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Isaiah Bartlett, wise old man

SocraticLawyer wrote:"I know such things are not your preferred method, Mr. Bartlett, but surely we must use every resource at our disposal," says Reginald. "If it will ease your mind, consult your Book. I think you will find that, at times, one must turn plowshears to swords, that the weak be made strong. Joel 3:10."

"Mr. Wilkins, you don't have to be a doctor of Theology to understand the difference between a plow-turned-to-sword and Chaldean trickery," says Isaiah with a faint smile. "Do not turn to mediums or necromancers; do not seek them out, and so make yourselves unclean by them: I am the Lord your God," he cites and adds: "Leviticus 19:31."

"Magic might provide a shortcut, gratification. But ultimately, the price you pay is high - your own Soul. You are free to risk, but I warn both of you, Mr. Wilkins and Dr. Matthers, your sanity and salvation are at stake. Yes, this does make me my brother's keeper..."

He pauses. It's obvious, that he tries to reconcile himself with the idea of his fellow investigators turning to the dark arts. Without any luck. But he knows that he cannot stop them - that'd mean risking the whole operation.

"I understand that desperate times call for desperate measures. So did our ancestors. Mr. Wilkins... do you happen to have a spare shotgun or hunting riffle, just in case?.."

Baines hears the gangster's suggestion and nods a bit too enthusiastically, "I do apologize if my face isn't to your liking and if you let this man guide me to that place you won't see this face any time soon, I promise you that" Baines waits patiently for the reply.

Harold Matthers

"Mr. Bartlett, I share your concern about messing with magic. I'm not sure this is the type of magic the Bible warns us against. That involves demons and witchcraft. The spells here might be nothing more than science we don't yet understand. However, the beings behind these spells are certainly hostile to the human race. At the very least they care for us no more than we care about an ant as we step on it. There appear to be definite side effects to using it. It's not safe at all, but the earth itself might be on the line."

He smiles. "My brother, the reverend, would no doubt be on your side completely. He would say that if we have to use the Devil's tools to do God's work then the Devil will come to collect the rental fee. And I appreciate your concern for our salvation and being our keeper. I have a Jewish student who told me he sees the entire Hebrew canon as answering that question Cain put to God. Yes, we are to be our brother's keeper."

"Okay," says Danny and nods to the Irishman, who with two other gangsters puts the blindfold back on Baines and escorts him back out to the car. The engine rumbles to like and they pull out.

Isaiah Bartlett, wise old man

Isaiah feels that the battle is lost. The discussion has left the field of ethics. Dr. Matthers can hardly conceal his curiosity towards this subject. The scientist fell prey to the lure of sorcery. "Science we don't yet understand..."

"I cannot force you to change your mind," he says. His voice is tired. "I will not assist in witchery and I won't thwart your actions."

Isaiah grabs Dr. Matther's shoulder. His hand is trembling, yet the grip is strong.

"Nor will I hesitate to put a bullet through your head at the first sign of possession. I am my brother's keeper."

Reginald Wilkins, bookdealer
"It will not come to that, Mr. Bartlett, I assure you.

"Sadly, I am but a simple book merchant. I own my own shotgun, and plenty of ammo, but no other firearms."

Reginald checks the clock, anxious for the pending BOI raid.

we continuing here?

Darrin has the thugs drive himself and the currently blindfolded BOI officer to the nearby docks, once there he has them park the car in a hidden area before escorting the still blindfolded agent near the water, hidden by some crates.

He has the thugs bring the man to his knees, forcefully if necessary, and then remove the blindfold from his head.

Darrin walks up to the waters edge briefly, smelling the water, before turning around and walking up to the kneeling agent, "We're here. Now, why don't you tell me what you really want from the Jamaican?"

SocraticLawyer wrote:Reginald Wilkins, bookdealer
"It will not come to that, Mr. Bartlett, I assure you.

"Sadly, I am but a simple book merchant. I own my own shotgun, and plenty of ammo, but no other firearms."

Reginald checks the clock, anxious for the pending BOI raid.

