Failed Prospects.P1

Playtest of "Failed Prospects"; created by a team of ITD (Into the Darkness) members.

Intro: During the summer break of 1923, Dr. William Baker (Paleontology Dept Head at Miskatonic University) tried to relieve his boredom by trolling the museum basement’s uncatalogued fossil collection. One particular fossil marked as found in South Dakota piqued his interest and renewed his ‘itch’ for field work. Thus, it was Oct 1^st when his team of professors and students waved goodbye as they boarded the train bound for West Haven, SD.

Friday, Oct 12^th: Dr. Baker’s campus secretary (Joanne Smythe) signed for the telegram and pondered the request. She contacted Professor Tarsh, “You’re the most senior paleontologist. Care to form a team to join Dr. Baker?” Randall immediately thought of the elder archaeology professor Robbins, “I hope he’s not too hobbled.” Marty suggested one of his Geology students, Hugh, “If nothing else he’s strong as a mule. That’s him on the track field throwing the discus.” Hugh suggested Charlie as photographer to document the dig, “That’s him running the 100 meters. Careful, don’t go across the field else you get speared by the javelin throwers.” The last member was Barbara, found at the library. Although a journalist, she didn’t cover sporting events, “Too much testosterone and not enough brains.”

Randall Tarsh [Jon]: 35yo Professor of Paleontology. Grew up on a Colorado farm where he learned to appreciate Horticulture. Delved in a short boxing career marred by too many knockouts (of himself). Heavy drinker. 2nd career in Paleontology; now educator at MU.

Martin ‘Marty’ Robbins [Jordan]: 59yo Prof of Archaeology. Large corn-fed Texan (broad shoulders, muscular, 6’2” 288lbs). Walks with a slight limp from the war. Mechanic prior to the war where he served as engineer/mechanic. Pursued his love of Archaeology, becoming a professor at Arkham to be near his granddaughter Sarah.

Hugh Johnson [Graham]: 30yo Geology student. (enormous and lurches, 6'5" 307lbs) Grew up on a farm till called to service in Great War as artillery gunner. Entered college on an athletic scholarship (track and field-discus) while pursuing degree in Geology appropriate for farming (topography and soil conditions).

Barbara Malters [Whitney]: 21yo student Investigative Journalist. Obsessed with uncovering the truth, longing to write the next BIG story. She's nosy, inquisitive and at times, annoying. But never deterred as she seeks accountability as she feels cursed with feeling misled at times.

Charlie Stutz [Aaron]: 21yo student Photographer. Always enjoyed the outdoors and thus his pictures tends to be landscapes. Entered college on an athletic scholarship (track and field-runner) while pursuing photography degree to learn angle, framing, lighting, and perspective. Smoker.

Saturday evening: Randall and Barbara headed to the library to research anything written about Dr. Baker’s excursion. 

They found the list of team members and even a map of the South Dakota destination along with pictures of the team boarding the outbound train. Meanwhile, the others headed to the museum basement to find the fossil that piqued Baker’s interest. “Sorry, but Dr. Baker checked it out.” They found Joanne still at her desk making travel arrangements for the supplemental team. She directed them to Baker’s desk, “He uses it as his new paperweight.” Marty handled the fossil and was also intrigued, “Interesting! Looks like a forelimb. From an archaeologist perspective, I’d say almost supporting of a 4^th digit. Aren’t most dinosaurs 3-toed?” Charlie took a picture for future reference. Hugh pondered the idea of pocketing the thing. Could Marty read his mind? Something deterred the student’s pilfering idea.

Marty called the library to get all gathered at Joanne’s desk. Randall was also excited to handle the fossil, “I’d guess from the Jurassic period. Joanne, did Baker have you type any notes about his thoughts and plans?” 

She showed him the letter Baker sent thru the mail, “One of his students must have copied from his field notes. I don’t know if he plans to send more at regular intervals or dump on me all at once when he returns.” Randall spoke aloud the “Coelurosaur” comment in the letter. Barbara pulled out one of the paleontology books she’d checked out from the library and tried to look up the referenced dinosaur.

Prof Tarsh saved her the trouble, “Coelurosaur: hollow-tailed lizard. Precursor to birds if not to mankind. At least that’s the theory, right Professor Robbins?”

