Kingbeast's Lair

Growling about the RPG industry and my gaming life. RPG and anime reviews from a passionate fan. (Formerly John's Hero HQ.)
Subscribe

Archive for the ‘The Armitage Files News’

The Armitage Files Session Log: Document #1 – Session #3 – Coming Out Party

June 10, 2012 By: John Taber Category: Games, The Armitage Files News

Elsa HowerDate At Start Of Game: September 6th, 1935

[Author’s Note: This is the log for the 3rd session. Note that the order of the events in this record may not be in the exact order that they occurred during play.]

Following Up On Leads In The Walsh Case

After discussing the clues that the group uncovered at the Walsh Estate the PC decide on their next course of action. Detective Keagan decides to follow up on the bodies that were dumped under a local bridge. On his visit to the coroner he meet Officer William Arnold and Officer Chad Gee. They are discussing the bodies in hushed voices when the Detective approaches. After a brief conversation he moves into the morgue to speak with the coroner, Dr Thomas. Dr Thomas shows the Detective two bodies. One is a 60 year old man and the other is a 20 year old man. Both bodies have been stripped of their clothes and personal effects. Their hands and feet are tied tightly with seaweed. On their chests is a pentagram with the star point facing the ground. Their throats have been slit from ear-to-ear and appear to have been drained of most of their blood. Based on the amount of bruising on the wrists the coroner is under the impression that they were bound then slain. The body of the older man is bloated much more than the younger man. Dr Thomas guesses that the old man has been under the bridge for about 2 weeks. The younger man has been there roughly 3 to 5 days.

While at the station Detective Keagan examines the police report on the death of Diamond Walsh’s last wife. Her maiden name was Amanda Bell. She is actually Walsh’s third wife. (Dora Smallridge is Diamond Walsh’s fourth wife.) The coroner’s report from Dr Thomas says that she died of an overdose of arsenic. She was being prescribed arsenic by her physician, Dr Peter Smoot, for nerves. Detective Stanley was the officer on the case. (Detective Keagan has strong verbal evidence that Detective Stanley is being paid off by Diamond Walsh.)

The rest of the PC go to the library and newspaper offices to research Dora and Elihu Smallridge. There is very little to find on Dora Smallridge in the library or newspaper. She is the only child of Elihu and Beatrice Smallridge. There are several newspaper articles on Elihu. For many years he has been involved with “cooking” books for various illegal operations. Although Elihu has never been convicted his ties to illegal business dealings are fairly well established. One newspaper article has a picture of the small balding man shielding his eyes from a camera behind Diamond Walsh as they emerge from a courtroom.

Dilettante Leads

At this point the PC decide to also start researching Austin Kittrell and the Hower’s. Austin Kittrell appears in many society papers. The articles claim that he is from a wealthy family in New Orleans.

The Hower’s recently moved into an Arkham estate that was previously owned by a railroad tycoon who has fallen on hard times. The patriarch of the family, Robert Hower, wanted to move to a place where he could be considered one of the elite in the area. The Hower fortune would not have been enough to merit attention in New York so he decided on Arkham.

Robert Hower is a banker who came into money through his father Perry McGill Hower. Under his leadership the Hower’s have nearly doubled their holdings. Other businessmen think Robert Hower has a knack for making investments in speculative areas at just the right times. People who know him personally say that he can be unforgiving to those that don’t perform. Robert Hower has a penchant for symbols of power or authority from various cultures. He has an entire room in his estate devoted to his collection. While digging in a set of archeological journals Dr Peaslee finds an article about a trip that Robert Hower took to Africa. During that trip he recovered what was reportedly an ancient box that was used by shaman of the Ticho-Ticho tribe. This tribe has woman shaman of great power that hold spiritually significant phallic talismans in these boxes. Reportedly anyone who opens the box that is not a Ticho-Ticho shaman will be rendered sterile. There is only one other of these boxes known to exist. (It is in a museum in Cape Town, South Africa.)

