[backstage] * GM has removed Ghogg from the channel.

[backstage] * GM has removed Raelynn from the channel.

Wilson says (to GM), "Don't forget to add Perry to the new channel."

GM says, "good point"

[heatham] * GM has added PerrySimm to the channel.

Stanley arrives, looking for booty.

Stanley says, "Ahoy there, chaps."

Mariamne arrives, looking for booty.

Wilson says, "Greetings"

GM says, "good, good"

[heatham] * Auda has joined the channel.

GM says, "we just need maga and we will be all set"

Mariamne says, "he logged off as maga a while ago"

Mariamne says, "I assume he'll be back soon"

Gwendolyn arrives, looking for booty.

Gwendolyn enters with flourishing her green scarf with large pink hibiscus printed on them

Mariamne says (to stanley), "nice outfit"

GM says, "tsk, and at this hour of the morning, too"

Mariamne says, "aw, now it's boringly not a catsuit"

Stanley says, "Unlike Iain's last RPG character, I'm neither a transvestite nor a person of unconstant gender."

[heatham] * Wilson has joined the channel.

[heatham] * Mariamne has joined the channel.

Stanley says, "Apart from that time we were stranded off Norway, perhaps."

[heatham] * Stanley has joined the channel.

GM says, "goodness, man, there are ladies present"

GM says, "unlike norway, I guess"

Wilson says, "Hee"

[heatham] * Gwendolyn has joined the channel.

Stanley says, "There was a certain quantity of Tuborg and semi-constructed sandwiches and then after that it's a bit of a blur."

Stanley says, "Or maybe that was Denmark."

Wilson says, "Ah, sandwiches."

maga arrives, looking for booty.

[heatham] Gwendolyn says, "are people's sheets up somewhere? i need to find out who is what kind of a person"

[heatham] GM says, "http://www.drizzle.com/~dans/rpg/mystery-cast.html"

[heatham] Wilson says, "http://www.drizzle.com/~dans/rpg/mystery-cast.html"

[heatham] Wilson says, "There are links at the bottom."

[heatham] GM says, "(PCs at the bottom)"

[heatham] GM says, "heh"

[heatham] Wilson says, "GET OUT OF MY MIND"

[heatham] Stanley asks, "Is this the #crow's-nest for this game?"

[heatham] GM says, "but once maga is in character we will spend a sec recapitulating"

[heatham] Stanley <- Iain

maga says, "one second while I work out my rpg account -"

[heatham] GM says, "this is #crow's-nest + #rpg"

[heatham] Wilson says, "Ah, just like ontogeny."

[backstage] * katre has left the channel.

[heatham] GM says, "Jota pointed out we should probably avoid #rpg to skip spoilers"

Wilson says (to maga), "You pcreated a new one, IIRC."

maga says (to Wilson), "and promptly forgot the password to that also"

GM says, "hee hee"

GM asks, "want me to reset it?"

maga says, "that'd be good, yeah"

maga says, "account is Judith"

Judith arrives, looking for booty.

maga says, "thanks."

maga disappears through an invisible gap in the MUD. You think you may have heard the sounds of chatting before the gap closed again.

[heatham] Wilson says, "Jota and Gunther have both @muted #crows if we want to go ahead and use that."

[heatham] Mariamne says, "I note that character names for RPGs get more and more difficult to think up so as not to conflict with existing names"

[Crows-Nest] Judith says, "sorry. been kind of scattered today"

[Crows-Nest] Stanley says, "Join #heatham"

[heatham] * Judith has joined the channel.

[heatham] GM says, "yeah, that's why we have to delete characters every few years"

GM says, "ok, just to recap before we start, the cast page is at http://www.drizzle.com/~dans/rpg/mystery-cast.html"

[Crows-Nest] Stanley says, "We're avoiding the usual channels to avoid accidentally spoiling it for next week."

[heatham] Mariamne says, "right, you never know when you'll just *have* to call your character CyberDood54"

GM says, "we'll be using #heatham instead of #rpg or #crows-nest for now"

GM says, "before we get started, perhaps we could go over one more time who knows who, and why folks have been invited down to the manor"

Wilson says, "Yeah, lets."

Mariamne asks, "in character or out of?"

GM says, "out of, I think"

Wilson says, "Oh, if Gwendolyn is OK with it, I thought we might have grown up in the same small town before making it big."

Mariamne says, "I think my character is attending some event nearby and managed to convince William Mallory to invite me to stay here beforehand"

Wilson says, "Though I'd have been, hmm, 7-10 years older than she."

Stanley says, "I'm from a rich family, naval traditions and all that."

Judith says, "I think I vaguely know Wilson from mutual involvement in Charitable Educational Works, but I've been invited on the strength of having been Hypatia's tutor."

Stanley says, "Looks like Judith is the most likely person to be related to me."

GM says, "good, good"

Mariamne says, "I also went to finishing school with Gwendolyn Beresford"

Gwendolyn says (to wilson), "sure"

Gwendolyn asks (of wilson), "Devon?"

GM says, "Lady Mallory is doing some kind of charitable works thing involving the villagers and a lot of knitting, so people are welcome to be involved in that"

Wilson says, "Sure. I dunno anything about English towns."

Judith says (to Wilson), "Devon's a county."

Wilson says, "Case in point""

GM says, "hee hee"

GM asks (of Stanley), "did you want to be in a club with Wilson?"

GM asks, "or related by blood to anyone?"

Judith says (to Stanley), "feel free to be a cousin or something"

Wilson says, "That sounded reasonable to me."

Stanley says, "I think I'm a second cousin of Judith."

Stanley says, "And I'm sure Wilson is a decent enough chap to get into my club."

Mariamne says, "what a tangled web this is"

GM says, "hee hee"

Judith says (to Stanley), "note that was rather anti-war and hence our relations may be a little strained"

Gwendolyn says, "we got my connections, but I can't think why I am at the manor. I don't do charity"

GM says, "and I haven't even set out to deceive yet"

Judith says, "er, that I was"

GM says (to Gwendolyn), "no doubt you are just for the house-party, then"

Gwendolyn says, "works for me"

Mariamne says (to gwendolyn), "possibly you can be on your way to the event I'm going to"

GM says, "Lady Mallory is of course delighted to have such a distinguished guest"

Mariamne says, "since I have no idea what that is"

Stanley says, "Somehow I've fallen in with all these Tories from the club."

GM says, "or at least famous"

Mariamne says, "(I'm also fairly sure my mother will have been sucking up to the various wealthy distinguished women who might be around)"

GM says, "ok then, I think we can call this pretty good"

Wilson says, "Oh, and I'm also here to see Hypathia."

Wilson says, "Er, Hypatia."

Mariamne asks, "good golly, you don't even remember her name properly?"

Wilson says, "Er well um"

GM says, "he is so in love it is affecting his spelling"

Wilson nervously twists his cap.

GM says, "Dearest Hyperbole, he writes"

GM says, "anyway, to remind everyone, Heatham Manor is a rather nice manor about a half-day's journey from London"

GM says, "due to the irritating trains and the snow that has been falling on and off these past few days (a little early for late october), when the taxi finally brings the five of you up from the station, it's nearly tea-time"

[heatham] Wilson says, "Yay footprints"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "I'd be surprised to find out we hadn't all killed each other in the taxi, to be honest"

GM says, "squashed together as you were, you've had time to at least make preliminary introductions to each other already before arrival, at which time, naturally, you must rush upstairs, change into things, and come down for tea"

Gwendolyn asks, "Where's a boy to carry my bags?"

Stanley says (to Gwendolyn), "Oh, let me deal with that, my dear girl."

Gwendolyn says, "And I will need a maid to assist me"

Stanley carries the bags for eight or ten feet.

GM says, ""Naturally, Madam," says the butler (a stout man in his 60s, almost completely bald)"

Stanley asks, "By cracky, what's she got in here?"

Mariamne says, "oh poot, I just know I had the *perfect* scarf to go with this dress earlier. Oh well, I suppose this one will be okay if I just use this clip instead. Oh, and now I'll just have to change this necklace.""

Stanley asks (of Butler), "Hey there, my man, where's the boy to carry these bags for the young lady?"

[heatham] Gwendolyn says, "okay, this is difficult. He's rich so I should be nice, but she is bristling at the dear-girl bit"

GM says, "He gives a few words to the other servants and they descend on you in a flurry, moving all the bags upstairs"

Mariamne says, "*flurry of clothing and jewellery*"

dfan arrives, looking for booty.

[heatham] * dfan has joined the channel.

Judith gets away from all this nonsense as quickly as possible

[heatham] Mariamne says, "I love how restrained we are all being about swearing"

Gwendolyn goes up to her room

[heatham] GM exclaims, "it's only been five minutes!"

Gwendolyn says, "adequate, I suppose"

GM says, "(anyone want to do anything before we go down to tea?)"

Stanley comes down in a fresh lounge suit and a rather natty cap.

Wilson goes upstairs, looks in the mirror, ajdusts his ascot, shrugs, goes back down.

Mariamne spends a few minutes opening windows and waving crystals around in her room

[heatham] GM says, "ha ha ha"

Judith changes into something marginally less severe

Gwendolyn peeks out the door to figure out who is in what room

[heatham] GM says, "sorry, I should have allowed another minute or two for primping"

Stanley says, "I say, what a rather fine old piano they have here."

Stanley attempts to play a few ditties.

Judith descends the stairs, smoking a cigarillo and daring anyone to pass comment

Mariamne scurries down the stairs and takes a few minutes to make adjustments in the hall mirror before joining the others

GM says (to Gwendolyn), "Dame Judith has been given the best room, you've got the second-best room, Miss Parry-Jones has the third-best room, Captain Stanley has the fourth-best, and Dr. Mayhew has the worst"

Stanley says, "Shame I never had any lessons on these things."

Wilson says, "Ah, piano."

Gwendolyn waits for everyone else to go down. She pauses at the entrance dramatically, before sauntering in.

Mariamne says, "my room is probably now so cold and messy that it is the worst"

Judith says, "Good grief, Stanley, cease that abombinal racket"

Stanley says (to Judith), "Sorry, sorry, Aunt Judith."

Stanley says, "Er, cousin. Sorry."

GM says, "you're not down until a few minutes past five, but it doesn't seem to matter -- everyone continues to look around and mutter in that someone-isn't-here sort of way even after you arrive"

GM says, "(though they are distracted for a few minutes by Gwendolyn's entrance)"

Mariamne claps her hands together and exclaims, "Oh, golly, what a wonderful piano!".

Wilson asks (of Mariamne), "Do you play?"

GM says, ""Oh, goodness, look at that eversocharming outfit!" Elizabeth comes over to admire Gwendolyn"

Mariamne says, "Well, a little. Though I've not really memorised anything suitable for this sort of company, you know."

Gwendolyn looks at the piano, mentally figuring out that it's a valuable instrument. She approves

[heatham] GM says, "(introductions haven't all been done yet, but I'll use the NPC's names anyway)"

GM says, "meanwhile, Lady Mallory comes over somewhat more sedately"

[heatham] Wilson says, "We can use our powers of deduction to figure out who's who."

Mariamne says (to Elizabeth), "Lizzie darling!"

Gwendolyn says (to Elizabeth), "why thank you. I had to go all over Broad Street looking for a hat to match this shade exactly. It's so difficult to find things in the shops nowadays"

Judith runs her eye over Elizabeth briefly, but winces at her fawning

GM says, ""I'm so glad you were able to make it," she says. "I regret my husband seems to be a little late, but I am sure he will be down in a few minutes.""

[heatham] GM says, "Elizabeth is not Hypatia, by the way"

Mariamne says, "gosh, I didn't know you were going to be here too."

[heatham] Wilson says, "Heh, right."

[heatham] Wilson says, "*that* much I can figure out."

[heatham] GM says, "(Elizabeth is the neighbor's daughter rather than your host's daughter)"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "elizabeth, I think, is someone I used to do duets with"

GM says, ""Ooh, Mariamne, I had no idea you'd be here too!""

Judith asks, "Lady Mallory, a pleasure as always. I don't believe I've seen you since dear Hyp's graduation. How is she?"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "and met at debutante balls and the like"

Stanley casts his eye frowningly over all the young ladies.

Stanley says, "I wonder if that butler fellow has opened a bottle yet."

GM says, "Lady Mallory waves a fluttery hand. "Oh, very well, very well. All this learning has certainly given her no end of new ideas -- she has been a great help with me working to Improve The Lives of the Villagers""

Gwendolyn says (to LadyMallory), "you have a charming home - and thank you for your invitation"

Mariamne says (to Elizabeth), "Oh, I must show you the wonderful new cards I bought to help my gift! They're simply *perfect* for focusing the mind."

Wilson scans the assemblage for signs of Hypatia without trying to *look* like his scanning the assemblage for signs of Hypatia, fails, get flustered, drums his hands on the piano.

GM says, "Lord Barleyhew perks up his ears at Stanley's comment. "You just wait til after dinner, me lad -- I've been here for two nights, and I can tell you, Sir Gilford does his guests proud in the cellar department""

Judith says, "She always did have a ...Christian... heart."

[heatham] Gwendolyn says (to wilson), "oh yeah. don't forget, i don't recall people's names or anything, so don't expect me to be like, "hey, i recognize you!""

[heatham] Wilson nods.

Judith catches her first glimpse of Lord Barleyhew, and does her best not to wince visibly

GM says, "Despite his politics, Lord Barleyhew is at least physically charming -- tall and nattily-dressed and just-now swoops down to assist Hypatia by picking up her dropped handkerchief"

GM says, "(which Hypatia rolls her eyes at)"

Stanley asks, "Oh, yes, Barley old man, have you encountered my dear relative, Dame Hertford?"

[heatham] Gwendolyn asks, "what room are we in?"

Judith's eyes flash fire at the sight of this

[heatham] Mariamne says, "I assumed a parlour, but who knows"

[heatham] GM says, "you're in the parlor/drawing-room type area, waiting for everyone (ie, Sir Gilford) to get here before you go into the tea-room"

[heatham] Gwendolyn says, "okay, i was assuming drawing room. thanks"

GM says, ""I don't believe I've had the pleasure in person," Lord Barleyhew says, looking expectantly for a hand to be offered to be kissed"

Stanley says, "She's, well, she's a dear old thing, really, although perhaps we shouldn't talk politics for the time being, if you see what I mean."

Mariamne politely thanks Lady Mallory for the wonderful accomodation

Gwendolyn eavesdropping on Lady Mallory's conversation, while studying her jewelry

Judith asks, "Enchanted, Lord Barleyhew. Still doing sterling work to prevent the insane classes breeding, I take it?"

Stanley says (to Judith), "Judith, Lord Barleyhew here goes to my club."

Stanley says, "Oh I see you know each other already, top hole."

Judith flashes a significant look to Hypatia

GM says, "Lord Barleyhew smiles indulgently. "Oh, goodness, I see you're quite political yourself, Lady Hertford -- no doubt we will have rather a *debate* about it at some point""

Mariamne looks around for William.

GM says, "(Hypatia is burning a hole in the back of his head)"

GM says, "William laughs heartily at Lord Barleyhew's jape"

GM says, "Lord Barleyhew is about to add something, but Lady Mallory breaks in"

Judith says (to Barleyhew), "Well, I'd hate to suggest that I might be capable of *voting*, Mr. Barl-"

GM says, ""Goodness, look at the time!" she says. "It is almost ten after, and Sir Gilford isn't here -- whatever shall we do?""

Stanley says, "Now, now, let's not talk shop before dinner."

Mariamne wonders if she can get William away from all those tedious old men, but decides it's unlikely.

Mariamne perches on a chair arm and pouts instead.

GM says, "Lady Mallory wrings her hands elegantly"

GM says, "Mr Reed comes over to her"

Stanley says, "If I may say, Lady Mallory, you wring your hands most elegantly."

Gwendolyn asks, "Perhaps Sir Gilford wouldn't mind if we started?"

Stanley has a snifter of brandy in his hand at this point.

[heatham] Mariamne says (to Iain), "I fear you"

GM says, "The butler looks disapprovingly at Stanley"

Gwendolyn asks, "Being such a chilly day, and he's such a gracious host, he wouldn't expect us to not go ahead, surely, Lady Mallory?"

Judith elegantly extracts the snifter from Stanley's hand. "Now now, remember what the doctors said."

GM says, ""Perhaps you could send a servant over to the cabin to remind him tea is ready," Mr Reed says"

Wilson asks (of Hypatia), "Your, uh, father has a cabin, then?"

GM says, ""Oh, dear, such a good idea," Lady Mallory says, "and in the meantime the rest of us will get started""

Judith says, "Besides, brandy *before* dinner is vulgar."

Gwendolyn plays with her strand of pearls

GM says, ""Pondley, do send someone," she says, and ushers the rest of you in to the tea-room"

Stanley guiltily puts away his tobacco too.

Gwendolyn wrinkles her nose at such a disgusting habit

Judith says (to Stanley), "(sotto voce) Behave yourself. If anyone is to disgrace the family it will be me."

GM says (to Wilson), "Hypatia waves her hand vaguely. "Somewhere out in the woods he has a little cabin," she says. "He uses it for *hunting* or somesuch.""

Wilson (muttering) "And cigarillos before dinner aren't? Hmm."

Mariamne springs up from the chair, nearly upsetting a rather valuable vase in the process, and extends her arm to William.

GM says, "Lord Barleyhew nudges Stanley in the ribs. "I see you approve of the finer things in life, eh? Once the ladies leave after dinner, we'll see a thing or two""

GM says, ""Why, Miss Parry-Jones! I didn't see you there!" William says, giving her a dazzling smile. "Do allow me to take you in""

Wilson says (to Hypatia), "Ah, hunting."

GM says, "Meanwhile, servants come around with cucumber sandwiches"

GM says, "(with, I need hardly add, the crusts cut off)"

Stanley says (to Barleyhew), "I believe I'm prepared to plumb the depths of old Mallory's famous cellars, vasty beyond measure though they may be."

GM says (to Wilson), "Hypatia frowns. "I suppose you're here for the shooting as well?""

Mariamne says, "Well, thank you William, I was quite beginning to think you were ignoring me on purpose!"

Wilson asks (of Hypatia), "Me? Uh, no?"

GM says, "Edmund slouches in about now, and skulks in a corner, eating cucumber sandwiches in a bitter manner"

Mariamne says, "but of course I should have remembered that you'd never be quite that cruel."

Wilson says (to Hypatia), "You don't, uh, not that you would, uh, not that you're incapable, er, ah, sandwiches."

Mariamne smiles and flutters her eyelashes at William.

GM says (to Mariamne), ""As if I could forget anyone so charming!" William says, his eyes straying to Elizabeth."

[heatham] Mariamne says, "ah, doomed love"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "how my heart would break if I would just notice"

GM says (to Wilson), ""Oh, I should have known an *intellectual* like yourself would be far beyond these blood-sports""

GM says, "Hypatia smiles approvingly"

Judith asks (of Hypatia), "Have I told you about Mr. Mayhew's sterling work to bring learning to the working classes?"

Gwendolyn hides a yawn behind a cucumber sandwich

Stanley says, "These sandwiches are quite the thing, I must say. Diagonal slice, sans crusts, you see. I think it signifies a chef who is unafraid to strike out boldly into new culinary territory."

GM says, "She looks shocked. "I had no idea, Mr Mayhew! Do you mean to tell me you are of the Cause also?""

Judith pats William on the shoulder and excuses herself

Wilson asks, "Uh, yes?"

Mariamne says (to William), "so when is your brother ever going to settle down? He's quite the despair of society, unmarried at his age."

Gwendolyn says (to Mariamne), "I am sure he's tired of the matchmaking mamas throwing their daughters at his feet."

GM says, "William sighs. "Ah, Edmund," he says, gesturing with his sandwich. "I'm afraid he's quite the sulky cuss these days -- just got back from Africa, and no doubt he's still unused to being back in civilization""

Wilson says, "Although I haven't had much time to participate of late, since my studies have kept me in India."

Stanley says, "Africa and India, is it? Fascinating places, or so I hear."

Gwendolyn says, "Why, I heard just last week, that Miss Thockmorton-Jones pretended to faint at his feet in hopes he would catch her"

Stanley asks, "Which one has more animals, would you say?"

GM says, "William looks up to see Gwendolyn. "I'm sure you're not speaking of yourself -- I can't imagine you needing to be flung anywhere. No doubt it is the men who throng around you instead""

Judith buttonholes Edmund

Stanley says, "I was just talking to a fellow the other day who was convinced that elephants come from India, not Africa. Silly chap."

Gwendolyn says (to Stanley), "clearly India. Africa has only lions. India has monkeys"

Mariamne asks (of Gwendolyn), "you look awfully familiar. Were you at Lady Millington's tea-dance last week?"

Judith asks, "Which part of Africa did you say you were in, again?"

GM says, "Edmund looks up at Judith, with a look she recognizes from Stanley as someone who's been drinking before tea"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Hee hee."

Wilson says, "Actaully, India has its own elephants. Different ears, you know."

[heatham] Mariamne says, "oh dear lord, a room of drunken men"

Wilson puts his hand behind his ears by way of illustration.

[heatham] Mariamne says, "someone may need to restrain judith"

GM says, "He waves his sandwich vaguely. "Out in the veldt," he says. "Out away from all this damned civilization and *tea-parties*""

[heatham] GM says, "not *drunk* -- just, you know, not entirely sober"

Stanley says (to Wilson), "Well, I never."

Judith gives a knowing nod.

GM says, "Hypatia laughs delightedly"

Wilson says, "Indeed."

GM says, "Pondley staggers into the room at this point, looking as shocked as a butler ever gets"

Gwendolyn asks (of Mariamne), "Lady Millington?"

Stanley displays his currently empty hands to the butler, defensively.

GM says, "He takes Lady Mallory aside and talks briefly to her in an attempt to be discreet, but her sudden shriek foils this"

Gwendolyn asks, "Would that be the house with the fake Greek temple in the gardens?"

GM says, ""Sir Gilford!" she says, and swoons away"

Mariamne says (to Gwendolyn), "oh, you must know Lady Milington. Widowed, of course, but I hear that won't last long, as she's kept her looks so well"

Judith says, "Have a friend who's a DC in the Cameroons. Tempted myself, at times, though I don't know how much call there is for Aramaic translation down there"

Gwendolyn looks at Lady Mallory in surprise at such an un-lady-like shriekh and behavior

GM says, "Mr Reed, standing nearby, hastens to catch her"

Stanley leaps to catch Lady Mallory, but trips over a coffee table.

[heatham] GM says, "ha ha"

Mariamne looks around at Lady Mallory and the ensuing chaos

Wilson says, "In India, you know, they train their elephants. When they are young, they chain them to an iron stake, so they can't escape. Once they have grown, they are used to it, so they replace the iron stake with a bamboo pole. The elephant is, of course, strong enough to pull up even the iron, but has been trained so it won't leave."

GM says, ""What is it, Pondley, old chap?" says William, pulling himself away from the delightful ladies to talk to him."

Mariamne asks, "I say, what the dickens is going on with Lady Mallory?"

[heatham] GM exclaims, "such language!"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "well, of course, I *am* a bohemian"

GM says, "Pondley has one of those hushed whispers that is totally audible across the room, especially since everyone else wants to hear"

Stanley tries to balance the coffee table so that it looks like it isn't broken.

GM says, ""It's Sir Gilford, sir," he says. "I sent one of the boys out to ask him in to tea -- he's dead, sir!""

[heatham] Mariamne says, "or at least trying to be one when I'm being upstaged by other women in front of William"

GM says, ""Great scott!" says William."

Mariamne gasps and faints elegantly, just avoiding the broken coffee table

Judith says, "Good lord."

Stanley says, "Good gravy."

Wilson starts, and looks at Hypatia.

GM says, "This, naturally, causes something of a buzz in conversation"

Stanley leaps to catch Mariamne, trips over the broken coffee table, etc.

Gwendolyn asks, "Are you sure he wasn't just asleep?"

GM says, "Edmund laughs unpleasantly. "Well, it happens to all of us eventually," he mutters"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "gee, a fine chivalrous bunch of men you all are"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "I'm still lying unconscious on the floor here!"

GM says, "Pondley shakes his head, and whispers more quietly to William. "What, in the head?" William says."

Gwendolyn steps daintly around Mariamne's prone body

[heatham] Gwendolyn asks, "happy?"

[heatham] GM is laughing and laughing

Wilson says, "My."

GM says, ""Well, I'm afraid-- I don't know what--""

[heatham] Mariamne says, "so am I, but I'm still unconscious"

Stanley mutters (to butler), "Look here, old chap, just you give me that drinks tray and keep your hands free to catch tumbling totty. We don't want anyone else to get hurt here."

Judith props up Mariamne and snaps her fingers in front of her face. "Snap out of it, gel."

GM says, "Charles Reed maneuvers Lady Mallory onto a couch"

Gwendolyn takes smelling salts out of her reticule and starts reviving Lady Mallory

GM says, ""Someone had better get her to her room -- Pondley, where's her maid?""

Mariamne revives, slowly at first, but more swiftly when she realises it isn't William who is propping her up

GM says, ""Oh, thank goodness someone has some sense," he says, seeing Gwendolyn"

[heatham] GM says (to Mariamne), "ha ha ha"

GM says, ""Well, I guess we'd better call the police," Edmund says, stepping forward"

Stanley says, "Steady on, there, we don't really know what's happened yet."

GM says, "Lord Barleyhew looks aghast. "The police? You mean .. scandal?""

