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

Malcolm Quarrie

2006-08-18T04:53:22Z

203.211.93.103:

Malcolm Quarrie was one of the men who both [[Delia Morrison]] and [[Vincent Tuck]] referred to as spending a great deal of time with [[Alexander Roby]] in 1925. His other associates being [[Lawrence Bacon]], [[Edwards]] and [[Coombes]].

Referred to by [[Alexander Roby]] during his monologue to [[Dr Bartlett]], the following is stated:

- Roby does not know where Quarrie is.

- He may be attempting to 'bring' [[the King in Yellow]].

- It appears Quarrie disagreed with Roby and [[Edwards]] on one or more issues.

- Quarrie believes that [[the King in Yellow]] has called himself [[the White Acolyte]].

Roby also asks Bartlett to pass on a stanza of poetry to Quarrie as a warning or piece of advice:

'' The stars that burn their charcoal death,''

'' Shrink back, they feel the hoary breath,''

'' Of he who ransoms great Carcosa.''

'' He flees where queen and prophet met,''

'' Where twin suns fall but never set,''

'' Escapes the tomb of lost Carcosa.''

According to [[Vincent Tuck]] who saw him in 1925, Quarrie was about 35, upper middle class with black hair and a slim build. A scientist, he worked at the Royal Society in Piccadilly and lived alone at 12 Moreton Street in Westminster.

Malcolm's wife, [[Hillary Quarrie]], apparently lives at [[Nug's Farm]] in the West Country. According to the letters found at Quarrie's former address he was estranged from Hillary.

[[Wilfred Gresty]]'s letters connected Hillary to a man called Atkinson, and Gresty's ambitions.

Aleister Crowley believed that Quarrie had gone to Italy in search of [[The Brothers of the Yellow Sign]].

The Springer Mound Monsters

2006-08-18T04:51:28Z

203.211.93.103:

[[image:springer.jpg|right|200px|thumb]]

Two large winged creatures circling endlessly above Springer Mound near [[Clare Melford]]. One of these creatures attacked and killed [[Harold Jennings]] after he discharged a shotgun into one of the nine obelisks hidden on his land. It also hunted down and killed both of his dogs and the unfortunate local constable from Long Melford. The creature was seen clearly by [[Andrew Saunders]] as he witnessed its attack on [[Harold Jennings]] and less clearly by [[Nathaniel Browne]], but attacked neither of them. As far as anyone knows, the creatures are still there. Saunders managed to convince the police that the attacks were the work of Jennings' dogs who eventually killed the first policeman who accompanied Saunders back to the farm, and then each other .

Saunders described the creature as a man-sized insectoid horror with a head like a horse's skull. It had sharp claws on all four limbs, great leathery wings and dead grey eyes.

When the investiagtors returned to Springer Mound in early December 1928 the creatures had gone, along with the obelisks which they had apparently been guarding. The obelisks later turned up in Scotland.

The [[bone whistle]]s owned by [[Lawrence Bacon]] and [[Henry Lister]] bear likenesses of these creatures.

In [[Carcosa]] it was discovered that these creatures are called '''byakhee''' and are the servants of [[Hastur]]. Hundreds of the creatures were summoned to Carcosa, where they clustered on the roof of the palace, watching the play performed by [[Edwards]] and his followers.

According to [[Dr. Bartlett]]'s dream, when Carcosa left the Earth the byakhee all flew into Hastur's enormous eyes.

The Springer Mound Monsters

2006-08-18T04:50:26Z

203.211.93.103:

[[image:springer.jpg|right|200px|thumb]]

Two large winged creatures circling endlessly above Springer Mound near [[Clare Melford]]. One of these creatures attacked and killed [[Harold Jennings]] after he discharged a shotgun into one of the nine obelisks hidden on his land. It also hunted down and killed both of his dogs and the unfortunate local constable from Long Melford. The creature was seen clearly by [[Andrew Saunders]] as he witnessed its attack on [[Harold Jennings]] and less clearly by [[Nathaniel Browne]], but attacked neither of them. As far as anyone knows, the creatures are still there. Saunders managed to convince the police that the attacks were the work of Jennings' dogs who eventually killed the first policeman who accompanied Saunders back to the farm, and then each other .

Saunders described the creature as a man-sized insectoid horror with a head like a horse's skull. It had sharp claws on all four limbs, great leathery wings and dead grey eyes.

When the investiagtors returned to Springer Mound in early December 1928 the creatures had gone, along with the obelisks which they had apparently been guarding. The obelisks later turned up in Scotland.

The [[bone whistle]]s owned by [[Lawrence Bacon]] and [[Henry Lister]] bear likenesses of these creatures.

In [[Carcosa]] it was discovered that these creatures are called '''byakhee''' and are the servants of [[Hastur]]. Hundreds of the creatures were summoned to Carcosa, where they clustered of the roof of the palace, watching the play performed by [[Edwards]] and his followers.

