[QUOTE=Talen;308085]Confronted with the aftermath of the destruction of the Egyptian obelisk that once resided at the estate of [B]Sir William Bankes, [/B]the Rippers set to finding answers by questioning the captive politician [B]Jonathan Jellicoe[/B]. The Ripper’s interrogation techniques were “non-traditional, with Jellicoe questioned by the investigator Granver Stone while Jellicoe’s portly frame suspended from a chandelier above Saito’s eager katana. The investigation technique was also effective as Jellicoe told the Rippers how he was being blackmailed by a cult of unknown purpose with the threat that his personal proclivities would be exposed to the public thereby ruining his political career. Jellicoe was tasked with reporting to the cult regarding the Rippers activity in Dorsett. He told the Rippers he was forced to dispose of Maxwell Puget when the police office began asking too many questions regarding his trailing of the Rippers. Unfortunately, Jellicoe knew nothing of the man he identified as [B]Hakim [/B]who had successfully destroyed the obelisk.

Heading back to the London Lodge with Jellicoe in tow, the Rippers reported on their success in recruiting Bankes and the unfortunate destruction of the Egyptian artifact. The return to London was met with a tsunami of news as the Rippers learned of a new murder reportedly committed by Jack, Investigation revealed a similar attack pattern, however the cuts were not quite as surgical – and the victim as not a prostitute. Any doubts of Jack’s return however seem to have been forgotten as Scotland Yard appeared at the Rippers doorstop and asked for their assistance in investigating yet another murder.

Returning to the crime scene with the police, the Rippers discovered a note at the crime scene with a forged invitation from the Rippers inviting the victim to alley where the murder was committed. Saito, perhaps from the intuition developed in having dedicated his life to the destruction of vampire-kind for their murder of his former lord, discovered a vampire tooth at the crime scene as well. Granver’s old friend at Scotland Yard, [B]Edwin Blackburn[/B], told the investigator that Scotland Yard believed the Rippers had some involvement in the murder of the victim (primarily because of their independent discovery of the forged invitation). The Rippers were invited to the crime scene to gauge their reaction to the note and see if they would attempt to lie about the note. Scotland Yard did not however discover the Vampire tooth, nor were they able to follow the trail that Clancy and Sallie followed to another alley were the words “Remember [B]Poenari[/B]” were scrawled in blood. Poenari was the castle where the Rippers defeated Count Dracula at his last stand.

Satisfied for the moment that the Rippers may not have been involved in the murder, primarily at Edwin Blackburn’s urging, the Rippers were taken to the mortuary to examine the victim’s body. It was here that the Rippers were confronted with the horrifying truth that [B]Jonathan Harker [/B]had been murdered. Rushing back to the lodge to ensure [B]Mina [/B]was safe, the team set to the sad task of informing Mina that her beloved husband was killed – apparently by the return of the newly resurrected [B]Dr. Jack[/B]. Sallie did her best to console the despondent Mina while Solomon silently swore an oath to avenge the death of Jonathan Harker and bring some solace to Mina – Jonathan having brought Solomon into the Ripper’s fold and serving as his mentor and Mina having spent long hours training Solomon in the ways of Vampire hunting.

Sallie, concerned with not letting the trail of the murderer grow cold, set in motion a plan to pose as Mina and return to the crime scene in the hope of bringing out the killer. As the Rippers set out to the alley, the Rippers were visited by London’s most well-known private detective, [B]Sherlock Holmes.[/B] Holmes and Granver have previously worked cases together and renewed their acquaintance as Holmes informed Granver that he suspected his old nemesis Moriarity may have played some role in recent events and that they should avoid confronting the mad genius at all costs. Having served the warning, Sherlock also informed the Rippers that they were being followed by a man with a description fitting that of the Italian art collector, [B]Enrico Gambuccini. [/B]A later attempt to track down Gambuccini led to a second visit with Sherlock Holmes and calling in a number of favors with the Archbishop in London. The meeting with Sherlock Holmes put the detective’s full deductive powers on display. The Rippers were not the only side to leave impressed as Clancy’s pointed questions and answers to Sherlock’s questions led to the conclusion that Enrico was not in fact a criminal, but an agent for the church. Calling in several favors with the church revealed that Enrico is in fact an agent for the Vatican. This was discovered only after Sallie’s ruse to lure Jack out was set in motion.

