Chapter 1, Episode 3: 1893 Constantinople

The Investigators accompanying Prof Smyth in 1893

(Bill) Yusuf Efendi, 59yo Turkish Museum Curator

(Matt) Arthur, 27yo British Occult Author

(Duane) Wilbur, 26yo British coal miner

(Brian) Maj James Blackwood, 40yo British officer, medically retired

(Tony) Effendi Cyrus Ahmadi, 28yo Persian Diplomat

(Geoff) Vincent Carter, 39yo History Professor

1893 back at the Oriental Club where Professor Smyth introduces Bavarian Baron Von Hofler (fascinated with occult) willing to finance our travels to Istanbul. Smyth hands over items collected from White Chapel: copy of glyphs on Fez (modern glyphs “Dominion over all”), notepad, ticket stub from ferry to princes’ island in Bospherous Straits. Two days until we depart.

Investigate home of murdered fez collector (Devore): fail to get in. Come back later to find a ledger & letter. Letter from a Mr Leeds (in Constantinople) willing to pay 100lb sterling for the book “Whispering Fez”. How Devore outbid him at the auction house.

Student Matthew Pook’s residence: grab his journal [Handout 6] that mentions: Menkaph who carries the Blood Red Fez, how he+minions staking out Devore’s house, Menkaph plans to return to Constantinople AFTER he gets something else in London, Pook’s plan to steal the Fez itself!

Train to Dover then ferry across channel to Calais for train to Paris where we board the Oriental Express. Wilbur overhears conductor call out to a large Englishman, Mr Bernam who plans to get off at Stuttgart.

Board OE with Henri as our Amelie passenger car concierge.  Gas lamps, furniture not bolted down. Other Amelie passengers (by cabins) and interactions in (Etiole du Nord) dining car:

#4- 20yo American woman & 30yo Russian woman

American: reporter writing about Ottoman genocide. Wants to talk with Turk cabin #5.

Russian: naive cousin of countess (who wants to buy land around the Black Sea).

#5- 30yo Russian man (Kapak) & 40yo Turk

#6- American newlyweds (Myers) although husband sick and remains in his cabin.

Wife afraid of #7 Turk who is harassing her, making her cry. Privately mentions how Turk convinced her husband to wear a Fez days ago.

#7- Turkish man, Hieronmus, with a cape.

Vincent & Arthur distract him so Yusuf can talk privately with newlywed wife. Talk about his cape and occult, even mentioning the Skinless Ones cult.

#8- 50yo Russian Count Rudolph Rosmanski

#9- 25yo Countess Irena Rosmanski

#10- 20yo Russian noble: Traboski. Aboard to enjoy the luxury.

Most retire to the Salon car for drinks. #7 Turk stops at cabin #3 in Bridgette car before going to bar. James can see other Turks inside but there is someone else in the shadows. Other Turks join Hieronmus in the salon. Cyrus talks with #5 Turk (Kapak). Wilbur mentions Whispering Fez. Kapak says his client wants to purchase the book. Admits he was the thief/murderer getting the book (from Devore’s house).

Meanwhile, James enters Bridgette cabin #3 to find an American reporter (Bentley) who admits Menkaph hired him. Bentley saw James in London alone so doesn’t know the rest of the team. James kills him and throws him off the train.

Yusuf & Vincent go to newlywed Myers’ cabin #6 where they find husband lying sick on bed with towel over his head. They remove towel to view Fez is already starting to stitch itself to his scalp. Shadows dance across flickering gas-lamp. Yusuf (passes Occult check and fails Sanity check) strikes at husband with his cane trying to kill him. Wife screams, Vincent intervenes persuading her to get off at next station to seek a real doctor. She explains how “Menkaph said he could cure him once we reach Constantinople.” Yusuf leaves to tell the others…

Train stops in Chalons-sur-Marne where wife exits with porters aiding her husband. Yusuf also gets off. Train continues.

James has a private breakfast with Menkaph (who is wearing a Blood-Red-Fez). Shots fired, spells cast: Menkaph dead and fez falls off. James takes the fez (in a pillow case not touching it). He bribes the car conductor with the story the Turks are making plans to attack Brits across the travels. 

Wilbur bribes the conductor to gain access to Menkaph’s items: [Handout 7] finds an English letter apparently used to convince others to wear the fez. He also finds the book (The Whispering Fez). 

Cyrus takes the time (days) to read the book [Handout 8] on how to become a master of the fez, learning spells on how to create other Fez.

Arrive in Vienna where Eziekel (electrical engineer hired to rebuild the Istanbul University Tower in the likes of the Eiffel Tower) boards along with financier Bavarian Baron Von Hofler and his younger newlywed baroness. “What have you accomplished?” He’s VERY obsessive or knowledge! Since the Fez we’ve collected are in storage, he plans to inspect them once we reach Budapest.

Arrive and disembark in Constantinople. Our concierge Henri says goodbye. Baron seems more hobbled as he leans on cane, living on sheer willpower. Teen children of Demir appear to tell how their father was stabbed. Their younger brother Barla kidnapped. We find Demir at his mansion recovering. “Our enemies are one step ahead. Their ransom note asks for the book and fezzes. Hand it over Sunday midnight. How you must leave within the next 24 hours.” Demir reveals more about the cult:

·         The cult Children of the Blood Red Fez kidnapped his son.

·         The cult is run by Nisra, a former harem girl.

·         Nisra is a former pupil of the Frenchman and occultist who lives in the Stamboul district.

We ask about the islands where kings would hide away their unwanted offspring. There is an archipelago of 9 islands in the Bosporus Straits south of Constantinople. Maybe we'll find prince Comte Fenalik there.

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