The Language at the Threshold

[thesniperknight1]

Baines is taken aback by the news, he tries to recall the night before but it seems a bit foggy, he remembers saying goodnight to Ezy before going to his own room but nothing else, the blackness of dreaming. He was on a hurry in the morning so he headed to the office immediately.

A millions theories went on through his mind, did Ezy simply went too close to the flame? Did he know too much? Still, how was he found? How did they know where he was? Was.....I followed? No.....it couldn't have been my fault, was I too careless?. Baines started blaming himself for Ezy's murder, devoid of energy he enters his car and heads to the police station.

On his way, among the self blaming and the theory generating, an idea pops into his mind, almost a moment of clarity. He turns the wheel quickly and drives full speed towards 93 court street, "Are you still there? You sonova bitch, are you still in there?", he kept repeating over and over. Once he is there, he gets out of the car and starts sprinting full speed to the mural, he tries to catch his breath as he looks at the mural. Is Carcosa still there? Did he move at all?

[Grognardsw]

Isaiah Bartlett, wise old man

He stands up, legs almost shaking, and walks over to the gentleman:
"I'm so-so-sorry, can I take a look at that article? Or c-c-can you tell me where can I get a newspaper nearby?"

The reader of the newspaper, a rotund man in business suit and spectacles, lowers the paper and peers over at Isaiah.

"Excuse me? Well, I suppose so. I'm not reading the front page now" He hands it to Isaiah.

The old man and Eddie read the story:

"Bureau of Investigation Agent Ezekial Smith was found dead in his Langham room early this morning, murdered in grisly fashion with his head and hands cut off. The murder is similar to other killings two weeks ago, in which suspect Timothy Carver was apprehended. Providence police are investigating."

"We have no suspects but are following leads," said Police Detective James Legrasse. "We cannot comment at this time about any similarities to this and past murders. The BOI is also investigating."

BOI spokesperson could not say why Agent Smith, whose home office is Boston, was in Providence.

Langham Hotel Manager Francois Lamont commented, "The hotel is cooperating with authorities. We are increasing security. The hotel is safe and we continue to offer superlative customer service."

This reporter will bring you more in the evening edition of The Journal.

[Fulci]

Isaiah Bartlett

Isaiah collapses onto his chair and passes the page over to Eddie.

"For a moment I thought it would be..." - he doesn't finish the sentence.

A weird feeling overtakes him: he instantly assumed that the body was of agent Baines... Turns out, it was a different agent, as far as he remembers Baines' assistant or partner of sorts. Isaiah shouldn't be feeling relief, but he does. Yes, the dark, twisted killer (or killers?) are on to them, there is another victim, but at least it's not Baines. Awful to think this way.

While Eddie skims the article, Isaiah says a silent prayer.

[Grognardsw]

Baines... drives full speed towards 93 court street... sprinting to the mural, he tries to catch his breath as he looks at the mural. Is Carcosa still there? Did he move at all?

Carcosa is still on the wall mural, arms raised as if he had a gun pointed at him. His face has a quixotic smile upon it. The chalky portraiture is unmoving.

There are two changes though: On Carcosa's forehead there is a crudely painted eye in a pentagram. The paint is not the same material as that of Carcosa. It also appears more fresh. The other change is three blood red flower heads at the base of Carcosa.

[Anders Molin]

Eddie Sharpe, reporter
Eddie skimmed the article and quickly identified a couple of questions that any observant news reader - and definitely Eddie's own editor in Arkham - would surely ask themselves: since Carver is in custody, doesn't this new murder constitute evidence of a conspiracy? Doesn't the gruesome style hint at a method to the madness? Eddie realized he would soon need to give his editor something to print, but at the same time he trusted Bartlett's instinct to keep things secret - for now at least. But since the Journal had printed this story, was there any need for Eddie to hold back? He decided to call his editor later in the day, but for the moment he let the issue drop.

Turning to his elderly companion, he said, "I think this would be a good time to speak to agent Baines, don't you think, Mr Bartlett?"

