The Investigation (Everyone)

[royya]

I do not know. maybe you can ask them
Richard reply to the big guy Reg
Turning to Maud he add
We can lock them in the pantry, it holds a sturdy wooden door with no other exit.

[yockenthwaite]

"That sounds like a good idea," says Alicia, turning to Richard. "I do think we need to discuss where we are and what we have all found out, before we talk further to these gentlemen."

[Dr. Bloodworth]

"The dark queen?" Varcholek asks, half to himself. "An apt enough description. Rather poetic, though."

After this he sits back and glances towards Reg. "We are agents of Tsar Nikolai II." Then he waits for the party's decision.

[Mr. Handy]

Reg nods. "Well, that complicates matters a bit," he says. "I think we should have that private conference now."

[aine]

Maud nods in agreement to the conference. "agents of Tsar Nikolai II" doesn't make any sense at all to her.

[royya]

Richards nods to the two men to stand and to Bill and Reg to escort the two to his pantry where they should be locked with a bar and a sturdy lock.
"Sorry gentlemen but we have to discuss some private matters before we decide what to do with you"
With that, he orders Bill to lock the door and guard it. To Marge he say to bring the prepared honey rolls, the cheese appetizers, the fresh fruits, the tea and the wine to his study room.

Once the two men are locked and the food and tea arrive, Richard closes the door to his study room and addresses the others
"There were some books that my instincts instructed me that there is nothing to be found in them. They were but scripts that Arthur likes to read.
I found some poetry, written by Arthur himself where he declares his love and devotion to a woman called the "Dark Queen".
I found some references to "the men that hide in the shifting twilight" and also a few to a "dark hand".
He grabs a book and shows it to the others
The OCCULTISM UNVEILED is heavy and dense text about the use of magic as practiced by groups like the Rosicrucians and the Golden Dawn.
He place down the book and takes the book "THE GOLDEN BOUGH" book.
This book is a lengthy work on various mythologies and religions across the world. Several pages were folded over, where Arthur must have been read. A chapter on the cult of the Magna Mater and Attis, a bit on the Roman Saturnalia celebrations, and quite a lengthy section on the transference of evils to a person. Arthur was kind enough to leave some notes in the margins. One of them is a passage mentioning the "Old Mars" who was a man who would ceremonially be driven into the woods by priests of the Roman Empire.
Richard leans forward and adds
These passage notes of how these figures were associated with a Mars Silvanus, or Mars of the Woods. Arthur guessed a connection to the English Green Man - sound familiar.

Richard them picks up another volume
This is "THE BOOK OF DZYAN". I did not have a chance to read it since the two men broke into my house, intending to take this book. I believe we can find more clues over here and I plan to read this book with diligence.

Now, I think that some woman caught the young man attention and I believe she puts him in great peril. The woman probably is a cult leader of some sort and her men are called the green men. She is extremely dangerous and with high charisma if she can influence people like Arthur and his friends and who knows how much more. These books and scripts hold the truth about the cult. I guess that Arthur himself researched about them extensively.

Richard pauses and grabs one of the appetizers, letting the others to digest what he said.

[Mr. Handy]

Reg fills the others in on what he and Gary learned as he eats cheese appetizers and honey rolls and sips at his tea. "Jakeswill pointed us to a disreputable doctor named Salt who deals in opium and is currently in hiding in the Jago," he says. "Salt sold opium to Arthur and was also apparently the one blackmailing him, but I don't believe he's the one responsible for Arthur's disappearance. He told us about this Bogdansky woman and warned us that we have drawn her attention. The green men are her servants, her eyes and ears. Salt went into the Jago to hide from her. That must be why he never collected the blackmail payment. He told us that Bogdansky has a larder where she keeps men that she collects for some nefarious purpose - he said she devours them - and that she is not human. He also said that one of Arthur's friends, a chap named Max who worked at the theatre and lives in Greenwich, may know more.

"It makes sense that two Russian agents would also be interested in Bogdansky, as she seems to be Russian as well. This has become an international incident now, and I think we're out of our depth. We should speak to Lord Godfrey and update him on what we've learned so far, and tell him about the two men. He would know how to handle them better than I would."

[aine]

Maud tucks into the tea and buns with relish while she listens to Richard and Reg. Then she wipes her mouth on a napkin.
"I went to the Adophi Theatre in town. Up until recently it was run by a Freddie Milton, the stage manager, a bit of a rake, he held raucous parties at the theatre with a rabble of friends, then a new lady arrived on the scene who he fell for: Madame X is the lady in the portrait painted by Arthur. She attended the Adolphi Theatre regulary a few weeks ago during the production 'Duchess of Malfi'. She had a circle of followers and seemed to attract 'hangers on'. They had many wild parties backstage, caused a lot of damage to people and property, some people went missing and there was a lot of bad luck at the theatre; the production was 'cursed' they say.

Then Madame X moved on and Freddie killed himself. Another of her circle worked at the theatre a Bart Maxwell of 10 Haddo St, Greenwich. He's not been seen at the theatre since.

Also in the circle was a Miss Lily Foile from the theatre. She's a simple girl but she remembers seeing Arthur and Peter. She and Max were invited by others to the lady's house in Campden Square (which had a dark red or black door) for a party. They all drank too much and then were shown a 'withered arm pointing towards the sky.' Sounds like an orgiastic type of party. Lily tried to escape and was held down and cut with a knife. She said there was a stink and the sounds of crawling things. She was then taken to the empty house at Kingscross or St pancras train yards where her eye was made blind (all cloudy looking) and she had all but the thumb and ring finger cut from her left hand. I have sent Lily away to the country where I hope she will be safe. This Madame X is the same woman as in the burglar's photograph. She courted Peter, Arthur and Bart Maxwell, known as Max and, I agree, she is extremely dangerous."

