16 May 1837 - Nastasie Dementiev

The Necromancer has struck again! I do not know who is more foul - he or the Regent. One of Lady Wordsworth's servants came to her begging for aid, as her child had fallen ill. Some of us accompanied Dr Cross to their abode, where an Indian doctor was working on herbal remedies. The poor young girl was unconscious in her bed, with sores covering much of her body. Dr Cross summarily dismissed us all, except the mother, while she examined the patient. After an inordinate amount of time she and the mother emerged with word that it was an unidentifiable disease, and there was little she had been able to do.

A bit timidly, I asked Dr Cross if I might be able to attempt to help. She looked dubious, but agreed to accompany me back in to the patient. Lady Wordsworth immediately began talking to the mother to distract her from our re-entrance to her daughter's room. Looking more closely at the girl, I realized that her sores appeared exactly like the ones on the dead bodies on the Direption. Suspecting magic at work, I dove even further into the corners of my knowledge to remember seeing other adepts heal people. As Dr Cross directed me, I let the energies flow through me and into the child. Never having attempted this before, I was pleasantly surprised to see the child's eyes open and her sores begin to disappear. Even more amazing was the look on Dr Cross' face - as if she had just witnessed something she had never before imagined. The joy on the mother's face was well worth witnessing too.

With the girl awake, she related how she had found a box on the riverbank, filled with coins. She had been spending them throughout the East End. Dr Cross convinced her to trade this box of coins for a greater amount of (untainted) money, and examined them later - they were magically diseased, as we suspected. The Necromancer at work, and presently his magical plague will be spreading throughout the East End, probably providing him with an army of bodies to do his unholy work. And if I remember some of my teachings, he quite possibly could raise those bodies to form a real army, much like the stories from my native Transylvania. We should consult with someone from the church for assistance - I must remember to mention that to Lady Wordsworth.

I performed a Tarot Reading for our assemblage after this. Dark days are still coming, but there are hopes of light in there as well. Immediately after the reading Lady Wordsworth received a request from the head of the Duelling School for assistance. Duelling School - the Black Fox perhaps? I may get to see the beautiful Victoria again! But between the plots on her and this vile Necromancer, we must tread carefully from here on out.

13 May 1837 - Nastasie Dementiev

She is safe, thank the heavens! At least we are pretty sure of it. The execution was set for yesterday. The treacherous Regent had made a public spectacle of it all - the killing of her own daughter. She must know! None of Lady Wordsworth's charms worked on people of import, so it fell on me to improvise at the last moments. Calling upon the furthest inklings of knowledge I have gleaned these past few years, I somehow managed to apport the headsman's axe into hiding, then immediately crafted an illusion that I manipulated to the best of my meagre abilities. He believed he still had the axe in hand. Out of nowhere the Black Fox arrived to save the queen, but I twisted the illusion so that the headsman, and many in the crowd, believed the both the Black Fox and "Trinia" were killed there. Meanwhile the real, and very living, Black Fox spirited off the beautiful Victoria into the mass of London. My companions suspect I did something, but none of them have questioned me about it. They are confused over the multiple images that appeared there, but all of them are relieved that she escaped, and that the future of England is still alive. Where she, and the Black Fox, might be we do not know. What we do know is that our fates our destined to intertwine again.

7 May 1837 - Nastasie Dementiev

Oh, woe are we! I may be out of quarantine and have a new lead on the necromancer, but the soon-to-be queen has been arrested and is to be put to death, unknown to Londoners that she is their Queen! She slipped away somehow, or was spirited away, with an illusion of herself left behind. The Major then informed us that she had been captured. My efforts to mentally contact her were fruitless, as someone had blocked her whereabouts. We must find some way to save her!

But to fill in some back events - Dr Cross released me from quarantine two days past. She reasoned that I had not shown any symptoms yet, and therefore would not be a threat to the populace now. I met my friend Rats, who passed on some information concerning the dumping of bodies in a Jewish cemetery, and those bodies being dragged down into a mausoleum there. Certainly sounds promising! Then, more ominously, he also told me that the footman at Lady Wordsworth's had been talking to the police.

I quickly made my way there, and informed the Lady of this. She and the Lieutenant interrogated the footman, but to no avail. Then we discovered that the queen was gone. Too late had we uncovered the mole within the household! And now to the only task that truly matters in the near term - finding a way to rescue the beautiful damsel in distress before they remove her lovely head. If we don't succeed, all of England is doomed, and I fear for my heart as well.

3 May 1837 - Nastasie Dementiev

At last I can update my journal at a leisurely pace. I have little else to do at the moment, which I will explain for the nonce. But first I will catch up my story from whence I last left off.

I did manage to locate the Lieutenant (diligently searching for the assassin), and coaxed him into accompanying me to Lady Wordsworth's house. He was dubious, but gave me the benefit of the doubt. A reasonable thing for him to do, given all that we have been through together in the last month. He is the one person in our little assemblage I would trust with my life, although Dr Cross has proven herself trustworthy as well. I could tell it was all the Lt could do upon meeting "Trinia" to restrain himself from attacking us all. Once he realised that we were telling him the truth, he quickly bent the knee to the rightful sovereign of the land. Discussions led to her Royal Highness drafting a letter to send to her supporters in the north, which the Lt would post outside of the city (as one of the few who could traverse the boundaries without being searched).

As her Beautifulness, I mean her Royal Highness, left to craft the letter, the rest of our group headed towards the docks, where the Direption was due to arrive. (What a terrible name for a ship - the Direption, a word which means to plunder, despoil or snatch away!) This was the ship upon which the Necromancer was to make his return to London. What arrived was a ghost ship. Failing to slow down or heed any harbour hails (we found this out later), the city watch lit up the night sky with cannon fire, breaking the ship in two and sending it to a watery grave. Before it went down, however, I trod upon the wind to examine the ship, looking for my brother or this foul fiend who had taken him away. All that I found was death - everyone on board had died of some terrible disease, except for one man I found drowned, with what Dr Cross later identified as a medical mask on his face. That, and a coffer of dark wood, within which were ledgers detailing a most horrific crime. All of the passengers on board were listed as "specimens", the ship was deeded to a group called B7, and the owner was R. Davaulis - most likely the necromancer himself. Now we have a name we can research - but still no trace of him.