According to [[Dr. Bartlett]]'s dream, when Carcosa left the Earth the byakhee all flew into Hastur's enormous eyes.

The Springer Mound Monsters

2006-08-18T04:49:30Z

203.211.93.103:

[[image:springer.jpg|right|200px|thumb]]

Two large winged creatures circling endlessly above Springer Mound near [[Clare Melford]]. One of these creatures attacked and killed [[Harold Jennings]] after he discharged a shotgun into one of the nine obelisks hidden on his land. It also hunted down and killed both of his dogs and the unfortunate local constable from Long Melford. The creature was seen clearly by [[Andrew Saunders]] as he witnessed its attack on [[Harold Jennings]] and less clearly by [[Nathaniel Browne]], but attacked neither of them. As far as anyone knows, the creatures are still there. Saunders managed to convince the police that the attacks were the work of Jennings' dogs who eventually killed the first policeman who accompanied Saunders back to the farm, and then each other .

Saunders described the creature as a man-sized insectoid horror with a head like a horse's skull. It had sharp claws on all four limbs, great leathery wings and dead grey eyes.

When the investiagtors returned to Springer Mound in early December 1928 the creatures had gone, along with the obelisks which they had apparently been guarding. The obelisks later turned up in Scotland.

The [[bone whistle]]'s owned by [[Lawrence Bacon]] and [[Henry Lister]] bear likenesses of these creatures.

In [[Carcosa]] it was discovered that these creatures are called '''Byakhee''' and are the servants of [[Hastur]. Hundreds of the creatures were summoned to carcosa, where they clustered of the roof of the palace, watching the play performed by [[Edwards]] and his followers.

Accoording to [[Dr. Bartlett]]'s dream, when Carcosa left the Earth the byakhee all flew into Hastur's enormous eyes.

Byakhee

2006-08-18T04:47:05Z

203.211.93.103:

%redirect [[the Springer Mound Monsters]]

Byakhee

2006-08-18T04:46:27Z

203.211.93.103:

%redirect [[Springer Mound Monsters]]

Quentin Spence

2006-08-18T04:45:32Z

203.211.93.103:

An English poet, published to some critical acclaim, Spence was encountered by [[Nathaniel Browne]] in an ampitheatre in [[Carcosa]]. Armed, and having already killed one local in a paranoid fit, Spence revealed he had come here as a part of the hastur cult, lead by [[Edwards]], but that the summoning of the [[byakhee]] was too much for him, and he'd fled.

Browne disarmed him, and after finding out the location of [[Alexander Roby]], left him in Carcosa, where as far as anyone knows, he remains.

Tatters of the King

2006-08-18T04:42:15Z

203.211.93.103: /* Notable Non-Player Characters */

[[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

[[Coombes]] (deceased?) - Sinister stalker, Bacon's ex-bodyguard.

'''Chapter Three'''

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

[[Wilfred Gresty]] - Mysterious letter writer

[[Montague Edwards]] (deceased) - Alexander Roby's secret guardian

[[Lawrence Bacon]] (deceased?) - Antiquarian, occultist and sorcerer

[[Malcolm Quarrie]] - Elusive scientist and occultist

[[Hillary Quarrie]] - Estranged wife of Malcolm

[[Atkinson]] - Cult leader from the West Country

'''Chapter Four'''

[[Cec Watts]] (deceased) - Tabloid Journalist

[[Henry Lister]] - Terrified cultist and necrophobe

[[Quentin Spence]] - Poet and Failed Cultist

[[Noss]] of Yhtill - Leather worker from an alien world

[[Yolanda]] - Noblewoman from [[Cassilda]]'s court

[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aleister_Crowley Aleister Crowley] - Famed 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]]

[[The Turner Codex]]: A translation of Mesoamerican prayers and libations to Hastur - trans. M. Turner ''et al''

==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

[[Loch Mullardoch]], near Inverness, Scotland

[[Carcosa]], a dream city made flesh

==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]] - Death by Night, Death by Day

[[Session 7]] - Missing Persons

[[Session 8]] - To Walk Upon the Earth in Carcosa

[[Session 9]] - Aftermath - a Year in the Lives...

[[Session 10]] - The Man From Goatswood

Session 9

2006-08-18T04:42:07Z

203.211.93.103: /* December 1928 */

==Session Report - Played Monday 7th August, 2006==

=== December 1928 ===

Inverness, the morning after. [[Bartlett]] is hospitalised and sedated, his wife hurries to be by his side. [[Saunders]], though critically hurt, is conscious, and Jennifer and the rest of his family flock to his side.

Meanwhile, [[Browne]] and [[Withers]]. More or less intact, use their experience of such things to spin a tale to the Scottish police which convinces them that their attacker was [[Alexander Roby]], who killed [[Edwards]] with some kind of acid then stabbed [[Saunders]] before fleeing. Though there are many holes in the story, its the best the police have, and the investigators are released.