Mariamne fans herself with her scarf, listening intently

Stanley says (to Barleyhew), "No, Lord Barleyhew, not like last time -- this would be a murder investigation."

GM says, ""Do we even know this is murder?""

[heatham] GM says, "oh MAN"

Gwendolyn perks up on 'last time'?

Judith says, "I seem to recall many fine speeches of yours on the subject of proper respect for the law of the land, my Lord."

Stanley asks, "Murder? I say, whose silly idea was that?"

[heatham] GM says, "ok, any one of you guys is clearly sufficient for me not to have to worry about enough wacky things happening"

Mariamne says, "(aside to Elizabeth) I had the most terrible premonition about today, of course, but I thought that I'd just foreseen losing my scarf."

Wilson says, "Murder or not, we need to see what has happened."

GM says, "William says "From what Pondley's said, I don't think we know -- I can't discuss details with the ladies present, but suffice to say I don't think we can say yet""

Wilson stands matter-of-factly.

Gwendolyn lets LadyM's maid have the smelling salts

Stanley says (to Wilson), "Capital idea!"

Gwendolyn says (to Wilson), "surely not before we finish tea!"

Mariamne says, "(aside) I never dreamed it was something quite so serious as this."

Judith glances at Hypatia to make sure that she's all right

GM says, "Elizabeth looks amazed at Mariamne. "You mean you have contact with the Other Side?""

GM says, "Hypatia seems somewhat in shock and isn't saying much"

Wilson asks (of Hypatia), "I don't suppose you wish to see?"

Judith rolls her eyes

Gwendolyn says, "I refuse to go out and tramp about in the snow and get my feet wet when there's a nice hot pot of tea right here"

Mariamne says, "Yes, I am psychically gifted. A blessing and a curse, as one might expect."

GM says, ""No, no, that's quite all right," Hypatia says vaguely. "Father!""

Stanley says (to butler), "Now then, old man, why don't you just lead some of us chaps round to where you found his lordship and we'll see what's what."

Wilson says, "Right."

GM says, "She starts crying"

[heatham] Gwendolyn says, "i read that as 'physically gifted' and wondered"

Wilson says, "Oh, uh."

Wilson sits again, tries to comfort Hypatia.

Stanley says, "Although somebody should stay to, er, to console the ladies."

Gwendolyn returns to her teacup

Stanley asks, "Cousin Judith, should you like to be a chap or a lady?"

[heatham] GM says, "ha ha ha ha"

[heatham] Gwendolyn says, "ha ha"

[heatham] GM exclaims, "just like Norway!"

Mariamne says (to elizabeth), "when I have a moment, I'll try and make contact with the spirit of the deceased, but I'm just too shocked to try and receive right now"

GM says, "Apparently someone *has* called the police, because the next thing you hear is "What's all this, then?""

Judith says (to Stanley), "Well, in normal circumstances..."

Mariamne says, "the strain does affect the link, you know"

GM says, "and the ruddy-faced village Constable Beech comes into the room"

GM says, "as the guests descend on him he looks immediately out of his depth"

Stanley says, "Aha, good evening, Constable."

Stanley instinctively outranks the poor fellow.

Mariamne twists her scarf in her hands and gulps down breath

GM says, ""Ah, good evening, ah, -- sir?" he says hopefully to Stanley"

GM says, ""I understand there's been some sort of incident here?""

Judith says (to Mariamne), "Here, have a little brandy. For, um, your nerves."

Stanley says, "Yes, it seems so."

Gwendolyn says (to LadyM), "I hope that despite this incident, you will continue with the house party? I've so looked forward to this visit"

Wilson says (to Hypatia), "There, there."

Stanley says, "By sheerest accident I stumbled over the coffee table here, you see."

Stanley says, "And poor old Lord Mallory seems to have had a bit of trouble, also."

[heatham] Wilson says, "Snrk"

Mariamne sips genteelly at her brandy, trying not to pull a face at the taste of it

GM says, ""I've called me sergeant," Beech says, "But he's away and won't be here for a few hours""

Judith looks around for Edmund

GM says (to Gwendolyn), "Beech coughs apologetically. "I'm afraid me sergeant asked me to not let anyone leave just yet, so I'm afraid the party will have to continue""

Wilson stands again. "Right, so now that the law's here, let's see what has happened. It may be we can discern all before the sergeant even gets here."

GM says, ""Certainly you all must stay!" Lady Mallory says. "I won't have this interrupted by --" she starts crying"

Stanley says, "Well said, that man!"

Gwendolyn says (to LadyM), "Edmund, as Sir Gilford's heir can easily take over his role"

Stanley says, "Knows all about ears, too."

GM says, "Charles Reed touches her on the shoulder in a gentlemanly way"

[heatham] Mariamne says (to gwendolyn), "and I thought I was being callous"

[heatham] Stanley asks, "Er, shouldn't we be investigating the actual crime here at some point?"

Judith says (to Gwendolyn), "oh, for... show a little sensitivity, girl."

[heatham] Gwendolyn says (to mariamne), "i am struggling, but yeah, i am trying to be not-nice"

GM says (to Judith), "Edmund coughs. "Right, I suppose, I ought to say something.""

[heatham] Stanley says, "Assuming it is a crime, of course."

[heatham] Gwendolyn says, "it's hard being a mean person"

Wilson asks, "Constable, I believe Pondley here knows the way to the cabin where Mallory was found. If you will lead the way?"

GM says, ""You all can stay as long as you want, I don't give a damn," he walks out of the room"

Judith says, "The poor boy is taking this very hard. Clearly."

GM says, "Constable Beech looks around uncomfortably. "Well, it's true as I'm rather out of me depth -- maybe just until the sergeant comes""

Mariamne mutters, "and I thought this place had such soothing vibrations, too"

Stanley says, "Well, let's go and have a good old poke around and see what we can turn up."

Stanley says, "Discreetly, of course."

GM says, "Anyone who wants to bully their way along can come out to the cabin, male or female"

Judith will come

Mariamne steels her nerves, and stands up.

GM says, "in practice none of the NPCs want to except William"

Stanley says, "Last chap there's a rotten egg."

Mariamne says, "I must insist I be allowed to accompany you."

[heatham] GM says, "if people would prefer to stay, they can just ask questions here and we can assume that someone at the cabin is asking them"

Stanley says, "That's a spirit."

Stanley says, "Er, the spirit."

Mariamne says, "I may be able to sense something"

GM says, "so, everyone who's going troops out to the cabin"

GM says, "it is, as mentioned previously in a little clearing near the edge of the woods"

[heatham] Wilson will go, naturally.

Gwendolyn says, "I will stay with Lady Mallory. Miss Elizabeth should probably keep her company, too, as her neighbor."

[heatham] Mariamne says, "I take the first opportunity I can to take something belonging to the deceased"

Gwendolyn says, "We can chat while we wait"

GM says, "it's a funny sort of rustic cabin, probably intended for a gamekeeper or something, but converted by Sir Gilford for his own private use"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Well you can't have the brandy, I have first dibs."

GM says, "The cabin looks like http://www.drizzle.com/~dans/rpg/mystery/cabin.png"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "since of course I need something belonging to the recently departed so I can attempt to establish a link"

GM says, "(all the doors are closed, though)"

Stanley says, "Now then, hold on a moment, everyone."

Stanley says, "These footprints may be jolly important."

Mariamne stumbles into the back of whomever is in front of her, and shivers impatiently

Stanley says, "They indicate the prints of feet."

[heatham] GM says, "hee hee"

[heatham] Judith exclaims, "he was murdered by... the Spraypaint tool!"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Man, I thought my character was going to be cut out to be a natural detective, but it appears not."

GM says, "Right, so, the footprints"

Stanley says, "Er, perhaps we should circle around to see if there are any others."

GM says, "It looks like there are three and a half trails"

GM says, "one set that goes in and doesn't come out, and three others that go in and come back"

GM says, "(outside the clearing the footprints break up on the rougher forest floor and can't really be tracked further, at least not in this light)"

[heatham] Stanley asks, "I assume the butler is with us?"

[heatham] GM says, "at least a servant is, yeah"

Stanley says (to butler), "Now, some of these tracks must be yours, since you were here last."

[heatham] GM says, "the butler himself is probably busy freaking out at home"

GM says, ""Er, yes, sir," says Tommy"

Stanley says, "Let's see your feet, then."

Stanley says, "Come on, chop chop."

GM says, "he looks down at them"

Stanley says, "The soles, man, the soles."

[heatham] Mariamne asks, "has it snowed since Sir Gilford went out there?"

GM says, ""Oh, I see, sir!""

[heatham] Mariamne says, "I submit this question for someone more likely to ask it"

Judith says, "Well, dash it all."

GM says, "He holds up one foot, stands there unsteadily as you match his track to one of the sets"

Judith hops carefully over the tracks and into the cabin

Stanley says, "Yes, hmm, I see."

Stanley says, "You're wearing shoes, then."

GM says, ""Ye-yes, sir?""

Stanley says, "Very good. Keep it up."

Mariamne follows Judith, hopefully not destroying any prints on the way

GM says, ""It was horrible, sir, he's all over blood!""

Wilson says, "Well, they match this set."

Stanley says, "Which leaves... three others? Or two and a half, as it were."

Wilson says, "And the one that goes in alone is presumably Mallory's."

[heatham] GM says (to Judith,Mariamne), "if you want more description about something, please ask"

Stanley says, "That seems logical."

Judith goes and has a good look at the body

GM says (to Judith,Mariamne), "when you look in through the study door, you see the body of Sir Gilford, sitting behind the desk with his back to the window"

Mariamne purloins something small from the desk and slips it into the folds of her scarf

Stanley says, "We'd better figure out what's what with these before any more ladies trample over them."

Mariamne says, "(probably after fainting and waking up again first)"

GM says, "it's fallen forward onto the desk, and there's a pool of blood on the desk (mostly frozen)"

Stanley asks (of Wilson), "Would you say these two other tracks were made by men's shoes?"

GM says (to Mariame), "a pen is probably the smallest item"

Mariamne takes a pen, then

GM says, "there's a pistol in his right hand"

Judith asks (of Mariamne), "Now wait a minute, girl, just what d'you think you're up to?"

Mariamne says (to judith), "oh, uh, well, you see, if I'm to establish a link with the spirit world, I need something belonging to the spirit I wish to contact"

GM says, "(you could also take some blank papers, a paperweight, an inkwell, or another pen, but the pen seems like the lightest)"

GM says, "(or you could search his body or the desk)"

Judith has a closer look at the pistol

Mariamne says, "it does seem like it's simplest for me to make contact and get all this nonsense sorted out as soon as possible"

Judith says (to Mariamne), "this is hardly the place for parlour games. Put it back. There will be detectives here soon enough."

Stanley says (to Wilson), "Do excuse me, old fellow, I think I hear a rising tide of umbrage and indignation in the Hertford cadence. I'd better get in there and make sure no more bloody is spilled."

[heatham] GM says, "ha ha ha"

Stanley says, "Er, blood."

Mariamne says, "parlous games?! I see you, madam, are not a true believer"

Stanley heads inside.

Mariamne says, "er, parlour"

Gwendolyn gets bored fluttering over Lady M and walks out, following the group's footprints to the cabin

[heatham] Gwendolyn asks, "anyone still outside looking at the footprints?"

GM says (to Judith), "from your general knowledge of shooting and experience with old war vets, this is probably one of those pistols that got brought home from some war and stuck in the guy's desk as a souvenir"

[heatham] GM says, "Wilson"

Judith says, "Ah, service revolver."

Mariamne says, "Well-respected men and women around the world have *proven* than it is possible to make contact with the other world"

Stanley says, "Oh, dash it all, don't say he's topped himself. Damned silly fool."

[heatham] Judith asks, "one shot fired, I take it?"

Mariamne says, "I happen to be one of those gifted with such an ability"

GM says, "this particular one looks like it's been kept in pretty good condition"

Gwendolyn sees Wilson and waves, "Yoohoo!"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "also I'll just take it again once nobody is looking, so"

[heatham] GM asks, "are you going to take it from his hand?"

Judith says (to Mariamne), "unfortunately their standards for 'proof' are those of a Renaissance alchemist."

[heatham] GM says, "(to check for bullets)"

[heatham] Judith says, "no - if it's a revolver I shouldn't need to"

Wilson says (to Gwendolyn), "Hello."

[heatham] GM says, "oh, ok -- in that case, yeah, only one shot fired"

Gwendolyn cuts across to get to Wilson, by the shortest path, without really looking at the snow. "What are you looking at?"

[heatham] GM says, "hee hee"

Mariamne puts it back, then takes it again once nobody is looking

[heatham] GM says, "man, you guys are going to be so busted"

Wilson says, "Footprints."

Wilson asks, "See?"

GM says, "meanwhile, the Constable is bumbling around the room and William is talking to him"

Wilson says, "If Mallory was killed, one of these sets probably belong to the killer."

Gwendolyn asks, "I see everyone's footprints, so?"

Mariamne drifts over to inspect the bookcase

GM says, "he stares into the fireplace and looks at the books on the bookshelf and sighs unhappily"

[heatham] Gwendolyn says, "i hope no one minds that Gwendolyn's stepped on/ruined a footprint or two"

Wilson says (to Gwendolyn), "Here, come 'round with me."

Gwendolyn says, "oh!"

Wilson steers Gwendolyn around the prints.

[heatham] Mariamne asks, "is the window open or broken?"

GM says (to Mariamne), "it looks like they're on landlording, hunting, or farming"

Wilson makes a circle around the clearing, looking for any other tracks.

Mariamne dismisses them and goes over to the window, gulping in air

GM says, "the window is a little weird, probably because this was orignally a "rustic" cabin -- it's got heavy curtains on the inside, which are open, and then instead of glass it's got a metal grate"

GM says, "(which swings inwards, and is currently shut)"

GM says, "so you can breath in cold air just by standing next to it"

Gwendolyn says, "what a charming cabin."

Mariamne idly opens the grate to get more air

Judith says, "Hmm."

[heatham] Mariamne says, "murder scene? what murder scene!"

Gwendolyn asks, "why would Sir Gilford have a cabin so close to his home?"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "la la la fingerprints on the latch"

[heatham] Wilson asks (of GM), "Any other tracks in/out of the clearing?"

GM says (to Mariamne), "also, in answer to the earlier point, William remarks that it's lucky it only snowed for a few hours this morning or all the tracks would be missing"

[heatham] GM says (to Wilson), "nope"

Judith says (to William), "(gently) I didn't know your late father was a military man."

[heatham] GM says, "(let's see, any other outstanding questions?)"

Wilson says (to Gwendolyn), "There, you see? Nobody else in or out."

Wilson says, "Let's go inside."

[heatham] Mariamne asks, "so I've opened the grate on the window, should I notice anything about it or about outside?"

[heatham] Stanley asks, "Can you describe the desk again?"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "say, a big sign saying 'I DID IT I DID IT MUAHAHA -the killer'"

[heatham] GM says, "hee hee"

Gwendolyn says, "Let's. it's a bit chilly out here"

[heatham] GM says, "the snow is packed down under the window a little deeper than to either side, but not besides that"

Stanley searches the desk, in fact.

[heatham] Wilson asks, "Drifts?"

[heatham] Gwendolyn asks, "did the discoveres ever find out what kind of a gun it was?"

GM says, "ok, the desk"

[heatham] Gwendolyn asks, "like a hunting type, or a small derringer, or what?"

[heatham] Wilson asks, "What hand was the gun in?"

[heatham] Judith says, "service revolver"

[heatham] Gwendolyn says, "ah"

GM says, "On top of the desk are a stack of blank papers, an inkwell, some pens, and apaperweight"

GM says, "also the upper half of Sir Gilford"

[heatham] Judith asks, "William's in here, right?"

GM says, "and a mostly-frozen pool of blood"

[heatham] GM says, "yeah"

Stanley asks, "Anyone object if I sit the poor fellow up?"

[heatham] GM says, "right hand"

Wilson says, "Wait a bit."

GM says, "inside the desk are some papers on farming and his tenants"

Stanley says, "Hmm, this blood looks frozen solid."

Wilson looks to see how he would have fallen.

Stanley says, "He's been here a good old time."

[heatham] Judith asks, "anything up on the walls? hunting trophies, regimental honours, sporting rifles?"

Stanley says, "I say, I think somebody's been searching this desk. Before me, I mean."

GM says, "on the wall of the cabin, above the fireplace, is a giant moose head"

GM says, "and above the bookcase is a big trout"

GM says, "in a glass case"

Gwendolyn asks, "if he's a hunter, where's his gun collection?"

GM says, "(mounted, obviously)"

GM says (to Gwendolyn), ""Oh, the hunting supplies?" asks William. "They're in the storage room""

Mariamne concentrates hard to try and sense who might be responsible for this

Stanley says, "And look, here's a gold watch on the floor."

Wilson asks (of Stanley), "You were in the military--if this man was shot at close range, would he have powder burns around the wound?"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "man, stanley's getting better information than anyone else here"

[heatham] Judith says, "American moose or European elk? Either way the guy must have travelled to hunt"

[heatham] GM exclaims, "he's the only one searching anything!"

Stanley says (to Wilson), "Er... yes, of course, dashed good question."

[heatham] GM says, "dammit"

[heatham] GM says, "perhaps it's imported from his Canadian travels"

Stanley asks, "Cousin Judith, what do you think?"

Judith goes to have a look in storage

Stanley searches Sir Gilford's body.

Judith says (to Judith), "Never seen a man shot in the head before. Only grouse."

[heatham] Gwendolyn says (to stanley), "eew"

Judith says, "(um, to Stanley)"

Wilson says, "Well, anything fired at close range"

[heatham] Gwendolyn asks, "is the fireplace lit?"

Mariamne decides that this is not a constructive place to try and extend her gift, and heads outside (hopping over the prints) and to the side of the cabin to get some peace and quiet for communing.

GM says, "The storage room has large numbers of various kinds of hunting supplies -- pistols, guns for shooting birds, boards for beating the bushes, bullets, fishing rods, line, hooks, etc"

Stanley says, "Hmm, now that you mention it, I did see a couple of chaps shot at close range by very similar weapons."

Stanley says, "Then they fell overboard."

[heatham] Wilson says (to GM), "I'm looking for aforementioned powder burns, as well as the angle of him being shot, and the way he fell."

Judith goes over the guns to see if any haven't been cleaned

[heatham] Gwendolyn asks, "well, guess not, if the blood is frozen. my question is more, has it been lit recently?"

[heatham] Mariamne says (to stanley), "aw, I was hoping you'd pat your own leg and say "I don't recall what the wounds looked like""

[heatham] Stanley says, "Ha ha."

Mariamne shivers outside, clutches her purloined pen, and attempts to sense who might be responsible again.

Stanley notes where the watch fell, and picks it up.

Gwendolyn looks curiously at the body

Wilson says, "Hmm. OK, there are indeed powder burns right against his temple, and the angle seems consistent with a direct entry."

[heatham] Gwendolyn asks, "along with the fireplace question, what's the deadman wearing?"

GM says (to Gwendolyn), "the fireplace definitely has some ashes and stuff in it -- it looks like it's been out for a couple hours at least, though"

Wilson says, "If this man was shot standing up and then fell on the desk, there will be blood splatters underneath him. But if he was placed here before being shot, there won't be."

Wilson checks.

Gwendolyn takes a poker and sifts through the ashes

Gwendolyn picks up the scraps, and keeps digging

Stanley asks, "Hmm, I don't suppose there are any bits of paper in there?"

Judith asks (of William), "There wasn't anything valuable kept in here, was there?"

Stanley says, "Some rum cove's been rifling through his lordship's papers, I think."

GM says (to Wilson), "yeah, there's some blood on the desk underneath him, though maybe not as much as you might expect"

Wilson says, "Hrm hrm."

Gwendolyn says (to Stanley), "paper? no."

Judith says, "Because it looks as if someone's gone through this closet."

Mariamne isn't getting much here either, and so heads back into the cabin, once again hopping over the prints

Gwendolyn says, "some linen pieces."

GM says (to Judith), ""In the spare room?" William asks. "Just, you know, hunting stuff""

Stanley asks (of Judith), "The closet, too?"

Judith says, "No 17th-century solid-silver fowling-pieces, then? Hmm"

Judith asks (of William), "Remind me, which regiment did your father serve in?"

Wilson checks the man's right palm for blood splatters. Which, if the shot was self-inflicted, will not be there, but, if the gun was placed in his hand after the shot, might exist.

GM says, ""He's still dressed in his hunting clothes," William says. "I guess he came straight here from his walk.""

Stanley inspects the bookcase.

Mariamne stops to have a look around the porch

[heatham] GM asks, "let's see, I have Wilson's blood question -- anything else outstanding?"

[heatham] Judith says, "the guy's regiment"

[heatham] Stanley asks, "Did I find anything on the corpse?"

Wilson asks (of William), "Was your father right-handed?"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "I'm checking around the porch, probably destroying evidence on the way"

Gwendolyn wipes the dust off the linen scraps and tucks them in to her reticule

GM says, ""Just like me," William says"

Mariamne says, "oh, gosh, I think I'm getting a reading"

GM says, "(And, in fact, William looks a lot like a younger copy of his father, blond hair and all)"

Mariamne says, "the murderer must have stood here when he decided what to do!"

[heatham] Stanley asks, "Could William be mistaken for his father in poor light?"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Pretty big age difference, I guess."

GM says (to Stanley), "trying not to disturb things too much, you find a note-case, a handkerchief, a pen-knife, and a watch"

Mariamne says, "and he was angry"

[heatham] GM says, "in poor light? yeah, conceivably"

Gwendolyn says, "I remember reading Mrs. Radcliffe's gothic novels last week, and there was a dead body just like this one. It turned out to be the long-lost son no one knew about angry about being denied his father's love."

[Crows-Nest] Judith wonders why Edmund and Hypatia resemble Mr. Charles Reed so closely

[heatham] GM says, "although his dad's an old man (60s) and probably stoops a bunch"

Gwendolyn says, "That's probably what happened here. We just need to find the third son now"

GM says, "William looks a little offended, then decides you're joking and laughs heartily"

Mariamne inspects the area for clues, in case the murder dropped something incriminating

[heatham] Gwendolyn asks (of gm), "wait. a second watch?"

GM says (to Wilson), "there's no blood on his hand, but it's hard to say if there would be expected to be any"

Stanley says, "Well, there's this watch here, but his lordship already has a watch."

[heatham] Stanley says, "Timing."

Gwendolyn asks (of Stanley), "can i see the handkerchief?"

Stanley says, "Of course."

[heatham] Judith says, "grumble grumble regiment"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "this is the worst murder investigation ever"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "clearly none of us care about, like, fingerprints"

GM says (to Judith), "the Bluffs, I believe"

Gwendolyn feels the fabric. Looks at it.

[heatham] Stanley says, "Murder? This was no murder. It was... suicide!"

GM says, "(William says eventually)"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Wait, hang on."

Wilson asks (of GM), "Any bruising of the hand, as if he had been forced to shoot himself?"

Stanley looks in the note-case.

[heatham] Mariamne says, "(have I found anything in the porch?)"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Oh, nobody believes in fingerprints yet."

[heatham] GM says, "nothing interesting on the porch, no"

GM says (to Wilson), "hmm, it's definitely possible"

Mariamne finds nothing, and goes to commune with the pen in the storage closet

Judith wracks her feeble military memory

GM says (to Wilson), "but this is kind of out of your area of expertise"

[heatham] GM asks (of Judith), "I dunno, what are you trying to find out by asking?"

[heatham] Judith asks, "I don't suppose I know anybody who was in that regiment?"

Gwendolyn says, "the third son then burst into tears with remorse over his nefarious deed and took out his handkerchief. after crying, he burnt it, and then let the fire go out."

[heatham] GM says, "sure, if you want"

Stanley says, "My goodness."

[heatham] Judith says, "hey, if he's got a nefarious past I'll want to check up on it"

Gwendolyn says, "and now all that's left of the son's remorse are these tiny scraps. poor poor man"

GM says (to Mariamne), "mostly what you find are hunting-cabin/study debris -- a few spare bullet-casings, some scraps of paper, a fishhook, and a broken fountain pen"

[heatham] GM says, "good plan"

[heatham] GM says, "you probably know some people who are in his club now, even if he's a conservative and you're a radical"

Mariamne leaves everything where it was then, after picking it up and trying to get some sort of reading from it

[heatham] GM asks, "any questions outstanding?"

Stanley inspects the gold watch.

[heatham] Mariamne says, "my psychic evaluation of the storage closet!"

GM says (to Stanley), "it's got EFM engraved on it"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "feel free to tell me I don't sense anything"

Gwendolyn looks at the watch over Stanley's shoulder

Wilson says, "Edmund, probably."

[heatham] Wilson asks, "There were two watches?"

Stanley says, "That was my thought."

Mariamne says, "hmmm"

Stanley says, "Look, this is the watch I found on Gilford's body."

Wilson asks, "Is it stopped? Or still running?"

Judith leafs idly through the bookcase

[heatham] GM says, "Stanley found a watch under the desk"

Mariamne goes into the corridor and tries again

Stanley says, "If this is Gilford's watch, the gold watch belongs to somebody else."

Gwendolyn asks, "what time is it on the watches?"

Stanley inspects Gilford's watch.

Stanley says, "I wonder if this has a similar engraving."

[heatham] Gwendolyn asks, "are they the right times?"

