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

Springer Mound

2006-05-30T06:15:12Z

203.211.86.193:

Spruinger Mound is a low hill on the land of [[Harold Jennings]] just outside the Suffolk village of [[Clare Melford]]. [[Andrew Saunders]] and [[Nathaniel Browne]] explored the hill and discovered a ring of nine holes surrounding a pool of viscous, tar-like liquid on its summit, which smelt of rotting fruit.

On its overgrown lower slopes, Saunders located nine uprooted obelisks, almost certainly the 'nine teeth' spoken of by [[Alexander Roby]]. These obelisks were of recent manufacture and had strange lines of poetry engraved upon them, referring in one place to '[[Hastur]]'.

Two flying creatures endlessly circled the Mound at a great height, and when [[Harold Jennings]], in an attempt to scare Saunders off his land accientally discharged his shotgun into one of the stones, one of these creatures swooped down to attack, revealing the true nature of [[the Springer Mound Monsters]].

The nine stones and the smell of rotting vegetation both appeared in the dream that [[Doctor Frederick Bartlett]] had while visiting [[Weobley]].

Session 2

2006-05-30T06:03:30Z

203.211.86.193: /* November 5th 1928 */

==Session Report - Played Monday 15th May, 2006==

===October 31st 1928, Halloween===

Halloween. The four friends meet at [[Dr Bartlett]]'s Wimbledon home on Wednesday evening, for a game of bridge. The house has been dressed with pumpkins and other 'spooky' accountrements by Mrs Bartlett. Dr Bartlett raises the subject of the [[play]] and mentions that he recently encountered references to various elements of its contents during a professional consultation.

[[Nathaniel Browne]] explains that such elements have already been published as part of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_W._Chambers Chambers'] work and that this would explain where Bartlett's patient most likely encountered it.

===November 1st 1928===

[[Dr Bartlett]] meets [[Dr. Lionel Trollope]] in his London home. Trollope describes the [[Roby murders]], and explains that he does not think [[Alexander Roby]] is now, or ever will be, fit for release.

Trollope seems drained and preoccupied.

[[Nathaniel Browne]], desiring to peruse a copy of '[[Le Roi en Jeune]]', calls [[Talbot Estus]] and reveals what he has so far discovered about the roots of the [[play]]. Intrigued by names in the play turning up in the [[works of Ambrose Bierce]] and thus having a possible source which predates 'Le Roi en Jeune', Estus arranges for Nathaniel to visit him for lunch the following day.

On his return home, Bartlett discovers that a man claiming to be a taxi driver was looking for his house earlier in the day, but never called. This appears to be [[the Tall Man]], who makes more appearances later on.

===November 2nd 1928===

[[Nathaniel Browne]] keeps his lunch date with [[Talbot Estus]]. Arriving at the home of Estus and [[Michael Gillen]], Nathaniel finds that Gillen is away on business. Over lunch, Browne and Estus describe their mutual enthusiasm for '[[the King in Yellow]]'. Estus is surprised and offended by Nathaniel's insistence that the [[play]] was not performed as written, but nonetheless is persuaded to lend Browne his copy of '[[Le Roi en Jeune]]'.

[[Dr Bartlett]] visits [[Grahame Roby]] who is belligerent and unhelpful, but does mention [[Delia Hartston]].

Roby clearly does not have the slightest intention of consenting to [[Alexander Roby]]'s release.

That evening, Bartlett dines with [[Withers]] and tells him what he has learned about the Roby case. Withers offers to attempt to trace [[Delia Hartston]].

===November 3rd 1928===

[[Nathaniel Browne]] begins his own translation of '[[Le Roi en Jeune]]', finding that it differs from [[Talbot Estus]]'s play in some significant ways.

Withers, prompted by [[Bartlett]] engages a private investigator, by telephone, to trace [[Delia Hartston]].

As evening falls, [[Dr. Lionel Trollope]] is murdered in St James's Park.

===November 4th 1928===

The [[Daily Express Reports]] the murder of [[Dr. Lionel Trollope]] in [[St James' Park]], one of the suspects matches the description of [[the Tall Man]].

