Written by Vetinari
Subsequent morning, I get up to a shock. The landlady, Mrs Bastable, pronounces {that a} customer, a younger girl, is ready for me within the lounge.
Now, I have not talked about something a few landlady to this point, and I can hear what you are saying: after all there is a landlady, all sleuths (particularly ones who dwell in London, and in Marylebone, no much less) have a landlady. No! You’re considering of Victorian sleuths! Golden Age sleuths haven’t any landladies, solely secretaries!
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| She’s no Miss Lemon, however Nikki Porter comes an in depth second. |
Anyway, going to the lounge I discover that this mysterious customer is none apart from Yasmin the maid/assistant from the séance. She says that her actual identify is Vivienne Powers and that Harry Pelham, a.okay.a. the Adept Karmi, has not been proper for the reason that different night time. Nightmares, complications, despair, the entire package deal that you may count on after having had an in depth encounter with occult and malevolent forces.
She then asks me to accompany her to test on her employer/associate, and since that is in all probability the very first thing to resemble precise plot growth on this sport, I agree. Apparently their home is in Bloomsbury Avenue, which is one other space that I explored throughout my stroll within the earlier days, however the sport wasn’t forthcoming sufficient to inform me that I acknowledged it.
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| I’m at a loss on how you can touch upon this screenshot. |
Karmi/Pelham is actually unwell, and says that he has been having goals of a non higher specified “her” and that he sees the shadows throughout him “once more”. I’m starting to suspect that Harry could have been concerned within the San Francisco occasions, and that he could have recognized the supposedly useless lady of which John was speaking about.
In any case, Pelham collapses on the desk sobbing, and Vivienne ushers me out of the door earlier than I can interrogate him additional. Enthusiastic about the matter (with the ever helpful “what do I do know” command), the sport means that one other go to to the fraudster couple tomorrow could also be so as.
Within the meantime, I’ve promised John that I’d observe up the lead on Mr Talbot, so I’m going again to the vintage store. When I attempt to “persuade” Rowland Marcus once more, the sport offers me the identical reply as earlier than, however then I simply “ask about talbot” and Marcus folds by saying that he’s very anxious about him and that perhaps I can go test him at his condominium to see that each one is effectively.
Talbot’s handle is 34b Dean Avenue, one other space which I explored however that was not marked as related earlier than I knew this info. The door appears locked and shuttered, so having put factors in Lockpicking only for events like these, I attempt to decide the lock.
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| You have to be ****ing kidding me. |
Okay, so using character expertise on this sport appears a bit… missing? I now have many doubts that selecting a special character will result in one thing greater than a little bit of beauty variations within the descriptions, if something in any respect.
In any case, I enter Talbot’s condominium. There may be not very a lot to discover, only a kitchen, rest room and bed room, however once I open the door to the condominium lounge, one thing occurs…
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| Typical. |
So, after passing out, I discover myself again in my flat. Apparently John discovered me exterior of Talbot’s condominium in a shock, and managed to get me visited by a health care provider and brought house. The sight of what was inside that lounge was apparently so dangerous to make me lose my thoughts, albeit solely quickly.
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| What “The Instances” has to say in regards to the incident. |
Probably the most fascinating factor is how John managed to get so rapidly to Talbot’s flat. Apparently, a younger girl (who was not Vivienne Powers, going by her description) left him a notice saying to go to 34b Dean Avenue for ”a matter of life or demise”. John cryptically says that he thinks he is aware of who despatched that notice, and that if he’s proper then he in all probability is in lethal hazard. Then he leaves and says that he’ll come again this night after I’ve rested.
True to his phrase, John picks me as much as go to dinner. After consuming, he offers me the envelope that he acquired and asks me to look at it.
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| Gee, okay man, do not be so pushy! |
Apparently the seal on the letter is that of a sure Magda Bathory, whose surname I acknowledge as that of the notorious “Blood Countess” Elizabeth Bathory. John proceeds to elucidate that throughout the occasions in San Francisco, the chief of the occult society was an Timeless (you possibly can simply say “vampire”, John), named Klaus Worlsman. He was destroyed, however phrase on the road was that he obtained his powers by a descendant of Elizabeth Bathory and Vlad Tepes. Positive, why not. In case you are speaking about vampires, you would possibly as effectively go all in.
