connection now to cats and Ian’s prejudice towards cats was gone. Was there something else going on here?

Above: The cats of Ulthar retained their great respect for the investigators. Back in the wakening world the investigators would notice how cats around them would follow them and purr around them.

Above: List of cats of Ulthar secrets as revealed by conducteur Henry at an earlier session.

With the final battle over we closed the session and awarded Sanity points and checked skills.

Above: The passenger list from the Dreamlands Express on this journey.

Next session we enter scenario 6 of the Horror on the Orient Express campaign.

“The rest of the journey might be somewhat turbulent” said Henry and adjusted his mask to cover the facial burns. The understatement of the year. The investigators knew that the Sorcerer would come for Madame Bruja and her powerful artifact The Lovers’ Heart.

MacKenzie was troubled. Should I stay or should I go? Clashed with Boris who yelled at him “Make up your mind for heaven’s sake!” And he did. MacKenzie left the train and said farewell and good luck to the dreamers.

The Saarnathians also left. They only passed an arrogant glance. Assured of their supremacy.

King Kuranes left with his bodyguards Haragrim and Nadamens. Perhaps somewhat friskly Ian asked King Kuranes if they could borrow his knights’ magic adamantine weapons but was kindly informed that was not possible. King Kuranes however was by now a powerful ally and as such formally added onto the investigators’ sheets. He would be a valuable asset in the future.

Karakov was pressured hard by Boris in the restaurant saloon as the others left for the privacy of their compartments. It was well after midnight and the train would depart at two am. After a while Karakov broke down. Boris pushed him with Psychoanalysis and Persuade rolls. Karakov admitted to moral guilt of the many wars in Europe and offered to seek forgiveness in the Gulf of Noden. The players did not know how important this accomplishment was at that point.

Left on the train for Gulf of Noden were:

The Investigators Boris, Frank, Hermann, Professor Scott, Ian, Manfred and Edvard.

The cats of Ulthar

Mironim-Mer (as a prisoner)

Zsusza

Karakov

Beings of Ib

The clock stroke two and the beasts of the Dreamland Express leaped up in the void towards the Gulf of Noden. The investigators discussed the tactics. The Sorcerer had escaped their first encounter. Perhaps he was prone to fire? They readied Molotov cocktails from the bar. Frank and Hermann would guard Madame Bruja inside her compartment with Professor Scott guarding outside the door. The rest of the pack Manfred, Ian, Boris and Edvard took up frontal positions in the neighboring compartments. They would fight to the death to protect Madame Bruja and defeat the Sorcerer.

The beasts that made the Dreamland Express reached the Gulf of Noden and the investigators watched all the oceans of the world pour over the end of the world and fall down into that dark abyss. Suddenly in the distance they saw the contours of ten large flying creatures, certainly enormous like dragons. “Contact!” shouted Frank. “Battle stations ready!”. Molotov cocktails were put forward, guns cocked and blunt melee weapons held firmly in whitening knuckles.

Above: Shantak.

Apparitions came forward. Transparent images of cavalry firing upon the train but the bullets were eradicated like smoke. Artillery followed aggressively bombarding the train but again only illusions. A submarine crowned the attack but again the manifestations were only half-full. Somehow they had been neutralized before even being manifested. Hermann suspected Karakov was somehow involved and silently thanked Boris for his initiative to break down the Russian war mongerer’s denial of guilt.

The flying beasts had a rider on top of one of them. Just a few rounds remained. The investigators rolled for Spot Hidden, Listen and Cthulhu Mythos. The flying creatures were nothing less than Shantaks_. Very powerful beings, fast and agile, with heavy attack capabilities and very strong armor that was oily and slick to protect them from all kind of attacks. “Go for the Sorcerer!” instructed Hermann. "_Forget the flying beasts they are too strong in combat!"

The Shantaks combated the strong tentacles of the train beasts and ripped huge chunks of them away at the 5th and 6th wagons. The two wagons with passengers. Only remnant tentacles at wagon 5 was left intact. The Shantaks crashed into the wagons and started attacking the roof. Edvard, Ian, and Manfred rushed onto the roof to defend it. They were followed by Zsusza, Karakov, the cats from Ulthar, the two Nightgaunts from the locomotive, and the Beings of Ib. Boris also released Mironim-Mer and the zombie who entered the battle on the defending side. They rushed up on the roof all of them and sided with the investigators.

We set the initiative:

1) The cats of Ulthar

2) Mironim-Mer

3) Ian

4) Zsusza

5) Edvard

6) Madame Bruja

7) Zombie

8) Frank

9) Hermann

10) Boris

11) 2 x Nightgaunts

12) Manfred

13) Professor Scott

14) Karakov

15) the Sorcerer

16) 10 x Shantaks

17) Beings of Ib

Above: Nightgaunts.

The defenders had a great advantage with initiative and attacked. The investigators focused on the Sorcerer and their allies on the Shantaks. They noticed immediately that even though the Shantaks’ armor protected them from almost all damage, they still got disturbed by the attacks and each successful attack on a Shantak made it ineligible to attack that round.

Ian hit the Sorcerer with a critical attack with a Molotov cocktail and the burnt corpse was on fire yet again. His read glowing eyes stared at the investigators and he tried to take control of first Edvard then Boris. But both managed their rolls! Boris went furious and shouted: “Come on you fucking coward its is time for round two here and now!”

Zsusza was the only ally who did not attack the Shantaks. Instead she used her statuette of a dancer and tried to hit the Sorcerer with it. Unfortunately she missed all her attacks but she kept at it refusing to give up!

The Shantaks started tearing the roof apart and finally succeeded in opening it up so the first line compartments were visible including Madame Bruja’s. Frank and Hermann had watched her and even asked if they could retreat. She wanted nothing of that. Not even jumping into the Gulf of Noden destroying the artifact. She wanted the Sorcerer here and now. Frank and Hermann readied themselves for combat as well as Professor Scott outside the door shifting to the roof now.

The battle intensified and the Sorcerer seemed to be able to take a lot of damage. Manfred knew the situation was getting desperate, soon the Shantaks would be free to attack them and they would all die. He lounged himself towards the Sorcerer full force trying to knock him off the flying Shantak. Unfortunately he missed and plunged into the dark abyss falling down towards the Gulf of Noden… Ian looked at his friend and could only think for a short second how brave. Then he also lounged himself towards the Sorcerer. He hit him hard but the Sorcerer showed immense strength and did not even move. He was rock solid. Ian managed to cling to him and remained on the Shantak battling for control and balance.

Suddeny Madame Bruja started laughing and crying hysterically. She was changing into a monster form of alien proportions. The investigators in the room had to check Sanity. They both succeeded evading any trauma or loss. Madame Bruja tore apart her rib cage and a beam flashed out from her heart towards the Sorcerer who was struck and screamed in agonizing pain.

Boris used the opportunity and joined his friends impressed by their courage. He too jumped towards the Sorcerer and Boris player decided to push his roll knowing a fail would mean worst possible outcome. But he made a hard success and off the Sorcerer went, falling down the abyss after Manfred and Edvard who failed their attempts earlier. One of the Shantaks dove at lightning speed tracing the Sorcerer and succeeded in picking him up in its mouth. The players went silent. this was far from over. Also the Nightgaunts dove and went with furious speed after Manfred and Edvard. They also hoped to savor their allies.

