British Gods
Talk of Goatswood
January 1st to March 30th 1929
As the events in Carcosa and Scotland gradually slipped slowly from the forefront of their minds over the weeks and months, Bill, Lady Verity and AC returned to their normal lives. Poor Stephen and Henry, scarred by what they had seen were committed to Allan's care in St. Agnes's. Lady Verity started off some queries seeking the elusive Malcolm Quarrie but he seemed to had dropped off the face of the earth!April 1st to September 30th 1929
Much to Allan's relief, Stephen and Henry's treatment finally seemed to be bearing fruit and by the summer both had been released back into the community. Stephen, reconciled with his father though his illness returned to his father's estates in Dorset while Henry returned to his cottage in Kent.Stephen occupied his time in long-distance running, only occasionally resorting to brandy to supplement the landnam Sir Allan had prescribed to help him sleep. Henry meanwhile resorted to long walks on the Downs and bracing swims in the local river as he tried to forget.
Lady Verity's investigations meanwhile, all came up empty in attempting to locate Quarrie.
October 1st to December 12th 1929
The first day of October, as the tempreatures began to fall, was the day the dreams returned! Henry and Stephen were worst affected, shocked and drained Stephen immediately sent a telegram to Allan who immediately took a train to visit his patient. The more stoical Henry, simply resorted to longer walks in the countryside!Bill and A.C. called on Lady Verity and decreed that all of their compatriots should be called back to London as it was obvious that Quarrie's plans were once more afoot. Lady Verity invited them all to luncheon two weeks hence. Bill returned to Bow Street and began a further investigation into Quarrie, painting him to his superiors as a dangerous Anarchist.
After agreeing at Lady Verity's luncheon to redouble their efforts, the next months proved frustrating, hugely compounded by the disruption and upset caused by collapse of the stock market. The investigations proved increasingly fruitless and sleep was often disturbed by the strange dreams.
And then, more distubingly, as winter increased its icy grip on the country, the strange visions, visitations and omens of The King in Yellow began to impinge on their waking hours as well.
Friday, December 13th 1929
While reading in The Times an article about the assault of a verger at Christ Church in Spitalfields caught the attention. The accused, one Wilfred Gresty was being arraigned before the magistrate that very morning. Recalling that someone of that name had written to them not once, but twice concerning Quarrie and the Cult of Hastur, the letters were fetched out and on re-reading them it was realised that one of the letters referred to Quarrie's wife - who lived at somewhere called Nug's Farm - at last
a
clue!Those in London at the time decided to attend Gresty's hearing, Lady Verity sent a telegram to the others summoning them to the Capital once more. At the hearing, Gresty looked a scruffy figure, wearing a poor suit and no tie and Allan noted that both his hands were bandaged. In front of the magistrate Gresty was contrite and pleaded guilty to all charges, claiming that he had recently been unwell and his memory of the night in question was confused. As Gresty had no prior convictions, he was dealt a fine of two pounds by the magistrate and ordered to pay for any repairs.
After making restitution Gresty was heading out into the street when they caught up to him. He quickly realised they were the people he had written to about Quarrie and seemed genuinely pleased to see them, inviting them for a celebratory drink at The Plough.
Through the afternoon, Gresty's tongue was loosened considerably by the free beer provided by Bill & Lady Verity and as he spoke they realised that Gresty was a member of a rival cult, dedicated to 'The British Gods' and led by someone called Atkinson, sent to spy-on and if possible undermine Quarrie's Hastur cult.
He informed them he would be 'leaving this Hastur-damned city soon' and took one of the curious whistles they had seen before out from round his neck and hurled it away from him into a corner. They also learned that Gresty was going to go home and 'take up what's his' and that include the Quarrie woman in Nug's Farm. They learned that Gresty was from somewhere called Goatswood in the Severn Valley near the village of Clotton.
Once Gresty had slumped down in an alcoholic stupor, the investigators left, Sir Allan stopping to retrieve the whistle.
Saturday, December 14th 1929
Having decided a visit to the Severn Valley was the thing, the 09:40 from Paddington was their next call, meeting AC, who had travelled down on the sleeper from Yorkshire, there. The Investigators arrived in Gloucester around lunchtime, where Stephen, travelling up from the West Country, met them. They took rooms at the Station Hotel and quickly discovered that although the Bristol train used to stop at Clotton, the station had been closed die to lack of use. Lady Verity's attempts to hire a car proved fruitless, the few garages that offered rentals have had several breakdowns due to the cold weather. They were informed that the motor bus was the way to travel, and the next bus to Bristol which passed thruogh Clotton, would leave outside the station at 06:00 on Monday morning.Monday, December 16th 1929
After a restful Sunday in Gloucester, the investigators went to catch the bus on a cold frosty morning. The driver seemed somewhat nonplussed that they actually wanted to go to Clotton as he 'normally drives straight through there', the implication being as quickly as he could! Initially it seemed they would be the only passengers, but at the last minute an old woman came hurrying up and took a seat as far as she could from them, rebuffing Bill's attempts at friendly conversation. As soon as Gloucester was left behind the rod narrowed to a single track, high hedges on either side dusted with snow. Bill noticed that after they passed through the hamlet of Framilode there were no road signs. Querying this with the driver he was told 'the council put them up , but somebody takes them down!'The road gradually worsened as they went on towards Clotton and suddenly several of the investigators realized something else, somewhat unusually for the English countryside, there were no churches.
