Responses to Chapter Seven:

Quote: "By the way, it took me ages sorting through all the cards to get this, but at least I spotted a few villains worthy of a comeback on the way."

Oh good. I presume I'm not the only one who winces when a GM says something like that?

Quote: " As always the Club’s solicitors are Hamble, Hamble, Hamble, Durham, Hamble, and King, of Grey’s Inn Road. Honorary member Augustin Hamble is caught in the Web of Time, but the firm is in good hands with senior partner Banbury Maddock, whom the Monster Hunters saved from the clutches of the Hellfire Club back when he was a law student in 1922. A former partner at the same firm, the Right Honourable Sir Wallingford King now sits on the King’s Bench and may yet aspire to the House of Lords."

I presume that an upstanding citizen like Rupert, who has the weight of the Establishment behind him, does not have much to fear from any legal proceedings which may occur. By the time the ladies have made statements and character witnesses have been produced from the regiment, they aren’t going to get anything to stick.

Quote: " In fact the tree has now even grown through his body, but he was clearly pounded almost flat before that. The tree is obviously not a usual feature of Wode’s cottage kitchen but it gives every evidence of being a century or more old. " and "Eventually the hard-working PC Cundy will have to be called in here. He will confirm that Wode has lived in this cottage all his life, and his family have lived here as long as anyone can remember."

If PC Cundy affirms that the tree is a new feature of the cottage Rupert will be a bit quiet and thoughtful. He can't think of a rational explanation for this one and it disturbs him.

Quote: "Of most interest is Courtney’s hypnotic recollection of the addresses of the two letters which had the two missing stamps on them. These were:

• Poste restante for Mr M Affagdu c/o Postmaster, Strumble Head, Pembrokeshire
• Poste restante for Mr A Morfran c/o Postmaster, HMS Edrachillis, Edrachillis Bay, Highland, Scotland. HMS Edrachillis is a naval land base not open to the public

Since the Royal Mail owes the Club a favour for recent services, a judicious telephone call verifies that both letters remain unclaimed at their destinations."

Rupert offers to take a run around the country and pick the letters up. If accepted he will drive to Wales first, then Scotland via Harrogate, then back to Harrogate. He'll be going as quickly as possible, with minimum rest stops, so he politely suggests that it would be best if he goes alone unless anyone feels they are up to that. Shouldn't take him much more than a day to get to Wales and back, and then maybe a couple for the trip to Scotland depending on how far north the base is. If it's very far North can we pull strings to get the letter sent down? Alternatively, can Rupert arrange to borrow a Seaplane and pilot? Both places seem to be coastal so it should then be possible to fly which would be doable in a day or less.

Quote: "Fortunately HM Government’s Grey Operations in the form of Miss Susan Slade appears to wave a pass and make the officers of the law go away and not talk about it."

Can Rupert have a pass like that, please? Be very handy for traffic police, etc…..

Quote: "By the time Emmanuelle and Redvers-Ainderbury get back from their dinner engagement they have nothing to fear for the scotch and brandy R-A has hidden in his boot. "

Jolly good. How did we get on with the Aerial Reconnaissance?

Quote: " With R-A on hand to assure privacy"

Assumes stern expression!

Quote: "Galeili mourns that Magda hasn’t brought Albrecht or one of the other nice boys for them to enjoy."

Should Rupert drop by on his way North? No? Well, if you think not. Wouldn't want to be impolite….

Rupert's answers to the questions are predictably unhelpful, but he's finding this a bit confusing. I mean, dragged away from important duties to chase round the country with a bunch of loonies who all seem to be convinced that fairy stories are real. Bet they still believe in Father Christmas too. But that tree is a bit of a facer? The prospect of a quick motoring tour cheers him up, though.

1. Why did it rain toads on King’s Dulcarnain?

One of those bizarre weather thingys, eh?

2. What became of Radshaw’s car, and how?

Knowing the Engineers they've probably polished it and put it in a museum. Keeps the apprentices amused or something.

3. What killed the Waterloo Pit Fiend, and why?

Being buried alive'll do it for most chaps, I'd have said? Hey?

4. Why are Margaret Stankey’s dresses too short?

I find it's important to get a reliable laundry, or this sort of thing happens.

5. What was special about the imported German spirits, and who imported them?

Obscure brand? Don't expect that sort of thing out in the sticks. Wasn't it the barman chappie?

6. Why was Walter Wode killed, and by what power?

Saw something he shouldn't? My money would be on the Ruskies. Damn treacherous bunch.

