Book Three: Out of Time

[Grognardsw]

Dr. Balandabar pages through the pages of The Pnakotic Manuscripts. He is unsettled by what he sees.

Reginald points out the Xaqloui text, only a little of which he has painstakingly, and perhaps imperfectly, translated.

This will require deeper study.

Dr. Balandabar, please make Occult and Cthulhu Mythos rolls.

[Mant72]

Dr. Francis Morgan:

Dr. Morgan opens the door to Marius, ”Mr. Abertoni, it’s good to see you.” He shakes the hunter’s hand and invites him in. ”I hope your journey here was pleasant. Please come in and have a seat. We have much to discuss.”

[DadsAngry]

Dr. Clarke:

Waiting patiently for the kettle on the stove to boil, David arranges four cups on a serving tray. Mrs. Garret usually takes care of these things but with traveling nonstop for the last few months and his job in peril David has reduced her hours to once a week for general cleaning of the place. Unfortunately, today is not a day she will be visiting. The smell of burning bread wafts from the electric toaster as little plumes of white smoke rise, indicating the tea's counterpart is ready. David quickly removes the charred slices from its incineration box and stacks them nicely on the silver serving tray next to opened jars of jellies and jams. It's at this point David hears someone at his front door. It's his guest and Frank has gone to greet them. David then turns to the kettle with much delight as it begins to whistle. What great luck, perhaps today is going to be a good day after all. He quickly pours the boiling water into the teapot filled with a pungent tea he picked up in Turkey. He grabs hold of the tray, takes a deep breath and enters the parlor.
"Hello Mr. Abertoni good to see you." Looking around puzzled "Where is Mr. Wilkins? Did he not come with you from Providence?"

[Greywolf]

Baba lights some incense, puts his glasses on, a pair of gloves to protect the manuscript from the oil from his hands, sets the book on a Turkish rug on the floor, sits down yogi style, and opens the book gently.

As Reginald points out various texts and scripts and scribbles and pictures, the professor gets an overview before studying intently the disturbing contents. Not a novice to strange things, Dr. Balandabar seems to enter a mystical meditative trance as the world around him melts away through his singular focus.

I have been unable to get the dice roller to work for me. I signed in unsuccessfully. So I started a new account there with promises that an email would be sent to my inbox. I have checked inbox, spam, and trash. Repeated. No success. Feel free to roll for me. I believe that occult is 25 and cthulhu mythos is 0.

[SocraticLawyer]

Reginald hopes that Baba will have additional insight into the cult's language.

[Grognardsw]

Prof. Balandabar examines the Pnakotic Manuscripts. He gains no immediate insight from a quick perusal, and realizes this will take many hours of study and translation.

Reginald realizes this as well. The two old friends catch up. Reginald tells the Indian about the investigation.

Prof. Balandabar Occult [1d100] = 71

[Grognardsw]

While we wait for folks to talk amongst themselves...

Arkham Morgue
Arkham, Massachusetts
10:00 am, Oct. 8, 1925

“Is your autopsy complete?”

Dr. Sculler of the BOI looks up from the corpse of Asenaith Waite and nods.

“Yes. The cause of death is indeed strangulation. I put the time of death at between 4:00-7:00 pm, likely on the earlier side. That puts Dr. Clarke at the tail end of that timeframe. That’s in his favor, though he’s still in the window.”



BOI Office
Providence, RI
1:00 pm, Oct. 8, 1925

“And right here is the address of the alleged Dark Lady,” says Agent Mulder, tapping a spot on a map of the Providence wharf district pinned up to a bulletin board.

In the meeting room are a dozen BOI agents, who had been listening to Agent Mulder’s briefing for the past ten minutes. The head BOI agent had taken the train from New York early that morning to lead the raid.

