GM: Sam Tillis
Players: Adrienne Mueller, Dylan Arena, James Lawton, Sean Nittner, Sarah Terman, Matthew Fisher
System: Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition
Because of holidays and busy schedules, it was three months since our last game with these characters so my memory was a bit rusty when we started. Thankfully we were at a good breaking point (traveling from Cairo to Mombasa) so it was a good opportunity to review our old leads!
Recap
I’m leaving off the things that are actually covered in previous AP reports and focusing on the notes we dug up about Mombasa and Nairobi, which would turn into leads for our game.
- Pyramids of all shapes and sizes are important to watch out for.
- Each mask has it’s own weakness.
- The story is that the Carlyle expedition were here and were murdered by members of the Nandi tribe, but no bodies of white people were ever found. The story smells fishy from 2,200 miles away!
- Other memories of our findings in London
- Eskith Slippers (from the 10th century).
- Knife from the Ivory Wind had a serpentine design
- Amongst the Stone was written in 1918
- People in Mombasa or Nairobi that we should look into:
- Undersecretary Royston Whittingdon, aka Spinerly of Whittingdon, aka (maybe) Reggie Baines. Supposed to be at Collingswood House. Sent the report that the Carlyle expedition was massacred by the Nandi. Found bodies of the Kikuyu tribe.
- Lt. Selkirk – Found the bodies with Whittingdon, noted that they did not decay. The earth was barren, and locals don’t go to that place because they fear the god of the black wind.
- Johnstone Kenyatta – Believes cultist of the Bloody Tongue (not from Africa) caused the massacre. They are also said to steal children.
- Mr. Harvis – Prosecutor in the murder trial.
- Colonel Endicott, a society of acquaintance of Lady Evangeline
- Neville Jermyn, at government house? (incomplete notes)
- Sam Mariga, worked on the rail and talked to Jackson Elias.
- Dr. Starret, missionary in Nairobi
- Nails Nelson, saw Brady in Hong Kong two years ago.
It was a long list of leads but the byproduct of hundreds of years of colonization meant that several of these people should be accessible to us, and in some cases may be helpful, The real evil was imperialism all along, but I think that is bigger than even Nyarlathotep.
Additional, these were things we knew or learned in our preparation for the trip
- Kenya is still colonized by making its way towards independence. Historically colonized by the Portuguese, it passed into British control (violently) hundreds of years back. Most locals know English or Swahili.
- We would arrive in Mombasa, which is a 15 hour train ride to Nairobi on the way to Uganda. Nairobi is within the Kikuyu homeland.
Cairo to Mombasa
We took a one day train ride back to Port Said, then spend two days traveling down the coast of, in order to board the tramp steamer Amara (all that was available) bound for Mombasa. Lady Evangeline paid to rent out the officers room for herself and Analise, but the rest of us were roughing it in the common quarters.
What should have been 10 days of travel turned into 14 because we had to stop in Aden to wait out a storm. It was the start of monsoon season and the boat was rocking the whole way. We all felt queasy and uncomfortable, but Iris (terrified of the ocean) suffered the most.
On the trip with us, in addition to the sailors was a Hungarian couple László and Zsuzsanna Ország, who posed as formerly wealthy folks that had been displaced after the war and were now traveling the world on loans of credit. We didn’t trust them, but didn’t realize soon enough that they were our enemies.
When they had a moment Amos talked to Francois about how all these “creatures” seem to hate each other, and the lord of waters might be happy if his rival fell. Francois began mentally preparing to contact the lord of the deep.
Downtime activitie
Francois inspected the scrolls taken from Gavigan’s office and found that of the 15 scrolls (all written on vellum, paper, or parchment consistent with the time and location the were created), they were divided up by languages: 1 in Greek, 4 in Latin, 6 in Arabic, 2 in Medieval French, 1 in Old English, and 1 in Egyptian.