GM says, "Gilford's watch matches yours (more or less); the EFM watch from under the desk has wound down"

Mariamne frowns, and goes out to inspect the footprints closely

Mariamne says, "perhaps he wasn't killed inside the study, but dragged there!"

[heatham] Wilson asks, "What time does the EFM watch say?"

[heatham] GM says, "3am"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "everyone ignore my crackpot theories, please"

[heatham] GM says, "hmm, I hope it's a 24-hour watch"

Judith says, "That revolver would have made a dickens of a noise. I'm amazed we heard nothing."

Wilson says, "Oh, right."

[heatham] Mariamne says, "since I assume people would have noticed, like, blood or drag-marks"

Wilson inspects Mallory's shoes to see if they match the one-way footprints.

[heatham] Stanley says, "Somebody who can afford a gold watch can afford a 24-hour watch that shows you the time in London, Hong Kong and New York, and also brush your teeth automatically."

[heatham] Gwendolyn asks, "are the two watches similar models? shaped?"

GM says (to Judith), ""Well, it still the shooting season," William points out. "And this is the middle of the woods""

[heatham] Mariamne says, "(I would still like to get a reading from the footprints, though)"

[heatham] GM says, "yes, quite similar -- Sir Gilford's watch has GJM on it, in fact, in the same sort of script"

Gwendolyn says (to judith), "we just got to the manor. he's been dead before we got here"

[heatham] Stanley asks, "Is it gold?"

[heatham] Wilson asks, "And Gilford's is still running?"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "(as in, seeing if one gives more of a murderous impression than others)"

Judith asks (of William), "And who on earth goes fowling with something of that calibre? Surely there's a differet sound. Stanley?"

Stanley says, "Hmm, it's hard to tell."

GM says (to Wilson), "You pop his shoes off easily and they match the set of tracks that goes in and doesn't come out"

Gwendolyn asks (of william), "do you have a watch? is this a rfather-son thing?"

GM says, "a watch? why certainly"

Stanley says, "I must say it's cold enough in here to freeze the, the, bollards off a brass monkey."

GM says, "William produces a WPM watch"

GM says, ""I'm afraid that does look rather like my brother's watch," William says."

Judith says, "how *awfully* convenient"

Stanley says, "We shall have to ask Edmund how his watch ended up under this desk, then."

Gwendolyn holds all three and compares them

Wilson asks (of William), "Is this the first time you've come out here today?"

Stanley asks (of Judith), "Oh, you were asking about the gun?"

GM says (to Gwendolyn), "yeah, it's pretty clear they're related"

[heatham] GM asks, "outstanding questions?"

Stanley says, "If this were a navy gun I should know all about it, but I haven't been trained up with these landgoing things, I'm afraid."

Judith says (to Stanley), "A field-piece makes the tiniest little crack. Never heard a revolver fired, but I'm told they're awfully loud."

Mariamne sets off and follows the prints, trailing any which don't appear to be going towards the mansion

Judith asks, "Don't naval officers carry revolvers any more?"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "(I am going to get impressively lost)"

[heatham] Wilson says (to GM), "My question to William"

Judith asks, "Or did you just forget to buy yourself one?"

Stanley says (to Judith), "Well, you know, it's dreadfully unfashionable these days."

GM says (to Mariamne), "one of the sets goes away and wanders around the grounds for a while before eventually returning to the manor"

GM says (to Mariamne), "the other goes away and turns out to join up with another set"

[heatham] Wilson says, "a-HA"

Mariamne asks, "and where do *those* lead?"

GM says (to Mariamne), "it looks like, in fact, like this set came part of the way to the cabin with another set, then they split up, then this set came back from the cabin and rejoined the other set"

[heatham] Stanley says, "I hope you're following all this."

Mariamne tries to work this out in her head

GM says, "the other set's detour leads you to the present gamekeeper's cottage, where John is napping"

Mariamne knocks demurely on John's door

GM says (to Wilson), ""No, actually, I was out here after lunch, with Mr Reed -- father had asked me to come see him""

[heatham] Judith says, "cue manly gamekeeper jokes"

GM says, "You have to bang quite loud for John to come to the door"

GM says, "he's 50 but looks older -- he's pretty weather-beaten"

Wilson asks, "So you believe that those are your and Mr. Reed's tracks outside?"

GM says, "and clearly his hearing has taken something of a beating also, but you eventually get yourself introduced"

GM says, ""Oh, no, Mr Reed didn't *come* to the cabin with me -- he had something to talk to John about""

GM says, ""But I suppose one of these track sets are mine""

Wilson says, "Well, let's check the shoes, then."

Gwendolyn says, "so it wasn't an angry third son"

Wilson says (to Gwendolyn), "Alas."

Gwendolyn says, "it's the bitter younger son framing the heir"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "I am confused as to whom inky is being at the moment"

Stanley says, "Cracking good theory, though, keep up the good work."

[heatham] GM says, "sorry, I'll try and stick in more names. That was William"

Gwendolyn says, "so that edmund goes to prison and william inherits!"

[heatham] Wilson asks, "Are npcs 1 and 2 available?"

GM says, "right, William's shoes match up with one of the sets (the one which has one split off to go to John's)"

Mariamne asks John when he last saw Sir Mallory

npc1 has connected.

Wilson asks (of William), "So, did you see your father when you came here?"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Man, this is getting confusing."

Gwendolyn glares at william

npc2 has connected.

[heatham] Stanley says, "I kind of watch to start yet another plot strand and go and and talk to Edmund, though."

[heatham] Wilson says, "You have watches on the brain ;-)"

[heatham] GM says (to Gwendolyn), "I don't suppose katre is free"

GamekeeperJohn says, "I haven't seen Sir Gilford since the hunting ended early"

GamekeeperJohn says, "he was right annoyed about it, said he was going for a walk"

GamekeeperJohn says, "then I went to me cabin and took a little nap until Mr Reed called for me"

[heatham] Stanley says (to Wilson), "Without a good watch, I'd have hit that reef off the Shetlands in 1915! Instead of hitting the Shetlands themselves."

Mariamne asks, "Mr Reed? What did he want?"

GamekeeperJohn says, "He wanted me to make special sure to clean his gun -- didn't like how it had been shooting today, thought the barrel was off"

GamekeeperJohn says, "ask me, he's just distracted"

GamekeeperJohn laughs in a old-man kind of way

WilliamMallory coughs.

Judith takes William by the elbow. "I am sure this must have been quite enough heartache for you already, and it's cold. Shall we?"

WilliamMallory says, "I had a bit of an argument with my father, I'm afraid"

[heatham] Gwendolyn says, "he is. let me get him"

WilliamMallory says, "don't really like to talk about it, de mortuis you know"

Mariamne asks, "hm. well, thank you. Now I'm afraid I'm quite lost. Could I prevail on you to show me the way back to the mansion?"

[heatham] GM says, "Judith gets ready to make another notch on the bedpost"

Wilson asks, "You argued with him out here?"

GamekeeperJohn says, ""Why, be glad to, missy""

GamekeeperJohn walks Mariamne back to the cabin and then the manor.

[heatham] Judith says, "as I said, keeping my options open"

GamekeeperJohn says, "Pretty lady like you"

[heatham] Wilson says, "Hee"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Galloping gravy, woman, he's half your age."

WilliamMallory says, "he'd asked me this morning to come see him out here after lunch after his walk"

Mariamne asks (of John), "Actually, do you even know the news?"

[heatham] Judith says (to Stanley), "I am forty-three, as you well know."

Mariamne asks (of John), "about Poor Sir Mallory, I mean?"

GamekeeperJohn asks, "news? what news?"

GamekeeperJohn says, "was there an accident? is he hurt"

GamekeeperJohn asks, "?"

[heatham] Wilson says (to Mariamne), "Hey, he might have heard a shot. Er, though he's going deaf, so maybe not."

[heatham] GM says, "(uh, thanks for the reminder that he hadn't heard yet)"

Mariamne says, "I'm afraid that he was found dead not so long ago"

[heatham] Judith says, "He is two years older than half my age. However, if he doesn't demonstrate some personality soon I shall give up on him."

GamekeeperJohn's jaw drops open

Mariamne asks, "I say, you wouldn't have happened to have heard a shot from the cabin after the hunting ended?"

GamekeeperJohn exclaims, "Sir Gilford? Why, he's hale as a horse!"

GamekeeperJohn says, "uh, if you'll forgive the expression"

[heatham] * katre has joined the channel.

[heatham] Judith says, "Well, one and a half."

Mariamne says, "it does seem like he's been murdered"

[heatham] katre says (to GM), "hey hey"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Give him a chance, blighter's only just found his old man with a bullet in his skull."

WilliamMallory says, "William has gallantly taken Judith's arm and is walking her back, making politely charming conversation"

[heatham] GM says, "awesome"

Stanley heads back to the manor too.

[backstage] * GM has added katre to the channel.

Mariamne says, "It's so terribly tragic"

[heatham] Judith says, "hmm. he certainly recovers from his grief fast"

[backstage] GM asks, "can I talk to you here without spoiling things for Duchess?"

[heatham] Mariamne waits for John's jaw to stop dragging on the floor

[backstage] katre says, "yeah"

[heatham] Judith says, "or maybe he's just very, very practised at being repressed"

GamekeeperJohn says, "oh goodness gracious"

[backstage] GM says, "ok, you're Edmund Mallory: http://www.drizzle.com/~dans/rpg/mystery/personalities.html"

Gwendolyn follows stanley back, complaining of the cold the entire time and of wet feet

[backstage] GM says, "you just found out your father was dead"

Judith asks (of William), "I worry about Edmund. Might it be an idea for you to seek him out while I rejoin the ladies?"

[heatham] Wilson says, "OK, I'm going to check the footprints for timing. Out of the seven tracks, which ones came in what order."

[backstage] GM says, "you'd gone to his cabin earlier, stopped on the doorstep, and went away again"

Mariamne says, "I'm afraid various of the guests have decided they should try and investigate to find out who might have done such a thing"

Judith says, "He seems to be taking this awfully hard."

Stanley asks (of Gwendolyn), "Oh, would you like to be carried inside?"

[backstage] katre says, "okay"

Stanley says, "I'm sure I can find a stout boy for you."

[heatham] * EdmundMallory has joined the channel.

GamekeeperJohn says, "well, those police are no good at catching poachers, so I don't see why they'd be any good at catching a murderer"

Mariamne says, "instead of waiting for the police or even merely waiting for the deceased to make contact to inform us who would do such a terrible thing"

[backstage] katre asks, "where are we playing?"

[backstage] GM says, "here's where you were earlier: http://www.drizzle.com/~dans/rpg/mystery/day-timeline.html"

[backstage] GM says, "7th sea room"

Judith says (to Stanley), "last time you tried that you dropped the girl in question. In Calais, as I recall."

[heatham] Wilson says (to gm), "(I think there's still a #backstage channel for katre)"

EdmundMallory arrives, looking for booty.

[backstage] GM says, "feel free to be rude and lie about stuff in italics"

[backstage] GM says, "also about going to the cabin"

[backstage] katre says, "mmhmm"

[backstage] GM says, "they've got a watch which has your initials on it, which you are always losing and haven't seen since last night"

[backstage] katre says, "mmhmm"

Stanley says, "Edmund! Hang about, there, I want a word with you."

GamekeeperJohn says, "well, I don't hold much with spiritualism neither"

[heatham] EdmundMallory says, "(getting brought up to speed)"

GamekeeperJohn says, "although ghosts, that's a different story"

[backstage] katre says, "timeline not loading"

[backstage] katre says, "also not giving an error"

Mariamne says (to John), "well, of course there'll be a ghost"

[backstage] GM says, "grah, not loading for me either -- ok, I'll just tell you the answers to stuff they ask"

[backstage] katre asks, "okay. I know about the murder already?"

[backstage] GM says, "short version: you didn't feel like going huntign and slept in late"

[backstage] GM says, "yeah"

[heatham] Judith says, "are the Chickerings about? I haven't heard from them yet"

[backstage] katre says, "okay"

[backstage] GM says, "then you were in your room for a bit, then it was tea"

Mariamne says, "such a terrible way to die, his spirit will hardly be able to rest until the culprit is uncovered"

[backstage] katre says, "sounds good"

npc2 has disconnected.

GamekeeperJohn says, "goodness"

EdmundMallory asks (of Stanley), "Yes?"

Stanley says (to Edmund), "Do you have the time on you? We should keep some notes for the Sergeant, when he finally arrives."

GamekeeperJohn says, "well, I hope they catch 'em, then"

EdmundMallory says, "Of course, let me check my watch."

Gwendolyn asks (of Edmund), "if it's not an imposition, can i borrow your handkerchief?"

EdmundMallory fishes around in his pocket. Then his other pocket.

[heatham] Wilson says, "I use my powers of observation and deduction for the footprint timing. Like if set #1 overlaps set #4 and #7, and #7 overlaps #3, etc."

EdmundMallory asks, "Hmm, where did I leave the blasted thing?"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Man, Edmund isn't going to be at all suspicious here."

[heatham] GM says, "right, sorry, getting behind here"

Mariamne says (to John), "I don't supose you could talk to William and the other chaps? You might be able to tell them something helpful, if you saw him recently"

EdmundMallory passes his handkerchief to Gwendolyn. "Of course."

GM says (to Wilson), "the order is, first the single set comes in (matches Sir Gilford), then one of the doubles comes and leaves (this is the one that William claims), then the other double (unclaimed)"

Stanley pulls out the watch labelled GJM, shakes it.

Stanley says, "This one seems to have stopped, dash it."

[backstage] katre asks, "assuming that's my watch?"

[backstage] GM says, "no, you're EFM"

Gwendolyn hisses to Stanley, "He didn't do it! He had a handkerchief!"

[backstage] GM says, "that's your dad's watch"

[backstage] katre says, "oh right"

[backstage] katre says, "too many watches"

[heatham] GM says (to Stanley), "no, it's the other that's stopped"

[heatham] GM says, "unless you're lying"

Gwendolyn wipes an imaginary fleck of snow off her shoulders and returns it.

[heatham] Stanley says, "Nope, just confused."

[backstage] katre says, "also, I hope I had a kandkerchief. maybe I, um, grabbed another earlier"

Judith rejoins the ladies

[heatham] Mariamne says (to wilson), "the other set is possible mr reed"

[heatham] Judith says, "by which I mean the ladylike ladies who are still in the house"

[heatham] GM says (to Mariamne), "at least William says he didn't come all the way up to the cabin"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "ah, okay"

Stanley says, "Hang on, this isn't my watch at all."

Stanley says, "Mine isn't some fancy great gold thing."

[heatham] Mariamne asks, "am I back at the mansion yet?"

[backstage] GM says, "yeah, you have one"

[heatham] GM says, "sure"

[backstage] katre says, "whew"

GamekeeperJohn has left.

Stanley says, "'EFM'."

[heatham] Wilson asks, "Anything someone didn't search at the cabin?"

EdmundMallory asks, "Yes?"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "...oh, I thought he might hand around and talk to the menfolk like I asked, but never mind"

Stanley asks, "Oh, is this yours?"

[heatham] GM says, "oh, sorry, if people want to ask him questions that's fine"

Stanley says, "I found it out at the cabin."

EdmundMallory says, "Whereever did you find it? I'm always misplacing it."

[heatham] GM says, "I just moved him to simplify my windows"

Stanley hands it over.

[heatham] Mariamne says, "yeah, fair enough"

Mariamne goes to find Elizabeth

Stanley says, "You ought to keep it wound up, old man."

Stanley says, "Look, it's stopped at 3 in the morning."

EdmundMallory says, "When I don't lose it, I usually manage."

Judith seeks out Hypatia

Stanley asks, "When did you lose it?"

[backstage] GM says, "(you definitely didn't go in to the cabin today, although you've been there in the past)"

Gwendolyn stays to make sure stanley doesn't accuse edmund

EdmundMallory says, "I last had it yesterday evening. Should have wound it then, I suppose."

[backstage] katre says, "okay"

GM says, "Hypatia is talking to Elizabeth in the morning-room"

EdmundMallory says, "I wonder how it got out here? I haven't been in the cabin in ages. It's Father's domain, really."

GM says, "Elizabeth is all of a flutter and Hypatia is trying to calm her down"

Stanley asks, "If you don't mind me asking, where do you normally keep it?"

Stanley says, "I must say it's pretty rum this showing up there."

Mariamne asks, "why, Elizabeth, what on earth is the matter?"

Mariamne would have expected Hypatia to be more flustered, since it's her father who has been killed

GM says, ""Oh, Mariamne, we're all simply *aghast*" says Elizabeth"

Judith asks, "Sensible girl, Hyp. How is your mother?"

GM says, ""I simply can't believe--" she breaks out crying"

[heatham] Stanley asks, "'Hyp', eh?"

GM says, ""Do stop, Elizabeth," says Hypatia"

EdmundMallory says (to Stanley), "Oh, here and there. As I said, I'm always misplacing it."

[heatham] Wilson exclaims, "Don't believe the hyp!"

[heatham] Gwendolyn asks (of gm), "considering his handkerchief, how does Edmund look? dress wise?"

GM says, "She hands over yet another handkerchief"

[heatham] Judith says, "I tutored her, I'm allowed *some* familiarity"

Mariamne clasps Elizabeth to her and tries to sooth her

[heatham] Stanley says, "You know, that'll be illegal in about 70 years."

GM says, ""But tell us the news," Hypatia says. "Is it really-- do they think it's--?""

Judith says, "Well, it looks like suicide."

Mariamne says, "Oh, I think it must have been murder"

[heatham] GM says (to Gwendolyn), "he dresses like someone who is from a rich family and has an assigned tailor but doesn't really care much about it"

[heatham] GM says, "ha ha ha"

Mariamne says, "I sensed such anger and rage and confusion"

GM says, "Hypatia looks back and forth"

Stanley asks (of Mariamne), "Oh, were you standing close to cousin Judith?"

Judith says, "But I'm sure your father was too sensible for that sort of thing, veteran or no."

Mariamne asks (of stanley), "why, when did you enter the room?"

Judith rolls her eyes in Mariamne's direction and mouths 'loony' to Hypatia

GM says, ""Suicide? But whatever could he have been unhappy about?""

[heatham] Stanley says, "Whoops, and I was talking to Edmund just a moment ago."

[heatham] Mariamne says, "I am sort of envisioning Stanley having stumbled into Elizabeth's bedroom here"

GM says, ""He should have been so pleased about William""

[heatham] GM says, "emerging from the closet covered in camisoles"

[heatham] Mariamne asks, "uh, what about William, and should I know?"

[heatham] GM says, "no"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "okay"

Judith asks, "About William?"

Stanley asks, "Gosh, what a pleasant little cosy... pink, feathery... er, I say, whose room it this?"

Mariamne asks, "William? Why?"

GM says, ""Oh, dear," says Hypatia. "We really should board up that secret passage, it's too ridiculous.""

[heatham] Gwendolyn asks, "i guess edmund and stanley strolled in while talking?"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "nah, we're on a roll now"

GM says, ""Father would have been so proud -- Lord Barleyhew is very prominent in his party, you know, and William is quite the up-and-coming politician""

Stanley says, "I thought it was just a corridor through to the larder!"

GM says, ""And it's really quite a good position for a young man""

[heatham] Mariamne says, "possibly Judith should upbraid him but she's too uncaring"

[heatham] GM asks, "anything outstanding?"

Judith dismisses all thoughts of seducing William at once

Gwendolyn says (to hypatia), "Lord Barleyhew said something about a scandal and "last time""

Mariamne says, "well, he's so charming and intelligent"

[heatham] GM exclaims (at Judith), "but it's quite a good position for a young man!"

Mariamne sighs wistfully

Gwendolyn asks (of hypatia), "did i miss something in my gossip rags?"

[heatham] Wilson asks, "I'm going to canvas the lot, asking people if they went to the cabin at all that day. I'll enlist the help of the constable, and after asking people if they'd been there, we'll check shoes. Should I play out the whole thing, or just skip to finding either a discrepancy or a confession?"

Mariamne says, "I'm not at all surprised that he is doing welll with his political career"

[heatham] Wilson says, "I presume someone will have gone there and found him dead, and didn't want to admit it."

Stanley ducks out and looks for Lord Barleyhew.

Mariamne looks around

GM says, "Hypatia pinkens slightly. "I'm sure Lord Barleyhew is quite a decent man -- really, you ought to know better than to listen to gossip""

Mariamne says, "well, hm, there are four of us in here"

[heatham] GM says, "hmm, perhaps once people are done talking to Hypatia, we should assume that people agree to be interviewed"

Judith says (to Hypatia), "actually, I'm afraid it's all quite true, and worse."

Mariamne says, "that's exactly the right number for a seance"

Gwendolyn says (to hypatia), "come now - we are all friendly here"

Mariamne asks, "perhaps it would give Hypatia comfort to contact her father?"

[heatham] Wilson says (to Mariamne), "Hee hee hee"

Judith says, "The fellow voted against the People's Representation Act, you know."

[heatham] Stanley says, "I would basically like to talk to Barleyhew and Lady Cynthia about Sir Gilford's political notions."

GM says, "Hypatia glares at Mariamne. "I am afraid that I don't hold with such superstitious nonsense""

[heatham] Gwendolyn asks, "wait - so julia knows about the scandal?"

Mariamne says, "oh, but it's not nonsense at all"

[heatham] GM says (to Gwendolyn), "well, Stanley was the one who first brought up a scandal"

Mariamne glares at Judith, and adds, "despite what certain people may think."

[heatham] Stanley says, "Don't forget I just made up the scandal so it may not be canon."

[heatham] Stanley says, "Or important."

[heatham] Judith says (to Stanley), "oh, I know plenty of his opponents"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Actually, no, I said 'last time' and he said 'scandal'."

[heatham] (from Wilson) Judith says, "In the biblical sense, anyway."

GM says (to Stanley), ""Quite a solid man in the Party," Lord Barleyhew says, perhaps a touch over-heartily. "Solid Tory through and through.""

[heatham] GM says, "well, he was worried about the scandal of the murder, but what the heck"

Stanley says (to Barleyhew), "How about the boys? I know you've been looking for some new young blood for the party."

[heatham] Judith says, "even if the scandals aren't generally known, I should have some idea about them"

GM says, "Hypatia stands. "Now if you'll excuse me, I must see to Mama." She stalks out."

Stanley says, "I hear young William might have some ideas."

[heatham] Gwendolyn asks, "has lizzie stopped crying?"

Mariamne sighs, and persudes Elizabeth to come downstairs to the others

GM says, ""Why yes indeed," says Lord Barleyhew. "I've, uh, taken up a little sponsorship of him myself, in fact. Mentioned something of it at lunch, I guess you heard?""

Judith lights another cigarillo, and wonders how long she's going to be stuck here with a bunch of Tories and tarot-shufflers

GM says, "Elizabeth has stopped crying eventually, yeah"

Stanley says (to Barleyhew), "Oh? I didn't hear, actually."

GM says, "Barleyhew looks a little taken aback. "Er -- well, that's what happened.""

Stanley draws Barleyhew discreetly aside.

Judith seeks out Edmund.

Mariamne stops by her room on the way down and picks up her tarot cards

Stanley asks (of Barleyhew), "I say, old man, is there something you need to tell me?"

GM says, "(Barleyhew indicates there's some plum political position which he has the disposition of, and he's chosen William for it)"

GM says, ""I don't know what you mean!" says Lord Barleyhew, a little nervously."

[heatham] Mariamne says, "(1920s tarot sets? enh, I don't care)"

Stanley says (to Barleyhew), "Oh, don't mind me, you know I never wanted to sit on your silly front bench."

[backstage] katre asks, "where am I (as Judith searches for me)?"

[heatham] Judith asks, "is Edmund even about?"

GM says, ""I'm sure George will understand, but I, er, thought about it a good deal and chose William""

[backstage] GM says, "you're, I dunno, in the parlor, maybe"

[heatham] EdmundMallory says, "I'm right here! I just don't know where I am"

Stanley says (to Barleyhew), "I quite understand. Never quite trusted that Chickering fellow myself."

GM says, ""My dear sir! He's one of my closest associates!""

[heatham] Stanley says, "I was talking to you and then I accidentally walked in on the ladies, sorry."

[heatham] EdmundMallory says, "tsk tsk, not much of a gentleman"

[heatham] GM says, "no wonder Edmund is confused"

Stanley nods knowingly, nudges Barleyhew and winks.

Stanley says, "Of course he is!"

[heatham] GM says, "also, actually, before you two talk"

Wilson accosts George to ask him if he'd been out to the cabin today.

[heatham] GM says, "Wilson wanted to interview people about their whereabouts this day"

Mariamne sits demurely at a side table and starts dealing out her tarot cards

[heatham] Wilson says, "Right."

[heatham] GM asks, "would other people like to do this?"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "I'll listen in"

[heatham] GM says, "alrighty"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Sure, I'll tag along."

[backstage] katre asks, "why did I go out and come back?"

[heatham] GM says, "it seems like it'd probably be easier to address one or two people at a time"

[backstage] katre asks, "and what time?"

[heatham] Wilson says, "Let's go for George first."

[heatham] Stanley asks, "How about barleyhew?"

[heatham] Stanley says, "I'm already talking to him."

[heatham] Wilson says, "OK."

Judith says (to Edmund), "(aside) I'm told there's a decent cellar here. Forgive me, but I'm utterly sick of the company and could do with something to take the edge off."