Meanwhile Ian and Boris fought to remain on top of the Shantak that was by now writhing and trying to cast them off. The armor plates of its hide could have offered grip but the oily easy residue that covered it made any attempts to find a grip inutile. Instead they pulled their knives and with forceful blows to the eyes not only blinded it but also used the knives’ shafts as grips to remain onto it. The Shantak shivered in pain and Ian and Boris knew they were in for the ride of their lives…

Above: Ian Flannery, investigator.

Above: Boris Vasilij, investigator.

To be continued…

Dear readers, we have not played since mid June but we are soon back at the gaming table fighting the evil sorcerer and other BBEGs in the way of our brave investigators. Next session is scheduled August 23rd and we have a strong line-up with Magnus Saletti who plays the German architect Manfred Schultz back in the saddle.

Unfortunately Mats Georgson had to cancel due to business trip, cancelling out Lord Fyrom Squibb and Madame Bruja’s favorite Colonel John Williams.

The probable line-up:

Boris Vasilijev
Edvard Natt och Dag
Frank Patterson
Ian Flannery
Professor Walter Scott JR
Manfred Schultz
Hermann Müller

Having said that there are probably one or two investigators who will not join for the final ride to the Gulf of Noden. That particular ride closes the entrance to the Dreamlands forever and I’m sure that ticket price is too high for some of them. The above mentioned investigators are the available ones and I know the players will want to build a strong task force to face the Sorcerer a last and final time.

See you next Wednesday the 23rd of August! And remember to lock the doors and put out all lights…

Caligula

Active investigators: Ian Flannigan, Professor Walter Scott, Hermann Müller, Boris Vasilij.

With the confrontation with the Sorcerer just behind them, the Dreamland Express continued onwards through the land of Xura. A twelve hour trip awaited them with just a quick stop in Xura to find any lost dreamers. Henry went through the Salon and pulled all the curtains. “There are things in Xura I cannot allow myself to have you watch. It would be etched into your memories.” He also put out scented candles and torches trying to hide the odor of…. The players rolled for Spot Hidden and it was the odor of human corpses and decay.

Ian and Boris could not resist the temptation of taking a peek behind the curtains when Henry was not there. The land was dark but light from a full moon showed trees and hedges, flowers leaning in towards the train. But something was not right…. The lands… The were full of human bodies, carcasses, and body parts all over. The roses grew out of the eye sockets of skulls and even mountains of human bone piled up together. (Sanity check 0/1d2)

Ian and Boris suddenly heard evill laughter from inside their heads and saw shadows creeping nearer the train. They came out of the trees and out from behind the hedges. Ian and Boris felt a sudden urge to jump off the train and joining those fascinating shadows in the land of death. But Power-rolls saved them both from getting off the train. Professor Scott and Hermann refrained from taking a glance behind the curtains and listened to their friends recollection with interest.

Back in the Padded compartment wagon, the ghoul was kept for safe being of the other passengers. He indeed have a ticket even though he was chewing on it. Henry first did not want to let him onboard, but yielded to the investigators’ wishes (Persuade).

The trip went well through Xura and the investigators had a stern talk with Madame Bruja. They tried to find out about his weaknesses. Fire was his main weakness and the investigators asked Henry to supply them with gasoline and bottles with liquor. They created sixteen molotov-cocktail bottles and geared up for what now seemed as an unavoidable conflict with the Sorcerer. Madame Bruja also informed them that the Sorcerer had great protection powers against conventional attacks only taking minor damage. He has powerful spell-casting possibilities and can dominate people with his powers. Perhaps also his pride was his weakness she rounded up. Madame Bruja ended the night’s conversation by stating that she had to throw the Lovers’ Heart in the Gulf of Noden to destroy it forever. If the Sorcerer would find it he would ascend to immense powers perhaps even threatening the Waking World….

The Dreamland Express entered Aira and Henry and the cats held a remembrance ritual in a lovely meadow lined by beautiful grooves. Birds with pink feathers flew over and it was quite the contrast from Xura the land of death.

Henry read a poem and the cats filed up in two lines walking up to the groove slowly and on arrival dug a pit where Henry placed Black Jack’s body carefully, graciously. Black Jack’s mother was there and she lay beside the grave. Back at Ulthar, Mironim-Mer, the murderer, would be tried and the knowledge of justice being done surely soothed her pain.

Next stop was Sonya-Nul and henry informed the investigators that King Kuranes would enter and there would be a Royal Feast Banquet. After the banquet, the King would call upon the conflicting parties The Beings of Ib and the Saarnathians. The King was interested in the investigators negotiated plan.

Arriving in Sonya-Nul, The Land of Fancy, wherein there is no time nor space, no suffering nor death. The land- scapes are clear and pastoral, the cities gigan- tic and domed in gold. Beyond each vista of beauty arises another even more beautiful. The inhabitants are happy and gifted with unwar- ranted grace. Quaint pagodas and white walls stand amid carefully tended gardens. Those leaving Sona-Nyl invariably suffer great dif- ficulties if they attempt to return. Most never succeed in returning—some say because the gods curse them for rejecting perfection.

The King was escorted by twenty of his finest knights in full armor and on majestic horses. Two of the knights followed the King onto the Dreamland Express. King Kuranes’ knights were named Haragrim and Nadamus. They were powerful warriors with stern gazes. Surely it would not be easy to pass them onto the King.

Henry was at his best, bowing deep to salute the King. Henry introduced him to the other passengers and the King mentioned the investigators and telling them he looked forward to hear their negotiated peace proposal. But first they would feast. Hermann lacked proper fittings and rolled for Dreaming. He failed. A banana popped up in his hand. The others laughed hysterically. Hermann not keen to Anglosachsian humor being a stern Nazi, asked Henry for assistance. Henry manifested a magnificent tuxedo for Hermann crowned with the Iron Cross and the NSDAP-party symbol.

The Royal banquet was a lavish feast and Henry was in terrific mood. The investigators did feel a certain nervousness surrounding the table now that a king was present. Psychology rolls pointed out Zsasza as one of the most nervous ones, keeping all silent far from her regular drama. Boris leaned over and asked her how she was doing. She looked at Boris and smiled. “I do not know whether I should sing and dance now, or later, or not at all. What would the king fancy?”. Boris smiled and talked with a kind, soothing voice. “Dear Miss Zsasza, I have been at many a banquets by the Tsar. It would be most appropriate after the desert when the guests want entertaining.” Zsasza smiled and thanked Boris. He had saved her day.

And what a dance and song she performed after the desert. She dated like a firefly and finished off with a perfect pirouette. Her song cherished brave warriors and the kingdoms nurturing them. The King was happy and applauded loud. Then he broke off: “Now it is time to parlay. I want the Dreamers and their presentation in the Salon car.”

