Shadows of Yog-Sothoth. Turn 7

"This madness seems to have no limits!" Henry mutters as he enters through the door. His eyes light up as he catches sight of the large bookcase. He practically knocks the Monsignor over as he rushes to get a closer look, "Pardon me, Padre."

"I shudder to think where this is going to take us, my friends," say Hal, casting his eyes about the room, "This Miss Chantraine must be involved in goodness knows what to be over 200 years old, if this letter is to be believed. Let's have a look at these books and see what we can find. Monsignor, perhaps your expertese might shed some light?"

"Careful guys," whispers Sam, "I think we should excercise caution before touching anything on the bookcase...or on the desk for that matter," but before he can reach the bookcase to check for traps, Henry is already feverishly pulling books, examining covers and bindings.

"I will do what I can," adds the Monsignor, and heads to the bookcase, "I wonder what else is down here and how old it really is!"

As three men examine the book case, Hal looks around the rest of the room. There is a plain wooden box in one corner, 18 inches high. One side is hinged and forms a lid. On top is a notebook containing handscrawled notes. The first page is headed "Make Box Spell"

Philip also looks around and sees on the far right wall, an stone altar, stained with brownish material, with a curtain on the wall behind it.

There is a click as Sam finds a hidden compartment at the base of bookshelf, he pulls out a huge tome.

Phillip pulls aside the curtain revealing a truly terrifying bas-relief. His gasp turns everyone's attention to it.

The Great Cthulhu

Sam drops the book with a thud. Henry looks back and gasps as he sees the title among some Greek script. Necromonicon.

Shadows of Yog-Sothoth Turn 6

Shadows of Yog-Sothoth Turn 6

The group convene with Hal in the shadows of the ground floor, still a couple of hours before dawn breaks.

"This seems even more sinister than I had imagined." whispers Henry, "I'm itching to get into that last room up there, but if you fellas feel inclined to locate the basement, I'm with you."

"Should we get some photos of what we found upstairs before looking for the basement, though?" mutters Sam,  "While we know the areas we've checked are fairly secure..."

"I agree," nods Hal, "Let's get some photographic evidence first, and then continue the search. I don't want us to split up - this place just feels wrong, and I'd hate to think of what the atrocities are that have been committed by these crackpots."

James heads out into the street and slips over the road to replace Philip as lookout. The photographer enters the building, his equipment ready and the group show him upstairs to the disturbing scenes above where he promptly starts to photograph them.

The picture in the KOTOV room of the void, he finds particularly disturbing, his hands shake as he tries to capture the picture.
Once this is done, the five men start to hunt for an entrance to a basement. Opposite the kitchen at the back of the building, they find a door with a set of stone steps leading down into the darkness. A light switch sits on the left hand side and Hal flips it, there's a crackling and light fills the room below. Sam, Hal and Henry draw their firearms and slowly descend with Philip and the Monsignor right behind.
The stairs lead down to an open basement, the floor is bare earth. the walls are heavy stone set in mortar and four pillars stand in a square around the room. In the far wall is a doorway.

You search around the room before carefully opening the door and stepping into a smaller chamber and on the north wall a padlocked door. The lock is fairly simple for Sam and he has it open in minutes. Beyond is another room, this one has five foot square stones set without mortar on the floor.
Hal notices something and goes to the east wall where he presses a stone set into the wall. It presses in and as it does, two of the massive floor blocks raise up revealing another staircase down. There is no light, so

Sam takes a gas lamp from the wall lights it.
The steps lead down to a cavern, which although not natural does appear to be ancient, far older than the lodge building above. In appears some work has been done to it recently, mainly new walls put up to create seperate rooms. A door to the left  appears to be some kind of guard room, empty but for a table and two chairs and a large ring of keys hanging on the wall. Hal takes them.
Off to the right of the main corridor is a study. A desk, comfortable chair and an oil lamp. The desk has a drawer which the Monsignor searches, finding matches and taped to the back of the drawer, a single key. On top of the desk is a letter addressed to Carl Stanford from a Duncan McBain.

