The Orient Express sped through the night, carrying its passengers ever closer to their destination of Constantinople. Among them were a group of investigators, bound together by a shared purpose: to destroy the cursed fez that had caused so much trouble and heartache.

Madame Zorba sat in her private cabin, grappling with the consequences of having worn the fez. She could feel its power coursing through her, but at what cost? Did it drain her own life force, or would she need to feed on others to sustain herself? These dark thoughts consumed her.

Meanwhile, Clyde Corning found himself in a difficult position. Ilsa von Hofler, daughter of the obsessed Baron, had approached him with a desperate plea - to remove her father from the train by any means necessary, even tranquilizing him if needed. Clyde wrestled with the moral implications. Could he really go against the Baron’s will, even if it was for his own good?

As the hours ticked by, the investigators took turns watching over the Baron as he pored over the mysterious book, trying in vain to decipher its secrets with his limited knowledge of Persian. Per Oskarson remained by his side, determined not to let the Baron gain any advantage. Schnapps and coffee flowed, fueling their late-night vigil.

The train pulled into Budapest station close to midnight. The Baron announced his intention to stretch his legs, clutching the book possessively. Suspicions swirled - was he planning to meet someone? To hand over the fez and book? Per and Clinton exchanged wary glances, silently vowing to stick close.

Clyde slipped away to confer with Ilsa one last time. She pressed a syringe into his hand, a tranquilizer strong enough to take down a large beast. Clyde hesitated, torn between his duty to the group and his sympathy for Ilsa’s plight.

On the quiet platform, the Baron drew Madame Zorba aside, speaking to her in hushed, urgent tones. Clinton strained to listen, realizing with a start that the Baron had slipped into an unknown tongue. Alarmed, he called out, but the Baron paid him no heed, his focus solely on Zorba.

Realization dawned on Per like a bucket of ice water. The Baron possessed the power to hypnotize, to bend others to his will. Was this how he’d kept them in the dark for so long? Fury and fear warred within him, but he felt frozen, unable to act.

Madame Zorba blinked, shaking her head as if emerging from a trance. The Baron drew back, surprise and irritation flashing across his face before he could conceal them.

The investigators exchanged glances heavy with meaning. They had mere days to complete their mission, and the stakes had never been higher. Trust was a luxury they could ill afford. On this train, danger lurked in every shadow - and perhaps even in the hearts of those they called allies.