“We’ll cover the back door, roof, and have a waiting boat docked nearby should a water escape be attempted,” continues Agent Mulder. “Each of you have your assignments. Remember, no loose cannons. We can’t afford any more deaths, of our people or any suspects. We head out at 8:00 pm. Any questions?”

[Greywolf]

Dr. Balandabar questions Reginald, "What can you tell me about this book? How did it come into your possession?"

[SocraticLawyer]

Reginald Wilkins, bookdealer
In a most unusual fashion, my friend, Reginald answers cryptically. I will tell you the strange circumstances in due course. But first, have you had any dealings with Professor Clarke of the archaeology department lately? Or Edith Watson? And does the name Ford ring any bells?

[DadsAngry]

Dr. Clarke:

"Mr. Abertoni are you alright? Has something happened to Reginald?"

[Greywolf]

Reginald Wilkins, bookdealer
In a most unusual fashion, my friend, Reginald answers cryptically. I will tell you the strange circumstances in due course. But first, have you had any dealings with Professor Clarke of the archaeology department lately? Or Edith Watson? And does the name Ford ring any bells?

Does Baba know any of these from previous engagements?

[Grognardsw]

Reginald Wilkins, bookdealer
In a most unusual fashion, my friend, Reginald answers cryptically. I will tell you the strange circumstances in due course. But first, have you had any dealings with Professor Clarke of the archaeology department lately? Or Edith Watson? And does the name Ford ring any bells?

Does Baba know any of these from previous engagements?

Prof. Balandabar is a casual acquaintance of fellow professor Dr. Clarke. He has heard staff rumors of the disastrous Mt. Latmos expedition. And Clarke’s subsequent sabbatical. You are not familiar with Watson or Ford.

[Mant72]

Dr. Francis Morgan:

Frank also wonders about the absence of Mr. Wilkins, ”Yes, Mr. Albertoni, where is Reginald? I trust all is well. Would you care for some coffee or tea?”

[Greywolf]

Dr. Baba Balandabar

"Hmmm" the professor says as he strokes his beard and squints his eyes in concentration. Dr. Balandabar is intentionally showing that he is thinking as he seems to review what he knows.

"Oh, yes, that was sad what happened to Clarke. I heard some rumors ... mere nonsense. I think that the truth will remain a deep secret. We had previously crossed paths professionally on occasions."

"Reginald, I don't know what you plans were after showing me this book. I would like to have the opportunity to spend more time with it. I believe that eventually I will discover more."

[SocraticLawyer]

Reginald Wilkins, bookdealer
Let's study these tomes together later. Perhaps our combined efforts will yield more than either of us could do individually.

In the meantime, if you're free, we should meet up with Mr. Albertoni and your fellow professors. Together, we must find Ms. Ford. She is here in Arkham. I am certain that she has relevant information.

If Baba agrees, Reginald heads out with him to meet up with the other investigators.

[Grognardsw]

Dr. Francis Morgan:

Frank also wonders about the absence of Mr. Wilkins, ”Yes, Mr. Albertoni, where is Reginald? I trust all is well. Would you care for some coffee or tea?”

“Hello Frank, good to see you!” Marius steps through the foyer into Dr. Clark’s parlor. “And you too David.”

The fur trapper and hunter sits down. He looks weary to the two Arkham professors.

“Yes, I’ll have some coffee. If you have anything stronger hidden away, spike the coffee with it.”Marius lights a cigarette. “Reginald is visiting with an old friend, a recently arrived teacher here named Baba Balandabar. Ancient languages I think. He’ll be stopping by afterwards.”

Marius sips the coffee.

“What’s this I hear David about you being accused of murdering Asenaith Waite. That girl seemed to attract trouble like maggots on a corpse.”

“Reginald and I tangled with some cultists down in Providence.” He relates the story of their being followed, how they beat up the cultist and learned the alleged location of one of their leaders. “Agent Mulder of the BOI is going to be raiding them tonight.”

“We also learned the local address of Claire Ford. Remember her?”