As a precaution against spreading this disease, Dr Cross has quarantined me in Madame Zellara's old residence, and the Lieutenant, who also went to the ship, has been sent from the city with his mission. How long she will hold me here is unknown - I certainly do not want to pass along any contagion to these already suffering residents of this city. This gives me time to ponder and reflect, and to perfect my art of reading tarot.

30 April 1837 - Nastasie Dementiev

I have met the future queen. Even more emphatically, I have tackled and pinned her to the ground. Under different circumstances here in London I am sure that I would now be dead, but it was all in the cause of saving her life. (Under different circumstances in Romania, we would probably now be wed...) It is rather a shame that she is so high-born as to be above my class, as she is rather appealing to the eye, if extremely haughty. But perhaps I should start from a few days ago...

My search for information on this necromancer continues to unveil clues. I had discovered that he is overseas on a trip to Bavaria, and that his ship is due back to London somewhere around today. This being the best lead we have had on him yet, I gathered my companion group together to tell them about it, and to start making plans on what to do, if any of them would choose to help when the ship arrived. I knew the Lt would, although he was the only one of the group not to appear.

As we were convening a Brigadier come in looking specifically for the Major and "his friends". The rumoured assassin, Trinia, had been spotted at a tenement in the Shingles, and he requested that we extract her before the mobs got there. We were to then hand her over to selected guardsmen if we succeeded. The Major, naturally, accepted the assignment, and we pledged to accompany and assist.

Finding the tenement building was easy - getting past the old Jewish guard-lady was a bit more challenging, but we convinced her to let us in. No one answered at the door of Trinia's flat, so I appealed to the next door person to let us hire his flat for an hour. He was more than eager to take our money, and quickly set himself off to the pub. Opening the window of his flat, I used my ability to walk on air to exit and approach Trinia's place from the outside. Just as I did so, we noticed a female on the opposite building's roof, moving away from us - and I noticed Trinia's window open. Immediately deducing that this might be her attempting to escape, we made pursuit. Due to my wind-walking ability, I was faster than my companions, and reached the fleeing damsel first. By some miracle I successfully grabbed and pinned her to the roof, preventing her escape until the rest could arrive and apprise her of her situation.

Much to our astonishment, this Trinia turned out to be none other than Her Royal Highness Victoria herself! She had taken on the artist image, and a maid in the castle was illusioned to appear as the princess. She was somewhat vague on the why of it all, but it is very suspicious that the Regent would have a bounty out on her daughter's own head. We promised to take her to a safe location, and not to turn her in to the guardsmen. Thus it was back to Lady Wordsworth's with the future queen in tow, using my knowledge of the Shingles to avoid detection on the journey. The Major went off to lead the rest of the guard astray. Now I must go find the Lt, and bring him in to assist. I hope to have him meet his future monarch tomorrow.

And, amidst all of this, we still need to meet the boat when it arrives. Will this craziness never end?

25 April 1837 - Nastasie Dementiev

Chaos, madness, conspiracy, death. What a wonderfully terrible place to call home! I long for the fresh air of the mountains, and the simple "honesty" of the gypsies - so much easier to deal with than this cesspool they call London.

The King is dead. Rumours are that he was poisoned, and did not die of natural causes. Of course, no medical examination of the King has been released to the public to confirm this, although it is widely public knowledge that the King had insulted the Regent several months back. In the newspaper yesterday was a story of a guard at the palace confessing to help a painter by the name of Trinia poison the King. The authorities then allowed him to commit suicide before anyone else could ascertain if he was telling the truth. Something is rotten here, and we are not in Denmark!

The Acadamae has been found. It is in Constantinople, and surrounded by a force screen of some type, so there is no communication with anyone inside it. This still leaves me as one of the few wizards left in the city. And the government knows it, as the Ministry of War summoned me to their aid. Well, attempted aid - they wanted to see if I could mentally contact the Duke of Wellington. In my studies, I never made it to the subjects on mind-to-mind contact - so much more I still need to learn! I believe that my companion Dr. Ming might be able to show me a few pointers down that path. He has attempted to hide his abilities, but I recognize the signs of another adept, no matter what he says.

My sources finally told me that the Necromancer who bought my brother was expelled from the Acadamae, and that he was a surgeon prior to becoming an adept. Not much to go on, but anything is better than nothing. At least I can be confident he is not in Constantinople, which makes the odds of finding him here more likely.

Our band of companions went after Mei Mei's sister at the brothel House of Clouds. This was one of 5 ships at Eel's End, a despicable part of the city, but one which obviously serves a purpose, judging from the number of clients to be seen. On our way there we rescued a noble who had been cornered by some street thugs. The noble had, or course, less than noble reasons for being there, and he went on his way with no more than a word of thanks.

After searching the House of Clouds, we stepped the quest up and confronted the King of Spiders himself, in his lair. The Lt played knifies with a few of the King's henchmen, and won the Lady Wordsworth the right to Mei Mei's sister. The King instead gave her Mei Mei, captured wandering around, and refused to give up our prize. Combat ensued, and my little burst of air took out the King himself, quickly ending the melee. We then discovered that the girl we were after had been taken the previous week by the Red Mantis, a group of Chinese assassins. We departed with Dr. Ming gaining a pet dragon, Lady Wordsworth gaining a pet boy, and all of us gaining more confidence in each other, but precious little closer to either of our missing relatives.

21 April 1837 - Nastasie Dementiev

The madness continues, and there are undercurrents swirling around that arouse my suspicions - all is not well within this city. All is not well with the crown. And I am somewhat at a loss as to how to move forward. I have tried, so far in vain, to find out more on my brother. The streets are so chaotic that it is dangerous to be out in them. I hope that wherever he may be, he is still OK.

Lady Wordsworth invited our group to accompany her to Windsor Castle yesterday. What a privilege! The necklace we had found in Gaedren Lamm's hideout actually belongs to the princess, our soon to be Queen, and Lady Wordsworth wished to return it to her. Unfortunately the princess was indisposed when we arrived. As Dr. Cross went to tend to her, the rest of us were instead brought to an audience with the Regent and her secretary Jane Conroy. The Regent thanked us profusely for the return of her daughter's necklace, bestowed a number of gold bars on Lady Wordsworth, and then dismissed us. Nothing too unexpected in all of that, except that I noticed the Regent didn't seem to be in complete control of her own words, and there were far too many glances from her to Miss Conroy for my liking. That innate sense that all Romani have kicked in, and I believe that there is something terribly amiss in the current situation...