Session Notes
  • The GM provided a recap of the previous session, reminding the players of key events and decisions.
  • The investigators had successfully convinced the police that nothing suspicious was happening on the train, with Baron von Hofler taking the blame for the incident.
  • The players discussed the potential dangers and mysteries surrounding the cursed fez and the book they had acquired.
  • Per Oskarson and Baron von Hofler attempted to decipher the book, but their progress was hindered by the Baron’s limited Persian language skills and potential ulterior motives.
  • Madame Zorba grappled with the consequences of wearing the fez, realizing it either drained her life force or required her to drain the life force of others to sustain herself.
  • Clyde Corning had a private conversation with Ilsa von Hofler, the Baron’s daughter, who expressed concerns about her father’s mental state and obsession with the occult. She proposed tranquilizing him and removing him from the train.
  • The players debated the implications of Ilsa’s request, considering their mission to reach Constantinople with the Baron and the potential consequences of interfering with his plans.
  • The group decided to observe the situation and intervene if the Baron’s actions became too dangerous or jeopardized their goals.
  • Clyde and Clinton Lake planned to spend the evening patrolling the train, searching for any signs of the shadow monster or other threats.
  • They discussed the possibility that the jaguar-like creature might be connected to the fez or Menkaph’s powers, and the uncertainty of whether it still posed a danger.
  • The players considered the importance of sunlight in repelling the shadow monster and the need to be prepared for future encounters.
  • Clinton decided to stay closer to the group due to the potential threat of the shadow monster and the Baron’s unpredictable behavior.
  • Per attempted to decipher the book with an English roll but failed, despite the option to push or spend luck.
  • The GM initiated a luck recovery phase, allowing players to roll and potentially regain luck points.
  • Per expressed his desire to study Persian and become proficient in reading ancient texts, suggesting the possibility of the Baron sponsoring his education.
  • The Baron agreed to consider the proposal but emphasized the importance of focusing on their current journey and the potential assistance Professor Smith could offer in London.
  • The players resumed their efforts to decipher the book, acknowledging the challenges they faced without an expert in the language.
  • Per Oskarson is starting to doubt that Baron von Hofler will tire of studying the book before he does, but he remains committed to staying with the Baron as long as necessary to prevent him from being alone with the book or learning more than the investigators.
  • The Baron does not seem to be hiding information from the investigators and gives the impression that he hopes they can help him.
  • Several hours pass, and it is now around 10 p.m. The train is about an hour away from Budapest.
  • Clyde Corning and Clinton Lake have been walking the train, looking for jaguars, and they pass by Ilsa von Hofler’s cabin again. Ilsa gestures for Clyde to come speak with her.
  • Ilsa asks Clyde and Clinton if they can get the Baron off the train at the upcoming stop in Budapest. She suggests using a tranquilizer to subdue him and carry him off the train.
  • Clinton expresses concern about acting against the Baron’s wishes and suggests trying to convince him to leave the train without using drugs.
  • Ilsa is skeptical that the Baron can be convinced to leave the train willingly, as she has spent the past four days trying to dissuade him from getting on the train in the first place.
  • Clinton suggests that a major life event, such as a marriage proposal, might convince the Baron to leave the train. Ilsa doubts this would be effective, as her father would likely learn of such an event before she did.
  • Ilsa suggests dropping hints to the Baron to make him think leaving the train was his own idea.
  • Clinton reiterates that he is not comfortable tranquilizing the Baron unless it becomes absolutely necessary.
  • Ilsa offers to pay Clyde and Clinton for their assistance, but Clinton declines, stating that it is a matter of principle.
  • Ilsa challenges Clinton to try and stop the Baron from his current course of action and see how he reacts.
  • Clinton suggests that they drop hints to the Baron to make him think leaving the train was his own idea.
  • Ilsa expresses her gratitude for their willingness to help and acknowledges the importance of their mission.
  • As it gets late, the Baron shows no signs of fatigue and continues his attempts to translate the book.
  • Per suggests that they rotate shifts to ensure that someone is always with the Baron. He proposes having schnapps and coffee brought to the cabin.
  • Henri, the train attendant, is summoned and brings schnapps, coffee, whiskey, and gin to the cabin.
  • The train arrives in Budapest, and the Baron announces his intention to take a walk and get some fresh air. He insists on taking the book with him.
  • Per suggests that he and Clinton accompany the Baron on his walk, but the Baron seems irritated by this suggestion.
  • Clyde announces his intention to go speak with Ilsa.
  • Clinton suggests that Madame Zorba join them on the walk, and she agrees.
  • Per is suspicious of the Baron’s motives and plans to stay close to him at all times. He is concerned that the Baron may have arranged a meeting in Budapest and is trying to avoid their scrutiny.
  • Per notices that Viola Sutcliffe is trying to make eye contact with him and convey a sense of suspicion. He acknowledges her concern.
  • Per considers the possibility that the Baron has sent a message ahead to Budapest, arranging for a group of thugs to kidnap the investigators when they get off the train. However, he realizes that such a plan would have been difficult to arrange on short notice.
  • Per concludes that the Baron’s most likely plan is to meet someone in Budapest and hand over the Fez and the book.
  • Per decides to stick close to the Baron and keep an eye on the book.
  • Clyde departs to speak with Ilsa.
  • Per whispers to Clinton, alerting him that the Baron is up to something.
  • The Baron leaves the train car, seemingly uninterested in the investigators and their opinions.
  • Viola Sutcliffe takes a crystal ashtray from the train car to use as a weapon if needed.
  • The investigators follow the Baron off the train and onto the platform, which is busy with people and activity.
  • Clyde Corning returns to Ilsa von Hofler’s cabin and finds her packing a bag.
  • Ilsa gives Clyde a syringe filled with tranquilizer and tells him that she has experience using it on large animals as a zookeeper.
  • Clyde and Ilsa agree to meet on the platform and Ilsa leaves the train car, heading in the opposite direction of the Baron.
  • Clyde notices the Baron looking around the platform as if searching for something, but he doesn’t seem to notice Clyde approaching.
  • The investigators, except for Clyde, pass a Spot Hidden check and observe normal train station activity.
  • Clinton Lake notices Ilsa von Hofler quickly leaving the platform.
  • Per Oskarson notices Clyde Corning watching Ilsa leave and then begin to approach the rest of the investigators.
  • The Baron asks Madame Zorba to describe what it is like to wear the fez.
  • Madame Zorba tells the Baron about the constant whispers, the feeling of power, and her ability to influence Myers.
  • The Baron becomes increasingly interested in Madame Zorba’s experience and moves closer to her, speaking in confidence.
  • Clyde Corning approaches Viola Sutcliffe and discreetly hands her the syringe.
  • The Baron begins to lead Madame Zorba away from the train and the other investigators, speaking too quietly for them to hear.
  • Clinton Lake attempts to listen to the Baron’s conversation and realizes he is speaking in an unknown language.
  • Clinton Lake calls out to Madame Zorba in German, asking the Baron to repeat himself slowly.
  • The Baron continues speaking to Madame Zorba in the unknown language, ignoring Clinton Lake.
  • Madame Zorba seems to have shaken her head and snapped out of a daze, possibly indicating she was under some form of influence.
  • The Baron, who was previously talking to Zorba, reacts with surprise and irritation but attempts to conceal his emotions. He steps back from Zorba and stops talking.
  • Per Oskarson observes the situation and comes to the realization that the Baron possesses some form of hypnotic ability. He connects this ability to his own memory gaps and the strange events unfolding.
  • Per is alarmed by this discovery but feels powerless to act.
  • An off-hand comment is made about having a couple of weeks to think, possibly implying a journey or period of confinement.
  • The players engage in meta-commentary, speculating about the nature of the situation. They question whether Zorba has somehow turned the tables on the Baron and gained control over him through a “reverse Jujutsu mind control.”
  • The player controlling Zorba clarifies that they did not achieve an “extreme success” on their roll, implying a degree of success but not complete control.
  • The other players express amusement and satisfaction with the outcome.
  • There is confusion among the players about whether the Baron rolled any dice and what the results were.
  • The player controlling the Baron states that they did not roll and that nothing significant happened.
  • The players are accused of being overly suspicious, and it is asserted that everything is fine.