A dangerous gamble, a forceful interrogation, a prophetic encounter...
Summary[]
Arthur and John meet with Detective Noel and Arthur reveals John’s existence. Later, they acquire information about an upcoming meeting of the Order of the Fallen Star from one of its members and make a plan of attack. Just as they’re leaving Marie’s, they run into Noel outside, who reveals that he is Roland Cummings’ former partner Charlie Dowd and a former prisoner of the King In Yellow.
Synopsis[]
Arthur and John go to meet with Detective Noel. On the way, they reveal that Oscar is unconscious in the hospital. Arthur expresses sorrow that they couldn’t say goodbye to his friend. John reveals that he wants to talk with other people, but felt ignored and isolated around Oscar. He apologizes for trying to kill him and expresses that he is still learning.
With Scratch and the mysterious woman behind them, they ponder about their upcoming meeting with Noel. Arthur considers telling Noel about Larson, but worries he’s already told Noel too much. John suggests learning what they can from Noel about the Order of the Fallen Star and/or the Freemasons – but keeping Noel at arm’s length.
They enter the diner. Arthur sits and abruptly confesses John’s existence (as the fractured soul of an alien entity) and his own blindness. Noel asks the entity’s name; Arthur replies it is John. Noel accepts this, and remarks he didn’t think he was going to meet Arthur the day prior, to Arthur’s confusion. He believes Arthur.
John and Noel speak, with Arthur facilitating John’s side of the conversation. John briefly explains escaping his book and blinding Arthur, but asks what Noel knows about them. Noel reveals people are looking for Arthur in Arkham, and promises to help Arthur against the Order – as per his promise to someone else.
Noel tells Arthur about a smuggler and human trafficker named Charon. Charon associates with Aldrich Ward, the Freemason treasurer and owner of DB imports. The police believe Charon has ties to the Order, and Arthur confirms the Order’s symbol on Charon’s stash of goods. Ultimately, Noel suggests that Arthur go to the Grand Lodge at 23rd and 6th Avenue.
As Noel leaves, Arthur asks for an update on the Butcher. The Butcher is still being held, despite Larson’s lawyers’ attempts to release him. Arthur warns Noel about Larson and his connections to the Order.
They arrive and enter the Freemason Lodge, noting Freemason symbols and Egyptian iconography, and head to the 17th floor. Aldrich Ward’s office is empty, but, after passing themselves off as ‘Arthur Saltzman’, his secretary agrees to allow them a meeting when Ward returns.
Outside, they spot Ward walking to the bathroom. They follow him in. Arthur assaults him and questions him about the Order: terrified, Ward reveals that the Order is holding a meeting at the Red Hook Grain Terminal. Pressing further, Ward says the meeting is invitation-only, the guests don’t know each other, and they wear masks. After warning him not to attend, Arthur knocks Ward out.
On the way out, they run into Percival. Percival browbeats Arthur into telling him the last half of the story Arthur told on the train.
In the story, Charlie turns Mat away from the cabin, because he has a woman staying there with him, named Moll. Moll has been taking care of Charlie. Mat leaves, despondent. He wanders aimlessly, before making an unsatisfactory shelter. Moll suddenly arrives, builds up the shelter, and takes care of Mat. They curl up together and go to sleep in one another’s arms, safe and secure.
Percival thanks Arthur, bids him goodbye, and heads back upstairs.
They leave. Arthur debates on telling Noel, who John doesn’t remember. It takes him a moment to recover, but agrees that telling Noel is a good idea. For now, they head to Marie’s. In the cab, they discuss how to dismantle the Order.
John speculates on the ‘Fallen Star’, considering it a powerful, literal object. He suggests stealing it. Arthur recalls The Three Soldiers underneath Larson’s estate, and The Blackstone they sought. Still, Arthur isn’t convinced, given the distance between Addison and New York. John insists that they should take the fallen star and tells Arthur to trust him. Arthur agrees, and summarizes the plan:
Arthur agrees that he has followed John to New York because he trusts him, and allows the matter to rest. Arthur summarizes the bare bones of the plan as infiltrating the cult, finding the object, taking it, killing Larson, and then leaving.
They arrive at Marie’s, which is no longer enshrouded in dark miasma. Inside, they find Marie, who tells them that Hattie is doing well. Oscar has told Marie how Arthur saved Hattie, though he didn’t elaborate on the arm. As payment, Marie gives Arthur a golden locket that contains pictures of her son, Frederick, and her husband, Albert. Her son had been killed in WWI; when Marie asks, Arthur reveals he never served in the war.
Assuming Arthur is leaving, Marie asks where Arthur is going. Arthur doesn’t think he’s ready to go back to Arkham, and Marie is surprised, thinking that Arthur is from England.
She reminiscences about Frederick, and his love of the sunshine. The sunlight reminds her of him. Hesitantly, she asks Arthur to be penpals, and Arthur agrees.
Arthur goes to make a phone call. Along the way, he retrieves a letter written to him by Oscar. He heads outside to read it, but finds Noel pacing outside nervously. They sit and talk. Noel confesses his story.
Noel knew Arthur was coming for two years, because two years ago, he escaped from the Dreamlands.
His real name is Charlie Dowd and he grew up in Harper’s Hill. He had a friend named Noel Finley. Both policemen, they went to serve in WWI. Finley died and his body went missing. Devastated, Charlie moved to Arkham, and opened up a PI business with a partner who had ties to the law. His partner was Roland Cummings and they worked at 13 Mosby Avenue.
Through their cases, they became aware of otherworldly magics. It became their specialty. Eventually, Charlie went to Egypt to investigate a stone, which Charlie eventually stole and sent to the office. However, when Charlie returned to Arkham, he discovered that Roland was presumed dead.
The King in Yellow came for Charlie, after – at first in dreams, and then in the Dreamlands. The King tried to get information about Roland, torturing him for years. Charlie claimed that he didn’t know anything.
Eventually, the King brought out Roland Cummings, having found his spirit trapped in the Dreamlands.
Roland wouldn’t tell the King what he wanted to know – the King destroyed what was left of him. Giving up, the King dropped Charlie into the prison pits.
John theorizes that the King was looking for John’s book, having made the connection to it through 58 Pelican Lane.
Charlie explains that their mutual friend, Lorick, helped Charlie escape. He told Charlie that Arthur was his friend, and that he would eventually encounter Arthur. Lorick told Charlie that Arthur would be blind, and would have Roland’s lighter, and a familiar voice in his head. Charlie would have to help Arthur when he met him.
Arthur asks if the name Adam Fry means anything to Charlie, and he explains that Adam Fry was a persona the King would use when torturing him. He sounded just like his childhood best friend.
Arthur asks what Charlie meant when he claimed that they had a few mutual friends. Charlie confesses that he’d hoped that the voice in Arthur’s head might be Roland’s.
Finishing up, Charlie promises to help him infiltrate the Order meeting. He leaves.
Arthur tells John that when this is all done, he’d like to go to England. John promises that when this is done that they’ll get on the first boat there.
Votes[]
- Chapter 191: John [194] / The King in Yellow [6]
- Chapter 192: Pretend to be Daniel [46] / Say you are Daniel's Son [156]
- Chapter 193: Try To Get A Few More Answers [152] / Leave [38]
- Chapter 194: Trust John [99] / Confront John [30]
- Chapter 195: No Vote
