Episode One/b - Cambridge

Journey with us to an alternative 1898, where history rubs shoulders with imagination. Where ‘what was’ is replaced by ‘what might have been’. Leagues of Adventures presents, for your edification – ‘The Dreaming Spires, episode one of the Great Game Campaign’.

“... A time when science itself stands poised to usher in a new golden age, or doom the world to terrible war.
In the ancient university of Cambridge, the scion of an aristocratic family has gone missing, unearthing a plot which threatens to plunge the British Empire into chaos.
Can the intrepid globetrotters solve the Cambridge conspiracy before it’s too late? What secrets lie hidden beneath its dreaming spires?”

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Re: Episode One/b - Cambridge

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Nellie nods hearing Rachel, it doesn't sound as if Edward embarked on the 5 o'clock train but it would be best to make sure, Nellie hands the photograph to Roxborough "Quick.. get to the conductor before the train leaves." then turning back to the station master asks another question "This other man that met with Edward, had you seen him before.. can you give me a better description other than 'foreign looking'? Nellie places the two coins on his desk and jangles her purse suggestively.
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Re: Episode One/b - Cambridge

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Rachel and Jonathan -

As Rachel and Jonathan approach the two men they both turn towards you. The well-uniformed gentleman whose cap and decoration on his jacket sleeves mark him as the Assistant Station Master, a prestigious post only found at major stations, arches a thick eyebrow, “May I be of assistance Maam?” At the same time the thin faced official who you had observed alighting from the train, pulls his cap from his head in a servile manner.

Nellie -

Resisting the urge to rush to interview the guard, Nellie asks the station master another question, "This other man that met with Edward, had you seen him before.. can you give me a better description other than 'foreign looking'?”
The station master, eyeing the two shining coins which Nellie had placed on his desktop with the image of Her Gracious Majesty face up and noting the jingling of the purse, thinks for a moment. “No hadn't seen him afore. Tallish, wore a long coat ankle length it were. I seem to recall he walked with a bit of a limp”
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Re: Episode One/b - Cambridge

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"Yes, thank you," says Rachel. "I believe you can. Are you Mr. Thomas Jones?"
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Re: Episode One/b - Cambridge

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Nellie considers the station master's description; it will probably help them to identify the person should they come across the individual but left them with no further avenues of investigation to identify the person. Perhaps there was a way... "I see, that description may be useful but for the moment we are still no nearer locating Edward." Nellie gives a heavy sigh and a brief pained expression.. "Ohh well, nothing is ever as simple as one would wish." Nellie pauses for a moment, pretending to ponder the situation, gloved finger tapping the side of her mouth. "Perhaps one of your staff saw them leave, if not them then perhaps one of the 'cabbie's' that no-doubt loiter outside your fine station waiting to collect their next fare.. perhaps you would be inclined to help my colleagues and I in our investigation, I am sure that Edward's family would be very grateful." Nellie again jingles her purse.

"Right then, I shall be off.. I or one of my colleagues will be back later... possibly in the morning." Nellie smiles and heads for the door.
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Re: Episode One/b - Cambridge

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Rachel, Jonathan and the arriving Peter

In answer to Rachel’s question the thin faced guard tugs his forelock politely and answers in a voice that firmly places his place of birth as the valleys of Wales, “Indeed I am. How may I be of assistance Ma’am?”
The other uniformed official, the assistant station master, nods approvingly no doubt glad you weren’t about to make a complaint about the standard of the waiting room facilities of something.
OOC:   Peter- Don't forget that you are now in possession of the photograph of Edward, if used in an Investigation (interview) roll it adds +2 to the pool of the character using it. Also that character is at +1 anyway for it being less than 72hrs since the dissapearance.  
Nellie -