7. What did the tweed-suited man make Alistair Courtney do and why could he not do it himself?

Post his letters? Well, a gentleman wouldn't, would he. Probably left his servant in Russia. Hang on, they don't have gentlemen in Russia any more do they? They shot them all. Hmmm…. Don't know, old chap. Sorry.

8. What became of Radshaw’s handkerchief?

Ah, I know this one! The tweedy chap pinched it. Probably can't get decent linen in Russia either, what?

9. What killed David Mummer, on whose behalf, and how was it destroyed?

We don't know, do we? I mean, he could have been killed then burnt, or killed by burning, or he may just have absconded. I mean, there's a one in three chance it wasn't him isn't there? Bet that was the Russions though. You should hear some of the things they do to a chap if they catch him. Send you grey it would. Best not talk about it in front of the ladies, eh?

10. Who does the tweed-suited man work for?

Joe Stalin is my guess. Devious sort. Don't trust him, I say.

Best alert the General to possible Red activity. They seem to have been subverting people in this area for quite a while - back to Tsarist times by the look of it. Rupert is On His Guard!

Toodle Pip

Rupert.

I must comment, Dr Aveyard, that this is one of the strangest cases I have known since meeting the Monster Hunters. The three strands of this case (or the three cases, which seen to be strung together) are each separate and distinct – but woven intimately. I am sure that, in time, someone will reflect upon our experiences, and use this interweaving in one of those paperback novellas which seem to be appearing – what I heard Mr Radshaw describe as "pulp" fiction. I do not know what he means, but I think he secretly enjoys reading it. I must mention that to the pleasant Miss Slade – perhaps she, too, is a secret reader of these … ah, yes, I digress from the point I was trying to make.

As I have had little to do so far in London, excepting conversations with a frightened feline (and that only briefly), I have had chance to put together a "timeline" of the events (and some other key dates) which I would be grateful if you could spare the time to examine. Dr Aveyard, it seems that so many things in this case have happened so closely together – temporally, that is. Here it … (Qayrawun passes a sheaf of papers to Aveyard for his perusal, which contains the following information – though more neatly presented, of course):

1412 – First mention of the Horne family

1512 – King’s Dulcarnain granted Charter for market

1744 – Harbour lost in great storm

1744 – March Horne born – approx. (d. 1781). Buried in Chalfont Didbury

1761 – First record of Wode family in Chalfont Didbury records

1812 – Ezra Horne born (d. 1866). Last of the (named) Horne family

1904 – Temple Fortune Hill built, Hampstead (Finchley?)

1947 – Mr David Mummer’s mother dies

1950 – (Approx) First episode of poltergeist activity begin in Stankey household

1951:
17th June: David Stankey writes to MHC.

21-23rd June: MHC team visits Stankey household

23rd June (Midsummer’s Day): Storm off East Anglian coast. Horne barn damaged, partially washed away

24th June: Lintel breaks. Wode kills toad. PC Cundy sees tweed-clad gent at Horne barn. Mummer sends letter to MHC. Special alcohol found at Horne barn (before PC Cundy meets tweed-clad man – Bellnichol gives TCM a bottle)

25th June: MHC meeting. Courtney meets TCM in GPO. Radshaw assaulted 2.10pm. MHC arrive King’s Dulcarnain. Mummer’s curtains closed. Wode leaves pub after "special" refused by Bellnichol. Approximate date of murders in the Stankey house

26th June: St Clements has meeting scheduled with "Lucard Nocaut" 10.20am. Nocaut also visits Land Registry to look up Temple Fortune Hill. MHC bus arrives King’s Dulcarnain 6pm – Messrs Smith & Jones shortly afterwards. St Clements last seen 8.40pm. Tracks go missing at Waterloo between 10.45 and 10.51 pm. Dead seagulls on the beach at K’sC .

27th June: Zany attacked, lots o’ people/things discovered – in various states of existence.

… is.

Some things puzzle me, and I am very concerned over the safety of the relatives of Mrs Stankey – her brothers and sisters. We must find them, I think, and see if they are safe – though I do not think the wife of the adulterous creature Ben Stankey is in any great danger, we should make sure that she is safe – do you think she might have been killed if she had met the man who charmed her husband? Do you think he might even have been charmed to commit adultery? Well, that is speculation. I do think we need to search out Mrs Stankey’s family, though. And, I know this is rather personal, but, Mr Revell, did you get a good look at poor Mrs Stankey’s skirt? No, I’m quite sure I said that. Were the edges of the skirt very cleanly shortened, perhaps – as if they had all been cut precisely, in the way that Mr Radshaw’s motor car engine was removed from the engine compartment? There are powerful magics at work here, I feel, even to the very highest level, I fear – I Wish I had that level of command. But then, perhaps that level of magic was needed – in a very non-specific way – to affect the magical item the cat was so fond of. If, indeed, it was.