7 April 1837 - Nastasie Dementiev

The city is going mad. No other words describe the chaos that has descended upon us. I wonder what the future holds, and ofttimes even wonder if there IS a future at all. But let me go back a bit and pick up from where my journal last left off. This might be so much easier if I only wrote more frequently!

Two weeks after our encounter with Gaedren Lamm, his henchman, a Mexican dwarf (the creature that hit me in the head), was found guilty at a court of law and sentenced to die by hanging. Those of us from that fateful night gathered together at a hotel to discuss the items we had discovered and talk about any future actions. The good doctor had fortunately recovered her lost niece, but my brother had not been found, nor young Mei-Mei's sister. I took Madame Zellara's Tarot deck, being the only one with The Gift, while the others quickly divided up the rest of the items. The doctor had studied some of the journals the criminal had left behind, and relayed to us that my brother appeared to have been sold to a necromancer "for parts". This infuriated me, but outward displays of anger will not achieve my goal of locating him, so I have brought it inside and am honing it to a fine point. At least Mei-Mei's sister is likely to be alive, having "only" been sold to a house of ill-repute, the House of Clouds.

No sooner, though, than we had finished distributing the items and discussing where the missing folks might be, then a huge ruckus emerged from outside. A mob had gathered shouting that the King was dead, the Prime Minister was missing, and then a dragon crashed into the square. The rider died on impact, but the doctor and myself tended to the wounded drake, and I guarded it fiercely until help could arrive. The rest of the party vanished into the night to get the ladies to safety.

So here we are. The King is dead, the Regent is on the throne, the Princess will become Queen in a few weeks. The Prime Minister is still missing. Riots are happening everywhere. The dock workers have gone on strike. And, worst of all, I am out of school - because the Acadamae vanished! Leaving me as one of only a handful of wizards left in the entire city. As if my meager powers are going to be of much use to anyone. I will do my best, and rely on my new-found friends for aid and guidance, as I will provide my aid to them. And I do all of this from my base at Sir Bairn's, who is my mentor, my sponsor, and my protector.

The King is dead - long live...the Regent? The Queen? Who is going to take over, and should I care?

27 March 1837 - Nastasie Dementiev

It has taken me most of this week to recover from the events of last Monday, the 20th. I had already described the incredible events that led me to be below an old fish factory with a dog and a soldier above me, but what happened after that was simply astounding, and I am still wondering at the eerieness of the situation.

In a flash, the Lt. had clambered up the rest of the ladder, toward the ferocious dog. With a move of amazing agility, he used the beast's own momentum to throw him toward the water, completely unaware that I was waiting below. This so surprised me that I and the dog ended up in the water. Clambering back aboard the skiff, it only took a moment to recover my wits - only to be astounded again! The dog was my very own pet, stolen from my family last year! Ilie was a friend I never thought I would see again, and here he was. 

No sooner did I recognize him then I noticed a disturbing fin slicing through the water toward my beloved pet. I again called on my feeble elemental powers to dissuade the shark, then hauled my friend into the skiff along with me. Ensuring that he was OK, I used the power of the air to lift me into the fishery. There I discovered what little battle there was had ended, and the lovely lady doctor appeared grievously injured, but being cared for by the old Chinese gentleman.

The Lt. and I left her to the old medicine man's care, and followed another pathway under the factory to an almost hidden door. Behind this was the object of our search - the vile Gaedren Lamm, counting up his treasure and talking to his pet alligator. I immediately hit him with a blast of air while the Lt. rushed at him. The next few moments are a blur, as something crashed into my skull from behind, sending me down to the ground, only to then be dragged into the water by the alligator. Using what little strength I had to break free of the beast I launched myself into the winds and walked to a place of safety, barely noticing that the Lt. threw the detestable Lamm to his own pet, which promptly ate him.

The doctor, somehow miraculously recovered, tended to my leg. Yet it was the discovery by the others of Madame Zellara's head and tarot deck (amongst other items) that really disturbed us all. How could she be dead here when we saw her alive just a few hours before?

Once I could walk, I determined to re-visit her house, only to be horrified to find it abandoned. And it appeared to have been so for weeks. This was no mere coincidence - all of us were summoned together by a great spirit to help it seek its revenge. And now that we have been brought together, that spirit force will bind us to each other for some time to come. I doubt if the others are aware of that - after all, none of them are of the true blood, and so are only vaguely aware of the forces that shape our destinies.

Session 5 - Royal Audiences

Audience with the Regent

As our heroes prepare to leave the palace, they are intercepted by a woman in a grey uniform. Though otherwise identical to that of a British officer, the uniform bears no mark or insignia. As she ushers them into the presence of the Regent, it becomes obvious that this woman is Ms Conroy, secretary to Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent and Strathearn.

HRH thanks the party for their service to the Crown, on behalf of her daughter, and rewards them with a gift of twelve bars of gold, stamped with the royal seal. Some mention of the recent troubles is made, and the need for heroes such as those present. They are then dismissed, though Mr. Dementiev fancies he senses an oddness in her manner of speech, and frequent glances passing between the Duchess and her secretary.

A Visit to Eel's End

Lady Wordsworth and her companions return to her house in the escort of Lt. Forrester to find an invitation to the home of Sir Bairn for dinner with the Prince of Persia.

After a light lunch consisting of a salad and cold Virginia smoked ham, the party, having no word from Dr. Cross, decide to embark on an expedition to Eel's End to see if the whereabouts of Chi Li (Mei Mei's sister) can be ascertained.

Upon their arrival and exit from the carriage, the party sees a party of workmen harassing a young gentleman for being a supporter of the Queen. Sharp words from the officers leads to an immediate dispersal of the riff-raff, perhaps aided by the presence of their firearms.

They are profusely thanked for their intervention by young Mr. Wilcox. Under questioning and with some embarrassment the gentleman admits he is here to partake of the delights of the opium den.

Our heroes proceed to the House of Clouds brothel, one of the five moored ships that make up Eel's End. Mei Mei quickly sneaks off the find her sister. After some confused questioning, the party is directed to see Weng-Chiang himself if they wish to negotiate the freedom of Chi Li.