The investigators presented their three points of compromises. The money for war damage was agreed on. The apology would be in written form. The statue would be returned someday, somehow. The King agreed to the deal and called in the disgusting Beings of Ib and the beautiful Saarnathians. They also accepted the deal. The King finished the parley by warning the Saarnathians to not respecting the deal. “There are Gods who will not forget”.

The investigators were awarded immediate +1d4 Sanity Points for brokering the peace.

The Dreamlands Express departed 2 am for Serannian, the last stop before The Gulf of Noden. The beasts of the train took of toward the heavens and the far horizon melted together between the sea and the heaven. The train leaped off and traveled high-up among the stars. The investigators look out thrilled to see this amazing flight over the clear sky.

“_The marble cloud city… that lies in ethereal space between where the sea meets the sky_”. Henry told the investigators before wishing them good night after a long day. “To reach Serannian one sails from Celephaïs to the horizon (the point where the sea meets the sky) then over it and up into the sky. Much of the Cloud City of Serannian is actually a huge castle complex built of pink-veined white marble. The people of Serannian are extremely pale of skin and hair. They are polite to outsiders but very introverted. Serannian is a possession of Celephaïs and King Kuranes rules from it half the time”

Before the investigators went for their last rest before the Gulf of Noden, Professor Scott wanted to ask Henry if they could arrange the tentacles of the beasts to protect all open parts of the Sleeping Compartment where they and Madame Bruja were (Car #5). Only leaving one window open without protection – the one of the investigators’ compartment.

The investigators also discussed who would be the last four of them defending Madame Bruja all the way into the Gulf of Nodens. They knew from earlier that Lord Fyrom Squibb and Colonel Williams had volunteered, and adding to that Edvard Night & Day since he wanted to get rid of his Agoraphobia that he got from the Blood Red Fez ritual. The final fourth slot was between the remaining investigators. Exciting decision to make!

To be continued…

Active Investigators: Colonel Johan Williams, Lord Fyrom Squibb, Professor Walter Scott, Ian Flannigan.

The investigators hade finally made Madame Bruja open up her heart. Their brave stance against that spell-casting burnt corps who probably was The Sorcerer had made them bond. He was a powerful being and Boris Vasilji was impressive (and perhaps lucky) to withstand two mental spell-casting attacks in swift sequence. The Russian bear was not only physically stout but also had immense mental strength from the Siberian tundra.

The investigators were now deep in conversation with Madame Bruja in her compartment. Just prior to this she had been alone with Colonel Williams and accounted for her sad history.

She confirmed that she was the Crone and that the Sorcerer would never give up until he had laid his hands on the heart. Lord Squibb specifically asked Madame Bruja if she, or the Sorcerer, had any knowledge about the Sedafkar Simulacrum. She did not know and as far as the Sorcerer went she could neither verify nor deny, but he was a sorcerer of great potency and there was certainly a possibility. Colonel Williams asked her what her mission was? Madame Bruja replied without hesitation that she would travel all the way to the Gulf of Nodens and throw away the heart and therefor forever denying the sorcerer the precious heart. That would mean eternal victory over him.

Above: Mirror image of the Sorcerer

The investigators parleyed how to handle this. The Sorcerer was without hesitation a very evil and powerful being. He had to be stopped! The players rolled ferociously for Occult, Cthulhu Mythos, and Dream Lore. They got poor results and no breaking news really. Their Cthulhu Mythos expert Hermann Müller was greatly missed back in the Wakening world. After the players had parleyed they decided to have 4 investigators stay on the Dreamlands Express the whole way to the Gulf of Nodens and escort Madame Bruja. They were well aware of the fact that these four investigators would never be able to return to the Dreamlands Express after that. Hence they would prioritize investigators like Edvard Night and Day who had curable phobias and insanity, and would reap benefits from the great sacrifice.

To be continued…

Active investigators this session:

Boris Vasilji
Ian Flannigan
Professor Scott
Colonel Williams

Mironim-Mer laid unconscious on the floor. Boris slapped him in the face and Ian poured cold water on him. Henry and the investigators parleyed what to do with him. They used the Dreaming skill to produce manacles and cuff Mironim-Mer for security concerns. They decided to lock him up in his compartment on the train. But how should he be punished?

The players rolled for Idea and and came up with three different alternatives:

1) Execute him here on the train.
2) Let the cats in Ulthar have him and punish him.
3) Let King Kuranes make the ruling on his penalty.

The investigators voted. Boris and Ian voted for option 2 the cats of Ulthar. Colonel Williams opted for the 3rd alternative, King Kuranes. Professor Scott yielded his vote but supported the majority decision. The cats in Ulthar would decide on Mironim-Mer’s fate.

Colonel Williams stressed the point that Mironim-Mer was not responsible for his actions since he was either under the influence of someone, or quite mad.

Experience was due and since this scenario is long it is divided in separate sections for experience according to the authors. And we play RAW. As written.

The players received the max amount of +1d6 Sanity Points with an additional +1d2 San points to Boris who helped save the Madman (Psychoanalysis and conveying Henry to let him onboard the Dreamlands Express). Well done! We also rolled experience checks for skills. Investigators will soon be updated and published here on Obsidian Portal for your reference.

The Dreamlands Express arrived in the small harbor town of Aphorat at 7 pm and soon they would be served the Second Banquet. Aphorat was a beautiful small town with limestone ruins framing the outskirts and a bluish light marveling upon it’s high walls from the sea. No one was embarking or disembarking but Henry loaded off the colorful flowers that he had picked up at Zar and imported lovely pottery in turn.

All but Colonel Williams had smokings ready and the Colonel kindly asked for their help using the Dreaming skill to produce his outfit. “Befitting for the occasion I would prefer a blood red fez as accessory to my smoking.” The investigators focused and Colonel Williams looked quite exotic with his Turkish fez on.

The Second Banquet was on and Henry did impress yet again.

The guests would be served soup, poultry, fish, camel and dromedary, rounding off with fruits and nuts. The wines were as always delicious especially the exquisite Sarrubian wine which left a weird sensation considering who had delivered them to this train and feast… (Guess who?)

The guests were:

The investigators: Boris, Ian, Colonel Williams, Professor Scott.

The Saarnathians: (males) Theophed (the leader), Amor, Caromel, (and females) Besweet, Ibex, Dulce.

Miss Zsusza the artist

Karakov the arms dealer

MacKenzie the courier

Madame Bruja

The guests were split up into two groups. The Saarnathians kept their distance and talking to themselves. Politely nodding when glances met. Miss Zsusza was entertained by Karaoke and MacKenzie, and later Madame Bruja who as always arrived late. The investigators used skills to get a grasp of the situation. They used Listen to listen in any topics of interest, especially looking for words like “Black Jack” or anything connected to the murder. Nothing happened. They also rolled for Psychology, Spot Hidden and Credit Rating (Colonel Williams on Madame Bruja). There was somewhat of a slow night with everyone a bit careful considering the circumstances.

Colonel Williams made a critical success on his Credit Rating roll with Madame Bruja and the ice cold lady opened up somewhat. She was happy to make conversation especially with Miss Zsusza who reminded her of her daughter that “was gone”. The investigators were not sure if “gone” meant diseased or just missing. They waited for an opportunity to ask.