[Fulci]

Isaiah Bartlett, old wise man

"Indeed, you are right... This is getting out of control." Isaiah is indeed rather concerned. For the first time in this investigation, he understands that they are all in grave, personal danger - they might NOT get through to the masterminds of the corrupt, malevolent conspiracy.

"We should be really careful. Let us commence, I will now try to contact Agent Baines through that telephone machinery in the lobby... if you could help me out with it. I can never get through those nice operator ladies quickly enough!"

He gets up, walks to the lobby and tries to reach agent Baines, and also Reginald Wilkins (at the bookshop or at the university). He wants to meet them (or at least one of them), consolidate them with the young journalist, share the bits & pieces of new information and discuss that hideous new turn of events - the death of a loyal servant of their true cause.

[thesniperknight1]

Gwen Baines - BOI

Baines looked at Carcosa....or at least the painting of him, he thought long and hard with his eyes as wide as they can be scanning the mural over and over again. The three flowers, the three blood flowers, could they represent the number of his victims? Whoever drew this knows something. Could Carcosa really be the killer? But he was here all along. Baines stopped for a minute then laughed out loud at the notion of considering that Carcosa has an alibi because he has been stuck in this painting this whole time, he felt mad but he had suspects at lease, Carcosa and whoever drew this.

After a while, he wasn't really sure how long, he stopped staring at the mural and went back to his car. His mind was working on full cylinders to try and figure out Ezy's murderer, but he couldn't solve any puzzle. He headed to the police station.

[Grognardsw]

Isaiah leaves Reginald Wilkins at noon to meet Eddie Sharpe over lunch. Reginald takes a small break himself, chatting with Professor Long about the wild claims in the Pnakotic Manuscripts and Mr. West's medical studies. After lunch he delves back into the tome and discovers a certain word repeated in several places that he has seen elsewhere in different languages:

Isaiah Bartlett uses the house phone at the Biltmore to contact the BOI Providence Office. He learns Agent Baines is not in at the moment, but they take a message...





At the police station Agent Baines is brought into the questioning room.

"We know from the hotel operator that the last call into Ezy Smith's room was to you at the BOI office. What did he say? Did you visit him?"

"There was no forced entry, so Smith likely knew his murderer."

"You and Ezy have been investigating a case with the same murder... characteristics. Who do you suspect?"

[thesniperknight1]

Gwen Baines - BOI

Baines hides his annoyance at the police questioning, thinking that they are simply wasting his time when it could be better spent searching for whoever did this, all of this. "Yes, I contacted Agent Smith since we were separated for quite a while to delegate our work load, it was more efficient...at least that's what I thought...I see that I was wrong now", his voice was full of sorrow and regret, "I did visit him since I have a room at the same hotel, last night we met and exchanged information and future plans, after that I went to my room and went to sleep, haven't met him after that.....if only....", he seems to be deep in thought but he recovers after a while.

When he heard that there was no force entry, his eyes widened, "Carcosa...", he said out loud without thinking, "It must have been him, or maybe he met someone else when I wasn't with him, I need to examine the crime scene as soon as possible. And as in for the case, I can't divulge any private information about it, whatever you have been told is all that you should know and more, I apologies for the inconvenience. Now if you have no questions, I am going to the hotel", he stands up to leave.

[SocraticLawyer]

Isaiah leaves Reginald Wilkins at noon to meet Eddie Sharpe over lunch. Reginald takes a small break himself, chatting with Professor Long about the wild claims in the Pnakotic Manuscripts and Mr. West's medical studies. After lunch he delves back into the tome and discovers a certain word repeated in several places that he has seen elsewhere in different languages

That's odd, thinks Reginald. I wonder what this could mean. If they are still around, Reginald will ask Professor Long and Mr. West about the word. If not, he makes a mental note to ask them about it later. He continues to study the Pnakotic Manuscripts with an almost religious ferver.

When the time comes, Reginald will (reluctantly) gather his things and meet Mr. Randolph at the bookshop.

OOC: Not really important, but I assumed West was a grad student in the Classics department. Is he a med student?

