Chapter 1b: A Request for Help (Alice & Henry)

[Mr. Handy]

"He's gone off somewhere to collect fungal samples," explains Alice, "and he hasn't returned. We're trying to find him so we can make sure he's all right. Do you know what he was reading recently?"

[HoneyDog]

The librarian frowns, thinking hard.

“I’m sorry, I couldn’t tell you the exact titles, and we don’t keep individual records for students. For him though it was always books and journals about botany…erm, yes, fungi mainly I think…”

[Mr. Handy]

"Okay, thank you," says Alice. "Do you know how long ago he was last in here? Does he have any materials still checked out?"

[HoneyDog]

“I’m sorry, I don’t know” frowns the librarian. “And we don’t have lists of what students check out , we’d have to look at the individual book title, I’m afraid. And of course, he wouldn’t be able to check out journals.”

[Mr. Handy]

"Thank you for your help," says Alice, turning to Henry. "Let's call Isadora."

[HoneyDog]

OOC,You can roll idea.

[innsmouth]

Henry Glynn

"I hear he was a bit of a loner but do you know if he had any associates?"

[HoneyDog]

The librarian is distracted by students waiting around the desk, wanting to check out books.

“I would have no idea…”

He glances around and spots a student who has just appeared. “Daniel! Can you help these folks?”

Daniel is a pale looking but heavily freckled young man. He has a name tag which reads Daniel Reardon, Student Librarian.

“Yes, that’s Albert Baumgartner, I’ve spoken to him sometimes. He was always busy with research though, I never saw him with any friends. But he’s a post-grad, they don’t mix with us.”

OOC,You can still roll Idea!

[innsmouth]

Spoiler:

Henry Idea 70 [dice]0[/dice]

[innsmouth]

Henry Glynn

"Thanks for your help Daniel."

Henry turns to Alice:

"I guess we might find some library books in his rooms."

[HoneyDog]

OOC,You're asking about the wrong thing.

[Mr. Handy]

"I was thinking that too," says Alice when something else occurs to her.

OOC,Idea roll (65% stat) in the library: [dice]0[/dice]

[HoneyDog]

Alice,Perhaps finding out what academic journals Baumgartner might have been using lead to a clue?

[Mr. Handy]

"Do you know which journals Albert read?" asks Alice.

[HoneyDog]

"He's a botany student, isn't he? There's several choices. Do you know which geographical area? Or possibly which field?" asks Daniel.

[innsmouth]

Henry Glynn

"Funghi of Massachuesetts. Is there a periodical on that?"

[HoneyDog]

Daniel turns and starts leading the way to the journals section. His freckled brow is furrowed as he thinks of a response.

“Nothing as specific as that I think” he says, as he climbs the stairs to the second floor, which holds periodicals and books on science. “There is one possibility though”.

As they reach the journals, he scans the titles. “Here we are. The Massachusetts Botanical Society Journal. All about the flora of our fine state” he says in his strong South Boston accent. Holding up his hand in farewell, he moves off.

The journals are quite extensive however, it might be a long search.

OOC,You'll need to roll LIbrary Use.

[innsmouth]

Henry Glynn

Spoiler:

Henry Library Use 40 [dice]0[/dice]

Henry rifles through the journals:

"There sure are a lot of plants in this neck of the woods ..."

[HoneyDog]

OOC,Perhaps Henry can go give Isadora a call then. WIth luck,she should be able to arrive by early afternoon, just in time for a nice spot of lunch.

[innsmouth]

Henry Glynn

"Where's Balzac when you need him! I'll call Isadora now and see if she can help us out. I haven't heard from her for a while - I wonder what she's been doing."