A man, possibly [[the Tall Man]] delivers a housebrick to [[Captain George Withers]] at Victoria Barracks, in what appears to have been an exercise to confirm Withers' billet. Withers arranges to change his accomodation in reaction to this.

Later, [[Dr Bartlett]] recieves a posthumous letter ([http://www.artistmonkey.com/Downloads/09_Letter_from_Dr_Trollope_part_1.pdf page 1], [http://www.artistmonkey.com/Downloads/09_Letter_from_Dr_Trollope_part_2.pdf page 2]) from Trollope, mentioning [[Delia Hartston]], [[Lawrence Bacon]] and [[Vincent Tuck]]. The letter appears to predict, in exact detail, the circumstances of Trollope's death. Trollope also reveals that Roby once had a book published - '[[The Walker by the Lake]]'.

That afternoon, Bartlett receives a visit from [[Detective Inspector Andrew Taylor]], investigating the Trollope murder, who is interviewing all those who had appointments with Trollope in the days before his death. Bartlett is reasonably open with Taylor, mentioning the mysterious activities of [[the Tall Man]] and the possible connection to [[the Roby Murders]].

===November 5th 1928, Guy Fawkes' Night===

Fireworks at [[Dr Bartlett]]'s house. They discuss the events of the last few days, during which it becomes clear that everyone knows that Bartlett has been consulting on the case of [[Alexander Roby]].

[[Bartlett]] discusses the fact that he has been somewhat disturbed by his current work and that a friend of his ([[Dr. Lionel Trollope]]) has not only been murdered, but apparently predicted the exact circumstances of his demise in his letter to Bartlett. He urges [[Browne]] to find a book called '[[The Walker by the Lake]]' which may be pertinant to the case. Browne agrees but is frustrated by Bartlett's unwillingness to share details of the book such as its authorship.

[[Nathaniel Browne]] reveals the copy of '[[Le Roi en Jeune]]' that he borrowed from Estus. The [[Yellow Sign]] on the cover seems to writhe and move upon the page, disturbing [[Withers]] and bringing back memories of bad dreams for [[Andrew Saunders]]. This dream was the mirror of Saunders' previous doppelganger dream. in this version Saunders was the armed version of himself, attempting to seize a crown from his unarmed self.

Browne reveals what he has discovered about '[[Le Roi en Jeune]]' and its differences from [[Talbot Estus]]'s [[play]].

After [[Bartlett]]'s wife calls everyone outside for the fireworks (during which [[Browne]] sees the [[Yellow Sign]] formed by one of them, but the others do not), Bartlett recieves a frantic phone call from Nurse [[Price]] at the asylum, announcing the murder of [[Frederick Long]].

On the way home, [[Saunders]]' cab is cut off by a black car and Saunders is threatened by [[the Tall Man]], who warns Saunders to tell his friends to 'drop this matter'.

==Audio Recording==

[http://www.tentaclesandunderpants.info/downloads/download.html;jsessionid=1orm91qo6l1al?id=14004 Audio Recording of the Second Session]

Session 2

2006-05-30T06:02:44Z

203.211.86.193: /* October 31st 1928 */

==Session Report - Played Monday 15th May, 2006==

===October 31st 1928, Halloween===

Halloween. The four friends meet at [[Dr Bartlett]]'s Wimbledon home on Wednesday evening, for a game of bridge. The house has been dressed with pumpkins and other 'spooky' accountrements by Mrs Bartlett. Dr Bartlett raises the subject of the [[play]] and mentions that he recently encountered references to various elements of its contents during a professional consultation.

[[Nathaniel Browne]] explains that such elements have already been published as part of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_W._Chambers Chambers'] work and that this would explain where Bartlett's patient most likely encountered it.

===November 1st 1928===

[[Dr Bartlett]] meets [[Dr. Lionel Trollope]] in his London home. Trollope describes the [[Roby murders]], and explains that he does not think [[Alexander Roby]] is now, or ever will be, fit for release.