Audience with the King of Spiders

Confronted by guards as they approach the owner's ship, Lady Wordsworth easily convinces them that the party is expected. Having gained entry to the throne room of Weng-Chiang, they find the King of Spiders is well named - for the walls and throne are festooned with webs, and spiders scuttle among them in great numbers. The King himself sits unconcerned as the creatures occasionally crawl over his skin.

Seated at a banquet table are a number of white-clad monks. Above the table, suspended in a cage, sits a miserable, cat-sized Chinese dragon. Clearly the party has interrupted some impromptu gathering.

After the party flatter Weng-Chiang and state the reasons for their intrusion, he agrees to sell them a servant on one condition: that one among them defeat one of his monks in a game of knivesies. Lt. Forrester accepts the challenge. The first challenger is dispatched before betting can even begin; a second challenger makes things somewhat more interesting but is again handily defeated by the lieutenant.

Lady Wordsworth then describes Mei Mei, believing that her sister resembles her. The guards sent to collect the girl capture Mei Mei herself, and she is promptly sold to Lady Wordsworth. Confused by this turn of events, Lady Wordsworth accuses Weng-Chiang of dishonorable behaviour, and hostilities immediately break out.

At this point, Mei Mei reveals herself to be Mistress of Crane Kung Fu, which easily intimidates the white-clad disciples of Spider-style. They flee in dismay, to be replaced by the red-robed monks who serve as guards. Things rapidly begin to escalate, when Mr. Dementiev gathers in the spirits of the air and sends Weng-Chiang, master of the Spider school, flying into the wall, where he is badly injured.

Dr. Ming, during the melee, is telepathically contacted by the imprisoned dragon, who promises to serve him for a year if he frees him. Dr. Ming assents, and uses his own kung fu powers to unlock the iron cage.

Believing himself to have been defeated by the superior kung fu of the Crane mistress, Weng-Chiang allows them to take a servant of their choice. However, it transpires upon close questioning of the brothel mistress that Chi Li was taken by the Red Mantis assassins as an initiate.

Session 4 - The King is Dead

6 April 1837 (Thursday)

After some time to recover, and the subsequent trial of Sr. Gonzales for his part in the kidnapping and assault of Miss Edwards and the murder of her mother, our protagonists find themselves once more seated around a table.

In this instance, they meet in the private dining room of Mivart's Hotel to discuss the disposition of various artefacts found in the possession of Gaedren Lamm.

The Tarot deck formerly belonging to Madame Zellara is claimed by Mr. Dementiev. He notes that upon returning to her home, he has discovered the building was clearly abandoned for some weeks. The appearance of Madame Zellara was clearly the spirit of the wronged woman.

Of the remaining artefacts, one was found to be particularly significant - a necklace that Lady Wordsworth clearly recalls having seen on the neck of the Princess some weeks ago. Dr. Cross remembered reading the details surrounding the theft of the necklace from a jeweler's shop - the gentleman in question had been contracted to repair the clasp. Lady Wordsworth took possession of it in order to arrange for its return to the rightful owner.

Dr. Cross, who has been perusing the ledgers found by Mei Mei, then appraises the groups of her findings. In short, Mei Mei's sister had been sold to a brothel owned by Weng-Chiang, while Mr. Dementiev's brother was sold to a necromancer referred to as Rolth.

As the heroes debate the best course of action, Lady Wordsworth has her attention drawn by a general disquiet in the main dining room. Upon investigation, it becomes clear that there is a general alarum amongst the citizenry.

As they watch, one of the capitol's dragon wings wheels overhead; one of their number, clearly wounded, crashes into the street, its rider unmoving. As our heroes rush to aid the city's downed defender, the Major is summoned to assist the Brigadier-General in restoring order among the troops. The messenger sent to locate the Major also is able to illuminate the current situation - the announcement of the King's death has inflamed some dock workers who were gathered to protest the Poor Law; this unrest combined with the sudden disappearance of the Acadamae and Prime Minister Greystoke has caused general rioting amongst the populace.

Dr. Cross and Dr. Ming immediately determine the rider is dead, but through quick action they are able to stabilize the injured dragon. Mr. Dementiev volunteers to stay and defend the helpless creature while Lt. Forrester is tasked with escorting the rest of the party to safety.

As the party makes its way to safety, they are set upon by a rogue group of imps - doubtless stirred up by the disappearance of the Academae. When one takes a fancy to the necklace being worn by Lady Wordsworth, she attempts to sweet-talk it into returning it; unfortunately, Lt. Forrester takes advantage of its momentary distraction to destroy the creature with a rifle shot. Luckily for our heroes, this in turn draws the attention of a flock of miniature dragons, which drives off the demons.

Despite the difficulties encountered by our heroes on this day, Dr. Ming is quite pleased to have gathered a number of rare components much prized in Chinese medicine.

20 April 1837 (Thursday)

Having requested an audience with the Crown Princess, Lady Wordsworth and her party are summoned to Windsor Castle. Shortly before her audience, the Princess sends word that due to ill health, she will not grant any further audiences. Dr. Cross immediately approaches the guard and offers her services as a doctor, and is let through to examine the Princess.

Demise of His Majesty King William the Fourth

Their Lordships met this morning at a quarter past ten o'clock, in consequence of the DEATH of his MAJESTY, King William IV, which took place at Windsor, at twelve minutes past nine o'clock, on this day, their Lordships were immediately summoned in pursuance of the 7th and 8th, William III, c. 15. The Lord Chancellor, the Earl of Shaftesbury, the Marquess of Lansdowne, the Bishop of Salisbury, the Earl of Chichester, Viscount Strangford, and Lord Kenyon were present, and after prayers had been read by the Bishop of Salisbury, all took the oath of allegiance to her Majesty as Queen Victoria.

Viscount Melbourne said, that acting on the precedents established on similar melancholy occasions, he had now to propose that an Address of condolence be sent to her Majesty the Queen Dowager, on the melancholy occasion of the loss which her Majesty had sustained, and to assure her Majesty of the deep sympathy which the House entertained for the loss to her Majesty and the country. In submitting this motion he would not dwell on the esteem which her Majesty had won from all classes of the country, by her amiable conduct and the exemplary manner in which she discharged the duties of her high station. These were well known to their Lordships and the country; but let him add, that her Majesty's conduct was still—if it could be—more distinguished by the manner in which she discharged her duties to his Majesty in his illness, and the exemplary assiduity and patience with which she bore the fatigues which her unremitting attention to his Majesty had imposed on her.

