1st June 2003
Cast List:
James Hogshead (Freelance Journalist & Writer, 31+): Mel
(Curator of the Pitt Rivers music collection): Matt
: Phil
Gypsy Rose (Parapsychologist, and fortune teller. Has a large family. Claims 40): Helen
Alan Whitaker, aka Dr. Futarkh (Stage magician, and psychic debunker. He's got 14 (Jason) and 19 year old daughter. 44): Mark
Leonard Scapp (Photographer, 24+): Graham
Mabel Dorrance (Futarkh's stage assistant, 25): Frances
Hargreaves & Perrin (Butler & Twerp, 27+): Mark
Claris (Aviatrix from Africa. Returned to Oxford, the family origin. Older than Gypsy Rose): Tracy
: Chris
Richard O'Neary (Lexicographer, 28+): Tommy
[Crash]
Jerry informs us that there are strange goings on at a site down Cowley Road. There are bonfires, and chanting during the night. It used to be, in the middle ages, the location of a temple of the Knights Templars (until 1211). There was expected to be money, but it was never found. The Freemasons are rumoured to be the inheritors of the the Templars, and it would inadvisable to upset them, as they have influence within both the City and University. A word to the wise, and all that. [Pity about the lack of Wise, then?]
Scapp offers to take photographs. There is discussion of using Gypsy Rose's caravan as a base of operations.
Charles Armitage, of 27 Temple Road, works at Blackwells Bookshop, mentioned it to an Alderman of the society, but Jerry can't tell us who. Richard suggests that Hogshead and Scapp go to interview him, in journalist guise.
Claris wants to do a fly-by and taken aerial photographs, but needs
a photographer to accompany her.
There's a 3 knot wind blowing
from the ESE, it's a bit cloudy, but should be ok for an hour or
so. Scapp takes his photographs, observing half a dozen fire sites,
and they return to Kidlington airfield.
There are rumours amongst the Gypsies not to go there, due to it being watched. Gypsy Rose pootles.
Perrin brings the car round to collect the others for a picnic. O'Neary cycles. This far out of town, there are houses along the main road, but there's a lot of wilderland immediately behind them. They find a fire site. Scapp struggles under the load of photographic equipment. Nobody else is observed. It's several acres, of overgrown, and rough ground. There are paths, clearings and a lot of scrub. O'Neary strikes out to look for a fresh site.
The most recent site is located. Scapp finds some scraps of leather, trimmings of tanned leather. There are a number of small animal bones amongst the ashes. The clearing is about 30-40 feet across, and the fire area was about 8 feet across. Hargreaves looks around, and spots a teenage lad peering at them through the trees. O'Neary and Hogshead attempt to circle round and catch him from behind. He makes a break for it, but O'Neary manages to catch us.
The kid is frog marched back to the rest, shouting imprecations, and threating them with calling the police (his father). Mabel intimidates him with a biscuit, which appears to be effective. The kid doesn't want to touch the bonfire, because his father told not to. His name is Jimmy Davenport.
There's a really old oaktree, with a hollow bit at the bottom. Hogshead fails to climbs up, Jimmy demonstrates it's really much easier. Hogshead's got a sprained ankle. [Chris] got all the way, had a look around, and fell out on the way down, without damage. Mabel attended to both incompetence. Jimmy manages to scarper.
There are various investigative plans for the afternoon. [Phil] determines that the land was owned by the crown until the 16th Century, at which point it was given over to public land. The surrounding land is used for housing, apart from a few shops, a pub, Cowley Police station and Temple Cowley Church. [Matt] is spreading a bag of bones over somebody's desk in the Pitt Rivers. It's immediately recognised as an sub-year old goat. There are teeth marks, where the flesh has been gnawed from the bones. Human teethmarks. There's nothing in the newspaper records.