Trollope seems drained and preoccupied.

[[Nathaniel Browne]], desiring to peruse a copy of '[[Le Roi en Jeune]]', calls [[Talbot Estus]] and reveals what he has so far discovered about the roots of the [[play]]. Intrigued by names in the play turning up in the [[works of Ambrose Bierce]] and thus having a possible source which predates 'Le Roi en Jeune', Estus arranges for Nathaniel to visit him for lunch the following day.

On his return home, Bartlett discovers that a man claiming to be a taxi driver was looking for his house earlier in the day, but never called. This appears to be [[the Tall Man]], who makes more appearances later on.

===November 2nd 1928===

[[Nathaniel Browne]] keeps his lunch date with [[Talbot Estus]]. Arriving at the home of Estus and [[Michael Gillen]], Nathaniel finds that Gillen is away on business. Over lunch, Browne and Estus describe their mutual enthusiasm for '[[the King in Yellow]]'. Estus is surprised and offended by Nathaniel's insistence that the [[play]] was not performed as written, but nonetheless is persuaded to lend Browne his copy of '[[Le Roi en Jeune]]'.

[[Dr Bartlett]] visits [[Grahame Roby]] who is belligerent and unhelpful, but does mention [[Delia Hartston]].

Roby clearly does not have the slightest intention of consenting to [[Alexander Roby]]'s release.

That evening, Bartlett dines with [[Withers]] and tells him what he has learned about the Roby case. Withers offers to attempt to trace [[Delia Hartston]].

===November 3rd 1928===

[[Nathaniel Browne]] begins his own translation of '[[Le Roi en Jeune]]', finding that it differs from [[Talbot Estus]]'s play in some significant ways.

Withers, prompted by [[Bartlett]] engages a private investigator, by telephone, to trace [[Delia Hartston]].

As evening falls, [[Dr. Lionel Trollope]] is murdered in St James's Park.

===November 4th 1928===

The [[Daily Express Reports]] the murder of [[Dr. Lionel Trollope]] in [[St James' Park]], one of the suspects matches the description of [[the Tall Man]].

A man, possibly [[the Tall Man]] delivers a housebrick to [[Captain George Withers]] at Victoria Barracks, in what appears to have been an exercise to confirm Withers' billet. Withers arranges to change his accomodation in reaction to this.

Later, [[Dr Bartlett]] recieves a posthumous letter ([http://www.artistmonkey.com/Downloads/09_Letter_from_Dr_Trollope_part_1.pdf page 1], [http://www.artistmonkey.com/Downloads/09_Letter_from_Dr_Trollope_part_2.pdf page 2]) from Trollope, mentioning [[Delia Hartston]], [[Lawrence Bacon]] and [[Vincent Tuck]]. The letter appears to predict, in exact detail, the circumstances of Trollope's death. Trollope also reveals that Roby once had a book published - '[[The Walker by the Lake]]'.

That afternoon, Bartlett receives a visit from [[Detective Inspector Andrew Taylor]], investigating the Trollope murder, who is interviewing all those who had appointments with Trollope in the days before his death. Bartlett is reasonably open with Taylor, mentioning the mysterious activities of [[the Tall Man]] and the possible connection to [[the Roby Murders]].

===November 5th 1928===

Guy Fawkes Night. Fireworks at [[Dr Bartlett]]'s house. They discuss the events of the last few days, during which it becomes clear that everyone knows that Bartlett has been consulting on the case of [[Alexander Roby]].

[[Bartlett]] discusses the fact that he has been somewhat disturbed by his current work and that a friend of his ([[Dr. Lionel Trollope]]) has not only been murdered, but apparently predicted the exact circumstances of his demise in his letter to Bartlett. He urges [[Browne]] to find a book called '[[The Walker by the Lake]]' which may be pertinant to the case. Browne agrees but is frustrated by Bartlett's unwillingness to share details of the book such as its authorship.

