Play@YSDC

Isadora switches on the reading lamp on the writing desk and takes stock of what she sees. As well as the typewriter there is a stack of blank paper and a couple of last weeks copies of the Tattler, and there are some pens and a notebook. The desk also has a couple of drawers, and there is a wastebasket on the floor next to it with a few screwed-up bits of paper.

Isadora Carmichael

Isadora fishes out the papers from the wastebin.

Henry Glynn

Henry puts down the picture and flicks through the notebook looking for details of recent contacts.

Isadora,Roll Spot Hidden.

Henry,[b]Henry[/b] looks through the notebook. From a quick glance, it is largely a collection of [b]Hodges' [/b]musings about the local area; personalities, the climate, the local woods and mountains, and particular points of historical interest. It might take some time to look through thoroughly, but nothing currently stands out.

Isadora Carmichael
Spot hidden 30%
[dice]0[/dice]

Isadora looks at the pieces of paper, but in the fading light is unable to make anything out. They appear blank.

Henry Glynn

"I'll just borrow this for a while." says Henry, slipping the notebook into his inside pocket.

HoneyDog wrote:Isadora looks at the pieces of paper, but in the fading light is unable to make anything out. They appear blank.

This is strange... Why would anybody tear up and throw out a blank sheet of paper? Isadora pockets the pieces for later, maybe to examine in better light.

She then looks through the drawers.

The drawers don't hold anything of interest – stationary, spare typewriter ribbons, ink bottles, envelopes – things of that nature.

"I can see the resemblance," says Alice, studying the picture. She examines the books in the bookcase to see if there's anything of interest.

The books seem to be innocent enough. There are some novels, biographies, books on journalism and history, and also some about the flora and fauna of the local area.

Henry Glynn

"Let's take what we've got and go back to Brattleboro. We can look at the notes over dinner."

Isadora Carmichael

"Yes, let's not linger for too long here..."

The investigators leave the house behind them and join Balzac back at the car. Luckily, their rather brazen entry of the house wasn’t spotted, and they drive back to Brattleboro unmolested.

The sun has gone down now, but Balzac can still make out the road in the fading light. The countryside is very peaceful, and rich in nature. It is hard to imagine anything sinister or untoward happening in such surroundings.

The road winds downhill to Brattleboro, and they reach the Hotel Brooks at almost 7pm, just in time for a much anticipated dinner, and eager to discuss what they have experienced.

Balzac provides a mind-numbing running commentary on the botany of Vermont on the drive back. The tedium is only relieved by his occasional outbursts of French swearing when small animals threaten to run across the road or when he lapses into ruminations on how these as-yet-undiscovered Cthulhoid monstrosities might be enslaved for the good of humanity...

"Let's take a look at his notes," says Alice while they wait for their food. "I'm familiar with shorthand, if he used it."

The notebook isn't in shorthand but there is a lot of information, much of which does not seem immediately useful.

OOC Everyone,You can try rolling Spot Hidden or Own Language (whatever is higher) to see if you can find anything pertinent.

OOC,[b]Balzac's[/b] Own Language is in fact French. His [i]Other Language: English[/i] is 76% and he rolls... [dice]0[/dice]

Merde!

Alice reads the notebook with a critical eye, easily able to understand its contents.

OOC,Own Language(English) roll (80% base skill) reading the notebook: [dice]0[/dice]