Quickly, the station master picks up the two coins and disappears them into a waistcoat pocket, as if afraid you might deem his information of no use and repossess them. As you speak he watches the jingling purse intently, “Of course I will ask around my staff and see what they might remember. As far as the cabbies are concerned, it is usually the same crowd that wait outside the station entrance. Those outside are probably the same ones as was here on the occasion you are enquiring about. The one too ask would be Alf Milsom, there isn’t much that escapes his eye”
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Re: Episode One/b - Cambridge

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"My friends and I are looking for a young man named Edward Ponsonby who was here a couple of days ago to board the five o'clock train to London," explains Rachel. "He has since gone missing. We were hoping you might have seen him." She describes Edward and, if Peter brings it, shows Thomas Jones the photograph.
OOC,Should I roll Investigation now, and do I get both bonuses?
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Re: Episode One/b - Cambridge

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Roxborough takes the photograph from Nellie and heads back out to the concourse. As the large locomotive comes to a halt, flooding the platform with steam he briefly loses sight of Rachel.

When next he sees her she is in conversation with, he assumes, the guard. He quickens his step and rushes over to them

Ah ha! There you are! Lost you in all this confounded steam! he grins and then hands her the photograph, Maybe this will help jog a few memories.
Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.

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Re: Episode One/b - Cambridge

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Rachel, Jonathan and Peter –

For a few moments the picture is subjected to deep study by both railwaymen. Then the thin faced guard, Jones, slowly shakes his head, “No I’m sure I’ve not seen this lad before. Are you sure it was my train that he was due to catch?”

The other man, the assistant station master, continues to look at the picture, as he does so you can see a flicker of recognition within his eyes...
OOC:   Any of you three may make an Investigation (interview) roll at +3. For Investigation the difficulty is 1; otherwise Reason may be used at difficulty 2.  
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Re: Episode One/b - Cambridge

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Back on the platform Nellie sees her companions with two railway officials deciding that they must have managed to catch the guard of the 5 o'clock and were following up the information that the station master has divulged. Deciding that it wasn't worth asking any of the 'cab drivers' that might be waiting until she had the photograph of Edward to 'jog memories' Nellie decided instead to check on the activity around them, after all Edward had in all probability been 'waylaid' here...
OOC:   Nellie will use her Perception... does anything feel out of place? Is anyone taking 'too much notice' of them?

[dice]0[/dice]  
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Re: Episode One/b - Cambridge

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Nellie -

Disappointed slightly with the lack of further evidence from the Station Master, Nellie exits the office, leaving a somewhat richer Station Master to dream of the things he may spend his five bob on. Near the London train, its boiler still popping and chugging in wait for departure, she can see her companions deep in conversation with a thin faced railwayman and another whose splendidly presented attire would seem to show a superior position in the GERC (Great Eastern Railway Company).
For a few moments she allows her gaze to roam across the busy platform taking in the uniformed railway porters, well dressed passengers and the flat capped youth selling copies of the late edition papers, “Read all abaht it!” he cries in the high pitched manner of a young lad, “Read all abaht it! Turmoil on the streets of London. Rioters almost at the front door of her Majesty...Gawd bless her!!”
OOC:   Nothing seems out of the ordinary  
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Re: Episode One/b - Cambridge

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Satisfied that nothing is amiss Nellie steps smartly along the platform, pausing to let a hurrying red-faced porter squeeze past.

"Were you here, at this time, the day before last?" Nellie asks the young paper seller.
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Re: Episode One/b - Cambridge

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Rachel catches the look of recognition in the railway official's eyes. "Have you seen him, sir?" she asks, hopefully.
OOC,Investigation roll (5 skill + 3 = 8 dice) asking about [b]Edward[/b]: [dice]0[/dice]
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Re: Episode One/b - Cambridge

