Book Three: Out of Time

[Mant72]

Dr. Francis Morgan:

Frank again shakes his head in confusion, ”Err.. of course, I mean Edith.”

[DadsAngry]

Marius:

Marius thinks for a moment.
Keeper: Is there anyplace where Edith could hide? We could make it look like she escaped out the window using the bedsheets. Officer runs off and we move Edith to another room or out of the hospital if safe.

[SocraticLawyer]

As Reginald ponders, a nurse approaches and begins to unlock David Clarke’s door.

Oh, I'm sorry miss, this man is not to be disturbed. He's in a very fragile state.

If needed: Persuade (41) [1d100] = 15

[Grognardsw]

As Reginald ponders, a nurse approaches and begins to unlock David Clarke’s door.

Oh, I'm sorry miss, this man is not to be disturbed. He's in a very fragile state.

If needed: Persuade (41) [1d100] = 15

The nurse pauses, looking at her clipboard.

“That doesn’t show on my rounds list,” she says. “I’ll check with the doctor.”

She walks away.

————————————

In Edith Walton’s room, the investigators look around for someplace where Edith could hide. Only under the bed.

[SocraticLawyer]

Reginald Wilkins, bookdealer
Reginald realizes he must do something before the nurse returns. He enters Dr. Clarke's room, closing the door and locking it behind him if he can.

Once inside the room, Reginald tries to determine what shape David is in. Is he hooked up to any IVs or anything? Is there a spare pillow? Is David awake?

[Grognardsw]

Reginald Wilkins, bookdealer
Reginald realizes he must do something before the nurse returns. He enters Dr. Clarke's room, closing the door and locking it behind him if he can.

Once inside the room, Reginald tries to determine what shape David is in. Is he hooked up to any IVs or anything? Is there a spare pillow? Is David awake?

Reginald sneaks into David's room. He appears asleep. The antiquarian book seller sees no IV or spare pillow, though there is an extra blanket at the end of the bed.

[SocraticLawyer]

Reginald Wilkins, homicidal bookdealer
This is it. Reginald knows there is no other alternative.

This is not the first time he has attempted to take the life of a cultist. But this feels different from the shootout at Club Z.

Wasting no more time, Reginald picks up the spare blanket, slowly approaching the sleeping form of the person who is not Dr. David Clarke. With as much conviction as he can, the bookdealer suffocates his victim, cutting off his air supply.

Reginald is careful not to look into the cultist's eyes. He also tries to be mindful of the door. If he hears anyone approaching, or if the door unlocks or opens, he immediately drops the blanket.

If needed: Murder cultist with a blanket [1d100] = 96
Oh shit.

[Grognardsw]

Reginald Wilkins perspires, his eyes darting, his mind shaping the logic to justify the dark action he is about to commit.

The antiquarian book seller and reluctant occultist has descended down a dark path these past months. Beginning with the shocking realization that Timothy Carver, his own book shop clerk, was a serial ritualistic murderer, part of or brought into what later proved in Reginald's mind to be a cult. Timothy was apparently under the influence of drugs known as Xaqloui dealt by the evil Ambrose Carcosa. The elusive Carcosa had tendrils deep into various interests across the country and abroad. Reginald became part of a larger investigation that uncovered interconnected ritualistic murders; occultism and dark tomes of forbidden knowledge; stolen museum artifacts and their import/export through cult agents; astonishing archeological finds in Turkey; impossible aging and modes of travel only explainable by magic; a crystal trapezohedron imbued with magic essence of unknown quality; dangerous forays into shady clubs, shunned houses, and horrific basements; astronomical dates of otherworldly significance; ill-understood plans by the cult to perhaps summon something.

And this, the man Reginald knows as David Clarke, yet not him. Reginald believes David's mind has been possessed or taken over by Asenaith Waite, a cultist, and that she would inevitably escape by transferring her mind out of David into another. The only option is to kill David now.

Is this what Sam Archer was thinking when he killed Konstantin Chertovski? Was this what Isaiah Bartlett thought when he killed Gwen Baines? Reginald crosses that line.

Reginald takes the blanket and with manic energy suffocates David Clarke. David awakes groggily and struggles, but his head and gunshot wounds leave him too weak. The suffocation seems to take forever in Reginald's mind. But then it is done.

Reginald stands upright, straightens the sheets, lays back down the blanket.

The door opens and the nurse walks in.

"Oh, you're here," she says.

[SocraticLawyer]

Reginald Wilkins, murderous bookdealer
Thank God you're here. Something is wrong! Reginald says to the nurse. Please help my friend!

Reginald hopes his ruse works.

Sanity check (16) [1d100] = 88

Sanity loss [1d4+1] = 1+1 = 2

[Grognardsw]

Reginald stares at the body. He has killed a man who was his friend. He shudders. No, it was not him. A scholarly man of science. It was not him. A caring colleague who helped others. It was not him. Was not him. Not him. Him. He.