Francois read the French scrolls and found them to the harsh poetry, even considering the archaic forms they were written in. They must have sounded terrible even when they were first created. The poems praised an entity called the Lord of the Woods (another face of Nyarlathotep). They referenced a great stump (one of the symbols we’ve found before) that could be a gateway. [A little sanity loss, a little Mythos gain, but mostly utter revulsion]
Francois stormed out of the cabin to toss the scrolls into the sea, but he was intercepted by Amos who convinced him we needed those scroll, even if they are vile. László, our traveling companion, was also on the deck and he interrupted “how bad could poetry be?”
This broke into some discussion when László told us he was heading to Nairobi for the real hunting (of babies!!! – no, he didn’t say that, but now that we know what we know…we know). Once a wealthy industrialist, he now traveled with his wife seeing the world.
Catherine, with the help of Lady Evangeline’s funds, had purchased and brought along a typewriter on the trip. Many nights she stayed up by dim light typing drafts and discarding them. More drafts, more discarded. Finally she completed the letter and signed it.
She attempted to place it on Colby’s bunk so that that he would find it when he woke, but it kept not looking correct. would it be too out of site? Too obtrusive? Would he wake and discard it without noticing? Catherine kept trying to find the perfect location to place it until she noticed that Colby was awake and watching her. She clutched the letter to her chest, but after a moment worked up her courage and asked that he remain silent while she read it to him. He nodded so she pulled up a lantern and with a faltering, sometimes halting voice, read the letter: Dearest Colby.
Colby patiently waited and then nodded after she had finished, shared his perspective thoughtfully and kindly. Just because we haven’t found answers, doesn’t mean they don’t exist. Very soon they were working together to discuss metamorphosis and how the various creatures that they had seen change not only in shape but also in mass might have connections to other realms, white holes or otherwise. They talked into the night sharpening their intellectual blades, and assuring one another that when fits of madness beset them, they would be there for each other [Catherine regaining sanity, Colby practicing persuasion]
Iris, after many months of avoiding any contact with the mythos, consented to read some of the scrolls written in Latin. They appeared to be a Roman translation from Gallic. Another work that spoke of the Lord of the Woods. Perhaps a goat? Who operates in the dark of the moon. Many references to hills and mountains. [Iris gains Mythos for the first time]
Docking in Aden
The monsoons were so bad that we spent four days in Aden waiting out the storm (and the full moon). Aden is an old city that has been part of Indian trade routes for a millennium and for much of that it was independent of western influence. Vastly multicultural, it was almost as if the world could exist just fine on it’s own without the intervention (or incursion) of colonizers.
When we left Aden, travel along the cost turned more from plains to jungle.
Downtime, continued
Evangeline, while in Aden spoke the with the portmaster and other officials, waved around a lot of cash, and dropped her family name enough to gain travel records, shipping manifests, and other cargo information for any ships that passed through Aden during the time of the Carlyle expedition. [Practiced her Law skill]
Colby and Catherine took shore leave as well to practice skills of their own [Charm for Colby and Arabic for Catherine]
Amos, back on the boat, was studying the Crown of Nitocris (given to him by Colby after he finished his convalescence) and if there was a way to restore the protective powers it provided. Aided by Catherine who used her Yithian artifact to try and channel energy into it, he had a miraculous discovery that it could be restored but it would permanently sap the life force from one who did it [30 power] and the means to recharge it would have to be discovered through some spell or engineered over a life time of experimentation.
Evangeline talked to Zsuzsanna Ország in the officer’s chambers. She found that this was their first journey south of the Sahara, but the conversation was terse and Zsuzsanna would only offer this advice: don’t drink the water unless it’s boiled or bottled and don’t get eaten by lions.
When we later corralled László into a conversation he was much more forthcoming and talked about may adventures that were a little too incredible (revealing he was not a hunter at all). He was very interested that we had a list of contacts to reach out to.
Iris studied mechanical repair by studying the ship’s engines and mechanisms. The sailors observed Iris observing them. Zsuzsanna did so as well. She noticed Iris’ discomfort on the ship and said “I do not like the water either. I have found techniques that will help. Would you like me to help you?” Initially Iris consented but as Zsuzsanna led her closer and closer to the object of her fear (first on to the deck, then onto the prow, then to the railing), Iris did not feel safe n her hands and backed away. Good thinking Iris! [Practicing Mechanical Repair]
Catherine and Iris talked about her vision of the ship crashing being only one of many possibilities and Iris knew that her fears were not rational, but they nevertheless rattled her. Catherine commiserated that she was now afraid of her own bed covers (or really anything at all that wrapped around her)!
