Miss Tilstrom met us at the door. She was wearing
an expensive dressing gown and jewelry. As she led us upstairs, she
told us about her friend. She says she met Nelson Blakely two years
ago at an art show. Mr. Blakely was an artist, and had since moved
into her home.
She led us past other rooms to the sick room.
The first impression we received was the horrible smell that struck our
nostrils. The sight did nothing to improve that impression.
We were faced with a canopy bed, on which lay a man in blue silk pyjamas.
His face was bloated and dark, as were his hands, and his dark purple tongue
stuck out. He was breathing hard, and the overall impression was
of how bloated he was.
His studio dusty, -- no-one been here for some time.
Mostly portraits -- but backgrounds alwlays weird landscapes (dreamlands?).
Portraits are of well-known socialites.
Nelson specialised in those backgrounds.
Call David Klondike -- saw in paper about accident
(landlord found body on couch) -- IN charge of investigation was Det. Anthony
Ehrling -- on vacation!
Nelson Blakely had several strange friends (????
are given addresses?) only artist friend (mentor?) was Pickman -- may be
dead?
Richard Upton Pickman was an artist specialising in occult paintings.
Other friends -- rivals -- William Bragg (art dealer), Samuel Bleaker(?) and Adrain Stimson (famous local occult students), Adrian Josome.
David finds out name of beat cop in charge.
Drive to apartment, Frank picks up his gun.
Meet David at apartment.
david talks to apartment manager -- Melson was lying
on couch, soaking wet, lungs full of water, and locked in apartment --
couch was a little wet. Sea water, perhaps?
The apartment -- 1 room on 5th floor, skylight,
windows -- artists studio -- used recently -- landscapes without people
-- tend to be darker, more ominous scenes. The one in the centre
of the room -- covered -- look at it -- very large picture -- show completely
still lake surrounded by ruins of ancient temples, broken columns, and
strangely headless statues. the lake commands the viewers attention.
Under couch is an ankh. Also a piece of drying
seaweed.
In kitchen area is (hidden) remains of empty alcohol
bottles.
Take bozes to conference room in Ontario house.
Ankh is silver.
frank gets addresses for all the names.
Papaers -- some are interesting--
-- A lteer from Pickman -- "For reasons of health
I have decided to retire, so to speak, and leave the Boston area, probably
for ever. You know how to ?reach? where I'll be. Come and visit often,
but don;t forget to bring the sign of the Aegyptus with you." Enclosed
is a photo of himself and ???? Elliot.
-- Another letter from Roger Baldridge, roughly
says "Cannot beleive that dreams are serious -- his latests statue from
a dream -- but relying solely on dreams for inspiration.
Pickman? He dropped out of sight ages ago.
Dreams predict future? Rubbish!" -- written
January.
O'reilly ?????? spoke of 4 paintings he tried to
find -- there are receipts here (names and dates) --
-- 2/12 "New York at Dusk" Mr and Mrs B E Biggs,
144 park Avenue #1130, $300.
-- 2/28 "Fate" Reggie Van Statler $225
-- 4/26 "R'lyeh at Dawn" E Bancroft, 113 Ashbury
Blvd, $75
-- 1/12 "Elder Yuggoth" A. Stimson, 3172 Huntington
Ave #319 $100
Boswell Biggs is very successful owner of major Boston
shipping firm.
Statler -- millionaire playboy killed several months
ago in a motorcycle accident.
Evelyn Bancroft -- she figures well in occult world.
Dinner at the house, them go home. Joe takes the Ankh to examine -- solid silver.
Night.
david Klondike calls -- wants to come over and talk -- lunch -- call the usual people.
He went to ask Michael danning -- concentrating on dreamlands, MD's house -- and went there. MD wasn't there, but did look at library.
Charlie and Frank start with the occult people, while David + O-Reilly to see Biggs, check on Statler, etc.
Before lunch, a call from Insert Name Here (lawyer) who wants to talk to Mr. Danning urgently and personally -- will arrive at 2 o'clock -- Betty Sands gives him directions.
Frank visits Adrian Stimson -- lower middle class - 4th floor apartment. He is invited in for some <water?> - the picture is on the wall - Desert with spiky crystals, temple in distance. Says Nelson was not very involved with the occult - he got inspiration from dreams. Stimson asks Frank aboiut occult, and the Boston Occult Society. Stimson has heard of Danning - wants to know has made contact - but never met him, although know of him - McNish comes up - Stimson wonders when Frank last saw McNish. A. Stimson wants tyo meet Messrs Danning & McNish - Invites to dinner at 7 o'clock. Frank asks him about various creatures - the <MD's> doorman, the MiGos.
