The Resurrectionists: In the Stacks

[Seryna]

Maeve had previously found some information on the mirror, as follows:

Maeve's prior research

The Jesuit priest and pioneer in early optics, Athanasius Kircher, first described the mechanisms for a "stenographic mirror" in his text Ars Magna Lucis et Umbrae in 1671. The stenographic mirror, capable of projecting an image painted on glass over a distance of 500 yards, was built using many of the same principles that made so-called magic lanterns possible three hundred years later.

As Maeve began her research, she found some unrelated nonsense. There was a time crunch that made the research difficult. The Melhet did find something. The Ars Magna Latomortum is "the Great Work of Masonry," or sometimes "the Great Work of the Masons," a phrase adopted by various Freemasonic lodges throughout the world. As she considered the message, something sparked in her memory. She had skimmed something that looked familiar when she discarded earlier leads as nonsense.

According to folklore, the Romans referred to anagram games as "Ars Magna" (The Great Art). Rearrange the letters of "Ars Magna" and you get "anagrams."

What method is Maeve using to research?
Maeve and Milton can also look at the note as a whole to determine what the riddle could mean. Although Mr. Northbridge was told that it was theorized that the true meaning might not become clear until one was onsite at Arkwright Cemetery.

[Milton]

A short while later, Maeve hears the sound of a car engine just outside her haven. The engine dies and a car door slams. Footsteps. The pace is not leisurely, but not too hurried either.

Finally, a knock at the door. Milton has arrived.

[Milton]

Once Milton is admitted, he sets right to work, commandeering Maeve’s computer to begin running down leads. He also provides Maeve with the copies of records he’s acquired through his connections with the city, hoping her keen eyes pick up on something he hasn’t.

He is, as always, polite to a fault. Very thankful for the Shadow’s hospitality.

As he works, he attends as best he can to any conversation with Maeve.

At some point, he receives a phone call from Connor, which he takes while continuing to tap away at the keyboard.

He knows that time is tight and works accordingly, researching these specific topics in a very focused fashion:

The mysterious ‘Ond’

3 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-09-09 06:35:58	[01] Milton rolls 7 to Intelligence + Computer + 1 (equipment) (10 Again)	1, 3, 5, 8, 10, 6, 2, 10, 5	3 successes

4 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-09-09 06:35:58	[02] Milton rolls 7 to Intelligence + Computer + 1 (equipment) (10 Again)	1, 10, 2, 9, 4, 8, 6, 10, 3	4 successes

The fabrication and use of a stenographic mirror (which Maeve had mentioned at the Nox in relation to the Ars Magna)

2 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-09-09 06:35:58	[03] Milton rolls 7 to Intelligence + Computer + 1 (equipment) (10 Again)	4, 10, 2, 4, 8, 7, 3, 6	2 successes

3 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-09-09 06:35:58	[04] Milton rolls 7 to Intelligence + Computer + 1 (equipment) (10 Again)	6, 2, 7, 4, 10, 9, 2, 8	3 successes

Any mention of a Lady Grief or Rabbi Miel in reference to individuals buried at Arkwright.

1 success

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-09-09 06:35:58	[05] Milton rolls 7 to Intelligence + Computer + 1 (equipment) (10 Again)	4, 5, 2, 2, 10, 1, 5, 6	1 success

3 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-09-09 06:35:58	[06] Milton rolls 7 to Intelligence + Computer + 1 (equipment) (10 Again)	4, 5, 4, 5, 7, 10, 8, 8	3 successes

What will he find?

Sorry for the double post—I wanted to get these research roles in before this afternoon’s deadline. I’ve done this as an extended roll, number of rolls capped at the unmodified dice pool. Added +1 modifier for the computer as a equipment to each roll. Please feel free to apply any penalties for time crunch / conditions. Let me know if you need me to make any further rolls or revise the re-roll anything already posted.

[Seryna]

Milton has an idea on the mysterious 'Ond'... Go ahead and have Milton and Maeve consider what Ond means in the riddle. That is for one to figure out with their thoughts.
Milton discovers that the stenographic mirror, also known by its Latin name laterna magica, is an early type of image projector that used pictures—paintings, prints, or photographs—on transparent plates (usually made of glass), one or more lenses, and a light source. The term 'magic lantern' is used interchangeably. This device was mostly developed in the 17th century and commonly used for entertainment purposes. It was increasingly used for education during the 19th century.

One Sigh Hill monument, commonly called Lady Grief, has the unusual distinction of being a monument to suicides. In Victorian times it was customary to leave a few pennies with Lady Grief so that the ghosts of suicides might buy passage to the afterlife.

[Maeve]

Maeve is doing a google dive basically on her computer. And getting what she has from her research, one of the last things she's interested in is possible anagrams in the note.

Her simple, one-bedroom apartment is mostly clean, though the place looks far from 'your average apartment' in terms of being lived in. The most personal set of items she keeps in there are her books and she has a lot of them. Her kitchen, which she does not use, has been turned into her semi-library that overflows from the living room. Considering she is such an avid reader, there are many, many different genres of books from sci-fi to manga to poetry of all kinds. If one were to try and count, she probably has more books of poetry than anything else though.

So, there are books on shelves, on the counters, in the cabinets etc. About anywhere there is open space. Her computer is in her bedroom, which is spacious enough to serve as a small office space, the windows completely shut up and blacked out, of course, just like all of them in her apartment. Luckily it isn't an apartment with many windows nor a view to warrant it.

As she watches what Milton is up to, she asks, "Given the knowledge that the Ars Magna is actually an anagram, maybe that's something we need to be aware of in the note or whatever we might find in the cemetery. Ond, Don, Odn, nod? Only so many combinations." The Shadow was more actively interested in being prepared than most people who would often rather go, go, go.

Sorry, I just saw the second post. Didn't mean to be this slow.

[Milton]

"Yes, indeed..." Milton muses.

The Lord's face is blank, waxen, as he considers the permutations: "You'll nod it all...You'll don it all..." He mutters. No, that doesn't do it. "The difficulty," he says, attention once again fixed on Maeve, "is the extent of the anagrammatic play in the note. Should we use the 'Great Art' on only that Ond? On that entire paragraph? On the whole letter? Or, as you say, is the message to be found at Arkwright itself rather than this message?" Too many variables.

Again, Milton considers the note, trying to discern any anagrammatic patterns in the text itself.

2 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-09-10 06:28:14	Milton rolls 7 to Intelligence + Investigation (10 Again)	8, 10, 7, 2, 3, 1, 3, 6	2 successes

Went ahead and rolled for solving enigmas / puzzles. Can't discern any anagrams within the text myself, but figured Milton is much smarter than I am.

[Seryna]

Milton can see that it's clearly meant to be a word. There are context clues in the remainder of the note- Lady Grief is one. Milton has discovered that is a real place. It's likely the locations mentioned in CH's note are real places as well.

[Seryna]

The evening draws to a close and the Kindred return to their Havens, as prepared as they can be for the next night. Please follow the action here