The Language at the Threshold

[SocraticLawyer]

Reginald Wilkins, bookdealer
In response to Agent Baines, Reginald says, "Agent Baines, I hope you realize by now how deadly serious I am in this ... investigation. I would not bring someone in that I did not trust completely. And as you've heard, Harold has had his own experience with this group. And he's brought back proof!" Reginald indicates the Azazoth and Other Horrors tome.

He looks Baines in the eye. "We're all adults here. I'm not his babysitter. Harold will be responsible for his own actions."

Reginald looks away, and sighs deeply. "We cannot afford to be turning on each other. Each new piece of evidence points to an ever greater foe. Surely even a skeptic like you can see that now, Agent Baines? Does not the murder of Agent Smith prove it?"

After Baines tells the group his opinion of Reginald's and Harold's theories, he says, "the lack of motive is precisely what worries me. We are not dealing with your average serial killer, if there is such a thing. These crimes are something else entirely. And we need more information.

"I suggest that we continue our respective lines of inquiry. Harold and I will continue with these tomes. I will have to meet with my friends at Brown again tomorrow morning. I also have a meeting tomorrow afternoon with the mysterious Randolph, who becomes more intriguing to me by the hour. If the BOI raid is tomorrow, then you two, at least should be present," he says, indicating Isaiah and Baines.

Just realized that Prof Randolph from the Latmos expedition is probably the same guy! I need to read more closely in the future....

[thesniperknight1]

Baines gives a small apologetic bow to Wilkins, "I do apologies, it's just that after what happened to Ezy when I was only a few rooms over.....My trust in people is a little shaken, and I am a little agitated after the new office head-", he realized that he was just complaining, so he stopped, "I do believe that there is a cult Mr.Wilkins, a group of lunatics believing that they are destined for something great, but no Mr.Wilkins, I don't believe that the personification of the moon will come down if we don't stop them, there will only be more corpses and an angry bunch of people because a magical unicorn didn't appear. I am a logical man Mr.Wilkins, I am open to the supernatural but I have learned that I should question everything, so if I see a moon goddess, I will believe it".

Baines listens to Harold's story intently, he was sucked in like the old times when his father used to read him bedtime stories as they traveled across the world with strangers, but these weren't fairytales, they were horror stories.....they weren't even stories, Baines asked anxiously, "When was that? Where? Can you be specific on a real life map? That chant, could you write it down for us? What did he say about it? What did he say about the village?", Baines realizes once again that his investigator blood is taking over him and his tendency to see connections and search for truth had him ask too many questions, "I am sorry, but I would really appreciate more information, if you don't mind of course".
He nods at Isaiah, "What do you want to know?".

Then he is taken aside for the private talk, "It's quite funny that they would tell you before me, it seems that I am out of the loop......could it be? They might have infiltrated even the BOI...", he laughs awkwardly, "It's not likely but just keep your eyes open".

[Fulci]

Isaiah Bartlett, wise old man

He nods at Isaiah, "What do you want to know?".

Then he is taken aside for the private talk, "It's quite funny that they would tell you before me, it seems that I am out of the loop......could it be? They might have infiltrated even the BOI...", he laughs awkwardly, "It's not likely but just keep your eyes open".

"I, too, find this strange!" says Bartlett, and he is indeed surprised. He assumed Baines would be included in the raiding party. "For some reason, I don't your organization was breached... It seems to me that all this is some childish power struggle between your various branches. I will keep my eyes open... and try to keep out of the line of fire."

Then he returns to the topic of the upcoming talk with the young survivor:
"How did the poor kid manage to survive? Did he witness the actual evil deed of the mad Carver boy, or did he just see the bodies?"

[SocraticLawyer]

Reginald Wilkins, bookdealer

Baines gives a small apologetic bow to Wilkins, "I do apologies, it's just that after what happened to Ezy when I was only a few rooms over.....My trust in people is a little shaken, and I am a little agitated after the new office head-", he realized that he was just complaining, so he stopped, "I do believe that there is a cult Mr.Wilkins, a group of lunatics believing that they are destined for something great, but no Mr.Wilkins, I don't believe that the personification of the moon will come down if we don't stop them, there will only be more corpses and an angry bunch of people because a magical unicorn didn't appear. I am a logical man Mr.Wilkins, I am open to the supernatural but I have learned that I should question everything, so if I see a moon goddess, I will believe it".