At this point the PC come up with a plan to get Oliver Gardiner out of his office so that they can break into his safe. Tredge creates a forged invitation then the PC send it to Oliver Gardiner. They want to make sure he will be in attendance. The plan is to have Cuttling and Archie break in and open the safe while the PC are with Oliver Gardiner at Elsa Hower’s coming out party.

The Coming Out Party

The night of the party the Hower Estate is decked out in all of its finery. There are banners across the four while marble pillars on the front steps and black tie waiters walking the event with champagne. At first the PC mingle with Robert Hower. (Elsa has not yet made her appearance.) Robert is holding court with other important men of Arkham. Robert Hower is a well built tall man with a blond handlebar mustache and a strong personality. He moves with care and efficiency suggesting to Detective Keagan that he has military training.

After a brief time Elsa Hower makes her entrance. She is a 16 year old blonde girl with a big smile. After meeting the PC they find her to be charming. Austin Kittrell appears to have captured her attention as she gravitates to him after meeting all of the party guests.

At this point Robert Hower invites the men to join him in his museum. He shows the PC and several others into a room full of glass cases. There they find a focused and deep collection of artifacts. Robert’s prized items are a set of 12th century samurai armor, a blade rumored to be owned by Richard The Lion Hearted, and a Spartan helmet. In a glass case along one side of the room he has a red box on display.

Dr Peaslee moves over to the box so that he can examine it in more details. The red box is roughly 12″ wide x 4″ high x 6″ deep. It is hinged on the short sides and parts in the middle. One the covers of the box are what appear to be African fertility symbols. It is in immaculate condition based on its age. Dr Peaslee suggests that it must be at least 600 years old. When Robert Hower notices Dr Peaslee looking at the box he approaches and comments that the Dr has good taste. He then explains the information that the PC already know about the Ticho-Ticho woman shaman.

At this point Oren Gardiner approaches Oliver and whispers in his ear. Oliver gives his drink to a waiter and the pair immediately head out of the party towards their car leaving the PC worried that Archie and Cuttling have run into trouble…

Date At End Of Game: September 9th, 1935

The Armitage Files Session Log: Document #1 – Session #2 – A Girls Best Friend

May 15, 2012 By: John Taber Category: Games, The Armitage Files News

1930's RevolverDate At Start Of Game: September 6th, 1935

[Author’s Note: This is the log for the 2nd session. Note that the order of the events in this record may not be in the exact order that they occurred during play.]

The Party’s Over

As the party at the Kingsport Yacht Club comes to an end Detective Keegan examines the walk-in cigar humidor. He specifically checks for the rare brand found on the cigar band found in Dr Llanfer’s valise. The cigars have been recently checked out by Oliver Gardiner, Elihu Smallridge, and a member named Samuel Watson. (Detective Keegan knows Watson to be a smooth stock broker.)

Standing Stone Research

The next day Leo Cuttling, Archie, and Tredge decide to start researching the standing stones at the Miskatonic University Orne Library.

Description Of The Stones And Circle

There are a total of 12 conically shaped stones that are equally spaced around the circle. Each stone is approximately 3′ high and appears to be comprised of dark colored igneous rock. They are nearly covered in natural grasses and moss. On the inside surface there are a series of what appear to be Oneida characters.

Description Of Symbols On Stones

The symbols represent the 12 various compass points that reflect the zodiac constellations. The circle is aligned such that if the campfire is the sun the stones reflect a celestial pattern where Mars is opposite of the Earth. This happens once every 780 days. Another such pattern will occur in 106 days.

Below the zodiac symbols are a series of strangely shaped symbols that are not Oneida in nature. These characters do not appear to have any meaning that the PC can immediately discern. There is something missing in interpreting them.

What Can Be Learned With Anthropology

The Oneida are actually infamous for constructing single standing stone like structures in the Northeast. For the most part the purpose of the stones has not been determined. This site reveals a much more advanced understanding of the heavens. Dr Peaslee realizes that this is something that has not been associated with the Oneida tribes in the Northeast. It would look very good to other Anthropologists or Astrologers. There are some members of the Oneida tribe in the region.