Whitaker and Mabel go to the pub in the evening. There are three old men there, talking about incomprehensible matters. The barman polishes glasses. They think that pictures of the grandchildren might be a way of starting conversation, or alternatively, doing magic tricks. Whitaker does something impressive with coins and a glass. I bet you couldn't make Bert here disappear. He invites them to a show. He's been performing in London recently.
Mabel directs the conversation to picnic sites, the difficulty of find them, and the police watching it. It's wild land, and people get up to all sorts of things there, including the Friday night bonfires. Back in the old times, back when his grand dads, grand dad's were a lad, there was a temple on this site. There was a troop of mighty wealthy nights, and they were struck down by righteous men. They kissed the devil's bottom as an initiation rite. Nothing strange recently, not even ghosts. The old church is haunted by a campanologist who was sleeping in the bell tower when the practice began, and dashed his brains out to avoid the noise.
Gypsy Rose pulls up at the heath, and has absolutely no clothes pegs for sale, and waits for Claris to arrive. About half an hour later, a police constable arrives, and asks what she's doing. She explains that she's staying for a couple of nights, and he asks her name. She explains that she's Rose, and was born in a field in Northamptonshire. He warns her that they'll be keeping an eye on her. He retreats into the undergrowth (his number is 4217).
Hogshead and Scapp arrive at Armitage's house, and Scapp photographs it. Armitage asks what they're doing. Hogshead introduces them, and asks what he's seen. A good half dozen youths capering round naked, chanting and all sorts. They were wearing odd clothing: antique dress, linen robes, with leather belts. Out of history, maybe. Anglo-Saxon or Viking. The chaps had swords at their belts. Any pets asks Scapp. They had a small dog when they went out, but not when they came back. The police are keeping an eye on it. He'd told Beckinsale, of the Oxford Times, but it was never published. Hogshead offers to publish it in Crabb magazine. Armitage gives them his telephone number.
Mabel notices "police watching, stay away" marks scratched into assorted fence posts. The locals haven't seen gypsies for ages, and really want clothes pegs. She tells some fortunes and chats with them over tea leaves. There are a group of young people from town who remove clothing on the heath, every Friday, after dark, when the moon comes up. Currently, the phase is half moon waning. Mabel and Claris stay overnight with Rose. They build a cooking fire.
Perrin considers buying all six kids from the market, but there's not sufficient conviction that this is the right thing. He does spot a young chap, nervously wandering around the edge of the market. He pulls out some crumpled notes, and thrusts them nervously at a farmer, and scurries off with a lamb.
O'Neary's looking up Anglo-Saxon stuff in the Bod. And generally fills in holes in his knowledge. Hargreaves follows the student type back to Hertford, where he wanders in nonchalantly with the lamb wrapped in his jacket. The student's name, from the staircase list, is Hastings.
Rose wanders around the heath, looking for possible hiding places. She's accosted by a young lad who asks if she's a real gypsy. She answers in Romany, and then explains that she means "Yes I am". The lad suggests she must be very brave, 'cos his father doesn't like people being there. He offers to show her a badger set. He has no friends, due to his father being in the police. She does a crystal ball routine, and convinces him that he'll be captain of the England team. He heads off to join the boys playing cricket in South Park.
Scapp develops his photos. He can't find anything obviously
interesting in them, even with preparation H.
O'Neary determines that Hastings is a history student.
[Matt] talks to the vicar, about the Church organ, and bells. They go
up the tower, which is 19th century. The bells come from
Grimsby. There's a reasonable view out over the heath.
[Phil] checks on the history of the church: it's never been connected to the Templars.
[Crash]
[Matt] gets Hogshead and Whitaker into Hertford, and Whitaker picks the lock into Hastings room. They find assorted bits of costume, and a termcard for the Wychwood Warriors, who meet in the Eastgate.