Dark Gods
Monday December 16th 1929
Eventually the bus dropped the Investigators off in what the driver announced was Clotton. It was an ill-considered place, a few cottages distributed around what looked like a old disused church covered in ivy. The streets were empty of life, though Allan spotted a thin stream of smoke coming from one chimney and went over to investigate while the others prodded around the overgrown churchyard. Knocking on the door did not produce a response unfortunately, and he quickly returned to the others where Lady Verity and Henry were pouring over the Ordinance Survey map they had purchased in Gloucester determining there was a footpath that led to s small cluster of farms, one of which was marked as Nug's Farm where they hoped to find Hillary Quarrie.
Steven estimated it would take them about an hour and a half to cover the three miles given the inclement conditions and they set out briskly. Attempts to glean nay further information from a local they came across tending his sheep proved frustrating at best, the shepherd seemingly keen to avoid contact with outsiders and his thick accent making any information he did volunteer impenetrable.
The pathway led through a thickly wooded are which, while providing some respite from the biting wind and snow, had its own disadvantages - a thick cloying scent that filled the nostrils and a low thrumming sound that left some of the Party with splitting headaches, Allan and Stephen at one point even turning back for a while.seeking respite. AC and the others, pressing on was astonished to see what seemed like a naked man peering at him though the trees, and then repulsed when he realism the figure appeared to be deformed, his knees bending unnaturally. The figure made a strange gesture at them then disappeared into the trees. Feeling strangely discomfited by this encounter they pressed on, shorty arriving at Nug's Farm, where they found Hillary working in the yard, accompanied by three mastiffs and a young lad.
Henry introduced himself and the others and explained that they had come to warn her about Gresty, of whom she seemed rather contemptuous, but, dismissing they lad, she invited them in, just as Stephen and Allan caught up. Once inside and the obligatory cups of tea were made, they chatted trying to find information about Quarrie, but she told them she hadn't seen him for a couple of years. Suddenly they were interrupted by the dogs barking furiously and Hillary excusing herself went out to the yard. Looking through the window they could see Gresty making his way towards her. AC stood in the doorway ready to act if there was trouble. But Hillary seemed able to handle the situation ad Gresty was dismissed with a flea in his ear. As he left he turned and shouted that he would be back and Nug's Fartm and all in it would be no more!
On returning to the house Hillary went over to the desk in the corner and began gathering up papers . Asking the others to help she took them out into the yard and threw them on a brazier there., saying she couldn't risk them falling to Gresty's hands. AC managed to snaffle a few pages as they helped. Once the papers were burnt, Hillary thanked them for their help and offered them two letters that Quarrie had written to her about a year ago that mentioned an "executor" in Milan, one Thomas Villiers. She then advised the Investigators that they had better leave if they wanted to catch the bus and thus avoid the coming confrontation with Gresty. Rather than leave the woman alone, they insisted on staying to help. and thanking them, Hillary then busied herself making supper.
The evening passed glacially slowly in the cottage, while they waited for Gresty's next move. Conversation was desultory at best, each passing moment emphasized by the ticking of the grandfather clock in the hall. And then just before
midnight the darkness was illuminated by the great
flare of a bonfire on the hillside opposite. Hillary, grim faced rose
to her feet and taking a carving knife from the table, said "It is
time" and headed out into the courtyard. Grabbing what improvised
weapons they could, they Investigators followed. Heading into the courtyard they could hear the sound of chanting carried on the breeze then a sharp cry, abruptly cut-off! This was followed by the sound of something large crashing through the woods. Hillary paled and turning to them said, " Quick, the hen house, bring me some of the chickens" Allan and Lady Verity dashed across the yard to comply. Stephen peering into the darkness caught sight of something large and dark crashing through the woods and fainted, his delicate pyche unable to cope.
As Lady Verity and Allan returned clutching the squawking hens, they each caught sight of the monstrosity moving ponderously towards them fear filling their very souls. Hillary slashed at one of the hens , which spewed blood everywhere. Uttering a word of Power she urged the investigators to repeat it., which they uncomprehendingly did. Again, again and a fourth time she slashed at the hens, uttering Words which once again the Investigators echoed. Then she turned, spattered in blood and faced the huge creature bearing down upon them - ordering it to return and slay those that had summoned it. For a few moment s a look of intense concentration and pain crossed her face , sweat beaded her brow as if she was engaged in some kind of titanic struggle. Suddenly the creature turned and stomped back they way it had come. Hilary turned and wet back into the farmhouse, saying "It is over". As the investigators turned to follow her the faint sound of screams was carried on the breeze.
Tuesday, December 17th 1929
There sleep was troubled that night, but next morning everything seemed to have returned to normal. It was a bright frosty morning, and after a breakfast of bacon and eggs Hilary told them they were welcome to wait at the farm for the day until it was time to return to Clotton for the bus. Henry ventured up the hillside where, in a heavily trampled area. He found the remains of a large fire - kicking aside the remains he saw something that looked like bone gleaming white in the ash.Their return to Clotton was uneventful, save for the return of the troubling headaches, and they caught the bus back to Gloucester and then the train to London to make preparations to visit Mr Thomas Villiers in Milan