Ju-Ju House - 06

[TheUdjat]

Rebecca and Thurman make a discreet exit from Ju-Ju House, Silas barely giving them a sideward glance, and then they are on the streets with their compatriots. Just in time, too, as it would seem all are ready to depart, with the strange ‘homeless man’ watching them – or homeless men, really. Jack suggests questioning the vagrant, but it will become clear that the wino is careful to stay away from your group on any approach.

The other hobo reappears at some point as well, to watch your exit from a comfortable difference. It is disconcerting to say the least, but they do not prevent your departure, and they make no move to tail you beyond the confines of the court.

When safely out of earshot and other observation, Thurman and Rebecca disclose what they have discovered – the shopkeeper himself is Silas N’Kwane, but they were unable to discover anything more amiss about the place. It is full of genuine African articles, evidently from Kenya, but beyond that the place appears to be unremarkable. But of course, with the strange winos and the looks from people in the tenements… it is hard to believe that Ju-Ju House is anything truly normal.

[You’re welcome to go where you like, discuss another approach or other leads. You guys are in control of the plot at this point.]

[VemuKhaham]

Jeremy's attention was suddenly drawn at hearing the infamous name again. "Silas N'Kwane, N'kwane! He has Samuel, must have! Rescue him, tonight, or make Silas speak, he knows! He knows all!"

Obviously, Jeremy proposed a very direct approach. Wisdom, or an idiot's advice?

[TheUdjat]

[If you guys are stumped and would like an Idea roll, let me know.]

[Japic]

{Ideas are good; picking up Jackson's trail is one thing, understanding what he was doing with all this crap was completely another. We've still got the Funeral tomorrow, so that would be something we can deal with. I bet his sister is there and perhaps available for comment; hopefully she's not in on this death and dismemberment business. I believe that I recall something about papers in a family safe also, could she give us access? That's all I've got.}

[Aegea]

[OOC: Yeah, I am pretty stumped at the moment. Unless we want to actually plan on visiting China in order to investigate more, which I don't think we're ready for quite yet? An idea roll might be good..]

[VemuKhaham]

If the funeral is our next move, then Jeremy will have to bow out of this visit, to his regret, because mr. Elias had been a friendly man for the short time he had seen him. He will instead go to meet Susan at the poorhouse. It is his ritual on sunday.

[TheUdjat]

japic said:

{Ideas are good; picking up Jackson's trail is one thing, understanding what he was doing with all this crap was completely another. We've still got the Funeral tomorrow, so that would be something we can deal with. I bet his sister is there and perhaps available for comment; hopefully she's not in on this death and dismemberment business. I believe that I recall something about papers in a family safe also, could she give us access? That's all I've got.}

[Your New York leads are almost exhausted, it's true. And at this stage of the investigation, you're not expected to have a very solid idea of what Jackson was doing - only where he went, and that he found something. I also realize that Play-by-post games can be slow, and a clue-intensive game like CofC can lose little important tidbits as the weeks roll by. So, to try and alleviate some of that, here's a recap of sorts.

Some things you guys know:
1. Jackson Elias went to Kenya investigating the Carlyle expedition. According to his notes, correspondence with Kensington, and his editor's comments, Jackson did not believe all the principals of the expedition truly died (specifically, he cites a conversation with Nails Nelson, who had reportedly encountered Jack Brady).
2. At other points in Jackson's investigation, he visited China and London (at least) before heading back to New York, scared, paranoid, and quite unlike himself.
3. Jackson was killed shortly after running down more leads in New York (specifically pertaining to Silas N'Kwane).
4. Silas N'Kwane imports African artifacts through Emerson Imports; the objects originate in Mombasa, Kenya (both the ledger and Silas have confirmed this).
5. The symbol carved into Jackson's head belongs to a cult called the Bloody Tongue, reputedly originating in Africa (in the vicinity of Kenya).
6. This is not the first killing of this nature in New York.
7. Jackson believed that the reason the Carlyle Expedition went to Kenya (and perhaps why they were 'killed') originates with something they did/discovered in Egypt.