Their Lordships adjourned till three o'clock, and at that period a great number of Peers took the oath of allegiance.

Headlines, 5 April 1837 (Wednesday)

The King's Health - Paragraphs having appeared in some of the weekly and other papers, intimating that the illness of the King is of a serious character, and that the symptoms indicate the presence of water on the chest, we think it right to say that these statements are totally destitute of foundations. We give this as a positive contradiction of the mischievous rumours which have been propagated on this interesting subject, upon the highest authority, by which we are enabled to add the authentic and gratifying announcement, that the indisposition of his Majesty has very considerably abated, and that there is the strongest reason to expect the speedy restoration of his usual health.

John THOMAS, 17, charged on oath with having feloniously stolen a straw hat from a van in St. Buryan, property of Thomas Gilbert. Guilty, transported for seven years.

Kidnapping and assault - On Friday last, the trial of Vincente Gonzales, a Mexican, for the kidnapping and assault of Miss Victoria Edwards, took place at the Central Criminal Court, before Judge Mary Fitzroy. The evidence given against him was the same as that given privately by Lady Wordsworth and Dr. Cross, which has already appeared at length in our columns. The jury, after deliberating about five minutes, found him guilty on all charges. The case occupied the attention of the Court for nearly eleven hours and a half. The prisoner has since been sentenced to execution by hanging.

Session 3a - A Gruesome Discovery

In the small adjoining bedroom where Gaedren Lamm slept and ate, our heroes find a hatbox. Within, shockingly, is the severed and decomposing head of Madame Zellara, the gypsy fortuneteller. Dr. Cross is able to determine that she must have been dead for a least a week and more likely two. In addition, a small wooden box containing her Tarot cards is found beside the head.

Also taken from the room is a strongbox (the lock is summarily shot off by Lt. Forrester) containing several valuables, the disposition of which is deferred until such time as the group has time to recover and consider things properly.

As the items are taken to the waiting coach, Mei Mei, who has been searching for any evidence of her sister's fate, emerges carrying a number of ledgers, hopeful that they may contain a clue.

Session 3 - The Demise of Gaedren Lamm

Dr. Cross and her party (excepting Mei Mei) retire to the coach, where they discover Lady Wordsworth has evidently disappeared. After hunting fruitlessly for clues, the Major has the rather unorthodox notion of interrogating the coachman, who is able to direct him towards the darkened boardwalk. Within a very few minutes of the Major's departure the report of a shot is heard from that general direction.

Dr. Cross at once remembers her battlefield training; ignoring her own injuries and commending Miss Edwards to the care of the Orientals, she seizes her doctor's bag and fairly sprints towards the disturbance to render assistance.

Confronting the villainous and common Mr. Lamm in his underground lair, Lt. Forrester and Mr. Dementiev immediately seize the initiative. Mr. Dementiev uses his command of the elements to blast Mr. Lamm with a sudden gust of wind, sending debris flying and wounding the villain in the process. At the same instant, Lt. Forrester rushes forwards, saber drawn, to engage the gentleman in melee - he is taken up short, however, as Mr. Lamm produces a pistol and trains it upon the officer.

It is at this juncture that the Spaniard enters the room and launches an attack upon the person of Mr. Dementiev; the respected gentleman is momentarily dazed by the application of a blackjack to his head. Upon seeing the Spaniard Lady Wordsworth abandons all pretense of stealth and rushes into the room, where she immediately commands the attention of Mr. Lamm. Lt. Forrester takes advantage of this shift in attention to disarm Mr. Lamm; unfortunately this causes the gun to discharge and strike the alligator.

The beast, enraged by the violation of its person, attempts to clamber up the boardwalk and attack the closest being. Its jaws close upon the leg of the dazed Mr Dementiev and it pulls him into the river water below. Shocked into action, Mr. Dementiev uses his mastery of the arts to whisk himself to safety, using the wind to pluck himself from the water and out of the reach of the snapping jaws.

Major Burns and Dr. Cross enter, having been drawn to the underpier by the gunfire. Dr. Cross proceeds immediately to defend Lady Wordsworth from the depredations of the Spaniard by snatching up a pane of glass and hefting it at his head. The major, assessing the situation, draws his pistol and fires it at Mr. Lamm. As the villain clutches at his wound in shock, Lt. Forrester seizes him and tosses him to the enraged animal below. The animal, long tormented and half starved by Gaedren Lamm for many years, brings a final end to the architect of so much despair.

Dr. Cross then administers medical aid to Mr. Dementiev, while the Major captures and subdues the fleeing Spaniard so that he may be brought to justice.

A final search of the area for missing persons brings a startling discovery....

Headlines, 20 March 1837

[Editor's Note: Ideally this would have been written before the first session. Future editions will appear as the in-game date is advanced.]

Aurora Borealis - On Saturday night last, this interesting phenomenon was distinctly visible for several hours, and presented appearances somewhat extraordinary. About half-past six o'clock, the atmosphere being quite clear, a broad path of crimson light appeared in the west, which shot across the firmament to the east, forming an irregular arch, from which splendid coruscations of light were occasionally emitted. At first the crimson glare was considered to be indicative of a distant fire, but a little observation corrected the error. The appearances continued, we believe, with some variations, till after midnight.

The detachment of soldiers which we stated last week had been marched into town, in consequence of the interruption that had been offered to the Poor Law Commissioner, was withdrawn on Friday last, their services not having been further needed. Lord Valletott conducted in person the examination of the half-witted man who acted as spokesman to the party of the St. Ge.. men, who marched into the town, on the 7th instant, and has issued a reward of £10 to be offered for the apprehension of three other men who took a somewhat conspicuous part in the proceedings of the day. We hope these ill-advised proceedings, which we have reason to believe do not originate with the deluded men themselves, are now at an end.

Commitment - On Monday the 13th instant, a man named Matthew Dansell was committed to Bedlam, by S. Borlase,Esq. of Castle Horneck, on a charge of stealing a woolen shirt and a pair of trowsers from a person called Andrew Stevens

Richard FORRESTER pleaded guilty to a charge of larceny. The prisoner, though young, was well known to have been of very indifferent character. The Judge, in passing sentence, told him he was greatly mistaken if he thought he was going to get his living without working for it; it was by work only he could be useful, an honest, and consequently, happy man. On account of his youth, he should only sentence him to ten days confinement, and to be privately whipped.