The lady whose voice he acknowledged was named Lilith Hopkirk, and gave the impression to be simply one other member of the society, however now somebody matching her description has resurfaced in London and left him this notice. John thinks that this Lilith Hopkirk was in actuality Magda Bathory, and was the true chief of the cult in San Francisco. She lured John to Talbot’s condominium to be able to make him see the younger man’s stays, as a result of she needed him to concentrate on what would occur after the Hound had been unleashed upon him. John is now satisfied that he’s going to be the subsequent sufferer of the Hound of Shadow itself.
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| I do not know, I feel he may be overreacting. |
Due to this, John argues that we have to go discover a actual mystic (not that fraud Karmi) to test if his aura bears the mark of the Hound of Shadow. He additionally means that perhaps Rowland Marcus is aware of greater than he lets on.
So, the subsequent morning we pay a go to to Marcus’ store, and let’s simply say that he’s not very joyful to see us.
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| Nicely, he isn’t incorrect. |
Fortunately, I’ve spent quite a lot of my talent factors on Persuasion, so I handle to persuade him to…
Hahahahahah! Simply kidding. I can not speak to him except I present him the seal on the letter, after which he comes round to assist us with none want of additional speaking.
Dammit, sport. You made me spend one hour selecting talent factors after which I discover that I might have simply dumped all of them into Astrology.
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| It is an actual talent within the sport, you already know. |
In any case, Marcus suggests a mystic that he is aware of and arranges a gathering with them at my condominium this night at 6 pm. Within the meantime, I had famous that it was a good suggestion to go to Vivienne and Pelham once more right now, so I do exactly that.
As quickly as John and I arrive there, the sound of a chair knocked over from upstairs welcomes us. Dashing to the higher ground, we discover that Pelham has tried to commit suicide by hanging with a twine from a lightweight becoming.
I assist the poor man by reducing the twine after which I… carry out an emergency tracheotomy on him?
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| I am not even kidding. |
I simply should stop the sport on the spot so I can go to the principle menu and test once more the character file to see if I’ve put some factors in Medication and First Support. Apparently I’ve, as a result of they’re beneath the Logical class. I should take a notice of this scene and see how one other character with a special talent set would behave on this event.
In any case, Pelham is saved, and I’m going house, the place Mrs Bastable says {that a} letter has arrived. Spooky! What might it’s? Another menacing notice from an ungodly abomination which is out for blood and vengeance?
No, apparently these items are solely reserved for my pricey previous pal John, as a result of the letter is from the British Museum, saying that my software has been accepted and I can go to the Admission Workplace to get a everlasting move to the Studying Room.
Since I’ve nothing higher to do till this night, I’m going and retrieve the move from the museum, after which merely wait at my flat till 6 pm.
On cue, Rowland Marcus and the mystic arrive, and he introduces her as Miranda. She is “a gorgeous center aged girl with greying hair tied again in a bun”.
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| I feel it is her. |
Miranda then proceeds to grill me on the occasions which have led thus far within the story. I’ve to reply her questions on how I’ve met Talbot, what occurred on the séance, who do we predict is accountable, and so forth.
Then, plot twist: the aura that has been marked for the Hound just isn’t John’s, it’s mine!
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| I ought to have recognized it. |
Whaaaat?!? I wasn’t even in San Francisco, I by no means met this Magda Bathory, I used to be on the séance for a completely unrelated matter and for the reason that starting of this sport the one factor that I managed to do is studying some books and passing out on the street! How come I’m the one hunted by the Hound? That is completely not truthful!
Miranda leaves, whereas John and Marcus resolve to remain in my home all through the night time to maintain watch and guard me in case one thing occurs. I fall asleep, having nightmares of canines howling and whatnot, after which within the morning…
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| That is all of your fault, John. |
Somebody (or one thing) has managed to enter the home throughout the night time and wound me grieviously on the arms. Since all doorways have been locked and each John and Marcus have been preserving watch, we resolve to go looking each room to see if we are able to perceive how the intruder has managed to infiltrate the premises.