Local newspapers report the [http://www.artistmonkey.com/Downloads/19_Newspaper_Article_on_Events_in_the_Highlands.pdf deaths of a number of villagers] in Cannich on the night that Carcosa vanished

On the 14th, Browne returns to London, where his is inspired to start turning his exoperiences into short stories. He is joined a couple of days later by Withers. They still want to find [[Malcolm Quarrie]] and [[Wilfred Gresty]].

[[Browne]] sends a letter, by hand, to 'Occult Magazine', offering a book of [[Bacon]]'s to the author of the dead occultist's obituary. the next day he recieves a call from a man claiming to be the writer, and an invitation to meet that evening by [http://k-punk.abstractdynamics.org/archives/east_karl_marx_tomb.jpg Karl Marx's Tomb] in Highgate Cemetary.

Browne arrives early, and Withers hides behind a nearby gravestone. It is a chill evening. A middle-aged man arrives and introdcues himself, though browne instantly recognises [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aleister_Crowley Aleister Crowley], the self-styled 'wickedest man alive".

Crowley thought little of Bacon, and is disappointed that the book on offer is merely a copy of '[[Le Roi en Jeune]]', but he's much more interested in [[Edwards]] and [[Malcolm Quarrie]] and attempts to trade for information. He reveals that Quarrie went to Italy to seek 'Il Fratelli di Signo Giallo' (the [[Brothers of the Yellow Sign]]), a society who perform a version of '[[The King in Yellow]]' annually.

Shortly after this, Browne realises Crowley is attempting to use Mesmerism, or some other form of mental domination on him. When Crowley realises his attempts have fails he says that he must leave, but invites browne to a party he is holding the next week. As he leaves the cemetary, Crowley tells Withers 'you can come out now'.

Browne goes to the party - from which Crowley is sadly absent, and learns many things about the appetites of the rich and bored. He bathes in sin for a few hours, and returns to write more stories.

Over the next week or so, in the run up the Christmas, Withers is busy with duty and Browne with writing, so no further leads are uncovered.

Bartlett wakes from his induced coma, screaming about 'the eyes', and has a nervous breakdown.

Christmas comes. Bartlett is under sedation, Browne at his neices, Withers is at the Windsor castle celbrations, witht the King himself and Saunders, though hospitalised, has a family christmas as far as possible.

On Hogmanay, Saunders is spirited out of the hospital by his cousin and has so much fun he sets his recovery back by a month.

1928 ends.

==January 1929==

[[Browne]] finished his book of short stories and submits them to his publisher. With [[Withers]] he visits Tewkesbury, but can trace no living realtive of [[Malcolm Quarrie]].

All leads reach dead ends.

==February 1929==

[[Saunders]] is released from hosptal, returns to london and dines with his friends. [[Browne]] is delighted to reveal that his book is to be published!

Withers and [[Delia Hartston]] drift ever closer, still kept apart by social convention.

[[Bartlett]], physically mended (though badly scarred) is transferred to a private hospital in London, and his friends visit him. He starts therapy for his mental injuries.

Saunders returns to work.

==March 1929==

The Hyades dip below the horizon and with that the influence of [[Hastur]] stops dead. The dreams stop - those artists, like [[Browne]] filled with inspiration based on the Carcosa mythos feel themselves bereft of ideas - though slowly their sane, everyday muses return.

The long cold winter ends.

Browne's book is published, and sells in truckloasds to all those whose dreams of Carcosa have just left them. He is a great success, and starts to enjoy the novel experience.

[[Bartlett]] is released to the care of his wife. A combination of medication and psychotheraspy is slowly returning him to mental health.

==April 1929==

Spring is in full bloom, and, in the absence of further leads, the investiagtors forget about [[Malcolm Quarrie]] and [[Wilfred Gresty]] and enjoy their lives.

==May 1929==

There is talk of a US publication for [[Browne]]'s stories.

==June thru November 1929==

The events of the previous year sink ever further into memory, and the investigators meet less frequently. All seems right with the world until the middle of the month.

On the 17th, the Hyades rise, and the dreams return with a vengance. Both [[Browne]] and [[Saunders]] find their dreams of the previous year extended to dark, disturbing conclusions. once more [[the Yellow Sign]] and [[the King in Yellow]] start to appear in graffiti, art and whispered rumour.

On October 29th, the American Stock Market crashes dramatically. It seems to mae\rk the end of the good times.

the investigators meet and decide to start looking for clues all over again, but November is a frustrating, fruitless time.

==December 13th 1929==

Suddenly, a breakthrough. The papers [http://www.artistmonkey.com/Downloads/20_Newspaper_Article_on_Grestys_Arrest.pdf report] the arrest of a '[[Wilfred Gresty]]' for an assault on a priest in a London Church, and reveal the location and time of his appearance before the magistate, later that very day.

At long last, the game is, once more, afoot!