Session 2 - The Old Fishery

Lt. Forrester, braced for the inevitable attack by the dog, reacts to the spring by catching hold of the animal and using its momentum to throw it into the river below - by unhappy coincidence upending the skiff piloted by Mr. Dementiev. Then catching hold of a handy rope, he swings over the heads of the confused, frightened orphans to confront the common thug descending from the catwalk.

Dr. Cross, upon emerging from the upper rooms, finds herself overwhelmed by the combination of the heights and riotous activity and momentarily flattens herself against the wall. The major, entering behind her, rushes by her to aid the lieutenant in his melee, drawing his sword and calling out a challenge to the sailor.

Meanwhile, Dr. Ming leads his quiescent patient into the adjoining office and bids him reflect on his life; unfortunately, the doctor's attention is immediately diverted by a sharp cry of pain from Mei Mei. Rushing back into the front room, he discovers a swarthy Spaniard midget (ed. note: Mexican, actually, but they doubtless all look alike to a gentleman of Oriental extraction) standing over her. Confronted, the individual throws a dagger at Dr. Ming, who uses his mastery of the elements to curve the dagger around his person and reflect it back upon the attacker.

Meanwhile, Mr. Dementiev, with the luck of the Roma, is able to not only to regain the skiff, but recognises the dog as one belonging to his brother! Drawing upon the arcane powers of the professional magician, he blasts the inquisitive shark encountered earlier by the Lieutenant, driving it off and allowing him to pull the dog into the skiff.

On the fishery floor, the melee between the sailor and the two officers is quickly settled in favour of the officers. Dr. Cross, rushing to intercede, is immediately brought up short by a shout of recognition from her niece amongst the orphans; in an ill-advised show of bravado she leaps from the catwalk towards Miss Edwards, only to crack her skull against a hard surface and slip into the space between life and death. Most of the orphans, seeing their oppressor subdued by the officers, take this woman landing among them as the signal to scatter from the building in a bid for freedom. Miss Edwards remains, attempting to staunch the blood slowly pooling around Dr. Cross.

Above, Mei Mei injures the Spaniard, who, crossing himself against Dr. Ming's sorcery, flees the scene. Lady Wordsworth, in the carriage outside, watches curiously as he stops, considers, then cautiously makes his way along the ancient boardwalk. Fearing some treachery, she leaves her carriage to investigate...

Mei Mei, after checking upon Dr. Ming's prisoner, hears him muttering about a secret lair below the fishery. She immediately goes to relay this information to the doctor, who is using his arts to treat Dr. Cross. The latter groggily regains consciousness to find her niece with her arms wrapped tightly around her. While the pair of ladies make their way slowly to the waiting carriage (so as not to strain Dr. Cross too much), Mr. Dementiev and Lt. Cross act upon Mei Mei's intelligence by returning to the skiff and finding an entrance to a basement built into the embankment...

20 March 1837 - Dr. Ming

This Gaedren Lamm has made many wrongs, but true justice cannot be meted out by one who has not achieved inner calm. Pure raw aggression damages more the aggressor when the chi are not properly aligned. It also tends to hurt the one aggressed; as I have tried many times to instruct my wayward student Mei Mei, "the thwack of the switch is not felt when one has reached inner peace". For has it not been said: Free your mind, and the rest will follow. Be colourblind, don't be so shallow. Before you read me, you gotta learn how to see me. So I'm a sista, buy things with cash, that doesn't mean that all my credit is bad... That poor man who answered the door of the warehouse hassuch an awful complexion, if he lives through the evening I think I will recommend that he begins my squid liver detox diet. - Dr. Ming

20 March 1837 - Nastasie Dementiev

It was an unusual note, to say the least. Someone claiming to be able to assist in revenge. Revenge is secondary - the rescue of my long lost brother is much more important than necessarily extracting revenge on those who took him. However, curious as always, I decided to honour the invitation and proceed to the meeting locale.

Not having been raised streetwise for nothing, however, I cased the building and noted all exits before proceeding inside. Arriving very early, I was able to deduce that the proprietor of the shop was someone from the old country, and therefore by right and tradition I would be perfectly safe within. The curse that would flow down upon the owner for hurting a fellow countryman with her walls would make anyone shudder and shake in fear.

A note found inside indicated that food and drink was available. I wondered if the rest of the guests were also Romani, and chuckled at the notion of some of them not being so, and thus being suspicious of both myself and whoever our host might be. I located the most comfortable chair, helped myself to bread and wine, and waited. It pays to be early! Little did I now that I would be the only trueborn one amongst the invitees.

The others soon began to arrive, led by a brash army officer and a matronly female doctor. She seemed taken aback that I was polite and not questioning of her profession. I gather that she, as a female doctor, must get strange looks and whispered mutterings, just as I have for years, ever since being first recommended for the Acadamae. I am still the only Romani to ever go through those halls, and often feel like an outsider.

Others drifted in - a more dignified, and younger, army officer with a Scottish accent; an old Chinese man and his grand-daughter; and finally an elegant but haughty Japanese lady identified as Lady Wordsworth. The name is familiar, she is somewhat famous, although for what I cannot recall at the moment. Then our host appeared, wove us a tale of theft and death, and asked us to take her revenge for her - and for us. I questioned the need for revenge - I prefer restoration - but most of the rest seemed a little bit more inclined than I. Only the lady doctor seemed to share my concern for the innocents that might be caught in the crossfire. Our host then provided us with a tarot reading, which did not seem to bode either ill or good. I wonder if she truly has the sight or not...

The Lt., however, was obviously a man of action, much like myself. We left well before the others to go see what we could find. The Isle of Dogs is a dingy area of the city. I have been there before, for reasons not best shared with my companions yet, but it has been a while. Not much has changed, and if anything the buildings are even more run down than ever. We quickly located the lair of the villain, ascertained that there were three obvious entrances and that all of them were barred, and that there appeared to be no windows available. I suggested to the Lt that there might be another entrance below, near the water, hidden from sight. I wish I could swim, but my parents share the natural reluctance of Romani around water and never permitted me to learn, so the Lt. went by himself.