Obviously, Randall (and probably Marty too) was VERY interested as he asked Joanne, “Why does Dr. Baker say no earlier than the 19^th? We could leave Monday.” Joanne could only guess, “He must have his reasons. Besides, it’s going to take time to find someone to cover your classes, arrange permission for your students to miss classes. You still need to gather your gear/supplies and I need to purchase train tickets and coordinate hotel rooms. Earliest I could get you out is maybe Wednesday, 17^th and it’s a 2-day train ride.”

Wednesday, 17 Oct, All Aboard: Marty was the first at the station, followed by Barbara and Charlie. Randall staggered (hungover) into view right at the stroke of 0900, propped up by his Geology student Hugh (who’d had a few himself). They settled into their coaches for the long westward trek. Randall used cotton stuffed in his ears in the failed attempt to drown out the “clickity-clack, clickity-clack” repetition of the iron wheels on rails. Hugh stood at the train’s bar and soon learned how to hold his high-ball without spilling his drink per the rhythmic bounce along the tracks. Barbara sat in her room and researched her paleontology books to gain key words for her journalistic coverage. Charlie busied himself taking pictures of various scenes of their travel. Over the course of the 2-day travel, the scenery slowly changed from the regular interval of urban towns and farmlands and the northern tip of the Appalachian Mountains to the Great Lake shores around Chicago to then evolve into the rural space of nothingness known as the mid-west (open country and encroaching forests dotting with a few homes and barns).

Thursday, 6pm, Welcome to West Haven: It was near dusk when the train wheels screeched as the brakes applied. Steam hissed from the boiler and sparks arched from the wheels as the train slowed to a stop. The pullman exited to set a step on the platform, “Welcome to West Haven, folks. Enjoy your stay.” To the south, they could hear the constant drone of saws from a nearby lumbermill. The smell of fresh-cut timber confirmed the source of the hum. Randall exited with blood-shot eyes, while Barbara let the pullman assist her as she stepped to the train station to gather a map of the town. Charlie flicked his cigarette butt as he exited. Hugh followed as they walked the gravel road north per the map. Meanwhile, Marty slowly woke from his slumber and was the last to leave and to tip a quarter, “If you’ll have our luggage and equipment delivered to the Penman Hotel. Now, where can I get a meal?” Leaning on his cane, Marty made a beeline for the diner.

Meanwhile, Randall was startled by two boys dressed in matching uniforms, “Can we take your bags? I’m George. He’s Ernest.” Only then did they remember “Our gear! Yes boys, if you’ll kindly gather our luggage and equipment.” They found Mary Penman behind the hotel reception desk, “Welcome to West Haven. We weren’t expecting you till tomorrow. Thankfully your secretary Mrs. Smythe called to give us notice.” She was caught off guard when Randall requested separate rooms, “Mrs. Smythe only reserved 3 rooms as she expected you gentleman to double up like Dr. Baker’s team.” Randall [persuaded] her to make accommodations, “Contact the office and if she doesn’t allow, I’ll pay the difference myself. Now, if you’d be so kind to let Dr. Baker know we’ve arrived.” Mary announced, “I’m sorry sir, but Dr. Baker and his team are ‘out in the field’ as he says. They only stay in their rooms a few days on the weekend when they return for more food supplies and to store boxes in the back room.”

After Mary assigned rooms [upstairs: Randall #8, Barbara #7, Charlie#6; downstairs Hugh #2, Marty #1], most went to their rooms to freshen up for dinner next door at Hungry Jack’s Diner. Hugh and Randall remained at the hotel bar for their liquid meal.

Already at the diner, Marty followed a trail of sawdust that led up the steps and offered a trail to the dozen lumbermen chatting at their table. A loud roar as they let off steam from a long day of work. Marty asked for a table nearby so he could eavesdrop. He ordered one of everything… which surprised his 18yo server Rebecca when she learned, “No, that’s just for me.” Charlie and Barbara entered the diner and found their elder professor already eating. Assuming he’d ordered for them, Barbara pulled one of the plates in front of herself and began eating. She was taken aback when Marty casually forked food from her plate. Rebecca returned to the table to ask, “What can I get for you dear? Your father already ordered for himself.” Charlie made sure to sit a little further away from Marty, out of arms reach!

Another 6 lumbermen entered to fill the last table. The noise in the diner grew louder. Barbara and Charlie recognized Ernest busing the tables and called him over. “Busy lad. Do your parents own the diner?” Ernest offered, “Oh no, my parents own a farm outside town. I’m expected to help earn a living. My sister Rebecca (server) also works at the hotel as room maid. Not many guests at the hotel; so, two jobs to help ma and pa. Otherwise, we’d be stuck on the farm.”

