Journal of Andrzje Szachnowski October.10-28.1928
*Spoiler Warning*
This is a character journal for Chaosium’s Call of Cthulhu campaign Tatters of the King if you are planning to play it someday Do Not Read Any Further.
As some of you know, my great-uncle passed away few months ago and it was my task to sort out his belongings. My great-uncle was sailed many seas during his life and gathered some very peculiar items on his way. There were masses of strange knickknacks and one specially hideous statue of frog like creature with little wings and tentacles under it’s nose.
The items were somewhat interesting but what I found inside a old chest wrapped around a oily cloth was truly fascinating. At first glance it looked like a pile of rotten papers and I almost threw it away with rest of the garbage but it was not just a another trash but an journal ! It was a hard read because of decay and also the handwriting was not simplest I have seen (especially towards the end where there were sure signs of writers insanity). What follows here is fantastic tale, is it true or not, I do not know but for all of our sake, I hope and pray it is just work of lonely madman.
Here is the first part of the journal of Andrzje Szachnowski transcripted by myself, all the journal entries are in italic and normal text are my notes.
October. 16.1928
I sent a letter to Lady Willington this morning and because I know that Lord Willington will read it before the Lady I made this poem to make his hatred go to new high.
Oh dearest
I remember that night
When I took
Your love in Moonlight
I also received an invitation from Adam to premier of new play called Carcosa.
I found the flier for the play amongst journal papers.
October. 17.1928
The Play was brilliant ! Me, Adam, Freeman, Liverpond and Mortimer Smythe-Wartley were there tonight. Acting was somewhat poor (the queen was great though) but the story and the reaction of the crowd was truly amazing. The Play itself told a story about a distant kingdom which was at war. As a last desperate measure Queen made some sort of Faustian deal with mysterious stranger. I was mesmerized that I do not recall all the facts and we had an little argument what happened in last scene (there was no consensus within my companions and even the actors were bit on haze about it). Some of the crowd (no doubt those who have no understanding for the arts) were actually rioting after the show ! Unbearable !
Not to self , find the book King in the Yellow. If a mere adaptation to stage was so amazing the book itself must be truly fascinating.
I had a nightmare which I had to write down to my journal. In my dream I was playing a violin with an orchestra but the orchestra was out of rhythm and the crowd was applauding in all the wrong places ! Suddenly there it was that sign from the play Carcosa …hmm for the lack of better term I shall call it the Yellow Sign. Yellow Sign tried grab me with it’s tendrils but I managed to control it with my violin … once again the art saves me !
I feel artistic, I think I shall paint over one of Freeman’s doodlings.
Here is a picture from journal pages. Handwriting is truly horrible.
October. 18.1928
Adam visited me this morning and told me that the play was canceled. What a shame, this sort of art is so rare. Adam also told me that he had similar dream what I had. Truly peculiar, I wonder what our Freudian friend Smythe-Wartley says about it.
Later in the evening all who were at the play met at the gentlemen’s club. I told about my new paintings to Liverpond, I think I will manage to sell some of my art to him tomorrow. Over eager doorman of the club raised some sort of ruckus and I was forced to hit him once, so that he learned his place.
I saw the same dream again.
October. 19.1928
I woke up early and destroyed my new paintings. I can do better than those. I think I will visit Herbert at countryside.
October. 20.1928
Damned dream won’t let me alone. I thought that if I won’t drink it would help but no! I called Smythe-Wartley and arranged meeting with him (I am not sure will his psychiatric methods works but better than this). He promised to get me from the train station tomorrow.
October. 21.1928
I met Smythe-Wartley at the train station. He was acting suspiciously so I was forced to check if he was carrying weapons of some sort. He was not. Afterwards we held psychiatric session, I do wonder why he needs know so much from my mother ?
He gave me laudanum to help me sleep better.
October. 21 – 27.1928
I met with Smythe-Wartley several times and we talked about my mother. Laudanum seems to help a bit but I still keep seeing that same dream.
I found this photograph among the journal papers. I think it is from Andrzje.
October.28.1928
Smythe-Wartley brought his shrink friend Charles High-Smith to our club meeting. I instantly disliked him and bit later I stormed out because he dared to suspect my mental stability.
October.29.1928
I visited Adam and he told that High-Smith had asked them to visit mental institute near Wales. High-Smith has patient called Alexander Roby who was accused of murder and other improper behavior few years back. High-Smith thinks that Roby is healthy enough to be released now and so High-Smith another shrink to inspect him or some nonsense. Adam asked if I wanted to come along and I said that it sounds so dreadfully boring that I shall skip it.
Later that evening I called Alexander Roby’s brother but he was uncooperative to help me in my inquiries.
I also visited Talbot Estus who directed Carcosa and asked him if he could let me read his version of King in the Yellow. He said that it is too valuable to be lend without hefty deposit ( I have to call to Herbert for that). He also suggested that I should search for book called Wanderer by the Lake by non other than Alexander Roby … I am all ready regretting that I did not go with the others.
I must get my hands on both of those books maybe the will help to resolve my dreams.
October.30.1928
I thought I murdered my neighbor last night. I checked if he was all right and he was. I guess it was just a dream.
I called Smythe-Wartley at Herefordshire and told him about the literary works of Alexander Roby.
This is all for now. I shall return to this story when I manage to transcript more of the journal.