OOC2: Gonna try an Egyptian roll and Arabic roll to see if Reginald can decipher the word:
Egyptian roll (86) [1d100] = 81
Arabic roll (41) [1d100] = 71

[Grognardsw]

The questioning officer nods at Baines as he gets up to leave. "Very well then. We know where to find you." Was that tone threatening? wonders Baines as he leaves the station.





Reginald Wilkins feels like a student again, researching the Egyptian word. "Ny har rut hotep" means 'there is no peace (safety, rest) at the gate.' There is some vague intuitive feeling the book dealer has as he contemplates the phrase. Perhaps he read a past reference among his books? He consults his library and delves further into the meaning, etymology and different linguistic interpretations. (Please make Library Use, Occult and Cthulhu Mythos rolls to reflect how well you do in the studies.)





Having left BOI Agent Baines a phone message, Isaiah Bartlett returns to restaurant table where Arkham Gazette Reporter Eddie Sharpe waits. The journalist is wondering what story he can give his editor, as the boss is expecting something. Isaiah knows the BOI Providence office address. He realizes he hasn't, as a investigative "law consultant," given any updates to his police contact.

- Dr. West is in the Classics department, but from recent small talk you learn he is uncertain if he will stay in the program because of his growing interest in biology/med.
- You can roll to see if you improve your Egyptian language.

[SocraticLawyer]

Reginald Wilkins feels like a student again, researching the Egyptian word. "Ny har rut hotep" means 'there is no peace (safety, rest) at the gate.' There is some vague intuitive feeling the book dealer has as he contemplates the phrase. Perhaps he read a past reference among his books? He consults his library and delves further into the meaning, etymology and different linguistic interpretations. (Please make Library Use, Occult and Cthulhu Mythos rolls to reflect how well you do in the studies.)

Library Use roll (85) [1d100] = 84 Close one!
Occult roll (25) [1d100] = 81
Cthulhu Mythos roll (05) [1d100] = 76

[Grognardsw]

Reginald consults his library and delves further into the meaning, etymology and different linguistic interpretations. His studies reveal...

Intriguing, and warranting further study in the context of the Pnakotic Manuscripts, Carcosa and the letters. Reginald wonders how Baines is getting along with those letters taken from Carcosa's apartment.

Around 3:30 when Reginald is preparing to meet Mr. Randolph, the book dealer gets a knock on his door. It's his old friend Dr. Harold Matthers!

How fortuitous, for Dr. Matthers shares Reginald's interest in matters esoteric and occult.

[FrankL]

"Reg!", Harold says. "I'm glad to see you."

The two exchange pleasantries. Harold sees the stack of books and reads some of the titles by tilting his head.

"Oh, good. Somethings never change. You see, I'm not here just on a friendly visit. I, uh... You know how I used to kid you about these books you collect and take so seriously? Well, I've had a little experience that has changed my mind. I... well... a village tried to kill me in the summer! That's right, a whole village. I got away, obviously, but I took this from their library."

Harold pulls a slim volume from his pocket and puts it on the counter in front of Reginald. "It was in a hidden room, so I assumed it was important. And, I haven't slept well since I started reading it. Azathoth and Other Horrors, they're poems. I don't know what to think about these poems except they aren't natural. Just last year, I would have called them all nonsense. Not now. Not after those inhuman screams I heard." He shudders and then smiles. "I started to ask the keeper of esoteric manuscripts at Miskatonic about it, but one of the profs told me I'd have better luck playing two violins at once than getting old Armitage to show me some of his books. This isn't nearly as old as most of the ones you've talked about, but if there's anyone I can trust to tell me about this book, it's you."

"Madmen wanted to keep it a secret. Madmen tried to kill me. Madmen who should have been dead for decades but for this evil ritual they cast."

"Do you know anything about this Azathoth and his emissary?" Harold slides the book over to Reginald.

Clarification, please. Are we at Reginald's home library or at his bookstore?

[SocraticLawyer]

“Harold, good to see you!”says Reginald. He is quite surprised to see his old friend. The now-familiar feeling of dread forms again in the pit of his stomach, as he listens to his old friend’s harrowing tale.

