Orne Library

Marcus Davenport

Dr_B

Feb 23, 2026 12:24 pm

Orne Library

Jocelyn says:

"It doesn't hurt to prepare a bit before we go"

"That is sound advice. It sounds like you are in your natural element, among books and such?"

Robert says:

"I've got to make some arrangements. If I can manage it, my next trip will be the weekend after next."
He gathers his coat. "Let me know if you're interested."
"Ride back to the school?" He asks.

"Yes... of course. Perhaps we can help you find more heads willing to come along too... How can we contact you?"

Marcus makes sure he has an address or other form of getting in touch with Robert.

Keeper

McButterpants Inactive for 1 months

Feb 24, 2026 12:50 am

Orne Library

Keeper

OOC:

Alright. Let's move this back to the school.

We have a week or so before the trip to Cobb's Corners. Does anyone want to do anything prior to the trip?

Just to confirm, is anyone not interested in going to Cobb's Corners? If not, what would you like to do while the group is out of town?

Ellis Hardy

virtualbasement Inactive for 2 months

Feb 24, 2026 5:49 pm

Orne Library

Ellis is definitely going on the trip to Cobb's Corners.

Before the expedition, he gets a map for the area and studies it. He's trying to get a good feel for the area and hopefully find suitable areas to begin a search.

Ellis has some experience tromping around at night trying to get good views of the night sky, so he's bringing camping gear, a compass, and a flashlight with a red glass cover (stargazers use red lighting to prevent losing their night vision).

Ellis also picks up a box of ammunition for the old 12-gauge shotgun he keeps in the car. He brings it with him on nighttime jaunts in the countryside, in case he runs into any wild animals. He spends some time cleaning it, also. Just in case there's trouble and he needs it.

OOC:

Making a Navigation roll for studying the maps, just in case it helps plan their route

Rolls

Navigate 40/20/8 - Standard - (1d100)

(98) = 98

Marcus Davenport

Dr_B

Feb 24, 2026 7:00 pm

Orne Library

In the spare time between lessons and studies, Marcus will try to find out who is the anonymous Professor who cut the search funds. With the excuse of some irregularity in the paperwork about his enrollment at MU, he will approach the University administration offices, trying to figure out who to talk to to try to steer the conversation to the disappeared students and the research trip the MU organized. He hopes to get some gossip.

OOC:

not sure what he could roll for this networking task? Once located the right person, it might be Persuade?

Keeper

McButterpants Inactive for 1 months

Feb 25, 2026 4:58 am

Orne Library

Keeper

OOC:

Below is the map that Ellis is able to procure. Unfortunately, it's difficult to find out much information beyond location names. It's a fairly small town with not much written about it.

Ellis - Feel free to add the camping gear to your inventory so you don't forget what you have.

Ok, I'm not from the states, so I always find the proliferation of guns strange. I have never seen a gun in my life, never mind knew someone that had one. The thought of a University student pulling out a shotgun just seems strange to me. Still, I realize that it's tough not to want some protection in a horror game.

I will allow Ellis to have a 12 gauge Shotgun (2B) 2d6+2/1d6+1/1d4. You have 5 shells - use them wisely because no one in town is going to sell you more. You can steal more if needed.

Given that, I will also allow Jo to bring the .30-06 Bolt Action Rifle that was requested earlier (2d6+4 with 5 bullets). You will also need to beg, borrow, or steal more bullets.

I will leave it to Marcus to choose a weapon to bring along - no machine guns. :)

Keeper

McButterpants Inactive for 1 months

Feb 25, 2026 5:08 am

Orne Library

Keeper

OOC:

Marcus could use the following Skills to identify the Professor:

- Charm - you talk up Prof Harrold and get into his good graces
- Fast Talk - you bullshit your way into getting Prof Harrold to give up the name
- Library Use - look into research projects in Cobb's Corners and surrounding areas
- Persuade - you convince Prof Harrold to give up the name - maybe tell him about the trip - help you avoid danger

Feel free to come up with other options that might make sense. Whatever approach, please set the scene - what do you say/do?