[Greywolf]

Dr. Baba Balandabar

"I don't think that Clark will provide much help to reading this book. Perhaps, though, some illumination could be provided on what is going on."

"Yes, let's go.

Before leaving, Baba puts a holster over his shirt before putting on a tweed jacket which covers the holster. When he tucks a .38 into the holster and pulls the coat over to keep it hidden from sight, he notices Reginald's gaze.

"Experience has taught me lessons at a great cost."

Throwing a messenger bag strap over his shoulder, the professor says, "Ready."

[DadsAngry]

Dr. Clarke:

“Reginald is visiting with an old friend, a recently arrived teacher here named Baba Balandabar. Ancient languages I think. He’ll be stopping by afterwards.”

"Oh, I see."

“What’s this I hear David about you being accused of murdering Asenaith Waite. That girl seemed to attract trouble like maggots on a corpse.”

"Yes, you see Frank and I went to investigate Ms. Waite's room at the university. She wasn't supposed to be there. She was to have dinner with her sister. Frank stayed outside to keep watch while I went inside. When I got to her room she was there asleep on the bed, well that's what I thought. Before I could turn around and leave Edith appeared from nowhere accusing me of murder. It turns out Ms. Waite was strangled to death. I swear I had nothing to do with it. The window in her room was open. The assailant must have murder Ms. Waite before I got there and escaped out the window."

“Reginald and I tangled with some cultists down in Providence.” He relates the story of their being followed, how they beat up the cultist and learned the alleged location of one of their leaders. “Agent Mulder of the BOI is going to be raiding them tonight.”

"Oh my."

“We also learned the local address of Claire Ford. Remember her?”

"Why yes, she was Raymond Randolph's nurse in his final days and her father was the one who financed our expedition but you know that. I guess with Raymond's passing and our trip to New York she escaped our list of suspects to investigate. So much has happened since our expedition my mind isn't as sharp as it used to be. We should inquire about her."

[Starbeard]

Marius

“We also learned the local address of Claire Ford. Remember her?”[/dialog]

"Why yes, she was Raymond Randolph's nurse in his final days and her father was the one who financed our expedition but you know that. I guess with Raymond's passing and our trip to New York she escaped our list of suspects to investigate. So much has happened since our expedition my mind isn't as sharp as it used to be. We should inquire about her."

"She's sharing a place in Andover with a schoolteacher. Shouldn't be much more than 20 miles up the road from here. We could probably make it there for an early supper if we leave soon."

[Grognardsw]

Reginald and Dr. Balandabar walk to the home of Dr. David Clarke. It is a pleasant Autumn late afternoon, the sun shining brightly in its descent, the air crisp. They soon arrive and are welcomed. There is an undercurrent of tenseness beneath the company’s pleasantness.

As Reginald, Marius, Baba, Frank and Dave discuss the investigation, there is a forceful knock on the door. Dr. Clarke opens it and recognizes the Miskatonic University courier. The young man hands Dr. Clarke a letter, and has him sign for it.

Dr. Clarke reads the letter to himself. It is on stationery from the President’s office.

Dear Dr. Clarke,

It has come to our attention that you have been accused of the harassment and murder of a University student. This accusation taints not only your personal reputation but that of the University. We sincerely hope the accusations will prove false.

This accusation follows your unfortunate expedition to Mt. Latmos, Turkey, in which fellow faculty members were injured and one disappeared, and expedition contractors were killed. You were placed on sabbatical after the expedition. It was expected you would have no contact with University students during this time, however it has been alleged you stalked and illegally entered the dormitory room of the student you are accused of murdering.

Miskatonic University maintains high standards of conduct for our faculty and staff. The school’s reputation cannot be subject to disparagement that you have brought upon it with these accusations and past history. As such, your employment at the University is hereby terminated immediately.

Sincerely,
Frederick Hanson Knickerbocker, III, Esq.
President
Miskatonic University