“You say this happened … this summer?” asks Reginald. “Astounding. That would mean ….”Reginald leaves the remainder of the thought unspoken, eyes trailing off, lost in thought.

“By God, Harold. They’re everywhere. I agree with you, a year ago this would all have sounded like pure madness. But now I fear that a similar group is at work here in Providence, as well as other cities in New England. Possibly on the Continent as well.”After thinking for a moment, Reginald says, “We must contact Agent Baines and Mr. Bartlett. This village that attacked you, was it near Ipswich, by chance?”

"I don't know the name of this Azathoth, but I've only just started digging into a similar tome myself. Does 'Nyarlot-hotep' mean anything to you?"

Reginald takes the copy of Azathoth and Other Horrors and places it next to the Pnakotic Manuscripts and the Testament of Selene for future study. He doubts that Bartlett and the reporter are still at their lunch meeting, so he will try to call Baines, Sharpe, and Bartlett at whatever numbers he has for them, trying to ascertain where they could be now. Reginald will also call Mr. Randolph, and explain that an emergency has come up and could we possibly meet tomorrow afternoon instead.

If Reginald gets nowhere in trying to find his companions, he’ll head to 93 Court street to see if the police are still there. They might be able to direct Reginald and Harold in the right direction.

OOC: I assume that Reginald did some research at the Brown library, and checked out some books to continue research at his apartment.

OOC2: does Harold have a car? Reg doesn’t….

[FrankL]

OCC: Does Harold have a car? That's a good question. I didn't specify though I specified his house in Arkham. He has a wife and two children. When he went to Emberhead, he took a bus. He might have left it with his wife that day. We'll let the Keeper rule if Harold has a car.

"We don't have to worry about Emberhead, Reg. I finally looked back when I was twenty minutes away. The bonfire must have got out of control. I watched it burn. It wasn't near Ipswich. It was up in New Hampshire."

Reginald gives Harold a quizzical look.

"The bus with the first arrival time in Arkham went first to Ossipee, New Hampshire, before swinging back down into Massachusetts. We broke down before we got to that stop. Last time I let Cassandra pick my tickets." He winks.

"You asked if I had heard of a Nyra something. Can't say I've seen that name in the book. It talks about something called the Faceless One and the Crawling Chaos, but not that name. May I see what you have on him?"

Harold looks over the notes and frowns. "It says he's the messenger of the Outer Gods. Hmm. My book called this Faceless One the emissary of Azathoth. Emissary. Messenger. It could be the same entity. Or could they be the equivalent in different pantheons? Like Mars and Aries both being god of war but very different in personality."

At Reg's open mouth, Harold says, "Well, all you ever wanted to talk about was myth, legend, and strange stories. I learned that by listening to you. Real friends listen to one another. They were important to you, so I paid attention."

Harold goes with Reginald wherever he goes.

[thesniperknight1]

Gwen Baines - BOI

Baines gets in his car and heads towards the hotel, but all the way there something have been just nagging at his mind, like drops of water slowly penetrating a rock, driving him mad. Something just told him that going to the hotel and checking the crime scene was just....a waste of time, precious time.

One place kept calling to him almost hauntingly, the image of the crowd singing along to that terrifying melody scared him, and intrigued him simultaneously. The searcher for the truth within him, solver of mysteries and enigmas was just begging him to go there, and for just a moment, nothing else mattered.

Without even realizing it, he had changed course, almost driven by something innate within him, and he ended up going to Carcosa's club as if he knew he was there or at least part of him.....

[Fulci]

Isaiah Bartlett, investigative old man

Having left BOI Agent Baines a phone message, Isaiah Bartlett returns to restaurant table where Arkham Gazette Reporter Eddie Sharpe waits. The journalist is wondering what story he can give his editor, as the boss is expecting something. Isaiah knows the BOI Providence office address. He realizes he hasn't, as a investigative "law consultant," given any updates to his police contact.

"I have to leave now... But let us meet in the evening, at the bookshop of Mr. Wilkins," Isaiah says to Eddie and gives him the address if needed. "I will try to talk to Agent Baines as well beforehand. Good bye, Mr. Sharpe!"