Henry shortly interrupted the banquet to informed that the killer of Black Jack had been contained and he thanked the investigators for their assistance. Applause were due though somewhat passive.

After dinner small groups were spontaneously engaged in deep conversations encouraged by the delicious wines that continue to be served. Boris was approached by the Saarnathians leader Theophed who wanted the investigators support in brokering a deal with the Beings of Ib. “Their demands are ridiculously lavish” he complained. “We only defended our country against their invasion” he summarized their moral stance. Boris offered to help and negotiations followed.

To be successful in the negotiations, the investigators had to succeed with either Law or Persuade for each of the three major points:

1) 10.000 rubins and saphires in war damage compensation
2) An official apology from the King of Saarnathia
3) Return of the statue of the lizard god Bokrog

Professor Scott was drunk and fumbled his Persuade roll. Theophed was angered by his clumsy remarks and they would now need 2 successful rolls to succeed with point 2! Boris failed his first roll for Persuade but raised the stakes and pushed his roll. He did it! With no investigator having more than 5 % Law they were acting with a knife against their throats. Colonel Williams saved the day when he rolled a perfect "01"and made his Law check. The players (and Game Keeper) cheered. A treaty had been brokered! The Saarnathians would accept the suggested path.

However, it angered the investigators that as they were brokering a peace, Karakov was in the midst selling weapons to the other members of the Saarnathian enclave. Boris complained to Theophed who guaranteed the treaty would be respected but also at the same time making clear that Saarnathia was a sovereign country that had a lawful right to defend themselves against aggression. Boris ended the parley with warnings regarding Karakov. “A man that cannot be trusted.”

The Dreamlands Express was about to enter the city of Thalarion and the wide plains were populated by wild horses chased by purple wolves. Birds with human hands were flying high in the sky. Thalarion was another port city and Henry was since in his voice when he warned any passenger to disembark at Thalarion. “We only stop there to save any lost dreamers.” Boris wanted explained why. Henry pulled him close. “Because therein walk only demons and mad things that are no longer men, and the streets are white with the unburried bones of those that have looked upon the eidolon Lahti, that reigns over the city.”

Madame Bruja had left the banquet early but returned to the banquet wagon as the train pulled into Thalarion. Someone, or rather somewhat, was waiting alone at the station. The investigators looked carefully as Henry went to great the passenger. But instead of greeting it seemed like Henry tried to keep this creature out of the train. Boris had followed Henry to cover his back. He could see that the creature was a human coprse, charcoal black as if burnt with bones open to see here and there. In the empty eye sockets were red glowing light. Henry seemed to passively give in, his arms falling lame along his side and he froze as if momentarily catatonic. Boris did not approve of the development as the black corpse moved toward the ladder and started climbing up towards the banquet wagon. Inside the wagon Ian never hesitated. “I run to my compartment for my crossbow.” Madame Bruja froze to ice and shouted “It is him! he has come for me!” She started running away towards her compartment further ahead in the train. Boris tried to block the path but was challenged by some kind of mental attack. We rolled for opposed POW and Boris made it! But he chose to step aside so the creature could pass him into the banquet wagon. Carefully he drew his sword from the cane. A stab in the back would taste good. As the corpse moved into the banquet wagon panic started to spread. Madame Bruja was running full speed with Colonel Williams following her tail. The corpse followed suit. Would they make it?

We rolled for chase (names in order of position heading for carriage 5 (sleep wagon #1) from carriage 8 (banquet wagon):

Ian (failed roll)
Madame Bruja (succeeded roll)
Colonel Williams (hard success roll)
Black Corpse (failed roll)
Professor Scott (fumbled, fell on floor -1 round)
Boris (failed)

Madame Bruja and Colonel Williams caught Ian and distanced themselves from the corpse. Ian decided to stay in the Men’s Saloon (carriage 7) and make a stance. Perhaps he could give Colonel Williams and Madame Bruja some much needed time to escape. Colonel Williams and Ian tore down tables and chairs to block the corpse from advancing without delay from the Men’s saloon.

The corpse entered the Men’s saloon. On the other side of the rubble as Ian now with a broken chair leg winded with some cloth on fire. Ian wavered it in front of the coprse trying to scare him off with the burning flames. Boris came up from behind. we checked for initiative:

1) Ian
2) Boris
3) The Corpse

Ian used his round to lit the chair leg. Boris thrusted his piercing sword in the back of the corpse trying to hit the kidneys. If there were any kidneys… He rolled a crit! and it was also an impale for 2d8+2+1d4 damage, maximizing the first die (13) for a total of 22 damage! The corpse was still standing though. It seemed that the damage was minimal despite the fantastic hit. The corpse turned toward Boris and uttered a few short sentences in a language not known to man. A sudden pain hit Boris inside his head. He rolled for opposed POW a second time and again beat this fearsome creature. Suddenly the creature was gone.

“Who,,,,, what was that thing??” screamed Ian still holding his burning stick. “That my dear friend was the Sorcerer” replied Boris calmly. “He has come to fetch what is his and he will not give up until he has taken it.”

Colonel Williams and Madame Bruja had reached her compartment in carriage nr 5, just next to the investigators compartment. “Madame Bruja, you must tell us what is going on. Please!”

we rolled for Persuade and Colonel Williams (89 %) made a hard success. “Alright, come with me inside my compartment. I shall tell you my story” she said.

To be continued…

Come in, come in. Have a seat! Can I offer you some Vodka? No? Shame, spirits relaxes the mind and opens up its defenses for new ideas beyond the conventional horizon. While that is usually how charlatans and priests ply their trade, spirits should be applied with concideration to the company. But I am neither a priest nor a charlatan, I am Boris Vasiljev, court alienist to his imperial majesty Nikolaj the second of Mother Russia. I was trained by Dr Freud himself in Vienna and have held tenure att several of Europes most prestigous universities! And as for the spirits, I did not recommend it for the great number of benefits to your health and constitution, but because the things I will tell you in the hour or so to come is well beyond the pale when it comes to our understanding of the world.

The dreamlands my friends, a fantastic world where technology does not excist in any meaningfull sense of the word. Cameras, cars, electric lanterns and other marvels of technology cannto exist. Races of talking, sentient cats, marverlous wines and trains upon the backs of tentacled monstrosities can however. A place where you can will things into existance with training. But that is a tale for another time, what I wish to disseminate to you are the psycological implications of such a place.

In his masterfull piece “die Traumedeutung” or the “interpitation of dreams” Dr Freud wrote that dreams are the “royal road to the unconscious”. When we sleep and dream many of our egos defenses are down which allows some of our repressed thoughts and emotions to surface. While this is invaluable to our understanding of the self it is at the same time difficult and should be interpitated with care. The dream is manifested in two layers: The manifest content which is the wish fullfilment of our conscious mind and the symbolic meaning which is the message from our unconscious mind.