[[Nathaniel Browne]] reveals the copy of '[[Le Roi en Jeune]]' that he borrowed from Estus. The [[Yellow Sign]] on the cover seems to writhe and move upon the page, disturbing [[Withers]] and bringing back memories of bad dreams for [[Andrew Saunders]]. This dream was the mirror of Saunders' previous doppelganger dream. in this version Saunders was the armed version of himself, attempting to seize a crown from his unarmed self.

Browne reveals what he has discovered about '[[Le Roi en Jeune]]' and its differences from [[Talbot Estus]]'s [[play]].

After [[Bartlett]]'s wife calls everyone outside for the fireworks (during which [[Browne]] sees the [[Yellow Sign]] formed by one of them, but the others do not), Bartlett recieves a frantic phone call from Nurse [[Price]] at the asylum, announcing the murder of [[Frederick Long]].

On the way home, [[Saunders]]' cab is cut off by a black car and Saunders is threatened by [[the Tall Man]], who warns Saunders to tell his friends to 'drop this matter'.

==Audio Recording==

[http://www.tentaclesandunderpants.info/downloads/download.html;jsessionid=1orm91qo6l1al?id=14004 Audio Recording of the Second Session]

Session 4

2006-05-30T06:01:57Z

203.211.86.193: /* November 11th 1928 */

==Session Report - Played Monday 29th May, 2006==

===November 9th 1928===

After dinner - the investigators decide what to do next. They have leads to [[Lawrence Bacon]], [[Malcolm Quarrie]] and [[Edwards]] and have been told of the 'Nine Teeth' prepared at [[Clare Melford]]. Over port and cigars they make their plans.

[[Withers]] offers to set his private detective the task of checking up on Edwards, Bacon and Quarrie - to see if their current addresses match those given by [[Vincent Tuck]].

The decision is made to drive to [[Clare Melford]] on Saturday.

===November 10th 1928===

In Japan, the Emperor Hirohito is enthroned. In England, the four investigators drive, in Saunders' Cowley, to Suffolk. The day is cold, but clear, with snow on the ground. They stop in Clare for lunch at the Plough Inn before heading into [[Clare Melford]].

In Clare Melford they visit the Railway Inn and meet the landlord, Dick Blair. He only moved to the village in early 1926, so is no help with regards to the events of late 1925, so they start to talk to the locals.

Talking to one of the locals, Saunders and Browne hear of [[Springer Mound]], and another team of archaelogical students who visited it in the pre-war years. They find out that Springer Mound is on the land of [[Harold Jennings]], who has kept a part of his land uncultivated and does not take kindly to strangers.

[[Nathaniel Browne]] asks Blair, the publican, if he remembers anything peculiar happening in the December of 1925, but it turns out that he did not move to the town until some months later. One of the barmaids, however, overhears the conversation and approaches the investigators' table to tell them of 'the night of the curse' on New Year's Eve 1925, when 5 locals (4 elderly and 1 small child) all died of apparently natural causes. None of the decendants was in good health, but that they all died in one night is particularly odd. [[Browne]] asks whether any strangers were seen to visit the town on or near that night, but none is remembered.

It is decided that a walk past [[Jennings]]' land on the public footpath is in order. While examining Springer Mound from a distance, the investigators encounter the bellicose Jennings and his large, vicious looking dogs, Henry and Lucas. Jennings is unfriendly and basically warns them off.

[[Nathaniel Browne]] spots two dark shapes circling high above the mound - others look at them through [[Withers]]' binoculars, but the best guess is that they are some kind of bat or large bird.

The group drives to nearby [[Long Melford]] and finds rooms for the night at the Ox Tavern. There they find locals who remember a large bearded man fitting the description of [[Lawrence Bacon]] who stayed in the village with a group of 'well-to-do Londoners' at New Year 1925. These men left the village on the evening of New Year's Eve and did not return. That night five people died in [[Clare Melford]].

===November 11th 1928, Remembrance Sunday===

[[Withers]] has to leave for Windsor first thing on Sunday to be back for the Armistice day ceremonies. he catches the train from Sudbury with [[Bartlett]] and the two men spend their day with Withers' regiment at both the ceremony and the extended drinking session that follows.