Amos practiced sword fighting on the deck of the ship, welding a mop, much to the amusement of the sailors.
Francois, late at night, on his own, went to the prow of the ship, sat in the elements and cast a spell to contact the lord of the deep. The fog around the ship thickened until it seemed that it encompassed everything, the ship, the water, and the sky. In the distance creatures that looked like winged eyeless dolphins appeared in the fog, pulling along a great shell that an aged man stood upon. It seemed the the dolphins moved very fast and yet it was an eternity before the arrived.
Nodins, the Lord of the Deep spoke without words. Was he speaking in Francois mind or was Francois saying these things? He could not tell.
“You have called me. Few call me.”
“I’m in great need. I had hoped that you could help me. A creature with many faces who comes as a wind or a bat or a king seeks to enter this world again. He will succeed unless he is stopped.”
“The cycle renews. The being of which you speak is my enemy. You, the children of Gaia, I seek to protect.”
It was unclear now which one was Francois and which was Nodins.
“No being powerful enough to conduct the ritual that the Crawling Chaos exists…as of yet.”
“They plan to open a world sized gate.”
“And you would have me stop this?”
“If you can. Or I will if you help me.”
“I can not. I will not. But I could help you.”
The part of Francois life that was given up to cast this spell [5 Power] was replaced by knowledge that was suddenly in his mind. The ability to cast two spells:
- Bone Spear. A ritual to create and anoint a spear that would be a weapon on Nodins.
- Sacrifice and Exaltation. A spell to draw life force through the Bone Spear to channel it to Nodins to be used for the sorcerers down doing.
“Empower me and we will speak again.”
In the morning Amos came upon the deck and saw Francois standing there as he had been all night, drenched by the rain. “Francois, you should not be alone.”
“I’ve not been alone.”
Arrival in Mombasa
We arrived at the port city of Mombasa in the afternoon. The city housed approximately 30,000 people and served as a major trade port under British rule, but with much African and Arabic influence. We would have to wait till the morning to catch a train to Nairobi so we took a bit of time to settle in and ask around. The Országs departed and told us they would be staying at the Hampton House in Nairobi.
Evangeline sent a telegram to Dr. Kalfour asking that he send her all important dates that correspond to pyramid (or pyramid like structures) events.
Francois caught us up on his experience during the night “I had an interesting conversation…” He told us of a creature that sounded like the ancient statues of Neptune. “He said, I said, someone said he didn’t want Nyarlathotep to succeed. He needs us to do his work…and he could help us. He told me how to make a weapon that would take the power of people and give it to him. This would be a horrible experience.”
We all discussed what this meant and agreed that we’d decide the nature of sacrifices (if there were to be any) at a future date. Catherine speculated to Iris that our reality might have a membrane like a cell does, that can be penetrate to introduce things from outside, but that tools (Bone spears, gates, rituals, sacrifices) were needed to cross the threshold.
Walking through the city of Mombasa it seemed quite sedate for a port town. We leared that many important offices (Government house, trade, official documents, etc) had moved form Mombasa to Nairobi over the past few years, as an aggressive attempt to grow the city was being made.
The Fire
When we inquired about Royston Whittingdon we learned he died in a fire several years ago and that he had been replaced by Roger Corydon. The news papers indicated that many people died during the fire, which was set at the then Government House. Reports said the fire came from inside, but they had no reason to suspect arson, so it was ruled as an accident. Photos of the old building showed there were multiple exits, so it seemed strange that so few escaped the fires, however the newspaper did say the conflagration consumed the building quickly! We learned that Harvis, the prosecutor for the trial also died in the fire.
Catherine asked locals and in one dark alley she was told by a stranger “In the dry season, things burn. Secrets burn.” She said it was a shame that the records were lost but—tapping her head—surely some things are remembered. The shadowy figure smiled grimly “It takes longer, but flesh burns too!” Not ominous at all.
