Tatters of the King - User contributions [en-gb]

British Gods

2006-06-10T02:59:55Z

202.74.219.133:

[[image:goddess.jpg|right]]

Subtitled 'Religion and Myth in the Western Kingdoms of Anglo-Saxon Britain' [[Malcolm Quarrie]]'s Masters' thesis was expanded into this 360 page book and published in 1924 by the Oxford University Press.

It is a study of the Gods of Anglo-Saxon England, primarily those Celtic, Roman, Sumerian and other Gods worshipped between 50BC and 650AD in the West of England. It concentrates on a fertility Goddess called Shub-Niggurath, who Quarrie claims was worshipped in various forms and under various names by in England by Celts, Romans and Saxons throughout antiquity.

Most scholars who have discusssed her believe Shub-Niggurath to be an aspect of the mother-goddess Brigid, but Quarrie attempts to trace her origins, and believes her worship originated in Assyria and moved West through Europe to Gaul and from there to England. Worshippers of 'The Goat With a Thousand Young' had a very fierce reputation. In England her worship was centred in the Forest of Dean and the towns of Gloucester, Bath, Cirencester and Brichester.

Professor JRR Tolkien of Pembroke College, Oxford gave a copy of this book to [[Andrew Saunders]], who has since read it.

British Gods

2006-06-10T02:59:29Z

202.74.219.133:

[image:goddess.jpg|right]

Subtitled 'Religion and Myth in the Western Kingdoms of Anglo-Saxon Britain' [[Malcolm Quarrie]]'s Masters' thesis was expanded into this 360 page book and published in 1924 by the Oxford University Press.

It is a study of the Gods of Anglo-Saxon England, primarily those Celtic, Roman, Sumerian and other Gods worshipped between 50BC and 650AD in the West of England. It concentrates on a fertility Goddess called Shub-Niggurath, who Quarrie claims was worshipped in various forms and under various names by in England by Celts, Romans and Saxons throughout antiquity.

Most scholars who have discusssed her believe Shub-Niggurath to be an aspect of the mother-goddess Brigid, but Quarrie attempts to trace her origins, and believes her worship originated in Assyria and moved West through Europe to gaul and from there to England. Worshippers of 'The Goat With a Thousand Young' had a very fierce reputation. In England her worship was centred in the Forest of Dean and the towns of Gloucester, Bath, Cirencester and Brichester.

Professor JRR Tolkien of Pembroke College, Oxford gave a copy of this book to [[Andrew Saunders]], who has since read it.

Session 5

2006-06-10T02:56:49Z

202.74.219.133: /* Monday 26th November */

==Session Report - Played Monday 5th June, 2006==

===Tuesday 13th November===

The private detective Walsh contacts [[Withers]] about [[Edwards]] and [[Lawrence Bacon]]. Edwards has long gone from the last known address, leaving no trace. Bacon has run his shop in Islington for several deacdes and is still there. He rarely if ever leaves and the shop is open by appointment only.

[[Nathaniel Browne]] visits [[Talbot Estus]] to return ‘[[Le Roi en Jeune]]’. [[Michael Gillen]] seems to have moved out, and Estus is dishevelled and his apartment is a mess. He has been struggling to make any headway at all on his novel and seems unwell. A passionate discussion on [[The King in Yellow]] ensues, and Browne lends Estus his copy of ‘[[der Wanderer durch den See]]’. Putting two and two together regarding Estus' apparent astrophobia and his own reactions to [[the Springer Mound Monsters]], Browne asks wheteher Estus has seen a similar creature. Estus reveals a dream he has had, of [[Cassilda]]’s palace surrounded by flocks of black flying creatures similar to [[the Springer Mound Monsters]].

Browne leave Estus' apartment somewhat concerned over his mental health. He calls [[Dr. Bartlett]], asking him if he will visit Estus in a professional capacity. Bartlett agrees and asks Browne to arrange a meeting.