Members of the Wychwood Warriors
Marcus Leigh, postgraduate student (Magdalen College)
Siobhan Casey, undergraduate student (Somerville college)
Colin Hastings, undergraduate student (Hertford College)
Mark Livingston, postgraduate student (Magdalen College)
Karen Taupe, administrator at Oxford University Press
Ashley McIver, wealthy dilettante
Jonathan Tate, foreman at Morris bicycle works
Hargreaves follows Hastings from Hertford to Magdalen, where he meets up with two more men. They proceed to the heath, where they are met by two more youths, and two girls.
Up the church tower: [Matt], [Phil], Whitaker, Mabel, Perrin
At the Caravan: Rose, Scapp, Claris, O'Neary
By Car: Hogshead, [Chris]
The group arrive, tether the lamb, and change into their alternate costumes. The caravan group attempt to sneak closer, and Scapp bumps into Jimmy, who helps him climb into the oak.
The cultists begin to chant, lead by one of the Magdalen men, with a moustache and beard. They kill the lamb, and proceed to barbecue it.
People get variously disturbed, and the wood get eerie. Rose hears something moving in the trees behind her, although Claris doesn't. Something large. The feeling subsides.
From the tower, Mabel spots the effects of something moving through the woods, but can't locate the source.
The events subside, and the revellers depart. Claris follows the two girls back, finding that one goes to a boarding house just off Cowley Road, near the plain. The other returns to Somerville, climbing over the back gate [Ask Matt for details, apparently]. They're Siobhan (at Somerville), and Karen.
Hastings follows the chant leader back to Magdalen, and somehow determines his name is Marcus Leigh.
Jerry's room. Leigh is a student at Magdalen college, postgrad studying history. He is a bit of a slacker, researching fertility rites of the pre-roman celts. He's got a friend called Mark Livingston, a chemist, and appears to have a young lady friend, called Miss Casey. His supervisor is Dr. Post at St. Hilda's.
Jerry says hi, and offers tea. He looks expectant, and so do we. Scapp reminds him about the key, and O'Neary mentions the library books. Jerry provides the key, and explains that Leigh hasn't removed anything from the college library in over a year.
Mabel goes to the boarding house, and obtains her room. That evening, she attempts to befriend Karen, who works at the University Press. She claims that "mankind has lost something, and that life is empty" Karen lends here some Kirkegard. She wants to reconnect with things. Mabel sets herself to be impressionable and gullible. Karen says she's got some friends who are interested in this sort of thing, but it's a ... mixed group!
Karen offers to introduce her to Leigh on Tuesday or Wednesday evening. They have some weaponry, and costumes. "It's very good for one." Karen's surname is Taupe.Leigh is met outside Magdalen by one of the other men in a car, and they drive of up Cowley Road. We go in on the pretext of visiting Jerry, and go to Leigh's room. We go in, and look around the room. The room is almost bare: there are two changes of clothing, but that's it. The window looks out over the deer park.
The other rooms are occupied by other people we don't know.
Jerry tells us that Livingston lives on a different staircase, and here's his key. We go in. The room looks reasonably normal, ie. a mess. Nobody finds anything. There are letters from his parents complaining that he never writes.
O'Neary confirms that Somerville does have a Siobhan Casey, postgraduate Historian. He suggests the possibility of simply informing the university authorities about the Wychwood's, but the others don't leap at the possibility.
Perrin watches Hastings dig up the patch of Rose's dubious occupation on the heath. They don't find anything particularly informative, although the ground is surprisingly rich.
That evening, Mabel is escorted to meet Marcus at a coffee house on St Clements. He explains the wonders of Celtic lore, and explains about the reenactment. Mabel leads him on, and he explains that the forces are real and very friendly. The rituals of the fertility cults are very similar across Europe, but slightly different. He's trying to find the Ur ritual behind all the variations. He's getting closer, and they're getting more Uhhr. He invites Mabel along on Friday, but it might be rather disturbing, due to the sacrifice before hand. You mean like chicken? Yes, that sort of thing...