Now, how is this relevant you might ask? Well, because when you will something to exist in the dreamlands the result is the sum of your will, and the will is constituted by the conscious as well as the unconscious and the id. This means that what you get is bot always what you consciously wanted but what you unconsciously wanted. Case in point, my dear friend Edward Natt och Dag got a pink balle tutu instead of a parade uniform. While I am certain that he does not desire to escape to Molin Rouge and dress up as a man whom dresses up as a woman whom dresses up as a man, the rigors of a disciplined military life will create a repressed desire for the opposite as the mind seeks balance between it’s components. In short, we could end up getting what our unconscious needs instead of what our conscious wants. And this is nothing to be dismissed. If the dissonance is great enought the result could very well be something lethal. Repression does not follow the dictates of the rational mind, it is simply a primal function, a reaction to our way of life. A body and mind worked too hard for too long could very well unconsciously wish for a comatoes state as a counter-reaction to the extreme of the conscious strive towards even more exertion. Repression is dangerous and potent.

One should always be careful when whishing for things as they might just come true.

The Dreamlands Express left Zar and after a while the investigators went to check on the madman. He was well tied up in the baggage compartment. They tried to question him but he was long gone the poor soul. “He does not constitute a danger to the passengers but for now I rather have him separated from them until he gets treatment” said Boris with a firm voice
(89 % Psychoanalysis rolling 3 on 1d3 for Sanity Points).

They could again hear the scratching sound from inside Karakov’s trunk but neglected to open it due to the smell of mustard gas. Heading back Professor Scott lost 2 Sanity for seeing a Being of Ib stuck in the ceiling corner. They notified Henry who had his suspicions who it could be behind this.

Black Jack was still missing and the investigators were bothered about this. Eventually Henry and Black Jack’s mother came to the investigators as they were enjoying the swimming pool and drinks, asking if they could help ut finding him. The investigators got dressed and walked around in the train looking for Black Jack.

They visited Karakov and asked him about his injury to his right hand. He said he had grabbed his knife under duress due to artillery fire. No one else had heard the artillery but Ian played along. A Psychology check revealed that Karakov was nervous and afraid of something. But he was reluctant to share any more details.

The kitchen was self-served by invisible powers, cleaning, making the dishes and taking care of the cloths. Professor Scott stole a knife and armed himself just in case. The kitchen lacked flooring and the hideous beast inunder had an eye ramming about the hide. Unnerving they left and visited the cats who seemed disturbed as Blackjack was missing.

In the Ladies’ Parlor they again met with the lovely Zsusza who repeated her promise to sing for them after the banquet tonight. She seemed relaxed and joyful but got concerned when they asked her about Blackjack. She had not seen him since breakfast.

The Sarnathians had stopped singing and as the investigators entered their huge salon they were offered grapes, wine, and cheese. They told the investigators more about their errand. They were to travel to Sona-Nyl and there meet with King Kuranes for a verdict on arbitration between them and the Beings of Ib. A conflict would finally be resolved and the Beings of Ib were looking for war damage retribution from Sarnath. The Sarnathinas kindly asked the investigators if they could help them negotiate themselves out of these demands, or even better, “neutralize” the problem all together. Edvard Night & Day told them that killing the Beings of Ib would look bad and raise suspicions for the meeting with King Kuranes. The Sarnathians seemed to think that if the Beings of Ib were not to show up at the conference in Sona-Nyl they would benefit from it. As a gesture of good faith the Sarnathians produced two crossbows (using Dreaming skill) and gave it to Frank and Ian. "Perhaps these can aid you in fixing the problem?

Back at their cabin Professor Scott noticed traces of smeared blood on their trunk. He opened it and almost fell to the floor as if something had hit him. Blackjack’s little bodie lay their dead with three large stabbing wounds. There was not enough blood at the location so he must have been killed elsewhere and then put here to incriminate the investigators. But who wanted Blackjack dead and why blame the investigators? They investigated the area and found tracks leading to the window and out on both sides. Could be two different assailants or one that came and went different directions. The marks looked identical. Edvard climbed out and followed them along the outside wall to Madame Bruja’s compartment. Her curtains were closed but he managed to get a sneak peak of her sitting by her desk writing. The heart shaped valise by her side as always.

Edvard tried to follow the marks going the other directions but missed his Climb check, and even fumbled twice! He lost his grip and fell hard towards the ground as the train sped on along the rocky coastline. The player held his breath and spent 5 Luck Points. In the last minute before hitting those hard rocks further down, a swift tentacle grabbed him by his ankle and put him safely back. Henry was right. The train beasts were instructed to not let anything fall off the train. That would help them in finding the murder weapon and solve this hideous crime.

Returning back and informing the others Professor Scott lost in and ran over to Madame Bruja’s compartment busting her door open. The others ran after to stop him and some what of a frackas was initiated. Madame Bruja was greatly annoyed and shut the door violently. “Get out of my compartment!”

“We need to calm down and assess this meticulously” said Frank getting into his police detective role that he knew so well. “We have no evidence against Madame Bruja and the tracks do not only lead to her compartment, but also elsewhere. Let us investigate the other tracks and see where they lead to. Also we need to inform Henry about this” The investigators agreed and Professor Scott had cooled down. Henry was called and he gave the investigators the task of finding the murderer and as official investigators they now had the right to interview any of the passengers and staff, and search the entire premises. The Dreamlands Express was at their mercy for now.

Hermann climbed out the train now and followed the other tracks to the window of Mironim-Mer. “I knew it” he concluded. “I always suspected him of being up to no good”. Hermann climbed back and the investigators went to Mironim-Mer without any further ado.

The investigators had noticed that the rug was pulled back and disturbed. Professor Scott pulled away the rug and there was traces of blood and a skin carcass. Mironim-Mer denied any knowledge of it. The investigators asked Henry to bring the cats and identify the blood. It was cat blood. They also informed that the skin carcass was from a Shapechanger. The investigators pressed Mironim-Mer hard and accused him of the murder. He then admitted under duress to the murder but told them he had been in an alien monster form and in that form he had killed the kitten. His yellow eyes caught a red iris or a red dot inside it and he was struggling with himself ushering a few words before collapsing unconscious: “….I was mesmerized…. Her enemy….”

The investigators considered the Sorcerer. Was it him again? And who was it that Madame Bruja feared? That some one who wanted something that was hers? Or was Madame Bruja the sorcerer hidden in a female disguise? After all “Bruja” means “witch” in Spanish.

Hermann rolled for Cthulhu Mythos and Professor Scott for Occult (89 %). Their presumption was that Mironim-Mer was possessed hence the red iris in his eyes. The best way to free Mironim-Mer was to find the creature possessing him and killing it.

To be continued…

The train left Dylath-Leen and the investigators got their much rewarded sleep. Waking up early the next day there was Frank, Hermann, Boris and Edvard. Odd how the Dreamlands manifestations interchanged the investigators…

Boris Vasilijev
Frank Patterson
Edvard Natt och Dag
Hermann Müller

They decided to look up that odd looking thin, pale man. They found him in the Men’s Saloon grabbing breakfast. With him were two of the Sarnathians and they seemed eager to talk to the man as well. They were pushing him on some matter but hesitated as the investigators walked in. “May we join you?” asked Boris as the man sat down. “Yes, my pleasure” he replied courteously. His name was Mironim-Mer and he was a Sarrubian wine merchant of the finest quality. The investigators remembered him slipping a bottle to Henry as he boarded last night in Dylath-Leen. He was courteous but distant and not much was conveyed. He did warn the investigators to get off at Zar as it was a dangerous place of broken dreams.

