Episode One/c - Trinity

[Priest]

Episode One/c - Trinity

CAMBRIDGE & ITS UNIVERSITY

Cambridge and its university are inseparable—its ancient buildings are everywhere. The university comprises seventeen “colleges”—each a castle-like collection of buildings, towers, chapels, courtyards, and ancient libraries and dining halls, often referred to as the “dreaming spires.” Together, the colleges house 3,000 students, from a total town population of 40,000.
Legend says the university was founded in 300 B.C. by a Spanish prince named Cantaber, although written records begin in the 12th and 13th centuries. Students are principally male, although two women’s colleges, Girton and Newnham, were founded 20 years ago.
Hotels in Cambridge include the Hoop on Bridge Street and the Prince of Wales on Sidney Street, but the globetrotters may stay in college rooms, especially if one of them is an old Cambridge man or woman.

TRINITY COLLEGE

Trinity is the largest college in Cambridge (and in England), founded by Henry VIII in 1546, and boasts such alumni as Sir Isaac Newton and Alfred, Lord Tennyson. It has three main courts, including the magnificent Great Court, and gardens backing onto the River Cam. Its famous library was designed by Sir Christopher Wren, and contains Newton’s globe and telescope, his death mask, a statue of Lord Byron (another famous alumnus), and many rare books and manuscripts, including Milton’s first notes of Paradise Lost.

****

In a short time you find yourselves delivered by the ever smiling Alf Milsom to the gates of the splendid Trinity College, where you are greeted by a unsmiling middle-aged gentleman dressed in funereal black, wearing a bowler hat, a rather large mutton chop moustache and side-burns, and a long wicked looking scar that runs from just above his left eye to the right hand corner of his mouth. This must be one of the band of porters who act as university watchdogs and protectors of the universities reputation. To say he is large would be doing his stature a disservice, suffice to say he manages to dwarf Roxborough by several inches

“May I be of assistance?”

[Mr. Handy]

"Yes, thank you," says Rachel. "We are here to see Dr. Oswaldtwistle."

[carnage_lee]

OOC:   Sorry.. have we arrived after dinner, perhaps stopping off for a feast of our own?

[Priest]

OOC:   Sorry.. have we arrived after dinner, perhaps stopping off for a feast of our own?

OOC:   Ah, I presumed you would arrive before dinner and eat there. Being that some of you may have attended Cambridge University or being renowned throughout the Nation would automatically be invited to attend dinner,

[Priest]

The huge porter fellow stares, unblinking, for a moment or so, as if regarding a rather nasty specimen of garbage. Then without once breaking his deadpan expression, nods, “Indeed Ma’am, I presume you are the expected party? I was instructed by the Doctor to escort you to his rooms as soon as you arrived”

He produces a large silver pocketwatch from his vest, flick it open and looks at the time, “Dinner will be served in the dining hall at six, I shall instruct the kitchen staff that we have guests. If you would be so kind as to follow me”

OOC:   The pocketwatch, a rather expensive looking full hunter, has a military crest engraved on the cover. Roxborough and Hornsbee may make Perception rolls to identify the crest at DF1 (Easy) however Jonathan has -2 for his eyesight flaw.

[Mr. Handy]

"Thank you," says Rachel, following the porter.

[jaysun81]

Jonathan looks at the exquisite pocketwatch and says, "A fine time piece you have there." Pulls a draw from his pipe.

OOC:   The pocketwatch, a rather expensive looking full hunter, has a military crest engraved on the cover. Roxborough and Hornsbee may make Perception rolls to identify the crest at DF1 (Easy) however Jonathan has -2 for his eyesight flaw.

OOC:   I believe that's when I'm not wearing my glasses.