This time, thinking it prudent not to travel alone, Catherine, Iris, and Amos went to a shop across the street from the old building to ask if the saw the fire and knew why people weren’t able to escape. They passed through a beaded doorway and saw colorful textiles. The shopkeeper experienced a palpable thrill of excitement and fear when we asked about the fire “I saw the fire. I can see fires no more. There were points of light in the window that burned so bright. They converged and then all was gone.”
Turning to more mundane topics, Catherine (who had recently had a change of style to attire better suited for warm weather) tried to convince Iris to wear something other than just black. Perhaps an accent color. A bit of trim or lace here or there. When we was rebuffed, she got right the heart of the matter “I did not know Edward, but I do know many of the Morsleys and I can’t imagine a single one of them want you to forever mourn him.” Amos jumped to his sister’s defense, but she could speak for herself “Perhaps one day, but not now.” In hopeful aspiration Catherine purchased a bold of dark red fabric, hoping it would be a muted enough color that Iris might one day wear it, but as the bolt was unrolled it look disturbingly like a bloody tongue.
More investigation in Mombasa
Meanwhile, in the rooms at Mombasa’s finest Castle Hotel (procured by Evangeline) Colby was studying the shipping records that Evangeline acquired in Aden. He found no evidence that the Carlyle expedition passed through Aden, but he did see that the Randolph corporation (which was affiliated with the Penhew Foundation) did send shipments through Aden frequently, many of them to Darwin and Port Headland in Australia. the also got a name of a shipping contact Ahja Singh, who works in imports and exports.
Francois followed the Országs under the guise of a photographer taking pictures of the city. He saw them come out of a telegraph office, walking through several fish markets, and eventually into a dingy hotel where they seemed to know most of the people there. The hotel had Americans, Europeans, an East Asian couple, and several South Americans that all convened alongside the locals. Francois took many pictures of the people there.
Francois returned to the telegraph office and attempted to bribe the operator but met no success. Their message would remain a mystery to us.
At the hotel, Jimmy, who was not really sure what to do with himself since we didn’t have need of a car in Mombasa asked Evangeline “So…I’m all on board with whatever it is that you’re going to do. But on a scale from bad to worse, how bad are we expecting things to be.”
Without consideration for how he might receive this news, Evangeline said “It should be about the same a Cairo”
*GULP* (and in retrospect, if only we could have protected Jimmy better).
Evangeline offered Jimmy another drink, which he gladly accepted, and then another, and another after that.
New Developments
In one of the rooms Francois had covered all the windows and lights to turn into a darkroom, he developed the pictures he had taken in the city. He found that one person in the hotel visited by the Hungarians had the edge of a tattoo showing from under his shirt that looked like one of the symbols of the Bloody Tongue that we had previously encounered.
Man, a we hoped the the Hungarians were just spies!
That night we continued to discuss the cost of Nodin’s spells and portents.
Train to Nairobi
Early in the morning we boarded the one train to Naorobi. The car was divvied by strict racial segregation. In the front was an open car (no walls or rails) where the African passengers sat or stood, exposed to the elements. Behind that car was the 3rd class car, fitted with bench seats, where the Asian, Arabic, and Indian passengers sat. Behind that was the shared dining car, and behind that was the 1st class car with both seats and private quarters for the white passengers. We were not asked where we wanted to sit. We were seated in the back and it was clear that we were not supposed to travel outside of our designated areas.
Colby immediately set about doing a threat analysis of everyone in the 1st class and dining cars. He spotted mostly British government officers and big game hunters who openly toted their large guns. Notably the Országs were not on the train.
Amos talked to one of the big game hunters and learned that as long as he provided his own gun, the lodges in Nairobi could offer the other supplies (ammunition, guides, food, travel accommodations). The man talked wistfully about the true hunter who would go deep into the heart of darkness, where no man had every laid eyes before…which of course, the guides could take you to if you wanted. Amos asked about going to Endicott’s lodge and the hunter openly laughed. “No, don’t go there. That place is cursed. Everyone who goes there is ripped apart by animals. A dozen people are known to have died there so far!”