The Sarnathians were listening in to the conversation trying to catch the eye of the investigators, who were well aware of that. “I ignore them” said Boris player and tried to pump Mironim-Mer without success. Eventually the Sarnathians introduced themselves as Theophed and Caromel. “We are here on an important errand. And who might you be?” They were as always courteous but somewhat cool, almost arrogant with finesse. The conversation was short and polite and the Sarnathians seemed to have a delicate interest in the Waking World.

The Dreamland Express entered Zar and the investigators had a chat with Henry. Frank could not resist but had to ask him about the gloves and mask. “You did not wear them last time we saw you in 1893. What happened to you?” Frank’s player even rolled for Persuade whilst Boris and Edvard refused as they did not want to hurt or offend their friend Henry. “I had an accident” he said sadly. “There was a fire in 1895 aboard the train. I had to help my passengers. A woman and her daughter. Unfortunately I did not make it myself and hence got these severe burns.” Henry became rather distraught so the investigators quickly changed topic. Zar was no good! Henry warned them to get off there. “You might not return and we only stop there to save any lost dreamers.” Boris and Edvard smiled wryly. “Of course we have to get off there now that everyone warns us from it.”

As the train pulled into Zar train station they could see the broken palaces and pillars that looked like ancient Greece. Not so many people, here and there they could spot a lone soul. Surprisingly at the station there was a man waiting. He looked odd in tattered clothes and wild hair. In his hand the remains of some paper note, perhaps a ticket. His eyes… There were no eyes. Just empty sockets. The investigators opened the window trying to see more and keep an eye on him as Henry went out to greet his new passenger. Suddenly the wild man tried to strangle Henry! The investigators went bananas with Edvard and Hermann jumping out the window to Henry’s rescue. Frank and Boris ran out through the ladder. The madman continued to strangle Henry who was turning blue. Hermann succeeded with a fighting maneuver (end strangle hold) and Henry was released. Frank drew his sword and cut him down over the left shoulder and arm for 9 damage. The madman fell prone to the ground (failed CON-roll due to massive damage). The tentacles intervened and hold the madman to the ground in all of his four limbs. Boris successfully applied First Aid to him so they could interrogate him. But he was long gone, mad from his time in Zar. “The things I have seen!” he cried. “I tore my own eyes out, yet I can still see!” He clutched his broken ticket that had bite marks all over it.

Henry did not want to take the madman aboard his train fearing the safety of his passengers. But the investigators insisted. Boris succeeded with Pyschoanalysis and cooled the madman down so they could put manacles on him. Boris diagnosis was that he could cure the madman so he would calm down for longer periods at least. With that the players rolled for Persuade with a bonus die and again succeeded. Henry let them take the madman aboard. They chose between the Padded Compartment or the Baggage area. Henry told them about the “odd creatures” in the Padded Compartment and so the investigators chose the Baggage area where the madman was tied to his manacles and a post railing.

The investigators decided to investigate Zar despite all the warnings. As the wanted off the train and walked around the city of broken dreams their mind was affected negatively and they had to roll for Sanity. All succeeded (1 Sanity point penalty) except for Hermann who got 3 Sanity point penalty (1d4). They met with some lost dreamers, poets, artisans and artists. They were mellow almost sad. Nothing and nothing just an empty void. But when Boris asked about the Sorcerer they suddenly woke up. “Beware of the Sorcerer” they said. “Beware of the Sorcerer.” Boris asked them where the Sorcerer was but they did not know.

Back at the train they noticed a slimy, jelly creature stuck up at the corner of the ceiling. It was just stuck there looking at them. It had tender claws but did not say anything or even move. The stench and foulness surrounding the creature was so bad that the investigators had to make a CON-roll. Again it was Hermann who failed and got nausea so he had to leave (penalty die on all skill checks for now) immediately back to the compartment. As they were moving about Karakov came running from his sleeping car (Car nr 6) with his hand in bandage and it looked like blood as well. He ran past them in haste.

As the investigators were about to enter their compartment they heard the Sarnathians sing and play guitar in their compartment. A party was going on. “Perhaps we should join them?” said Boris and smiled hoping to see vodka in their bar.

To be continued…

I am happy to inform the followers of our campaign that we are from now on using the Call of Cthulhu “Keeper Cards” that add a bit of excitement and tension to the game. These cards are divided onto four different decks that can be played out in different circumstances. They can be played immediately or at any later time during the game according to the instructions of the Game Keeper of Lore. That is I, Caligula.

The decks are:

’’Curious Characters Deck" that add NPCs to the game in different places and encounters. They can be both allies or enemies. Sometimes you cannot tell until after a while…

“The Weapons and Artifacts Deck”. Finding treasure and alien creations have never been more exciting. But be careful, do not press that red button just yet…

“The Unfortunate Events Deck”. Oh sorry, did you fumble again, said you? Pull a card and see what happens…

“The Phobia Deck”. That sanity problem again… Only one investigator in the group has developed a phobia so far. Edvard Night & Day after the scar in his face when he destroyed the blood red fezes. He got Agrophobia, fear that everybody is staring at his scarred face…

The cards will be implemented from tonight’s extra session at 21:00 CET. We play until midnight. Muahahahaha!

Due to extensive travel among the group we played this session using Google Hangouts. It worked quite well and we will continue playing online next Tuesday 4/4 as well. We actually play four Call of Cthulhu sessions in five weeks which is a new record. The session today was shorter than usual, only two hours. About half the normal sessions. Next Tuesday we will play a full length 4-5 hour session again.

Above: The Carriages of the Dreamland Express. The investigators are residing in Sleeping Car #1 (Carriage nr 5) together with Madame Bruja, Miss Zsusza and the pale thin man (name unknown). The Sarnathians, Karakov, and MacKenzie are residing in Sleeping Car #2 (Carriage nr 6).

As the monster-train started to leave Dylath-Leen the investigators peeked out the window and saw a figure running after it. “Hey, wait for me!”. It was a young woman in a black cloak and sporty wear underneath. She ran like the wind but the train was too fast and she struggled to make it. Professor Scott wanting to help her tried using the “Dreaming” skill to make the tentacles help her. He failed the roll. The young woman ran all along the station but failed to catch the train. As a last resort she jumped for it but missed…. As she dived towards the ground, one of the long tentacles simply caught her in motion and put her on board the train with grace.

Above: Zsusza enters the train.

The investigators rushed to the last carriage (nr 10, the cats’ compartment) to see how she fared. She was already talking to the conductor Henry who was still wearing his odd mask. The young woman was introduced as Zsusza and she kissed the investigators for trying to help her. Henry had explained Professor Scott’s trial with Dreaming. How did he know…?

