Expedition 1x02 - An Abduction

General Summary

Literary Persuits

After visting Professor Pabodie, Brique, Delilah, and Monty decided to take advantage of their time at Miskatonic University to peruse the fabled "Black Library" collection of that storied place of learning. William Dyer, as well as several other members of his expedition, are known to have reviewed these unusual tomes.
Speaking with a Librarian, and proving her credentials as a graduate student, Delilah was granted access to the collection, and to a rare english translation of the Al Azif, also called The Necronomicon.
Enquiring as to if there were any book written in Russian, Brique was given access to the Pnakotic Manuscripts Manuscripts, ancient stone tablets that contain a variety of languages - including modern Russian.
While a longer study of either document would be needed to truly delve into the secrets within, even a weekend of review was enough to grant shocking insights into the nature of reality - insights which brought Delilah, in particular, to the precipice of sanity. She began ranting and raving, believing the Librarian to be preparing to replace her brain with spiders. She drew her pistol, and made for the stairs. Acting quickly, Brique Briksky restrained the young academic, and force fed her some of his 'curative tonic', rendering her unconscious while Monty distracted a concerned librarian. When Maeve regained consciousness, her wits had returned as well. The bout of sudden homicidal mania that had manifested in her has subsided - at least for now. With their weekend rapidly ending, it was time to return to New York.

September 7

After recieving yet another note, The Explores take it upon themselves to visit Acacia Lexington's manor, thinking that she might well be the mysterious "friend".

At her mansion, however, they are refused by one of her butlers, stating that no one is admitted without an appointment. He does, however, agree to take a note on their behalf.
They implore Ms. Lexington to contact them by phone, if she should, indeed, be a 'friend'.
Waiting a while to see if they could possibly catch Acacia on the street, the group sees an older man arrive by car, only to return from the Lexington estate moments later, escorted (quite forcefully) by two men in dark coats and hats. Keen observers among the group note that one of them is walking in such a way as to suggest that he is holding a gun in his coat pocket.
They force the older man into a black sedan, and speed away. With Frank Mossberg behind the wheel of their own car, the Explorers manage to tail them north, into Queens, and finally to a warehouse district on the water's edge in the 200 streets. As they arrive, they see a boat leaving with a single passenger from the docks.

The Warehouse

Unable to see or hear into the building beyond it's grimy windows and solid doors, the investigators explore the dock. Finding only locked doors, Frank Mossberg attempts to force his way into one, but it proves too sturdy to force. Before he can begin another attempt, the door swings open and he finds himself with a gun in his face.
Drawing his own gun and refusing to yield, Mossberg squares off with the dark clothed man, while another emerges from the darkness and attempts to stab him. As the other's rush to his aid, Mossberg narrowly avoids a shot from the first man. The man with the knife then rolls Mossberg into the river.

Maeve arrives at the back of the building, and fires a round into the shoulder of the knife-armed man. Brick then rushes forward, and delivers a haymaker blow, knocking him out. The man with the gun slams the door closed, and bolts it. After Maeve retrieves the man's wallet, Brick picks up the unconscious assailant, and drags him towards the front. Arriving there, they see the man with the gun pulling his car out of the warehouse, and he and a third man are loading their hostage into the car.
Brick offers a trade, his captive for theirs. The man with the gun agrees, telling the third man that "they already got what they came for," and having him drop the hostage. When Brick stalls him, refusing to give up his captive, the man points his gun in Brick's face, and says, "Last chance." Brick continues to disemble, and the man shoots the unconscious assailant hanging off Brick's shoulder in the head, then speeds off.

Brick quickly tosses the now dead man into the river, while Monty, Mossberg, and Maeve gather the kidnapping victim and spirit him away in their car.
Now on the road and away from a potential crime scene, they speak to the kidnapping victim, who identifies himself as Nicholas Roerich. Roerich is somewhat famous as a New York socialite, artist, world explorer, and proponent of "Western Buddhism".
Investigating the wallet she retrieved from the now deceased kidnapper, Maeve finds that the man had a German passport, and Roerich confirms that several of his kidnappers had German accents, and that they were interested in the location of "Herr Professor Dyer".

Report Date

09 Mar 2022