He heads overs to the BOI offices - although he doesn't really know what exactly to report to them. Everything is a mess, and the only notion of order he glimpses in this chaos could return him to the asylum...

[Grognardsw]

It is 3:00 pm. Reginald Wilkins and Dr. Harold Matthers catch up on old times. Reginald is glad to have company in his dark researches. The Azathoth and Others is an intriguing volume that will bear further study. Perhaps it does relate in some way to the current occult conundrum. Reginald realizes,from a linguistic perspective, that the name Azathoth seems derived from the biblical names Anathoth (Jeremiah's home town) and Azazel (a desert demon to which the scapegoat was sacrificed). The scientifically inclined Dr. Mathers also points to the alchemical term "Azoth", which was used in the title of a book by Arthur Edward Waite. And of course, Reginald cannot help but note the obvious inspiration from Thoth, the ancient Egyptian god of wisdom.

Reginald rings up the BOI office on the telephone. He learns Baines is at the Providence police station. He leaves a message for Baines to call back. Then Reginald calls the police station; the officer says Baines left already. The book dealer is also unable to reach Eddie Sharpe at the numbers he left. Finally Reginald calls Mr. Randolph and explains that an emergency has come up. They reschedule the meeting to tomorrow afternoon.

Reginald and Dr. Matthers turn their attentions back to the mysteries of the Pnakotic Manuscripts and other volumes of forbidden lore. (Dr. Matthers please roll Library Use, Occult and Cthulhu Mythos to reflect how well you uncover insights.)





It is 12:30 pm. BOI Agent Gwen Baines is in a contemplative mood as he drives to Club Zothique. The place is virtually empty, only the afternoon staff cleaning up and preparing for that evening's business.

"Can I help you sir?" says a black woman at the door, looking curiously at Baines.





It is 1:00 pm. Isaiah Bartlett concludes his Biltmore Hotel lunch with Arkham Gazette reporter Eddie Sharpe. They set a time to meet again at Reginald's Charter Book Shop that evening. The old man hails a taxi and heads to the BOI office. There he explains his consulting role in the police investigation. He is brought in to see an agent, a Mr. Garrett Holmes.

Isaiah smiles inwardly at the man's last name. How appropriate, but he probably doesn't live up to his namesake.

"Well Mr. Bartlett," says Mr. Holmes with a quick voice. "Thank you for coming in. We're quite busy at the moment, given the murder of one of our own. Lots of pressure now from DC, so we can use the assistance. Now what do you have?"





It is 1:00. Reporter Eddie Sharpe thanks Isaiah Bartlett for the lunch. He is encouraged that the old man and Reginald Wilkins are now more cooperative and open about their investigation. He looks forward to the meeting this evening at Reginald's bookstore. The clues are coming together like pieces of a puzzle, but the picture is still uncertain. The reporter checks his trusty notebook

at his open leads:

1. More from the cagey Baines and BOI?
2. Contacting Dr. Raymond Randolph from the information the Brown secretary provided.
3. Ezy Smith murder - Carver is in jail. Proof of cult?
4. Hepcats of Ulthar, Club Zothique - involved how?
5. Drug angle put forth by Baines? Cultists = dope fiends?
6. Hunter Marius Albertoni, Dark Pharaoh Freak Show, fortune-teller with Arkham ring. One of the killers?
7. Carcosa's books and letters that Reginald/Isaiah and Baines are reviewing.

Eddie realizes he needs to give some story to his editor at the Arkham Gazette by today's deadline.

- Dr. Matthers and Reginald do not have cars. They can take taxis.
- Dr. Matthers is at Reginald's bookstore. Reginald's initial research was at the John Hays Library at Brown University, then at the shop, so he can still tend to any customers who stop in. Reginald did take books from the library.
- I may have overlooked some clues Anders, feel free to add.

[thesniperknight1]

Gwen Baines - BOI

He looked at her and tried his best to provide the closest thing to a smile, "This might be weird but are the Hepcats of Ulthar playing here tonight? I need to speak to their manager, it's an emergency", he didn't want to mention Carcosa's name, he felt it was an undesired subject for the staff