Catherine found a home-sick officer, Sgt. Leonard Bumption, who was heading to Nairobi to serve in the government house. He seemed lackluster in his assignment and was delighted to have company. Bumption did not recognize the man in Francois’ picture but did think there were many suspicious people in Mombasa. “The locals don’t want us here, but we do what we must for the Empire. He said with no conviction at all. As the trained continued Northwest to Nairobi Mt. Kilimanjaro loomed in the distance.
Francois set about trying to console Jimmy, who was still scared of what was to come (it turned out he had reason to be afraid). Jimmy appreciated the accommodations that Evangeline provided and Francois’ company “In the darkness we still find sparkles of light.” He asked if what we were doing all the way in Kenya would protect people in New York and Francois told him it would protect everyone. “Alright then, just don’t make me read any of those books!”
Evangeline and Iris had a chat about society (“can you believe that terrible hat?”) that soon turned to talk of Edward.
Iris looked to Evangeline for guidance “Do you think Edward would be upset that I kept going on with this?”
“Hard to say (always the pinnacle of compassion Evangeline is). He chose to go to war and he came back changed. He wouldn’t deny you your choice to do this!”
“I know, but sometimes I think I’m doing this for him, but I’m not sure it’s what he’d want.”
“These people have taken a lot from me, and it has caused me great anger. I plan to get back at them.”
Just then we heard several gunshots and people screaming from the car ahead!
Unnatural Flames
Two fist sized balls of fire, one red and one blue, appeared outside the train. The radiated such heat that the metal buckled as it soared past the stationary fires. When our car reached them however, they burst though the windows and into our cabins!
So much happened all at once, that a full account of the confrontation is hard to provide, but here are the snippets of information centered on our investigators.
Colby burst out into the common area to make sure there where not more threats and then helped many of us escape to the dining car. Later, when the room was evacuated he snuffed out the fire using blankets, curtains, a pail of sand provided for this purpose, and whatever else he could find handy, which in a comedic moment was some of the Catherine’s night garments that tumbled out of our suitcase, and then in a foreboding moment, the bolt of red cloth that once again looked like a bloody tongue.
Jimmy was horribly burned by the blue flame. He nearly died, and would have if not for the fire creature being destroyed by Amos, the fire being put out by Francois, immediate medical attention from Amos and Iris, and the train getting going again after the incident thanks to convincing from Catherine, Evangeline, and Colby. We all worked to save his life!
Amos drew the sword of dreaming and with a single deft blow cleaved through the blue flame and destroyed the creature within it, snuffing out the supernatural flames, but still leaving behind the fires it had set.
Iris pulled her hunting rifle from her luggage and standing side by side with Evangeline fired a perfect shot into the center of the creature…only to watch it pass harmlessly through it. After the fight she administered medical attention to Jimmy (near death), Catherine (burned), and Evangeline (who had inhaled smoke) in that order.
Francois focused on putting out fires, first Jimmy, and then the room. However, he was bumped by someone passing by the pail of sand was lost. It was a scary moment but eventually the fires were extinguished and Amos (terrified of fire) was lead from them.
Evangeline, upon seeing that Iris’ bullet had no effect, instead focused on getting Analise and Thackery out of the room and to safety. Later, when questioned by the conductor, she instead berated him for not having better fire retardant measures.
Catherine used her Yithian artifact to channel the energy from the flames of the red fire into it. As she did so she could see the flames weaken and what looked like a nine-legged spider within it. The device was so hot that it burned her hands. The creature burner her as well. She kept siphoning its energy until the flames abated and the creature, which seemed as though it could not survive in our atmosphere with out the flames around it, winked out of existence. However doing so overcharged the device and it exploded in Catherine’s hands!
Collectively we explained this as a strange meteorological phenomena called ball lightning (look that shit up, it really exists!)