"But Agent Baines," he says, "A magical unicorn did appear. Or, more accurately, it disappeared. Have you forgotten about the incident with Mr. Carcosa?" Reginald pauses but briefly. "And speaking of Carcosa, what did you learn from his letters? Is the BOI done with them yet?"

[Grognardsw]

Putting the Puzzle Together; Where Next to Focus

Charters Book Shop
Providence, RI
6:00 pm, Sept. 12, 1925

At Charters Book Shop the investigators discuss the murder and cult investigation. Book dealer Reginald Wilkins, wise old man Isaiah Bartlett, Prof. Harold Matthers, BOI Agent Gwen Baines and Reporter Eddie Sharpe share their evidence and research.

They agree there is a cult behind the gruesome and ritualistic murders. Many suspect, with varying degrees of skepticism, a supernatural element in the cult. Timothy Carver's books, notes and strange unknown language; the mysterious and missing Carcosa, his books, letters and gruesome bloody bedroom; the eccentric jazz tonalities of the Hepcats of Ulthar and their singing in the same language as Carver; the eye-within-a-pentragram symbol that keeps popping up; the disturbing revelations found in the Pnakotic Manuscripts; the coincidences of pictures and text having to do with women and perhaps the mythological Selene. These are all pieces of the puzzle which the investigators are putting together. Is there indeed a large cult group, in multiple locations along the East Coast (and possibly beyond) with unknown motivations? Dr. Matthers' story about Emberhead is disturbing, though unfortunate that said town (and evidence) no longer exists.

The influence of drugs is brought up, but Agent Baines seems to discount that.

The Pnakotic Manuscripts makes fantastic claims that stretch the credulity, believed in earnest by only three men in the group. But it would explain much. The Unaussprechlichen Kulten, history of cults, touches upon a few similarities but of most interest is the drawings of heads on a pole, for that seems a mighty coincidence to the headless victims. The implication is there is some sort of ritual or sacrifice involved with the decapitated head. The Testament of Selene, which Dr. Matters is beginning to read, may cast further light on the mystery. There is, after all, reference in the Pnakotic Manuscripts to ancient alien races; and that one of its authors, Hypatia, being under the influence of the oracle-mists of Selene the moon goddess when writing her sections. All in all, Reginald, Isaiah and Dr. Matthers feel they are making headway in uncovering more dark revelations.

Isaiah agrees to go to Boston tomorrow interview the surviving 15-year-old boy whose family was murdered and their heads and hands removed. It is an hour train ride from Providence to Winchester, outside of Boston, where the boy is currently residing with an aunt.

The investigators know they must do what they can. While each individual has limited resources, as a group they bring together considerable expertise and skills. They consider it a blessing that, at least at a mundane level, the federal Bureau of Investigation and various police organizations are aware of the murders. Those organizations can be tapped for resources, and if made aware of the real nature and magnitude of the problem, can certainly become forces to be reckoned with.

The power of the press is also in their hands with Eddie Sharpe. The reporter realizes he must tread carefully in what claims he makes, when and how. He could blow open the story and prompt larger regional and national coverage, or he could embarrass his paper with crazy talk.

The men compare what next steps they can take:

1. Agent Baines confirms there will be a raid on Club Zothique tomorrow night. Given the expertise of the investigators, the BOI has asked them to accompany the agents on this raid. They hope you will see first-hand any signs, clues or evidence that the more mundane minds of the agents might not catch. At the very least, the BOI can shut down the club for violations of the Volstead Act. Best case, they discover proof of the murder ring (or cult, think the investigators.)

2. Interviewing of other witnesses or persons of interest: the teenage boy, the wino who had four heads in a bag.

3. Talking with the mysterious old man Mr. Randolph, who visited Reginald's store a few days ago searching for books on mystic travel.

4. Tracking down the Hepcats of Ulthar jazz band, which according to Eddie are in Boston with some dates at the Cotton Club and Roxy's Moxy.

5. Tying in the Arkham murders and investigation of The Dark Pharoah's Freak Show & Carnivale, where the Seeress had a Miskatonic University ring. One of the victims was a student there. Come to think of it, wasn't there a live headless woman attraction? Marius Albertoni the hunter found the bodies, and saw the Seeress' ring, and has been harassed afterwards. Should he be brought in? The circus is currently in Worcester, MA. Investigation of the circus is best done as a group.

6. Reginald and Isaiah recall letters in Carcosa's apartment. They glanced at them and saw correspondence with Amsterdam, London, Long Island NY. Carcosa said he was going to look those over...