Blackjack, the little kitten, stuck his nose inside the cats’ carriage and seemed to want company. Professor Scott picked him up and the two friends were back together. A student by the name of Alexander Briarwood (new investigator played by Jesper, see “Characters” here at Obsidian) entered also and fascinated by the investigators he decided to join them. He was a student, an intern, with specialization in forensics (89%) and chemistry. The brawling and fighting? No, he preferred to avoid those elements (Dodge 89 %).

It was now past 2 am and Ian Flannery decided to call it quits. The others remained up and went to the Men’s Saloon for a drink. After a while the elegant group of six people that boarded in Dylath-Leen with some locomotion came in singing and partying. They poured drinks and danced spontaneously. Professor Scott and Alexander tried to converse them and they responded politely, yet with a distance. They told the investigators they were Sarnathians and they had an errand to attend to, hence taking the Dreamlands Express. Both Alexander and Professor Scott tried to dig deeper (rolled for Spot Hidden, Listen, Psychology – all failed!) but did not succeed to penetrate the Sarnathians polite facade.

The clock was getting closer to 4 am and the remaining two investigators decided to end the night. As a last thing Alexander drew a sketch of the woman he had been talking to mostly, a certain Besweet. There was something about this group of people. They were so handsome, intelligent, highly civilized yet arrogant and cool. They looked like people but where did they come from?

Alexander kept wondering where he was as his eyes closed and he was swept away in the night of the Dreamlands…

To be continued…

“How odd” thought Ian Flannery and pulled out a flower bouquet from under his coat.
“I am sure I had my revolver in the shoulder holster”. The stiletto and brass knuckles were also gone exchanged for a pen and a spoon. Professor Walter’s revolver had morphed into a make-up set. Lord Fyrom Squibb however was pleased to see that his magic artifact, a trumpet taken from the musician Leroy Turner in Chicago, was still intact. Playing it would make dead men stomp…

With the investigator’s in the banquet hall was only MacKenzie, the British government courier; Henry the Belgian conductor wearing his hideous mask; Blackjack the cute little kitten; and of course the ever eager tentacles who were cleaning the table through the windows and the floor. Noices came from the kitchen as the Dream Express porcelain and crystal was cleansed and cared for.

MacKenzie bid good night and walked off to his compartment in wagon nr 6. He looked more tired than drunk (successful Spot Hidden followed with Psychology_). “What if we kill him and then play the trumpet?” Suggested Ian Flannery well aware of the trumpet’s magic capability to restore the dead to the after life. “I won’t have that!” countered a seemingly shocked Lord Squibb. "_Murdering a member of His Majesty’s government? Heavens Flannery, get your act together!" Ian clenched his fists in his pocket thinking of a free Ireland (Ian Flannery belongs to the Irish resistance, the prequel to the IRA).

The investigators were a little bit lost about what to do. They were indeed curious on MacKenzie’s portfolio but he seemed so nice. Professor Scott was caressing little Blackjack who was now on his lap purring. “Lets roll for Occult and target cats” suggested one player (Mats). Someone succeeded, I think it was Professor Scott, and they found out several interesting facts on cats in the occult:

1) The cat is cryptic and close to things that man cannot see.
2) The Sphinx is the cat’s cousin and they speak his language. Cats are older than the Sphinx and can remember things he long forgotten.
3) Cats have nine lives and with each life they may board the Dreamland Express, hence more cats.

To delve deeper into the cats connection to the Dreamlands and the Dreamland Express they needed success with Dreamland Lore but no one succeeded unfortunately.

Ian FLannery wanted to try the music box again but this way reverting the ram and turning it backwards counter-clockwise. In Ulthar they received four train tickets but this time a note came out. “Beware of the sorcerer” it said.

Wwat? Who is this? Where do the notes come from? The investigators became somewhat disturbed. “Perhaps it is Madame Bruja” someone said and thought that her heart shaped box that she was carrying with her all the time might be some kind of phylactery shielding her soul or spirit. Lord Squibb rolled for History and defined her clothing as a mixture of different times ranging from the 1500s to the 1700s. “Perhaps she is stuck on this train going round in a loop century after century” he speculated. “The sorcerer is probably the nicest person, the one we least suspect!” concluded another player.

The train had reached the coast and they could see the sea bathing in silver as the moon lit up the surface. Soon they arrived inside Dylath-Leen and great sailing ships were anchored in the harbor waiting to load and unload their goods. It was midnight and the train would depart again at 02:00 am. They could see shadows moving about the harbor and the train station, an elephant walked slowly by idling its own business. “Lets stay in the compartment so we do not get lost in the dark” said Professor Scott and tried to get a better angle to see what was going on outside.

A thin man with pale skin and dark hair arrived at the train and greeted Henry. Succeeding with a Spot Hidden, Colonel Williams saw the man handing over a bottle to Henry who discreetly hid it under his coat. There was also a loud group of snobby people dressed for party and singing and dancing to random music accords. There were six of them, three men and three women and they had immense amounts of luggage being carried onboard by an army of Dreamland Express staff.

Almost an hour later the investigators noticed Henry whispering towards some oddly shaped figures at the far side of the train station outside. They looked like large chunks of jelly almost floating forward as a special landing was lowered to make them enter the luggage compartment. A high pitch shriek seemed to come from one of the jelly monsters answering Henry and then they disappeared aboard the train. Lord Squibb tried for Cthulhu Mythos but failed. What in heavens was going on here? The clock approached 02:00 a.m. and it was time for departure.

To be continued…

I shall inform you that one of my players has gone over to the dark side. He has built a secret antechamber where he worships his foul Gods and read secret tomes since long forgotten. Written in blood, bound by human flesh and bone.

I cannot reveal the payers name but I see him outside my home at nights after midnight has struck. He waits there for me. For the next session. However, I managed to take a picture with my hidden camera and share it here now with you. I f something happens to me please use the picture to track his whereabouts.

Caligula

It was Saturday 26th of January 1923 and the Orient Express would part from Paris 22:53 the same evening.

Boris was carrying the first recovered body part of the Sedefkar Simulacrum in his bag. His body had started to ache and feeling uncomfortable. Apparently the sadistic magic of the Sedafkar Simulacrum was affecting him already. No matter what they still had to assemble all of the parts and find the ancient scrolls that would initiate the sacred ritual to destroy it. And it all had to be done inside the shunned mosque deep inside Istanbul. Probably surrounded by violent thugs and cultists. Piece of cake!

As they boarded the Orient Express yet again they were tired and went straight to their compartments. They changed and slipped into the velvet sheets. Soon they were asleep. Deep asleep. Deep…. Deep….. Zzzzzzz.

A town. Full with cats in the cobbled street and a mist hiding its features. Professor Walter Scott JR bent down and caressed a beautiful siamese. It purred. Ian, Boris, and Edvard were almost tripping over the cats as they were all around, 30-40 perhaps 50 of them. But as Prof. Scott caressed the cat the others dispersed and they could move freely along.

They saw a sign, Ulthar. They had never heard of the town. As Ian produced his camera he was shocked to see that it had turned into a small toy, a carousel that played music. He tried to play it and out came four tickets to the Dreamlands Express.

