Play@YSDC

Trieste, Italy
9:24pm -Monday January 22nd, 1923

The journey was placid enough that you each gain +1 San.

As you step through the open door of the train and emerge into the vault of the station, the first thing you are aware of is the wind. It howls about the covered platform like an angry beast, piercing clothing and sucking the warmth from your shivering bodies. Loose dirt and twigs hurtle through the air. Occasionally, a particularly strong gust rattles loose portions of the roof, so that the whole structure echoes and vibrates.

Porters, secure in well-buttoned great-coats, assist with your luggage and eventually the shelter of the waiting room is reached. Porters and passengers alike curse the wind, which they call the "bora", a common phenomena in this region.

It seems like you will have to wait for a taxicab: only motor-driven transport is out tonight. All the horse-drawn cabs have gone home, as even the most heartless cabby would not force an animal out into this weather. From your guide book, you know the best hotels are the Savoia Excelsior Palace and the Hotel de la Ville. Others include the Metropole, the Moncenisio and the Centrale.



You remember the clue that Professor Smith left you regarding Trieste: he told you to look up Johann Winckelmann at the museum. But which museum? Surely, there are different museums in this city, and you don't know which one he was referring to.

We will go to the hotel (so Howard may recover), and Luigi will ask there what museums exist.

Howard is somewhat critical of Felicity's technique, but does appreciate her help. She has gained his trust. In private, he will try to treat himself.

Now that the wounds have been (unsuccesfully) treated, it is not possible to treat them again.

You have not chosen a hotel.

OOC,The thread heading says Venice, but it should say Trieste. Also, the photo is not displaying for me, but I was able to copy the URL into my browser's address bar and get to it that way: [img]http://postimage.org/image/qjtna09n7/[/img] Strange, that's not displaying either. Why did I get to try twice but [b]Howard[/b] didn't even get to try once? I thought I was assisting him. Is he unable to treat his own injuries? His Medicine skill is 75%, which is a lot better than anything I have.

"Does anyone have a preference for a hotel?" asks Felicity. "I'd like to stay at either the Savoia Excelsior Palace or the Hotel de la Ville. Baedecker's says they're the best, and I don't want to settle for anything less."

ooc,John is still awaiting official acceptance - Luigi needs to have that talk with Howard - or are we just presuming it took place and they're ok with John coming along?

John steps off the train and pulls his coat tighter about him to try to ward off some of that ungodly wind. He glances about for the hotel.

"The best hotel works for me," Howard responds, holding onto Felicity's arm.

After waiting in the cold for several minutes, you manage to hail a cab and instruct the driver to take you to the Savoia Excelsior Palace.

The ride from the rail station to the center of town is a short one.

Excelsior Palace
10:00pm -Monday January 22nd, 1923

Alighting at your hotel, the wind shrieks through the night, as violent as ever... Howard, Luigi and Felicity are bowled over by the wind and must hold on to whatever they can find to reach the hotel door unharmed. Only the physically stronger John can find it in him to remain on his two legs and help his companions.


You check in, with the help of Luigi for the translations, and deposit your passport with the hotel staff as required. You are informed by the clerk that the kitchen is still open and you can have a light supper if you want, or retire directly to your rooms. (There is enough room in the hotel for four separate rooms if you wish, or you may wish to sleep in pairs; tell me what you prefer. Luigi is currently carrying the Simulacrum, since Howard is in a bad physical state.)

Outside, you can hear the wail of the bora.

OOC,Shouldn't it be later? The train didn't leave until evening, and the trip took a few hours.

"That was a fierce wind!" says Felicity, breathing a sigh of relief now that she's inside. "Does it often get like that here?" She looks around the luxurious lobby. "Yes, this will do nicely. Sorry to disappoint you gentlemen, but I'll be staying in a room by myself. I'm not quite as wild as the muckrakers make out. Shall we have a light meal before we turn in? We can discuss plans for tomorrow while we eat."

OOC: Luigi agrees with John offer, let's pretend it happened.

-Well, this is winter after all, we couldn't expect much better.

Howard will look to share a room with Luigi, and agree to a light dinner with sufficient appetite. In his injured state, he foregoes a cigar and drinks after dinner.

Howard books a room with Luigi, while Felicity and John book separate rooms.

"The bora? Yes, at this time of the year it is always like this. But these days it is particularly violent." the clerk answers.

You are given a light but excellent supper in the hotel's luxurious dining room. There are several other guests at the other tables. It is a nice moment, but the wail of the wind outside gives the scene an eerie atmosphere.

"So, what are we looking for here, and how shall we go about finding it?" asks Felicity.

To the waiter, "When you say these days, do you mean this season, or literally over the last few days? Are there any particularly good museums in the city?"

John rolls his eyes. Museums ... Library? All seems rather droll to him. But still, he promised to help these gentlemen out of their spot, and a museum might be a good place to pick a pocket or two.

"This season in general. Remember to wear warm clothes!" the waiter replies. "If you'll forgive the informality, during days like these, I am glad that I work indoors."

He hands you a brochure about museums in the city. There are many, about all kinds of subjects. You have no idea which museum could be the right one. For a library, the waiter recommends the University.