[backstage] GM says, "the butler gave you a note from your dad (which you've since torn up) saying he wanted to see you there at 3-ish"

[backstage] katre says, "mmhmm"

[backstage] GM says, "you went out there, decided you didn't want to get into another argument, and walked around for a while before coming back to the manor"

[backstage] katre says, "got it"

Stanley says (to Barleyhew), "The thing is, Barley, this fellow here wants to find out where everyone's been all day, to help out the police and all."

EdmundMallory says (to Judith), "Of course, let me show you the way."

Stanley says, "Secure a good alibi and all that. Sounds like a capital idea to me."

Judith says, "Thank you ever so."

GamekeeperJohn arrives at home.

LordBarleyhew has connected.

LordBarleyhew says, "right, I suppose so"

Stanley asks (of Wilson), "Wilson, why don't you start with Barley here?"

Judith says (to Edmund), "Tell me, while you were in Africa what did William do? Too young to sign up, I'm sure"

[backstage] GM says, "he did whatever you want -- you think he's kind of a smug prick and you hate all politicians for sending you out to the War, and now he wants to be one, which just proves he's a prick"

[backstage] GM says, "(and yeah, he was too young to actually serve)"

LordBarleyhew says, "Right, er, an alibi"

Wilson asks (of Barleyhew), "So, right. Did you ever make it out to Lord Mallory's cabin today?"

EdmundMallory says, "I'm not entirely sure. School, of course. I'm sure Father had plans, introduced him around to the right circles, you know the thing."

[heatham] * HairBrain has joined the channel.

[heatham] HairBrain says, "myrr"

[heatham] * HairBrain has left the channel.

Judith asks, "I know the type all too well. Merlot?"

LordBarleyhew says, ""No, no, I'm afraid not -- first there was the hunting, and then, er, I believe I chatted with Lady Mallory and the other ladies for a bit, and then lunch, and then I believe I had a round of cards with George and his wife""

[backstage] katre asks, "what year is it currently?"

EdmundMallory says, "If you prefer."

[backstage] LordBarleyhew says, "sort of a nebulous 1920-something"

Wilson asks, "So you were with George and his wife since lunch?"

EdmundMallory says, "I know many who have taken to drink to dull the memories, but it all seems rather pointless to me."

[backstage] katre says, "thanks"

LordBarleyhew says, "right, exactly, all the time since lunch"

Wilson asks, "Did you see anyone else enter or leave the mansion in that time?"

Judith says (to Edmund), "Now I'm sure you don't need to be told, Edmund, that a lot of these chaps are thinking murder."

[backstage] LordBarleyhew says, "(you were drinking some earlier, but feel free to deny it or not actually be alcoholic)"

Mariamne eavesdrop eavesdrop tarot tarot

EdmundMallory asks, "Are they?"

LordBarleyhew says, "well, let me see -- I believe I saw William going out, and Charles said "Hang on, I'll come along""

Wilson nods, makes a note.

LordBarleyhew says, "and I think Edmund came in from outside right before tea"

LordBarleyhew says, "we were by the fire and he came in and I declare he was quite snowed on"

LordBarleyhew says, "can't see the attraction of stomping around in the snow myself, unless there's some good shooting"

Judith says, "I don't suppose there are any obvious people your father got on the wrong side of."

Stanley says (to Barleyhew), "That's jolly convincing, Barley, I must say. Bally clever story."

EdmundMallory says, "Oh, politics, politics. I try to ignore it when they let me."

[backstage] GM says, "you think your father was a jerk and a tyrant and probably raised a lot of hackles, although he sort of hid it too"

[heatham] Mariamne says (to stanley), "wow, you really resent not getting that front bench seat"

[heatham] Stanley says, "What? I was encouraging him!"

EdmundMallory says, "He was always going off about parties and factions and this and that."

[backstage] GM says, "but not so much in politics, yeah, where he was solid but low-key"

[heatham] Wilson asks, "Hmm. Anything else?"

LordBarleyhew says, "Lord Barleyhew runs a nervous finger around his collar. "Er, is that all?""

Judith says (to Edmund), "Doubtless, but it's entirely possible that you'll be mixed up in this whether you like it or not."

[heatham] GM says, "(dammit)"

[heatham] Mariamne asks, "corroborate his story with the others?"

Wilson asks, "Did you ever hear Lord Mallory arguing with either of his sons?"

EdmundMallory says, "I am aware that there will be consequences, yes."

LordBarleyhew says, "Oh, I try and stay out of family business, though it's no secret Sir Gilford was a little disappointed in Edmund"

LordBarleyhew says, "William, though, he was the apple of his father's eye"

Judith says, "What with the watch, and everything. And I dare say you haven't collected many friends in England who would vouch for you."

Stanley says, "All three of them had very fine watches, I hear."

Judith asks, "More wine?"

EdmundMallory pours more for Judith, and refills his own glass.

Wilson asks, "William did everything his father wanted, then?"

LordBarleyhew says, "oh, goodness yes"

LordBarleyhew says, "did you ever meet Sir Gilford? he's a real chip off the old block, as it were"

LordBarleyhew looks confused

LordBarleyhew says, "or, rather, William is"

[heatham] Stanley says, "He seemed a little stiff to me."

EdmundMallory says, "I'm not sure how my watch got there."

[heatham] GM asks, "anyone need something they're not getting?"

EdmundMallory says, "It's common knowledge around here that I always misplace it, of course."

[heatham] Wilson says, "snicker"

[heatham] Stanley says, "I think I'm done here."

[heatham] GM asks, "someone else, then?"

Wilson says, "OK, sounds good. Thank you for the information."

Wilson says, "Oh, one last thing."

LordBarleyhew looks relieved to be-- nuts.

Wilson asks, "May I have one of your shoes?"

LordBarleyhew says, "my dear sir"

Wilson says, "Either will do."

LordBarleyhew says, "I can supply you with the name of my bootmaker"

Stanley says, "I'm sure there's method in his madness, Barley."

Judith says (to Edmund), "Indeed. So I take it that you're heading back to the colonies soon? This hardly seems your kind of place."

Stanley says, "This is a very clever chap we have here. Elephants, you know."

Stanley mimes elephant ears.

EdmundMallory says, "I hadn't made many future plans yet. Obviously now I will have to stay for a while."

Wilson says, "I assure you it will be returned post-haste."

LordBarleyhew says, "right, er, ok then"

Judith says, "Not settling down, then."

[heatham] Wilson laughs and laughs.

EdmundMallory says, "Not here, no."

LordBarleyhew supplies Wilson with one of his shoes

[heatham] Mariamne asks (of stanley), "geez, was there alcohol in that closet?"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Sheesh."

Wilson smiles brightly. "Thank you!"

[heatham] GM says, "he's never without a hipflask"

GM says, "The boot, however, does not match any of the tracks"

[heatham] Stanley says, "I'm just the good cop, putting them at their ease."

[heatham] Mariamne says, "good cop, drunk cop"

[heatham] Wilson asks, "The Chickerings, then?"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Sure."

[heatham] Mariamne says, "gah, can't get through to the cast page"

[heatham] GM says, "for I have no idea what reason, my ISP's webserver is suddenly freaking out"

Judith asks (of Edmund), "Why'd you come back in the first place?"

[backstage] katre asks, "where did I come back from?"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "well, anyway, after the chickerings, the Reeds"

[backstage] GM says, "Africa"

[backstage] GM says, "you decided to see if you could live with your family again"

Judith says, "I mean, it's fairly awful here - don't know how Hyp puts up with it"

[backstage] GM says, "(answer: probably not)"

[heatham] Wilson says, "My working hypothesis is that William killed the guy, and that later Edmond found the body but knew he would be suspected so didn't say anything."

GeorgeChickering asks, "er, yes, what is i?"

[heatham] Wilson says, "since inky said he wanted to hear working theories ;-)"

GeorgeChickering says, "t"

EdmundMallory says, "I felt I owed my family some modicum of sentiment."

GeorgeChickering is short and slight, mostly bald with little tufts of hair that stand up

EdmundMallory says, "I may have been mistaken, but I needed to try."

[heatham] Gwendolyn asks, "i am still not with the rest of the group. can i just wonder off to search the bedrooms upstairs?"

[heatham] Gwendolyn says, "er wander"

[heatham] GM says, "sure, what the hell"

[heatham] Stanley says, "I've only got as far as thinking somebody wants to frame Edmund."

[heatham] Stanley says, "And it may be related to politics or inheritance or some such."

Judith says, "Very noble of you, I'm sure. My own family - well, you've seen Stanley"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "I've got as far as wondering why my tarot readings are all of blank cards"

[heatham] GM says, "ha ha"

Gwendolyn slips in to the first room she sees on the floor and closes the door behind her.

Wilson asks (of George), "We're just compiling a list of where people were at various times. For the police, you know. You arrived here when?"

Stanley says (to Chickering), "George, old boy. Look here, we're taking down some notes to help out the police when they finally get here."

Judith says, "they're all like that, to a greater or lesser degree"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "also as far as concluding that perhaps I do not wish to chase William now that he's doing boring political stuff"

[heatham] GM says, "sorry, uh, I think I am out of psychic ideas for the moment -- I think you'll have to just question people by hand"

[heatham] Wilson says, "Hee timing."

[heatham] GM says, "or by mouth or whatever"

Judith says, "now tell me - here, may as well finish the bottle off"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "my"

GeorgeChickering says, "er, right"

GeorgeChickering says, "well, let's see"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "I'm not *that* bohemian"

GeorgeChickering says, "I got up early and went hunting, and I believe Dorothy slept in a little later and breakfasted with the ladies"

[heatham] Wilson says, "hee"

GeorgeChickering says, "(she is nodding)"

Gwendolyn tries to figure out whose room it is, and starts rummaging in the bureau for handkerchiefs

Wilson asks, "Were you hunting in a group?"

Mariamne goes off to talk to the servants

Judith inquires about various African irrelevancies for a while

GeorgeChickering says, "then when we had to cut the hunting short, I came back to the house and played billiards for a bit"

[heatham] GM says, "aie"

[heatham] GM says, "ok, I hate to cut this short, but it turns out I can only handle one line of questioning at a time"

EdmundMallory responds with polite mumbles.

[heatham] GM says, "so your choices are going to be to talk to the Chickerings, talk to Edmund, or wait"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "(oh, I don't expect answers here, I'm just going to absent myself from this room)"

GeorgeChickering says, "with Edmund, once he'd woken up"

[heatham] (from Wilson) GM says, "OK, it turns out that anyone on their own right now gets killed off."

GeorgeChickering says, "I believe my wife was writing letters to some friends"

[heatham] Judith says, "I can take a break from this, if you need some breathing space"

GeorgeChickering says, "then we had lunch, then I played some more billiards with Charles until"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "Edmund isn't inky, so"

GeorgeChickering says, "he had to leave, and then we were talking with Lord Barleyhew"

[heatham] Stanley says, "We'll just assume your scene consists of a discreet row of asterisks."

GeorgeChickering says, "and then tea and all this horrible business"

[heatham] EdmundMallory says, "now now"

[heatham] Gwendolyn says, "my working theory: the burnt handkerchiefs i found in the cabin are the murderer's, so i am just going to see if i can find by feel who has that kind of handkerchief. so far it's not edmund's or sir gilford's"

[heatham] Gwendolyn says, "i suspect mr. reed at the moment"

[heatham] Stanley says, "I totally lost track of where all the footprints went, although I assume it's important."

[heatham] Stanley says, "Since they indicate the prints of feet."

[heatham] Mariamne says, "I suspect Mr Reed also"

[heatham] Wilson says, "The footprints:"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "but for no real reason"

[heatham] Wilson says, "One set, belonging to the deceased, entered the cabin."

[heatham] Gwendolyn says, "i guess i will wait till the questioning is done before i keep going through thebedrooms"

[backstage] GM says, "ok, it's been three hours, I think this narrative needs to get pushed along a bit"

[heatham] Wilson says, "Then William and Mr Reed's footprints wander out in the snow, Williams' departs, enters the cabin, goes back to Mr. Reed, they go to the gameskeepers, and from there back to the manor."

[heatham] Wilson says, "Then there's an unknown set that enter and leave the cabin."

Stanley asks, "What were you talking to Barleyhew about?"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "hmHmmm"

[heatham] Wilson says, "Then there's the prints of the servant who found him dead."

[heatham] Wilson asks (of GM), "is that right?"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "I say someone gets Edmund's boots off him"

[backstage] GM says, "so I think given that you're slightly drunk, you should find a way to fess up that 1) you hate your dad and 2) you went to the cabin to see him (but didn't go inside) and so 3) you're thinking they're going to suspect you because everyone hates you"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "and I nominate Judith"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Ha ha ha."

[heatham] Gwendolyn says, "hs"

[heatham] Wilson laughs and laughs.

[heatham] GM says, "Mr Reed went to the gamekeeper at the same time that William went to the cabin"

[heatham] GM says, "otherwise that's correct"

[heatham] Wilson says, "Got it."

[heatham] GM says, "and the last set of footprints goes and wanders around for a while before heading back to the manor"

[heatham] Wilson says, "(we haven't actually matched Mr Reed's prints yet, but we have William's word on that)"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Judith Hertford and the Mysterious Case of the Missing Watch, Missing Boots, Missing Bow-Tie and Disheveled Underthings."

GeorgeChickering says, "oh, this and that"

[heatham] Wilson says, "Right, so the last set is almost certainly Edmond's."

GeorgeChickering says, "he doesn't like to talk politics on vacation, you know, so we talked about wwhat plays he's seen in the city and where he's eaten recently"

[heatham] Wilson says, "It will be interesting to see if he denies it or not."

[heatham] GM says (to Stanley), "hee hee"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "assuming he did go in after the murder, yes"

[backstage] katre says, "got it"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "this is why I said Judith should get his boots"

[heatham] Wilson says, "Yeah"

EdmundMallory says (to Judith), "Mmm, this is good wine."

Stanley says, "Barleyhew says you were playing cards."

Judith says (to Edmund), "very."

EdmundMallory asks, "Y'know, they all think it was me, don't they?"

EdmundMallory says, "Just cause Father and I fought all the time."

EdmundMallory says, "He's just so.... so hidebound."

[heatham] Mariamne says, "or maybe he'll take them off of his own accord, the way things are going down there"

Judith says, "Quite. And the watch really doesn't help."

[heatham] Gwendolyn says, "edmund said he hadn't been there in a while"

[heatham] GM says, "hey, the webserver's up, finally"

EdmundMallory says, "He can't see the way things are! He lives in his own world, and it's totally different from the world I've seen."

Judith says, "Personally, I don't think you have any motive whatsoever."

[heatham] Mariamne says, "at this point I suspect Lady Mallory"

Judith says, "I can hardly see you hopping up and down with impatience to become lord of the manor."

GeorgeChickering says, "were we? oh, yes, I recall, we played a few hands"

EdmundMallory says, "Exactly! It's just not my thing."

[heatham] Mariamne says, "okay, I don't really, but hey, why exclude the women from this"

Wilson asks (of George), "And did you see anyone enter or leave the manor during the time after lunch?"

[heatham] Wilson says, "Hee"

[heatham] Mariamne asks, "also didn't someone say only william looked like his father?"

[heatham] Stanley asks, "Did they say *only* William?"

Judith breaks open a second bottle

[heatham] Mariamne asks, "and the others looked like Charles Reed?"

GeorgeChickering says, "let's see -- I believe I saw William leaving around 2"

[heatham] Wilson says, "I thought that was a joke."

EdmundMallory says, "I'm glad I didn't go see him today. We'd have fought, and fought, like we always fight."

[heatham] Mariamne says, "oh, maybe"

[heatham] Wilson asks, "GM?"

EdmundMallory says, "I don't know what he wanted. Probably just going to tell me to "buck up" and "be a man"."

[heatham] Mariamne asks, "inky or judith want to confirm one way or another here?"

[heatham] GM says, "only William looks like his dad, right, but Edmund does not look particularly like Charles"

Judith says, "Myself, I'm inclined to suspect Barleyhew, but only because he'd sell his grandmother to get a title for an ally."

Judith asks, "Oh, he wanted to see you about something?"

[heatham] Mariamne asks, "do they look like anyone else?"

EdmundMallory says, "Sent me a... a note."

[heatham] Mariamne asks, "aside from their mother?"

Judith asks, "May I see?"

EdmundMallory says, "Said he wanted to talk, in the cabin."

EdmundMallory says, "Don't have it no more."

[heatham] Wilson says, "Oho"

[heatham] GM says, "Edmund takes after his mother, yeah"

[heatham] GM says, "not especially like anyone else here, except his sister some (who therefore also looks like his mother)"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Gee, I wonder who could have sent that note."

Judith asks, "Oh dear. Where did you leave that note?"

[backstage] katre asks, "I destroyed the note?"

[heatham] Wilson asks, "Maybe someone who is so like their father that their handwriting is even the same?"

Stanley asks (of DorothyChickering), "How about you, Mrs Chickering?"

[backstage] GM says, "yeah"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "ah well, there goes my 'adulterous mother who was found out and killed him before he could do anything about it' theory"

EdmundMallory says, "Burnt it, in the fire. After I heard. I knew everyone'd think it was me."

DorothyChickering says, "let's see, I believe I overheard Mr Reed asking to go with William as William was leaving the house"

[heatham] Mariamne asks, "the fire in the cabin?"

[heatham] Wilson says (to Judith), "Don't forget to ask when he *got* the note."

[heatham] Mariamne asks, "so he WAS in the cabin, but after we all found out?"

Wilson nods.

Judith says, "Hmf. Awful shame, that. Could have exculpated you nicely."

Wilson asks, "And later, you saw Edmond?"

[heatham] GM says, "well, other rooms have fires too"

[heatham] Mariamne says (to wilson), "dude, Edm*u*nd"

Judith asks, "Tell me, does your father have an extant will?"

[heatham] Wilson says, "Sigh"

DorothyChickering says, "right, he came in from outside, or at least he had snow on his head"

[heatham] Wilson says, "OK, Marianne."

[heatham] Gwendolyn says (to mariamne), "i looked in the fireplace. no paper scraps"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "heh"

Judith asks, "More importantly, are its contents common knowledge?"

EdmundMallory says, "I don't.... don't know. Probably. Have to ask the solicitors."

[heatham] Mariamne says, "...gwendolyn ah"

[backstage] GM says, "of course, you get the house"

[backstage] GM says, "since you're the older son"

[backstage] GM says, "and the lands"

[backstage] GM says, "probably he left money to William since he likes him better"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "see, him scurrying over there to check the body and burn the paper would explain away that last set of tracks"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "ah well"

Judith says, "The thing is, someone went through his papers and hunting gear. Looking for something."

EdmundMallory asks, "Wh... who?"

Judith says, "Can't be sure."

[backstage] GM says, "but probably he used the solicitor down in the village to make his will"

EdmundMallory asks, "Got any more of that wine?"

Judith tops up Edmund's glass.

[heatham] Mariamne says (to judith), "get his boots!"

[heatham] Judith says (to Mariamne), "if he's a gentleman I won't need to"

EdmundMallory says, "Mmm, good stuff."

[heatham] Mariamne says, "you know, I don't think I want to parse that"

EdmundMallory says, "I'll say this for Father, he kept the estate up nice. Hope I can do as good."

[heatham] Wilson asks (of GM), "Another question about the tracks. The last set wanders around a while, then goes in to the cabin, then goes out and straight back to the manor?"

Judith says, "How close are you to your brother? Hyp always seemed quite fond of you"

[heatham] Stanley says, "I hope Wilson and I don't decide to talk to Edmund at an inconvenient moment."

[heatham] GM says, "no, straight out to cabin, away, wanders, back to manor"

[heatham] Gwendolyn says, "i am going to assume the search of the bedrooms isn't going to do me any good, considering the line of questioning so i will come down to where mariamne is"

[heatham] Wilson says, "Oh, OK."

EdmundMallory says, "William? William is what Father wanted. He's become quite the Proper Young Society Man."

[heatham] Judith says (to Mariamne), "as in, it is gentlemanly to remove them first"

EdmundMallory says, "Quite the prick, too."

[heatham] Mariamne says, "you still need to stop him putting them back on until they've been checked with the prints"

Judith says (to Edmund), "I believe it's a necessary qualification for the Tories."

EdmundMallory exclaims, "Ha! Exactly right!"

Stanley says (to Wilson), "Anyway, shall we move on"

[heatham] Mariamne asks, "did we stop questioning the chicckerings?"

Stanley asks, "?"

[heatham] Stanley says, "I guess."

[heatham] GM asks, "did you have any more questions?"

[heatham] Mariamne asks, "or are we all just sat around watching judith hit on edmund?"

[heatham] Stanley says, "It's strangely fascinating."

Judith asks, "So you don't have any idea what someone might be looking for in there?"

[heatham] Stanley says, "I'm taking notes in naval shorthand."

[heatham] Gwendolyn says, "i need to talk to george chickering at some point, too."

EdmundMallory says, "It was his office. All his business stuff, political stuff. I never knew what he had in there."

Gwendolyn wanders back downstairs

[heatham] GM asks (of Gwendolyn), "ok, you want to talk to the Chickerings?"

[heatham] Gwendolyn asks, "can i just bump into them 'by accident'?"

[heatham] GM says, "of course"

[heatham] Wilson says, "Oh, I'll go ahead and snag the Chickering shoes, as well."

[heatham] Stanley says, "Heh."

Judith says, "At some point I'm going to need to go over your fathers' papers, I think."

EdmundMallory asks, "Whatever for?"

[heatham] Gwendolyn asks, "are they walking around or in the dining room?"

Judith says, "Well, I acknowledge it'll be dreadful."

[heatham] GM says, "I assumed they were standing, but whatever you like"

Judith says, "But I might get a better idea as to what this person was looking for."

Judith says, "And if possible I'd like to do so without William breathing down my neck."

[heatham] Stanley says, "They're probably hopping around at this point."

[heatham] Gwendolyn says, "ok. leave 'em standing"

GeorgeChickering says, "Oh, very well, but it's a lot of damned nonsense, if you ask me"

EdmundMallory says, "I guess... guess it wouldn't hurt."

GM says, "it is obvious Dorothy's shoes are too small to have made the mystery tracks, so you (thankfully) don't need to ask her to remove them"

GM says, "George's shoes are too large to match them"

Gwendolyn yelps and holds her hand to her eye, as if something was in her eye when she sees GeorgeChickering. "Oh no! something got in my eye - anyone have a handkerchief?"

Stanley says, "By George, George, I think your shoes have put you in the clear."

Judith asks, "Care to accompany me? Or would you rather not see the body?"

GeorgeChickering says, "Why, of course, my dear"

[heatham] Wilson tromps off to see the Reeds.

GeorgeChickering looks chivalrously in his pocket, then his other pocket.

GeorgeChickering winces.

EdmundMallory says, "I'll just finish the bottle, I think."

Stanley goes with Wilson.

GeorgeChickering asks, "Dorothy, dear, I seem to have lost my handkerchief -- have you seen it?"

Gwendolyn looks carefully at George's facial expression. Ah-ha!

Judith slips out of the house and down to the crime scene.

DorothyChickering says, "no, dear, perhaps it's in the room -- in any case, you can go up and get another"

Gwendolyn rubs at eye furiously

[heatham] Stanley asks, "Where would Reed be?"

Judith says, "I may be able to find out more without that awful spiritualist biddy and my hopeless cousin rampaging all over the place."

DorothyChickering supplies her handkerchief to Gwendolyn instead

DorothyChickering says, "(which is frilly and lace-edged)"

[heatham] GM says, "let me finish up with Dorothy and then you can talk to him"

Gwendolyn . o O ( dammit. i didn't look in their room! )

[heatham] Mariamne says, "biddy? I'm like two decades younger than judith!"

[heatham] GM says, "hee hee"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Cousin? I thought I was her nephew."

[heatham] Judith says, "there you go with your ageist prejudices"

Gwendolyn says (to dorothy), "(sullenly) thank you"

[heatham] Judith says, "second cousin, I thought"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "right then, I've wandered out to the cabin and am looking around the outside"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "JUST TO GET IN HER WAY"

[heatham] GM says, "ok, on to Charles Reed"

[heatham] Judith exclaims, "hey!"

[heatham] Wilson laughs.

CharlesReed is talking to Lady Mallory in the library, and they look up in surprise as you come in

[heatham] Mariamne says, "I am looking underneath the window in the snow"

Stanley doffs his natty cap.

[heatham] GM asks, "meanwhile, what are you guys up to at the cabin?"

Stanley says, "Lady Mallory, Mr Reed."

CharlesReed says, "That damn constable's been harrassing Lady Mallory"

[heatham] Judith says, "I plan to go through the papers of the deceased methodically"

Wilson says, "Hello. We're compiling a list of where people were, when. For the police, you know."

Wilson asks, "Oh?"

Stanley says, "Yes, it's quite criminal what the police think they can get away with, isn't it."

[heatham] Mariamne says, "I am not visible from inside the cabin but if I hear voices or see people inside then I will snoop from outside"

CharlesReed says, "wanting to know where she's been and so on -- load of dashed nonsense"

[heatham] Judith says, "looking for a will, political correspondence, secret desk compartments, you know the drill"

Stanley says, "So we're going to write down everybody's alibi first."

[heatham] Judith says, "enormous piles of angry letters from creditors"

[heatham] Judith says, "Satanist propaganda"

[heatham] GM says, "ok, on a more careful inspection it's obvious that a folder or two have been removed from the desk"

Stanley says, "Then when the Sergeant comes round with his questions we can just say, look here, here's all the gossip, now shove off."

