Shadows of Yog Sothoth Turn 11

Henry searches the group looking for anyone not chanting or otherwise standing out in any subtle ways. Everyone seems to be getting involved, with the exception of the man seated on stage. Even the guards are joining the chant.
Henry remembers the diagram in his hand and begins to look at the shapes as the chanting continues.
It is clear to Henry that the chanting and collective concentration on these symbols is part of some ritual spell and with the amount of people involved, wittingly or not, a very powerful one.
Henry looks at the man seated on stage, appears the same, pale and exhausted.

Dimmy whispers "I don't know what is going on. Should I make a distraction?"

"I think we draw as little attention to ourselves as possible. Let's wait this out and maybe do some mingling." whispers Henry.

"Okay," replies Dimmy, "You guys know what you're doing. Happy to follow your lead."

"Try not to focus on the symbols," adds Hal quietly, "Keep you eyes peeled."

One man from the row in front of you turns and hisses a loud "Hush" with one finger over his lips.

After several minutes of chanting, a small light begins to form on stage, it grows into a ball, getting larger and larger, forming a roughly rectangular door, some 7 feet high. One of the guards steps up onto the stage and steps through the light, disappearing before your eyes.

Moments later he steps back through the light and onto the stage in his arms some kind of bag with straps at the back. The chanting stops and the doorway vanishes, the crowds cheer. 

He reaches into the bag and pulls out what looks like a large square piece of card, blue in colour with the letters ABC in red, yellow and pink and the words Jackson 5 above it. Coloured images of five young negro boys stand among the letters. Reaching into the cardboard which appears to be a sleeve of somekind he pulls out a black disk that shines in the light. The crowds gasp.



Putting the objects back in the bag, the guard exits the rear of the stage, through a wooden door.

"Yet again, we Looked to the Future!" calls the man behind the altar, and raising his hands, he turns and leaves through the same door.

The crowds begin to disperse, some of the men stand chatting, lighting cigars and sharing hip flasks.



.

Shadows of Yog-Sothoth Turn 10

Henry handles the artifact gently, slowly turning and examining it from various angles.

"Now, this is a curious piece of work! I'm about as skeptical as anyone, but I've never seen the likes of this anywhere...not even the Orient, and they have some mighty strange creations."
He hands it carefully to the Monsignor. "What do you make of that?"

The Monsignor turns it over and studies it carefully, "Morphy Rochards" he remarks indicating text on the back side the handle, "Manufacturer? I know plenty of Morphys but none that make pans like this."

"Hmm, if this is indeed from the future, then only witchcraft or sorcery could have brought it here. It is unlike anything I have seen before. It would seem that our suspicions of Mr Black are well founded. David, can you set up a meet between us and Mr Black? Can you get us a copy of this sheet of diagrams so that we might look at it as well? I wonder if any of my industrialist friends might be interested in this artifact...Tell me, have you seen any other artifacts that he has brought from the future?" Hal.

"W-w-well," says David nervously, "We've been told not to share anything about these artifacts. I fear that attempting to arrange a meeting with Mr Black will bring suspision, however, if you are prepared to come to a meeting and join as new members, you can see for yourself and perhaps introduce yourself directly, I'm sure a man of your means, Hal, will be welcomed with open arms. I've also noticed another man who appears to be part of the organisation but does not speak. He sits behind the podium and occasionally speaks with the guards but otherwise keeps himself to himself. As for other artefacts, no. Each member is offered items to buy privately I suspect, as I was. None of the other members have been forthcoming about their purchases."

Hal agrees that attending a meeting is the way ahead and as it happens, one is happening that evening.

The group arrive at the building at 8pm. The structure resembles a grey pillbox, made entirely from poured concrete, with just one entrance, a tall archway with no door barring the entrance. Inside, the room resembles a grey windowless lecture hall or church,  wooden benches are lined in rows with a stage and podium at the far end of the hall. A number of members, all pasty looking businessmen, smoking cigars already loiter about the room.

David shows everyone to a table with signup sheets and a lockbox for cheques to be placed, Hal covers everyone's membership fees and each fill the minimum of details using false address. a handful of men in Arabic garb stand menacingly about the room, clearly armed. David hands each of the group the diagrams he mentioned, covered in geomteric shapes and designs. The sheet instructs the user to focus on the designs as the chanting begins.

At 8.30pm the meeting begins. A tall man in dark suit and deep red fez approaches the altar and stretches his arms. As he does, everyone stands up, to a man. The group feel compelled to follow suit and the chanting begins, "Ong D'acta Linka, Nebloid Zin, Nebloid Zin, Ong D'acta Linka, Yog-Sothoth, Yog-Sothoth..."

Henry indicates to Hal, a man seated at the back of the stage, he looks incredibly weak and drained. Henry whispers, "That man has just cast a spell of some kind. His energy has completely drained from him. And these words, Yog-Sothoth. We know that name."

"Indeed," whispers the Monsignor, "This is far from wholesome."

Shadows of Yog-Sothoth Turn 9

Henry finishes reading the letter and looks around the room at his companions. Each of them remain silent as they consider what they have just heard. After a moment he speaks again.

"Well, friends, I don't know about you, but my curiosity is certainly peaked. I believe there's something here worth looking into. Mr. Lee's letter here raises quite a few red flags, if you ask me...and I suppose by inviting me, and the rest of us, here today, Hal...you ARE asking." He lifts the letter again and scans it.

"What do you suppose this artifact that he refers to is? And just how has it proven to be uh, let me see...'worth it', as he states?"

"This smacks of evil, my friends," chimes in Hal, "We should indeed pay David a visit and examine said artifact. The link to the Silver Twilight Lodge has set my nerves a-tingling. I know a fine hotel in New York, and will reserve us all accommodation there." He swirls his cognac in his glass as he meets everyone's eyes in turn.

"Are you all with me?"

"Sadly I have other work to attend to," says Sam, "Regretfully I'll need to bow out for now."

"And I need to get back on the magic circuit," smiles James, "But I wish you luck Uncle!"

That leaves Henry, the Monsignor, Phillip and Hal.

"I have someone that might be willing to join us on an expedition," adds Henry, "I have employed a new apprentice. Greek chap called Dimitris. He's working on translating for me, but I'm sure he'd be game for a little jaunt."

Hal continues "Now, let us turn our talk to more pleasant things whilst dinner is prepared. How have you all spent the intervening time? Personally, I have been trying to ensure I am better prepared physically for our future endeavours. Spanners has been sparring with me regularly, and the number of black eyes he's been giving me have been gradually decreasing! I've also been practicing my shooting skills with a good friend in the police force. Of course, there have also been a number of society events that I've had to attend - all work and no play makes Hal a dull boy!" (Skill increases +2 Fist/Punch, + 45 revolver)

A week later the four friends meet Henry's new protege, Dimitris Constantinidis, who insists you call him Dimmy. He's been hired by Henry to work in the book business, and is primarily translating the book you discovered a few months ago and teaching Henry to read Greek. (Henry's Greek Language level now 3%)

The group meets up with David Lee at his brownstone in New York and he recounts the tale he wrote about in the letter. You learn nothing new, until he brings out an item, the artifact he spoke of that he purchased for $100.

It appears to be a simple frying skillet but the inside is coated with a shiny black smooth coating rather than the usual iron. "It's incredible!" Lee beams, "Nothing sticks to it! It's from....The Future!"