Then, for some purpose, strolling in compass instructions doesn’t work anymore. I’ve to sort “go to bed room” to rid the sport of this bug, then I can resume typing “north”, “east” or no matter as regular.
After I arrive within the attic, one thing uncommon catches my consideration.
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| Not the tea-chest. The tea-chest was there earlier than. |
There are some marks on the ground, and by analyzing them I see that they’re a hand-print and a few footprints (made by somebody sporting high-heeled sneakers) resulting in and from a wierd sample of symbols drawn within the mud.
The sample is a sq. sub-divided internally with 4 straight strains, so that there’s a sq. about half the scale of the unique within the centre, 4 small squares within the corners, and 4 rectangles alongside the edges. Within the rectangles there are some symbols which could possibly be some type of script or letters.
Since I can not make head nor tail of this, I’m going fetch Marcus and John and present them my findings.
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| Good to know. |
Checking this Gascoigne Journal at Marcus’ store, plainly the sample is talked about in one of many entries, along with a reference to a ebook by a sure Von J and a sure Bridewell. Marcus says that this could solely seek advice from “Anonymous Cults” a ebook by Von Juntz which was printed by Bridewell in 1845. Marcus doesn’t have it, however (shock, shock) the British Museum Library could possibly be in possession of a duplicate.
I’m going to the Studying Room of the Museum and discover out that the ebook must be ordered from E-book Requests. I achieve this and, after ready a few hours, it’s delivered to my studying desk. Inside this unsettling tome I uncover that the sample in my attic is a Gate that can be utilized to journey instantaneously between completely different places, in addition to the incantations that can be utilized to take action.
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| Looks like a load of gibberish to me. |
Armed with this newfound information, I resolve to go to the attic once more. In actual fact, what was beforehand described as “a wierd sample”, now has taken the type of “a magical gate”.
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| Nonetheless looks like a load of gibberish. |
When I attempt to “use gate” one thing occurs, and I discover myself again at Talbot’s condominium! This, though very intriguing, does not web me any helpful new info, so I’m a bit of stumped on what to do.
Probably the most fascinating room to test could be the lounge the place Talbot’s corpse was, however it does not have any furnishings or different evident factors of curiosity. After some time, skimming once more by the checklist of beneficial verbs within the handbook, I discover the very fascinating “search”.
I attempt to “search” in Talbot’s condominium, and what have you learnt, I discover one other magical gate drawn in pencil within the lounge! I take advantage of this second gate too after which…
I discover myself in a graveyard, the place a priest, startled by my sudden look, tries to maintain me at bay by holding in entrance of him the crucifix hanging round his neck. He then proceeds to interrogate me by asking who put this gate there. After I reply “Magda Bathory”, he’s bowled over.
After I recount to him the occasions of the previous couple of days, he says that he’ll attempt to assist, however first I might want to return to London and discover out “the character of the beast that killed Matthew Talbot”. Then he says that that is precisely the church that was the scene of the final sighting of the Hound in 1577.
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| Again to London, discover clues, write to Father Paul. Obtained it. |
I take inventory of my environment, earlier than stepping again into the gate to return to my flat in London, in order that I can re-organize my ideas and ponder in regards to the subsequent transfer.
I feel we’re getting into the ultimate stretch of this sport guys.
Session Time: 3 hours 00 minutes
Whole Time: 7 hours half-hour
> What Do I Know
Harry Pelham and Vivienne Powers have been frauds, Matthew Talbot was informed he bore the Hound of Shadow’s mark, seemingly as the results of real possession, your pal recognised the voice used as that of Magda Bathory, immortal descendant of the notorious Blood Countess, in 1577 a black canine attacked church buildings at Bungay and Blythburgh in Suffolk, Matthew Talbot was horribly killed merely to indicate your pal what was in retailer for them and having unwittingly interfered with Magda’s plans you’re to supply one other demonstration of the Hound’s energy.
