4 August 1871

~After midnight, before dawn~

Despite the best intentions to follow Inspector MacGregor’s advice, I am at Niall Malloy’s pig farm in Surrey. The inspector has found a quiet place out of the way for me to meditate. The rest of the League has returned to London to deal with the aftermath of altercations at the police station and at Sir Spencer’s house.

Inspector MacGreggor tells me that the D.F.T. has reported that all are safe at both locations. I will have to wait until I return home to find out the details. In the meantime, the inspector and his men are quartering the grounds looking for any sign of Malloy, as well as collecting evidence from our earlier battle.

A veritable cascade of events occurred between teatime yesterday and three this morning. Ruth would be vexed with me if I did not make some effort updating my notes.

Mrs Cuthbert, Mrs Frazer, and I had just sat down to a late tea when my husband arrived home driving Lady Cowperthwaite and Miss Wilhelmina. To my eyes, they appeared to be accompanied by Miss Mitzi and two of her bodyguards. Mrs Cuthbert quickly pointed out that it was a very strong glamour and our three travellers were on their own. With a bit of concentration I was able to see past Miss Mitzi’s spell but the illusion was very convincing. Ravvi did not even know it had been cast.

Mr Salmalin put the carriage away and then joined us as we received an update regarding Lady Cowperthwaite’s plan to discredit Mr Malloy. We shared the information learned though the History spell and it was decided that a note would be sent post-haste to Mr O’Flaherty to tell him that Malloy was planning to go after ‘Gates’ to get to ‘Jimmy’. We hoped that Mr O’Flaherty could make some use of the information, or at least tell us if our instincts were correct and that his erstwhile opponent, ‘Gentleman Jimmy Maws’ was the selfsame ‘Jimmy’.

A note arrived from Inspector MacGregor imploring us not to pursue Davy on our own, as the location we had indicated for the possessed young man was very near Mr Malloy’s pig farm.

Mrs Cuthbert and I then adjourned to Mrs Cuthbert’s study to attempt to Locate Mr Malloy while Lady Cowperthwaite, with Mr Salmalin, checked on her household (including Emily and George, who were both recovering from dreadful wounds of the night before), Mrs Frazer went to see to her little ones.

The Locate spell was very successful. Not only did Mrs Cuthbert get a very strong sense of where Mr Malloy was, she had a clear vision of his current activities. Unfortunately those activities involved instructing his associates to cut one of ‘Gates’ fingers off.

Given this information we could hardly sit around waiting for the rest of he League to return from their various errands. Mrs Cuthbert and Lady Cowperthwaite had carriages made ready. I pried Emily out of her rooms where she had been sulking for most of the day while Lady Cowperthwaite and Miss Wilhelmina talked the still-battered George in to staying with Mrs Frazer to help watch over her and the babies. George was really in no shape to be guarding anyone, but it was that or have him insist on coming along.

We assembled in two carriages, one from each household, and set off in the direction the spell had indicated. After some time had passed, Mrs Cuthbert and I discussed the possibility that Mr Malloy might be on the move. So we paused in our journey to cast a second locate spell. Our instincts paid off, as we discovered that Mr Malloy was now moving south. Looking at the map, it seemed likely that he was on his way to the pig farm. We could not break off pursuit so we changed our course to match his.

It was late evening by this time, with just enough light in the sky to show that it was not yet fully night, but not enough to be much help in seeing the road. There was a ditch running along the both sides of the road with open country with a few scattered trees beyond that.

Suddenly we heard a loud explosion to our left. Lieutenant Wooster identified the sound as a 4-pound cannon. Our drivers pulled both carriages into the ditch, putting the road between us and the shot.

We split into three groups. Lady Cowperthwaite, Mr Salmalin and Mr O’Flaherty formed one group. Lieutenant Wooster, Mr Caine, and myself formed another and Sir Spencer, Mrs Cuthbert, Edward and Emily formed the third.

Sir Spencer’s group stayed with the carriages and began setting up Edward’s rocket battery and Sir Spencer’s arsenal of weapons.

Lady Cowperthwaite and I headed in opposite directions– she to the left and I to the right– we were trying to reach a barn we could see outlined dimly– and where we presumed the shot had come from.

As the Lieutenant, Mr Caine and I were walking up the ditch, still using the road for cover, who should come along but Inspector MacGreggor in his carriage. We spotted one another and he joined our party, sending his driver back to the Malloy house to round up reinforcements in the form of the constables who were searching the place.

Once we were far enough up the road, we crossed the field and began to make our way toward the barn. I kept Lieutenant Wooster in front of me. He assured me he has been practicing with his new gun, but I would rather not be the one to find out if his aim has not improved.

Upon approaching the barn we could see that there was a bright light shining from inside. Two ninjas came out, dragging what appeared to be two police constables, both trussed from head to foot. They were dumped unceremoniously on the ground outside the barn. Wooster’s keen eyes identified one of the constables as his nephew, the newly-minted Lance-Constable Gregson.

We had no time to formulate a plan. We heard the crack of a rifle and saw a body fall from the window of the barn. Then the roof began to open, as if it were a hinged lid on a box, and the swan boat rose into the air. That Other League had strapped balloons of rising gas onto the damaged boat to provide lift. Young Davy was at the helm, glowing in the light of the eldritch energy field that surrounded the boat.

I could hear fighting break out from several different positions. I know that Inspector MacGreggor stayed with me as I began to raise power for a spell to disable the crown’s control over Davy. Events happened so swiftly once we had engaged with enemy– I could not keep track of my friends and allies whilst concentrating on the ritual. I sent my spell to its target and a moment later I could feel Mrs Cuthbert drawing an enormous amount of power from the swan boat. Somehow she then reflected that power back up at Davy in, what I later found out to be, a massive exorcism spell.