[heatham] GM says, "which is presumably not about finances of the manor or farming, since that's what's left"

CharlesReed grumbles

CharlesReed says, "well, I suppose it's better to do it this way than have to deal with that constable any more"

[heatham] Judith asks, "and how does that look? stable?"

Stanley says, "I think it's a jolly clever idea."

[heatham] GM says, "yeah, he's doing well"

[heatham] Judith asks, "any recent correspondence?"

Stanley says, "Mr Wilson here is writing it all down."

[heatham] GM says, "hmm"

Wilson says, "Right."

[heatham] GM says, "looking at his letters and reading between the lines, it seems like the main purpose of this house-party, from his perspective, is to get to talk to Lord Barleyhew"

Wilson asks (of charles), "So, I understand you went out wandering with William a bit after lunch?"

[heatham] Gwendolyn says, "no one thought to look at john's shoes"

[heatham] GM says, "with a side comment where he says that George insists on coming but it won't matter"

CharlesReed says, "right, I had to talk to the gamekeeper"

CharlesReed says, "damn rifle wasn't shooting properly"

CharlesReed says, "then we walked back"

Judith says, "Hmf."

CharlesReed says, "William had had some kind of argument with his father"

Judith pokes absent-mindedly at the moose head

CharlesReed says, "could hear him shouting from the gamekeeper's cottage"

Mariamne is bored of spying on judith from outside, and wanders into the cabin

CharlesReed says, "all shaken up, didn't like to ask about what"

Wilson asks, "Did you hear anything specific?"

Judith says, "Well, if the will was here then someone's made off with it."

[heatham] GM says (to Mariamne), "sorry, finally getting to you"

[heatham] GM asks (of Mariamne), "what did you want to do about the snow?"

[heatham] Mariamne asks, "did I find anything outside the window?"

[heatham] Gwendolyn asks (of judith), "Hey! he's a hunter. We saw no fishing equipment in the cabin. What in the world is he doing with a trout?"

Judith asks (of Edmund), "I take it you know where a master key is?"

[heatham] Gwendolyn says, "poke at the trout instead of the moose"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "I was digging around in it outside the window and tring to see if there were any prints or whatever"

[heatham] GM exclaims, "there was fishing stuff in the spare room too!"

[heatham] Gwendolyn says (to gm), "oh. missed that bit then. sorry"

Judith says, "I might just want to rifle through some personal effects."

[heatham] EdmundMallory says (to Judith), "I came with you? I thought I stayed with the bottle."

GM says (to Mariame), "there aren't any prints outside the window, but there turn out to be several of the compacted-snow areas leading from the window to the forest"

[heatham] Judith says, "I thought I dragged you along, but if you didn't that's fine"

[heatham] EdmundMallory says, "okay"

Wilson asks (of charles), "Do you remember what William was wearing at the time?"

CharlesReed says, "hmm, let me see"

EdmundMallory says, "Father would have had all the keys."

[heatham] Wilson says, "(on the theory that if William got blood on himself, he'd change before tea)"

[backstage] katre asks, "did Father have a butler/secretary/anything?"

[heatham] Judith says, "...or the butler."

[heatham] Stanley says, "Cunning."

CharlesReed says, "I believe -- pardon me, Lady Mallory -- William was saying that it was unfair and he couldn't treat his brother like this"

Mariamne digs around in the compacted snow

[backstage] CharlesReed says, "yeah, Pondley the butler has all the keys"

GM says, "nothing buried, it's just pushed down"

EdmundMallory says, "And possibly Pondley, of course."

[heatham] Wilson says, "Yay secret tracks"

Judith looks out of the window. "I don't suppose anybody could climb out of this?"

Judith tries.

[heatham] Mariamne asks, "like somebody's walked along it regularly, or dragged something heavy?"

Mariamne follows the compacted snow tracks

[heatham] Mariamne says, "apparently I am an unexpectedly awesome tracker"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "what with finding the footprints and following them and so on"

[heatham] Judith says, "footprints leave a psychic residue"

[heatham] GM says, "they're squares about a foot or two on a side, separated by a few feet"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "I did get a reading from the prints, so"

[heatham] GM says, "(so not really hard to follow once you know what they look for)"

[heatham] Judith asks, "is this window climb-outable?"

[heatham] GM says, "so it doesn't look draggable"

GM says (to Judith), "yeah, you could certainly climb out"

GM says, "if you leave your dignity behind"

Judith drops out on the other side, wheezing

GM says, "and swing the grate in"

Wilson asks (of Charles), "William didn't want Gilford treating Edmund somehow?"

Mariamne follows the tracks

GM says, "luckily the snow has been compacted here so you don't sink too far down"

Judith says, "*cough* *cough*"

CharlesReed says, "didn't hear exactly what, didn't like to enquire"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "presumably you see me wandering into the forest"

EdmundMallory uses the door, but follows Judith.

CharlesReed says, "not cricket, I mean to say"

[heatham] GM says, "(at which point the tracks peter out)"

Judith says (to Edmund), "give me a second - *cough*"

Mariamne searches where the tracks end

[heatham] GM says, "(not vanish, just that the ground's too bumpy to show any more)"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "dammit"

[Crows-Nest] * jnc has joined the channel.

Mariamne goes back to where Judith is, and points out the tracks

Judith says, "So the shoeprints probably mean nothing."

Mariamne says, "well, I can't think how these were even made"

Judith says, "Someone comes this way, climbs in the window, does the dirty deed..."

[heatham] GM asks, "anything outstanding?"

Judith says, "Snowshoes, perhaps."

[heatham] Wilson says (to Judith), "You can get him to confess he entered the cabin and found his father dead now"

[heatham] Wilson says (to GM), "William's clothes"

Mariamne says, "perhaps someone should look for snowshoes in the mansion"

Judith says, "And you could take those off outside the window, thus not leaving any snow inside the hut."

Judith says, "Though how the Baronet reacted to someone climbing in through his window..."

Mariamne says, "well, after a while you can't see where they go"

CharlesReed says, "he'd bundled up a bit, but I believe he was in his afternoon wear"

Mariamne says, "I shall go back to the mansion and endeavour to find out if anyone has snowshoes!"

[heatham] GM says, "ha ha ha"

Mariamne asks, "wait, can one open the window from outside?"

[heatham] (from Stanley) Mariamne says, "Okay, everyone, take off your shoes again!"

[heatham] Wilson asks, "Are they snowshoe-ish tracks, or like a board?"

Judith says, "An experiment is called for, then."

Mariamne goes inside and closes the grate

[heatham] Gwendolyn asks, "are they tracks, or as if someone used something to wipe out existing tracks?"

GM says, "the grate clicks shut"

Judith gives the window a good tug.

Mariamne says, "come in if you can!"

GM says (to Judith), "you push, but it looks like it's one of those catches that engages when closed and can only be opened from the inside"

[heatham] GM says (to Wilson), "more like a board"

[heatham] Judith asks, "but it's just a grille, right? Could I reach through?"

[heatham] Gwendolyn says, "looks like the biddy and the loony are working well together"

[heatham] GM says, "no, it's a really tight grill -- like a centimeter between bars"

[heatham] Judith says, "aha"

Mariamne opens the grate, and remarks that it seems like either Sir Mallory had the grate open (in this cold?) or perhaps this was not the entry method

[heatham] GM says (to Gwendolyn), "if they wiped out existing tracks or dragged something, they did it at intervals, since the marks are spaced out between bits of untouched snow"

Judith asks, "So... can you *close* the window from outside?"

Mariamne says, "go ahead and try"

Judith pulls the window closed

GM says, "the bars are actually pretty tight, and it's hard to get a finger on them"

GM says, "you could probably do it with narrow fingers"

Mariamne says, "I'm going to check to see if Sir Mallory is wearing shoes that fit him properly."

GM says, "while you're messing around with the grate, though, you do notice some scratch-marks on one of the bars"

Judith slips a housekey out of her pocket, hooks that into the bars and pulls

[heatham] Stanley asks (of Wilson), "Hey, should we continue with the questioning?"

GM says, "that works, although it scrapes the bars a bit"

Judith says, "Ah-HA."

[heatham] Mariamne says, "come on, that's cunning, no? swap shoes and the prints are confusing!"

[heatham] Gwendolyn asks, "the 'unknown' footprint that we saw - is that smaller than the others?"

[heatham] Wilson says, "I was letting stuff take a one-at-a-time thing, but sure."

GM says (to Mariamne), "in fact, his shoes are a little too big for him"

Mariamne says, "hmmmmm"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Well, hmm, what's happening at the cabin seems more productive."

[heatham] Stanley says, "So okay, let's wait."

Mariamne says, "Dame Judith, I don't believe these are Sir Mallory's shoes on his feet"

[heatham] GM says, "the single tracks are the biggest, William's are the smallest"

[heatham] GM says, "(so the unknown ones are medium)"

Judith says, "So let's say that our dear departed corpse knows the killer, and opens the window for a pleasant chat. The killer shoots him, climbs in to arrange the scene, climbs out and pulls the window to."

Mariamne asks, "look, see how they are loose?"

[heatham] Gwendolyn says, "there goes my idea"

Judith says, "...or else exchanges shoes and jumps out of the window."

Judith says, "You're brighter than you look, girl."

[heatham] Mariamne says, "...."

[heatham] Gwendolyn says, "i was thinking maybe it's a woman's set of footprints, if they were the smallest. then i could accuse dorothy"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "NOT HARD"

[heatham] GM says, "hee hee"

[heatham] GM says (to Gwendolyn), "yeah, these are probably man-sized prints"

Mariamne says, "if he switched shoes he could just walk out again"

[heatham] Wilson says, "afk a bit--unloading groceries."

Judith asks (of Mariamne), "no. Remember how the shoes on his feet were the only ones which just went in?"

[heatham] GM says, "the single prints go *into* the cabin, not out"

[heatham] GM says, "yeah"

Mariamne says, "since then the prints he made on the way here would be assumed to be Sir Mallory's"

[heatham] Stanley says, "The killer walks in wearing those shoes, leaves them behind and wears Gilford's shoes on the way out."

Mariamne says, "and the shoes Sir Mallory was wearing would be making prints in and out"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "right, but explaining this while being ditzy is hard"

Judith says, "But then the window... there must have been an accomplice."

[heatham] Gwendolyn asks, "so the unknown prints are really sir gilford's?"

[heatham] Stanley says, "You're going to try the fateful shoes on everyone's feet and the killer will turn out to be Cinderella."

[heatham] GM says, "ha ha ha"

Mariamne says, "I mean, perhaps I am being silly here"

Judith says, "Now the shoes on his feet now are men's shoes, or we'd have noticed earlier."

Mariamne says, "and perhaps it is just that Sir Mallory's shoes really were too big"

Judith says, "But if someone planned it this carefully, they could just as well have stolen someone else's shoes for this very purpose, so it doesn't get us too far."

[heatham] Mariamne asks, "so now we have two theories, right?"

[heatham] Stanley asks, "Okay, so who has big feet?"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "one with the window, the key and the snowshoes, and one with the shoe-swapping"

[heatham] Gwendolyn says, "wait wait wait"

[heatham] Gwendolyn says, "william is a block of the chip wood"

[heatham] Gwendolyn says, "or whatever the phrase is"

[heatham] Judith says, "so he surely has the same shoe size"

[heatham] Gwendolyn says, "wouldn't his feet be close to ... timing"

[heatham] GM says, "hee hee"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Hrm, that's a stretch."

[heatham] Mariamne says, "or maybe a *tad* larger"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "that seems a bit of a stretch, though"

[heatham] Judith says, "I don't think we need to give that much credence."

[heatham] Judith says, "maybe we just need to smell everyone's feet"

[heatham] Gwendolyn asks, "so he would be able to at least walk around without getting stumbly. you know how hard it is to walk in other people's shoes?"

Mariamne asks, "so what now? take the shoes and make people try them on until we find someone whom they fit?"

Mariamne says, "or someone with chafing feet from wearing badly-fitted shoes, perhaps"

Judith asks, "Well, have a look inside. Where's the shoemaker from?"

[heatham] Mariamne asks, "anyone in the mansion limping?"

Mariamne checks

[heatham] Stanley says, "Oh, it's nothing, just an injury I sustained in... er, Norway."

[heatham] GM says, "ha ha wheeze"

GM says, "it's a London shoemaker"

[heatham] Judith says, "which of course is no use at all"

[heatham] GM says, "yeah, sorry"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "I love how Judith and I are now a top crime-fighting duo"

[heatham] Judith says, "unless we go to the shoemaker in question and find that he has a photographic memory"

[heatham] Gwendolyn says, "we should have had lord barley tell us his shoemaker's name earlier"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "and how Edmund seems to have vanished again"

[heatham] Gwendolyn says, "then we could've matched"

EdmundMallory hiccups.

[heatham] GM says, "he's sleeping it off, or something"

[heatham] Stanley says, "The initial overlarge team has now been whittled down to the cunning biddy and her hapless psychic sidekick."

[heatham] GM says, "hee hee"

[heatham] Mariamne asks, "hapless? who noted the shoes?"

[heatham] Mariamne asks, "who found the tracks?"

[heatham] Judith says, "well, I'm *sure* that William and dead-boy have the same tailors and shoemakers..."

[heatham] Mariamne says, "SHEESH"

[heatham] GM says, "hee hee"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Not that I want to get involved in the game again, but maybe it's time to continue questioning people."

Mariamne asks (of Edmund), "hey, I don't suppose you remember what shoes your father was wearing earlier?"

[heatham] Judith says, "so let's go and poke around the deceased's wardrobe"

Mariamne moves casually in front of them to block the view

[heatham] Stanley says, "Oh, hey, I have a Theory."

EdmundMallory says, "Er what? The winter ones, I suppose."

GM says, "I think having gotten him drunk, he's not going to be the best judge of shoewear"

Mariamne asks, "what colour would those be?"

Mariamne says, "enh, well"

EdmundMallory asks, "Brown? Black?"

GM says, "(but if you want to poke around the house and see people's closets, feel free)"

EdmundMallory says, "Not blue."

Mariamne says, "(that's probably wise, yes)"

[heatham] GM says (to Edmund), "hee hee"

[heatham] GM asks (of Stanley), "yeah?"

Mariamne asks (of judith), "shall we go sneak around some closets, then?"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "NOT HITTING ON JUDITH"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Maybe the real killer is the person at the window with the snowshoes."

[heatham] Stanley says, "And the person who switched shoes merely discovered the corpse."

Judith says (to Mariamne), "surely a psychic like you can identify this shoe's owner with no trouble at all"

[heatham] GM says, "ha ha ha"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Which would explain why the first indicates better planning than the second."

Mariamne attempts to get a reading from the shoes

[heatham] GM says, "(to Mariamne, not your theory)"

[heatham] (from Stanley) GM says, "To your theory, HAW HAW HAW sheesh what a maroon."

Mariamne says, "it's awfully swirly and confusing in here, the vibrations are terrible to decipher"

Judith says, "How dreadfully convenient."

Mariamne says, "I'm sensing cunning and malice"

Judith asks (of Edmund), "where did you say William's rooms were, again?"

Mariamne says, "and, hm, they don't match with the rest of the body"

[heatham] Judith says (to Mariamne), "ha ha ha"

Mariamne says, "the body has this fog of confusion, the shoes are claerly malicious"

Judith says (to Mariamne), "how enlightening"

GM says, "(ok, in the interests of time, let us say you bully Edmund into showing you around the house to everyone's closet)"

[heatham] GM says, "ha ha ha evil shoes"

EdmundMallory explains how to get there.

[heatham] Mariamne says, "I am repeating stuff verbatim here, more or less"

[heatham] GM asks, "would anyone like to take a guess at whose the shoes are?"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "blame inky for the malicious shoes of cunning"

[heatham] Mariamne asks, "William's?"

[heatham] Judith exclaims, "Barleyhew!"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Chickering!"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "Reed!"

[heatham] GM says, "hee hee"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "Mrs Mallory!"

[heatham] Judith exclaims, "Jesus!"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "wait, no"

[heatham] GM says (to Stanley), "good work"

[heatham] Stanley says, "OHO"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "ooooooooh"

GM says, "The shoes that the corpse was wearing turn out to belong to the large-footed George Chickering"

GM says, "and, luckily, you are able to ascertain this without getting noticed by too many people"

[heatham] Mariamne asks, "my god, was that actually... detective work and clue-deciphering we did there?"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Now if I had a good reason to suspect Chickering rather than merely vaguely suspect him, that would be good."

Judith says, "now, of course we can't rule out that Chickering's shoes were stolen for this very purpose"

Mariamne tries to get a reading from Chickering's other shoes

Mariamne says, "(assuming he has some that we have ascertained things from)"

Stanley says, "(Can we assume we've all huddled together to swap notes?)"

Judith says, "but this isn't going to stop me going through his personal effects for those folders."

Judith says, "Edmund, be a darling and watch the door."

GM says (to Stanley), "I think so, yeah"

Mariamne says, "(we sent Edmund over to explain and you've sort of gotten the gist)"

[heatham] EdmundMallory says, "I have been reduced from the heir to the servant"

[heatham] GM says, "ha ha ha"

[heatham] GM says, "she's got you wrapped around her little finger, man"

[heatham] Judith says, "The Aristocrat Is Always Right"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Hmm, I was going to ask Lucian for his notes but he's idle."

[heatham] EdmundMallory says, "her wine bottle, perhaps"

[heatham] GM says, "ha ha ha"

[heatham] Gwendolyn says, "i am glad my handkerchief obsession pointed to chickering"

[heatham] GM says, "her little corkscrew"

Mariamne continues trying to Read the Shoes of Fate

GM says, "anyway"

Stanley asks (of Gwendolyn), "What happened when you asked Chickering for a handkerchief, by the way?"

Stanley says, "Very cleverly done, I thought."

Stanley asks, "Was he hiding something, or do you think somebody stole them?"

Mariamne says, "hm, see these scuff-marks on these shoes? I think he must have had an angry confrontation with a pedestrian a few weeks ago"

GM says, "Judith searches Chickering's room, and while she doesn't find any blackmail materials, she does find .. a pair of boots"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "DUN DUN DUUUUUH"

GM says, "shoved in the back of a drawer, under a sweater"

Mariamne do those match these other shoes in size?

Judith says, "Oh *dear*."

[heatham] Mariamne says, "er, said, not emoted"

Gwendolyn says (to Stanley), "he didn't have his any, and he got all flustered that he didn't have it, and his handkerchiefs in his room match the kind that was burnt in the cabin"

GM says, "they don't match George Chickering's other boots, no"

[heatham] Stanley asks, "Now, we were told that Barleyhew had picked William for some plum job over Chickering -- is that right?"

[heatham] GM says, "yes"

Mariamne attempts to read the boots to see if they feel like they belong to Sir Mallory

[heatham] Mariamne says, "this is like my one talent of use here"

[heatham] Wilson returns.

[heatham] Mariamne says, "sensing shoes"

Judith says, "oh for heaven's sake"

[heatham] Wilson says, "Hey, clues."

[heatham] GM says, "hee hee"

[heatham] Stanley says, "I'm wondering if Edmund might be covering for William."

[heatham] GM says, "Detect Shoes 30' radius"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Like, framing himself. Hrm, surely not."

Mariamne says, "these do feel like they belong to Sir Mallory"

[heatham] Gwendolyn says (to mariamne), "katre's making fun of us saying we are too handkerchief and shoe obsessed"

Judith asks, "So at this point, do we want to confront Chickering?"

[heatham] Wilson says, "OK, hrm."

Gwendolyn says, "I think his wife is helping him out"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "but they're useful obsessions!"

[heatham] Stanley asks, "Who was discussing something that wasn't fair to Edmund?"

[heatham] Wilson asks, "So there's a single set of board-tracks going away from the window?"

Gwendolyn asks, "so maybe we should get her to crack?"

[heatham] Mariamne says (to GM), "aw, you should have said that out loud"

[heatham] GM says (to Stanley), "that was William's overheard (by Reed) argument with his father"

Judith says, "I'm not sure that the man has either the initiative or the spine to carry this off on his own"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "(essentually we can match the boots to Sir Mallory's actual shoes to check here, instead of having me go all psychic and weird)"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Hm, if George told us that he could have been trying to mislead us."

CharlesReed has left.

[heatham] Gwendolyn asks (of judith), "who is "man"? Chickering or Edmund?"

[heatham] Stanley says, "But since Reed said it I'm guessing it's true."

[heatham] Wilson asks, "The boots in George's room--do they match any of the tracks?"

Mariamne asks, "I don't know, remember the sense of cunning and malice?"

GM says (to Wilson), "yeah, they match the single tracks going in"

[heatham] Wilson asks, "Wait what?"

[heatham] Wilson says, "I thought the boots on the corpse matched the set of tracks going in."

[heatham] Mariamne says, "man, you missed my cunning theory and discovery"

[heatham] GM says (to Wilson), "that is also correct"

[heatham] Stanley asks (of Wilson), "Did you catch the whole thing with the swapped boots?"

[heatham] Wilson asks, "They are the same type of boots?"

[heatham] Judith asks, "wait, both sets of boots have the same tread?"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "oh, no you didn't"

[heatham] GM says, "yeah, or close enough"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "dammit"

[heatham] GM says, "(he's got a couple different pairs, but you can at least compare the size)"

[heatham] Mariamne asks, "so the track sizes match up?"

[heatham] Judith says, "This was carefully planned, then. In advance. Most likely by someone in the house."

[heatham] GM says, "(you guys don't have magnifying glasses so you're mostly doing the comparison based on size anyway)"

[heatham] GM asks (of Mariamne), "which sizes?"

[heatham] Wilson says, "Why would he switch boots if they matched the tracks anyway? I'm confused."

[heatham] GM says, "let's see"

[heatham] GM says, "you have matched the shoes the corpse is wearing to the tracks coming in"

[heatham] GM says, "and these also match George Chickering's other boots"

[heatham] Wilson says, "(those are the first set of tracks, no?)"

[heatham] GM says, "right"

[heatham] Mariamne asks, "are there a set of in-and-out prints that match the boots?"

[heatham] GM says, "no"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "hm HHHmmm"

[heatham] Wilson says, "I think there's still presumably-Edmund's tracks."

[heatham] GM says, "(Sir Gilford's boots, I assume you mean)"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "right"

[heatham] GM says (to Wilson), "yeah"

[heatham] GM says, "which, let us say, you can identify as his, since he walked out to the cabin again"

[heatham] GM says, "(with Mariamne and Judith)"

[heatham] Wilson says, "Let's actually confront him, then."

[heatham] Mariamne says, "so, wait, maybe he climbed in the window and did the deed, switched boots (why???) and climbed out then brushed out the tracks"

[heatham] Wilson says, "Since he presumably found the body."

[heatham] Mariamne says, "since I am confused by the lack of prints"

[heatham] Wilson says, "The board-tracks have to be in-and-out."

[heatham] Wilson says, "Otherwise there's still someone left in the cabin who hasn't left ;-)"

[heatham] GM says, "it's hard to tell, but assuming the board-tracks are snowshoes, they're probably only one way"

[heatham] GM says, "unless the person was careful about standing in their previous prints"

[heatham] GM says, "(since there aren't any overlapping board-marks or anything)"

[heatham] Wilson asks, "Are any of the other tracks possibly walked-in-backwards?"

[heatham] GM says, "that's kind of out of your area of expertise, but it doesn't look like it"

[heatham] Wilson says, "Because otherwise, we have five sets entering, and three sets leaving."

[heatham] GM says, "in the sense that they look like pretty normal strides"

[heatham] Mariamne asks, "did we search for snowshoes in the closets?"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Any of the prints could be one person carrying another."

[heatham] Judith asks, "How late is it by now?"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Most likely the snowshoes, I guess."

[heatham] Mariamne asks (of stanley), "are we back to the Jesus theory again?"

[heatham] GM says, "it's been about three hours -- if you would like a dinner scene, that is fine, or we could put it off some"

[heatham] Wilson asks, "Wait, the snowshoes looked more like boards, right?"

[heatham] GM says, "yes"

[heatham] GM says, "I am just using snowshoes since that was your theory"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "someone go look for boards"

[heatham] Wilson says, "So it could have been a series of boards all spaced X apart."

[heatham] Wilson says, "And travelled over in both ways, with the last to leave picking them up."

EdmundMallory has disconnected.

EdmundMallory goes home.

[heatham] Gwendolyn says, "sorry."

[heatham] Judith asks (of Mariamne), "could have been hidden anywhere. Who claims to have been walking around the grounds earlier?"

[shadowrun] * Gwendolyn has left the channel.

[heatham] Stanley says, "The board could have been burned in the fire."

EdmundMallory arrives, looking for booty.

[heatham] Stanley says, "Or boards."

[heatham] Stanley says, "But not if there were a dozen of them."

[heatham] GM says, "ok, let's get back to theories here"

[heatham] GM asks, "do you want to look for evidence of boards having been burned in the cabin fire?"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "sure"

[heatham] Stanley says, "I'm not sure what would distinguish that from normal firewood ashes."

[heatham] GM asks, "or do you have a different theory you'd like to test?"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "unless, hm, if they were for the way out, then perhaps they've been hidden"

[heatham] Gwendolyn says (to standley), "that's what i was thinking"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "or burned in a different fire"

[heatham] GM says (to Stanley), "well, you'd either expect that the fire would have burned for a while, or there'd be bits left over"

[heatham] GM says, "(I would think)"

[heatham] Stanley asks (of Gwendolyn), "Okay, you found handkerchief fragments in the fire, right?"