Perrin & Hargreaves manage to find the Warriors' car heading up Old
Road towards Shotover, with four men in it, turning off toward a
dilapidated farmhouse. A few hours later, the car returns, but this
time with only three men (Leigh is absent).
[Phil] & Rose are researching protective spells.
Mabel asks Karen about costumes, and she mentions Ashley's farm.
Perrin & Hargreaves follow the car back to Magdalen, where Livingstone
is dropped off, and then to a house on Iffley road.
Ashley McIver owns the farm, and the house on Iffley Road.
Mabel asks Karen about the rest of the group. There's Marcus... they're friends of friends. There's Siobhan a friend of Karen's, and Marcus' young lady. There's Mark, Marcus' best friend, a down to Earth chap. Ashley, a gentleman, with a big house, and a farm, he funds the group. There's Mr. Tate, who's rather charming. He's a working man, from the bicycle factory, and Colin, a nervous newcomer, who had a bit of bust up with Ashley the other day. Karen suggests that Mabel bring her mother along...
Mabel needs to make an emergency phone call to her "Mother", and departs to talk to warn the others. She gets a late key from Mrs Mnuir first. There's a policeman (2247) across the road, who offers to get her a cab, and severely unnerves Mabel. She ends up at the Magdalen Arms, where the rest are waiting.
O'Neary volunteers to go back to Hertford, and finds Colin's room
empty and dark, although there's no obvious sign of a struggle.
Rose and [Phil] return to the heath, and put up protective
sigils. They're met by the irrepressible Jimmy, who recognises Rose,
and explains that the Police have a big hide, "over there", and warns
them off. They seem to be expecting something big on Friday.
He thought there was something strange in the bushes last Friday, and
saw two men digging the area up earlier.
At the Farm, there are lights on, and a car outside. Hargreaves sneaks up to the window, and sees Hastings sitting in a kitchen chair, Leigh hectoring him, and McIver and Tate on the other side of the room. "You can't mess it up now, when we're so close. Don't be squeamish" Hastings whimpers. Eventually Hastings agrees to "do it", whatever it is. Marcus says he's a sound chap, and gives him a brandy. There's assorted swords etc, around the room. Eventually Hastings, McIver and Tate leave. O'Neary arrives.
Hogshead drives up, and claims to be looking for "Old House
Farm". It's back along the track 200 yards. "Do they have cows, d'you
know?" Hogshead stalls the car.
Meanwhile Whitaker sneaks up to the back door, but not quietly.
Hogshead and Leigh get the car started, so it gets driven in the
barn. Whitaker can't pick the lock, and Hogshead reverses into the
milk churns.
Mabel explains her mother's supposed health to Karen. and explains the general idea of the chanting. They follow Marcus' lead, but the gist is "oh great mother of the earth, we beseech you to aid us in our whatsit." A bathchair is bought, and a phonograph is attached to it, for recording purposes.
Perrin watches Magdalene for Leigh's return. At which point, he jumps in the car, collects Whitaker and heads up to the farmhouse along with [Chris] and Scapp.
Gypsy Rose is chatting to Jimmy, and bets him that she can climb up the oak tree. She's right, but she breaks her arm on the way down. They go to the other gypsies on Port Meadow, and get her arm set.
At the Farmhouse, they put Perrin on the road as a watch. Whitaker
unlocks the front door, which opens into a small parlour, and through
that there's a large kitchen. It looks like one of the bedrooms has
been used, and there are costumes. They find a moon phase calendar,
and book bound in black leather, which is marked as property of the
Bod. It's "The Great Mother: Ancient fertility traditions in Great
Britain and Ireland" by Rhys Alwin pub. 1899.
Parts of the book
have been marked.