What Can Be Learned With Archaeology

Leo understands that the circle of standing stones is unusual and marks an important site. At some point it should be investigated in more detail. Possibly a dig at the site would be in order .

What Can Be Learned With Geology

Professor Cuttling is shocked after analyzing samples from the standing stones. The stones are not of this world! They appear to be meteorites. All of the stones are actually comprised of a single stone that has been crudely split up.

Pounding The Streets

Detective Keegan decides to pound the streets looking for thugs that may know where some of the disfigured bodies were dumped. He tracks down two men who handled the most recent “package”. The two men Keegan finds are David Larson and Louis “Campy” Campbell. He corners Campy in an alley and after softening him up learns where the body can be found and that Diamond Walsh has gone missing! Campy tips off Detective Keegan to the Walsh estate gardener who saw something strange. The gardener reveals that some of Walsh’s men found something strange at the back of the estate. Detective Keegan decides to call in the boys to find the body why he visits the Walsh estate.

Visit To The Sanitarium

Why Detective Keegan is pounding the streets, Leo, Archie, and Tredge decide to follow up on the reference in Document #1 to the Arkham Sanitarium. They pose as either relatives of other patients to get into the facility. Once inside they look for drawings or unusual behavior that might be related to the cases. When walking by one of the rooms Tredge spies a black gentleman hiding a notebook from a nurse. After gaining the mans trust Tredge learns that the man, Andre Brooks, can see a red box that nobody else can see. When Tredge says that he has also seen things that nobody else would believe it gains his trust. Andre shows Tredge his notebook which is full of drawings of a small box with a faint glow emerging from it. The drawings are actually quite good. After some digging Tredge learns that Andre actually first saw the box in the collection of his employer, Robert Hower. He was the family butler until he was taken away by the sanitarium. When Tredge asks what is in the red box Andre says only, “joy”.

Murder Investigation

At this point the PC converge on Diamond Walsh’s estate. Detective Keegan plans to visit representing the Arkham Police Department. The other PC plan to secretly scope out the back grounds.

Detective Keegan flashes his badge to the two goons at the front gate. After checking with the main house they open the iron gate and escort him into the house. Inside Detective Keegan is taken to see Dora Walsh. Dora is speaking with Earl Spencer, one of Diamond’s lieutenants. When Detective Keegan approaches Dora asks why Detective Stanley was not sent. Keegan replies that he is a “close associate” of Stanley’s. Dora assents and takes Detective Keegan to the scene of the crime.

At the scene the observant sleuth finds the following clues:

  • Dora explains that last night around 3 AM someone put a pillow over her face. After this she heard a gunshot then “swooned”.
  • The glass French doors are broken in leaving a gaping hole.
  • On the bed is a blood stain near the midsection of where Diamond was taken.
  • The door to the bedroom is broken off the hinges. It appears to be pushed out.
  • There is blood on the glass from the French doors.
  • Diamond keeps a rod in the drawer near his bed. It is currently under the bed and appears to have been recently fired.
  • On the back side of the door is a bashed in area around 6 feet high and signs of blood.
  • The guard on duty inside the house that night had a “tough watch and went home”.

Detective Keegan concludes that likely 2 people broke in through the doors, one muffed Dora, while the other grabbed Diamond. When one of the guards came in one of the suspects slammed the door into him killing him.

The other PC sneak around behind the Walsh estate and examine the area around the creek. They find what appears to be seaweed and two sets of extremely large clawed footprints. The footprints lead down a large sewer drainage pipe. About 30 feet down the water current starts to become strong. At one junction they find a set of metal bars that appear to be ripped out from the bottom.

Back at the house Detective Keegan ask Dora if they found anything else at the scene. Dora denies finding anything at the site. Keegan knows that this is a lie. He also assesses her character and realizes that Dora is too calm. Her recently married husband could be dead and Dora does not seem distraught at all.