Duncan McBain

MacBain House

Cannich, Scotland

12 January, 1928.

Dear Mr Stanford,

Greetings and felicitations. Miss Chantraine has advised me of your recent successes and informed me of the item you require. I fear that it will be some time before I find It as there are two Americans digging at what I believe to be the site of the Temple. Two of my people are working for the Americans and it may be that they will accomplish all for me. I realize that you are most anxious to obtain It, but I feel caution and discretion to be the better course of action.
My studies with the serpent people progress most satisfactorily. Another year should see my studies completed. The recommend that I journey to the Nameless City for further instruction, but I will remain here until we have It. When it is possible, I want much to obtain the further instruction offered at the Nameless City. I will, however, be ready to carry out any further tasks our order might have for me.
You mentioned in your last letter that Miss Chantraine might join me here when she has converted the leaders of the Thukle Bruderschaft. I fear that he Germans are overmuch upset with the French at this time for them to listen to her. Might I suggest that you ask Helmut Grossmann to take over for her? I realize that she has not been to Germany for over two hundred years, but unless you can think of someone else I feel he would be best for the task.
I agree with you that the Order of the Templars of the Orient does not contain the type of individuals we seek. They are not ready for greater truths. You might suggest to our German colleagues that individual members of the order be carefully approached as potential followers of the true Gods.
I am not familiar with the Hermetic order of the Golden Dawn or the Astrum Argentinum and can give no recommendation. I will pass the word on to our London group and have them send you word. I spoke with Mr William Seabrook who said that a Mr Aleister Crowley; who is associated with both groups or had been at one time, may have occult powers. We should perhaps attempt to contact this man.
I understand that Mr Scott is in charge of the project in your area. Please extend my greetings to him. I have not seen him since the Great War. Perhaps we can meet next year.

Most sincerely,

Duncan MacBain

Using the key, the Monsignor opens a door on the other side of the study, leading into a room with another desk and chair and a large bookcase, filled with books.

Shadows of Yog-Sothoth Turn 5

"I might be flogging a dead horse but, after the obvious avenues, would it be worth checking things like bank accounts to see if there's a paper trail his family/friends aren't aware of...?" says Sam.

"I fear that might be extremely difficult to find out," replies the Monsignor, "I doubt the local bankers would be amenable to strangers asking to see confidential records and until we know whom we can trust, relying on others may be out of the questions for now. Not that it is a bad idea, mind you. I am just worried about the risks associated with following that course now instead of later."

The others nod. 

"I am more curious," he continues after a slug of whiskey from his hipflask,  "As to why we cannot find any information on John Scott. When did he first arrive and where does he come from? Also, It may be worthwhile for us to find a way to get to the third floor. Perhaps we can fall behind after lodge and investigate?"

"It's time we get to that third floor, my friends," grins Henry.

And so you formulate a plan. James will find a suitable hiding spot toward the end of the night as everyone else leaves. Once the mysterious figure locks up, he will let the others in. Phillip opts to act as lookout staying outside the building. Hal will remain on the ground floor in case anyone tries to come back in. Henry, James, Sam and the Monsignor will case out the third floor. Sam, Hal and Henry carry their handguns, everyone else opts to go unarmed.

Everything goes according to plan, the main door is easy enough for a skilled locksmith like James to open. Phillip stands smoking in a shadowy alley opposite the building, ready to whistle if anyone approaches. Hal hides in the coat room, just inside the foyer. The others head up to the second floor where the main lodge room is. You assume access to the upper floor is behind the massive scarlet drape behind the Noble Philosopher's Dias and you are right. Behind the curtain is a door that leads to a corridor. To one side is a storage room, to the other a marble staircase leading up to the third floor.

At the top of the steps is a light switch for the electric scones along the wall of the corridor ahead but you rely on torches so as not to attract attention. The decor shows this floor is clearly used by the Order, no doubt for the upper echelons. The first door off the corridor has a plaque engraved with the letters KOTSG. Within the room is panelled and plainly carpeted. Chairs line the walls. An altar stands just off the centre of the room, about three feet tall with a five-pointed star in a cross-section. On the far side of the room drape covering the wall, a pulley to one side to open it. You do so and behind  is a mural of night on a barren landscape. In the middle of it is a door framed in silver, and made to appear as a magical portal on the barren waste. The room is otherwise bare and you opt to return to the corridor.

