CoC 17: the Clive Expedition

Investigators:

• Dr. Gretta Von Flue- Parapsychologist and occult enthusiast
• Allen Challenger- Antiquarian and dealer in forged artifacts
• Michael Hunt- 45 year old dilettante in search of diversions
• Helen Alexander- Archaeologist and author
• Machmud- street urchin, NPC guide

Regrouping at the hotel, the investigators reconnected with Mike. He managed to recruit Helen, a young Archaeologist seeking gainful employment. A discussion ensued over which lead to follow next:

• Omar Shakti- powerful plantation owner is somehow involved. Reputedly a danger man to cross
• Edward Gavigan- disgraced Penhew Foundation chairman and Black Pharaoh Cult Sorcerer. He is visiting Shakti, on what business, who knows?
• Clive Expedition, funded by the Penhew Foundation, is camped near Memphis. They discovered an unusual female mummy new Giza, but it scandalously and mysteriously disappeared
• Janwillen Vanheuvelen, a former Clive Expedition member, used to be a regular at the Turf Club but is now down on his luck, living somewhere in the Old City

They decided travel to visit the Clive Expedition. Mike gave Machmud a $10 bill for his troubles and told him to meet them in the morning.

Thursday, February 14th, 1925

Machmud didn't show up in the morning. After a while the party gave up and decided to go it alone.

They found a Riverboat captain willing to take them to Memphis. Neil Young is a young dilettante, son of a British official, enjoying himself in post-colonial Egypt. Helen managed to get on his good side and he took the party to Memphis in his steam-yacht.

They found the Clive camp outside the city near some magnificent temple ruins.

The camp itself is quite well protected, with barbed wire fences and armed guards. Knowing that the expedition recently fired an archaeologist, the investigators talked their way in, saying that Helen is looking for a job.

Dr. Clive interviewed Helen. He wasn't terribly impressed, but he agreed to take her on as an assistant Archaeologist in an unpaid capacity. The rest of the party were invited to stay the night in camp.

The party took the time to meet the members of the Clive Expedition. They got some useful info from James and Agatha about the theft of Queen Nitocris and the stolen mummy. Marten and Johannes seem like characters to be careful of.

In the night, Alan, Mike, and Helen decided to search the camp for the mummy. In a store-tent they found a creepy, life-size granite statue of the Black Pharaoh. Mike created a diversion(and was kicked out of camp by Johannes and the guards) while the others buried the statue in the sand.

Friday, February 15th, 1925

In the morning, Dr. Clive attempted to fire Helen, but she persuaded him to keep her on. That said, it was made clear that the rest of the party were no longer welcome. They spent the morning snooping around the dig sites in the area...