So, I think I would like to investigate the Temple Fortune situation further, but time to research the Hornes more deeply, I think, and to reconstruct Mr Mummer’s missing files – which may be easier here in London and the British Library than elsewhere, perhaps? But the other relatives of Mrs Stankey and the recovery of young Deborah (or Doreen) remain my priority.

Oh, and I have one or tow thoughts about the Horne barn, Mr Revell – I’d like to run them by you, as the Americans say. The barn must have been a magically prepared summoning room, which had links to other planes, perhaps, and possibly to the other Horne-owned sites. The toad in the lintel almost certainly, then, was conjured forth into the lintel by a summoning, but, being in a solid object, was displaced into ethereal rock – as happens in a Dimension Door spell. When the lintel broke, poof! One toad appears! I hope Miss Quilp has a specimen of the mucus from around its mouth and eyes, which she can research for extra-planar origins). The violent storm of 23rd June must have upset these magics (or the magics were upset, causing the storm), which distorted and perverted the summoning – hence the toadfall. If something came through the failing summoning magic, it brought the toads with it as it came. The dweomer is now dead, but sufficient people know about this that they have been silenced. Mr Bellnichol needs protection, I feel. The Inn may not be the safest place in those parts, now.

[Right, that’s enough claptrap from Qayrawan – time for some from CID:

1. The toadfall came about as a result of the breakdown of the summoning magics when summat came through the portal/gate. The toads came pigaback, and as the spell was failing, were drained to help the spell’s completion – or by the waning magic of the barn. The storm caught #em up and dropped ‘em out.

2. Radshaw’s car was stopped by the TCM, who Charmed/Held Radshaw, teleporting the engine out of the car to stall it (Wish again?). It was then transported into a mere in North Yorkshire by the TCM.

3. Don’t know. Would like to think it was on our side (not the PF), but I suspect more extraplanar activity – there’s a Gate to the Dreamlands (or something) beneath where the PF ws buried, which is causing the voodoo staff to activate and generate current in the rail.

4. Bottom six inches of all clothing (Wished away)/removed as per Radshaw’s car engine. To (ostensibly) destroy the other clothing which was in the house. Although such loss may have facilitated other actions too.
5. The Special was put there, methinks, to help the Saiitaii Manifestation get into this plane, using the still functioning Gate/summoning magics of the barn Perhaps. What a poor guess.

6. Wode knew the significance of the toadstone – and had killed the toad to seal the gate/stop more ingress via the summoning magics. Clubbed to death – any sign of ferrule marks on the cottage floor, perhaps – anyone checked? I guess the TCM is to blame – but I think he’s a goner, perhaps, too.

7. He either had no saliva (being but a simulacrum or other construct – or undead – Lych, anyone? - or even Projected Image) – or didn’t want to be traced by leaving any saliva on the stamps.

8. TCM has it. Should we scry for it – or is it in a pit (or Pit) at Waterloo?

9. Mummer – no idea, but it was summoned from the fire – from the Abyss, though?

10. Someone (or thing) who wants to be the oldest, last remaining Horne in the Isles, to get their hands on the Hallows, wherever they may be found (scattered to the four countries, perhaps).

Can Magda visit the Scottish base on her way back from Scotland, perhaps? What of the teacups found in Mr Mummer’s house? Can we please look for Deborah Stankey – I’ll use Magic Mirror if need be – and chase up the other relatives. And will someone (R-A, perhaps?) keep Mr Belnichol safe, and grill him as to what HE knows about toadstones.

Ian,

Work is proving to be an awkward place to study the bulletin board so most of this is forward looking rather than pulling together the threads of
previous chapters.

These are the bits that interest Revell.

Deborah Stankey - If we know enough about her and her clothing then scry for her.

Waterloo - If the tracks are occasionally producing an electric current
Revell asks Radshaw whether he can feed in short bursts of electricity and try to communicate with any sentience that is making the electrical
anomalies.

