Book Three: Out of Time

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Re: Book Three: Out of Time

#361 Post by SocraticLawyer »

Reginald Wilkins, irresponsible bookkeeper
I have to return to Providence. I've been neglecting my shop. There are a number of accounts that demand my attention before we leave for New Orleans.

Perhaps the local BOI agents can look into the Ford address.


Reginald does not mention his pending appointment with his psychoanalyst.
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Re: Book Three: Out of Time

#362 Post by Grognardsw »

Florence Randolph Residence
35 School St., Arkham, Massachusetts
3:30 pm, Oct. 9, 1925



Florence, the widow of Raymond Randolph, answers the door.

"Hello David, it is good to see you,” say Florence, motioning him in.

The pair enter the parlor, where there is a pot of tea and crackers waiting.

“How have you been? I saw in the Miskatonic student newspaper about those horrible murder allegations. I know it can’t be true.”


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Dr. Frank Morgan's Home
25 Church St., Arkham, Massachusetts
3:30 pm, Oct. 9, 1925



“I know what you mean Marius,” says Prof. Balandabar from India. “American culture can spoil women. In my home country, we know how to treat them.”

Back at Dr. Morgan’s house in Arkham, the investigators share thoughts about Claire Ford. Is she under the influence of something, or afflicted by a malady natural or unnatural? To forget her pregnancy is strange. That the pregnancy was as far along as it was given the last time they saw Claire is stranger still.

The investigators realize their professional responsibilities have been slipping in the excitement and activity of the investigation. Reginald Wilkins has bookshop matters to attend to, Prof. Balandabar papers to grade, and Dr. Morgan realizes he too is behind on his academic duties.

The only one with time on his hands is the currently unemployed ex-Miskatonic professor Dr. Clarke. The men wonder how he is faring in his line of investigation today.

The New Orleans trip early next week affords the investigators several days and a weekend to catch up on their work.

Agent Mulder of the BOI agrees to investigate the Manhattan addresses if James Ford.
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Re: Book Three: Out of Time

#363 Post by SocraticLawyer »

Reginal Wilkiins, bookdealer
Reginald trusts the BOI agents in New York to handle the Ford matters. After bidding a short farewell to his fellow investigators in New York, he returns to his beloved bookshop in Providence, attending to matters he has neglected for far too long. He returns phone calls from interested clients, completes various sales, and updates his inventory.

After completing his mundane tasks, he makes his way to his psychotherapist's office for his appointment. Reginald is nervous for reasons he can't explain. He tries to think about Egyptian texts, the shootout at Club Z, Archer's bloodlust, Carcosa in the space between, Agent Baines's duplicity; but somehow through all of it he can focus only on the memory of the calm and beautiful serenity on his mother's face when Reginald saw her for the last time, before her body was committed to the earth.
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Re: Book Three: Out of Time

#364 Post by Mant72 »

Dr. Francis Morgan:

Dr. Morgan prepares for the upcoming trip to New Orleans by getting his academic affairs in order. He prepares and organizes his lecture notes and finally finishes his long overdue article on Tamoachan and Mesoamerican religion.
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Re: Book Three: Out of Time

#365 Post by DadsAngry »

Dr. Clarke:

David sighs, "Oh, you've read about that. Then you most likely have heard I've been dismissed from the university as well. First of all the allegations are not true. I never laid a hand on that young women. Someone is trying to frame me for murder and it all has to do with my expedition to Turkey. Florence may I have a look at Raymond library again. I have a list of books he purchased from a book store in Marblehead after he returned. I'm hoping to find a clue as to what Raymond was researching."
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Re: Book Three: Out of Time

#366 Post by DadsAngry »

Marius:

Marius returns from his long trip away from his family. Carmello has done a good job being the man of the house while he was gone. Marius sits down with his eldest son and tells him of his future journey. "Now don't tell your mother I told you I was leaving again. I'm waiting for that special moment to spring it on her. You know how your mother is." Marius greets his wife with flowers in hand, her favorite wildflowers. Though she is cross for him being gone so long she is glad to have him home again. The two spend some intimate time together fostering the creation of another to the brood. When the time is right Marius tells Mafalda he is leaving again. Dodging flying objects and obscenities Marius escapes his homestead unscathed, while his seed grows larger in Mafalda's belly.
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Re: Book Three: Out of Time

#367 Post by Grognardsw »

Florence Randolph Residence
35 School St., Arkham, Massachusetts
3:32 pm, Oct. 9, 1925


Florence nods her head in agreement as Dr. Clarke explains himself.