Further down to the left, another door marked SOYS. Again the walls are panelled and the floor carpeted but there is no altar. There are more drapes on the east and west wall, with more pulleys. Opening the drape to the east reveals a horrific mural. It depicts a hill under a clear night sky with a full moon: at the top of the hill is a circle of stones and in the centre of the circle is a human figure in garish robes, dancing madly. Moving into the sky at that point, like a cloud of smoke, is a gigantic mass of slimy, iridescent spheres. Covering the hill outside the circle of stones are thousands of partly-decayed, still-living humanoid creatures. You almost hear them cry with ghoulish glee. As the four of you take it in you are overwhelmed with a feeling of utter horror and desolation. Henry and Sam are more effected than the other two but all of you are shaken. The Monsignor quickly returns the drape to cover it.

More cautiously, the drape on the opposite wall is opened to reveal a door and beyond, a library. Henry cracks into a smile seeing this, "I knew it," he hisses, running in like an excited schoolboy.

"We should not dally here, Henry," whispers the Monsignor. After a quick riffle through the shelves, Henry selects one book and slips it into his jacket. The others look through the titles, and discover the what you assume are the meanings of the letters on the doors. SOYS is Sons of Yog Sothoth and KOTSG is Keeper of the Silver Gate. The books relating to them appear to describe rituals, the titles being specific degrees within the order, SOYS being the sixth degree and KOTSG the fourth.  There is a third book relating to the fifth degree, Knights of the Outer Void.

There is nothing in the room other than shelves of books so you quickly head back to the corridor. The next door is on the right and is also marked KOTSG. The room is similar to the other KOTSG room, a door to the right appears to be where the 'magical portal' leads. The altar in this room is a pentagram but otherwise it is identical, aside from the mural, again behind a drape. This shows an apparently normal landscape of hills, valleys trees and a small stream, with a silhouetted figure in the foreground, facing away from the viewer. There is, however something profoundly alien about the whole thing and James in particular feels very depressed looking at the thing.

" We need to get Phillip and his camera in here. We can get this place shut down with a little evidence," whispers James.

"I agree," says Sam, "But let's not miss anything. I'd wager there's a basement to this building and even more evil hidden within."

Returning to the corridor, there are two more doors. One marked with the letters KOTOV, the other a symbol that glows unnaturally.

Entering the Knights of the Outer Void room, It is different from the other rooms in that it has a bare wood floor, stark white walls and a black ceiling. An altar sits in the middle, a two and half foot cylinder. A white linen curtain hides another mural, this one depicting outer space, stars, nebulae and at its centre a single dark planet. Henry is unfazed, but the others feel a deep sense of personal insignificance and utter desolation, again James seems most affected.

The final door you are all unsure of. The glowing symbol on the door could mean anything. The Monsignor, says a blessing then tries to door. Locked. James' hands are noticeably shaking so would have no luck trying to pick it, even if the glowing symbol wasn't scaring the crap out of him. You decide to leave it for now and head downstairs. Henry returns the drapes back to their original position and you head back to meet Hal and discuss your next move.

Shadows of Yog-Sothoth Turn 4

Once again the group go their own way to investigate further...

Sam digs into James Clark, interviewing his wife and neighbours. Unfortunately nothing more comes from that than you already know. He seemed to have a happy family life and no clear indications that suicide might have been on his mind. He simply vanished.

Henry attempts to look into John Scott but finds nothing, including no birth records or census information for the last 40 years.

Hal stakes out the Order headquarters. He notices at the end of the night, after all the other members have left, around 1am, a man he's not seen before leaves the building. He is dressed in a long black dress coat and  top hat and carries a silver topped cane. He is accompanied by a thick set man dressed in chauffeurs uniform, who drives the man away in a black Ford. Another thing Hal also notices is that the building clearly has three floors, yet you have only ever seen the first two.

The next day you meet again to discuss what you have found.

Shadows of Yog-Sothoth Turn 3

After a glorious meal at The Dome and some discussion, a plan is formulated on who should research what.

Everyone is tasked with finding what they can about John Scott and Marshall Fenton-Smythe. The Monsignor will also look into the books with his contacts. Hal will call on your old colleague, Private Investigator, Sam Noir, to enlist his services.

You all meet back at the Dome three days later, on the 15th February. Sam Noir is also there, he greets each of you in turn and is introduced to Philip.

James searches the standard lists of fraternal organizations and finds no mention of a Hermetic Order of the Silver Twilight. He also discovers an article that mentions the Order. It mentions the startling disappearance of one James Clark, who apparently left his home in the middle of the night and vanished into thin air. The article mentions, in passing that he will be missed by his brethren at the Hermetic Order of the Silver Twlight. The article is dated 7th February, a week ago.