Mastering their fears the PC gather and compare the clues that they have collected…

Date At End Of Game: September 6th, 1935

The Armitage Files Session Log: Document #1 – Session #1 – Foretold Doom

April 18, 2012 By: John Taber Category: Games, The Armitage Files News

Diamond WalshDate At Start Of Game: September 4th, 1935

[Author’s Note: This is the log for the 1st session. Note that the order of the events in this record may not be in the exact order that they occurred during play.]

The Armitage Inquiry Team

The game opens on an overcast September evening at Miskatonic University. The PC are meeting in a campus conference room after being contacted by their respective representatives. The PC and NPC in attendance include the following. (These are presented in alphabetical order.)

  • Dr Henry Armitage (NPC) – Head Librarian. Graying and frumpy.
  • Professor Leo Cuttling (PC) – Archaeologist with a specialty in Botany.
  • Dr William “Bill” Dyer (NPC) – Professor Of Geology. Tough as nails.
  • Sean Keegan (PC) – Police detective. Well-to-do professional.
  • Dr Cyrus Llanfer (NPC) – Library assistant. Lanky hawk nosed man with a sniffle.
  • Dr Francine Morgan (NPC) – Professor Of Astronomy. Not unattractive obsessive compulsive.
  • Archibald “Archie” Mudd (PC) – Campus hot dog vendor and “professional student”.
  • Dr Nathaniel Peaslee (PC) – Professor Of Psychology.
  • Bob “Tredge” Tredgit (PC) – Journalist. Bulldog.
  • Dr Albert Wilmarth (NPC) – Chairman of the English department. Blustery.

After brief introductions Dr Armitage welcomes the group and begins to explain why they have been summoned. He asks Dr Llanfer to discuss the events that have transpired over the last 12 hours. Dr Llanfer pulls a small satchel from his lap and places it on the table. After placing it on the table he carefully removes his hands then begins to speak in a soft tone. He explains the following. While explaining he often sniffles and snorts through his long nose.

Last night after having dinner Dr Llanfer adjourned to his study to review some university documents. When he opened his valise to retrieve his work a strange envelope was present in his bag. Not remembering the envelope he carefully removed it from his case. The envelope was addressed to “Dr Henry Armitage” with no address. The surprising thing is that the name it is written in Dr Armitage’s own handwriting! After some consideration he decided to call Dr Armitage. On the phone Dr Armitage suggested that they examine the envelope in the morning. Dr Llanfer explains that he could not sleep a wink thinking about that strange envelope.

At this point Dr Armitage continues the story in a normal straight tone. Every so often he stops to mist up his glasses and wipe them off. The pair opened the envelope carefully. [With that he grabs the valise and removes an scorched envelope with his name on it.] As he opens the envelope he explains the contents as he removes them carefully.

  • There are four handwritten pages which appear to be written in his hand but he has no recollection of every writing them. They are stained with several substances some of which appear to be blood.
  • There is a picture of a woman who appear to be powdering her nose. He does not recognize anything in the picture. In center of the picture is a strange burn mark.
  • There are several rose petals and a leaf in the envelope.

At this point Dr Llanfer offers to read the pages to the best of his ability. (It is apparent that he feels his reading of the papers would not be as disturbing as if Dr Armitage was reading them.) After reading each page he carefully slides the sheet to the person on his right so that everyone may carefully examine them in detail. After the last document has been read he slides down the photo and envelope.

Dr Wilmarth speaks first. He wonders in a loud booming voice if Dr Armitage could be having a mental breakdown of some type and just written them in a fit that he cannot not recall. Dr Armitage counters in a calm voice that he has considered that. He and Dr Llanfer went to confer with Dr Peaslee earlier. Dr Peaslee expresses that Dr Armitage appears to be with his senses.

When given the right opportunity Bill (aka Dr Dyer) clears his throat and speaks. He looks out of one eye in a curious fashion. Could Henry have been possessed by some type of alien entity!?! Bill suggests that Henry AND Cyrus be watched carefully to ensure that some alien force is not altering their actions.