GM says, "but all you see in the cabin fireplace is a mostly-burned log, and some ashes"

[heatham] GM says, "she did"

Stanley looks up the chimney.

[heatham] Mariamne says, "I would like to ask John if he saw anyone carrying boards or if he founds boards anywhere around"

[heatham] Wilson says, "I would like to chat with Edmund."

GM says, "nothing hidden up there"

GamekeeperJohn has arrived.

GamekeeperJohn asks, "boards? about how large would you be wanting?"

[heatham] Judith says, "okay, I'll drag him over"

Mariamne gestures an approximate size

GamekeeperJohn says, "hrm"

GamekeeperJohn scratches his chin.

GamekeeperJohn says, "well, there's the carpenter down in the village, but if you just want 'em temporarily you could use some of the beater boards from the storeroom"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Grouse-beating, of course."

GamekeeperJohn says, "seems about the right size"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Doh."

[heatham] Stanley asks, "Now, who went out shooting? Chickering?"

Mariamne asks, "has anyone borrowed any today, do you know?"

[heatham] Judith says, "there were definitely boards in the storage room"

[heatham] Wilson says, "Like, the storeroom in... right."

GamekeeperJohn says, "well, we had them out for the hunting, but I put 'em all back meself right afterwards"

GamekeeperJohn says, "Sir Gilford is right particular about it"

[heatham] Judith says, "and stuff had been moved about in there... get him to check if they're all there."

Stanley heads off to check the fireplace in Chickering's room.

GamekeeperJohn says, ""You just put those on back," he said to me, "I like it neat and tidy""

Mariamne asks, "I don't suppose you'd come check to see if the right number are there?"

Mariamne asks, "or just tell me how many there are?"

GamekeeperJohn says, "Of course, missy, always happy to help out"

[heatham] Gwendolyn says, "we apologize"

GamekeeperJohn walks stiffly over to the cabin.

[heatham] Stanley says, "I forget if the killer is supposed to have entered or left this way."

[heatham] Gwendolyn says, "but we keep losing connection and can't get back"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Or both."

GamekeeperJohn says, "why, it's all a mess in here"

EdmundMallory has disconnected.

EdmundMallory goes home.

GamekeeperJohn says, "Sir Gilford will --"

[heatham] Wilson says, "Both, I think."

GamekeeperJohn sighs and shakes his head.

Mariamne says, "yes, I think people have been searching for clues in here"

GamekeeperJohn says, "(eventually)"

EdmundMallory arrives, looking for booty.

[heatham] Wilson says (to Gwen), "Aww."

[heatham] EdmundMallory says, "(sorry, wireless falling)"

Mariamne asks, "but can you tell if anything's missing? any boards?"

[heatham] Wilson says, "Aha."

GamekeeperJohn says, "looks like two o' the boards are missing, and some of the fishin' line and I think one of the hooks"

Mariamne looks at the boards to see if any are damp, while she's at it

[heatham] Gwendolyn says (to stanley), "late, but yeah, i found just linen scraps in the ashes"

[heatham] Wilson says, "Oho"

[heatham] Judith says, "Fishing line? hmmmmmmmmm"

[heatham] Stanley asks, "Fishing line and hooks to somehow open the windows?"

[heatham] GM says, "(no, but two are missing)"

[heatham] Stanley asks, "Or close them?"

[heatham] Wilson says, "For opening the win... right."

Mariamne says, "ah, hm"

[heatham] GM says, "Chickering's fireplace is empty except for ashes"

Mariamne says, "thank you, John, you've been very helpful indeed"

[heatham] Stanley asks, "Have we given Chickering's room a complete search yet?"

[heatham] Wilson says, "My theory is that the boards were discarded in the woods."

[heatham] Stanley says (to Wilson), "Yeah, that seems simplest."

GamekeeperJohn touches his cap respectful-like.

[heatham] Judith says, "again, this seems to point to someone who knew what resources were available well ahead of time"

[heatham] GM says (to Stanley), "yeah, you found boots"

[heatham] GM says, "nothing else incriminating"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Such as Reed, or one of the sons."

[heatham] Stanley says, "Or servants."

Mariamne bits John goodbye, and goes out to look for boards around where the tracks run out

Mariamne says, "er, bids"

[heatham] Judith says, "any of the family, really"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "CHOMP"

[heatham] Judith says, "could be Hypatia for all I know"

[heatham] GM says, "hee hee"

GamekeeperJohn has left.

[heatham] Wilson asks, "Can I talk to Edmund now?"

[heatham] EdmundMallory exclaims, "I'm here!"

[heatham] GM says (to Judith), "you taught her TOO WELL"

Wilson says (to Edmund), "Hello! We're compiling a list of who went where today. For the police, you know."

EdmundMallory asks, "Mmhmm, really?"

Wilson asks, "Did you go hunting with the group this morning?"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "(do I find any boards in the woods?)"

EdmundMallory says, "No, didn't see the point. I slept in."

Wilson nods.

[backstage] GM says, "see if you can work in that it ended early because it started to snow"

Wilson asks, "You joined people for lunch, then?"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "also, the boards must have been taken after the hunting, or the gamekeeper would have noticed then"

EdmundMallory says, "Yes, I did."

GM says (to Mariamne), "whoops, missed that -- you do indeed"

Wilson asks, "Where did you go after that?"

GM says, "some ways into the wood, tucked up against a tree"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Yay."

Gwendolyn asks, "lunch with the Chickerings?"

Mariamne doesn't touch them, but she does go and fetch someone else to come and see

Gwendolyn asks, "how did they seem?"

[backstage] GM says, "let's see"

[heatham] Gwendolyn asks, "don't you want to get your vibes?"

EdmundMallory says, "If you must know, I had received a note from Father, saying he wanted to talk to me."

Wilson says, "Aha."

[Crows-Nest] Judith says, "I like how automatically we have divided into Heroic Adventurers vs. Suspicious NPCs"

[backstage] GM says, "after lunch you were in your room for a while, then you were talking with Elizabeth and Hypatia, then you got the note and went to talk to your dad"

Wilson asks, "You recognized the handwriting, then?"

EdmundMallory says, "I went out a bit before teatime, but decided I didn't feel like arguing again."

[heatham] Mariamne says, "oh, sure, I'll do my psychic thing on the boards before I go fetch anyone"

[heatham] Stanley asks, "Hey, whose shoes were scuffed?"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "Chickerings"

EdmundMallory says, "So I walked around a bit and came back in. Cleared my head some."

[heatham] Gwendolyn says, "chick..timing"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Seems like that could happen due to mucking about with these boards."

[heatham] Mariamne says, "from an angry incident with a pedestrian, apparently"

Wilson nods.

Wilson says, "Boy are you a rotten liar."

[backstage] katre asks, "did I recognize the note?"

[heatham] GM says, "ha ha"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "though bear in mind that's MY reading so hey"

Mariamne says, "hm, malice, cunning, like the shoes"

Wilson says, "As it happens, your tracks go into and back out of the cabin."

EdmundMallory asks, "What?"

[backstage] GM says, "hmm, it looked close enough to your dad's that you didn't check closer"

EdmundMallory says, "I think you must be mistaken."

Wilson points to Edmund's feet.

Mariamne says, "okay, time to fetch Judith"

Wilson sighs.

[backstage] GM says, "if you want to fess up at this point, feel free"

Judith wanders in, with another bottle

Stanley mimes elephant ears, by way of backing Wilson up.

[backstage] GM says, "since they do have your tracks to compare"

[heatham] GM says (to Stanley), "HAS"

[backstage] katre asks, "oh, I did go in?"

[backstage] GM says, "no"

[backstage] GM says, "well"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "(or Wilson, since I kind of don't trust stanley not to break the evidence)"

Wilson says, "Look you were the first person, after the killer, to see your father dead. What you saw may be important."

[backstage] katre says, "I'm so confused now"

[backstage] GM says, "you went to the porch and not inside"

Stanley says (to Judith), "Oh, you are a dear, thank you."

[backstage] GM says, "but yeah, you definitely didn't see him dead"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "(and Gwendolyn might just flutter at them)"

[backstage] GM says, "but it seems like you can admit to having gone there"

EdmundMallory says, "I went up to the porch, very well."

Wilson says, "go on..."

Judith doesn't really care at this point, and doles Stanley out a generous glassful

EdmundMallory says, "But, as I said, I didn't feel like arguing, yet again."

Mariamne asks (of Judith), "Madam? Could I get your opinion on something, please?"

EdmundMallory says, "So I turned around and left."

EdmundMallory says, "I never saw him."

Wilson says, "Hmm."

[backstage] GM says, "there we go -- sorry for the confusion"

Wilson asks, "Did you hear anything?"

[backstage] GM says, "(no)"

EdmundMallory says, "No, I didn't."

Judith says (to Mariamne), "if you must give me a title that adds twenty years, I'll trouble you to refer to me as *Dame*"

Mariamne asks (of Judith), "sorry, would you come with me, please, dame?"

Wilson drums his fingers.

Judith does so

[heatham] Mariamne says, "suddenly I feel like a chicago gangster"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Hee hee."

Mariamne takes Judith out to the boards

Judith asks, "yes?"

Mariamne says, "you were right about snowshoes, except that they're grousebeating boards"

EdmundMallory says, "Anyway, yes, I recognized my father's handwriting."

Wilson asks, "And you still have the note?"

EdmundMallory says, "So after lunch ended early I went out there, but it seemed not to be worth the bother."

[backstage] GM says, "say "or near enough" or something, since it wasn't actually his :)"

Mariamne asks, "John noticed that they were missing from the storage room, but since he put them all away just after hunting, they were taken between the hunting and the murder, right?"

[heatham] Stanley says, "The grouse killed him!"

Judith says, "Clever. They'd be slow to move on, but it could work..."

[heatham] GM says, "hee hee"

Wilson asks, "Why did lunch end early?"

Mariamne says, "also some fishing line and a hook"

EdmundMallory says, "I burnt the note. I knew people like you would make me the first suspect."

Mariamne asks, "for the window, maybe?"

[backstage] GM says, "ha ha wait"

EdmundMallory says, "The snow, of course."

[heatham] GM says, "hang on one sec, sorry"

Judith says, "yes, yes"

[backstage] katre says, "oh geez"

[heatham] Stanley says, "The fishing line would be for holding the boards, I guess."

[backstage] katre says, "sorry"

Gwendolyn asks (of edmund), "is that what i saw in your bedroom fireplace?"

[backstage] GM says, "sorry, it was the *hunting* that ended early"

[backstage] katre says, "oh duh"

Gwendolyn asks, "you burnt the note there?"

[heatham] EdmundMallory says, "okay, NPC screw up. lunch did not end early"

Mariamne says, "foreplanning and careful timing, to get the boards after they'd been put away and before Sir Charles got there"

[heatham] Wilson says, "Heh, OK."

EdmundMallory says (to Gwendolyn), "Yes, that's right."

Judith says, "quite. Chickering can't have worked this all out on his own."

[backstage] katre <-- not much of an NPC, sorry

Mariamne says, "(and to set up the hook)"

[backstage] GM says, "you're doing great considering you have zero briefing"

Mariamne asks, "well, who else could possibly be responsible?"

Wilson asks, "Are you familiar with the papers in your father's cabin?"

[backstage] GM says, "hmm"

EdmundMallory says, "Father wanted me to learn the business, but I don't really see the point."

[backstage] GM says, "maybe imply there's blackmailing stuff out there"

EdmundMallory says, "William was much more keen on following in Father's footsteps."

Judith says, "Anybody in the house, or who was around here often enough."

[backstage] GM says, "or some kind of dirty political stuff"

[heatham] Stanley says, "I can't figure out the motive here."

Judith says, "Edmund wouldn't have done it... unless his father had found something to blackmail him with, maybe to make him be a model son."

EdmundMallory says, "Probably political correspondence."

[heatham] Gwendolyn asks, "can a rifle been set up with fishing line and a hook to be triggered?"

[heatham] Wilson says, "Presumably they have to do with the missing papers."

Judith says, "A child in Africa, that sort of thing."

EdmundMallory says, "I know he liked to keep notes on people he came into contact with."

Wilson says, "Oh? Hmm."

Gwendolyn asks, "oh. stuff that could potentially be embarassing?"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Actually, that reminds me, I wanted to ask Lady Mallory about Gilford's big plan to -- well, I forget what the big plan was."

[heatham] GM says, "ha ha"

[heatham] GM asks, "which big plan?"

[heatham] Stanley says, "She mentioned something in passing."

[heatham] Stanley says, "I guess I'll trawl through recap."

Gwendolyn asks, "wasn't sir gilford planning to meet with lord barley to discuss something?"

Gwendolyn asks, "that was his actual reason for the gathering, wasn't it?"

Judith says, "right"

EdmundMallory says (to Gwendolyn), "I believe that was the point, yes."

EdmundMallory says, "The point to his notes, that is."

Gwendolyn asks, "could he have found something in his notes lord barley needed to see?"

EdmundMallory says, "I have no knowledge of why Lord Barley is here."

[heatham] GM says, "Barley*hew*, he says, offended"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Only his good friends like me get to call him Barley."

[heatham] GM says, "hee hee"

Mariamne checks to see if she can find prints leading away from the boards

[heatham] Gwendolyn flutters glamorous lashes at him

Wilson says, "So, you claim that you went to the cabin but did not enter, some time after your brother had met with your father and seen him alive."

[heatham] Gwendolyn says, "i am an actress not a scholar"

GM says (to Mariamne), "sorry, no prints in the woods -- ground too broken up"

[heatham] GM says, "hee hee"

EdmundMallory says, "I was unaware that William had gone to the cabin today."

Mariamne says, "enh, well"

[heatham] GM asks, "anyone else want to question anyone else?"

Wilson says, "Not long after lunch, I believe."

Mariamne says (to Judith), "should we head back to the mansion? We should also perhaps get these back to John, or at least to the cabin"

Wilson says, "Well, thank you."

[heatham] GM asks, "Chickering, William, Barleyhew?"

[heatham] Judith says, "almost too obvious"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "I think Chickering may have to be confronted, though"

[heatham] Gwendolyn says, "-William i think"

[heatham] Wilson says, "We have to find a way to trick Chickering into confessing."

[heatham] Judith says, "But Chickering and William were rivals for the same post."

[heatham] Mariamne asks, "even just to ask him why the boots were in his room?"

[heatham] Gwendolyn says, "but chick and barley, for sure"

[heatham] Wilson says, "But we should figure out the motive."

[heatham] Stanley says, "Heh, Chick and Barley."

[heatham] Wilson says, "I totally don't get the boot switch, either."

[heatham] Stanley says, "These rough murderous coves always get nicknames."

[heatham] GM says, "hee hee"

[heatham] GM asks, "ok, which first?"

[heatham] Wilson asks, "Is there a way we could figure out what folder was missing?"

[heatham] Wilson says, "Maybe William would know."

[heatham] Judith asks, "Okay. How about we fake a note from Chickering to someone else, and explicitly mention the murder?"

[heatham] Gwendolyn says, "motive: gilford found something about barley, tells william barley is scum. barley kills gilford with help o chick by promising to give him plum job"

[heatham] Judith says, "Then get, say, the butler to hand it off, and watch their reaction"

[heatham] Stanley says (to Gwendolyn), "Not bad."

[heatham] Judith says, "'la la meet me in my rooms we have something we must discuss urgently'"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "I no longer know what the hell is going on"

[heatham] Gwendolyn says, "i've been spouting random theories all afternoon. i had to get sane eventually"

[heatham] GM says, "hee hee"

[heatham] Stanley says, "I KILLED HIM"

[heatham] GM asks, "ok, do you want to test Gwendolyn's theory?"

[heatham] Stanley says, "No, wait, that's just the wine."

[heatham] Mariamne says, "a confession! aha, fine, case closed"

[heatham] GM asks, "or do you want to follow up on Judith's thing?"

[heatham] Judith says, "we could combine both"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "both! both!"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Right, if Chick is just the sidekick he's the weak point to attack."

[heatham] Mariamne says, "a note from chickering to barley"

[heatham] Wilson says, "It seems like we should know what's up before passing notes, but maybe note."

[heatham] Wilson says, "er, not."

[heatham] Judith asks, "do we want to fake a note from Barley to Chickering at the same time, and eavesdrop on the resulting chaos?"

[heatham] GM says, "ha ha"

[heatham] Stanley says, "I'm not sure we need yet more chaos."

Stanley fakes a note from Judith to Edmund.

[heatham] EdmundMallory flutters.

[heatham] Stanley says, "(not really)"

[heatham] Stanley asks, "Okay, if people want to discuss theories, who tried to frame Edmund? And why?"

[heatham] GM says, "awesome"

Judith says (to Stanley), "your declension of 'amat' is all bungled, as usual"

[heatham] Wilson asks, "Since we have both the boots on the corpse and the boots in Chick's room, can I compare them to see if one set has blood on them and the other doesn't?"

Stanley says, "Hee hee."

[heatham] GM says, "amo, amas, a doormat"

[heatham] Stanley asks, "Also, who had the opportunity to steal Edmund's watch?"

[heatham] Wilson says, "Anyone in the house, I believe."

[heatham] Judith says (to Stanley), "anyone, by the sound of it"

[heatham] GM says, "hmm"

[heatham] Stanley says, "I don't know if this is important, but he didn't wind it."

[heatham] Gwendolyn says, "barley's idea to frame edmund, since the scandal of murder will force the family to shut up william if he tries to accuse barley of whatever it was gilford found out"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Which he normally does in the evening, so it was stolen during the previous day."

[heatham] Stanley says, "Maybe we should ask the servants if they saw anyone in Edmund's room."

[heatham] GM says, "I may have given Edmund bad information there, or you may be misremembering -- I think the deal is he last *saw* it in the evening"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Ah, okay."

[heatham] GM says, "(and then winds it before going to bed, yeah)"

[heatham] Stanley says, "But still, it hadn't been wound for a while."

[heatham] GM says, "right"

[heatham] Mariamne goes to chat to the servants about who might have been in Edmund's room

[heatham] Mariamne says, "(aside from, uh, me, gwendolyn, judith...)"

[heatham] Judith says, "this Latin dictionary has a pitiful lack of dirty verbs"

[heatham] Stanley says (to Mariamne), "Ha ha ha."

[heatham] Wilson says (to GM), "(any difference in the boots?)"

GM says, "Pondley looks scandalized at the suggestion"

GM says, "Naturally his valet and the house-maids clean his room every day"

[heatham] Stanley says, "'Did I see anyone suspicious walking around with spare shoes? Why, yes, that fellow Wilson's been doing it all day, sir.'"

[heatham] GM says (to Wilson), "neither have blood, but that's not too unreasonable if they were under the desk"

[heatham] Gwendolyn says, "that's it! the butler did it with the candlestick in the library!"

[heatham] Gwendolyn says, "oh wait. wrong game"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "yeah, I'll ask about the boots, too"

[heatham] Wilson asks, "Under the desk?"

GM says, ""If this is about his watch," Pondley says, "I had given it to Mr William""

[heatham] Stanley says, "AHA"

[heatham] GM says (to Wilson), "if you're sitting at a desk, yeah"

[heatham] Judith says, "BING"

Mariamne says, "oh? that's very helpful, thank you"

[heatham] Wilson asks, "Oh, he was sitting?"

Gwendolyn says, "there goes my theory"

[heatham] Stanley says, "I sense the GM is going easy on us now but I don't care."

[heatham] Judith says, "okay, rewrite that note"

Mariamne says, "here, have a tip of some sort"

[heatham] Gwendolyn says (to stanley), "he's tired of us"

[heatham] Wilson says, "wait wait wait."

[heatham] GM says, "My Dearest Darling Chickering (scratched out) William, ..."

[heatham] Mariamne asks, "chickering and willian together?"

[heatham] Stanley says, "William is certainly the one with the motive to kill his father and frame his brother for it."

[heatham] Wilson asks, "Can I do some calculations to see how long it takes blood to freeze?"

[heatham] Stanley says, "But I thought he and Chickering were enemies."

[heatham] Stanley says, "Or so Barleyhew hinted."

[heatham] Wilson asks, "Who was it that was going to give William a post?"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Barleyhew, I thought."

[heatham] GM says (to Wilson), "I don't know what the actual answer is, but let us say, depending on the weather and the fire situation, between three and six hours"

Mariamne asks, "oh, while I'm at it, would you know if anyone came into the house with snow-covered boots on this afternoon?"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Pushing out Chickering."

[heatham] Judith says, "maybe if William gets the house and the title he won't care about a mere MP's position"

GM says, ""I will send for the knives-and-boots boy, miss", Pondley says."

[heatham] Stanley says, "That ties in with Barleyhew coming to discuss something important with Gilford -- a job for William -- and not really wanting Chickering to be here."

Mariamne says, "thank you, pondley"

[heatham] Wilson says (to GM), "My theory is that it wasn't actually Gilford and William that Reed heard arguing, but Chickering and William, after they had killed him hours earlier."

[heatham] Stanley says (to Wilson), "!"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Awesome."

[heatham] Stanley says, "That would explain a hell of a lot."

GM says, "who reports that he received boots for cleaning from all the hunters in the morning, then from Barleyhew later, then from William, then from Reed, then from Edmund"

[heatham] Wilson asks, "How many hours are betwen lunch and tea?"

[heatham] Mariamne asks, "were the boots we found dirty?"

[heatham] Gwendolyn says, "5"

[heatham] GM says, "lunch was 12-1, and tea was at 5"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "and if so, that leaves... chickering, again, who didn't get them cleaned"

[heatham] Wilson asks, "Was Gilford present at lunch?"

[heatham] GM says, "well, he did get them cleaned after he came back from hunting"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "yes, but not after that"

Stanley asks (of Pondley), "I say, Pondley, did William say why he wanted that watch?"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "if he went out and killed Sir Mallory then his boots would be dirty"

[heatham] Stanley role play role play, belatedly.

[heatham] GM says (to Wilson), "some inquiry picks up that after the hunting stopped early, Gilford said he was going for a walk, and he wouldn't be back for lunch but he'd be back for tea, and for William to come see him after lunch"

[heatham] Judith says, "unless he used the boards"

[heatham] Mariamne asks, "and between the dumped boards and the mansion?"

GM says, ""No sir -- he just said he'd hand it back to him, since it was on his way anyway""

[heatham] Wilson asks, "And William went to see him right at 1, then?"

[heatham] Judith says, "they could have been burned *in* the mansion"

Stanley asks, "Wasn't it in Edmund's room?"

[heatham] GM says (to Wilson), "about at 2"

[heatham] Judith asks, "or did I miss them being found in the woods?"

[heatham] Mariamne says (to judith), "dame, we FOUND the boards, remember"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "I took you to them"

GM says, "oh, no sir, I found it down in the smoking-room -- I'm afraid Mr Edmund is always losing it"

[heatham] GM says, "hee hee"

[heatham] Judith says, "oooh - I thought you meant the ones in the store-room. aha."

Stanley says, "Oh, I see. Very good."

[heatham] Mariamne says, "clearly age means the deterioration of mental faculties"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "anyway"

[heatham] Judith says (to Mariamne), "this comes from someone whose academic qualifications amount to 'saw a fairy once'"

[heatham] Mariamne asks, "what *is* the working theory now? or theories?"

[heatham] Wilson asks, "Oh, I had a question--were there more than two indents in the ground outside the window?"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Motive I'm still not sure about."

[heatham] Stanley says, "But it certainly looks like William and Chickering in cahoots."

[heatham] Mariamne says (to judith), "but she taught me all about calculus!"

[heatham] Wilson says, "Because if so, it would have had to have gone one-way."

[heatham] GM says (to Wilson), "immediately nearby, no. but we established there was a trail of them that lead to the woods"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Somebody stole the boards, fishing line and hook."

[heatham] Wilson says, "And only two boards were used."

[heatham] Judith says (to Mariamne), "which, I'll have you know, is *not* a lost continent"

[heatham] Stanley says, "And used them to sneak to the cabin and enter via the window."

[heatham] Mariamne says, "either they went one-way or they were really carefully placed on the way back, yeah"

[heatham] Stanley says, "No, wait, to sneak away from the cabin."

[heatham] Mariamne says (to judith), "naturally not, it's a moon of jupiter"

[heatham] Stanley asks, "But in that case why did they have trouble with the window?"

[heatham] GM asks, "if I may interject, why didn't the person who came to steal the boards leave tracks?"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "argh"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "JOHN DID IT"

[heatham] Wilson asks, "What?"

[heatham] Judith asks (of GM), "um... fishing-line flying fox?"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Okay, we're assuming it wasn't done days before because they would have noticed if it happened before the hunt."

[heatham] Wilson asks, "Wait, tracks around the gamehouse?"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "not really, I am just going rar at when the boards were pinched"

[heatham] Wilson says, "No, the gamehouse storeroom was all akimbo."

[heatham] Wilson says, "So the boards were nipped post-hunting."

[heatham] Stanley asks, "Can somebody recap what prints were found, again?"

[heatham] Wilson says, "I think I can."

[heatham] Mariamne says, "edmund's to and from"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Okay."

[heatham] Mariamne says, "and... after that it gets fuzzy"

[heatham] Wilson says, "The deepest/earliest tracks were of one set of boots."

[heatham] Wilson says, "They match both the boots on the corpse, and the boots in Chickering's rom."

[heatham] Wilson says, "Then there's a set that go to and fro. Those match William's."