In Suffolk, [[Saunders]] and [[Browne]] decide to take a walk to [[Springer Mound]] from the [[Long Melford]] side. Trudging through fresh snow, they climb the hill where they discover a viscous pool of tar-like liquid that smells like rotting fruit.

Browne puts his foot in a hole hidden under the snow and falls heavily, spraining his ankle. The hole proves to be large enough to have held a standing stone. Looking down into the heavily overgrown area on the other side, Saunders sees several large stones lying on their side amongst the bushes and goes down to examine them, leaving Browne to rest.

There are nine stones, each a large granite obelisk of recent manufacture, engraved with lines of poetry, or ritual, in English. Saunders has just noticed a reference to '[[Hastur]]' when an angry [[Harold Jennings]] appears, with his dogs and starts waving his shotgun at Saunders.

As Saunders puts his hands up and tries to explain himself, Jennings fires - either a warning shot or an accidental discharge - and hits one of the stones. Saunders turns and runs. At this point, one of the two [[flying creatures]] seen above the Mound on the previous day, drops like a stone from the sky, straight past Saunders and [[Browne]], and swoops towards Jennings.

[[Harold Jennings]] screams, tries to raise his gun and is hit by a horror beyond imagining. Saunders stops running, turns around, and gets a clear view as the monster rips Jennings' throat out in front of him. Saunders continues his flight towards Browne, shouting 'Run, run!'

The thing that killed Jennings is taller than a man, part insect, part reptile, with huge leathery wings, sharp claws and a head like the skull of a horse, yet filled with knifelike teeth.

As Saunders and Browne flee across the snow, Browne hobbling on his bad ankle, the creature rises into the air, circles once then flies back down in the direction of Jennings' farm. Browne and Saunders make it to the Inn in [[Long Melford]] and immediately ask for a doctor.

They are directed to the local GP, Doctor Elsworth. Elsworth. On [[Saunders]]' frantic insistence he calls the local constable, PC Smith, who arrives in minutes. Saunders tells him that [[Harold Jennings]] has been attacked, maybe killed, by his own dogs. Smith borrows a shotgun from Elsworth and saks Saunders to direct him to the site of the attack.

On Jennings' land, they locate the corpse of the farmer, and almost immediately hear howls from the barn. Smith hurries towards the noise, but Saunders, who is unarmed, hangs back out of fear. He sees the policeman enter the barn, hears a gunshot, a scream and several indescribable noises - then flees in terror back to the village.

This time the police are called in force. Arriving within half an hour from Sudbury they hurry to the farm and discover the corpses of [[Jennings]] and Smith, as well as those of the two dogs. They conclude that the dogs killed each other after killing Smith, although there is some suspicion that a third animal may have left the scene and is now wandering the countryside.

[[Saunders]] and [[Browne]] are allowed to leave, and they drive back to London, badly shaken. On arrival they contact their friends and arrange to meet for lunch the next day. That night, both Saunders and Browne dream disturbing dreams.

Meanwhile, high above [[Springer Mound]], two black shapes resume their tireless circling.

===November 12th, 1928===

In the morning, [[Withers]] instructs his private detective, Walsh, to confirm the background information learned about [[Edwards]], [[Malcolm Quarrie]] and [[Lawrence Bacon]], to check which if any of them remain at their former addresses.

At lunch, [[Saunders]] and [[Browne]] describe the Suffolk horror, and the [[flying creatures]] to their friends. [[Bartlett]] offers Saunders a 'professional session' in the afternoon.

That afternoon Saunders visits the Tavistock Institute and talks to Bartlett. Bartlett ends the interview convinced that Saunders is telling the truth, and shaken by the details that match the dream he had in Herefordshire - the smell of rotten fruit and the nine stone obelisks on [[Springer Mound]].

Meanwhile, [[Withers]] returns to barracks to be confronted by a drunken, incoherent [[Peter Morrison]]. Morrison seems unsure what he wants, and leaves, but Withers realises that he very probably got Withers' card from [[Delia Morrison]] by force.