Dr Morgan chimes in when the time is right. She believes that it is possible that the letters could be authentic. By authentic she means that Dr Armitage could be under the influence of an ancient or inhuman bloodline. Certain “elder beings” are said to flow through time in a non-linear fashion. It could be the influence of one of these creatures.

After some discussion Dr Armitage tells the group not to speak with Mrs. Pickman about the documents yet. He will approach her when the time is right. (The university is in the middle of a funding period and her investments are critical.)

He then addresses Dr Dyer’s concern and says that he agrees. He and Dr Llanfer should be watched at all times.

Finally Dr Armitage will express that he wants to form an inquiry team to look into the situation as he cannot do so himself. This team will be comprised of the PC. They need to get to the bottom of this to assuage his fear and those of the staff.

Gathering Clues On Campus

At this point the PC begin to examine the envelope and the contents.

  • Envelope – Made from a single sheet of blank paper. Folded by hand. The glue is a simple mixture of flour and water. The glue is caked and appears to be at least a month old.
  • Paper Stains – Blood stains from a human and some type of animal. Detective Keegan takes the bloodstains to get tested. There are stains from two humans and what appears to be a bat.
  • Tone Of Writing – Dr Peaslee suggest that the tone and corrections suggest that the writer is quite frantic and under a great deal of pressure. The various leaps in thinking suggest loss of touch with reality.
  • Rose Petals – Professor Cuttling carefully examines the rose petals and leaf. The petals appear to be picked at most a week ago. They are from a fairly rare Floribunda rose variety known as “Loving Memory”. He knows of a few local nurseries on the east coast that could carry this varietal.
  • Leaf – Professor Cuttling says that the leaf is from a Slippery Elm tree. They are quite uncommon in this part of the country but just outside of the city there are several groves of Slippery Elm trees.
  • Photograph – Tredge examine the photograph. It appears to be from a standard black and white camera. There is no writing on the back. The center mark appears to be a scorch mark. It appears to be from a round source of heat…a cigarette or cigar most likely. The woman’s dress is of the time or possibly a bit older but not more than a few years. She appears to be wearing a ring with a black stone on her ring finger indicating that she is likely married. The background shows bits of wallpaper but nobody present in the room recognize anything in the picture.

With some prompting the PC determine that it is possible that someone could have slipped the envelope into the valise while is rested in Dr Llanfer’s office. The PC venture over to the office where they search it and everything in the valise carefully. To Dr Llanfer’s surprise in the valise the find a small flat piece of paper with some words in Spanish. Detective Keegan immediately recognizes the small paper as a cigar band from an very expensive cigar. He knows of only a couple of places that would carry this expensive brand.

The PC also start to dig up information on the people and places mentioned in the documents. Here is the information that several PC are able to collect. This information comes from several of the PC. Detective Keegan uses his high society and police knowledge, Tredge calls on the local society page, and Archie remembers a conversation he had with one of his “regulars” at the hot dog stand. (This list is presented in an order that should make them easier to follow. This data was not communicated in precisely this order during the session.)