"Such horrible people to have done that," she says. "Were they involved in what happened to Raymond?"

"Yes, please feel free to look at his library."


Florence escorts Dr. Clarke into Raymond's study. There are several book cases, desk, chair, table, couch, and bay windows looking out to a small garden.

Dr. Clarke examines the books of his deceased friend Raymond Rudolph. The books he purchased at Lorecraft's Book Shop, as well as many other tomes on topics including dreams, pagan religions and oracles. Most of the books are nonfiction, however Dr. Clarke notes two fiction titles of interest:
Image

Dr. Clarke has a vague recollection of this author and some infamous book. The Swinging Fellow? The Yellow Ring? The archeology professor strives to recall (Literature or Occult skill check.)

Image

Machen.... Dr. Clarke tries to recall his literature studies from college.

Certainly Reginald will know all about these.

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Arkham, Massachusetts
4:00 pm, Oct. 9, 1925



At the house of Dr. Morgan, the investigators agree to attend to their own business tomorrow and over the weekend so their schedules will be clear for Monday's trip to New Orleans.

They agree to have dinner together, hoping to connect again with Dr. Clarke who has been on his own path of investigation today.
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Re: Book Three: Out of Time

#368 Post by DadsAngry »

Dr. Clarke

"No Florence, Raymond's condition was my fault. I was in charge of the expedition. I should have stopped him from playing with that contraption with the strange crystal on it. The people against me are after the secret of that contraption. It's a race to see who can get their first. I was hoping Raymond would give us a head start."

David rummages through Raymond's stacks once more. Opening each book and looking for loose pieces of paper or notations in the margins. He closely examines the books acquired from Marblehead to see if they brought Raymond any insight. Two fiction titles catch his eye but he can't put his finger on why these two sticks out.
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He places those two aside in the hopes that Florence will allow David to take them home with him. Perhaps Reginald will know more about them and their strange allure.
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Re: Book Three: Out of Time

#369 Post by Grognardsw »

Dr. Clarke examines the volumes. He does indeed find notations among the books, mostly having to do with dreams... interpretations, causes of, techniques to induce dreams, to effect and control, to remember, to end, etc. al. Notes too on the state of the physical body during dreams.

There are several books that reference a distinct "dreamland," an otherworld of thought and fancy that is a reality in and of itself. There are intimations of travel to such dream territories, of leaving the mortal coil for an aetherial existence.

As Dr. Clarke connects the dots of contextual reference, his eyes widen at Raymond's scribbled word concluding one book:
"Escape!"
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Re: Book Three: Out of Time

#370 Post by DadsAngry »

Dr. Clarke:

A trail at last. Something to work towards. Something to keep his mind occupied in this, his most troubling of times. He piles together the books with the most promise and any that have been annotated. With his stack titering on collapse he fetches Florence. "Florence he's here! Raymond still exists in these books!" He drags the poor widow to the towering stack he has collected. "He lives inside each one of these. Look, just look!" David pulls the top book off the stack and flips through the pages. "See, see it's Raymond. He's in all of these. His work lives and so does he. I must continue it Florence. I must do it for Raymond. I must have these books." David puts his hand into his pocket and pulls out his billfold. He looks down at it. "It's not enough, Oh! I can get more. Yes, yes more I have more. I will pay you more, but I must have these books now!" Wild-eyed David looks upon the perplexed face of Florence "I must have these please, Florence. For Raymond. For my redemption."
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Re: Book Three: Out of Time

#371 Post by Grognardsw »

"Whatever do you mean?" Florence says as the excited Dr. Clarke discourses and gesticulates in a most unreserved fashion.

Her eyes turns a little misty. "Yes, I sometimes see him too among his books. Sitting in his chair, calling for his tea. Yes, you can take the books. I hardly understand what they are all about anyway. He has so many, I won't miss those."

Florence gently pushes Dr. Clarke's money away.