Letters - Revell is extremely keen to take up R-A's offer of volunteers to
go to Wales and Scotland with him. Revell would like somebody to come with us who is good at photography, has instruments for detecting things and has those very fine wires for manipulating dangerous objects at a distance.
(Translating this out of the language Revell uses around R-A. He would like somebody who is good at photography, has a good range of detect spells and has unseen servant i.e. we detect the letters for magic/evil/traps get the U/S to open them and photograph the letter rather than read it directly).
Revell is happy to collect the letters in person, dressed in a tweed suit
and disguised to look like the person who attacked Radshaw. I am confident that Revell can quickly knock up paperwork for a Mr M Affagdu and a Mr A Morfran. Naturally if it all goes nasty Revell is stepping out of magic.

Am I correct in assuming that the Welsh and Scottish addresses tie in
closely with the historic Horne estates in Wales and Scotland? Have we
heard of any strange events in Ireland? (I believe this was the other old
Horne estate).
Feeling a bit guilty for having placed a bet on the King's death Revell puts
a small wager on Everest being climbed within 3 years.
Regards,
Tony

Jolly good, Could be a fun trip. Only problem with your suggestion is that she's only a two seater.....
Rupert

Dear R-A,
Well then old chap just the two of us in the two-seater it is. I'll bring
along a lead lined box to put the letters in and we'll let some of the more
technically minded chaps deal with them later. Must go, I'm off two pick up a tweed suit from a good little 24 hour tailor that I know.
Yours sincerely,
Revell

I don't mind the e-mail backlog, so long as we don't end up sending copies of each and every e-mail when replying to received mail. I agree with Nicky - the exchange of ideas certainly stimulates other areas of investigation, and the BB has helped with that. That said, if it brings other people into the scenarion who haven't joined in yet - well, I can stand the extra e-mails - how about you, IW?

Qayrawan (as mentioned below) would like to try to track down the missing Stankey daughter, as well as the other members of Mrs Stankey's family (i.e. blood relatives). We still don't know her maiden name, and I think some research into the Hornes whilst in London might - especially their other properties - would be a good idea. Qayrawan will probably visit the Land Office, armed with a Charm Person or two, to find out what Mr Nocaut was enquiring about Temple Fortune Hill, and to discover about the other Horne properties.
After recent uses of Magic Mirror spells, he's a bit reluctant to do much scrying, but I think he'll get one to look for the missing Doreen or Deborah, please.

Clive

Quayrawun (e-mail):

I did add a couple of notes to say that Qayrawan would be in London, seeking out the relatives of Mrs Stankey (after we've found out her maiden name), scrying for little Doreen or whatever her name is now, and taking a trip (armed with a couple of Charm Persons) to the Land Registry to find out what Mr Nocaut wanted to know about Temple Fortune Hill. And perhaps a Detect Charm. And a Dispel Magic. Oh, hell, just the CPs, please.

And after all that - a nice rest, before we attempt the Magic Mirror and a search for little Doreen. BTW, do the Land Registry have anything on the Hornes, and their properties in Wales and Scotland?

The rest I posted (this afternoon, actually) was just various role playing bits.

Thanks again, Ian. Top stuff.

Clive

Revell (e-mail):

Ian,

Apologies I'd misread Ch7 and gained the impression that we just mark our own answers and did not have to submit them. "Each correct answer is worth 10xp. You can mark yourselves after Chapter Eight"
Anyway here are mine:
1 - They were summoned
2 - The car was teleported (in two parts) to a lake
3 - Something powerful and for stealing chocolate
4 - They had been shrunk in one dimension
5 - There was an extra (and unpleasant) spirit in the spirit. Imported by
the Pub Landlord
6 - For knowing too much and being willing to talk about it. By a big oak
tree
7 - To lick stamps as the tweed suited man (TSM) lacks saliva
8 - TSM put it in his pocket
9 - ?
10 - Mr Gent
I think before the board died you asked whether Revell and R-A intend to
travel together. Yes, Revell favours Wales then Scotland but will defer to
R-A as he is the driver.
Regards,
Tony

1. Something to do with the damage to the barn during the storm.

2. Teleported to lake (after enginge block teleported first).

3. Don't know, but it shouldn't have tried pinching chocolate machines.

4. Not sure. Are they hemmed? Something to do with dress in wardrobe (comfy sleeping place for mr furry), If all Mrs Stankys clothes are short, this might be affected too.

5. It was Saiiti manifestation

6. Walter killed the toad in the lintel, old druidical powers felt justified in killing Walter

7. Alistair Courntney had to lick stamps and put them on the envelopes. Presumably tweedsuit man couldn't. (Even if he had no saliva why couldn't he wet his finger for the stamp?) could be making sure no traces of him on them.

8. Tweed man kept Radshaws handkerchief.

9. David Mummer killed by fire.