The players realized they had entered the Dreamlands. We hence added the skills Dreaming (1/5 Power) and Dream Lore (1/2 Cthulhu Mythos) to their investigator sheets. Unfortunately none of todays investigators had any Cthulhu Mythos so the Dream Lore skills were left blank at zero skill points.

The investigators:

Ian Flannery
Boris Vasilijev
Edvard Natt och Dag
Professor Walter Scott JR

As they approached the northern limits of the town they saw a platform and a train station. There was a VIP-section for cats and the large community of cats gracefully entered the velvet ropes that was entertained by staff from the Dreamlands Express. The investigators entered the platform and were duly greeted and tickets controlled. Strangely, there were no rail tracks just thick grass covered in moist and weird signs cut into it. There were three more humans waiting for the train.

Above: MacKenzie, a jovial courier for the British government. Keen on food and drink, wanting to become a poet. At all times carrying a briefcase locked to his arm with a chain.

Above: Karakov, a Russian arms dealer rumored to be in poor health. His arms deals supported the bloody conflict on the Western Front during the Great War.

Above: Madame Bruja, from another time, another world. Dressed in Elizabethan collar from the 1700s. Difficult to engage and sticks to herself. Carries a heart shaped case at all times.

Suddenly the ground shook and something was penetrating the mist. A terrible monster train or rather huge beings clung together with tethering tentacles. Was it a huge spider king, a mass of shapeless octopus, or what was it? There were several of them and the tentacles moved it forward. Huge eyes and several maws that were full with razor sharp teeth, opened and blinked all over the jelly shaped body mass. On top of these entities there were carriages and ladders that came down for the passengers. “Hello, hello, welcome my name is Henry, how can I help you?”

The investigators were flabbergasted as they fully recognized Henry from the 1893 Orient Express mission that thwarted the Blood Red Fez cult (see earlier posts). But this version of Henry wore a mask covering his entire face. Using Spot Hidden and Psychology they still were confident that it was him. Asking him about it he acknowledged he had been on the Orient Express “a long time ago” but did not convey further on the issue. Despite the mask they could see (Spot Hidden) that his face was deformed and discolored at the edges of the mask as if something terrible had happened to him. But they refrained from asking at this point.

Entering their compartment it was certainly in lavish style and Henry told them that there would be a welcoming banquet before sunset in just a little bit. The investigators should get ready and wear formal dinner attire. “The Dreamlands Express take you all the way to the Gulf of Noden where you can through away all of your fears.” Henry smiled seeming to be the same perfect servant as back in 1893 on the Orient Express.

“Get rid of all of my fears?” thought Edvard. His agoraphobia that he inflicted after having destroyed the master blood red fez certainly was not a pleasure.

The investigators were put off. They only had the clothes that they were wearing. But they could use the Dreaming skill to create objects. They tried. All but Professor Walter Scott JR failed. The professor even failed terribly. Suddenly he wore a pink women dress! The others laughed. Henry was called yet again to help them out and the huge tentacles delivered their wanted clothing through the windows. The tentacles were swift and agile and clearly controlled everything within the carriages from the outside with their great reach.

The investigators went to look around the train and entered the bath area. They were accompanied by a little black kitten called Black Jack and Professor Scott immediately was very affectionate to it. Henry arrived with some drinks and told them that Black Jack’s mommy Sophie wondered where he was and now could tell her that he was in good company with the cat loving investigators. Henry talked to Black Jack in cat language, making weird miaowing sounds. “Here in the Dreamlands the cats have their own language” he informed.

The investigators tried the nicely smelling water, a smell of roses and jasmine. Deliciously scented and salted. Nice drinks were served by Henry as well, wine of the most exquisite vintages and not from the world as we know it.

After the bath they went to the Banquet Hall carriage together with their new acquaintances MacKenzie, Karakov, and Madame Bruja. MacKenzie brought his portfolio with him still locked around his ankle. It was apparent that MacKenzie and Karakov knew each other from before hand even though they kept a courteous distance. Madame Bruja kept her distance and the heart shaped box was in her hands continuously. The dinner was amazing and started with turtle soup. MacKenzie and Karakov enjoyed their wine and temperature and the sound of conversation rose accordingly. During a break between dishes, Ian approached Karakov by the window overseeing the vast landscape of the Dreamlands.

“I wonder why he is carrying that briefcase with him at all times, and why is it locked to his arm? Would you know?” Ian asked Karakov carefully when no one else was listening. Karakov smiled wryly. “I have no clue, but being the curious person that I am I would probably pay a handsome fee to anyone acquiring that very briefcase. Let us say…. 500 roubles?” Ian looked at Karakov who kept his smile locked in position. Was he a communist spy perhaps? He looked nouveau riche with his fur jacket and fingers full of rings in expensive metals. “Perhaps when he sleeps…” said Ian playing along. “Sounds like a terrific idea” concurred Karakov. “500 roubles” he repeated and returned to his seat next to the presumptuous victim MacKenzie.

Dinner continued and the atmosphere went from good to great. Even Madame Bruja opened up to Edvard Night and Day who charmed her (Credit Rating). “He will not have what is mine. I know he wants it. I will never give it to him!” She talked in riddles and also mentioned she had lost her daughter in terrible circumstances. Edvard tried to pry further but did not succeed (failed Persuade roll). The cute little kitten Black Jack was carried out from the kitchen from time to time after a casserole or two hit the floor with a bang. Henry was very patient however and explained to Black Jack softly in cat language that the kitchen was off his premises.

MacKenzie was easier to parley and he admitted working for the British government as a courier traveling back and forth often using the Orient Express for fast connection. He had met Karakov there on many occasions. “But I don’t like him. He is a warmonger. Might even be a spy!” Ian tried to ask him what was in the briefcase but the questions were not appreciated and Ian retreated from the subject despite his journalist core.

“Time to get Karakov drunk”, Boris thought to himself and started a long row of toasts to the Russian revolution. Karakov drank and drank dutyfully and after couple of hours (opposed CON-rolls) they had to carry him to his quarters. Boris noticed that Karakov did not seem to be in great physical shape as he went under the wagon just a bit too fast. Boris and Ian took care of business. In Karakov’s compartment they searched the premises and found a receipt for checked in luggage in the baggage compartment wagon. They went there and looked for the trunk. A huge piece. It was locked with a padlock and tight ropes were all around it. Someone wanted it to be sealed to a great extent. They felt a weird smell. Ian identified it as mustard gas. What? Here on the train? They could also hear scratching noises from the inside and distant whining. Was somebody or something locked inside the trunk? Boris tried to stick a bayonet inside it but it was too tightly configured and he failed.

The little kitten Black Jack was as ever very curious and came up to them. Boris lifted the kitten up towards the trunk and he clawed and screamed obviously scared by the trunk and its content. The investigators returned to Karakov’s compartment and returned the receipt. They went back to the banquet where all were friends by now. Edvard escorted Madame Bruja to her compartment through the lavish gardens and fountains of the Ladies parlor wagon. MacKenzie was really drunk and started to look tired. Was this the moment? The investigators looked at each other. “Perhaps it is time to call it for the day?” MacKenzie nodded. Soon he would be in deep slumber and the briefcase perhaps lose from his arm…

To be continued…