[heatham] Wilson says, "Then there's another to/fro that match Edmund."

[heatham] Wilson says, "Then a final one that matches the servant."

[heatham] Wilson says, "There's also one set of boards."

[heatham] Stanley asks, "And one set only leading away?"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "no"

[heatham] GM says, "just the boards"

[heatham] Wilson says, "That means there's a total of 8 tracks."

[heatham] Mariamne asks, "8?"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "oh, the boards are 8, right"

[heatham] Wilson says, "Which mean either that two people were left in the cabin, or that the corpse wasn't there when we found it."

[heatham] Wilson says, "So something is clearly awry."

[heatham] GM says, "ha ha"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Or that the boards are more than one track."

[heatham] GM says, "I am glad that you noted that, though"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "or someone hid in the cabin to wait for Sir Mallory"

[heatham] Stanley says, "They either walked over the same tracks, or two people used the boards at once."

[heatham] Mariamne says, "before it started snowing today"

Gwendolyn goes home.

[heatham] Mariamne says, "(this seems very unlikely, I admit)"

[heatham] Wilson says, "Oh, hrm hrm."

[heatham] Gwendolyn says, "grr"

EdmundMallory has disconnected.

EdmundMallory has connected.

[heatham] Stanley asks, "Which tracks do we think are Sir Mallory's? The first ones?"

EdmundMallory walks the plank to adventure. Arr!

EdmundMallory arrives, looking for booty.

[heatham] Wilson exclaims, "Maybe the one set of tracks that lead in were of Guilford *and* Chickering!"

[heatham] EdmundMallory says, "(wireless still flaky. sorry)"

[heatham] Wilson says, "Chickering following Guilford into the cabin."

[heatham] Judith asks, "stepping in his prints?"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "but they could have gone out there before it snowed, pinched stuff, hid out the back with the fish hook set up, and when Mallory came in they opened the window, killed him, then used the boards to get away"

[heatham] Wilson says, "Right."

[heatham] Stanley asks, "Okay, now, why bother switching shoes?"

[heatham] Wilson says, "That, I don't know."

[heatham] Mariamne says, "to make us go 'wibble'"

[heatham] Stanley says, "There are shoes with matching prints, but it seems pointless to swap those even though they're different sizes."

[heatham] Stanley asks, "What are the non-matching shoes?"

[heatham] Wilson says, "Wait."

[heatham] Wilson says, "The bigger ones were on the corpse."

[heatham] Mariamne says, "yes"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "Chickering's, we established"

[heatham] GM says, "man"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "(and we found the smaller boots with similar prints in Chickering's room)"

[heatham] Wilson says, "So if Chickering followed Gilford in (stepping in his tracks), the slightly bigger ones would overlap them."

[heatham] GM says, "Mariamne said something very important recently"

[heatham] GM says, "which nobody seems to have noted"

[heatham] Mariamne asks, "did Mallory go out to the cabin before it snowed?"

[heatham] GM says, "I guess that is how the psychic biz goes"

[heatham] Wilson says, "Hee"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "I AM AWESOME but I don't know why"

[heatham] Wilson asks, "Right--when did it snow last?"

[heatham] GM says (to Wilson), "some inquiry shows that it snowed between about 9:30 (stopping the hunting early) and 10:30-11"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "now I am scouring what I have said that might be really important"

[heatham] Wilson asks, "And did Chickering hunt with everyone?"

[heatham] Judith asks, "so as soon as the hunting stops, Gilford goes into his cabin, leaving no prints?"

[heatham] Stanley asks (of Mariamne), "That there could be missing prints?"

[heatham] GM says, "the people who went out hunting were Sir Gilford, Lord Barleyhew, William, George Chickering, and Charles Reed"

[heatham] Stanley asks, "Could somebody have entered on foot via the window, and left on the boards, obscuring their own prints?"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "they'd still have had to have stolen the boards and set up the hook"

[heatham] Stanley says, "So they'd only need to have a hook to open the window beforehand."

[heatham] Wilson says, "OK, right."

[heatham] Mariamne says, "well, at least the hook"

[heatham] Wilson says, "So, everyone comes back."

[heatham] Stanley asks, "The boards were in the cabin, no? Or is that a different cabin?"

[heatham] Wilson says, "Chickering immediately heads out to grab the boards and go to the cabin."

[heatham] GM says (to Wilson), "except for Sir Gilford, who was going for a walk"

[heatham] Wilson says, "Gilford goes for a walk."

[heatham] Wilson says, "Everyone else goes to the manor."

[heatham] Wilson says, "Gilford returns, Chickering kills him."

[heatham] Judith asks, "And William?"

[heatham] Wilson says, "Then William goes to the cabin, plants the watch, loudly argues with Chickering so that people think he's arguing with his dad."

[heatham] Mariamne says, "argh"

[heatham] Wilson says, "Then they both leave."

[heatham] Wilson says, "No, wait."

[heatham] Gwendolyn asks, "how would they know gilford would be coming to the cabin?"

[heatham] Wilson exclaims, "William finds his father dead, get scared, leaves his brother's watch!"

[heatham] Gwendolyn asks, "did they write another note?"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "by this point I assume it has snowed again, to be honest"

[heatham] Wilson says, "Argues with himself, then leaves."

[heatham] Mariamne says, "but nevertheless"

[heatham] Judith says, "see, at this point I'm inclined to just play with the heads of the obvious suspects and make them give us all the juicy details"

[heatham] Stanley asks, "Argues with himself? Sounding like two people, you mean?"

[heatham] Gwendolyn asks, "did we ever send chick's note?"

[heatham] Wilson says, "Right."

[heatham] GM says (to Gwend), "it's all been theory talk so far"

[heatham] Stanley says (to Judith), "Yeah, not a bad idea, although we still don't know who's the killer and who's just an opportunist."

[heatham] Mariamne says, "god, we suck"

[heatham] Gwendolyn says, "let's send a note to chick pretending to be barley, and then ambush chick when he comes in to the library"

[heatham] Judith says (to Stanley), "which headfucking should quickly reveal"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Luckily the police are strangely tardy in arriving."

[heatham] Mariamne asks, "did all the hunters stick together?"

[heatham] GM says (to Stanley), "probably the telephone lines are down to the snow"

[heatham] Wilson says, "I think we should send a note from William to Chickering."

[heatham] Gwendolyn says, "since we *know* he's involved"

[heatham] Stanley says (to Gwendolyn), "Sounds plausible to me."

[heatham] Wilson says, "Saying he found evidence it was him."

[heatham] Mariamne asks, "or was there, for instance, a chance for any of them to nip into the cabin and set up the hook?"

[heatham] Judith says (to Wilson), "I'm inclined to agree"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "(before the snow)"

[heatham] Wilson says, "Right, the hook."

[heatham] Wilson asks, "Did we establish that it was difficult to *close* the window behind you from the outside?"

[heatham] GM says (to Mariamne), "everyone except for Sir Gilford went back to the house"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "now the hook could be just to pull it closed, right"

[heatham] Wilson says, "I think the hook was for that."

[heatham] Gwendolyn says (to stanley), "let's make it psychological. make chick think barley reconsidered the job thing, get him happy and eager for the meeting. and when chick finds out he's trapped, the shock and disappointment might make him talk more"

[heatham] Mariamne says (to GM), "while hunting, I meant"

[heatham] GM says, "(also, hmm, I should probably remind people what the knives-and-boots boy said)"

[heatham] GM says (to Mariamne), "oh, I see"

[heatham] Stanley says (to Wilson), "In that case, nothing was needed beforehand, if Gilford opened the window to the killer -- walk to the window, use the boards, line and hook to leave."

[heatham] Mariamne says, "also you never did answer me about if the boots we found were dirty"

[heatham] Gwendolyn says, "barley and william both had their boots cleaned after all the hunters got cleaned. which meant they went out again after coming back"

[heatham] GM says (to Mariamne), "some inquiry reveals that Reed and William were together, and Sir Gilford and Lord Barleyhew were together, and Chickering switched between the groups midway"

[heatham] Wilson says (to Stanley), "I think we've established the the killer was lying in wait for Guilford to return from his walk."

[heatham] Mariamne says, "...interesting"

[heatham] GM says (to Mariamne), "the hidden pair of Sir Gilford's boots were dirty and wet, yeah"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "not making me go 'aha', but hey, more information"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "oooooh"

[heatham] Stanley says (to Wilson), "Okay, fair enough."

[heatham] Mariamne says, "so, right, he may have gone out in them"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "or come back in them"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "or both!"

[heatham] GM says, "I guess if you're examining them, they're also kind of stretched out"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "sooooo"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "definitely worn by someone with larger feet, then"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Clearly it was Hypatia and Pondley all along."

[heatham] Wilson says, "Right--so Chickering would have worn the slightly-too-small boots."

[heatham] GM says (to Stanley), "taking Judith's radical notions of class equality to the next level"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Heh."

[heatham] Mariamne says, "at this point it seems obvious that a) chickering switched boots and b) someone used the boards to get away"

[heatham] Judith says, "right, and that someone is most likely to be William"

[heatham] Mariamne asks, "it is?"

[heatham] Judith says, "although that doesn't really explain his double trail"

[heatham] Stanley asks, "William had the watch, which presumably means he left it, no?"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "but he's the love of my life!"

[heatham] Wilson says, "Wait--William's tracks go to and from the cabin."

[heatham] Gwendolyn says, "okay get Pondley to bring Chickering"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "maybe we should ask william what he did with the watch"

[heatham] Gwendolyn says, "you keep chatting"

[heatham] Wilson says, "I would like to establish the time of death."

[heatham] Mariamne says, "maybe he decided to give it to someone who might be seeing edmund sooner than him"

[heatham] Wilson says, "My theory is that he was dead when William went to the cabin."

[heatham] Wilson says, "Maybe I can use my sooper-entymology to do this somehow."

[heatham] Judith asks, "It's plausible enough. So then we have two murderers and an opportunist?"

[heatham] Mariamne asks, "why do we think barleyhew was involved?"

[heatham] Wilson says, "I'm not quite convinced William was a murderer."

[heatham] GM says (to Wilson), "well, you used your scientific knowledge to pin it down to 3-6 hours"

[heatham] Judith says, "Still seems like the key to this is the missing files."

[heatham] Stanley says, "I'm not either."

[heatham] Judith asks, "Anybody want to break into Barleyhew's suitcase?"

[heatham] Wilson says (to GM), "At least 3-6."

[heatham] Wilson says, "Since the blood could have been frozen earlier than that."

[heatham] GM says, "which is roughly 11-2"

[heatham] Judith says, "(assuming they weren't just burnt)"

[heatham] GM says, "it's only partly frozen, though"

[heatham] GM says, "(sorry if this was unclear)"

[heatham] Wilson says, "Oh, OK."

[heatham] Mariamne says, "I'm wondering what the NPCs are doing while we are closeted in a room making up conspiracy theories"

[heatham] GM says, "hanging out"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Calling in the police on us."

[heatham] Wilson says, "Right, so."

[heatham] GM says, "this doesn't really take much in-game time"

[heatham] Wilson says, "The files must be somewhere on the estate."

[heatham] Stanley asks, "Okay, who do we think has them?"

[heatham] Stanley asks, "Either William or Chickering?"

[heatham] Wilson asks, "Can we assume that we would have found them in Chickering's room earlier?"

[heatham] GM says, "yes"

[heatham] Judith says (to Wilson), "unless, as I said, they're burned."

[heatham] Wilson says, "Ah, true."

[heatham] Gwendolyn says (to gm), "well, get the butler in here so we can tell him to get chickering so we can at least try to get some answers"

[heatham] Wilson says, "Oh, and there's the deal with the burnt hanky."

[heatham] Judith says, "William and Barleyhew would be the obvious places to look, but if it was William they could be hidden anywhere."

[heatham] GM says, "if it was a big folder there would probably have been some scraps left behind"

[heatham] Stanley says (to Wilson), "Hey, that's right."

[heatham] Gwendolyn says, "i searched mansion's fireplaces earlier - no one burnt paper in their fireplaces"

[heatham] Gwendolyn says, "at least, not in their bedrooms"

[heatham] Wilson says, "Which was fairly certainly Chickering's."

[heatham] Wilson asks, "But, why burn a hanky?"

[heatham] Judith says (to Wilson), "because it was used to mop up blood."

[heatham] Wilson asks, "After wiping blood off of something?"

[heatham] Gwendolyn says, "the only one who had paper in his fireplace was edmund, and that was the note"

[heatham] Judith says, "Or fingerprints."

[heatham] Wilson asks, "Like, his hands?"

[heatham] Judith says, "If you're arranging a gun to a suicide position, chances are you'll get blood on yourself."

[heatham] Stanley asks, "Hmm, I assume the note to Edmund was part of the framing attempt?"

[heatham] Gwendolyn says, "right"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Probably William is the one who could fake Gilford's handwriting."

[heatham] Judith says, "right, and I'm not sure if anyone but William would have thought of that"

[heatham] Gwendolyn says, "is the important think maryamne said the women's involvement? since i still question dorothy chickering"

[heatham] Stanley says, "This seems like a lot of planning, so I don't think William is merely an opportunist."

[heatham] Stanley says, "But maybe so."

[heatham] Stanley says, "Oh, damn, we should ask Pondley when William got the watch."

[heatham] Stanley asks, "Was it before or after the murder?"

[heatham] GM says, "last night"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Well, William is as guilty as hell, then."

[heatham] Stanley says, "Looks like."

Judith says, "Well, I for one am going to go and snoop around further."

[heatham] GM asks, "ok, you want to confront him yet? or snoop around somewhere?"

[heatham] Stanley says, "You know, Sherlock Holmes never had to go back and forth between different characters asking them one question each time."

[heatham] Gwendolyn says, "confront chickering first."

[heatham] Gwendolyn says, "is my vote"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "chickering seems like the easy target here"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Yeah."

[heatham] Judith asks, "okay. note from William to Chickering, mentioning the murder?"

[heatham] Wilson says, "Let's search William's room for the files."

[heatham] GM says (to Stanley), "I think he skipped back in the transcript and reread"

[heatham] Wilson says, "Hee hee"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Searching William's room seems useful, yeah."

[heatham] Mariamne says, "every time I skip back I end up going 'uh, no, never did find out x'"

[heatham] Gwendolyn says, "the note shouldn't mention the murder at all. just "need to talk to you. come hurry""

GM says, "ok then"

[heatham] Stanley says, "That's pretty good."

GM says, "somebody distracts William and you go over his room"

Stanley says, "We're looking for papers, hooks, lines..."

Mariamne says, "William! Darling! How are you bearing up!"

GM says, "the only thing of interest you find there is a note reading "Dear sirs, Something has come to my attention that it is impossible to overlook and I am afraid I must take action.""

Judith says, "So, William, tell me more about this *fascinating* policy of turning workhouses into arms factories"

GM says, "and then it is torn somewhat raggedly at the bottom"

Gwendolyn arrives, looking for booty.

GM says, "(this is shoved at the back of a desk)"

[heatham] Gwendolyn asks, "all this time i haven't been here?"

[heatham] GM says (to Judith), "hee hee"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "nothing has happened, so"

[heatham] GM says, "ha ha oops"

[heatham] Wilson asks, "It's torn right after the first sentence?"

[heatham] GM says, "well, you just missed a note in William's room"

[heatham] GM says (to Wilson), "right"

[heatham] Gwendolyn says, "ok"

[heatham] Stanley asks, "Can we tell anything useful about the handwriting?"

[heatham] Wilson says, "Can we... right."

[heatham] GM says, "it's similar but not quite the same as other papers in William's desk"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Maybe even try to match the ink against the ink in the cabin desk, but that's a long shot."

Judith asks, "do you really think the consumptive orphans have the *strength* to lift incendiary shells?"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Oh, we can match the paper."

[heatham] GM says (to Stanley), "yeah, sure, the paper looks the same"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Awesome."

[heatham] Stanley says, "Er, that is, top hole."

[heatham] Wilson says, "Excellent."

[heatham] GM says, "ha ha"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Okay, so Gilford unearths some secret."

[heatham] Stanley asks, "William and probably Chickering plan to kill him and frame Edmund...?"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Gilford presumably invites Barleyhew to tell him the full story."

[heatham] Wilson says, "I would say Chickering and possibly William."

[heatham] Stanley says, "Chickering heads him off at the pass and kills Gilford first."

[heatham] Stanley says, "I still don't see why William and Chickering are working together, or what the hell is going on."

[heatham] Judith says, "right. note."

[heatham] GM asks, "why do you think they're working together?"

[heatham] Wilson says (to Stanley), "I *think* William simply found his father dead, got scared, and tried to frame his brother."

[heatham] Stanley says, "That's possible."

[heatham] Wilson says (to GM), "Because William was the one to drop the watch, and Chickering was the one to kill him."

[heatham] Stanley says, "Doesn't ring true to me, though."

[heatham] GM says, "or if you can fix the time of death better, you can see who has alibis for when"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Dropping the watch and writing the note feel too contrived to be a panicked response by William."

[heatham] Judith says, "and working out the whole deal with the boards and the fishing-line seems to extended for someone who doesn't come here too often"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Yeah."

[heatham] Wilson asks, "The thing is, if they worked together, why the fishing line at all?"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Chickering's motive could be covering up this secret, William's motive could be inheriting the manor."

[heatham] Gwendolyn asks, "can we take a vote on who wants to confront chickering and stop all this speculation?"

[heatham] Wilson says, "William could just shut the window."

[heatham] Judith says (to Gwendolyn), "aye"

[heatham] Stanley says, "I am happy to confront Chickering, after tricking him with a note."

[heatham] Wilson says, "Hmm."

[heatham] Mariamne says, "I no longer have the will to work out anything"

[heatham] Gwendolyn says (to GM), "My good man, I think we should get Chickering in here"

[heatham] Wilson says, "Wait, I got it."

[heatham] Mariamne asks, "from a truly occam's-razor pespective, surely one murderer is simpler than a conspiracy?"

[heatham] Wilson says, "What if *I* sent him a note, telling him I had figured out he did it, and that I wanted blackmail to keep quiet."

Judith selects a walking-stick from the umbrella-stand, just in case

[heatham] Wilson says, "And offered to meet him somewhere."

[heatham] Stanley says, "Oh let's just send a note saying MEET ME IN THE LIBRARY - URGENT"

[heatham] Wilson says, "And then he'd pull out his gun to kill me, and you'd all jump out withthe party favors."

[heatham] GM says, "ha ha"

[heatham] Judith says (to Stanley), "and sign it William, I would."

[heatham] Gwendolyn says (to standley), "that's what i've been saying all along, yeah."

[heatham] Judith says (to Wilson), "you've been playing detective too visibly. It wouldn't wash."

[heatham] Wilson asks, "Someone else?"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Anyone."

[heatham] Judith says, "Edmund."

[heatham] Stanley says, "Sure, that works."

[heatham] GM says, "ha ha"

[heatham] GM says, "poor Edmund"

[heatham] Judith says, "He's a big tough African explorer, he can handle himself."

[heatham] Stanley asks, "So, can we do this?"

[heatham] GM asks, "ok, so you're going to write a note telling Chickering you know he did it and sign it Edmund?"

[heatham] Stanley says, "I was thinking we enlist Edmund."

[heatham] Wilson says, "Yeah."

[heatham] GM says, "that might be more polite"

[heatham] Stanley says, "But I don't want to slow the process so whatever."

[heatham] GM says, "that's fine"

[heatham] Wilson says, "Oh, I know--tell Chickering to meet us 'by the boards'."

[heatham] Mariamne says, "I nominate Judith to enlist Edmund"

[heatham] Judith says, "well, I still advocate sending notes to both William and Chickering, but that could go wrong in too many ways"

[heatham] GM says, "he continues to be enraptured by Judith"

[heatham] Stanley says (to Judith), "Yeah, too tricky."

Judith says, "oooh Eeeedmund"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Yay!"

EdmundMallory asks, "Yeees?"

[heatham] Wilson says, "That way, if he knows where the boards were, we know he put them there."

[backstage] GM says, "just go along with this"

[backstage] GM says, "since what the hell and we are way over"

[backstage] katre says, "okay"

[heatham] Stanley says, "You know, let's just play it by ear at this point."

[backstage] katre says, "(duchess is seething at the people delaying things)"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Don't make me do the mime again."

[backstage] GM says, "yeah, sigh"

[heatham] Wilson laughs.

Judith says, "We think we have a pretty good idea who killed your father, but we'd just like to confirm it... if you could just write a note to Mr. Chickering..."

[backstage] GM says, "I should have realized five people would be slower than one, not faster"

[heatham] GM says, "ha ha"

EdmundMallory asks, "Mr. Chickering? Of course, but... why?"

[backstage] katre says, "you've read Mythical Man Month!"

[heatham] Gwendolyn says (to wilson), "you are too complicated. if he doesn't, then, we are screwed because he won't show, and we can't confront. just just let note say library and leave it simple"

[backstage] GM says, "ha ha"

[heatham] Wilson says, "Hmm."

Judith says, "We'd like him to think that you know, and will blackmail him."

EdmundMallory says, "If you think it will help."

[heatham] Wilson says, "He can't try to kill Edmund in the library, though."

EdmundMallory scribble scribble scribble.

Judith leans over Edmund's shoulder as he writes.

[heatham] Mariamne says, "that's probably a 8good* thing"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "er, *good*"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "we don't want more murder!"

[heatham] EdmundMallory says, "I'm in favor"

[heatham] Wilson asks, "Do we explain the evidence to Edmund so he can tell Chick?"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "it's already confusing enough with one murder"

[heatham] GM says, "hee hee"

[heatham] Stanley says, "I don't think that's necessary."

[heatham] Wilson asks, "What's he going to say?"

[heatham] Gwendolyn says, "we settled that edmund's just going to write "need to talk to you. urgent" so move along"

[heatham] GM says, "okey doke"

[heatham] Stanley says, "He just makes vague hints about a connection between Chickering and Gilford's death."

[heatham] Mariamne says, "'I KNOW THE TRUTH - Eddie'"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Hee hee."

Judith says, "...and if you happen to have a small gun handy, it might be useful to bring it along. Just in case."

GM has left.

GM has arrived.

GeorgeChickering arrives at home.

GeorgeChickering has connected.

[backstage] katre asks, "any chance I have a piece from the service, or afterwards?"

GeorgeChickering comes into the library

Stanley has picked up a gun at some point, since Judith kept mocking him for not having one.

[backstage] GM says, "yeah, certainly"

[backstage] GM says, "you're also stronger than he is, probably"

Stanley. o O { Now, how does one load this thing? }

EdmundMallory says, "I'll stop by my rooms and get one."

Judith says (to Stanley), "oh, give that here"

GeorgeChickering does not, of course, come into the library until everyone has had a chance to get set up

Mariamne tries to find a handy table to hide behind or under in the library

(From Stanley) George says, "Are you ready yet?"

Wilson hides just outside the library in the servant's hall.

[heatham] GM says, "hee hee"

GeorgeChickering opens the door and looks around, seeing only Edward.

Judith takes the pistol out of harm's way, loads it and gives it to Wilson

GeorgeChickering says, "now, see here, I don't know what you're talking about"

[heatham] (from Wilson) George says, "4... 3... 2... 1! Ready or not, here I come!"

[heatham] Mariamne eventually hides in the secret passage between here and Elizabeth's closet

[heatham] Mariamne says, "come on, the other end has to be SOMEWHERE"

[heatham] Stanley says, "That convenient secret passage."

[heatham] GM says, "(feel free to tell Edward what to say, since I assume you prepped him)("

Judith has handed Edmund the boots ahead of time

[heatham] EdmundMallory asks, "wait, who is Edward?"

[heatham] GM says, "er, whoops"

[heatham] Wilson says, "'Here's the evidence, I want cash to keep quiet'"

[heatham] GM says, "Edmund, yes"

[heatham] Stanley says, "'I know all about the boots, the grouse-beating boards, the fish-hook, and how you killed my father!' might work."

[heatham] GM says (to Stanley), "ha ha ha"

[heatham] Judith says, "the *real* detective who is about to bust in here and arrest us all"

EdmundMallory sets the boots on the table.

EdmundMallory asks, "Seen these before, have you?"

GeorgeChickering reels back

[heatham] EdmundMallory says, "start feeding me dialog, people"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Reels... ON A FISHING LINE"

GeorgeChickering says, "how did you -- I mean, I've never seen those before in my life"

[heatham] EdmundMallory says, "or, y'know, bust in yourselves"

[heatham] Judith says, "Well that's a lie, because they were IN YOUR ROOM"

Stanley busts in!

Gwendolyn asks, "Why Mr. Chickering, have you found your handkerchief yet?"

Stanley says, "That's strange, since they were in YOUR ROOM!"

EdmundMallory says, "Well that's a lie, because they were IN YOUR ROOM"

[heatham] GM says, "ha ha ha"

[heatham] Judith exclaims, "a choir of accusation!"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Combo attack!"

[heatham] Judith says, "+4 revelation damage"

[heatham] EdmundMallory says, "okay, the NPC is now back-seating"

Gwendolyn steps out from around the armchair where she was sitting

GeorgeChickering asks, "what the -- what's going on?"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "meanwhile, I've fainted in the secret passage from the excitement"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Hee hee."

[heatham] GM says, "and she is never found again"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "nah, I'll wake up from the noise in a bit"

GeorgeChickering exclaims, "my handkerchief? but I lost that! somewhere!"