===Wednesday 14th November===

Withers hears from his private detective about [[Malcolm Quarrie]]. Quarrie left the Royal Society in 1926, apparently to go overseas. The current resident of his former address does not know where but holds some mail for him, including letters from Pembroke College, Oxford.

Withers asks [[Andrew Saunders]] if he can help, as he has a contact at Oxford, and Saunders calls his friend John Tolkien to ask if John can find out anything about Quarrie. Tolkien recalls Quarrie’s name – he was a fellow scholar of Anglo-Saxon who once corresponded with him, as they had a mutual acquaintance. Quarrie wrote a book called ‘[[British Gods]]’ which was a study of Anglo-Saxon deities in the West of England. Tolkien owns a copy and invites Saunders to dinner in Oxford on Saturday.

Saunders also contacts the Archaeology Department at Oxford and locates Professor Hudson, who was on the [[Springer Mound]] dig in 1907, as a graduate student. This dig was nothing more than a training dig organised by a now deceased Professor, and it found nothing of interest. However, when Hudson lists the students on the dig he mentions a ‘Charles Edwards’ who he is sure died at the Somme.

===Thursday 15th November===

[[Bartlett]] calls [[St Agnes Asylum]] to tell [[Dr. Charles Highsmith]] that he will be recommending that [[Alexander Roby]] be released. Highsmith asks Bartlett to attend the release hearing in Hereford on November 30th to speak on Roby's behalf. Bartlett agrees.

===Friday 16th November===

Once again everyone meets for dinner at Bartlett's house to discuss events. The Dover sole is particularly fine.

===Saturday 17th November===

[[Andrew Saunders]] travels to Oxford to meet Professor Tolkien and discuss [[Malcolm Quarrie]]. Tolkien knows little, but is able to give Saunders a copy of '[[British Gods]]'. Tolkien takes Saunders to dinner and they discuss 'Beowulf'.

===Sunday 18th November===

The investigators have a quiet sunday, getting on with their lives. Saunders reads a good chunk of '[[British Gods]]' including mention of a pagan fertility deity known as Shub-Niggurath or the black goat of the woods with a thousand young, who was worshipped in the west country in ancient times.

===Monday 19th November===

[[Browne]] calls [[Talbot Estus]] to try to persuade him to see [[Doctor Bartlett]], but Estus refuses.

[[Saunders]] attempts to trace [[Malcolm Quarrie]] via the Royal Society, but the best he can discover is that Quarrie is believed to have travelled to 'the continent'.

===Tuesday 20th November===

[[Doctor Bartlett]] receives a [http://www.artistmonkey.com/Downloads/12_Wilfred_Grestys_First_Letter.pdf letter] from someone called [[Gresty]]. In the letter, Gresty claims to have been a part of the same group as [[Alexander Roby]], [[Lawrence Bacon]], [[Malcolm Quarrie]], [[Edwards]] and [[Coombes]], and that the group has split up. He also asks their assistance in dealing with Bacon, who he says will go out on the night of the full moon (November 27th). Gresty says that he will prevent Coombes from being present, and that this will make Bacon easier to handle.

Bartlett and [[Withers]] discuss the letter. Bartlett phones [[Delia Morrison]] about Gresty, but she has never heard of him. He also tells Delia to contact Withers or himself if she thinks of anything that may be helpful.

===Wednesday 21st November===

[[Delia Morrison]] calls [[Withers]], saying she has found something and would like him to visit at six that evening. Withers is suspicious of Delia's motives and invites [[Bartlett]].

When they arrive they find that [[Peter Morrison]] is present and Delia has a black eye. Withers reacts with anger, and Morrison, who has been drinking, challenges him to a fist fight.

Withers and Morrison face off in the front garden, and Withers wins handily, his second and final blow smashing into Morrison's midriff, leaving him gasping on the ground. Delia spits on her helpless husband and says 'if you ever lay a hand on me again, you are dead.' Morrison ends up hospitalised with a ruptured kidney, but the police press no charges as both Bartlett and Delia was witness to Morrison's starting the fight.