David Klondike & O'Reilly go to Boswell Biggs. Very expensive apartment. The door opens - Mrs. Biggs talks to them eventually - (Mr. Biggs is tied to an armchair with a bathrobe draped over him, he looked in pain). - She saus she sold it to an art dealer = (MR Biggs was too squeamish?) - She gives him a piece of paper which should have the address of the art dealer. - The art dealer - a small gallery - the painting is not in obvious sight - sold to Name about two weeks ago. - that is a small bookshop in a run-down twon - "porno works" - DH Lawrence, James Joyce, etc. Some paintings - but not obviously "New York at Dusk" - talk to Name - he just sold it to Jacob who is in apartment upstairs - they go there - It's a really shabby apt building - 3rd floor - bums, murderers and derelicts here in the halls - numerous latches and bolts - man pears out - the painting is not for sale - he's very insistent - he loves the painting - they go in to look (for $20) - he shows them in grandly - not much furnishings - the painting is on the table - View of city at sunset, before darkness - foreground is old cemetary in which are several leering ghouls obviously about to break into a grave.
Lawyer arrives - conference room - Dreamt - horrible
foreboding - trail of destruction leading through Boston - people rushed
and trampled - unstoppable creature destroying - no amrs, no legs, no distinctive
form - huge mass crushing everything, awful smell, dripping and bubbling
and snorting and devouring. - finally went to sea, and nothing could stop
it once here. Mr. Danning may have info on creature.
- He will return around 6, and stay the night.
Roger Balridge has no idea about any of this.
Frank cancels appt w/AS, apt tomorrow in evening for dinner.
David sleeps and tries to visit Michael Danning -
at his house - he is in! We have this problem with the name
of an edler god - Ghadamon - MD says to follow him while they talk - Adrian
Stimson? MD doesn't know him. Mention Nelson's paintings - sounds
like Pickman's stuff.
Room with 4 mirrors - looking in through the mirrors
at Boston Occult Society. - MD did not directly have a connection with
the lawyer's vision, but the world is a weird place, after all - What would
attract this Elder God? (Also DK mentions Nelson Blakely's drowning on
sofa.) - MD shows DK a book in library - the answer is in here, but DK
is aware of consequences, isn't he? - it's a BAAAD book. (+11 to Mythos)
- contains some spells which DK could learn in time (can't really tell
what spells do) - 2 spells - one that starts this mess, and one to stop
it. DK tries to learn the "go away" spell. He wakes up.
DINNER, then tell lawyer about dreamlands and stuff, and lawyer describes his dream.
Lawyer dreams normally (sort of repeat of the last one)
Charlie + O'Rielly look intyo bringing people to dreamworlds -- some drugs, some hypnotic and magical means, and some portals.
DK - painter "Rydergard" did paintings of dreamworlds, and if slept near it, would be there. - Nelson Blakely was by a lake painting... Sleeping by a nice painting might be OK.
DK learns the spell - usable only in dreamlands - suck a dreaming person back to real world - destroys a dreamlands version permanently - has no effect on dreamlands native - 5 mins, costs mag = Target's POW, range 10 yds.
The other spell (not yet learnt) - spellthat begins process of sending Ghadamon to earth - refers to "time being right" as if specific time on dreamlands or earth when ripe for to happen - the spell assumes you know.
R'lyeh is where Cthulhu is from - Cthulhu rests in R'lyeh.
Dinner at Stimon's - seems trustworthy - mysticist
- has been inside his picture (Elder Yuggoth) and immediately left. - David
Klonsike told him story of MiGos in Vermont.
Book of Ebyn - Blakely found it in Harvard Library
by accident (read it) - Stimson <reeli?d> same as a book he had - least
to Blakely which he thought helped with pictures.
Lawyer says he got book back, which Stimson said
hadn't. - Book contains spell to call thing down to destroy Boston.
Blakely is expanding - now over 350lbs and skin is splitting.
Therefore both Blakely and Stimson read book (did Stimson understand spells?( Stimson does not appear to want to bring trouble down.
night - David Klondike woke up with hands around his throat - shot 3 times - staggered back and came back at him - so 3 moe shots which did it - someone else in room went out window + fire escape - DK chased but he got away.
DK called Betty (who was worried about Charlie anyway) call lawyer, then Frank go to police station and annoy desk sgt.
DK released in afternoon.
Frank wanted doctor to sedate Penny, but can't w/o
family permission.