7. Continued research and reading of the Pnakotic Manuscripts and Testament of Selene. This will take 3-4 more days given the translation process, size and density of the books.

[FrankL]

Baines listens to Harold's story intently, he was sucked in like the old times when his father used to read him bedtime stories as they traveled across the world with strangers, but these weren't fairytales, they were horror stories.....they weren't even stories, Baines asked anxiously, "When was that? Where? Can you be specific on a real life map? That chant, could you write it down for us? What did he say about it? What did he say about the village?", Baines realizes once again that his investigator blood is taking over him and his tendency to see connections and search for truth had him ask too many questions, "I am sorry, but I would really appreciate more information, if you don't mind of course".

Harold says, "Not a problem at all, Agent Baines. The more I can tell, the more it may help. This happened near the end of last summer, just before the university term started. Emberhead was south of Ossipee." Being in a bookstore, Harold has no problem finding a recent atlas. He points. "It may not be there now, but knowing the area might help. The chant..." He shrugs as he takes a piece of notebook paper and tears it in half. "You understand that I will not speak it and urge the rest of you to the same." He writes the chant in the two sections of the paper. Ph’nglui mglw’nafh Cthugha Fomalhaut n’ghaghaa naf ’l thagn! Iä! Cthugha!

"I was told to never speak it while I had plans left on this earth. He said it would make me one with the Living... And that was when someone jumped from the shadows and killed him. They knocked me unconscious, and I woke up back in the boarding house.Oh, yes. He said they think it is a ritual of sacrifice, but it is really a ritual of control. I don't know what he meant. The man's name was Arbogast. He was horribly scarred by a fire. He said the village should have died 40 years ago, and he was the 'interpreter' then. I think he means that he used to be in charge of the ritual before his place was usurped. What did he say, 'Shattered by flame, consumed by the stars,' that was what he said about the village. It should have died 40 years ago but did not. The people did something to defy the Great Old Ones where the Indian tribe that was there before, the Abenaki, lived in one with the land and cherished it. Probably a cycle of sacrifice."

[thesniperknight1]

Gwen Baines - BOI

Looking at Isaiah, "They did tell me about the raid but only a few moments before I came here, when they should have consulted me on the possibility of commencing the raid on the first place. But yeah like you said, it's a simple power struggle, each one trying to give the higher ups something to boost about in the papers, it's all a media stunt", Baines suddenly remembers Eddie is here, "Ummm....no offense Eddie".

"As for the kid, I wasn't informed much but I was told that he was the only survivor from these incidents, so I am assuming that he witnessed it. You seem to be confused, Carver isn't the perpetuator here, there are no suspects for this case, that's why it's very important to question him, and having you there may ease his....pain. Now, would you rather wait for me to finish my new lead so we can go together or should I just follow you up there whenever I finish?"

Baines smiles at Reginald, "I didn't see Carcosa vanish right before my eyes, and as for those who say they saw it, I know from personal experience that eyes deceive you Mr.Wilkins, magicians earn living from such things, perhaps it's all a way to escape 'he vanished and went inside the mural' then I guess we no longer see him as a suspect huh? Question everything Mr.Wilkins, you can't trust anything, even your own senses. I don't expect you to see the world from my point of view where truth is simply...relative, a thousand stories that share certain things in common but are never the same, and that's how myths are made Mr.Wilkins", he suddenly remembers, "Oh, the letters, yeah I managed to get them back, here you go".

- Letters to/from Church of Starry Wisdom in London, at 121 Chapel Hill Road, about unspecified spiritual and philosophical matters, from an unnamed person signed "Your friend." References opening a church in New Orleans and Phoenix.

- Letters to/from discussing astrology with astrology teacher at Columbia University in New York City. Star patterns, movement of stars in sky, etc.

- Letters from a Ubaid Hazrabad, from Egypt, discussing various archeology sites in Turkey.

- Letters to/from two book dealers, one in New York City and one in Cambridge, MA. References book searches for certain occult, archeology and historical volumes.

- Letters to/from a Providence author, H.P. Lovecraft, about story ideas.

- Letters to/from Algier Joassaint, manager, The Dark Pharaoh Freak Show & Carnivale, regarding tour schedule and "unspecified favors."

- Letters to/from James Ford, president, The Explorers Club, New York. References investment of time and money in unspecified endeavors. Purchases of real estate in New York. Majority interest holdings in entertainment businesses.