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Rachel, Peter and Jonathan
The assistant station master looks a little longer at the picture, his brow furrowing with concentration, “Hmmmn, I recall a young man fitting this picture here two days ago.I recall him because he was speaking rather loudly to some passengers awaiting the 5 o’clock. He was speaking rather passionately about the unfairness of society and the mistreatment of workers and the poor. His words seemed to have little impact on his audience as they were doing their best to ignore him, although if I remember correct one or two men did regale him with some rather ungentlemanly comments, the most polite of which was to call him a damned socialist, pardon my language Madam” He gives you a rather sheepish grin, which looks at odds with the smartness of his uniform.
“He must have upset someone with his talk for I recall him in some kind of noisy altercation with a tall gentleman who walked with a limp. They must have resolved their dispute for they left together a few minutes before the train arrived”

Nellie
The lad touches his caps peak, politely, and reaching behind him produces a folded copy of the Standard (late copy) and holds it out.
“2d per copy. You’ll always find me here this here place is my spot, so to speak”
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Re: Episode One/b - Cambridge

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Nellie smiles "Splendid, I rather thought that this was your spot..." she takes out a shiny six-pence from her purse, "I'll take a copy, thank you.. and perhaps you would be able to help me? The station master tells me that there was a man here two days ago, wore a long coat and had a limp, arrived on his own but left with another man.. do you recall anyone like that?" she asks, eyes on the young lad.
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Re: Episode One/b - Cambridge

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Jonathan looks at the assistant station master as he stroked his beard for a moment while he considered what ask. After a second he says, "Tell me, this tall gentleman who walked with a limp... to the best of your abilities could you describe him? Besides the long coat how was he dressed? Was he well kept? His accent? Any detail, no matter how small or insignificant could prove useful."
OOC:   Edited to fix a typo  
Last edited by jaysun81 on Thu May 19, 2016 10:23 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: Episode One/b - Cambridge

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"And do you remember which way they went when they left?" adds Rachel.
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Re: Episode One/b - Cambridge

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Rachel, Peter and Jonathan

Again the assistant station master furrows his brow, “Hmmn, let me see. He seemed well dressed, if his style was somewhat foreign more...European, if you get my meaning sir. As for an accent I did detect one but as to what it was I could not say, other than ‘foreign’...Oh and he had a goatee”

He turns to Rachel, “Why I seem to recall they turned left out of the main gates towards the cab stand”

Nellie

The lad eyes the shiny sixpenny bit with eyes that shine with desire. He shakes his head, “Sorry Miss, I don’t recall seeing such, but I sees so many coming and going that I rarely remembers individuals. Your best bet would be to ask old Alf at the cabs there aint much that passes his notice” He holds out a copy of the paper and four copper pennies change.
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Nellie takes tuppence from the boy, leaving him with two of the coins. "I appreciate your honest answer; might be worth you keeping an eyes out for me though..." with a wink, she ambles along the platform to join the others.
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Re: Episode One/b - Cambridge

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"Thank you, sir, you've been most helpful," says Rachel. When Nellie arrives, she fills her in. "It seems we should visit the cab stand next. Whichever cabbie can answer our questions will have earned our custom."
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Re: Episode One/b - Cambridge

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Clarence (Growler)
A one horse, four wheeled carriage with a completely enclosed passenger compartment capable of carrying four, and an open driver seat at front. Most commonly found in front of railway stations as it could carry an entire family, or group, and their luggage. Clarence’s were nicknamed ‘growlers’ because of the sound made by their iron shod wheels on cobblestone streets.


****


The cobbled street outside the station could be anywhere in England, however a skyline dominated by the many spires of religious structure leaves little doubt of your location – Cambridge ‘The City of Dreaming Spires’.
To the left of the entrance, in a neat row, wait several of the ubiquitous ‘Growlers’, cabs found anywhere there is a sizeable town or city throughout the British Isles. The horses, noses thrust into haybags, snort and stamp in readiness. You can see gaps in the lineup that would seem to show the absence of several vehicles, no doubt already chartered by the people who had just arrived on the train.
A little distance from the vehicles you can see several men gathered in conversation. Their uniformal dress of long dark coats, the collars turned high so as to protect their faces from the cold wind that blows down the appropriately named ‘Station Road’. As you approach one of the group steps towards you, politely touching his forelock, “Can I be of help?”
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