Tilstrom's - Blakely even bigger, more splits, smell.
(DK tries to cast the "Banish from Dreamworlds" spell - but had no effect)
By the way...
Sleep in shifts to protect all.
late evening, Charlie + O'Reilly finally wake up. We're rather stiff.
Phone call from Joe at 8am - car belongs to Samuel Bancroft (E's son - Sonny)
Frank, David, + Edward (lawyer) go to pcik up Blakely's picture and take it to house.
Drugs for entering dreamlands - hard to find - one pharmacist might be able to put it together - name.
O'reilly calls Penny's parents - they will sedate and remove her.
O'Reilly calls Tilstroms to talk to housekeeper - no answer!
Frank, david, joe, + edward go to Penny's - Front door - knock. - no answer. They open the door and go in. "Hello!" Penny answers from upstairs, and comes down. She looks a mess. She says housekeeper is always here. She takes them upstairs. "Nelson is felling better!"
DK- Gademon + Blakely switching places - could kill
this body (of G.) but would kill/trap Blakely.
Will bring Penny, _ we well go into picture.
Charlie: Call Stimson and tell him to come - well
go into picture.
Joe's "friends" will guard the beast - one of them
freaks out and runs away. Joe and friend will stay, the freaked out
guy drives them back to office. - Joe is told to wait and hour and then
torch it if he hasn't been called.
Joe and friend play cards.
Franks, David, Edward, Penny, arrive back.
Stimson arrives. Adrian will hypnotise us all in conference room.
O'Reilly brings ankh (but it doesn't make it)
Hypnotises all (O'Reilly, Frank, DK, Ed, Penny,
Charlie).
In picutre. Still lake, ruins, headless statues,
broken columns. ISee ppeaks of <Thrac> in distance. Water
laps quietly at shore, bolts of lightning.
Shore broken bones and shells, crabs (silent, 1-1/2').
Edward will go back and watch the beast.
Joe will come back and try to help us "acquire"
the Bancroft's picture.
Maybe not...
Try Pickman? He's a ghoul.
"New York at Dusk" is Jacob's.
We'll try to buy it, and if not, acquire it.
Frank, DK, + Joe go there with $300 - they rent
the picture for the night for $60 (to return by noon). - take back
to house.
This time, take weapons (not Charlie). - watching
graveyard - ghouls about to dig into a grave. When we speak, they
move to attack, but stop... They speak about Blakely, Pickman, point
at ankh. One steps forwards and speak, that Pickman wants to see
us.
Go to grave, they open and walk in - tunnels - 20
mins, crawl a bit (Frank and Joe and Charlie could get back).
Back to Pickman's cave. Charlue goes to see him. He has no advice.
Betty Smith is here to interview Mr. McNish about Nelson Blakely.
Clean up, do to drawing room. - DK will hide. We hang "New York at Dusk" on the wall. BSmith is suspicious to us - she knows the Bancrofts.
DK takes the book to a hotel room and going into dreamworld - goes to Dannings (since book not with him) and reads everything.
Charlie goes to Dannings and reads Book of Ebyn. Learns the spell to Banish from Dreamworlds.
Lawyer calls and says things prowling outside.
DK is not in the house. The book is gone.
Joe, Charlie, Priest go to house. Nothing there now, but smell "that smell" - sickly sweet seaweedy - same as place with book at church. Find seaweed + footprints.
There's only four of us left. We vote to dump the acid. We do, eventually. the room is a mess.
We finish the job, then leave gas on and a candle and blow up the house.
Back to the house.
Tilstroms will get to Boston in evening.
Jacob turns up wanting painting back. Offer him $900 for it, give him breakfast.
Call doctor over to look after Penny, and have Tilstroms met at station.
Betty Smith calls, and she will be over at 2.
We buy Painting, and put both in vault.
Stimson goes home, after we tell him what happened.
Betty Smith arrives - to outside.
The paintings - not worried about Stimson ("Elder
Yuggoth")
"Fate" was painting of hospital room with bed.
Was Statler's, but he's dead. Doesn't seem too necessary.
Betty Smythson will get painting and I will answer for them.
She steals the painting that night.
Statler's will mentions "Fate", we can find who has it -- it's at a private gallery in the basement. Canopy bed - like Blakely's - room is smooth while marble, stone door at back. Bed is only thing in room. the shadows dance around the wall. I buy it for $350.
DK is in a coma in a hospital, the books gone.
Destroy "Fate" and "R'lyeh at Dawn";
and
i.e. keep "NY at Dusk" and Stimson keeps "Elder Yuggoth"