Starting the train back up agian
Catherine, Evangeline, and Colby went through the 3rd class car (where people seemed very upset), through the flat car (where people seemed either confused or amused) and to the caboose to implore the conductor to start the train moving quickly as their friend direly needed medical attention [Catherine got an extreme success with charm, but had that failed Lady Evangeline was ready with Intimidate…and had the smoke inhalation cough to back it up].
We asked the folks in the flat car if they were okay, but it appears the balls of fire didn’t appear until after their car had passed, indicating it originated next to the 3rd class car.
In our trip we didn’t see anyone that looked like a cultist (no inverted ankhs or visible tattoos of cult sigils) but Colby’s “aggressive” did get him a punch in the jaw from one of the more unsettled passengers. That seemed to confirm he was freaked out the appropriate amount to be okay!
Arrival in Nairobi
After delays from he fire, we didn’t make into the Nairobi until very late at night (almost midnight). Nairobi looked like a small frontier town (10,000 people at most). Against the the mountains the stars glared down on us.
We rushed Jimmy to the Nairobi State Hospital and he was very quickly admitted (to the white ward, of course, we saw the town of Nairobi was just as segregated as the train leading there).
We went to the New Stanley Hotel. It was difficult to get a room past midnight, but Evangeline was able to make it happen. Amos and Catherine stayed with Jimmy though the night in the hospital and though we couldn’t do much for him, we at least got some jazz records to play for him.
Captain Monty Montgomery
Date: April 17, 1925
In the light of day Nairobi has the charm of a bustling frontier town. Imported eucalyptus lined the city and buildings were being built as fast as they could be constructed. Parts of the town were aggressively white, while other parts were not as a gentrified.
As a group we headed to government house to see Lt. Selkirk. Outside the building there was a lot of police presence. Among them was Sgt. Bumption who hadn’t heard of Selkirk but he was able to introduce us to the officer in charge Captain Monty Montgomery.
We were were admitted to the captain’s office and he immediately to a dislike to us. Lt. Selkirk, we found out, had died in a fire in his home and since then Montgomery was in charge. He asked if we were connected to Erica Carlyle and bemoaned her interference and all the commotion she caused when she arrived and demanded an investigation (which is how they found the massacre).
If we wanted to know more, the new Undersecretary Rodger Corydon would have to approve it, and he was a busy man.
When we asked about the Carlyle expedition he lied through is teeth and told us he saw the bodies torn apart in ways no animal could do…including seeing the head of Hypatia Masters (who we know is still alive).
Montgomery was content with the story that the Nandi were guilty, but eventually gave us the name of their defense attorney Elwin, though he didn’t recommend we use him for any of our legal needs. When pushed he revealed that the prosecuting attorney Harvis had also died in a house fire, about a month after Selkirk.
Amos, a bit out of left field, asked if he knew of any libraries existed and he told us there was a single private library “Dalton’s” that we might be able to pay to visit.
After that he invited us to leave and we were escorted out by Sgt. Bumption, who definitely wasn’t listening in on the conversation. Catherine asked Bumption if his officers might be willing to patrol the Hotel Stanley as part of their rounds to keep everyone safe. He smiled and it seemed like Lady Evangeline thought Catherine was inviting him for a nightcap. THE AUDACITY!
Investigation in Nairobi
Flies bussed through the air as we set about the rest of our investigation.
Amos and Francois discussed how an Elder Sign might help ingratiate them with the Nandi if they also fought the dark forces. The decided to visit a place of worship, which were also divided among racial lines:
- Local sites of worship that were unknown to us.
- Islamic mosques that were insular and generally inaccessible.
- Christian missions that were welcoming to all who sought the lord.
At one of the churches they med Dr. Horace Starret (Jackson had mentioned him in his notes) who believed he knew everything about the people of Kenya and their spiritual needs. He was full of himself, but did tell us about the four major tribes in the area:
- Akamba. Nobadic, trading tribe. Speak Kamba.
- Kikuyu. Local tribe. Speak Kikuyu.
- Masasi. Live in the highlands. Enemies of the Kikuyu.
- Nandi – Live in the Rift Valley to the west.
