Ch. 11. Paper and Ink

[Bullfrog]

OOC,The symbol, yes.

[Mr. Handy]

"I'm sorry, ma'am, I wasn't," says William. "I've been rather distracted. It looks like Mr. Fraser was the intended target, and the butler was unfortunate enough to get it first. Whoever sent it may try again, and may try something different. He's still in terrible danger."

[Silver Priest]

"Mr. Fraser is a well respected citizen. I think we can arrange to place a guard outside his home, surely. Perhaps have someone to inspect his mail first as well." Alex looks towards the man. "Do you know anyone who wishes ill will to you, Sir?"

[Philulhu]

”Ill-will?” spluttered Fraser Snr.. “I’m not aware of anyone with whom I have had disagreements. I generally get on well with everyone,” he said, somewhat superciliously and against any evidence of Lawrence’s and Thomas’ previous experiences of dealing with the man.

“Feel free to talk to anyone at my club or my employees at the bank, I’m sure they’ll confirm that.”

Lawrence,Know roll, please.

[Bullfrog]

EDU 15×5 (Know 75%),[dice]0[/dice]

[Mr. Handy]

"Could it be connected to James?" asks William. "Maybe someone who bore him ill will is attacking you as a proxy."

[Silver Priest]

"What's this about a James?" Alex asked, interested in pursuing this lead.

[Philulhu]

”James is my son,” snapped Fraser Snr. “Or rather was my son, according to these gentlemen to whom I paid good money to bring him home. It seems that they failed in their attempts, as they were telling me he had perished not long before events involving Jacob here.” He glanced at the corpse of the unfortunate butler, who the ambulance men were placing onto a stretcher, and shuddered.

Lawrence,The only thing that occurs to Lawrence is that the symbol could have something to do with witchcraft or Native American ways, but it didn’t match anything he had seen before.

[Bullfrog]

"Well, I think I've figured something out about that symbol: while I don't know what it actually is, but I think it might have ties to witchcraft, or maybe the Indians native to the area." Lawrence hypothesizes; he was by no means a clever man, but he'd picked up quite a bit of knowledge throughout his life.

[jp1885]

Ivy peers at the symbol, pointedly ignoring the detective's suggestion to leave the investigating to the police.

"Perhaps we could take it to a folklorist or historian and find out? Does anybody know one?"

[Philulhu]

OOC,Happy to take a KNOW roll.

[Mr. Handy]

"I know someone of the sort," says William.

OOC,Know roll (70% stat) to know a folklorist or historian: [dice]0[/dice]

[Philulhu]

OOC,William is aware of a Professor of History at Arkham University. Professor Betty Jackson is the wife of Harold Jackson, a Professor of Law, whose lectures William has attended from time to time.

[Mr. Handy]

"Professor Betty Jackson is a history professor in Arkham," says William. "I know her through her husband Harold, who's a law professor there."

[jp1885]

"Then perhaps a call is in order," Ivy declares matter-of-factly.

[Mr. Handy]

"May I use your telephone, Mr. Fraser?" asks William.

[Philulhu]

Fraser just nodded and indicated that William could use the phone on his desk.

[Mr. Handy]

"Thank you," says William, going over to the phone and dialing Professor Betty Jackson's number at the university.

[Philulhu]

The university switchboard put the call though to Professor Jackson’s office, where the she answered the call with a breezy ”Betty Jackson speaking, how can I help you?”

[Mr. Handy]

"Good day, Professor," says William. "I'm William Preston. I've attended some of your husband's lectures before, but this time it's your expertise my colleagues and I need. We'd like to trace a symbol's origin."