- Letters to/from Glenda Heinreich, Amsterdam; Eduardo Himenez, Madrid; and Horace and Henrietta Whateley, London and Luxembourg.


Baines listened intently to Harold while scribbling some notes in his notebook including a rough drawing of the map, "This is fascinating, a very useful lead, I need to visit this place soon! Maybe the village is back....somehow. I really appreciate this Mr.Harold".

[Fulci]

Isaiah Bartlett, wise old man

"That was merely a slip of the tongue. But, agent Baines, you yourself look mighty distracted and tired as well... Are you alright? I'm starting to worry about you," says Isaiah, looking at the sweating, almost trembling BOI man. The radically deteriorating health of Baines worries Isaiah. It is all explainable, to a certain extent: he is overworked, his partner got murdered, the department is exerting pressure on him; but he is an experienced government agent! He should be able to withstand the stress.

A weird, treacherous thought enters his mind... but he waves it away. He trusts agent Baines.

Isaiah inspects the letters, but right now they only increase his confusion.

"All this reading is really taking its toll on my eyesight," he says shyly to his fellow investigators, pointing at the letters and the foliants scattered all over the bookshop. "I will pursue the parts of the investigation where I'm more useful."

[SocraticLawyer]

Reginald Wilkins, bookdealer
Reginald sighs, and rubs his eyes. Though he tries not to, he keeps thinking back to Timothy in his apartment, the strange smells, the weird language, the squid-thing. He shakes his head to clear it again.

"We've all been working hard at this," he says. "I suggest we break for the day and start fresh again tomorrow. I'll need to head over to Brown University again in the morning, but I will be back here in the afternoon to meet this Randolph fellow.

"Harold, if you need a place to stay, you are welcome at my apartment.

"I do want to review these letters before retiring for the night, however. Some may require a response."

Reginald will take a break from the Pnakotic Manuscripts to write a letter to his contacts in London. He will ask whether they have heard of the Church of Starry Wisdom, Carcosa, or Hazrabad. Reginald will also review the Hazrabad letter, cross-referencing it with anything he can find in the Pnakotic Manuscripts.

"Interesting that Carcosa apparently contacted Mr. Lovecraft. I will call him in the morning before heading to Brown."

OOC: Does Reginald recognize either of the bookdealers?

[Grognardsw]

The investigators talk further as they review the Carcosa letters. They contain many revelations.

Eddie Sharp of the Arkham Gazzette is surprised to see the Carcosa letters to/from Algier Joassaint, manager, The Dark Pharaoh Freak Show & Carnivale, regarding tour schedule and "unspecified favors.". This confirm's the reporters suspicions. He considers contacting Marius immediately.

The Church of Starry Wisdom rings a bell with Reginald. The bookdealer has run across that name before. A history book, or was it auction? He takes a moment to check (Library Use roll.)

It is a long night as the excited investigators talk and plan for the next day.

I can reveal more specifics about particular letters when they are read or acted upon.

[SocraticLawyer]

Reginald Wilkins, bookdealer

The investigators talk further as they review the Carcosa letters. They contain many revelations.

The Church of Starry Wisdom rings a bell with Reginald. The bookdealer has run across that name before. A history book, or was it auction? He takes a moment to check (Library Use roll.)

It is a long night as the excited investigators talk and plan for the next day.

I can reveal more specifics about particular letters when they are read or acted upon.

Library Use roll (85) [1d100] = 41

Reginald reads and analyses the Hazrabad letter. He'll try to cross-reference any locations referenced there with the Pnakotic Manuscripts.

[Anders Molin]

Eddie Sharpe, reporter
Eddie straightened in his chair as the letter to the Freak Show manager was shown. "Aha! That at least confirms there is some kind of connection to the carnies in this story," Eddie exclaimed. "All the more reason to chase down the Show and see what we can uncover. I guess it could wait until after the raid - though for each night that passes, I worry something... bad will happen to Marius up in Arkham."

[FrankL]

Dr. Harold Matthers

"Thank you, Reg. I appreciate the place to stay."

"I'd like to look at a few of these letters myself before retiring. Hmm."

"Agent Baines, you could have gone all day without saying the village might be back." He shudders.

Harold sits down to study
- Letters to/from discussing astrology with astrology teacher at Columbia University in New York City. Star patterns, movement of stars in sky, etc.
and
- Letters to/from a Providence author, H.P. Lovecraft, about story ideas.

