[Gaming] The Adventures of Rupert Bulmer, Esq. - Chapter 2 - Session 24

[karohemd]

Finally, another session. I missed the last one because I was on holiday and then there were various clashes that prevented us from meeting but Tuesday night we were back on the MS Mauretania on our way to New York with a full complement of PCs. So here's what happened.



Where was I? I'm not sure, I must have eaten something that didn't agree with me and I spent a whole day indisposed in my cabin. When I met the others for breakfast I learned of a failed attempt on the count's life (Bolcheviks! Again!) with exciting explosions no less. Except for the Bolchevik goons nobody was hurt, thankfully.
Also, allegedly, the Polynesian crew down below are worshipping the “Great Old Ones”, among them one with the face of a squid. One of the professors Nicolas had met the previous evening called it a “Thoolhoo”, or whatever that was.
Thomas tried to search the count's hold but instead found somebody else's bag with interesting items: old books (one of them a very old bible), a gun and ammunition. There was also an auctioneer's catalogue of sorts with various items highlighted, the bible among them. This looked like someone was out to "acquire" certain items. Turns out the owner of the bag currently resided in Cabin 57.

Nicolas had a bit of a rummage in the newspaper archive of the ship and indeed found out that the bible had been stolen from a well-known art collector called Johnathan Tilburn two weeks previously. Alex had a word with the bursar and learned the name of the passenger in Cabin 57: Michael Trent.
Nicolas also mentioned that his professor friend had invited to us to his cabin in the evening to demonstrate some more "magic".

We hatched a plan and sent Alex to inform the bursar about Trent's doings. After examinig our evidence, the bursar promptly went into action and apprehended the criminal with the help of two burly sailors. Trent protested his innocence but went along without resorting to violence and is now securely tucked away in the brig.

Afterwards, the bursar accompanied us to Cabin 57 which was thoroughly searched. There was no further loot but Robert found something odd about Trent's suitcase as it seemed bigger on the outside than the inside. After careful inspection he found a catch which he very carefully triggered with a stick at outstretched arm. However, there was no booby trap and a hidden compartment was revealed containing a set of intricate tools and a pair of fine leather gloves. The bursar thanked us and promised us complimentary bottles of wine and spirits for dinner which was nice.

As there wasn't really anything we could do before we came into telegraph range of New York, we spent the rest of the day socialising, gambling and similar things until it was time for another scrumptious dinner (we had decided the professor's invitation didn't include food).

After dinner we made our way to the professor's cabin. I didn't really know what to expect and wasn't really looking forward to it considering the things we had witnessed but Nicolas was adamant we all join him so we did.
The cabin was decorated in fabrics and smoke from several incense burners filled the room. In the centre was a large glass orb on a little draped table, seating cushions scattered around it. A large candle behind the orb cast an eerie light as it was refracted through the thick glass.
After introductions had been made we were asked to sit on the cushions and Professor Fudar explained that he'd be attempting to use the orb to find answers to any questions we might have. Not what I had expected, really, it all felt a bit like a fairground attraction with all the incense and occult parphernalia. Just a black cat was missing.
Nicolas started by asking, “what's the source of Ruiz's power?”
The professor read passages from a large old book and muttered things nobody could really understand and the atmosphere in the room changed. Shapes and a desolate desert landscape appeared inside the glass sphere, then a green orb panned into view, much like a globe with shapes like continents on them. Below, there was a huge sailing ship on full mast, sailing over the desert, squat figures moving around it, very odd figures, human shaped but much much wider than humans. I certainly could neither make heads nor tails of it.

Alex then asked, "What is the face of god?". There was an extremely odd sensation, almost like nausea. Again, shapes and things moved around the light but I think experience told me to close and avert my eyes while Robert tried to crawl away. Everything seemed to move in slow motion. I heard wimpers and moans and Nicolas shouting, "Professor, something's going wrong!". Thomas then threw his jacket over the orb. It catches fire and there was a bolt of lightning striking Thomas who fell over. I got up an ran out into the corridor. There was a Steward with a tray of drinks. I grabbed the tray and shouted "Fire in the cabin!". The Steward grabbed a bucket of sand and stormed into the cabin, I right behind him but Robert had already put the fire out. Thomas was still on the floor not moving, Nicolas hunched over him and shaking his head. I sent the Steward (who, sadly, took the tray of drinks with him) to fetch the ship's doctor and had a quick look around. Robert's coat was over the orb, still smouldering but the fire was out. Everything was a mess. I couldn't see the professor but the door to the bathroom was open and I could hear retching from inside.

Then I figured I had enough of "magical" objects, ran back out into the corridor and picked up the fire axe I had spotted earlier. I returned to the cabin, axe held high, intent on smashing the orb into tiny smithereens but Robert held me back. I calmed down a bit and agreed that destroying the orb probably wasn't a good idea so I just picked it up, carried it outside and threw it over the side of the ship where it sank with a satisfying splosh.
Robert offered us drinks from the bottle of whisky he'd been given for dinner and we gratefully accepted, except Silas of all people who seemed to be visibly shaken by what he'd witnessed and said he would retire early.

Meanwhile, the doctor had arrived and taken care of Thomas who was badly burnt but still alive. He was put on a gurney and trundled off to the infirmary where he would need to stay at least until our arrival in New York.

Alex was upset about not having seen the "face of god" but told us later that he'd spoken to Trent, offering him a deal if he were to share his criminal escapades for Alex to write in his book. Unsurprisingly, really, Trent refused.

Comments

[razornet.livejournal.com]

Notes that both our characters are aware of to my knowledge:

Robert was massively paranoid about the suitcase.

Robert's bottle of whiskey he offered round after the ball incident.

Alex was upset we didn't see the face of God.

Alex later told us of his encounter with the thief in the brig.

To all of our surprise John's character (I can't remember his name) refused drink for the rest of the evening and retired early.

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

Good points, I'll work those in. Thanks!