A cold rain tapped ceaselessly against the windows of London’s fog-shrouded streets as the group prepared to depart once more into the unknown. Their recent discoveries—traces of an ancient simulacrum and the unsettling hints of menacing figures seeking the same cursed relic—had left each of them wary and exhausted. In hushed tones, they shared the dread still clinging to them, a constant reminder that something dark and insidious lurked on the edges of their world.

Before they could leave the city, Per Oskarson and Viola Suttcliffe found themselves drawn by disturbing rumors about a peculiar shop in the Islington district. According to whispered conversations, the shop carried odd curios and was owned by a reclusive figure bearing the name Makryat—a name that echoed uncomfortably with the group’s earlier encounters. Determined to investigate even the smallest leads, Per and Viola traveled through the winding, dismal lanes of Islington, where streetlamps sputtered and pools of water reflected the gloom of a turbulent sky.

They located the shop easily enough. Its sign bore elegant script proclaiming it as the “Crescent Treasury,” with a display window promising an assortment of exotic brassware, rugs, and curios from the far corners of the East. But there was something wrong—no light flickered within. A hand-lettered placard reading “Closed” hung crookedly on the door. Peering through the dusty panes, Viola saw shapes of ceramic vessels and piles of rolled carpets, but the gloom revealed no movement, no sign of habitation. Per’s pulse quickened at the sight. Though they had come in search of clarity, the shadowy interior radiated only questions and discomfort.

After waiting in the drizzle outside, they tried to glean further information from a neighboring grocer. The kindly but suspicious shopkeeper insisted the place had been locked for days. He claimed Makryat—an older Turkish man—usually kept regular hours but had vanished without warning. The words felt contradictory; the group had suspected someone far younger, a figure tangled in ill omens. Confusion fed Viola’s anxiety, the small hairs at her nape prickling with the notion that the identity of this shopkeeper was tied to their enemy in some indescribable way. Yet none of the neighbors offered further insight, all of them claiming ignorance or hurrying to close conversation. No one wanted to dwell on the place for long, as if merely talking about it courted misfortune.

They tried the front door. Locked. Viola fiddled with the handle, but the old mechanism refused to grant entry. Within, she swore there was an odd shape slouched behind the curtains—a statue, perhaps, or a draped object—but it was impossible to decipher in the darkness. Outside, the grocer’s watchful glare burned into them. More than once, Per felt a breath of icy wind curl around his neck, as though something intangible brushed against him, warning them away. After a tense attempt to open the lock, Viola relented. The idea of forcing their way in seemed ill-advised under so many prying eyes, so they decided to leave, uneasy, and rejoined the others.

Night came abruptly, and the streets bled into darkness as everyone returned to gather final provisions. There was a rush to procure the tools they believed necessary for a journey across the Continent—letters of introduction, funds, and weapons. A hush fell whenever they spoke of crossing borders with firearms, for the very mention of it carried a sense of taboo and danger. Yet none among them doubted the potential threats ahead. They had all glimpsed enough of this unfolding nightmare to know that traveling unarmed was no guarantee of safety. So each took steps to ensure that some measure of protection, no matter how modest, accompanied them on the train.

By the following afternoon, they were on their way, leaving London in a churn of steam and iron. The train rumbled along the tracks, taking them first to the coast, then across the restless waters of the Channel. There, the wind screeched across the deck of the ferry, and the group remained inwardly focused, their faces drawn with apprehension. Thoughts of the charred remains of what once had been a safe haven, the cryptic threats of unseen enemies, and the significance of the simulacrum weighed heavily on them. Despite the promise of a swift route, no one could shake the feeling that their pursuers—or perhaps something worse—might be only a half step behind.

Then came the final leg of their journey to Paris, the city of lights. The carriage grew strangely quiet when they were mere miles from the Gare du Nord station. One by one, they looked out over the dark silhouette of the French countryside. Lights shimmered in the distance, but each glow felt strangely isolated, as though the land itself braced against an unwelcome presence. The group exchanged few words, their thoughts colored by dread-laced curiosity: what secrets lay waiting in Paris for those who sought to uncover the Sedefkar Simulacrum?

At last, the train shuddered to a halt under tall archways and wrought-iron beams. It was nearly eleven at night, and the station bustled with other late arrivals rushing for cabs and porters. The cold air drifted in, carrying the smell of machinery and coal smoke. Stepping onto the platform, the companions felt a collective weight settle over them—the burden of their mission and the chill of an unfamiliar city beneath winter’s cloak. Shadows seemed to stretch along the floor, bending in unnatural shapes under the station’s electric lighting. Every footstep echoed. High in the rafters, the wind keened with a ghostly pitch.

They had reached Paris, that much was certain, but in the gloom of the hour, even the grandeur of the city felt tinged with foreboding. Their quest remained the same—delve deeper into the labyrinth of leads, track the scattered pieces of the simulacrum, and unearth the twisted history that bound it. Yet each creak of the station’s girders hinted that danger was close behind, creeping inexorably over them. Hooded figures might watch from afar. Old men might be young, or young men might be disguised as old. It was impossible to know whom to trust. In unspoken agreement, they huddled closer.