You finish your meal and begin feeling very tired.

"Perhaps the library can help us identify the right museum. In the meantime, I would like to retire." Howard struggles to get up, clutching his side.

In his room he will put his revolver at easy reach under his pillow. In his paranoia he will also set some glasses near the door to topple if opened while they sleep. He brushes his teeth thoughtfully.

"Yes, that is a good idea," says Felicity. "We should go visit the library in the morning. Well, good night, chaps." If nobody has anything further to say, she retires to her own room.

John agrees, "It'll be nice to get some shut eye in a room that isn't moving on me." He looked around the room for something - nothing in particular... and decided it was a good time to turn in. "Nothing seems to be going on anyway, might as well turn in and try to get an early start at it in the morning." He heads up to his room and bids the others good evening, then goes in. He locks the door, makes sure the windows are securely fastened and shuttered against the drafts, gets undressed, and goes to sleep.

You retire to your rooms and fall fast asleep...

That night, you all dream of a whitish human form which scuttle louse-like, spider-like, crab-like over the exteriors of the hurtling cars of the Orient Express. It is gazing in through curtain slits with dark-circled, hungry eyes. Thgouh the thing's eyes you see absent images of yourselves, discussing, having a nap, brushing your teeth, but as abstractly, as objectively as you in turn might look at turkeys or tomatoes - without a trace of sympathy.

Somehow eavesdropping on the thing as it is spying on you, you come to feel an overwhelming sense of appraisal, and the glimmer of amusement at things so weak, so yoked together by weakness that they must be obscenely dependent on one another to achieve anything, instead of being glorious in solitude, totally self-sufficient. And then the dream dwindles insensibly into blind anticipation, and even that passes into blackness.

Then comes another dream which only Felicity can remember in the morning...
Howard loses -2 magic points
Luigi loses -4 magic points
Felicity loses -4 magic points
John loses -3 magic points

Excelsior Palace
10:00am - Tuesday January 23rd, 1923

When you wake up, you don't know what has happened exactly, but you all feel tired, irritable, washed-out and depressed. Felicity remembers a strange dream of creatures moving in dark, swirling waters, and of a howling monstrosity moving towards her at impossible speed. She loses -1 San.
As you go downstairs for breakfast, you can hear that the bora continues to gust, though not as fiercely as the night before.

Felicity shivers, and not merely because of the weather. She is bundled up against the cold, but it doesn't seem to be helping. Her makeup hides her exhaustion well, but she still feels it. She yawns as though she hasn't slept at all.

"Good morning, chaps," she says when she rejoins the others at the breakfast table. "I don't know if it's this weather or what, but I feel like I've hardly slept a wink, and I had such a nightmare last night."

"Unfortunately, nightmares have been rather common for me lately. Last night I had a particularly odd one of a white pale man crawling eerily on the outside of the train, watching us."

No, the simulacrum is of some whiteish colour but not the same.

Felicity's eyes widen. "I had the same exact dream!" she exclaims. "And then I saw these creatures moving in the darkness, swirling waters, and some horrible monster howling and charging at me incredibly fast. Frightened me half to death!"

OOC,Shouldn't [b]Howard[/b] have been able to make Medicine rolls for his injuries last night?

"Felicity, I am not surprised we all shared the same dream. Ever since we began our..quest..strange things have been happening. I'm sorry, we should have been more upfront with how dangerous, and evil, this all is. We are in great peril.

"That being said, this dream may mean something. I'm just not sure what. Perhaps we are seeing the future, or the past. Being followed by someone, or perhaps something more symbolic. I'm a direct-type of person, so my simple assumption is we are being watched. But why, and who?"

"Oh, my!" says Felicity. "I hope that doesn't happen for real. I thought for certain I was going to die. Still, there's nothing else for it but to proceed. It - whatever it may be - has marked me. Getting to the bottom of this is the only way I'll be safe."

John found it all a bit odd, and very hard to believe. He also had the dream, but he remained quiet and drank some more coffee to overcome the weariness he felt that morning. "So let's say this ... man-like creature is the real deal. It seems to have made us all a bit more worse for wear. I'd like to find out if it was isolated to just us, or if other patrons of this hotel and passengers of the Orient Express were similarly effected."

He looked at the others and said, "Seems like it might be linked to the train judging from your description of the dream, and if that's the case... I'm guessing we can expect more of this. I, for one, value my shut-eye... so I'd like to know how we go about teaching it a lesson."

"I suppose by doing what we set out to do," says Felicity, "collecting all the bits of that statue. So, how shall we do that?"

"Well... if it's related to some piece of rock our friends happen to be carrying around, I can't help but wonder why you and I were effected. I mean, we haven't really done more than suggest we might be helping them from this point forth. Sure, I've laid my eyes on them... but you haven't, Felicity. Not sure how good intentions are tied up with being cursed by association," John responded. "Which is why I wanted to see if we were the only ones who had this weird dream. Maybe it's associated with something else on board the train?"

