[Scenario 1] The Edge of Darkness

[Pulpatoon]

Dr. Pale nods. "We may as well know what it is so that we might explain ourselves more fully to Henry."

[gaylord500]

Aloysius Taft

We'll be opening it at some point, anyway. If it saves time to do it along the way, I don't see why not.

[coil23]

Hyacinth Ausby Hudspeth, antiquarian

Might I examine it before we open it? I'm not well-versed in this area but I may recognize something from my studies that could help.


occult check (25%)

[geomys]

"Ancient secrets and occult artifacts are not lightly to be pawed over in my experience. But you can do as you want."

Archie shuts his eyes tightly and looks away as the rest of the group opens the box.

[Scott308]

Elmer "Big City" Ramsey

Well, shucks, if you think there might be somethin' important on the outside, go on and take a look, says Elmer, handing the box over to Hyacinth.

[MI70]

Jed

Normally, Jed would not think that there is anything to fear from a box. But feeling a little shaken by the professor's sickness, he's a little shy of it now.
"Don't mind taking folks to see the librarian. Maybe he knows something we don't."
Looking to Jasmine, he also adds, "Happy to take your gear as well, Miss."
Jed edges towards the stairs and his truck.

[ken-do-nim]

Elmer "Big City" Ramsey

Well, shucks, if you think there might be somethin' important on the outside, go on and take a look, says Elmer, handing the box over to Hyacinth.

The box is just the kind of thing you'd buy at the 1920s equivalent of Staples or Office Max. However, Hyacinth lifts the lid just enough to see the contents. The box contains:

1. a yellowed envelope
2. a small, sarcophagus-shaped gold box of ancient design
3. a slim journal bound in leather

I assume you aren't going to take these out and start reading them in the Hospital corridor. Where would the group like to go to examine these items in more privacy?

[coil23]

Hyacinth Ausby Hudspeth, antiquarian

I think we should leave and go somewhere where we have absolute privacy to look at this and discuss our plans. Any ideas?

[Pulpatoon]

Dr. Pale: "There are rooms for private consultation with patients' families. One moment, and I can arrange for one to be put at our disposal."

He flags down a nurse.

[ken-do-nim]

The group enters the private consultation room arranged for by Dr. Pale.

The yellowed envelope contains the deed to the house at Ross' Corners and the key to its lock.

The ornate sarcophagus-shaped box opens easily but is empty. There are hieroglyphs on both the outside and the inside ... (and yes, I'll give Dr. Pale his occult roll when I get the chance).

The slim journal bound in plain black leather is a diary titled "Dark Brotherhood". It contains dated entries from June 1881 to March 1882. I've got a lot of typing and photocopying to do to give you the contents, so hold tight

[coil23]

Hyacinth Ausby Hudspeth, antiquarian

A room in a public building isn't what I had in mind for absolute privacy but hopefully this will be sufficient.

[Pulpatoon]

It was Hyacinth who needs an Occult check. Dr. Pale would not do well on that roll!

[Stirling]

Miss Faversham

Jasmine looks at the stuff passed around. She has an idea and reaches into her holdall withdrawing a small ladies purse. It contains scents and flannels and a new bar of soap."well us girls need to be clean",she says. She takes the key and presses it into the soap bar to make a mould." saw the hero prisoner escape this way from his cell at the movies. Made a new key and a getaway. Never know if we need to carve a new one"Jasmine sounds a little excited like beginning a new adventure full of derring-do.

She follows Jed to the truck

[gaylord500]

Aloysius Taft

With no explosion or obvious mishap resulting from examination and opening the box, Aloysius follows, then catches up to, Jasmine on the way to Jed's truck.

He says to her, "A house key and a conspiracy with members dying off. Bertrand might be right - there might be a lot of money involved."

[Pulpatoon]

Dr. Pale sits down and begins to read through the book.

[Scott308]

Elmer "Big City" Ramsey

Elmer will stand idly by, while those with a better head for such things examine the contents of the box. After all, readin' never was all that important in his daily life.

[MI70]

Jed

"Seems like dark doin's fer sure," Jed mutters, scratching his beard. "Be right back," he adds to the group before leading Aloysius and Jasmine to his dusty pickup. The back contains a hodgepodge of tools, paint, a ladder, scrap wood, and an old rocking chair.
Sizing them up, Jed glances about and takes a long drink from a hip flask.
"Medicinal," he explains shyly. "After what we seen of the Professor getting sick that way."
He offers the flask to the other two and offers to throw Jasmine's bag in the back.
Feeling better, he turns to go up. "I guess we oughta see what we got and what the eggheads have learned. . . Craziest thing I've ever seen. . . "

[ken-do-nim]

It was Hyacinth who needs an Occult check. Dr. Pale would not do well on that roll!

Alrighty ... 30 exactly. Failed, but enough to tell Hyacinth that the hieroglyphs on the outside look nothing like those on the inside.

However, Hyacinth also has History at 60%. Rolling ... 92, man not your lucky day! The glyphs on the outside look somewhat familiar, but he must have slept through class that day Does anyone else have points in History or Archaeology who wants to look?

[ken-do-nim]

Dr. Pale sits down and begins to read through the book.

You begin ...

The gist of the initial pages is that a group of friends, playfully calling themselves the Dark Brotherhood, held their first meeting in the early spring of 1881. Rupert Merriweather became the recording secretary. The membership numbered six including Marion Allen, the founder and their nominal leader.

In June of 1881 they purchased an old farmhouse outside Ross' Corners, a place where they could conduct their experiments in privacy. Representing themselves as a student literary fraternity, they cleaned and furnished the place while Marion Allen carved special warding (protective) signs over the wooden doors and windows. At the time, the others were amused at such precautions.

[more later]

[geomys]

Archibald slowly opens his eyes and looks over at the group that is now rifling through the box, slightly disappointed at the decided lack of howling ghosts melting people's faces off. He shrugs and pads over to peer at the contents. "May I see the heiroglyphs?"

Archaeology check please, skill 81