OOC:   Perception: 5 jaysun81 rolled 5d2: 1, 1, 1, 1, 1

[Papa Gateau]

OOC:   Perception is 5, I'll take the average (2+) which I think is sufficient for success

[Priest]

The porter leads you through oak panelled hallways and up oak staircases lit by huge stained glass windows, which even in the early evening light produces an almost hypnotic display of grandeur. Eventually you arrive at a door marked ‘Dr Henry Oswaldtwistle – Knock and await answer’. The porter raps the wood with three loud knocks, and a quiet, reedy voice answers, “Enter”

The porter opens the door with a slight groan of ancient, but well maintained, hinges to reveal a well dressed gentleman seated at a small but neat desk. The occupant looks up as you enter, “Ah you must be the party that I was informed would be coming to investigate the odd disappearance of young Ponsonby? I am, as you have no doubt noted, Dr Oswadtwistle. It was my sad duty to inform the family of their son’s sending down and his subsequent disappearance” He reaches for a small pocketwatch looks at it, shakes it, then turns to a large ornate wall clock near the lead paned window of the study. “Ah, I see it is almost time for dinner, you will of course be joining us? We can discuss the details of Ponsonby’s disappearance there"

He stands and looks at the hulking figure of the porter, “Ah, Magsworthy. Cut along and tell the kitchens that we have four guests, there’s a good chap”

As the porter, Magsworthy, leaves, the doctor smiles, “I believe that tonight we are having pheasant and chef does prepare such a good bird”

OOC:   Peter and Jonathan - The crest on the watch case belongs to the West Yorkshire Regiment (The Prince of Wales Own). Jonathan - Do not forget that you can elect to take the average of the ability/skill you are using as Peter has done, in which case you would have made it easily as a result I am allowing both of you to identify the regimental crest. Also you are correct the -2 is for without your glasses, my bad

[Papa Gateau]

Roxborough's stomach, hearing the cue, rumbles belligerently in demand of food. Pheasant, jolly good! It will be a pleasure to join you Doctor. My alma mater was Kings but I have heard wonderful stories about high table at Trinity.

I am so looking forwards to dining here tonight.

I don't suppose yo might know what wines might be accompanying our repas? I do know that Trinity's cellars boast some very, very fine vintages

he steps forward and proffers his hand

Lord Peter Roxborough, a pleasure to make your acquaintance he then proceeds to introduce the rest of his colleagues, interspersed with the insistent grumblings of his belly.

[Mr. Handy]

"I too would be delighted to join you for dinner," says Rachel when she is introduced.

[Priest]

Oswaldtwistle smiles a greeting as you are introduced, “I am not sure which wines will be served, not being a connoisseur myself, but I am sure they will not fail to please such a noted gastronome as yourself, my Lord”
He moves to the door from which he takes a gown and puts it on, “Must keep up appearances. This way, if you please”

Again you find yourself led through panelled hallways, many resplendent with crests of great houses, and down several marble staircases before passing through enormous double doors into a columned room of impressive proportions filled with mahogany tables accompanied by oak benches.

This then is Trinity College’s dining hall filled with noise and chatter as the doctor leads you towards a raised dais at the far end upon which a large table has been placed. At your entrance the room falls silent as the occupants show deference to a noted Master and his guests.

Dinner is a grand affair, a feast, in which Oswadtwistle’s boast of the chefs prowess is not overstated. The wine cellar is, to Roxborough’s joy, as fine as its reputation claims.

Small talk is made during the various courses, during which time you are introduced to several others of the faculty including a Professor Gourdoun MacMillan, a dour looking Scott with a fiery red beard introduced as Edward’s ‘Director of Studies’, and a Dr Melchisedek Choker, a doctor of medicine. Of course it would be bad form to ask questions during dinner, but after you are shown into the Master’s lounge where over port and cigars you find yourselves well placed to interrogate where you will.

[Mr. Handy]

"Perhaps one of you can try to find out about Dr. Choker hiring the cabbie Mr. MacPherson," whispers Rachel to her colleagues. She then approaches Dr. Oswaldtwistle. "Dr. Oswaldtwistle, we'd like to know more about young Edward Ponsonby. Anything you can tell us about him may help us to locate him. In particular, can you please tell us why we was sent down?"

[Priest]

Rachel -

Doctor Oswaldtwistle pours you a generous glass of fine port, "Hmm, Why was he sent down? Why for dishonourable behaviour of course, I thought I had made that plain to his mother, Lady Fenella"

He sniffs at the aroma from his glass and downs a large mouthful...