Night’s veil lay heavy as they emerged onto the lamp-lit streets, the cold around them pressing in like a warning. Though uncertain what fresh perils awaited in Paris, they all understood the gravity of their task. Every step on the cobbled sidewalks brought them nearer to wonders they could scarcely imagine—and horrors they might not survive.

Session Notes

  • Recap of the Previous Session:

    • The group learned that Professor Smith had been badly burned.
    • Beddoes, Smith’s manservant, relayed Smith’s warning about “evil afoot” and handed over newly transcribed notes regarding the Sedefkar Simulacrum.
    • The attackers apparently stole Professor Smith’s original notes, prompting the investigators to rely on Beddoes’s copies.
    • The notes indicated that several critical leads could be found in locations along the route of the Orient Express, starting with Paris.
    • Research the investigators conducted in the library revealed:
      • Very limited information on the Sedefkar Simulacrum itself.
      • A possible connection to a work called The Devil’s Simulare, which might be located at the Bibliothèque Nationale in Paris.
      • Mention of the Sedefkar Scrolls, once kept in the Museum of Constantinople prior to the Great War.
      • Reference to the Comte Fenelik, a minor nobleman believed to have possessed the Simulacrum before the French Revolution.

  • Preparations and Character Details:

    • The Keeper and assistant Keeper ask each player about their character’s familiarity with international travel.
    • Individual backgrounds:
      • Arthur Zorba: Military background, suspicious of those who did not serve on the front lines. Likely to have traveled in post-war Germany.
      • Claire Corning: Possibly traveled with her father or on minor errands for Professor Smith but does not seem to have extensive international experience on her own.
      • Walter Lake: Prefers to stay in England, exorcist by calling, first major trip abroad.
      • Viola Sutcliffe: Has wealth (Credit Rating 50). Mentioned having traveled to places like the French Riviera for health.
      • Per Oskarson: Swedish scholar who has lived in London for decades, possibly traveling around Europe for occult research or to help others.

  • Passport and Visa Concerns:

    • Discussion about how each character holds a UK passport (or in Per’s case, possibly dual citizenship with Sweden and the UK).
    • The group notes that certain Eastern European countries require visas or fees at the border.
    • Concerns expressed over whether to obtain visas in London or to wait and arrange them in Paris or elsewhere.

  • Orient Express Ticket Options:

    • The party talks about different ways to book their journey:
      • Purchasing a direct one-way ticket from London to Constantinople.
      • Booking each leg separately, though this risks the train being sold out at future stops.
      • Leasing a private car, which is very expensive (around £600).
    • They learn a one-way ticket from London to Constantinople costs roughly £22 per person.

  • Funding and Spending:

    • The group collectively has about £1,000 in a valise (noted to be a significant amount of money).
    • Individuals with a Credit Rating of 50 (such as Arthur Zorba and Viola Sutcliffe) can easily obtain additional personal cash if needed.
    • Discussion arises on how to pay for big expenses like a private car, with most favoring standard tickets and planning to stop along the way as necessary.

  • Investigation into Mehmet Makryat and the Toy Shop:

    • Per Oskarson and Viola Sutcliffe decide to visit a toy shop mentioned in a newspaper article, referred to in the text as “the Crescent Treasury.” It is located in Islington.
    • They find the shop locked and showing a “Closed” sign, which is unusual during normal business hours.
    • Nearby shopkeepers report that an older Turkish gentleman, “Mr. Makryat,” owns the store but has not been seen for days.
    • Per and Viola attempt to spot anything unusual through the shop window. Despite the dusty glass, they see brasswork, rugs, and various items from Middle Eastern regions.
    • Viola tries to pick the lock (using a hairpin). She fails, and a neighboring shopkeeper becomes suspicious.
    • They question a street urchin, who confirms the proprietor is an older Turkish man, not a younger one.
    • Per and Viola do not press further after failing to gain entry. They note the locked shop, the owner’s absence, and they depart without more information.

  • Firearm Arrangements:

    • The investigators discuss bringing weapons for self-defense on their journey.
    • Arthur Zorba intends to bring a rifle, recalling his time in the military. He obtains a .303 Lee-Enfield or similar post-war surplus rifle.
    • The group talks about legality of crossing borders with firearms:
      • They understand many European countries may confiscate guns at customs.
      • Concealing pistols might be easier than transporting rifles.
    • Walter Lake, as a reverend, does not bring firearms but warns others about potential trouble at border crossings.

  • Departure from London:

    • The group books standard Orient Express tickets in order to travel from London to Paris first.
    • They leave London the following day (to accommodate final shopping, research, and packing).
    • The trip itself to Paris is described as “uneventful,” implying no conflicts or encounters during the ferry or train portion.

  • Arrival in Paris:

    • The party arrives in Paris at 11:00 p.m. on January 9.
    • They plan to continue investigating leads regarding the Sedefkar Simulacrum, particularly at the Bibliothèque Nationale and other possible archives or locations in Paris.