Page 5
Jonah
After searching Lyndon Wilmarth’s room at the Arkham Arms and turning up several clues, the characters confer on the meaning of the note found under the chest, and what their next move should be.
The note, in particular, seems to confound them the most. Thinking at first it might perhaps be coordinates in latitude and longitude. Wilson, a pilot familiar with navigation, points out that the “500” and “700” figures are too large to be either of those. Just to make sure, they take then note down to Arkham’s dockside and consult with the ship’s first mate. He doesn’t think they’re latitude and longitude either and doesn’t recognize them as any other system of navigation.
The do surmise that the “Old S. Gt.” part, combined with the Wilmarth’s apparent interest in Trescott property might mean “Old South Gate”, but gate to what, they don’t know. Consulting LaRoche again he mentions that maybe it has something to do with the abandoned Trescott mansion which lies on the part of the estate still owned by the family. The characters immediately decide they need to investigate, but LaRoche declines to participate in trespassing and doesn’t have basis for a warrant. He will however look the other way if they want to carry on on their own.
They gather supplies, pack Willie’s cab, and quickly realize they don’t know where the Trescott estate is, much less the “Old South Gate.” To resolve this dilemma, they head to the County Records office to see if they can get any old maps of the area.
They arrive at the Records Office in the late afternoon where the clerk, while a little annoyed at the late day inconvenience, allows them to inspect some of the records he has. He asks if they’re working with the previous fellow who came in looking for maps of the Trescott estate and gives a description consistent with those of Wilmarth.
Saying they’re just historians, or something, the clerk is happy to explain that the Trescott estate was once the Trescott plantation. The family had left it years ago for the city after getting out of farming and focusing on fishing and import/export business. The current patriarch, Corbin Trescott usually lives in Boston but still has a house in Arkham that he frequently stays in. He also notes that, when in town, Corbin can often be found at the “Cuttle Club” socializing with other member’s of Arkham’s elite.
They consider going to the Cuttle Club, but decide ultimately to press on with the investigation of the mansion. Inspecting the maps, they find what they think might be a Southern entrance to the old estate, but the lines depicting the road trail off before getting very far onto the Trescott property. They’ll just have to work things out when they get there, including deciphering the note.
By the time they reach the turn off to the supposed Southern entrance it is dark. As they approach the see in the headlights of Willie’s cab what appears to be a horse and a cart with a broken wheel. Beside the horse is what looks like a boy, maybe in is teens, wearing dirty overalls.
Willie stops the cab, and the party gets out. As they approach, they can see by the way its standing, that the horse appears to have a wounded hoof. The boy, who may be in his early teens, acknowledges their approach and introduces himself as Jonah. He says that his horse got a nail it it’s hoof and threw off the cart. He wants to know if the characters can give him a ride to his family’s farm up the road, it’s late and they’re probably missing him,
Something seems a bit off about the boy and looking a little closer at the horse they notice that it’s missing an eye. The characters are reluctant to give Jonah a ride, saying they have business to attend to. Kildare offers to look at Jonah’s horse, however. When he does, he suspects that the injury wasn’t accidental. Nevertheless, he removes the nail allowing the horse to walk, saying nothing to Jonah.
“Are you sure you cain’t gimme a ride anyway?” Jonah says, “the only place this road goes in the direction you were headin’ is past my farm.”
Once again declining on the basis of “business” to attend to. Jonah changes his expression and climbs on his horse.
“I think I know your business.” He says. “Ye best not go up there…ain’t no one gonna hear ye if they’s any trouble. Least no one you’d want to find ye if they did.”
With that Jonah rides off.
The characters pile back into Willie’s cab and make the turnoff North toward the Trescott estate. On they way they pass some old wooden posts on either side of the road which they surmise must be the remains of the Old South Gate.
The old road quickly becomes impassable by car and the characters are forced to proceed on foot. Taking out the note Wilson suddenly gets the idea that the numbers are “distance” and “direction.” Using a compass and just guessing that the distances are in “paces” they proceed according to the note.
When the reach the part of the note with “XXX” they stop, unsure where to go from there as they are constrained by a dense hedge row. Looking around Kildare finds what looks like a “tunnel” underneath the hedge on the right. Ever the adventurer, he climbs under. The rest follow, if somewhat reluctantly.
Once under the hedge they are in the clear again and resume according to the note’s instructions. Over some high bushes they spot, in the moonlight, what appears to be a roof. Proceeding further the see that they have indeed come to what must be the ruins of the old Trescott mansion. Once a stately plantation home, now taken over by more than 100 years of decay.
As they approach the darkened front door, they remember Jonah’s parting words.
End-Of-Session