The dawn of another day found the passengers of the luxurious Orient Express roused from their dreams, many disturbed by lingering shadows of the night. Among them was a group of investigators, bound together by fate and the mysterious artifact known as the Blood Red Fez.

As the engine’s rhythmic clatter played a soft undertone, the dining car filled with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and the quiet murmur of conversations. Madame Zorba and Miss Suttcliffe, both ladies of distinct presence, found themselves seated with two young women. Aileen McGregor, a well-dressed Scottish lady with an air of educated refinement, spoke passionately about her journalistic endeavors concerning the “Armenian question.” Beside her, the quiet Karla Minkoff, lady’s maid to the enigmatic Countess Razumosky, listened attentively, her eyes revealing a world of untold stories.

Two tables down, the gentlemen of the group, Herr Per Oskarson, Mr. Clyde Corning, and Mr. Clinton Lake, engaged in conversation with the young and haughty Russian nobleman, Pytor Trubosky. Trubosky’s arrogance was palpable, his French-accented words dripping with condescension. As he spoke of his cousin, Count Razumosky, and the Count’s youthful wife, Oskarson’s keen observation led him to suspect a clandestine affair between Trubosky and the Countess, further fueled by Trubosky’s sly insinuations.

Yet, as the breakfast proceeded, a more pressing matter caught the attention of Madame Zorba and Miss Suttcliffe. A distressed young woman, later introduced as Ellie Myers, sat with an older man adorned with a fez, not unlike their own cursed artifact. The palpable tension between them culminated in Ellie’s abrupt departure, her tears a testament to some unspeakable anguish. Miss Suttcliffe, ever the compassionate soul, pursued Ellie, learning of her husband’s mysterious ailment after receiving a hat from the enigmatic Mr. Menkaph.

As the morning progressed, the group reconvened in the lounge car, their senses heightened by the undercurrents of intrigue flowing through the train. The Count and Countess Razumosky’s visible estrangement only fueled the rumors of infidelity, while the passing landscapes of Munich served as a haunting backdrop to the mounting suspense.

Throughout, the fez’s malevolent influence was ever-present, a looming shadow threatening to engulf them. Their shared unease was evident, with Oskarson’s newfound protective mantra offering a glimmer of hope against the encroaching darkness.

As the train pulled into Munich, marking the end of this leg of their journey, the investigators were left with more questions than answers. The mysteries of the Orient Express were only beginning to unravel, and the Blood Red Fez promised to be at the heart of it all.

Key Events

  • Breakfast Conversations:

    • Madame Zorba and Miss Suttcliffe are seated with Aileen McGregor and Karla Minkoff.
      • Aileen discusses her journalistic work on the “Armenian question”.
      • Karla is identified as the lady’s maid for the wealthy Countess Razumosky.
    • Herr Per Oskarson and Mr. Clinton Lake converse with the young Russian nobleman, Pytor Trubosky.
      • Trubosky boasts about his education and social status.
      • Trubosky hints at a potential affair between Countess Razumosky and himself.

  • Disturbing Encounter:

    • A distressed young woman, Ellie Myers, dines with an older man wearing a fez.
    • Ellie abruptly leaves the dining car in tears.
    • Miss Suttcliffe follows Ellie to console her.
      • Ellie reveals her husband fell ill after receiving a hat from the older man, identified as Mr. Mencalf.
      • Suttcliffe offers advice and provides Ellie with a business card.

  • Lounge Car Observations:

    • After breakfast, Oskarson and Zorba retire to the lounge car.
    • They observe the strained relationship between Count Razumosky and his wife.

  • Train’s Progress:

    • The Orient Express travels through Munich.
    • The session concludes as the train makes its stop in Munich.

Throughout the session, there are underlying hints about the influence of the fez and various suspicious characters aboard the train. The investigators express unease about the supernatural nature of their fez and make plans to further inquire about Ellie Myers’ husband’s hat.