[hr][hr][h1][b][i][color=1a7b30][center]Call of Cthulhu[/center][/color][/i][/b][/h1]

[hr][center][h3][color=0054a6]Chapter One: The Crack'd and Crook'd Manse[/color][/h3][/center][hr]

Date: Monday, May 4th, 1925
Time: Morning
Location: TIME Agency Office - Arkham, Massachusetts

[hr][hr][h3][b][i][color=598527][center]Harry Peacock[/center][/color][/i][/b][/h3]
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[b][color=598527]Location: TIME Agency office - Downtown Arkham[/color][/b]
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[color=598527]""[/color]

With each stroke of the minute, the clock mounted up on the wall of the office signalled the possibility of another investigator's entry. After the first three of them had shown up, Jeremiah Dupree, ELeonora Estelle and Margarete o'Bryon, the poultry-named private detective kept up the hope that the two others would also make their presence known. Something in his gut told him this case of Arthur Cornthwaite wouldn't be as easy as one might think, and strength was to be found in numbers. 

Too bad he was never good at the numbers, hence him avoiding the accountant-position his father had back in his youth. 

Without turning his head to face the door opening, Harry could hear the hushed footsteps of their resident 'priest', the so-called Father C, enter the office. While the three first attendees talked about the case, Harry merely acknowledged Charle's presence with a brief nod, before turning his attention back to the points raised by all three of them - now four. 

Which to his surprise was the one to put a spotlight on something odd found in the papers - Father Charles noticed the dates. Harry looked at him, giving him a nod of approval and the briefest of smiles, before chipping in his two cents of opinion. [color=598527]"Keen eyes you've got there, padre. Yes, I found that to be a bit peculiar. You've already got part of an answer there; if no one thought Mr. Cornthwaite was missing, they wouldn't have declared him a Missing Person until much later. Might be quite interesting to talk with the town sheriff about that, and that little 'investigation' of his own. If the newspaper article was published on the 17th of April, sometime between the 7th and 17th of that month. That's for me to ask, and you lot to figure out. "[/color]

Next up was the Professor, adjusting the microscopic sight onto the more academic path of the unlikelyhood of the missing millionaire going on an expedition. [color=598527]"Really? Hmm, never thought about the actual logistics of these eggheads going out into places already discovered and inhabiated by people. You make a good point, Professor, where's all his paperwork? Though I can't recommend you go to South America and sip drinks in Rio, might be a clue to figure out why he kept silent on the 1923-business. As I say about the politicians; Giving no statement is a statement in itself."[/color]

Following the academic member of the group was the return of the fellow gumshoe, Eleonora the Wisecrack. It came as absolutely no surprise that she attempted to twist her words to her advantage, much to Harry's annoyance. With a shaking head and sigh, the elder private investigator turned to her and fired back. [color=598527]"Next time, if you would spend less time flirting with my secretary and more listening to my introductory briefing, you might have gotten your answer...anyhow, you're right on that last bit. You should all get going. Gamwell is a fair way out into the middle of nowhere, and only possible by three means: horse, walking and cars. I suggest the latter."[/color]

Margarete was the last one of the present Investigators to talk, giving further opinions and musings on the case as a whole, and suggesting other places to investigate; the library of Gamwell and Mr. Cornthwaite's notes. [color=598527]"Rarely a silly idea to hit the books, Margarete. But what about the notes of Mr. Cornthwaite? Not a bad idea, but where would they be stored?"[/color] Harry was almost certain she had gone as far as she could in the prelimenary questionings, but surprised him with a rather well-thought question; how would they be recieved in Gamwell? [color=598527]"If I may be Frank with you, I don't have the faintest idea. I'm pretty sure you won't be met with banners and marching bands, but expect the same hospitality of any small New England town; some initial reservation regarding outsiders, but slowly growing respect for those acting cordially. In short, don't act like the city big cheese. Got it?"[/color]

Harry took one final look up at the clock ticking away, unravelling the realities of their world and its very sciences; time had passed, and he knew they should get going if they wanted to reach Gamwell before it got too late in the afternoon. [color=598527]"Do as Margarete suggested, get there by automobiles. As far as I've learned, Gamwell is somewhere before the of Foxfield further west into the country. Just follow the Miskatonic River westward, and you should come across in...probably later rather than sooner. Here, I've got a map you can use."[/color] Harry explained to the Investogators, opening the drawer of his office desk and pulling out a [url=https://i.ibb.co/JBnJ7q3/Cg-P5i-Yk-XIAAr-Kcm.jpg]decently-sized map of the surrounding New England-area.[/url] 

Without further ado, Harry would order the Investigators out of the office and onto the streets of Arkham, to be greeted by a warmer sun than had welcomed them before the briefing. Yes the morning had been cold, with a stiff western wind cooling the streets, but the May sun was still on the winning side of Nature. Birds chirping in the far distance, citizens of Arkham walking briskly down the cobbled streets and removing their thick coats, even children running down the street with some modern toy and long-waiting ice-cream vendors hoping for a fast-approaching June, today was going to be a warm and sunny day for the Investigators. 

Which made the sudden chill down each of their spines the more disturbing. What did their primal instincts desperately want to tell them on such a lovely day, that they couldn't see? Perhaps it was just the sudden shift in temperature? Yes, probably that. 

It was turning into the latter half of the morning. The Investigators had a long drive ahead of them, and plenty of time to discuss their very first case. However they sorted themselves out and organised their transportation, soon they would all be on their way towards Gamwell - First out of the ciy centre of Arkham, turning left and down the main road following the Miskatonic River, and then straight ahead into the unknown countryside, where the hills and woods were told to be alive. 

*You are now to make your way from Arkham to the town of Gamwell, as mentioned somewhere around the town of Foxfield west along the Miskatonic River. Decide how you are going to get there and play out your characters conversing with each other. This is a prime opportunity for your characters to get to know each other, discuss clues and make plans. I'll post a brief Keeper Post once everyone has posted, describing how the travelling goes. Expect two-three Keeper Posts minimum before you reach Gamwell after many hours of travelling. Good luck!*