Note: Marian was not present for this run. The GM played Voronika.
| Dramatis personae: | ||
|---|---|---|
| Don | Benjamin Steele | Former airship steel mage, now enlivening the Naysmith machine. |
| Barry | Arvy Penrington | Avaricious ex-military man "out of Africa" . |
| Marian | Voronika Costorari | Lovely gypsy bargainer; seer of spirits. |
| Will | Maxwell Ramsey | Egyptologist and sharp-shooter. |
| Sunny | Andrew Forester | Graduate student, radiologist, chemist, photographer, and tutor. |
| Mike | Mortimer Homme | Forester's Cambridge roommate; walking dead man. |
| Sheryl | Sister Sunshine | Lame druidess-healer, companion to the Tibetan pony Lungta. |
| NPC | Lungta | Pony avatar of Annapurna, mountain of Life. An Old One. |
| NPC | George McGregor | Surveyor for Prof. Challenger; admirer of Miss Costorari. |
Synopsis:
A series of murders related to a supposed Katabet Tomb mummy's curse is ruining the career of Mr. Ramsey's uncle, an airship captain who brought to Anglia from the tomb a peculiar mechanical scarab with a Swiss makers mark. Penrington captures the Times reporter Travis as a possible culprit. Even closer to "home", Mr. Forester's new roommate is viciously disemboweled by something unknown but brought back to a semblance of life by Lungta. The mysterious visitor Mr. J.A. Smutts (of the triangle-eye symbol and the plain ring) introduces the concepts of Nosophorous, the plague carrier, once known as Katabet, and the possible counters of the long-lived Count de Saint-Germain and the Dagger of Tihuta (the latter believed to be en route to the Ottoman sultan). The Party now believes Travis is an insane agent of Nosophorous, "the Master." The Party travels to Amsterdam (to get a gem) and Eckrenford, to get St-Germain's assistance, unsuccessfully, although they learn that someone by that name follows the Paris-Vienna-Berlin social circuit. (The "plain ring" has been seen on Smutts, Homme's uncle Detective Gregson, Druid Woodward, and a painting of an early Eckrenford baron associated with St-Germain. It seems to have some association with the Tibetan "White Lodge".)
The goal being to find Count St-Germain and learn from him how to battle the Plague Carrier, Our Adventurers could take the Hamburg-Berlin train to Vienna to find him amongst the waltzers (that being a joy of his a couple of generations ago). Then they could take a boat on the Danube River to Switzerland to learn more of the mechanical beetle. Thus the itinerary was agreed upon. There seemed to be no reason to retrace steps to Cologne and investigate the legend of the lupine shape-shifter Peter Staub.
The soldiers stationed at the German railroad stops and on the trains were meticulous at examining the passengers' papers. They seemed fascinated with Our Adventurers' "mechanical apparatus" and debated storing him in the luggage car. However, since the party had a ticket for him, he was allowed in the passenger cars. Lungta was stabled in the horse car. Penrington muttered, 'Being German, of course they have a horse car."
An immediately apparent feature of Berlin was the blimps - Zeppelin dirigibles - aloft in its sky. These were observable for some time as Our Adventurers wrestled with the Germanic need for accounting and verifying. Eventually a local was engaged to make hotel reservations so that the soldiers would allow the Party to leave the train station.
Penrington attempted to locate a local branch of the Adventurers' Club; he found, instead, an adventurous club where sultry singers displayed little of the latest in women's fashions. The hunter enjoyed himself.
Ramsey teased Steele to "Cut out the high-sulfur coal from around here." Homme chimed in, "Eeww, yes!" [It is possible that German coal is renown for its sulfur content. The Chronicler has done insufficient research into the subject.]
Morty again felt the tingle at the back of his neck. It seemed to come from the SSW. Mr. Homme gave Sister Sunshine and Mr. Forester each a copy of a letter to his parents to be delivered in event of his failure to return to Anglia.
The Danube ran along the north edge of the city, outside the walls.
There was a short halt as an elegant carriage complete with outliers and a family crest, crossed the path. The cabby responded to Voronika's inquiry: "That's Dr. Kellner's carriage. They say he's fabulously wealthy. A brilliant industrialist. They say he can make gems. I understand he's a chemist. They say he used to be in the opera, but he sold his soul to the devil. That's where Karl Kellner's powers come from."
As it happened, the Festival began with Carnival a month earlier. The Musikverein -- Music Hall -- sells tickets to concerts but, if the Party wishes to attend a ball, they will need to obtain invitations. Other attractions:
The Kellner Process
Forester searched out the offices of Kellner Industries and left his card, hoping that the fellow chemist would give him audience. Then the pedagogue visited the University of Wein and bought access to the library there. In response to his request for articles by Kellner, he was directed to books about the Kellner process: a patent on making paper, developed 15 years ago when the inventor was 22 years old, and which made the man fabulously wealthy. "That's depressing," thought the radiologist, himself in his mid 20s. Forester noted that Kellner had stopped publishing about 10 years ago.