He says about the first, "Both chemistry and engineering are all about patterns and doing the right things at the right time. Even if the murders aren't connected to phases of the moon, there may be comets or meteor showers or something. I'm assuming, Agent Baines, that you've pinned the body locations to a map to see if there is a pattern there?"

About the second, "My brother the pastor has mentioned this fellow. He's read a thing or two of his in those magazines and says they are almost blasphemous in their outlook that the universe is out to get us." He smiles. "I don't have the heart to tell him I have the collected works of Edgar Allan Poe and Ambrose Bierce on my shelf at home. I might have to start reading this fellow. Maybe I can find a list of what he's written while I'm at it or even a couple of his works here." Harold asks Reg if he carries the magazines this fellow writes for or any books he might be in.

[FrankL]

Dr. Harold Matthers

While he is reading the letters, Harold has a thought. He isn't looking forward to this raid. He learned the subtle art of brawling from his brothers, but he's had little use for a gun. He was too young to join when the Great War was going on, but he might be able to help in another way. "Agent Baines, I have little skill with guns, but as a chemical engineer I could make some chemical weapons that might be of use to us in the raid. Strictly as a last resort, if you prefer. I could make some knockout gas, or explosives. Explosives would be terribly easy to make, in fact. All I need is to find a chemistry shop tomorrow. Would that be of service?"

[thesniperknight1]

Gwen Baines - BOI

Baines smiles at Isaiah wiping some sweat of his forehead, "Don't worry my friend, it's just that a lot of things have been going on and my schedule is jammed to the max and with....his death....it was the first time I lose a partner, but I am trying my best to keep my head straight, I am gonna find Carcosa, whatever it takes, I have a good lead", he pats his shoulder reassuringly, "Don't worry about me friend, I will be fine".

He encourages Reginald, "Oh yes, I almost forgot about him, Randolph is an important lead, good luck!".

He ponders Harold's questions, "I think we did....but it didn't come out with anything, but the killings are still going on, there are still at least one on the loose, and I am not really sure if it's about positions in the map, after all, four victims were murdered in the same place, wouldn't they have spread it out? And as for the weapons.....the BOI would object but, I don't really have full trust on them right now, I suppose a last measure thing could do us good"

"Now", he looks to his clock, "If no one needs any more of me, I will be going. I know that we should take a break but", he looks to his clock again, "I can't really, I have an important lead to follow, and I will try to finish it before the raid tomorrow, see you there, if I make it out alive", he laughs awkwardly.

Sorry for the late post

[Fulci]

Isaiah Bartlett, wise old man

"Agent Baines, and what is this new lead you keep talking about? I would like to know where to find you, if anything should go wrong - and I'll pray to God that no such thing happens..."

He listens carefully to Dr. Matthers.

"Dr. Matthers, I think the BOI needs us as consultants at the raid, not as, ehm, shock troopers. At least, I hope. I'd shot enough game in the New England forests in my youth, and I can still handle a rifle, but I will leave the confrontation to the field agents. Us, scholars and investigators, would be only a burden. As for the chemical weapons..." Isaiah might have spent many decades in seclusion, but the stories about the deathly gases of Ypres reached him. "I don't want to question your expertise, but I don't think the BOI approves of such untested, do-it-yourself compounds. Nevertheless... as a last resort... it's always good to have something that can deliver a punch."

[thesniperknight1]

Gwen Baines - BOI

"I am afraid where I am going you can't really reach me. Let's just say I have reasons to believe that a certain gang of a certain ethnicity are doing more than bootlegging and drug distribution", Baines's face suddenly turns serious, "If anything should happen to me, if I suddenly disappear or you find my battered corpse without a head and short two limbs then please, mail this letter", Baines hands him an envelope with the name Laura Evans on it and a p.o. Box number, "PLease, I am counting on you to do this for me".

[SocraticLawyer]

Reginald Wilkins, bookdealer

Dr. Harold Matthers
Harold sits down to study
- Letters to/from a Providence author, H.P. Lovecraft, about story ideas.

About the second, "My brother the pastor has mentioned this fellow. He's read a thing or two of his in those magazines and says they are almost blasphemous in their outlook that the universe is out to get us." He smiles. "I don't have the heart to tell him I have the collected works of Edgar Allan Poe and Ambrose Bierce on my shelf at home. I might have to start reading this fellow. Maybe I can find a list of what he's written while I'm at it or even a couple of his works here." Harold asks Reg if he carries the magazines this fellow writes for or any books he might be in.