Amos asked about creation stories from different tribes and Starret told them that the locals worshiped mountains as gods or as the home of gods. He hoped Amos would be satisfied with his version of their stories, but eventually agreed to introduce him to Nandi members of the congregation who could tell their own stories as well.
Evangeline and Colby set out to find the defense attorney Elwin. He was not at his office but they did find him in a nearby watering hole drinking the day away. Evangeline bought him another drink and started asking questions.
He snorted when the asked about the case, and when they asked him the details he said “Five innocents died. What more is there to say.”
Apparently the case was decided from the start, and these people were just scapegoats to make the controversy go away. A few more details he shared:
- The found some people that were nearby where the massacre happened, strung them up, and called them the killers.
- The massacre happened in Nandi territory, so this was the simplest solution to the law.
- The Nandi all knew they were going to die. No one spoke in their defense, it wouldn’t have done any good.
- The horrible murders were not inline with the Nandi believes and no white bodies were found, but none of that mattered. The Nandi are not cannibals and they do not sale the earth.
To learn more he suggested the talk to the Nandi in the Rift Valley, but to be warned, it is a blighted land.
Possibly related, the Kikuyu are organizing for independence. Their leader’s name is Kenyata. No tribe ascribes to hold such practices, but all fear them, and accuse each other of practicing them.
When they asked about a Nandi translator, Elwin offered to do the job. “I’m the defender of lost causes.”
Iris and Catherine went to talk to the rail worker Sam Mariga. On the way though, Catherine had to know “Do you think I was flirting with Sgt. Bumption?”
“Well. Were you?”
“I wasn’t. But it doesn’t matter if I was. Lady Evangeline seems to think I am…and greatly disapproves.”
We asked about Sam at the rail stations and we were pointed to his home, which was richly decorated by local flora that was clearly lovingly cared for. Iris liked him immediately!
We introduced ourselves, told Sam the sad news about Jackson Elias and we were quickly invited into his home. He told us his story. “I was visiting a cousin in Nindori when I heard about the carnage. I had to see it for myself. There were scraps of people that had been torn apart but unaged by the passage of time. I told my story to the officers but it held no water. I felt evil in that place.”
More detailed he revealed
- Kikuyu died there. They had been hired as guided, he be believes they were just meant to be sacrifices.
- The place is associated with a nearby mountain. The Mountain of the Black Wind.
- There is a man who might be able to tell us more. A Kikuyu magician, Old Bundari, who is skilled in creating charms of healing and protection.
- Though there were only Kikuyu bodies found, he believes that M’weru survived.
- When Catherine spoke her name he became very uncomfortable and decided he was not safe. We agreed to take care of his garden while he visited family for a while.
As Iris learned about all the details of his garden’s needs, Catherine made tea and noticed that the logo for the tea brand…the same logo that had been on every tea box she had see thus far looked like a scorpion or a spider with nine legs.
Amos and Francois were introduced to Okomu, a Nandi guide that could not have been less impressed “White people go into the woods to die. White people go to the mountain to die. Are you sure you want to go as well?”
The told him they wanted to stop the thing that was killing people. He agreed to take them to the villages and to meet the elders, but he doubted they would be any more effective at helping his people than the church had been (sick burn). “If you die, it’s not my concern. Children are still taken at night. What has your gone done to stop that?” The investigators assured him they would use their swords to find the evil, not the lord!
Flames
That night the train came into the station and Colby and Catherine waited in the shadows to see who came off it. Many passengers departed but the ones we paid attention to where the Hungarians as well as several other folks we had seen in Francois’ photos. Colby counted eight of them (six men and two women), in their 20s to 50s, none appeared armed, some looked rather poor, others middle class, or wealthy. The seemed to have no common language but spoken in many languages all at once and translated for each other.
As we watched the group depart we saw Sam Mariga’s house go up in flames!
[Editors note: Thankfully Sam was on the train going back so as far as we know he’s safe, but we are going to murder the fuck out of these people for burning his garden]
Pics from the Game
Letter to Colby
Quote (not read aloud but thought of in the reading to Colby): “Everything must be taken into account. If the fact will not fit the theory-let the theory go.” Agatha Christie, The Mysterious Affair at Styles