[yockenthwaite]

Alicia listens to the others with interest. "It sounds like our separate leads are coming together. I think Madame X is Countess Bogdansky, and I had a lead on Bart Maxwell too. But what really surprised me is that Peter Blaylock is at home, not truly missing at all, but his mother is hiding him, probably in a state of shock herself. I'm afraid to say that Peter is hideously injured, his head totally covered in bandages, and barely able to speak, and only occasionally conscious. I was told by the doctor attending that he has little chance of any significant recovery. He was attacked on the way home the night he disagreed with Arthur, and was found in an alley near Marylebone Station. I was able to speak to him a little bit, and he warned me specifically against the woman and Max. His words were rambling and largely incoherent, but some of the things he said were 'She... Byogdin. Shurnog. Hammer, hands, mouth, teeth. She take... take... Teeth... take face...' And he also said, though I'm not sure if this was referring to his injuries, or something else: 'She... woman... not. Arm... dest... ry arm..'"

Alicia pauses for a moment, before continuing. "I then visited a colleague at The Times newspaper offices, an art critic who I have worked with before, to try to find more about the painter Peter was vaguely referring to. Charles identified the painter as Bart Maxwell, who fell out of polite society some years ago in a scandal, and has since worked sporadically for various East End music halls. He mentioned Mr Stoker at the Lyceum employing Max, as well as, most recently, the Adelphi, for their Duchess of Malfi production, as Maud found out. But Max hasn't been seen since. Charles thought that Max lived in Camden Square, and that he had a Russian mistress, who might be Countess Bogdansky who I asked him about, based on the lead I got from Travisham."

She looks at the others. "What has happened to Peter raises huge fears for me for Arthur, if he has fallen into the hands of this woman and her associates. Also I am unsure of the best way to proceed. We could for example try to trace Max, though that seems dangerous as well. But perhaps it would be wise to seek other advice on the best way to proceed."

[Mr. Handy]

"Perhaps Peter was telling you that we have to destroy the withered arm that Lily mentioned," suggests Reg.

[aine]

"It seems odd that both Peter and Lily had certain parts of them taken." Maud shudders. "You could be right about the arm. I got an impression it was an important part of the party, almost like a totem at a ritual." Maud is thinking of a play she once saw set in a jungle. "According to Lily, the arm was at the house In Campden Square. We also have Bart Maxwell's address and we could investigate the house at the railyard; it's the only house there apparently." She frowns, "I can't understand why they say she isn't a woman or even human. How can that be?" She turns to Richard, "Do you think your burglars might be honourable? They could be like us; no different to Reg and Gary breaking in somewhere trying to get information." she grins at Reg.

[yockenthwaite]

"I think ritual is the right word," says Alicia, grimly. "This whole affair sounds quite incredible, but having seen what happened to Peter, so bad that the doctor would not tell me the true scale of his injuries, little would surprise me now. I wonder if it would be possible to find Max's house: that might certainly be worth investigating, whether he is still there or not. I was given a Camden Square lead for him, but from what you have all said that sounds more like the Russian woman's abode. Greenwich is rather vague to be going on with, though Max may show up in post office directories."

[royya]

My best guess is that this woman hold Arthur. We must find Max as he might be our lead to her.
Richard reply
We can use the two men in the pantry on our side, maybe they know Max or where the Bogdansky woman is?

[Mr. Handy]

Reg smiles back at Maud. "Well, we haven't actually needed to do that," he says, "but I can see how it may become necessary. Yes, the Russians may have information we don't, and if the czar sent them after this woman, they could make useful allies, as long as we can trust them. We can use all the help we can get."

[yockenthwaite]

"I agree," says Alicia, who was nodding as Reg spoke. "The goal now must be to get Arthur back, as soon as possible, hopefully unharmed. The Russian agents may be able to help us do that. At the very least they should be able to advise us on how to tackle this woman, who seems to be very unusual, and extremely dangerous."

[aine]

"Well I expect the agents could do with a cup of tea; I'd like a top-up too. I'll leave it to you two gentlemen how much we tell them; but as they know the woman's name and seem to have been chasing her longer and further than we have they may have more information than us already."

[royya]

Agreed then, we should keep the information we just shared among us. We should not share it with the two Russians but we’ll convince them to work with us, our objective is to find Arthur alive, their benefit is to gain help from us to find the mystery woman.
Richard place his cup of tea on the desk and takes the book of Dyzan.
But I would like to read this one as I have a feeling that I might find some clues within it. Anyone wants to skim the letters and other books as well?
Without waiting for an answer he lowers the book on the desk and takes a sip from his tea
Anything else before I instruct Bill to free both men?

[Mr. Handy]

"No, I think that covers it," says Reg. "I'm ready to talk to them when you are."

[yockenthwaite]

"Yes that sounds like an excellent plan," agrees Alicia.

[royya]

Richard escorts his companions to the kitchen and speaks to Bill as they stand before the pantry door.
Open the door Bill
As the driver obeys and opens the door Richard addresses the two Russians
I’m sorry for the misunderstanding buy I hope that you understand our precautions, especially when you two break into my home with such rudeness.
He motions the two to step out from the pantry and continue
I think that we might be able to help each other, we will help you to find Bogdansky and you will help us to find Arthur as I believe that we will find the two in the same place. Now, please, follow us to my study, have some tea and homey rolls and let us discuss on how to find Bogdansky and Arthur.