"I do have some of his books. I'm acquainted with the fellow, although not very well. He's come here to the shop a couple of times. At one point, I introduced him to Timothy...." Reg trails off, lost in thought again. Clearing his head, he continues. "Let me show you what I have." Reginald will show whatever Lovecraft books he has on hand to Harold. He resolves, again, to call Mr. Lovecraft in the morning, if Reg can dig up his number.

[Grognardsw]

Reginald Wilkins does indeed recall seeing that Church of Starry Wisdom name before. It was an auction catalog from quite a while ago. He consults his book store shelves and finds it:

Reginald writes a letter to his book dealer contacts in London to ask if they have heard of the Church of Starry Wisdom, Carcosa, or Hazrabad. He does not recognize the names of the book dealers in Cambridge, MA and New York City that sent letters to Carcosa. It appears they have ongoing book searches for a handful of occult volumes. One of the letters lists certain books that are held in museums.

Reginald then reads the Ubaid Hazrabad letters. He surmises the man is an archeologist, for the letters to Carcosa have to do about the location of various artifacts in museums both in the United States and abroad. The artifacts include ceremonial bowls, masks, knives and books. There are references to their use in unnamed ceremonies. Reginald realizes that the only way to procure the artifacts would be to steal them. Reginald cross-references any locations discussed in the letters with locations mentioned in the Pnakotic Manuscripts and finds that Mt. Latmos in Turkey is mentioned in both. Hazrabad mentions a recently discovered cave that bears "great interest" and should be "immediately investigated."





Dr. Matthers considers a home-made bomb to bring along to the raid and gets a lukewarm response. He then sits down to study the letters from Harlow Shapely, an astronomer, regarding star patterns and related topics. He seems to be answering Carcosa's questions about Pluto and the possibility of unknown or unnamed stars beyond. There are implications that there are certain star arrangements pending in an unknown but imminent time frame. It is rather technical and Dr. Matthers is hard-pressed to even understand parts of it. This Carcosa has a surprising amount of knowledge in this area. Dr. Matthers is shocked to see that the last paragraph of one of the three letters is written in a strange gibberish, not any recognizable language Dr. Matthers can make out.

Next Dr. Matthers looks at a few letters from local Providence author H.P. Lovecraft. The correspondence is about story ideas. Mr. Lovecraft thanks Carcosa for the stimulating conversation they had at the John Hay Library several months ago. He has incorporated some of the "mythology" into his stories and encourages Carcosa himself to take up the pen, such is the level of his imagination! There are references to "Old Ones," "Yuggoth," cultists and terms that Dr. Matthers has seen in the Pnakotic Manuscripts notes of Reginald.

Dr. Matthers asks if Reginald has any works by this Howard Phillip Lovecraft. Reginald roots about for such and then realizes the writer has only been published in amateur publications and in Weird Tales, a pulp magazine that Reginald does not carry in the store (his customers would likely frown upon such trash in a respectable shop like Charter's.) Reginald knows that Weird Tales and similar pulps are carried at the news stand down the street. The book dealer makes a note to try to call Mr. Lovecraft tomorrow, as well as talk with the wizened old Mr. Randolph who visited the shop several days ago.





BOI Agent Baines hands Isaiah Bartlett a sealed envelope with instructions should he die. Old man Isaiah takes it and says good bye to Baines. Isaiah is looking forward to the interview tomorrow with the teenage boy whose family were killed.





Arkham Gazette reporter Eddie Sharpe eagerly reviews all the information, stories coming together in his head. The Dark Pharaoh Freak Show & Carnivale connection is particularly intriguing. He intends on visiting them again with Marius. The hunter from Arkham told him by phone that one of the Arkham murder victims was a Miskatonic University student, which makes the Freak Show seeress' possession of an MU ring all the more suspicious. The victim's father hired a private eye named Gordon Pym. It may be worth connecting with him.

[SocraticLawyer]

Reginald Wilkins, bookdealer
If it's not too late by now, Reginald will show the auction page to Isaiah. Reg hopes that Isaiah will have some insight into the Masons who ran the auction, or at least some general information. If Isaiah and the others have already left, Reg makes a mental note to ask Isaiah about it tomorrow.

Resolving to contact both Lovecraft and Randolph tomorrow, as well as continued research into the Pnakotic Manuscripts here and at Brown, Reginald decides to call it a day and get some rest. He'll head to his apartment, and set up a place on the couch for Harold to crash.