Judith appears at the doorway, blocking off retreat

[heatham] Mariamne says, "(after I've had a cigarette)"

Judith says, "You have unusually big feet, Mr. Chickering."

Stanley asks, "We also happened to stumble across a couple of grouse-beating boards out in the woods. Know anything about that, I wonder?"

GeorgeChickering asks, "I -- what?"

Stanley says, "And I don't much like the look of that big nose of yours, either!"

GeorgeChickering looks around nervously from side to side

[heatham] Judith says, "dammit, CONFESS ALREADY"

GeorgeChickering suddenly, I dunno, stands up, grabs a vase off the shelves, hurls it at Judith, and then charges at her

Mariamne wakes, and emerges from the secret door, slightly dusty, and stumbles into George

Judith has at Chickering's noggin with the walking-stick

[heatham] Mariamne says, "pile-on!"

Stanley, discovering that he's holding a wine bottle and not a gun as he thought, shrugs, and swings it at Chickering's noggin.

GeorgeChickering trips over Mariamne, stumbles backwards, gets hit on the head, and falls over

Wilson bursts through the servant's door and tackles Mariamne and George.

GeorgeChickering says, "and is then hit by Stanley and tackled by Wilson"

GM says, "so I guess we can say that wraps that end of that up"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "whoops, we killed him"

Wilson examines Chickering's hands.

[heatham] Stanley says, "I was just thinking that."

Gwendolyn offers a scarf to tie him up with

Judith says, "*gasp* Bloody hell, my elbow's going to sting for a week."

[heatham] GM asks, "I dunno, it seems like the powder burns from firing a gun would have been washed, wouldn't they?"

Judith says, "And, um, I think I broke the walking-stick."

Stanley says (to Judith), "Don't complain until you've been in the Navy for six years."

[heatham] Mariamne asks, "can we get him to explain exactly what the hell he did and who with, now?"

Judith says, "Hope that was one of Gilford's."

Gwendolyn says, "it's green and would clash horribly with his waistcoat, but it will keep him still"

[heatham] Wilson says, "I was thinking blood stains, but I dunno."

GM says, "also, there is an explanatory scene later where william talks"

[heatham] (from Stanley) George says, "I admit it all! I was having an affair with Lady Mallory!"

Judith says (to GM), "how very convenient"

WilliamMallory says, "Ok, fine, so I framed Edmund"

[heatham] (from Stanley) George says, "Huh? Murder? What are you talking about?"

Judith says, "and then they all went home for tea and cakes"

WilliamMallory exclaims, "I came in there and my father had killed himself! I couldn't believe the shame it would bring on him and the family!"

[heatham] Wilson says, "Woo! Got that one."

WilliamMallory says, "I happened to still have Edmund's watch in my pocket, so I slipped it under the desk"

[heatham] Stanley asks, "There was no murder???!?"

[backstage] katre says, "yay"

[heatham] Stanley says, "If anybody theorised that I missed it."

WilliamMallory says, "I can't believe George Chickering managed to make it look like suicide"

[heatham] Mariamne asks, "someone explain the sequence of events with the boards and so on now?"

[heatham] Judith says, "Chickering did it, William came in later"

[backstage] katre says, "good save"

WilliamMallory says, "I never would have thought he'd have the brains"

[heatham] Wilson says, "No, my theory was... right, that."

[heatham] Stanley says, "Doh, I see, William didn't realise it was murder."

[heatham] Mariamne says, "I mean, I know I found all the evidence there but I still don't know the timing of stuff"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Not being a PC who knew he was in a murder mystery."

[heatham] Mariamne asks, "like, wtf with the prints?"

[heatham] Judith says, "somewhere Sherlock Holmes is weeping softly"

[heatham] GM says, "hee hee"

[heatham] Wilson says, "George enters first before there was snow. Then Gilford, who gets killed. George leaves with the boards."

[heatham] Wilson says, "Then William (out/in) and Edmund (out/in)"

[heatham] Wilson says, "er, in/out"

[heatham] GM says (to Wilson), "that doesn't explain the single in trail"

[heatham] Wilson asks, "What?"

Stanley asks (of George), "So the question is, WHERE ARE THE PAPERS?"

[heatham] Judith says, "and George manages the whole fish-hook twiddly on his own."

[heatham] Wilson asks, "Gilford enters and leaves tracks, right?"

Stanley asks, "And WHERE DID MY WINE GO, dammit?"

GeorgeChickering says, "oh, I mailed them to my flat"

[heatham] Judith says (to Wilson), "no, before the snow fell"

[heatham] Wilson says, "I guess Guilford could have entered before the snow, then George with the boots."

[heatham] GM says, "yeah, since they're Chickering's boots"

Stanley says, "Curses, didn't think to ask Pondley if anybody sent mail."

[heatham] Wilson says, "Ah, OK."

[heatham] GM says, "Gilford says he's going for a walk, but actually meets Barleyhew at the cabin pre-snow"

[heatham] GM says, "Chickering had heard this arrangement while they were hunting, so he comes to the cabin (post-snow), gets into an argument with Gilford, and whacks him with the paperweight"

[heatham] GM says, "then he wipes it and his hands off and burns the handkerchief"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "wow, we should totally have checked out the paperweight, then"

[heatham] Judith says, "paperweight? which we never examined"

[heatham] Stanley asks, "Huh, we didn't check that the wound was actually a bullet hole?"

[heatham] GM says, "then he searches the desk, finds the papers and the pistol, puts the gun in Gilford's hand and shoots himself"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Well, he wiped it clean."

[heatham] GM says, "er, shoots him"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "dammit why didn't I steal that instead of the pen"

[heatham] GM says, "then he makes snowshoes and leaves"

[heatham] EdmundMallory says, "no, no, it's 'make like a tree and leave'. sheesh"

[heatham] GM says, "later William comes in, freaks out, frames Edmund, etc"

[heatham] GM says, "hee hee"

[heatham] Judith says, "You have scored 12 out of a possible 100 points. This gives you a ranking of *Dr. Watson*."

[heatham] GM says, "I was kind of surprised nobody followed up on Barleyhew's trip out in the morning, or wanted to confront William about framing Edmund"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Heh."

[heatham] GM says (to Judith), "I dunno, you got the right guy"

[heatham] GM says, "even if you didn't quite have the entire sequence worked out"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "oh, so I was right when I asked if Mallory had gone to the cabin before the snow ended"

[heatham] GM says, "yeah"

[heatham] Mariamne asks, "so why the shoe-swap?"

[heatham] Wilson says, "The only thing with William was if he was in cahoots with Chickering."

[heatham] Mariamne asks, "just to cover up for his prints?"

[heatham] GM says (to Mariamne), "oh, yeah"

[heatham] GM says, "right"

[heatham] Stanley says, "I dunno, I was reluctant to confront anyone before knowing everything."

[heatham] Wilson says, "So by confronting Chickering, we got William by default if he was involved."

[heatham] GM says, "he figured people would comparse the corpse's shoes to the prints and leave it at that"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Because, well, it would have went just like it went there."

[heatham] GM says, "hee hee"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "well, at least we did solve the murder"

[heatham] Judith says, "I am eternally grateful that William blabbed like a little schoolgirl"

[heatham] Wilson asks, "What was the motivation?"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "I'm sure the police will be highly amused by our crime-solving skills"

[heatham] Judith says (to Mariamne), "I dunno, they'd be quite impressed by our ability at beating up the suspect"

[heatham] GM says, "Barleyhew was naturally going to give the position to his buddy George Chickering"

[heatham] GM says, "until Sir Gilford blackmailed him"

[heatham] Stanley says, "The police will arrive and go 'great, you solved the whole thing and got a confession, I assume you kept all the physical evidence pristine and got reliable independent witnesses to the confession...?'"

[heatham] GM says, "hee hee"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "espcially with the shoes and the handkerchiefs and my psychic crime-solving powers"

[heatham] GM says, "hmm, maybe I should have had Chickering kill William like I was thinking"

[heatham] GM says, "anyway, uh, I'm really sorry this ran 6 hours"

[heatham] Judith says (to police), "nah, we just hit this pillar of the Tory Party until he said he did it"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "nah, we were just incompetent, not your fault"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "it's not like you weren't being fairly hinty in retrospect"

[heatham] GM says, "I ran through it with Emily and it took two, and I figured more people thinking of ideas would make up for that with Emily she was just asking questions instead of roleplaying anything out"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Having a second murder might have been fun."

[heatham] Stanley says, "But would likely have been even more confusing."

[heatham] GM says, "but it turns out that more people just produces more ideas, not more agreement on ideas"

[heatham] GM says, "yeah"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Until there are so many corpses that it's just us and this one guy left."

[heatham] Gwendolyn says (to gm), "thanks for your patience, though"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "and then we go 'uh, let's all jump him'"

[heatham] Gwendolyn says (to stanely), "no, that's called werewolf"

[heatham] EdmundMallory says, "like werewolf, but RPer"

[heatham] GM says, "well, the theory in murder mystery novels is that the second mystery eliminates the dead guy, and you assume that both murders are done by the same person and see who has an alibi for the second one"

[heatham] GM says, "ha ha"

[heatham] Judith says, "I was totally expecting that inky would have made one of us the murderer"

[heatham] GM says (to Gwendolyn), "thank you for sticking around"

[heatham] GM says, "tsk, I explicitly said that wasn't going to happenm"

[heatham] Judith says (to GM), "spoilsport"

[heatham] Stanley says, "That's why s/he expected it."

[heatham] GM says, "plus you all had alibis anyway"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "also I was a little surprised that inky actually gave me useful hints from my psychic faffing"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "but hey, not complaining"

[heatham] Stanley says, "I sucked at finding clues but I did like my line of 'we're just writing down everyone's alibi'."

EdmundMallory goes home.

[heatham] Stanley says, "Also, I think separate channels would help a lot for this."

[heatham] Mariamne says, "also now Judith and I need to go into business as a private detective firm"

[heatham] Stanley says, "For different lines of inquiry, I mean."

[heatham] GM says, "yeah, I guess I'm going to have to do that"

npc1 has disconnected.

[heatham] Mariamne says (to inky), "anyway, thanks, that was a fun game"

[heatham] GM says, "hmm, I could name the channel CharlesMallory or something"

[heatham] Wilson says, "Yeah."

[heatham] GM says, "er, CharlesReed"

[heatham] Judith says, "yeah, yay inky"

[heatham] Stanley says, "I was also pretty unclear of the times of basically every event in the game but that's probably my fault."

[heatham] GM says, "glad you guys all could make it"

[heatham] GM says, "hee hee"

[heatham] Mariamne says (to stanley), "that's the alcohol"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Heh."

[heatham] GM says, "I think you might have had to keep notes to track everything"

[heatham] GM says, "goodness knows I did, but you just have to have a vague sense, and I have to have no contradictions"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Yeah, I should have, but I was being lazy."

[heatham] GM says, "oh, yeah, I'm not saying you should have"

[heatham] GM says, "although it was good Wilson was keeping some"

[heatham] Stanley says, "I always forget how hard it is to find something useful in recap."

[heatham] GM says, "hmm"

[heatham] GM says, "I could make a signable object that people can put clues on, maybe"

[heatham] Wilson says, "Hee."

[heatham] Wilson says, "I actually wrote nothing down."

[heatham] Stanley says, "That would be handy, yeah."

[heatham] GM says, "I guess it's hard to know it's a clue at the time"

[heatham] GM says (to Wilson), "oh, heh"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "I started taking notes and then couldn't work out what the hell would be useful and then I forgot to put down anything"

[heatham] GM says, "I figured with the tracks and stuff you were recording"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "so I made a note that said 'tories vs judith' and that was it"

[heatham] GM says, "ha ha ha"

[heatham] Wilson laughs.

[heatham] GM says, "judith vs the world"

[heatham] Judith says, "hee hee hee"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Also, it still seems crazy that William would cover up a suicide by framing his own brother for murder."

[heatham] GM says, "also, you can see http://www.drizzle.com/~dans/rpg/mystery/day-timeline.html and http://www.drizzle.com/~dans/rpg/mystery/personalities.html if you are curious"

[heatham] Stanley says, "But I guess even if you're not a murderer you can still be a bastard."

Gwendolyn goes home.

[heatham] GM says, "well, note that if Edmund bites it William inherits the estate, too"

[heatham] Stanley says, "True."

[heatham] Judith says, "hee hee 'lies there'"

[heatham] GM says, "but mostly, despite Mariamne's affection, he's just a prick"

[heatham] GM says, "but perhaps he can be redeemed by the love of a good woman"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "love is blind, alas"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Also, we had no reason to think it wasn't a suicide, except that we knew this was a murder mystery."

[heatham] Mariamne says, "and I am not exactly the brightest spark in the fire"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Plus maybe that he had no reason to kill himself."

[heatham] GM says, "also the board-marks"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "we mentioned the idea a few times, or at least judith did"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Which we didn't find for ages."

[heatham] GM says, "it kind of depends at which point you were discussing this"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "in a dismissive 'he wouldn't do that' way"

[heatham] Judith asks, "wait, Charles Reed found the body with William?"

[heatham] Stanley says, "You actually mentioned the packed snow under the window early on, but we didn't follow it up."

[heatham] Mariamne says, "well, I thought about it"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Until much later."

[heatham] GM says, "the intent was for it to look like a murder until you had uncovered enough clues that it couldn't be suicide"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "and then got distracted following the obvious tracks"

[heatham] GM says (to Judith), "no"

[heatham] GM says (to Judith), "(sorry, I just mean "goes near")"

[heatham] GM says, "Charles's role is to hear any gunshots that William might have made"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Looking at the timeline, man, that Edmund sure is a slug-a-bed."

[heatham] Wilson says, "Yeah, hmm. At the beginning I was trying to throw some softballs to establish that it was a murder and not a suicide, but all the evidence was vague."

[heatham] Mariamne says, "I am surprised I didn't freeze to death, tracking prints in the snowy forest in my flapper dress and pearls"

[heatham] GM says, "he's sleeping off a bender"

[heatham] Judith says, "I don't see anything wrong with being in bed until 10"

[heatham] GM says, "hee hee"

[heatham] GM says, "it's actually not at all uncommon in this time period"

[heatham] Judith says, "particularly if one has company"

[heatham] GM says, "there's no tv, so you sleep in til 10 or so and stay up late drinking"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "whoa, Elizabeth makes Mariamne look very intelligent"

[heatham] GM says, "and the rest of the time you are bored"

[heatham] GM says, "yeah, Elizabeth didn't get much chance to be ditzy"

[heatham] Judith says (to GM), "or killing God's creatures"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "seriously, she makes me look like a skeptic"

[heatham] GM says, "yeah"

[heatham] GM says, "it is crazy how many grouse get killed on these hunts"

[heatham] Judith says (to GM), "but that is what they are for"

[heatham] * Emily has joined the channel.

[heatham] Stanley says, "It's interesting that the first time we searched the cabin, we didn't find all that much."

[heatham] Stanley says, "But when only two people were searching it went much better."

[heatham] GM says, "some of the stuff I was whispering to people"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "(also, man, if all thhese guys dote on Elizabeth how come I didn't get any action?)"

[heatham] Judith says (to Emily), "apparently you are 3 times smarter than all of us put together"

[heatham] GM says (to Mariamne), "Judith seduced them away"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "feh"

[heatham] Emily says (to Judith), "I had no one to distract me"

[heatham] Judith says (to Emily), "well, we did a very good job of that"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Now I sort of want to read a story where Holmes, Poirot, Miss Marple, Auguste Dupin and Philip Marlowe all end up working on the same case."

[heatham] Stanley says, "And get absolutely nowhere because they all have different ideas."

[heatham] Judith says (to Stanley), "I am sure there is appropriate fanfic somewhere"

[heatham] GM says, "hee hee"

[heatham] GM says, "there is actually, hmm"

[heatham] GM says, "The Mystery of Edwin Drood"

[heatham] GM says, "Dickens's famous half-written mystery"

[heatham] GM says, "somebody did a continuation of it that has a bunch of other detectives come in and discuss it"

[heatham] Judith asks (of GM), "so how, if at all, are you going to modify next week's?"

[heatham] GM | http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0156236001/

[heatham] GM says, "well"

[heatham] GM says, "I think I need to be a little more hinty at the beginning"

[heatham] Stanley says, "I think we're free next week, if you want help with NPCs."

[heatham] GM says, "please stop by if you're interested in running an NPC, yeah"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "I can play Elizabeth with merely the slightest increment of ditziness"

[heatham] GM says, "that could be totally helpful"

[heatham] GM says, "hee hee"

[heatham] Judith says, "I might be able to as well, yeah"

[heatham] GM asks, "anyway, hmm, what points did it seem like you got stuck on?"

[heatham] GM says, "partly it seems like the whole timeline was confusing"

[heatham] Judith says, "we mostly had trouble working out the footprints, I think"

[heatham] GM says, "you guys could have systematically checked alibis to see when people were alone during the day, which I admit is boring"

[heatham] Judith says, "probably as a result of failing to make notes"

[heatham] GM says, "yeah, the footprints are intentionalyl confusing but a bit too much so here"

[heatham] Emily says, "the big break for me re. the footprints was when I cornered Barleyhew and he admitted that the snow had obscured his"

[heatham] GM says, "like, the intent was for the big break was -- right"

[heatham] GM says, "so they, uh, didn't really do it like that"

[heatham] GM says, "they did search a lot of people's closets"

[heatham] Emily says, "heh"

[heatham] Stanley says, "One thing that was especially fuzzy was when it snowed and how much, so maybe you could emphasise that more."

[heatham] Emily says, "well, I dunno, it seems like you might alternatively be able to push things so that people have more reason to confront B"

[heatham] GM says (to Emily), "it was actually really good to play it through with you first, because the idea of wanting to rifle through other people's rooms totally hadn't occurred to me"

[heatham] Emily says, "because I did like the snow being confusing at first and then work it out"

[heatham] GM says (to Stanley), "yeah"

[heatham] Emily asks (of GM), "dude, after all those seventh sea sessions?"

[heatham] Emily asks, "what did you think people would do?"

[heatham] GM says, "katre, who was otherwise great running Edmund with no prep, didn't plug the snow as much as I'd asked"

[heatham] GM says, "hee hee"

[heatham] GM says, "(specifically, that time when he said lunch was cut short by the snow, that was him or me missaying that the hunting had been)"

[heatham] GM says, "but maybe I'll make that more clear in people's testimony"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "the big break for me was searching the back of the cabin"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "and then randomly playing check-the-shoes with the corpse"

[heatham] GM says, "yeah, I was cheering that"

[heatham] GM says, "I had mentioned earlier that the shoes came off "easily" when Wilson removed them"

[heatham] GM says, "I wasn't sure if I should have made it more obvious then or if that'd give the game away"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "your hints need to be more bricklike"

[heatham] GM says, "I think I still have too much of the habit of hiding stuff, yeah"

[heatham] Judith says, "no, you gave us some pretty major bricks"

[heatham] Judith says, "it's difficult to drop in Subtle Textual Hints at runtime"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "you were pretty hinty, but we were also pretty dense at times"

[heatham] GM says, "I should remember there will always be some unexpected complication, so don't make too big a deal of the planned ones"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "like, we figured out it was chickering not too late on but then we got overcomplex"

[heatham] GM says, "yeah"

[heatham] Stanley says, "I think in some ways we just had too many cooks spoiling the broth, or at least making it take longer to cook. We'd probably have been much faster with one person investigating and everyone else offering suggestions, say."

[heatham] Mariamne says, "and spent an hour discussing it"

[heatham] Stanley says, "But that would be less role-playing fun."

[heatham] Judith says, "I think we should just have gone "Yeah. Clearly suicide. Who's for charades?""

[heatham] GM says, "I probably should have just let you confront him earlier, but this seemed not entirely optimal without evidence so I put it off"

[heatham] GM says, "hee hee"

[heatham] Mariamne asks (of judith), "uh, er, large gherkin?"

[heatham] GM says, "ha ha"

[heatham] GM says, "ok, I am sure people are anxious to sleep or eat or whatever"

[heatham] Stanley says, "What I was sort of looking for was the one iron-clad proof we could have used in a good old dining-room expose in front of everyone."

[heatham] Stanley asks (of Emily), "How did that work out for you?"

[heatham] GM says, "oh yeah"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "we had the boots!"

[heatham] GM says, "hmm"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "and the boards!"

[heatham] Judith says (to GM), "thanks again"

[heatham] GM says, "I think the best ironclad proof was in the alibis"

[heatham] GM says, "but maybe there needs to be something else"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "maybe someone should take 'fingerprinting' as a skill"

[heatham] GM says, "(specifically, William says he was dead then, therefore he was dead before lunch, therefore only Chickering and Barleyhew don't have an alibi)"

[heatham] Stanley says, "I'm thinking back on detective stories, and sometimes they uncover some unexpected physical proof right at the end that they deduced must have been there, but sometimes they just bully the criminal into confessing."

[heatham] GM says, "yeah"

[heatham] GM says, "I was sort of wondering how you'd confront the guy"

[heatham] Stanley says, "I don't think they usually get him alone and then beat the crap out of him."

[heatham] GM says, "Chickering was an outsider, so it didn't work too well, but if it'd been like William or something"

[heatham] Judith says, "hey, he was coming right for me"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "send in the convenient NPC to take the brunt of the anger, you know"

[heatham] GM says, "I was curious if you'd let him shoot himself or what"

[heatham] Emily says, "I worked out it was Chickering or Barleyhew, and then I worked out the boots, and then it was all clear"

[heatham] Judith says, "*I* certainly had nothing to do with arming us all to the teeth beforehand"

[heatham] Stanley says (to Emily), "Nice."

[heatham] Mariamne says, "you told edmund to take a gun!"

[heatham] Stanley says, "You nicked my gun!"

[heatham] GM says, "ha ha ha"

[heatham] Mariamne says (to emily), "see, far too sensible"

[heatham] Judith asks (of Emily), "how did you confront, then?"

[heatham] Emily says, "I didn't really roleplay that out"

[heatham] Judith says, "awww"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "we just found lots of evidence and dithered"

[heatham] Emily says, "though I did reward the knife-and-boot boy with a tot of whiskey for confirming my suspicions"

[heatham] GM says, "ha ha"

[heatham] GM says, "Stanley would have kept that for himself"

[heatham] Judith says, "we had mostly drunk all the booze in the house by that point"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "I think I tipped the butler for telling me about william having the watch"

[heatham] Emily says, "I did a fair amount of the thing where you don't actually confront someone but you ask them an 'innocent' question and see if they lie"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "I forgot the bootboy in the midst of not getting told if Chickering's boots were dirty or not"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "also in the middle of crazy theorymaking"

[heatham] GM says (to Emily), "yeah, hmm, they didn't actually do much of that, it seems like"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "we kind of sucked at interrogating anyone"

[heatham] GM says, "hmm"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "'did you like him? can we see your shoes? okay, bye'"

[heatham] Emily says, "it was my latent wolfiness coming to the fore"

[heatham] GM says, "ha ha"

[heatham] Stanley says, "I possibly had too much fun mucking about with role-playing, but, well, it was fun."

[heatham] GM says, "I think part of the problem was I was trying to run too many NPCs so none were sufficiently responsive"

[heatham] GM says, "ha ha"

[heatham] GM says, "the roleplaying is totally the best part for me"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "yeah, channels would be really useful for keeping track of stuff, I guess"

[heatham] GM says, "since I already know how the mystery goes"

[heatham] GM says, "well, hmm, I guess seeing you guys make theories is also excellent"

[heatham] GM says, "especially when you are skirting around the edge of something important but not quite saying it"

[heatham] Stanley says, "There wasn't a lot of the thing you seemed to want originally, where we make a theory and then try something to test it."

[heatham] Stanley says, "Apart from Storme checking the corpse's boots."

[heatham] GM says, "actually, Wilson did a fair amount of that"

[heatham] GM says, "but I'm not sure -- hmm"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Yeah, he was the only one who consistently tried that."

[heatham] Stanley says, "But, I dunno, it didn't seem notably successful."

[heatham] GM says, "it seemed like it wasn't that useful for him, and I'm not positive how much of that was me unfairly shutting him down, and how much of it was him not forming useful-enough theories"

[heatham] Stanley says, "We also stalled a lot on unimportant situations."

[heatham] Stanley says, "Like getting out of the drawing-room and into the scene of the crime."

[heatham] Stanley says, "And organising that damned confrontation."

[heatham] Stanley says, "Unimportant details, rather."

[heatham] GM says, "hee hee"

[heatham] GM says, "especially at the beginning of the game people want to screw around and roleplay"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "well, I had a theory about the window which is why I checked the back of the cabin"

[heatham] GM says, "and aren't sure what the "rules" are so it takes a little while to figure it out"

[heatham] GM says, "which I am all fine with"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "but I didn't really talk about it before I went to check, so"

[heatham] Stanley says, "I think the deal there is that even though everyone is saying 'let's make such and such happen', nobody is really prepared to say 'okay, I hereby declare that this happens'."

[heatham] GM says, "like, I wasn't sure if this was going to be a game where the detective plays much part or not"

[heatham] Mariamne says, "since I looked at the map and thought 'hm, *one* window, eh? bet that's important'"

[heatham] GM says (to Stanley), "hmm"

[heatham] GM says, "I guess I could have designated a team leader or something"

[heatham] Stanley says, "Hrm, maybe."

[heatham] GM says, "that doesn't work if people split up"

GM asks, "anyway, ok, closing the log for real -- any last remarks?"

GM says, "right then -- thanks for playing, everyone."