Delia apologises to Withers for using him this way as in truth, she has no more information about [[Alexander Roby]]. She bids 'adieu' to him with a gentle kiss on the cheek.

===Thursday 22nd November===

At [[Saunders]]' urging [[Browne]] visits [[Malcolm Quarrie]]'s former home and gains mail that was meant for him by posing as a relative. The letters include a couple from his mother in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire which refer to a 'Hillary', who seems to be Quarrie's estranged wife and announce the death of Quarrie's father. In the second letter his mother effectively disowns him and says she is moving away to live with 'Aunt Tessie'. No addresses are included in the letters.

Saunders decides to seek Quarrie in European academia and starts sending off cables to various learned institutions.

Walsh, the private detective, reports to [[Withers]] that there has been no movement of any interest at [[Lawrence Bacon]]'s shop. In the light of the [[Gresty]] letter Withers ends Walsh's employ, deciding it's time to take a personal interest.

Withers gives his sister Anna [[Delia Morrison]]'s address and number and asks Anna to look after Delia.

[[Doctor Bartlett]] finds a disturbing note scribbled in a psychological journal that refers to [[The King in Yellow]], but is unable to locate it a second time.

===Friday 23rd November===

The weekly dinner at [[Doctor Bartlett]]'s house becomes a discussion about the situation with [[Lawrence Bacon]] and the [[Gresty]] letter. After much debate it is agreed that all four investigators will watch, and attempt to follow Bacon on the 27th, and that the police will not be informed in advance.

===Saturday 24th November===

In preparation for Tuesday night, [[Withers]] and [[Browne]] recce the area around Bacon's shop. Browne finds a good hiding place in the gardens of the Royal Fever Hospital, opposite the shop while Withers traces the route to the canal, as described in [[Vincent Tuck's report]].

While wandering the canal area, Withers is very disturbed to encounter a drunken tramp singing [[Cassilda]]'s song from '[[The King in Yellow]]'.

===Sunday 25th November===

A day spent in at church, with family or just quietly at home. [[Withers]] is invited to dine with his sister and finds himself awkardly dining opposite [[Delia Hartston]] (who no longer calls herself 'Morrison').

===Monday 26th November===

A day spent at work, reading and writing, is interrupted when [[Browne]] gets a phone call from a barely coherent [[Talbot Estus]]. Estus says "I won't do it, I won't." and asks Browne "who are you, what do you want?".

Concerned, Browne calls [[Bartlett]], reporting that he is very disturbed by Estus' behaviour and fears that he may be a danger to himself or others. The pair arrange to meet at Estus's apartment building. Arriving first, Browne attempts to gain a response from within, but none is forthcoming. Barlett arrives and the two attempt to force entry. While attempting to break down the door (during which Browne re-injures his ankle), a neighbour arrives. He has a spare key and lets them in. Estus is found hanging in his study, an apparent suicide. Browne is shocked and falls backward to the floor.

A suicide note is found which says ''"Did I see my destiny, or did I make it? I know what I must do. Damn Roby and damn his book."'' The remains of [[Der Wanderer durch den See]] burn in the fireplace. Bartlett rings for an ambulance, while Browne, shaken by the entire experience, and realising that just like [[Dr. Lionel Trollope]], Estus apparently forsaw his own death while in possession of the book, starts to rummage through Estus's papers. He finds endless discarded drafts of the start of Estus's novel (it seems he never even settled on a beginning to his ''magnum opus''), and keeps some sheets. He also locates the copy of '[[Le Roi en Jeune]]', which he swiftly pockets.

===Tuesday 27th November===

Despite being shaken by events of the previous night, the investigators meet as planned at 'the Cripple', a pub a few doors down from [[Lawrence Bacon]]'s shop. At closing time they take positions in the bushes across the street and in an alley at the corner, and wait.