[Marty and Charlie failed CON] But Marty was busy upchucking his food. Others might think he just overindulged with all those plates of food. But Charlie was equally queasy. And a roar rose from the other tables, “What the hell slop is this?! Soon the owner/chef was out front apologizing, “I’m sorry folks. I must have gotten a bad shipment of food from Ma’s General Store. Let me make you something else.” Marty called Carl over, “Don’t need more food but if you can half the bill.” Carl apologized profusely, “On the house sir. You must be the other folks from Dr. Baker’s university. I hope I haven’t made a poor impression. Dr. Baker and his team are good customers. When they return this weekend, tell him everything is half-off.” Marty suggested Carl take a bite, “Just so you know what we’re complaining about.” Carl gagged, “Oh my gosh! I’ll check with Ma Peters at the store. Don’t know what happened. Everything has been on ice; shouldn’t have spoiled.” Both Professor Robbins and Barbara left a nice tip in recognition of at least good wait service.

Meanwhile, back at the hotel bar. When the luggage and equipment was delivered, Jonathan Penman (owner) enlisted his sons (George and 8yo Matthew) to help stow the gear in the storage room by going outside to the back of the hotel. The named luggage was left in the lobby till the individual owners arrived to direct to their specific room. Meanwhile, unspoken, Hugh matched Randall beer-for-beer in a silent challenge. [failed CON] Let’s call it drinking on an empty stomach: Hugh failed miserably. Picture the large man planted on a bar stool that struggled to hold his immense weight. Now add leaning into the picture… the chair broke per the unbalanced weight and toppled Hugh to the floor. Like a dead bug, Hugh just laid there. Randall didn’t break conversation with the owner serving him, “Jonathan. Good name. So, tell me Jonathan, what can you tell me about our good Dr. Baker and his team?”

Jonathan leaned forward to look at the comatose student, “Dr. Baker and his team only stay on the weekends when they come in for supplies. My son Matthew followed them on the first days when their sites were closer to town. One of the team members would drive him home before sunset. Lately, with them further out of town, only a few have returned as the rest stay busy at their dig. Dr. Baker seemed VERY excited last Friday about the findings he put in storage. Said if they find the Big-ticket item, they might just put West Haven on the map.  And then doctor… doctor, professor… I get them mixed up. Anyway, Mr. Tucker came in Saturday with that young boy Martin. Some kind of burn. Took him to see our doctor Weiss.” Curiosity piqued, Randall asked to see the items placed in storage. [failed Persuade] Jonathan politely declined, “You’ll need Dr. Baker’s permission. Or at least someone from the original team to give authorization. I heard a couple of those guys were excited about the recognition they’d get for finding such a discovery. Not to say you’d ‘steal their thunder’ but I hope you understand.” Randall now even more interested in seeing the great find… scanned Jonathan for the key to the storage room. And again requested, “I’m on Baker’s team. We can do this all night long.”

And that’s when the others arrived from the diner. Marty frowned at the unconscious student and got Charlie to help carry him to his room. “Thank goodness he got a ground floor room!” Marty slapped Hugh awake, “Don’t make me carry dead weight.” With Hugh dumped in his bed, Marty returned to find his luggage in the lobby and saw Randall step outside for a smoke. With no one drinking, Jonathan retired to the back. And that’s when Marty realized his medicine bag was missing. He found young George Penman, “Mind taking me to the back so I can get my medicine.” [Marty didn’t know about the faceoff between Randall and Jonathan regarding the privacy of the storage room.]

George led the elder Marty through the private residence area. And ran into Jonathan to then repeat his need. Jonathan led the way and unlocked the door. As Marty found his bag, they both heard the back door jiggle. Jonathan checked it out and found Professor Tarsh in front of the door. [So much for his attempted break in. Marty’s Luck 16 set the bar for Group-Luck roll of timing.] Randall made a poor excuse of being lost. Jonathan suddenly became suspicious of Marty as an accomplice. Things went downhill quickly. [Psych 99] Marty had no clue why Jonathan was upset wanting to see if the bag indeed had medicine, “With all due respect Jonathan, kiss my ass.” And to prove his point, Marty stormed out the rear door that Randall tried to break into. 

TO BE CONTINUED: https://wjr5oakley.blogspot.com/2023/04/failed-prospectsp2.html