Heading to the alley disguised as Mina, the group’s deception succeeded in provoking a response – if not exactly what they were expecting – as four vampires lept from the street rooftops in an attempt to waylay the Rippers. While the Rippers were fully prepared for the attack, Solomon put on a chilling display of lethal efficiency, tearing through the vampire pack. Defeating the vampires, but no closer to Jack, the Rippers headed back to the lodge with still more news form the morning papers announcing a recent act of defilement at the [B]Kingstead Graveyard.[/B] The import of this seemingly insignificant news (when viewed in light of Jack’s apparent return) may have been lost of the general public – but not the Rippers. [B]Kingstead Graveyard[/B] is the place where [B]Count Dracula[/B] was secretly buried after his defeat at [B]Poenari.[/B][/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Talen;303860]The Rippers continued their recruitment of [B]Sir William Bankes[/B] over a weekend dinner party at his Dorset estate in Kingston Lacy. The Rippers learned of Sir Williams’s discovery of an ancient Egyptian Obelisk at a [B]Temple of Isis in Philae Egypt[/B]. Solomon Grist’s surprising knowledge on the subject impressed their host and prompted Granver to engage in additional research on the subject at Sir Williams’s extensive library where he learned that the Temple of Isis was reputedly dedicated to the study of reincarnation rituals. Their second day was spent conversing with the guests with both [B]Enrico Gambucinni[/B] and [B]Jonathan Jellicoe[/B] showing great interest in the Rippers reasons for visiting the Bankes estate.

The weekend of thoughtful conversation, lavish meals, horseback riding through the country side estate and trick shooting demonstrations by Sallie Dalton was interrupted when Granver Stone discovered the body of police office Maxwell Puget in the room occupied by Italian art collector Enrico Gambuccini.

Originally believing Enrico responsible for the murder, all physical evidence pointed to Enrico being the murderer. However, relying on her psychic gift, Sallie was able to probe the mind of Enrico and conclude he was not the murderer and the evidence was merely an elaborate attempt to frame him for the murder. With this knowledge in hand, the Rippers started questioning the other guests and began to suspect the portly politician Jonathan Jellicoe committed the cold-blooded murder. Sallie again attempted to read this new suspects mind and was repulsed by the experience while coming away with the distinct impression he was responsible for the heinous act regardless of his careful political responses to her questioning.

While the Rippers investigation closed in on the Jellicoe as the murderer, a group of cultists broke into the mansion and headed to the second floor - either in search of something or as a diversion for what was occurring on the estate grounds. Saito dealt with the invaders in his traditional fashion – separating several invaders from their heads, while Clancy’s Colt pistols rang loudly through the mansion dropping the invaders. As the Rippers dealt with the cultists, a man named [B]Hakim Jaleel[/B] was busy strapping explosives to the Egyptian obelisk outside. After the Rippers stopped the invading cultists, in an effort to buy more time, Hakim summoned 2 shadow hounds to deal with the Rippers and provide a means for his escape.

The Rippers were initially stymied in their fight against the hounds, with the fearsome ethereal creatures immune to earthly attacks. It was only the magical bolts from Solomon Grist that ultimately defeated the hounds. Unfortunately, the true nature of Hakim’s activity in the hedge maze became apparent as a blinking light strapped to the base of the obelisk was observed during the battle, followed shortly after by a large explosion which destroyed the obelisk.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Talen;302241][B][From the journal of Mina Harker][/B]

[IMG]http://www.fantasygrounds.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=16490&stc=1&d=1479617632[/IMG][/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Talen;299340]Upon dispatching the vampires discovered last session, the Rippers returned to the London lodge to receive orders on how to proceed with the potentially catastrophic infestation. As luck would have it, the two most renowned surviving vampire hunters in the world had returned to London- [B]Mina and Jonathan Harker[/B]. Known throughout the Rippers for their heroism in defeating Dracula alongside [B]Johan Van Helsing[/B], Jonathan had returned from his work throughout Eastern Europe bringing down the remnants of Dracula's network of vampires. Mina Harker had returned to lead the London Lodge after several recruitment missions throughout London society.

Upon hearing the details of the party's discovery at the London Asylum, it was agreed the Rippers would explore the Asylum, attempt to locate the source of the infestation, and destroy the remaining vampire kind wherever they might find them. Investigation of the lower levels of the Asylum revealed a score of recently turned vampires strapped to hospital beds. While patrolling the asylum, the Rippers also dispatched a group of recently escaped, and fully formed Vampires. The ensuing battle created a loud disturbance which brought a team of armed orderlies to the tunnels.

