Sunday 16 February 2014

VII: Admiral Nelson and The Tynemouth Circle

After questioning the East African sailor and detouring for Brindleton to telegraph an old friend, Lieutenant Colonel Blanche, with some queries, you head off in the direction of the Tynemouth Circle. This is a gentleman's club of some distinction, like The Grey Society. Ordinarily only members may enter, though there is a reciprocal agreement with The Grey Society to allow visitors. One of the butlers shows you into a oak-panelled room with leather chairs inhabited by mostly frail old men swilling brandy.

The one called Admiral Nelson is in a booth on his own. He is old, bearded, and sure enough missing one arm and one eye. Somewhat perturbingly he does not have his empty socket covered - it is a black pit in his face, surrounded with vivid pink scars.

"Yes?" he says brusquely as the butler introduces you and recedes.

41 comments:

  1. Kitson makes sure he is the last into the room. He hang back while the others sit down and observes.

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  2. (so this Admiral Nelson recommended Defernex, and the dealer in London supplied the painting. How's he know about art? Brindletoon wonders as they approach the club.)

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  3. If he's in the booth on his own, what is he doing? Reading? Drinking? If so, what's the drink or book?

    How expensive are his clothes and shoes?

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    1. He is drinking port and reading a newspaper - the Newcastle Chronicle. He looks well-to-do, if a bit worn around the edges. His clothes are expensive, but he clearly doesn't care a monkey's about fashion.

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  4. "A painting sir. A marvellous work--we were told you truly appreciated art…"

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    1. He looks up at Claspington. "Art? Some of it. Expressionism! More expressive than impressionistic, what. Who wants to know? And what painting, hmm?"

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    2. He fixes his eye on Kitson. "Defernex? A most talented individual. Most talented indeed. But not well-known, eh. Ahead of his time. French painter wallah. You're a military man."

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    3. I was with the First of Foot, under Pulleine at Isandlwana. Tricky business. Various things since. Got out in 95'. Dull, aint it? Out here.

      Navy?

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    4. He shakes his head. "They call me Admiral Nelson on account of my physical features. I'm a Lieutenant-Colonel. Cavalry. Got hit by something or other at bloody Inkerman. And yes, bloody dull. It's why I travel. Broadens the mind, what? How I came across that Defernex fellow."

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    5. Well tell us all about it! We're enthralled and amazed! Can you not see in our hungry eyes the thirst for the _knowledge_ . Don't hold back, man, how did you come by such talent? Have you a background in the arts or was it sheer happenstance? And what s he like? What, indeed is the human affect of such a visionary?"

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    6. "Brindleton, Major, Queens Bays." He puffs up reflexively. "Where did you run across this Defernex? Have you met the man? A most singular... hand." He's all rapt attention. "French, I understand, eh?"

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    7. "Yes," says the Admiral. "One of God's own Frenchies, and as you'd expect from one of those blighters, but what talent, by Jove. Came across him while roaming the vineyards in the Rhone. Quite partial to a bit of the old Chateauneuf-du-Pape. Heard about him from a French wine brewer. Nice chap that, delectable daughter. Beautiful bosoms... Now where was I? Yes, Defernex. Hear about him from this wine brewer. Said if you like art he's your man. Found him, that's to say Defernex, in a little old tower in the hills. Wizened character, long hair. You know the type. Never worked a day in his life. Could be twenty years old or bloody sixty for all you can tell on shaking the fellow's hand. Apparently he's a bit of a thing down in London, though who knows what the bloody hell goes on down there."

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    8. He must find it very had to get those unusual pigments so far from the city. Or perhaps he makes his own?

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    9. He frowns. "That is a good question, my good fellow. I must confess I have not the foggiest."

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    10. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    11. "Yet his use of colour, yes? Quite remarkable. A kind of glow from within. I found it quite captivating."

      Kitson lights a ciggarette.

      "Jew, I expect? Defernex' is surely a nom de plume."

      Kitson says 'Jew' with just the _slightest_ intonation that could suggest whatever the listener wishes it to suggest.


      (Sorry, misspelling prev comment.)

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    12. I attempt to dredge up wine lore (skill check?) concerning Chateauneuf-du-Pape, then, if successful, make small talk and try to get more details about Defernex's location.

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    13. Admiral Nelson nods. "Could well be, could well be. The wandering Jew, eh?"