  • Austin Kittrell – He is known by Detective Keegan but they have met only once briefly. The Kitrell family came into money through oil. Austin is a known cad and womanizer without much motivation to take over the family business.
  • Kingsport Yacht Club (KYC) – The KYC is a high-end private gentleman’s club. Wealthy patrician males gather here for private conversation, quality liquor, and to smoke cigars from the clubs superb walk in humidor. KYC prides itself on exclusivity. It does not allow women, Jews, ethnics, or non-whites. It was founded in 1870 by Oren Gardiner who is the patriarch of the leading family. Oren is the second generation of wealthy Gardiners. The KYC is run by Oren’s son Oliver. (Detective Keegan is actually a member of the KYC. His boat is docked on the KYC.)
  • Oren Gardiner – Powerful CEO of Gardiner Shipping. Heavy cigar smoker. Member of the KYC.
  • Oliver Gardiner – Self-centered bon-vivant with little motivation. Does not show a desire to take over the Gardiner Shipping position from his father. Manager of the KYC.
  • Gardiner Shipping – Gardiner Shipping is a large shipping company owned and operated out of Boston by Oren Gardiner. The company was founded by Oren’s father, Octavian, who came from a humble commercial fishing business in Kingsport. Octavian started doing well and expanded from fishing into trade. (Octavian passed away several years ago.)
  • Horace “Diamond” Walsh – Diamond Walsh is a high ranking mod boss who specializes in racketeering and extortion. He is in hid mid 60’s with a nose that looks like it has been broken several times. (See the picture attached to the blog post.) Lately he has been spending lots of time with his wife of 3 months, Dora Smallridge.
  • Dora Smallridge – Dora is a classic beauty in her mid 20’s with long straight black hair and hazel eyes. Even though she is often wearing sleek evening gowns with long pearl necklaces she sometimes seems a bit out of place in them. Dora’s father, Elihu, manages the books for Diamond. Elihu is also a member of the KYC.
  • News On The Street About The Walsh Mob – Archie talks to one of the Walsh’s goons who stops by for a hot dog. He is upset about a recent “delivery”. The latest “package” was horribly deformed with large gashes on the body’s chest, legs, and arms. The body’s arms were bound with seaweed suggesting that the victim had been extensively tortured.

When Detective Keegan returns home his butler delivers his mail. In the stack the Detective finds an invitation to the KYC. In a few days there is a dinner party that will be used to vet potential new members. The PC decide that this will be a good way to get into the KYC and investigate several of the major players. Detective Keegan uses his sway to get Professor Cuttling and Doctor Peaslee invited to the party. Tredge uses his newspaper connections to get an invitation. Archie gets a job as a member of the work staff.

Elm Tree Exploration

Before the party at the KYC Dr Peaslee and Professor Cuttling decide to walk around some of the Slippery Elm tree groves to see what they can find. After spending some time hiking around the various groves they come across a set of standing stones roughly 20 feet in diameter. They are carved on the inside with some strange symbols. Some of the symbols appear to be similar to the scratches in the Armitage documents. Dr Peaslee takes careful etchings of the symbols. Professor Cuttling feels that the site is Oneida in nature based on the nature of the markings and placements of the stones. The Oneida tribe has a history of setting up standing stones. In the center of the circle is a washed out campfire. It looks quite old. Searching the fire pit does not reveal any clues.

Contributors Party At The Kingsport Yacht Club

At this point the PC attend the party at the KYC. It is a very high-end black tie affair. Oliver stands at one of the high bar tables seemingly trying to ignore most of the party goers. If directly approached he talks in a curt but polite fashion. His mind seems like it is elsewhere.

Diamond Walsh and his wife Dora arrive at the party a bit late. Dora is constantly hanging on Diamond’s arm whispering in his ear and pointing at the other people at the party. After these whispers she drags her husband over and introduces him. It is obvious that Dora wants Diamond to join the KYC and better his social position.

At some point in the party Walsh excuses Dora and goes over to meet Oliver Gardiner. He and Oliver go into the private humidor. Tredge expertly slips over to the side of the doorway so that he can overhear their conversation. Walsh explains that he is not happy with the latest “package” from Oliver. He goes on to explain that he will not accept any more deliveries. This seems to upset Oliver but even though he is being accused by a mob boss Oliver does not seem afraid…he seems angry. After the conversation Diamond returns to Dora and suggests he has had enough of this party and wants to return home.

During the conversation Detective Keegan slips into a back hallway and attempts to enter Oliver’s private office. After deftly picking the lock he enters the room and starts searching. He finds a fairly barren room with a wet bar and wood paneling. After searching for a bit he finds a trap door under the desk. When he opens the door he finds a floor safe. At this point the sly Detective replaces the carpet and leaves the room.

As the party winds down the PC try to figure out their next move…

Date At End Of Game: September 6th, 1935