The Great Mother: Ancient Fertility Traditions in Great Britain &
Ireland
Rhys Alwyn, 1899, private edition
The book is a discussion of Celtic fertility cults, comparing and contrasting with Isis / Cybele / Demeter etc, along the lines of Robert Graves's [not yet written at the time of this game] The White Goddess. It details various Celtic rituals described by Roman and other authorities, and identifies a common symbolic framework. However towards the end the author starts to extrapolate possible rituals of greater thematic efficiency than those used historically. He hints slightly elusively at a sort of ur-rite for contacting the great Mother-spirit requiring sacrifice the more valued by society the victim, the more powerful the ritual.
There are weapons there as well, with very sharp edges.
Perrin sees a car returning to the farm, and hits the horn. They leave the farm house, without the book. On the way out Whitaker breaks his picks off in the lock. They run to the back of the farm house, and get away. After a few hours, they can't find another copy of the book in Oxford, and Jerry's contact in the British Library can't analyse the content himself.
Rose explains that Jimmy's father expects that the tomorrow's ritual will go well, unless the nutters interfere. There's concern.
Whitaker, Hargreaves and O'Neary head to London, and pick up a second copy of The Great Mother from Sniffy. They start work on analysing it, staying in London overnight.
Those reading the book suffer d3 or d8 SAN loss. [Gee thanks, guess what I got. And guess what I rolled.]
There's discussion about what we should to stop the ritual. Mabel points out that Colin is a likely victim if we don't get involved in stopping tonight's ritual. O'Neary acquiesces.
Mabel tells Karen that she'll bring Mother along. In a taxi. Karen tells her to turn up at Exeter Hall at 9pm.
There's some smoke pellets and flashes in the bath chair, along with the phonograph.
Various discussion about the escalating weaponry arise, and assorted general panic.
Perrin would like to retrieve the book whilst the farmhouse is empty.
Perrin & Hargreaves get the book from the farmhouse, which is unoccupied.
The bathchair, with Claris, trundles across the heath. There is an air of excitement and tension about everybody. Colin is clearly in a state of trepidation.
There's no animal, and Mabel asks about the absence. Marcus explains they don't need an animal tonight. Mabel asks if that means there's no sacrifices. There are also certain changing problems.
The chanting begins.
[Matt] watches the police in the hide. They notice O'Neary sneaking up on the bonfire, as does Claris.
The people sneaking in worry about the range they're stopping in
(50 yards), and close further (20 yards), as the chanting
increases. Colin's sweating visibly.
[Chris] and [Phil] start muttering along with chant, and start walking
in toward toward the bonfire.
Whitaker picks up a rock, and throws it at [Chris]. He hits, and the
pain brings him to his senses.
[Phil] reaches the circle.
O'Neary hops up, and starts walking in toward the circle as well.
Leigh draws his sword, and beheads Colin, with preternatural
smoothness.
Claris panics, and starts setting off her weaponry.
[Matt] throws his net over the police hide, and neatly captures the
two police men as they come out of the hide.
Claris neatly shoots Leigh between the eyes.
O'Neary stops to one knee, and draws a bead on the bonfire.
Mabel throws smoke pellets around frantically.
The cultists including [Phil] have formed a defensive ring around
the fire.
Hogshead screams as a tree next to him starts moving.
Siobhan has grown taller, and gained claws.
Whitaker throws a knife at Siobhan.
Mabel runs away.
Claris runs away, with covering fire. Ashley swings a sword at
her. She misses a shot at him, and his swing misses as the bathchair
tips over.
Whitaker throws his knife at Ashley, missing. O'Neary just manages to
wing him.
Claris takes another shot, and knocks him off balance.
[Matt] extracts a truncheon of a policeman.
Scapp and [Chris] attempt to hit Ashley, They both succeed, and Ashley
collapses.
Whitaker hits Siobhan as she steps into the middle of the bonfire. The
fire stretches upward, and there's an unearthly shriek. [More SAN
loss]. She disappears, and the fire goes out.
There are sirens in the distance.
Much wibbling results, but no permanent sanity loss.