"I'm sure Raymond would appreciate his research being continued under his friend. And if that gives you a sense of redemption, then that's all the better."
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Re: Book Three: Out of Time

#372 Post by DadsAngry »

Dr. Clarke:

"Thank you, Florence. I'll keep Raymond spirit alive."
David fills his car with selections from Raymond's library, then says his good-bye to Florence.
"I'm not sure what is going to come from my little incident. I may be gone for a while if I can't prove my innocence. But on the bright side, I will have plenty of time to read. Thank you again, Florance, you were a good wife to Raymond and you may call on me if you need anything in the future."
Dr. Clarke gets into his car and drives home. There he unloads his car and rearranges his bookshelf, removing archaeological texts to make room for Raymond's books. He doesn't shelf "In Search of the Unknown" by Chamber or "The House of Souls" by Machen. There is something about these two which compels him to leave these two titles out to show Reginald when the group returns from their interview with Ms. Ford. He places them on a side table in the living room.

While he waits, he begins reading from his new library. "Now what is this Dreamlands I keep seeing mentioned?" he says to himself.
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Re: Book Three: Out of Time

#373 Post by Grognardsw »

Dr. Frank Morgan's House
Arkham, Massachusetts
5:30 pm, Oct. 9, 1925



The investigators are enjoying dinner at Dr. Morgan's residence.

"Do you think Dr. Clarke has returned?" asks Prof. Balandabar. "Perhaps we should give him a ring."


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Dr. David Clarke's House
Arkham, Massachusetts
5:00 pm, Oct. 9, 1925



Dr. Clarke delves into the volumes that once belonged to his friend Raymond Randolph. He tries to interpret Raymond's scrawled word "Escape!" It seems Raymond was seeking to develop his dreaming ability, to induce and control how and when he experienced dreams. And to cross over from personal dreams, to climb beyond the walls of sleep to that realm separate from our own reality. To find a new life before his body perished from the old age afflicted upon it by the crystal trapezohedron. Could such a thing be true?

Dr. Clarke is deep in thought when he realizes that the doorbell rang again. Someone is at the door.
Last edited by Grognardsw on Sun Jun 30, 2019 3:00 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Book Three: Out of Time

#374 Post by DadsAngry »

Dr. Clarke:

"Oh, that must be Frank and the rest," he says.
"Just one moment," he shouts.
David puts down his book and answers the door.
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Re: Book Three: Out of Time

#375 Post by Grognardsw »

Edith Walton stands at the door.

She smiles.

"How are you David?"
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Re: Book Three: Out of Time

#376 Post by DadsAngry »

Dr. Clarke:

"Edith? I don't understand? What are you doing here?" David says very confusedly at Edith's appearance at his home.
He opens the door fully and steps out of the way to let Edith in.
"I go before the judge tomorrow. You shouldn't be here, but I'm glad to see you."
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Re: Book Three: Out of Time

#377 Post by SocraticLawyer »

Grognardsw wrote:Dr. Frank Morgan's House
Arkham, Massachusetts
5:30 pm, Oct. 9, 1925


The investigators are enjoying dinner at Dr. Morgan's residence.

"Do you think Dr. Clarke has returned?" asks Prof. Balandabar. "Perhaps we should give him a ring."
Reginald Wilkins, paranoid bookdealer
Surely, he knew to join us here, did he not? Reginald gets a queer feeling in his stomach. Where is your phone? he asks, urgently.

He calls Dr. Clarke 's residence, hoping that his suspicions are wrong.
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Re: Book Three: Out of Time

#378 Post by Mant72 »

Dr. Francis Morgan:

”Yes, I expected David to join us here upon his return. I would think he should have been back by now.”

Frank directs Reginald to his phone.
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Re: Book Three: Out of Time

#379 Post by Grognardsw »

I don't believe Dr. Clarke knows of the court case dismissal, as he hasn't talked with the other investigators yet who were informed by phone earlier today.
Edith Walton steps into David Clarke's foyer.

"I wanted to talk David. All this recent horrid business, it put me in such a tizzy. I just learned that the murder case has been dismissed. The state must know something that I don't. It has thrown me in such a state of confusion."

Edith appears shaken.

"Might I have some tea and we can talk?"
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Re: Book Three: Out of Time

#380 Post by DadsAngry »

Dr. Clarke:

"Yes, yes please come in. The case has been dismissed? I hadn't heard that are you sure?"
Happy and confused he invites Edith in.
"The kettle is in the sink and you know where I keep the tea. Two sugars and no cream for me please," he says as he sits down in a highback chair in his living room waiting to be served.
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