Marcus Davenport

Dr_B

Feb 25, 2026 9:19 am

Orne Library

Marcus is sitting on a bench in the hallway outside Professor Harrold's office. From the muffled voices inside, he knows the scholar is in, finishing a meeting.

As the door eventually opens and a student walks out, he makes his move.
Before the door can close again, he rushes to talk to the Professor.

"Professor Harrold? Do you have a moment please? My name is Marcus Davenport, I study Medicine here at MU... I am very concerned about the missing students, up in Vermont... I was close to Daphne, one of them. I am desperate to help the police to find them, but they are ready to give up the search. Their families are also in great distress, as you can imagine... My understanding is that you know the area, and were recommending to take precautions, perhaps even to cancel the field trip at Cobb's Corner? Can you share your concerns, I wonder if what you know might be of use to try find the poor folks missing? Please? "

OOC:

thank you, trying a Persuade

Rolls

Persuade 45/22/9 - Standard - (1d100)

(69) = 69

Marcus Davenport

Dr_B

Feb 25, 2026 9:27 am

Orne Library

OOC:

he pushes the roll, by grabbing the Professor's arm and making his voice break to impress on him how desperate he is to find out more.

"Professor... If you have even the vaguest idea of what could have happened up there, it would be more than those incompetent country police have! You've got to help me... What could have caused Boyd Patterson's death by fall? And... Daphne and John Jeffrey. People don't just... disappear like this, leaving no trace, for no reason... Please, Professor! "

OOC:

oh boy... these dice hate me

Last edited February 25, 2026 9:27 am

Rolls

Persuade 45/22/9 - pushing! - (1d100)

(81) = 81

Professor Roger Harrold

McButterpants Inactive for 1 months

Feb 26, 2026 5:41 am

Orne Library

Professor Roger Harrold

Professor Harrold invites Marcus to take a chair, before taking his own seat. He absentmindedly picks up his unlit pipe and rolls it around in his hands. The faint smell of cherry flavoured tobacco hangs in the air.

He listens carefully to Marcus's request without interruption. At the mention of Daphne, his demeanor shifts. He seems to deflate. His expression takes on a haunted sorrow.

As Marcus presses - suggesting a recommendation to cancel the trip - Harrold's expression hardens. "Are you implying this was ... my fault?"

Marcus continues pushing. The Professor's brow knits. He leans forward across his desk. "Excuse me young man!" He barks, cutting Marcus off. "I don't know who you've been talking to, or where you came up with these accusations, but that research project had nothing - I repeat, nothing - to do with the death of poor Mr. Patterson, or the disappearance of Ms. Devine and Mr. Jeffrey."

He jabs the pipe at Marcus, his voice rising slightly. "I do not approve of your tone, Mr. Davenport. Mr. Patterson's death was ruled and accident. And I haven't the faintest idea where ..." He falters. A look of pain crosses his face.

When he speaks again, his voice is thick, choked. "... I haven't the faintest idea where Ms. Devine and Mr. Jeffrey are. Believe me ... I wish I knew."

Professor Harrold steps around the desk and perches on its edge, briefly touching Marcus's arm in comfort. "I am deeply sorry about your friend. Truly."

He sighs heavily. "The police searched the area extensively. Please don't go up there yourself. I could not bear the thought of another missing student."

"Go back to your studies. I will make some inquiries to the Sheriff in Cobb's Corners and see if he has any more information. If I learn anything of substance, I will seek you out."

He stands and returns to his seat, gathering his papers. "That is all Mr. Davenport." He says, the dismissal hangs heavy in the air.

Marcus Davenport

Dr_B

Feb 26, 2026 7:32 am

Orne Library

Marcus observes the reaction of the academic, and is about to reply. Then he decides that silence could be the best approach, after irking the man.

He mumbles an apology and withdraws from Harrold's office.

Damn... There goes a bridge in flames, he thinks walking away.