Not long after he left the carriage with the rest of the "revenge squad" arrived. I handed over the ungainly weapons the Lt had left in my charge (a rifle and a long sword of some kind) to the Major. The old Chinese man then headed toward the front door to knock as we heard a dog barking from somewhere inside. I decided that the Lt might need some assistance, so used my meager powers to walk across the water to locate him. I found a small skiff floating away, dropped into that and steered for under the building, where I located him hanging from a ladder. Above him somewhere was an entrance, and a barking dog, and other faces looking down. I tried to get his attention in case he wanted to drop into the boat and escape, but he looks determined to bull on ahead. Therefore I must prepare myself to follow. If my brother is in there, I WILL be bringing him home.

20 March 1837, Monday - Lt. Henry Forrester

A fairly usual day in the drab, yet occupational, Home Guard. Once again assigned to patrolling Pleasant Rd. The city planners are nothing if not imaginative when authorising public works. It is one thing to be forced out of the colonial garrisons where something exciting might actually happen, and another entirely to find yourself on patrol right outside an asylum for the deaf and dumb.

For once my fortune seemed to smile upon me again. The morning has given me the promise of vengeance in the form of a secretive note. It seems that some abiding patron also had a beef with Lamm, probably in some similar vain to myself, and offers the chance, in collaboration with others, of retribution. I cannot deny that my desire to seek said retribution for the floggings and scars I received, let alone the smear left on my name, has provided me with a motivation as strong as any Shilling the King may offer for my loyal services. I pray to our Lord that my service to my King will not interfere with my own personal grievance and that I might be allowed to see justice brought to this particular villain.

With this injustice buried so long, I am not entirely certain I will be able to respect the authority passed from God; through the King to the officers below Him; if I be directed to abandon this path of reckoning should the pursuit of this seed of hope prove righteous.

I have an address and I have an appointed time. I shall bear witness to what this mystery individual proposes to this purported, yet unannounced, 'others like myself' and see where this shall lead.

I vow this. If howsoever this boon in the post can deliver me Lamm, I will take the opportunity for all it is worth and gut the worm. I cannot risk through inaction the chance that Lamm may escape. I know not yet how or where I will come across Lamm, but as things stand; there is no way through but forward.

I ramble now and the hour draws close. 'Time', as a buried friend once said, 'to Sword and Savagery. A moments respite, or a moments hesitation, can kill us all.' On the battlefield, or on the street, truer motivation for living has never been mentioned by the most observant philosopher.

The Lord lend my sword arm strength and sharpen my aim. I go to deliver justly deserved punishment this night.

Session 1 - The Foretelling

20 March 1837, Monday - London

Our protagonists, during the course of their ordinary routines, all and sundry discover a mysterious invitation to the home of a GYPSY fortune teller. Thus, our tale unfolds from the acceptance of this invitation.

Mr. Dementiev, a student of the magical arts, having ascertained the address to be the home of a MADAME Zellara, arrives first. Proceeding within, he finds food and drink in the form of slightly stale bread and a passable wine of the Bordeaux persuasion.

Dr. Cross, upon her arrival, tarries somewhat, uncertain of the reception within in such a part of town. The arrival of Lt. Forrester, however, reassures her and she presents herself with forthright confidence.

At this point, with the sun's last light quickly fading, the remainder of our heroic ensemble arrive at the humble establishment, with introductions conducted as propriety demands.

Lady Wordsworth's unexpected arrival forces the officers (and, by extension, the rest of polite society) to their feet. No sooner has she entered the room and been introduced then our hostess appears.

Madame Zellara is a middle-aged, handsome woman of Gypsy extraction, who welcomes the party briefly, then plainly and quickly lays forth her claim upon the party.

Some months ago, her cards were stolen. This precious heirloom and sole support was recovered, but at the cost of her son's life. Ignored by the police, too weak to extract her own revenge, she has pursued every avenue to bring together those wronged by her son's killer, a certain Gaedren Lamm.

For decades, this infamous villain has preyed on the weak and defenseless of the city, yet somehow evaded justice. Now, Madame Zellara has discovered the lair of this creature. Armed with this knowledge, she now empowers his many victims to extract the vengeance denied her.

As a finale and gesture of support, Madame Zellara performs a Tarot reading for the group (much to the poorly concealed derision of Lt. Forrester). Ominously, the Empty Throne is drawn to represent the present, with the Cyclone and the Liar representing the future.

After consultation, the party agrees to meet at the Lamm's supposed fishery on the Isle of Dogs at moon-rise. Dr. Ming and Lt. Forrester go immediately to gather intelligence, whilst Lady Wordsworth returns to her townhouse with Dr. Cross and Mei Mei to prepare appropriately.

Mr. Dementiev and Lt. Forrester, arriving at the darkened fishery, perform a brief reconnaissance. Having determined the fishery to be secured yet seemingly deserted, Lt. Forrester slips into the Thames to scout for a smuggler's entrance as soon as the moon sheds enough light.

The carriage containing Major Burns and Dr.Ming arrives at this juncture, whereupon Mr. Dementiev presents the Major with the Lieutenant's weapons. Shortly thereafter the carriage of Lady Wordsworth and her companions arrives.

As Lt. Forrester explores the area, he startles a shark which has been feeding on the fish remains discharged by the fishery operations. Luckily, the Lieutenant is able to climb into a nearby skiff before the animal reacts. From this vantage point, he spies a utility ladder that can be used to infiltrate the main fishery floor.

With a well-timed jump, he is able to grab the ladder and climb upward - only to rouse the building's guard dog. Trapped between the dog above and the shark below, he hears the shouted commands of the building's inhabitants.

Meanwhile, his companions, alerted to the sounds of activity within, act quickly. Mr. Dementiev manipulates the spirits of the air to lower himself to the river surface and capture the skiff abandoned by Lt. Forrester. Doctor Ming, posing as a salesman, pounds on the door demanding entry. When the inhabitants investigate, Major MacBurns barges in. While Dr. Ming magically soothes the offended defender, Dr. Cross, seeing an opening, launches herself into the building, shouting "Victoria!"

The others, taking this to be a battle cry, follow her, finding themselves in the poorly furnished front room, with the sound of tumult and confusion emerging from the interior of the building.

