Chapter 3: Hey! Mr. Trumpet Man

Boston, August 1928. The jazz age is in full swing, but there’s one trumpet player whose music does a lot more than merely inspire people to dance. An encounter in a nightclub will lead to the investigators being plunged into a sanity-shattering chain of events while they try to prevent greater catastrophe.

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Re: Chapter 3: Hey! Mr. Trumpet Man

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OOC,5% Psychology and Balzac rolls... [dice]0[/dice]
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Re: Chapter 3: Hey! Mr. Trumpet Man

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"That was very kind of Mr. Armstrong," says Alice. "He's not only very talented, but he recognizes talent when he sees it."
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Re: Chapter 3: Hey! Mr. Trumpet Man

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Turner laughs at Isadora’s question. “No, he never taught me. That was the only time I met him. He’s far too busy to be spending time on someone like me.”

He nods towards Alice. “That’s very kind of you, Miss”.
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Re: Chapter 3: Hey! Mr. Trumpet Man

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Image

Alice has of course heard of Louis Armstrong.
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Re: Chapter 3: Hey! Mr. Trumpet Man

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OOC,Everyone's gone shy so I'll roll for you. Get ready! Isadora Knowledge 40: [url=http://orokos.com/roll/558050]Know[/url]: [u]1d100[/u] [b]41[/b] Henry Knowledge 65: [url=http://orokos.com/roll/558051]Know[/url]: [u]1d100[/u] [b]13[/b] Balzac's a trumpet player - I'll give it to him. Ron Knowledge 80: [url=http://orokos.com/roll/558052]Know[/url]: [u]1d100[/u] [b]34[/b]
Alice & Henry & Balzac & Ron,As Turner brandishes his horn, you notice something quite unusual about it. Trumpets usually only have three valves, but this one has four.
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Re: Chapter 3: Hey! Mr. Trumpet Man

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Know,[b]Balzac[/b] has a 99% and rolls... [dice]0[/dice]
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Re: Chapter 3: Hey! Mr. Trumpet Man

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"That's certainly an unusual trumpet," says Alice, giving it an admiring look. "Most of them only have three valves. What does the fourth one do?"
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Re: Chapter 3: Hey! Mr. Trumpet Man

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“It gives me a real sweet sound, I guess”. Turner smiles, then finishes his drink.
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Re: Chapter 3: Hey! Mr. Trumpet Man

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Balzac looks intrigued. "Monsieur, I play the trumpet a little myself, but as a humble amateur. I cannot compare to your mastery. I am most interested in this make of trumpet. Can you tell me who the maker is, or can I see the maker's mark?"
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Re: Chapter 3: Hey! Mr. Trumpet Man

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Henry Glynn

"Say Balzac, I'd love to hear you play a quick tune on that fine instrument."
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Re: Chapter 3: Hey! Mr. Trumpet Man

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Turner hesitates for a moment – he is obviously a little wary about letting others handle his beloved instrument, but he lets Balzac take it.

Its silver finish is also quite unusual – it is crackled, much like the skin of a reptile. Looking inside the bell, those standing close can see an encircling ring of strange symbols.
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Re: Chapter 3: Hey! Mr. Trumpet Man

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The symbols mean very little to Ron.
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"So what happened with your girl?" he asks Leroy, offering the trumpet player a cigarette.
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Re: Chapter 3: Hey! Mr. Trumpet Man

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Isadora Carmichael

Isadora, mesmerized by the unusual instrument, takes a closer look at the symbols. Is it something she might have seen before? Maybe in one of the tomes of the Theosophic Society's extensive library? Or during her own disjointed researches?

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Re: Chapter 3: Hey! Mr. Trumpet Man

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Turner takes the cigarette from Ron and lights up. He answers in a voice which is quiet and inoffensive, but which is also pained and unwilling to elaborate.

“She was killed by a car. Probably a drunk driver. They never found out who it was. They didn’t look particularly hard, but then…”. His jaw suddenly clenches; he doesn’t want to talk about this. He holds out his hand.

“My horn, please” he says in a quiet, determined voice.
Isadora,Isadora does not recognise the symbols, but she can determine that they don't resemble any occult script that she knows about - this is something new, or at least very rare.
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Re: Chapter 3: Hey! Mr. Trumpet Man

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Balzac reverently reverses the trumpet and hands it back to Turner.

"Of course, Monsieur. I quite understand how personal one's musical instrument becomes. You are too kind even to allow me to hold it."

"I know I am from across the border, but I must confess I do not recognize the maker's trade mark. An American craftsman perhaps?"
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Re: Chapter 3: Hey! Mr. Trumpet Man

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Alice isn't sure what the symbols mean. "Could you please play something for us?" she asks. "I'd love to hear you play again."
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Re: Chapter 3: Hey! Mr. Trumpet Man

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“I’ve no idea what the markings mean” admits Turner. “This horn is obviously handmade, it’s not from any of the big manufacturers.”

Crinkling his eyes towards Alice, he says, “How can I refuse such a request?”

Raising the trumpet to his lips, he plays a tune, not jazz, perhaps not readily identifiable, but maybe with roots in an older kind of music his ancestors brought with them from Africa. The attention of the entire speakeasy becomes focused on him, and the sweet melody hangs in the air. It is a tune which feels full of longing and loss, but also joy and love. After it is over, the bar gives him rapturous applause. One drunkard cheers so loud he falls over. Some of the others come over and press drinks on Turner, which he accepts, bowing deeply. Soon after, the speak gets back to normal.
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Re: Chapter 3: Hey! Mr. Trumpet Man

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"Thank you," says Alice, applauding with complete sincerity. "That was wonderful!"
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Re: Chapter 3: Hey! Mr. Trumpet Man

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"You're welcome" replies Turner. "But now I really should be going. It was nice to meet you all."

He heads for the door, a little unsteady on his feet.
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Re: Chapter 3: Hey! Mr. Trumpet Man

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Balzac raises his bowler to Turner. "Bonne journée, Monsieur."

Puzzled, Balzac then pulls out his notebook and attempts to draw the markings he saw on the trumpet.

"Shall we perhaps adjourn to a café to consider further?"
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