Chapter 2: The Assignment

[Raiko]

"I do have one small question Mr. Shearer, if I might be so bold?" says Melody, "Has there ever, been a female heir before Ursula? And did they live beyond forty?"

OOC,Happy to move straight onto Dartmoor, regardless of how Shearer answers.

[HoneyDog]

”I believe there has been at some point in time, but not in recent history. My knowledge of the subject is not complete. The curse though is stated to only affect the males of the family, however, so I don’t know what difference it makes.”

OOC,I can start the new thread tonight.

[Philulhu]

OOC,Go for it! :)

[Mr. Handy]

OOC,I did want to do some research today about what might have been happening in Dartmoor around 1640, but other than that, I'm ready.

[HoneyDog]

OOC,I'll give a hint - aine had a better idea for an area of research when Isolde was originally going to visit the British Library. I wonder if anyone can find it? Try to think about the category of what you're looking for (if that's the correct way to phrase it).

[Mr. Handy]

OOC,Do you mean finding a local historian?

[HoneyDog]

OOC,No, back when everybody went to The Times.

[Philulhu]

OOC,[i]”Isolde goes instead to the British Library to read up on supernatural occurrences on Dartmoor and historical occurrences at the Allingtons' residency.”[/i] We could check up on supernatural occurrences on Dartmoor? Is there a bookshop nearby where we might pick up something to read on the train? Will we find information about the Allingham residence in London?

[HoneyDog]

OOC,Think specifically about curses. Roll Luck - one of you (not Melody) is a member of the London Library in St. James Square (makes sense considering your occupations) and we can go there. There is no Allingham residence in London.

[Philulhu]

OOC,I’ll defer the luck roll to anyone else but FitzWilliam (who has the lowest luck out of all of us). Honeydog: [i]“Will we find information about the Allingham residence in London?”[/i] - I wasn't suggesting that the Allingham‘s had a residence in London; I was suggesting that we might find it difficult to find out about their residence if we asking are questions in London, rather than in Dartmoor... ;) It’s too early for the land registry [url]http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20101213175739/http:/www.landreg.gov.uk/assets/library/documents/bhist-lr.pdf[/url] but there might be county records if the property changed hands.

[aine]

Isolde stands with the others on the pavement outside the solicitors'. "Well, Mr Shearer was a bundle of fun. I have a mind to go back in and call up a ghost especially for him. There must be a few lurking in this old building." She sighs,
"You know, if you think about it, the Allingham curse has existed for 250 years. There must be something about it somewhere. I'd have thought a place like Dartmoor, with all the mist and remoteness must have a strong pull for supernatural forces. And plenty of stories. I'd still like to research supernatural history of Dartmoor here in London but I don't know where. One of the big libraires I suppose."

luck,roll:80 fail

[Rooter]

LUCK 70%,[dice]0[/dice]

"Good idea. How about the London Library in St. James Square? I think I have my membership card here somewhere..." Percy searches through his pockets. "Ah, here it is! I didn't get the impression the lawyer was trying to hide anything, by the by, just that he was very concerned about his client's reputation which is perhaps understandable."

[HoneyDog]

The companions take a cab to the London Library in St. James’ Square. Percy’s membership gains them entry to the reception desk, where they are greeted by a friendly librarian, who asks them what they need.

OOC,I can't find any old photos of the London Library unfortunately. It looks like a great place, I'd never heard of it before. Roll Library Use to find something. The librarian will help you, but he'll need specifics. Forget looking at Dartmoor and narrow your focus.

[Philulhu]

”Good afternoon,” says Captain FitzWilliam to the librarian. He looked around to see if anyone was nearby and, satisfied that no-one was close enough to eavesdrop, said quietly, ”We are looking for information about folk tales and supernatural happenings in Dartmoor. Do you have such tomes in your fine library?”

Library Use,[dice]0[/dice] [i]Just missed it! (25)[/i]

[HoneyDog]

OOC,Sorry Phil, I didn’t address your thoughts. There won’t be any records about the property in London . Don’t ask about Dartmoor! Have a look at what I wrote earlier.

The Librarian thinks for a moment.

”I don’t believe we have anything like that” he replies.

[Mr. Handy]

"How about the family history of the Allinghams, particularly around 1640?" suggests Alexander. He is at home in the library, and the skilled researcher soon finds anything there is to find on the subject.

OOC,Library Use roll (60% skill) researching the [b]Allingham[/b] family history around 1640: [dice]0[/dice]

[HoneyDog]

The librarian checks his files. After some time he comes back."I can't see any books pertaining to that family" he says. "Is there any event in particular you're enquiring about?"

OOC,There are no books on the Allinghams, not here anyway. But you can still use the Roll, if you can think about what it is in particular you're interested in about the Allinghams.

[Philulhu]

OOC,[i]Looking back through comments, should we be looking into curses?[/i]

[HoneyDog]

OOC,8-)

[Philulhu]

”Also,” continued Captain FitzWilliam, as if the thought had just miraculously occurred to him, ”If you have any information about curses and how they have been used, then that would also be most useful...”

OOC,We got there at last! :)