Confronting the orderlies, the Rippers intimidated the employees and convinced the orderlies to take them to [B]Dr. Kobek[/B] to question him regarding their findings - some believing the doctor to be the source of the growing Vampire infestation. Questioning of Dr. Kobek revealed that his guilt lie only in the cover-up of the Vampire problem and that the infestation apparently resulted from an inmate that infected the others as the newly formed Vampires began to feed on the inmates. Kobek was opposed to both the slaughter of the inmates and bringing attention of the problem to the authorities - fearful for what such a scandal would do to his reputation and ability to continue his work. The Rippers were able to convince Dr. Kobek that the patients could not in fact be saved - but only after assuring him that the true nature of the problem would not become public knowledge. Calling in a favor from wealthy industrialist [B]Randall Pierce[/B], the Rippers were able to manufacture a story about how the Asylum was beset by a plague - concealing the true nature of the problem at the Asylum. The vampires in turn were alternately lead out into the sunlight of the early morning to be destroyed, or slaughtered in the tunnels with vials of holy water secured by Jonathan Harker.

[IMG]https://www.fantasygrounds.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=16129&stc=1&d=1478446835[/IMG][/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Talen;295854][B]Betram Gallahad[/B], the head of the lodge in London, approached the team to reach out to [B]Randall Pierce[/B], a wealthy industrialist in a recruitment effort to shore up the lodge's resources in response to the number of kidnappings that have occurred throughout England and Europe. Pierce presented as a strong candidate to accept given he recently survived a werewolf attack - surviving only because a group of 3 Londonites happened upon the scene resulting in the werewolf running off before killing Pierce. Investigation revealed that each of these 3 people have died under mysterious circumstances in the weeks following the attack.

Meeting pierce for dinner at the Iron Butterfly restaurant overlooking a vast garden, the team was able to convince Pierce to join the lodge and lend his vast resources to the team whenever the Rippers share information regarding their upcoming missions. On the way back to the lodge, a group of dockworker thugs attempted to separate Pierce from the Rippers, only to be soundly thrashed by the team with Granver Stone suffering a horrible knife wound requiring treatment back at the lodge.

With Pierce in tow, it was only a few weeks later that his contacts proved useful as the Rippers were able to gain an audience with [B]Maxmillian Kobek[/B], the new head of the London Asylum for the Clinically Insane. Kobek has become known for his draconian methods for keeping the inmates under control. The Rippers were investigating a rash of slasher attacks - all occurring near the Asylum. Investigations revealed that some fear the attacks portend the return of a more savage Dr. Jack - other believe the Asylum to be the source of the attacks, whether an inmate or an employee.

Refusing to follow Pierce's plan to enter the asylum and investigate covertly as inmates, the Rippers were able to sneak into the Asylum through a muck-filled storm gate and finding the secured cell the most violent inmates were kept in. Picking the lock, the Rippers discovered 3 Nosferatu locked in the room. Unwilling to leave the threat of the 3 savage recently turned vampires unchecked, the Rippers quickly executed a plan to pick off the monsters in their cell. The threat dispatched, the Rippers now have to decide what this all means....

[IMG]http://www.fantasygrounds.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=15825&stc=1&d=1477229837[/IMG][/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Talen;294835][ATTACH=CONFIG]15826[/ATTACH]

I'll be running a Rippers Resurrected Campaign on alternating Saturdays starting this week on the 22nd. I have an unlimited license so no purchase needed for players new to Fantasy Grounds. I like Masks approach to Rippers and players are free to come and go as needed. This makes thematic sense given the way a Rippers Lodge works. The calendar link is [URL="https://www.fantasygrounds.com/calendar/index.xcp?id=2226"]HERE.[/URL] A brief introduction to the campaign is provided below as the first episode was played in a one-shot by a previous group. ([I]WARNING:[/I] the summary below includes spoilers from the plot point campaign)

[B][SIZE=5][FONT=franklin gothic medium]The Story So Far...[/FONT][/SIZE][/B]

Several members of the London lodge of the Rippers were the invited guests of noted ancient civilizations scholar, [B][I]Arthur Harmsworth[/I][/B]. After spending an evening being regaled by the professor's tales of his recent work translating ancient Egyptian texts, the dinner party was interrupted by a break-in at the University where the professor resided. It was only after a group of opium fueled thug intruders were roundly defeated that it was discovered the break-in was merely a pretext for the abduction of the professor. After tracking the kidnappers to a Limehouse street gambling parlour and opium den - the group was able to hunt down the kidnapper's purported leader, Freddie Marchant through the streets of London in a harrowing chase. Managing to derail the carriage carrying the scholar with their attacks, the carriage skidded to a halt. As the Rippers rushed to tender aid to the professor who was in the carriage as it came to an abrupt stop, the heroes were set upon by a Shadow Beast pouncing upon them on a dreary night at the docks. Dispatching this latest threat - the Rippers were horrified to learn the poor professor did not survive the crash of the carriage.


[IMG]http://www.savagebloggers.net/wp/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/70b1e487-b71e-4902-a359-e7ea77d72b1d-825x510.jpg[/IMG][/QUOTE]