OOC:   Rachel - make a Con roll at DF2 (you may add any Style Points you care to spend, you have 4) as usual the more successes the better.

[Mr. Handy]

"That is true," says Rachel, "but the exact nature of that dishonourable behaviour was unspecified. it could have relevance to his disappearance."

Spoiler:

Con roll (5 skill + 1 Style point = 6 dice) talking to Dr. Oswaldtwistle:

Mr. Handy rolled 6d2:
1, 1, 2, 1, 1, 2

[Priest]

Rachel -

Doctor Oswadtwistle swallows noisilly and for a moment regards you with raised eyebrows, "I see your point dear lady, the exact nature of the offense was, I believe, a matter of breaking and entering into a restricted area. As to what that area was, I have no idea. Perhaps his personal tutor Professor MacMillan can answer your questions with more knowledge"

Again he takes a mouthful of the port, swills it around his mouth before swallowing, "A rather fine Port I think, now where are those cigars?" You get the feeling that there is little more to be gained from talking to the Doctor...

Everyone Else -

You see Mrs Steele in discussion with Doctor Oldswaldtwistle, but you can tell from her face and the attitude of the Doctor that she is getting little useful information, if you discount the possibility of a lecture over the finer points of a good Port. To one side, near the door, the master earlier introduced as Doctor Melchisedek Choker is conversing with a younger gentleman, who from his gown is also a member of the faculty.

[jaysun81]

Jonathan approaches Doctor Melchisedek Choker. A he waits for Choker and the younger man to finish conversing he adds a pinch or two of tobacco to his pipe. Once they either finish, or at least pause, Jonathan looks up and introduces himself saying, "Dr. Choker, if I may have but a moment of your time. The name is Jonathan Hornsbee." Extends his hand. "Perhaps you can help me. I hear you know Mr. MacPherson, the cabbie?

[Mr. Handy]

"Yes, Doctor, the port is excellent," agrees Rachel. "If you'll excuse me, I shall seek Professor MacMillan as you suggested. Is he here now? Could you please describe him?"

[carnage_lee]

Nellie's moves off across the room intending to help Rachel extricate herself from the terribly boring looking Doctor Oldswaldtwistle, drawing nearby she overhears Rachel's request t concerning Professor MacMillan and stops a few paces short, ready to scan the crowd for anyone matching the (hopefully) forthcoming description.

[Priest]

Jonathan (and any with him) –

As soon as Jonathan speaks, both men look towards you and the younger of the two nods and takes his leave. A tall thin, sharp featured gentleman wearing an raises an ornate pair of prinz-nez spectacles, raises a quizzical eyebrow, “Indeed... Mr...Hornsbee... I believe I employ a Mr McPherson. How, may I inquire, is that of any business of yours?”

From his speech and the way he looks down his nose at you through his blue lensed spectacles you feel as if you are being studied as if some kind of specimen. From the coldness of his tone to his obvious boredom with the conversation, you find yourself momentarily reminded of your own days at college and being presented to your master for punishment over some misdemeanour or other. A slight chill races down your spine, but it is a fleeting moment and soon passes.

Rachel (and any with her) –

Spotting an open box of fine cigars on a table near some bottles, Dr Oswaldtwistle begins to move towards them, “Ahh MacMillan, now where is he?” His tone displays his irritation at being delayed in his quest, but he pauses to survey the rooms occupants. “Ahh he may have already left” he produces a small leather bound notebook and pencil and writes something on it before tearing out the page and passing it to you, “This is the location of his rooms. Now if you will forgive me dear lady” With that he is gone towards the cigar box.

On the paper he has written ‘Professor Gourdoun MacMillan, Neville’s Court’

Nellie –

Looking around the rooms occupants you see Jonathan talking to a tall, thin, sharp featured man whose cap and gown mark him as a member of the faculty. It appears that the conversation is unwelcome from the intense looks the master is sending Jonathan’s way.