There are also numerous things that can be guessed at, or suspected:
1. Jackson believed he had uncovered a worldwide conspiracy, and it is likely (from his conversations with Kensington and Samuel) that he understood he was in danger for what he uncovered. But he believed it was important enough to continue pursuing.
2. In his less sane ramblings, Jackson spoke of a psychoanalyst's file; presumably Robert Huston's, who was Carlyle's psychiatrist and a member of the Expedition. He also mentioned books in a safe.
3. It is likely that the winos and homeless lingering around Ju-Ju House were not, in fact, homeless; and it is not unforeseeable that they have a connection to Jackson's death and Samuel's disappearance.
4. It is likely that Jackson spoke or intended to speak with Edward Gavigan of the Penhew Foundation in London - this would match his curiosity about the Carlyle Expedition.
5. Jackson also somehow obtained a letter from Faraz Najir in Egypt, who apparently had been corresponding with Carlyle about some objects of interest. He may have the best clue what Carlyle was doing in Egypt (the Penhew foundation, presumably, would also know).
6. There are only three connections to China: The matchbook from a bar there, a picture taken there, and a reference from Nails Nelson that he encountered Jack Brady there. As Jackson went to China after his visit to Kenya, it is possible he sought Brady there.
7. Jackson sought a book in Harvard's library that may have had information he needed; but the book disappeared (possibly around the time he was in Kenya, though this may not be significant).

There is clearly some information that would help make certain leads concrete:
1. For all that you know about Jackson's movements and motives, the group still knows almost nothing about the Carlyle Expedition and its principals, save what was publicly revealed and what Jackson dug up. Of all of you, only Thurman has some knowledge of Sir Aubrey Penhew that is circumstantial at best. Very little is known about what the Expedition's purpose was.
2. Of the people readily available in New York, only one has investigated the scene in Kenya who is not yet dead: Erica Carlyle. She also may have the most information on Carlyle himself, if she is willing to share it and if she can be interviewed (she is a member of high society, after all). There is also the matter of the books. (Note also that Erica Carlyle has no obvious connection to Jackson Elias; there is no reason to suspect she will be at the Funeral tomorrow.)
3. Silas N'Kwane's importance is still not clear. Ironically, where an open approach might have been better for tackling Emerson Imports, the opposite might be true of Ju-Ju House - the building is small, run-down, dusty, and without much more than a locked door to discourage intruders. (Excepting the winos, possibly). It may be worthy of further investigation. Further, the scared inhabitants of the surrounding tenements may have information to impart, if they can be coaxed into talking.]

[MaestroXC]

[As I see it, it's unlikely that any helpful information in New York about the Carlyle expedition can come from anyone other than Erica Carlyle, although it may be possible to speak with the people who arranged their transportation and outfitting. They may remember anything out of the ordinary that could point to the expedition's true purpose. Alternatively, we could try and speak with associates of Dr. Huston, who may have some clue as to what type of research he was doing at the time of the expedition, and if they had received any communications from him while he was abroad.

If Erica Carlyle doesn't prove accommodating, I think we should consider heading to London to speak with Penhew's associates.

While we're at Ju-Ju House, maybe we can ask the neighbors what's going on. Doing so without drawing more attention from the winos may be difficult, although in places like this, a little money can get a lot of cooperation.]

[Yakumo]

"I don't know if I want to draw any extra heat at this house right now," Tommy whispers, "especially since the import building, adding more links to the chain will only help the cops pinch one of us...probably me." As an afterthought he adds, "Asking around can't hurt though, but the way those winos were giving us the hairy eyeball, instead of asking for money, leads me to believe that we would probably be met with about as much accommodation as these two were inside the store. I think we should just hold of on here for now at least, simply my opinion, we can come back if its the last lead in the city. Plus the cops know about Silas, if I remember correctly, that Detective specifically mentioned that there would be a little card at the scene of Jackson's murder, a little card that found its way into a certain someone's satchel."

"Then there are the Overseas leads to look at, that China one, I speak a bit of Mandarin," tommy pulls out a small notebook and flips through it, "Damn, this is so unorganized, who's that Jack Brady fellow again? The one Jackson was trying to meet in China?"

[Aegea]

Rebecca nods in agreement with what Tommy is saying. "I don't know about the rest of you, but I don't feel too eager to confront some of those guys who were watching us by the store," Rebecca adds. "At least, not at night. But what was the name of that relative of Carlyle? Was it Erica? Maybe she's still in New York somewhere, she might be willing to speak to us about the expedition a bit if we approach her the right way..."

[Japic]

{Sorry, Carlyle's sister, not Jacksons... my bad. That would explain why no one thought of it sooner . Bad reasoning, though the end result is the same, she may have info.}

Follwoing the conversation Dr. Osgood offers his own piece. "Yes, and barring that eventuality I could wire the Penhew Foundation; perhaps I can arrange a meeting with the right people. Even if Penhew was a fool, there are some reasonably sound minds at the Foundation."