Stephanos' Grove
Sister Sunshine visited the central grove and found that although it was carefully manicured and rigidly ordered, there was no sense of an Old One with whom one could communicate albeit her Detect Magic indicated a flow of power from west to east. She deduced that the Old One was the Danube River. The curator-druids reacted politely to her but indicated amongst themselves that the Anglish druid was crazy.
From the Grove, Sunshine headed to the river. Unfortunately, as a working river, it was oily and polluted with coal dust. Her inquires amongst the dockside workers as to places of worship showed that these were hardened men not above taking advantage of a lone foreign female. Apologizing to the pony, she climbed onto Lungta's back and beat a hasty retreat back to town.
Butterfly House
The other Party members took in the sights of Vienna, finding many similarities to London. The Butterfly House exuded a tropical feel, like Africa, to Penrington's surprise. The hunter had been expecting a museum and pinned exhibits. Outside the Butterfly House, Morty spotted a pair of gypsy children "working the crowd." He followed them until they met up with some adult gypsies and headed into a poor part of town. The other Party members dissuaded him from turning the young pickpockets in to the local constabulary.
Chance Encounter
Morty noticed an occultist storefront featuring a display with the triangle-and-eye symbol. Parked in front was a gilt carriage with a cloth thrown over its crest. Impulsively, he entered the shop. It was a bookstore. Two gentlemen were in converse with the proprietor. Morty overheard the two address each other as "Theodore" and "Karl"; he also heard "Theosophical Society" and "Order". Although the voices were low, the tones seemed urgent.
However, as Morty drew closer, the proprietor excused himself deferentially and headed the young man off. "May I help you, sir? What is your interest in the Order?"
Homme: "My uncle is a member."
Proprietor: "Which Lodge?"
Homme: "The White Lodge. I think. Is there a White Lodge?"
Proprietor, stiffly: "Not of the Ordo Illuminatum."
Homme: "I've never seen such a store as this."
Proprietor: "There are many items of interest for those who want to learn of the great powers. Do you read German?"
Homme, lying: "No."
Proprietor: "The original is all in German. Adam Weishaupt started it all. He was the First Grand Master. You should start by gaining entrance to the Masons. This," he handed the young man a richly illustrated and clearly expensive book, "is a good tome to start with once you learn German."
The other customers left and Homme followed (having purchased a cheap book). He caught a glimpse of the now-visible crest on the coach: it could have been Kellner's.
Hunting Club
Penrington again tried to find a branch of the Adventurer's Guild and, instead, found a Hunting Club that encompassed such interests as trick riding. His stories of African animals elicited similar stories of local boars and wolves, but no introductions to people who might provide ballroom invitations, though such were clearly expected some evening. His tale of fighting wolves and bats in London may have left an odd impression of Anglish civilization in Viennese minds.
Gem Market
Voronika and McGregor, from habit now, checked the local gem market on the theory that St-Germain might be found there. They learned there was no gem market; all jewelry was imported into Vienna. When the party exchanged notes that evening, Penrington commented, "No one makes gems and puts them on the market? That story about Kellner sounds more fanciful by the minute."
During the Next Week..
Having made the connection between the theosophical Karl and Dr. Karl Kellner, Sister Sunshine also sent her card to the offices of Kellner Industries, specifically noting that her group was "interested in dealing with Nosophorous." She also encouraged Mr. Homme to peruse the Society Pages of the local papers. He discovered one mention of "Lady R. on the arm of the C.of S-G". Both the druidess and gypsy started shopping, commissioning evening gowns in the anticipation of the necessary invitation.
After several days, there was no response from Kellner to either Forester or the druidess' cards. Mr. Homme, however, found that Dr. Kellner featured in a news story of "Madam Z" who had given a séance for Society.
Morty's occasional twinge now seemed to come from the South. He thought it could be closer; it was certainly not as faint as it had been towards the last in London.
Count St-Germain
Penrington, finding no Viennese equivalent of Burke's Peerage, tracked down the reporter for the Society Column and, fortunately impressing the man, learned of St-Germain that "He's a remarkably mysterious character. Shows up with one young lady or another on his arm at all The Events. He stays with nobility and is known to have stayed with the Hapsburgs. Lately he has been seen with Lady Ruess."
Thus Miss Costorari sent her card to Lady Ruess' solicitor with the note for the count: "I have come into possession of a unique gem... and we understand that you are a connoisseur..."