Just before midnight a huge, bearded man leaves the shop. He answers the description of Bacon, except that he is clearly a good 20 years younger than they have been expecting. Nonetheless they follow him, and seem to manage to avoid detection.

Bacon, if this is indeed he, follows the same route that he did when followed by [[Vincent Tuck]]. Once near Regents Canal he starts looking in doorways and alleys. [[Browne]] is closest when he enters an alley, just off the canal path, and starts to chant. A hideous screeching cacophony fills the air, joining with the chant, and the horrific screaming of a human being comes from within. Browne hides in a doorway.

[[Withers]], who is in the open on the canal path, fumbles for his gun. As he does this, the screeching stops and a vagrant staggers from the alley screaming for help from Withers, who he sees. Bacon grabs the vagrant from behind and lifts him up. Withers fires a shot in the air. Bacon hurls his victim against a wall, where his body seems to break apart, and turns to face Withers.

Withers aims at Bacon as Bacon starts shouting 'Coombes, Coombes, where are you man, you're needed!'

[[Saunders]] and [[Bartlett]] close the gap and find themselves behind Withers on the canal path as Bacon, realising Coombes is not there, starts to rush towards Withers, chanting the words "arggan colubra, arggan colubra!". He passes Browne, still hiding in the shadows of the doorway. Browne prepares to attack Bacon from behind, aware that with his ankle still hurting, he is unlikely to be able to outrun him.

Withers fires - the shot seems to hit Bacon but deflect away, hardly slowing him. As he closes on Withers the moonlight clearly shows his raised hands twisting, morphing and turning into the heads of a pair of hissing snakes!

''--- To be continued ---''

Session 6

2006-06-10T02:54:34Z

202.74.219.133: /* Tuesday 27th November */

==Session Report - Played Monday 12th June, 2006==

===Tuesday 27th November===

''--- Continued ---''

Withers fires - the shot seems to hit Bacon but deflect away, hardly slowing him. As he closes on Withers the moonlight clearly shows his raised hands twisting, morphing and turning into the heads of a pair of hissing snakes!

Session 6

2006-06-10T02:52:38Z

202.74.219.133: /* Tuesday 27th November */

==Session Report - Played Monday 12th June, 2006==

===Tuesday 27th November===

Session 6

2006-06-09T06:11:07Z

202.74.219.35:

===Tuesday 27th November===

Tatters of the King

2006-06-09T06:10:07Z

202.74.219.35: /* Sessions */

[[Image:Tatters_Cover.gif|right]]
'''Tatters of the King'''[http://catalog.chaosium.com/product_info.php?products_id=773&osCsid=07f84f248e3a49f3cf6199ee7fbb6629] is a new Call of Cthulhu campaign written by Tim Wiseman and published by [http://chaosium.com Chaosium] and through which our role-playing [http://tentaclesandunderpants.info group] is currently being run. Play started on May 8th 2006. See [[current events]] for next session date.

The game is being played in the suburb of Ellerslie, in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auckland Auckland, New Zealand].

==Setting==

The game is initially set in [http://www.yog-sothoth.com/docs/article-london-guide-1928.pdf London], [http://greywolfnz.homeip.net/wiki/attachments/1928.doc 1928]. It is the start of a bitterly cold winter, the worst in decades.

London is the capital of an empire covering a quarter of the globe and governing one quarter of the human race. The people busy themselves with concerns of politics and government, finance and production, work and recreation. How fragile things are. What ignorance there is.

There are those whose engage in different pursuits - who would see an inhuman power come to Earth such that it would make mundane activity seem like a last twitch before dying.........

==GM==

The Keeper of Arcane Lore is [[Mark Chiddicks]]

==Players==

The players are:

[[Nicola Bishop]]

[[Julia Blackmore]]

[[Marcus Gustafsson]]

[[Darryn Mercer]]

==[[Player Characters]]==

[[image:crew.jpg|right|200px]]

[[Doctor Frederick Bartlett]] - Eminent research psychologist, played by Marcus Gustafsson.