The Monsignor has more luck. Despite digging up nothing on the books Henry talked about, he does find mention of a group called Knights of the Silver Twilight in an obscure and rather weird book on demonology.
He also finds a fifty year old article in the Boston Globe on witchcraft in New England, in listing notorious local witches, mentions John Scott, reputed warlock, whose farm was destroyed by and angry mob. Common name, but the Occult connection rings bells.

Sam also reports he found a very interesting book. He pulls a slim volume from his pocket, with no title on the spine. It turns out to be an account, written in longhand, of the raid on the farm of aforementiond John Scott, in 1721, by an armed group of concerned citizens. The writer, Clyde Whipple, was a member of the mob. He describes the reasons for the mob's attack (weird sounds heard at night, chants, strange foreigners in the area and robbed graves) and what he saw during the raid (which is horrifying)

Philip points to a hand drawn map within the book. "It's there!"

The blood drains from Henry's face as he realises, and explains to the others who have not yet cottoned on, "The headquarters is on the site of that farm...."

Shadows of Yog-Sothoth Turn 2.5

A couple of days later, On 15th February at 8pm, as arranged, Sam Noir arrives at the The Globe in Boston and meets hits former employer and colleague, Hal Green.

Over a dinner of finest Sirloin, Hal confides in Sam as to the happenings recently, of the order and the groups suspicions. Hal asks Sam to research into books, listing several names Henry has specified - The Book of Eibon, The King in Yellow and Thaumaturgical Prodigies in the New England Canaan. Also anything that mentions the name Nygotha or the Nygotha Mythos.

He also asks Sam to look into anything he can find on the Hermetic Order of the Silver Twilight, paying particular attention to the names John Scott and Marshall Fenton-Smythe.

Shadows of Yog Sothoth Turn 2

Over the coming weeks, each of the group is inducted one by one into the Hermetic Order of the Silver Dawn. Each of you goes through the same process.

Each has an initial meet with a man named John Scott, who's title is Noble Philosopher, at the lodge on the outskirts of Boston.
After a brief interview in the grand building at the edge of town, discussing personal background and professional business, each is invited back for initiation in a week.
 They appear to be a fraternal organisation concerned with matters occult and philosophical. Members are mostly from the Upper classes of society, a few being minor community leaders. The order is based in a lavish building and members eat and drink well at their meetings.
Each is taken to a preparation room where the subject is given a black robe. This is the robe of the Neophyte. Those assisting in the preparation wear grey, the robes of Initiates. From there the subject is blindfolded and given a lecture on the noble purpose of the Order. He is told that he will learn great and mysterious things and that he will be asked to bind himself with and oath, but he will not be asked to do or commit anything immoral or embarrassing.
He is then led across the hall to the main room, where he is asked by the man he recognises as his interviewer, to kneel and repeat the oath, promising to keep the secrets of the Order, to seek after knowledge, and to live according to the principles of the Order. The blindfold is then removed and He sees the lodge room for the first time. It is an impressive sight. The room is richly furnished and other members wear robes representing office and standing in the lodge. He is ritually introduced to the officers and instructed in the principles of the order, which are Science for Neophytes, Philosophy for Initiates and Magic for the white robed “Masters”
The subject is then confirmed in his degree by the Noble Philosopher and the meeting closes. After the meeting, the members remove their robes and head downstairs into the bar and lounge. This seems to be an enjoyable part of the events for most members. 
Everyone enters under their own name except Phil who uses the moniker Jim Garrety, to hide is true identity as a reported.
During this process, starting with Hal, one of the Initiates is Henry Caldwell! Hal decides not to acknowledge his recognition until everyone is inducted and Henry keeps his distance, unsure as to why Hal and the others are joining.   Soon enough, Henry receives and invitation to dinner at a restaurant called The Dome in central Boston, from Hal. The dinner is in two days time, 12th February at 7pm.

12th February 1928 The Dome Restaurant


Hal, The Monsignor, James, Spanners and Phil meet at the restaurant at 6.30pm and await the arrival of Henry who none of you have spoken to since the events in London. You just hope you can trust him as an initiate of the very society the group are infiltrating! At 7pm he walks in and approaches the table...