A day later, Penrington, the druidess, Miss Constorari and Mr. Homme arrived at the solicitor's office in response to an invitation. McGregor waited downstairs with the pony. The solicitor escorted in a handsome, well-dressed man in his mid to late 20s. He held a closed jewel box and a walking stick topped with a large red gem: "the Comte St-Germain."
Sister Sunshine: "Comte, Mr J.A. Smutts told us that you could help us in our effort to combat the creature Nosophorous."
Count: "I am more interested in kings and princes. The medical establishment should treat the Plague."
Sunshine: "But should one not fight a plague at its source?"
Penrington: "Mr. Smutts also told us to tell you that you still owe him 20-pounds."
Count: "Ridiculous."
Voronika, exhibiting the aquamarine, but narrowing her eyes: "You look younger."
Count: "I simply wished to look younger."
Penrington verbally offered the aquamarine and continued with Smutts' code: "We were to ask you about the one the ancient Egyptians call Katebet."
Count: "Was he a man about 5-and-a-half feet tall, dark skin, dark eyes? Lots of lapis lazuli scattered about him? Tenor voice?"
Homme: "We thought Katabet was a she."
Count, dismissively: "Must have been another Katabet." Voronika held the aquamarine protectively, her gypsy instincts alert.
Penrington, all his senses on warning: "Perhaps we misunderstood each other and you are not the man we seek."
The druidess used her high society experience to extricate her group from the count's presence. Voronika kept her gem. As they left the office, Mr. Homme mentioned that he had noticed papers indicating that the solicitor served Lady Abigail Ruess and Lord Theodore Ruess.
Voronika: "This guy was not the real St-Germain."
Penrington: "I think you are right."
Voronika: "Why did you try to give it to him?!"
Penrington: "I hoped to break his reserve."
Homme: "Will the real St-Germain care that there is a charlatan?"
Voronika: "I've been looking at lots and lots of gems these past weeks. The stone on his stick looked faked. It's not real."
Having failed to find an entrée into the Viennese society balls, the Party - save for Mr. Ramsey - purchased tickets to the premier performance of Mahler's First Symphony at the Musikverein.
Mr. Homme, having watched Mr. Forester stumble through a request to be the druidess' escort to the event said, quietly, "Is it right for you to escort Sister Sunshine everywhere? People might talk."
Forester: "S-she is a v-very fine lady."
Homme: "You've been traveling with her for sometime."
Forester: "I have completely honourable intentions."
Homme: "Then let's do something about your wardrobe!" ["I wouldn't be caught dead in that!"]
The Musikverein was renowned for its beautiful acoustics, beautiful adornment, and Beautiful People. Having tickets, Our Adventurers were able to watch the entrances of the Haute Ton to the opera boxes. The charlatan St-Germain arrived escorting Lady Ruess and her brother. (The lady was clearly more than several years "on the shelf".) Mr. Homme noticed "Karl" amidst some bodyguards, talking with a man dressed in an elaborate European-style military uniform. He also pointed out a note-taker (on the Adventurers side of the velvet rope) who Penrington recognized as the Society Column reporter. The hunter made his way over to the reporter and asked, "Isn't that Kellner? Who is that speaking with him?"
Reporter: "Major Lasher."
Penrington thanked him and turned, bumping into a woman holding a drink. He made the necessary apologies and promises (although he'd much rather fight a duel than spend money on a cleaning bill.)
During the performance, Sister Sunshine was very impressed by the music and thought she felt Power growing with the music. It dawned on her that, certainly, one of the Old Ones of Vienna, the Music Capital of the World, would focus on music. And that not all Old Ones took the form of plants and mountains. During the intermission, Forester stood guard as the druidess slipped into a niche and cast Detect Magic. Indeed, there was Power under the stage.
Summoning the available party members, Forester found the usher's entrance to the back stage. With his goggles, he glimpsed a big skinny figure slip down the corridor ahead of the Party. It looked like Kellner. The druidess kept her direction based on the feel of Power, but the steel man was the only other one of the group who had adequate vision (due to his mechanical eyes) in the dim passageway.
For a moment, all saw a bluish glow as a door opened and closed in the corridor ahead. Homme sped towards the remembered light and pulled open the door. Inside he saw that the room had an oval-shaped tear in the air which glowed blue. Through the tear he could see a green land and long rows of ghostly warriors with spears and shield flanking a path down which Kellner moved stiffly and jerkily.
Homme stepped through the glowing archway with a ripping sound. He turned and saw his body left behind, a silver cord between it and his present self.
The armed ghostly warriors turned towards him.
Next Run: Fighting Phantoms Under the Opera
(a) Cumulative (b) Cumulative since Volume II (c) Cumulative since Volume III
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