      [Chateauneuf-du-Pape is a wine from the Rhone region - one of the biggest vineyards. It's right in the middle of the Rhone valley, near the towns of Avignon, Nimes and Orange. The Admiral reckons Defernex lives a bit North of that region. He mentions the town of Romans-sur-Isere, although he pronounces it like "Romanz-sor-Izer." It's in the foothills of the Alps.]

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    14. Kitson leads the conversation back to their millitary careers. Then after a minute or so, he tells the story of the mission in africa that lead to him being exposed to the occult. He relates it casually, but keeps a careful eye on Nelson to register his levels of surprise and bafflement.

      Does this man look suprised and weirded out enough to be a 'civillian' with no exposure to this stuff, or does he seem perhaps too interested or knowing?

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    15. He seems as though he's been around a lot. "Seen some dam-ned strange things in my time, my fellow. Dam-ned things. Nothing surprises me in this world. Was in Cyprus at the time of the lease, and spent some time in the Levant and Palestine. A man comes across all manner of things in such places."

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    16. Ok I gracefully wind up the conversation over a few minutes, offer my respects and leave.

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  5. What is the Tynemouth Circle like as a group? What is known about them? Do they have similar goals/interests to the Grey Society?

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    1. A typical gentleman's club, like the Grey Society. A place for rich men to meet, drink, play cards, read, and plot. The Tynemouth Circle has more of an air of a place for retirees because Tynemouth is the kind of place that you retire to if you can afford it.

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    2. But they're not interested in the occult or things like it as a rule? (in the way that our group is)

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    3. No. The Grey Society isn't either, per se, although it does have a big library. It's mainly just you guys.

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  6. [Also, what has happened in terms of Hodgkiss being able to figure anything out from the code?]

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    1. See comment on the previous entry. Does he have anything about code breaking on his character sheet?

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    2. [I posted on the 13th with some stats and thoughts; maybe the comment alert failed?]

      "Mind 5 and Logic 3; also Deduction 2.
      Presumably some reasonable guesses could be made. If it is a substitution code then there are still 26 letters to compare and spot patterns for. If it is in English then Hodgkiss could focus on short words and look for patterns/make guesses. Also looking for similar patterns in suffixes/prefixes and so on.

      (Hodgkiss has little success in courting, and so has looked at many disciplines to occupy his time)"

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    3. Sorry, I missed that. Yes, he can do that. There are no spaces between the characters. But he might surmise it's a substitution code. I'm going to say if he had 3-7 days he could crack it.

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    4. Brindleton will definitely either photograph it or photogram (blueprint) it ASAP so we have a record without having to keep the diary itself (likely as soon as we leave Tynemouth).

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    5. "Good idea Brindleton; then I can get to work and figure out what it all means."

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    6. You should be able to do that, yes. Do you plan to return the diary?

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    7. yes, and probably get caught like a damn fool while doing so. If only Brindleton had someone in the Baron's household.

      but to that end, he'd like to return it ASAP - the longer it's gone the more likely it'll be missed.

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  7. Are we aware of the Admiral's social circle at all? In any case, might there be someone at the Tynemouth Circle that Hodgkiss could talk to and try to find out if there has been any odd behaviour or new visitors?

    The Butler?

    Perhaps an opening gambit might be "How often do new members join the group? I was thinking of buying a place up this way and it seems like a good establishment where a man can sit and relax and think away from the world."

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    1. The butler sniffs. "Membership is by invitation from another member, as I'm sure you must be aware. It happens...infrequently." You can't tell if he's just being snobbish or genuinely trying to maintain secrecy. Either way you may have to think of a better option. Or think of a way to get information out of him.

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    2. "Well naturally, of course. Can't be too careful. We must seem a fairly odd collection to have arrived today - different from other visitors?"

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    3. He sniffs more sniffily. "Indeed. As you can see. Most of the guests are of a more distinguished and elderly generation. You would have to have an existing member put in an application for you to join."

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    4. Are there any more members of the Tynemouth Circle in the room who look like they could either a). use a drink (if purchasing drinks is culturally acceptable) or b). be open to civilised conversation?

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    5. [You don't do anything as vulgar as buying drinks...It comes out of the membership fee. But there is an old fellow you recognise. His name is Arthur Tipsbury and he is some old great-uncle of Earl Grey. He's a member of the Grey Society, He's holding forth with a few old codgers in a booth.]

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  8. [Am away from Monday 24th to Thursday 27th with limited internet access until late on Thursday - no signal at the venue in South Wales I'm going to. I might be able to check in on the game during that time, but the workshop I'm facilitating is pretty tightly timetabled so it might not be possible. Will look in when I can!]

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