In the epicenter of this confusion, with candles and matches being hastily lit, Lt. Forrester pulls himself into the room, braced for the inevitable spring of the barking dog. Around him he sees a score or more of orphans, while rushing down from the catwalk is a scarred sailor wielding a lead pipe. More shouts come from above (his companions, as yet unrevealed) while Mr. Dementiev draws up below, attempting to make sense of the melee above...

Campaign Resources

Just a couple of links for you to consult for details.

Cary's Map of London, 1837 -- This is the map I've printed for reference at the table.

The Georgian Index -- Provides a fantastic guide to period shops and addresses.

Regency Town House daily life -- a brief look at daily life during this period. Useful if you can't imagine life before the internet, radio, or electric lamp.

The character creation party

I made two decisions when I first conceived of this campaign. I wanted to make sure the players were more invested in the campaign than the last one (which was all in fun) and I wanted to make sure I didn't screw over the characters.

One of the big weaknesses in RPGs in general and my campaigns in particular is that family ties and/or friendships only seem to exist to be fodder for the DM. It's just so easy and convenient to use them for various plot twists that I might as well be writing for television.

Well, I want to be better than that. I want the players to feel like they can actually build some long-term plans and relationships in my games, and I want to learn to be a better writer and DM. So I'm swearing off one of my tropes for this campaign. Maybe next season I can avoid end-of-the-world scenarios, too.

To tackle this, I ran a character creation party, incorporating ideas from some of the forum postings and blogs I've read recently. It went really well, and I thought I'd provide some details here before I forget them all.

Since I have a couple of artists in the party, we set them to creating a big chart of the characters and their relationships. We had several rounds of character creation using index cards; these went to the artists at the end of the round for incorporation into their chart.

The first round was getting the names and backgrounds of the PCs. The background traits from the player's guide were also determined at this point.

For the second and third rounds, each player created an NPC their character already knew in the city and the relationship between the NPC and the character. People who got stuck were allowed to form a relationship to an existing NPC. For six players we ended up with 10 NPCs and twelve relationships.

For the final round, I asked each player to come up with an exit strategy for their character - a way in which the character could be removed from the campaign. In hindsight, I probably should have had them come up with a strategy for someone else's character.

I was really happy with the outcome. Besides feeling that the players are a bit more invested in the campaign, I also got some really good, creative NPCs that I can use to further strengthen the party and the campaign. Some of them can easily substitute for the pre-written NPCs in providing hooks for the various adventures, which I think will be a real benefit in the long term.

In addition, we got a beautiful chart that we can hang on the wall during game sessions, and which I have a sneaky suspicion will be embellished as the campaign proceeds.

Party NPCs

Society NPCs

Brigadier-General Sir Charles Mortimer -- A veteran of the Napoleonic Wars, Sir Mortimer served with distinction and has been decorated twice. No longer on active field duty, the Brigadier does not suffer fools gladly and takes a keen interest in ensuring that the ranks under him are filled by officers with talent rather than connections.

Lord Quimby Sutherford -- Lord Sutherford is a lover of all things Oriental, often scouring Chinatown for new and interesting artefacts. Unfortunately, his excursions have been severely curtailed the last couple of years as his arthritis has gradually worsened. Dr. Ming has happily been able to provide some relief.

Mr. Richard Forrester -- An inveterate gambler and hugely irresponsible, Lt. Forrester's brother has brought the family name into disrepute several times.

Rev. James MacBurns -- An Army chaplain attached to Brigadier Mortimer's unit, he feels a special responsibility to his clan. This is clearly demonstrated by his recent intervention on his cousin's behalf.

Sir Edmund Bairn -- One of Mr. Norris' early pupils, Sir Bairn is celebrated for his expertise in matters draconic; his work on the magical fields providing dragons with the power of flight allowed for the design of frigates capable of carrying Longwings and other heavyweight dragons. He lost his wife to smallpox some years ago. He is generally considered a true gentleman with a great interest in the well-being of others.

Miss Victoria Edwards -- The niece and ward of Dr. Cross, this young lady has endured a great ordeal for several weeks as the prisoner of Gaedren Lamm.

Commoners

Miss Bridget Smith -- Personal maid and confidant of Lady Wordsworth.

Mrs Joy Carter (widowed) -- Washerwoman who takes in laundry from a number of merchants in the East End.

Mrs Annie Montgomery -- Owner of a small, unnamed pub serving the East India docks.

Master Toddy Lewis -- A grocer's assistant in Limehouse.

Mr. "Rat" Biggins -- A shingle runner often seen in Whitechapel.

EDIT 23-10-2008: Updated an incorrect name and added Miss Edwards.

Dramatis Personae

Lt. Henry Forrester -- Framed for the murder of Lady Margaret Cross Edwards, Lt. Forrester has only recently had his commission reinstated. His ordeal has led to strained relations with many of his fellow officers and left him slightly paranoid.

Major "Scotty" MacBurns -- Assigned as an aide-de-camp to Sir Charles Mortimer, this former opium addict has recovered thanks to the intervention of his cousin, the Reverend James MacBurns.

Lady Shizuko "Suzanne" Wordsworth -- The widow of the late Lord Wordsworth, this former geisha has inherited his London townhouse and a generous settlement. She has a strong supporter in Sir Bairn, which has led to her grudging acceptance into society.

Dr. Katherine Cross -- Formerly a nurse in the Napoleonic Wars, Dr. Cross is the first female surgeon recognised by Charing Cross Hospital and a member of the College of Physicians. She is also the guardian of Miss Victoria Edwards, should the missing child be found.

Dr. Xian "Charlie" Ming -- Owner of a small shop in Chinatown, Dr. Ming trafficks in traditional Oriental medicine. Thanks to the patronage of Lord Sutherford, who swears by his arthritis treatment, Dr. Ming has been visited by the servants of several well-known society members.

Mei Mei Wu Shi -- Dr. Ming's shop assistant, this young woman is also secretly a master of the deadly Crane techniques of Kung Fu.

Mr. Natasie Dementiev -- Sponsored by Sir Edward Bairn, Natasie is the first Romany admitted to the pretigious Acadamae. Still conscious of his heritage, he has not yet grown accustomed to being treated as a gentleman.

The Regency Throne

This blog is dedicated to the new campaign, so we have a central place for people to catch up on missed sessions or follow the course of events from afar. The campaign is an adaptation of the Curse of the Crimson Throne Adventure Path. The setting is 1837 London and we are using the True20 rules as our engine.