[[Nathaniel Browne]] - A failed writer, looking for his big story, played by Darryn Mercer

[[Andrew Saunders]] - British Museum curator and proud Scot, Played by Julia Blackmore.

[[Captain George Withers]] - Coldstream Guards. Career soldier. Played by Nicola Bishop.

==Notable Non-Player Characters==

'''Prologue'''

[[Talbot Estus]] (deceased) - American novelist, now debuting as a playwright

''The Group'' - an amateur theatrical troupe:

[[Michael Gillen]] - Retired publisher, amateur actor and acquaintance of [[Doctor Frederick Bartlett]]. Estus's friend and companion.

[[Hannah Keith]] - Amateur Actress and sister of [[Andrew Saunders]]

[[George Keith]] - Amateur Actor and husband of [[Hannah Keith]]

[[Walter Paige]] - Amateur Actor

[[Jean Hewart]] - Amateur Actress

'''Chapter One'''

[[Dr. Charles Highsmith]] - Asylum Superintendent

[[Alexander Roby]] - Incarcerated Madman

[[Lucius Harriwell]] - Incarcerated Madman

[[Price and Evans]] - Asylum Nurses

'''Chapter Two'''

[[Dr. Lionel Trollope]] (deceased) - Roby family physician

[[Grahame Roby]] - Financier, Alexander Roby's brother

[[Detective Inspector Andrew Taylor]] - of New Scotland Yard

[[Delia Hartston]] - Alexander Roby's former fiancee, now [[Delia Morrison]]

[[Peter Morrison]] - Abusive husband of Delia

[[Vincent Tuck]] - Private Detective, hired by Grahame Roby

[[The Tall Man]] - Sinister stalker, possibly named [[Coombes]]

'''Chapter Three'''

[[Harold Jennings]] (deceased) - Unfriendly Suffolk farmer

[[Gresty]] - Mysterious letter writer

[[Lawrence Bacon]] - Antiquarian and occultist

==Literary Works==

[[Carcosa, or The Queen and the Stranger]] - a fantasy in two acts, [http://greywolfnz.homeip.net/wiki/attachments/CARCOSA.pdf script] by [[Talbot Estus]]

[[Le Roi en Jeune]] - a rare French play, playwright anonymous

[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_King_in_Yellow The King in Yellow] - a collection of short [http://www.yankeeclassic.com/miskatonic/library/stacks/literature/chambers/stories/kinginye/contents.htm stories] by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_W._Chambers Robert W Chambers]

[[An Inhabitant of Carcosa and Haita the Shepherd]] - by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ambrose_Bierce Ambrose Bierce]

[[Der Wanderer durch den See]] - by [[Alexander Roby]]

[[British Gods]]: Religion and Myth in the Western Kingdoms of Anglo-Saxon Britain - by [[Malcolm Quarrie]]

==Locations==

[http://www.mdx.ac.uk/www/study/mapengwa.htm Map of England and Wales, 1928]

[http://www.yog-sothoth.com/docs/article-london-guide-1928.pdf London], England - [http://www.londonancestor.com/maps/roads-central.htm Map of London, 1926]

The [[Scala Theatre]], Charlotte St, London

[[St Agnes Asylum]], [[Weobley]], Herefordshire, England

[[Clare Melford]], Suffolk, England

==Sessions==

''As referred to in the session reports below, there have been a number of [[murders]] related to the Roby case.''

[[Session 1]] - Opening Night

[[Session 1.5]] - The Madman

[[Session 2]] - The Plot Thickens

[[Session 3]] - Alexander's Friends

[[Session 4]] - Teeth of Winter

[[Session 5]] - Four Go Mad in London

[[Session 6]] - The Black Magus