Isaiah Bartlett, wise old man
"I hope you are right, Mr. Wilkins... As for the riffle, I will try to request one from the BOI then."

Harold Matthers

Harold raises an eyebrow at Isaiah's statement. "I will request a gun as well. Bringing only a hunting knife to a gun fight will result in my death." He checks his pocket to make sure his cross necklace is still there. He never wears it but carries it at all times. While waiting, he sits down with the two Weird Tales magazines he bought and begins to read the Lovecraft stories again. "Hmm, things beyond our understanding and indescribable."

Reginald Wilkins, Dr. Harold Matthers and Isaiah Bartlett discuss the extraordinary knowledge their books have imparted. The alleged spells seem thematic in nature. They remember these tomes came from Ambrose Carcosa, the mysterious man behind Timothy Carver: a pivotal figure in what is a suspected cult; the subject of a BOI investigation. What does such knowledge in his hands mean? Given the other contents of Carcosa's library, what are the implications?

As Harold ruminates on the knowledge he has learned, his mind brings forth old references to poems found in his Azathoth and Others.  

In particular, Dark Yuggoth... The Courtyard... and Nyerlathotep... ---

Waiting for the BOI to pick them up for the raid, Reginald, Harold and Isaiah enjoy conversation at the book shop. They further study the effects of spells uncovered in the Carcosa grimoires...

Brew Dream Drug and Brew Space Mead... Dream Vision... Journey to the Other Side... Mesmerize... Send Dreams... They break for an Italian dinner on Federal Hill and return to Charter Book Shop.

Reginald, Harold and Isaiah close their books and prepare to go to the BOI office.

I think this weekend we can get underway again.

Reginald Wilkins, bookdealer
On the way back from dinner, Reginald stops at his apartment to pick up his shotgun and ammo. He brings the registration and necessary paperwork with him.

OOC: Sorry, I should have included this between the last two posts. As discussed IC, Reg wants to bring his weapon to the raid. If this messes up the timing, please let me know and I'll retract the post.

I'm not sure what the legal requirements for owning and carrying a shotgun were in 1925, but I know that Reg would have it in order.

Isaiah Bartlett, wise trigger-happy old man

Isaiah's weapon of choice (after the Good Book, of course) would be a good ol' hunting rifle, but he understands, that the raid will most probably take place in an enclosed space, where he cannot really take advantage of the long range. Therefore he decides to follow Wilkins' example and request a shotgun from the BOI.

Harold Matthers

Harold requests a handgun from the BOI.

Baines will use his own handgun for the raid.

9:00 pm, Sept. 13 1925
BOI Office
Providence, RI

BOI Associate Director Garrett Holmes stands at the front of the meeting room. Seated and standing about the room are a dozen agents, including Agent Gwen Baines, and the investigative  consultants Reginald Wilkins, Harold Matther, Isaiah Bartlett, and Eddie Sharpe.

"Alright men, this should be a routine raid of a juice joint. But the booze and possible narcotics aren't our main concern. We believe there could be connections among employees and the alleged cult connected to recent murders, including our own agent Smith. So we'll be netting everyone and sort them out afterwards."

"We have blueprints of Club Zothique from the Providence zoning and building commission. As you can see from your hand-outs, there is a back door and right side door. There is a basement with several small windows. Too small for most people to fit through, but you never know. We'll have them covered."

The investigators glance at the blueprint maps. The building is a one story, adjacent to a graveyard. (Map is forthcoming.)

"We'll be entering the club a little after 11:00, which our sources tell us is the peak time of business. We don't anyone slipping through the cracks."

"Any questions?"

Baines standing in the back, smoking his agitation away, "I do, can you please reveal these 'sources', it's not that I am doubting anyone, it's just that after Agent Smith's murder you can never be too careful"

Reginald Wilkins, bookdealer
Reginald raises an eyebrow at Baines's question, but says nothing. He makes a mental note of the question, as well as whatever response the lead agent gives.

Reginald tries to appear less nervous than he feels. If there is coffee, he will have some. He holds onto his shotgun, hoping he won't have to use it but fearing that he will.