The nurse startles Reginald. His mind races and pulse pounds as he struggles to maintain an outward calm.

The nurse moves quickly to David’s bed and feels his pulse. A look of alarm crosses her face. She grabs a bell on the nightstand and rings it.

“Help me,” the nurse snaps to Reginald. “I will apply mouth-to-mouth resuscitation while you apply pressure to the chest. Firm palm pushes on his sternum, to my count.”

[SocraticLawyer]

Reginald Wilkins, bookdealer
Okay, says Reginald. He does his best to comply with the nurse's orders. He hopes that she thinks his nervousness is due to concerns for his friend. He also hopes that she doesn't notice that Reginald is giving chest compressions with more force than necessary.

[Grognardsw]

Marius looks about for some place to hide Edith. There is only under the metal frame bed. The hunter deems it too exposed.

Frank, Marius and Prof. Balandabar wonder what to do about Edith. Prof. Balandabar has heard interesting "proof" of the alleged mind transfer from David to Edith. Is he convinced? Could the information Edith whispered to Frank be pillow talk, conversation that David shared with his lover and she now offers as "proof"?

Their discussion is ended by the police officer outside, who comes in to check on Edith.

"Okay now, visiting time is over," he says with an Irish brogue.

The men leave.

Edith ponders her situation. A little later a doctor comes in to take her vitals and deliver grave news. "Your attacker, a Mr. David Clarke, has passed. He did not survive his wounds."

Edith is shaken at the news that his proper body is no longer alive. He, now she, faces the horrible reality that he is now trapped in a woman's body. Edith is gobsmacked at the revelation and considers the ramifications: What of his property and belongings? His academic credentials? Job prospects? Sexuality? His friends and family? Edith's friends and family? (San check - see spoiler below)

David knows Edith (he/she still must overcome the psychological barrier of new pronouns and calling himself Edith) was - no, is - a woman of independent means. That is some comfort from a practical standpoint.

The other investigators learn with shock and dismay that David Clarke’s body perished. Reginald shares the news. He says he tried to help save him. The book dealer is quite shaken. (Psychology rolls please for others.)

Edith spends the next few days in the hospital gaining her strength back (+5 HP.) She learns she was raped by David when she was unconscious. The investigators visit her frequently. They tell Agent Mulder about what happened.

Edith learns that with David Clarke dead, there will be no legal action taken against Edith for her shooting him unless Clarke family members decide to pursue legal remedies. With no witnesses and a dead alleged victim, the case would be weak.

While Edith is recuperating, the investigators get access to David’s apartment and secure Raymond Randolph’s books. Reginald the book dealer examines the tomes. He agrees with Edith’s assessment concerning Raymond’s intentions with dreams. The man could be alive in the so-called dreamlands or some Otherworld.

After what has happened to her, Edith faces profound choices. Can he/she live in this body, in this world? Is her mind overwhelmed? Or does it make her more determined than ever to continue the investigation and get revenge?

Several days later the party of investigators is at the Providence BOI offices where Agent Mulder is holding the New Orleans briefing.

“It’s good to see you all again,” says Agent Mulder. “Please welcome a new civilian consultant, Hal Lancaster, to our group.”

“We have been chasing down what leads we can, observing and tailing people of interest, and are now ready to make a push in New Orleans. As you recall (and were instrumental in discovering) we have certain letters from Ambrose Carcosa that listed various New Orleans addresses.”

“These include the following:

1) Ambrose Carcosa’s house in the French Quarter. We will raid the place and hopefully catch the bastard.

2) A fortune teller parlor owned by a Marie Levoui who has connections to Carcosa. We will investigate.

3) A night club recently opened, the building of which was purchased from James Ford. You recall that this financier was in the Carcosa letters. According to information from our civilian investigators, his daughter Claire confirmed his past odd religious acquaintances. She offered to help.”

Agent Mulder looks at the investigators. “Any ideas on how she could?”

“And 4) A ‘lodge’ outside New Orleans in the bayou. We’ll investigate.”

“All right everyone. Put in your equipment requisitions. Get a good night sleep. Our train leaves at 8:00 am.”

As I mentioned before, I'm moving things forward to our long-anticipated New Orleans visit. That said, feel free to take any actions within the time I summarized.

I did not take the liberty of deciding if Reginald told the investigators that he killed David. Socratic can decide that.

DadsAngry, per our PMs, I'll leave it up to you how much of a possible San. loss Edith may face, if you want to continue to play her, or take up another PC.

DadsAngry can decide who David’s surviving family members are, if any, and if they want to take legal action against Edith. That could be a subplot.

Makkentabs123’s character, Hal Lancaster, will now be joining the party. Feel free to read his prior thread “Hal Lancaster on the Case” to see how he arrived here.

For those interested in refreshing your memory on Carcosa’s recovered letters, please see “The Investigators Notebook” thread.

Thanks!

Our story continues in New Orleans - The Big Uneasy at viewtopic.php?f=168&t=9030&p=439086#p439086