Marcus Davenport

Dr_B

Mar 1, 2026 8:44 am

Orne Library

GM says:

I will leave it to Marcus to choose a weapon to bring along - no machine guns. :)

OOC:

Marcus is not a weapons man. He wouldn't know how to use one. He will rely on improvised weapons when needed. Hearing his companions are packing some artillery, if anything he'll be a little worried!

McButterpants Inactive for 1 months

Mar 3, 2026 2:10 am

Orne Library

OOC:

The story will continue in a new thread "2. Road Trip"

SamIAm Inactive for 1 months

Mar 8, 2026 5:19 pm

Orne Library

Dr_B says:

Jocelyn says:

"It doesn't hurt to prepare a bit before we go"

"That is sound advice. It sounds like you are in your natural element, among books and such?"

"I absolutely am," Jocelyn replies, "and if you let me have a look at these books I might find something that has escaped your attention."

If Jocelyn persuades Blaine to let her spend more time with the books, she studies those intensely.

Either way, she also takes some time at the library trying to find out more about Cobb's Corner.

OOC:

Jo made a fast talk roll earlier which I might hope would have gained the boy's trust. But I'll add a Persuade roll now (at 10% haha) as it seems appropriate if it is this last bit that is important. That and a Library Use roll to find out more about Cobb's Corner.

Rolls

Library Use 60/30/12 - Standard - (1d100)

(10) = 10

Persuade 10/5/2 - Standard - (1d100)

(80) = 80

Robert Blaine

McButterpants Inactive for 1 months

Mar 10, 2026 4:04 am

Orne Library

Robert Blaine

Robert looks at Jo and gives her a wry smile. "Come to Cobb's Corners and you spend as much time as you want with these books."

In the library, Jo manages to find a small publication called The Breadbasket of Vermont. It talks about the farmland around Vermont and gives a bit of detail on each of the towns in the area. Cobb's Corners is one of those towns.

Excerpts from the book:

Quote:

Cobb’s Corners is situated roughly 20 miles (32 km) west of Brattleboro, within a "U" shaped mountain range. The town is blessed with a booming trade industry due to its location on the Deerfield River and the fecundity of its farms. Chartered in 1787 by a group of farmers out of New Hampshire, the town was named after Franklin Cobb, the leader of the settlers, and the surrounding land is often referred to as Cobb’s Corners as well.

Quote:

Cobb’s Corners is a place of great scenic beauty, a Rockwell painting come to life. Small shops line the unpaved Main Street leading to the waterfront district consisting of a couple of warehouses and a few short piers. Spread out behind the stores are a collection of homes, a public library, the town hall, a local sheriff ’s office, the office of the Cobb’s Corners Gazette, a one room schoolhouse, and an assortment of other buildings. Access to the valley is by a two-lane road that meanders through the surrounding mountains.

Quote:

Beyond the town proper lies the Gismend Road Bridge; closer to town, there’s a smaller, less used bridge whose name, if it ever had one, is long forgotten. The surrounding farms cover hundreds of acres of tilled soil bursting with a variety of crops, such as sweet corn. Any inch of land not used for farming boasts a cluster of trees, with thick stands of elms, oaks, and hickories soon taking over abandoned farmland. Standing majestically in the background, the Green Mountains rear up like a bulwark against the rest of the country.

Quote:

In 1790, the farmers of Cobb's Corners noticed the yield from their crops declining substantially year after year — an all too familiar consequence of Vermont's notoriously thin, granite-rich soil. For years, the settlement struggled along like so many other hardscrabble New England farming communities. Then, something changed. The historical record offers little explanation. Town meeting minutes from the period are sparse, and the local agricultural reports simply note, matter-of-factly, that yields began to improve. Dramatically. Consistently. Year after year, the harvests grew more abundant, the variety of viable crops more remarkable. Today, the farmland in the valley has garnered a growing regional reputation as the "Breadbasket of Vermont" — a striking distinction for an area usually known for its rocky, if not outright infertile, soil. Whatever happened, the farmers of Cobb's Corners don't appear to have questioned it. Or if they did, they kept it to themselves.

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