The boat began to drift and I saw what could only be Edward, ascending into the air atop his “Rocket Pants”. He landed safely on one of the gas balloons and was able to drop down into the boat proper. Before I knew it, he had parked the boat on the ground and was prepared to take everyone to London to rescue Mr Frazer (under siege at police headquarters) and Mrs Frazer (under siege at the Cuthbert’s house on Charles street).

Since Edward was needed to fly the Swan boat and Mr Salmalin was needed to guard Lady Cowperthwaite, I volunteered to stay behind and drive the clockwork carriage home after the sun had risen.

So that is how I come to be sitting in the hay in a quiet corner of a barn on Niall Malloy’s pig farm. So far I have not seen any pigs– perhaps they were frightened by the fighting.

I am a little anxious about my ability to safely drive carriage on my own. I have practised driving the small clockwork dogcart Edward built for me but this will be my first time driving Sir Cosmo’s large carriage. Inspector MacGreggor has very kindly volunteered a constable to wind the mechanism for me.

I am very tired but would like to make one more attempt to locate Mr Malloy while I have a few quiet moments. . .

~Morning~

I have not been home long. I successfully drove the carriage home. Mr Salmalin met me at the entrance to the carriage house. It was wonderful to see him all in one piece. He looked rested and not much the worse for wear. He and Lady Cowperthwaite have insisted that I lie down for a bit. I did sleep in the barn this morning.

I fell asleep as I was meditating in preparation for the Locate spell and Inspector MacGreggor did not see fit to wake me until the sun was full up. I awoke with his coat over me. He is such a thoughtful man.

~Mid-morning~

My husband and Lady Cowperthwaite were correct. I do feel much better after a bit of sleep in my own bed. I have also taken advantage of my mirror to remove a few persistent hay straws from my hair.

Lady Cowperthwaite and I have talked and she has released me from my secretarial duties until tea time. I took the opportunity to confess my feelings of uselessness in battle. She made the sage suggestion that I play to my strengths and I realized, while talking with her, that my strengths are just not in combat skills. I am not very strong, fast, or agile compared to my friends. I am frequently called up on to use magik to greater or lesser effect which requires a great deal of concentration and requires me to hold still. If the magik were not so unreliable, I think I would not be nearly so frustrated.

My real skills are in language, etiquette, and cryptography. Though, really the cryptography could use some work. I would love to make time to learn more languages: Chinese, Japanese and Sanskrit are all on my list. I suspect Mr Ramsey would know where I could find a Sanskrit tutor and perhaps Our Employer would know of someone who speaks the others.

I felt much better after talking with Lady Cowperthwaite.

Now I am on my way over to see Mrs Fraser and catch up on all of her news. Apparently she and her household were attacked by Master Marut (the Turk) last night and George and Stuart managed to save the day. Mr Salmalin was quite surprised that George, in his injured state, managed to hold his own against the former teacher of Master Tandu. I will have to get the full story from Mrs Frazer– and find out how her new nursery maid performed in the heat of battle.

Mrs Cuthbert’s dream the night of 3 August 1871

Mrs Cuthbert had a dream involving her sister, the Raven King ( a 10th Century mage and king in North England), Wapwawet (a minor Egyptian deity and patron of Abydos).

In the dream Lillian took a key from the Raven King.

Wapwawet’s sarcophagus has an image of the Abydos ‘crown’ (the artifact currently in Victoria’s possession)

Lillian takes a scroll from the sarcophagus.

The scene shifts to England’s West country in Early spring. The Swan Boat is landing carrying a young American Indian woman and an English man. The man is wearing an artifact named “Merlin’s Ring.” Lillian takes a glowing crystal from the Swan Boat.

Now the young man is old and ghostly. He says to Mrs Cuthbert, “They come out of the shadows. They return to the shadows. They come again and again as often as the Master of the League of Shadows needs them.”

Next Mrs Cuthbert could see a crowd of ninjitsu crowded around a magma pit. A tall slim man with hair greying at the temples speaks:

“Mr Stone, I need you again.” A man rises up out of the magma.

“Dr O’Brien come forth, I need you” and Dr O’Brien rises out of the magma. The Shadow Master then says: “Dr O’Brien you need to learn the difference between and actual goddess and an avatar of one.

4 August 1871

Victoria’s notes:

Seance with Mrs C in re: Master Marut
Learnt some of his history (came back from dead after being killed by the Cobb over theological disagreement). Not willing to share info on his theology. Quite rude, actually. Cast aspersions on my husband. Did say Malloy was in this to make money. Also said the Actuary (another lieutenant of the Cobb was still around. Contemptuous of him.

Lay to rest spell will hopefully slow Marut from a second resurrection– that and having entire head blown off by George.

Yet to do (short term):
Find and hopefully rescue Mr Gates
Capture Mr Malloy and turn over to police
Find the missing artifacts (Tablet, Scroll, Scepter)
Secure the existing artifacts in our possession (Boat, Crown, Glove)
Follow up on reports that Sir Matthew is still showing ill-effects from artifact use.
Find a way to contain so-callled “League of Shadows”

Yet to do (long term):
Find tutors in Sanskrit, Chinese, and Japanese
Continue lessons in cryptography
Practise magik more diligently
Transport dog-cart to cottage at Stoke-on-Trent

Proceed to My hands were covered in blood

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