"I'm often cursed by association," says Felicity with a lighthearted smile. "If I'm seen with a man, reporters will automatically assume we're romantically involved. Why, there was even a rumour about me and Professor Smith at one point. They call me all sorts of things in the yellow papers: 'England's answer to Alice Roosevelt,' 'Wayward Miss Hayward,' and - my personal favourite - 'Felicity Haywire.' Come to think of it, it's more the chaps who are cursed by association with me. Not that some of them don't delight in the notoriety as I do, but some of them have wives and families. Sometimes the journalists actually get it right through sheer guessing and speculation. Even a stopped clock is right twice a day. While sharing dreams is not something normal, and I've never heard the like before, this - thing, for want of a better term - may be much like those nosey parkers in some respects. Perhaps it thinks one of you is my lover...or all three." She has a playful twinkle in her eye as she says this. "When next we see our fellow passengers, we can inquire about any unusual dreams they've had."

John chuckled, "Wayward Miss Hayward..."

He cleared his throat and wiped his mouth, looking to the pretty Felicity and said, "Well... I don't mind if some bloke wants to start a rumor about us. On this train, I don't think I could do much better." He put on his best charming smile and gave her a nod.

"Hmpf. I don't think you could do better anywhere." Blushing and addressing Felicity, "Uh, I..uh mean that as a compliment of course."

Felicity giggles. "Thank you, both of you," she says. "I don't mind someone starting rumours about me, but I draw the line at invading my dreams. Of course, if any rumours start, they would probably be about me and the good doctor. I did spend the entire train ride to Trieste alone in his cabin with him." Again her eyes glint. "Of course, he was a complete gentleman. Still, my presence there alone might be enough for me to get the attention of whatever we're up against - well, that and my stunning looks." She playfully fluffs her hair.

"Let's seek out the most respected museum and see if we learn more of this Johann Winckelmann."

"That might work." says Felicity. "Even if he doesn't work at that one, the people who do may know of him and where he does work. Perhaps we should split up so we can ask at more museums and cover more ground. Museums that feature sculptures prominently would be a good bet, as we are looking for a piece of a statue. We can arrange to meet up at lunchtime so we can share what we've learned so far."

John shrugged indifferently.

"I'd like to visit a hospital today, to attend to my injuries. I'm thinking to be best prepared for our search."

"Yes, that's a good idea," says Felicity. "I'm sure the three of us can handle our part. I don't speak Italian, so the rest of us splitting up may not be such a good plan after all."

Howard will ask the concierge or hotel desk clerk for the most respected hospital, and also the top historical and art museums.

With the help of Luigi's translations, Howard is given directions to a nearby hospital which, according to the clerk, enjoys a good reputation.

"Do protect yourself against the bora when you go out sir, I hope you brought warm clothes! It's very cold and windy!"

The clerk hands you leaflets about several historical and art museums. Unless you can find a way to narrow your inquiries, it will probably take days to visit them all. The leaflets generally do not mention the names of the museum staff.

"Hmm..." says Felicity. "Maybe we should go to the library first instead. They may have information there about the local museums, possibly including a list of staff. At the very least, we can find out which ones have statuary or sculpture."

"I will meet you at the libary after my visit to the hospital, a search there should be successful." Howard will bundle up hin his heavy coat, taking his own doctor bag and loaded pistol before leaving for the hospital.

"Finding the curator should be straightforward, it will be hard after that."

John asked, "Just to clarify, we're going to these respective museums and libraries for ... those stones you have? Or is there some other reason?"

"Wait... so you think there's more parts of this statue here? Why would you think that?" John asked standing up from the table ready to head out to where-ever. "And if this is one statue, why are the parts spread about so thoroughly?"

John lifts an eyebrow, "Ok... so... they need the whole statue then? Well... all the parts I presume?" John asked reitterating. "So why don't we just destroy what you have and be done with it?"

"I was just about to ask that very thing," says Felicity. "If you're gathering all the pieces together, aren't you just doing the cult's work for them? All they have to do is wait for you to collect them all and then take them away."

-The problem is how to destroy the statue. It's not made in a normal material.

OOC: There was a easier way, to transport each part to a different ocean and throw it, but then the campaign would be called "horror in the ocean express" .

"You've tried to destroy the bits you've found already, I take it?" asks Felicity. "If you can't destroy it through normal means, how are we supposed to destroy it?"

"I'll bet laying them on the train tracks while the train runs over them will do a good number to them," John said having a hard time believing in something so difficult to destroy. "Do you know how to destroy them if it can't be done in a more conventional means?"

-It's suppose to have a ritual to do that. But for that it needs to be altogether.

"Does this mean you haven't learned what the ritual is or how to do it?" asks Felicity. "How are we supposed to find out?"

John's eyebrows furrowed as he leaned back in his chair. "You'll forgive me if this doesn't seem too well thought out to me. Who set you in motion of collecting these pieces to begin with? Are you being employed by someone? And if so, do you know if you can trust him ... or her?"

John shoots a confused look at Felicity. He didn't understand Howard's response as an answer to any of the questions shot forth in rapid succession.

Felicity shrugs. "Are you saying you know how to carry out the ritual to destroy the statue?" asks Felicity. "If so, how is it done?"

"Very carefully," Howard responds, waiting for Luigi to fill in any details.