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Dr Drusilla Hamilton-Smythe
(later Mrs James Carson) -a lecturer in anthropology at
Edinburgh University. Did nursing in Flanders during The Great War. Was
a spinster until her mid-thirties when she met The
Major. Sturdy and tweedy prior to her marriage, but later rumored
to have discovered silk underwear.
Mother of Rosemary Abigail (born 3rd March, 1923). Godmother to Matthew
McAllister. Insisted that applicants for the job of Nanny should have
firearms skills.
Although she is otherwise intelligent and observant, she continues to
believe that her niece, Jasmine, is a good girl
at heart.
Also known as 'Auntie Dru'
(Drusilla's Cocoa Recipes can be found at 'A
Cthulhu Chapbook). |
Stephen St Chapman - a 40 year old
librarian at Edinburgh University who was too unfit for War service.
Colleague of Drusilla.
Has read quite a lot of disturbing occult books and drinks heavily as a
result. |
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Brenton McAllister - a dashingly handsome young
Canadian who served in both the infantry and the Royal Flying Corps. He
suffered a serious head wound in the War and made his living selling
sensational stories of mystery to the less respectable type of
newspapers, until he was appointed as occult correspondent for 'The
Scotsman'. He aspires to be an author.
Married to Gertrude (nee Perceval). Father of
Matthew (born 11th February 1922). Used to ride a motorbike before he
acquired family responsibilities. |
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Andrew MacDuff - an engineer in his early twenties, who
served in the artillery and the tank corps during the War. Has an
unattractive scar due to an old war injury.
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Major James Carson - a retired military
gentleman, former commanding officer of MacDuff. Had been a widower for
many years before he married Drusilla Hamilton
Smythe.
Father of Rosemary Abigail (born 3rd March, 1923). Godfather to Matthew
McAllister. Nephew of Abigail Carson.
Since a disturbing trip to Carcosa he has acquired a secret collection
of privately printed literature with hand coloured plates which his wife
would not approve of. Tends to end up paying for funerals.
Also known as 'The Major', 'Uncle Jamie' and 'James
Dear'. |
Jasmine Hamilton-Smythe (stage name - Jasmine
Jenks; later Mrs Charlie Hunter) - a nightclub singer.
Drusilla's niece. Sent away from New York to
stay with her Auntie Dru in Scotland for reasons which are not entirely
clear but which could possibly be linked to her tendency to wear rather
revealing dresses and impractical shoes as well as smoking and drinking.
Developed a phobia of anything resembling snakeskin during a trip to
Wales. Escaped from Auntie Dru's chaperoning to share a flat with Miss
Hilda Watkins-Chatelaine, an artist, and was also resident in the local
discrete home for the rich but bewildered for quite some time. Prior to
her marriage she had numerous admirers, including Gertrude's
eldest brother, Inspector Menzies, the Count,
Mr Wells-Coleman and Sr
Campilioni. Secretly aquired a tattoo after a trip to Carcosa.
Married the besotted and impoverished trumpeter, Charlie Hunter, rather
hurriedly in the summer of 1923, receives an income from
an unspecified gentleman in return for her
discretion on certain matters.
Mother of Henry Charles James Hunter (born 27th December, 1923). |
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Gertrude Perceval (later Mrs
Brenton McAllister) - a Yorkshire farmer's
beautiful daughter who proved to be really good with a shotgun. Mother
of Matthew (born 11th February 1922). Believes that Jasmine
is her dear friend. |
| Bruce (deceased) - an American who was
travelling the world in an attempt to escape from a future consisting of
nothing more exciting than riding around the landscape watching cows.
Was employed by The Major as a driver. Previously
believed that the British were eccentric but harmless and was rather
surprised to find how much time they spent shooting things with
tentacles. Was bribed by Jasmine to arrange a
bath and breakfast in bed for her, and subsequently met an untimely end
in Wales. |
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The Honourable Thomas Herbert Wells-Coleman -
son of a Duke, although he doesn't like to talk about it. In very poor
health and therefore had no part in the war. Highly educated (by a
private tutor) and keen on fencing. Enjoys parties and trips abroad. Was
devastated by the loss of his valet, Trevor.
Husband of Millie.
Secretly paying child support for Henry Charles James Hunter (born 27th
December, 1923)
Also known as The Marquess of Aylesbury |
| Trevor (deceased) -
Mr Wells-Coleman's valet. Enjoyed the company of
delicate young men on his days off work. Died in Vienna in mysterious
circumstances. His diaries were subsequently burned by his distraught
employer. |
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Father Ashton - a priest specialising in exorcisms.
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| Signor Giuseppe Campilioni (probably
deceased) - an Italian accountant. Had an inexplicable ability to
pick locks and some rather dubious acquaintances. Worked as an
impoverished artist and produced some very unsuitable works featuring
various of his acquaintances in compromising positions. Apparently dead
as a result of trying to create a perfect dream world in which
Jasmine was in love with him. |
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Abigail Angela Carson - The
Major's elderly aunt. Formerly of the Raj. Kept house for her
father The General after her mother died when she was fifteen. Left
India a few years ago and now lives in a big old house in Edinburgh
filled with hunting trophies. Had an adventurous youth but has managed
to keep this a secret from her family. Has many interesting theories
concerning water buffalo and feels that a Proper British Climate should
include a monsoon season. Also known as 'Great Aunt Abigail'.
('The Secret Diary of Abigail Carson (aged 15)' can
be found at 'A
Cthulhu Chapbook). |
| Hari Bhairava - an orphan adopted by
Miss Carson in India when he was seven years
old. Now in his 50s and working as her butler and driver. Loyal to the
point of suicide and very keen to abandon his 'backward' Indian culture
and embrace the enlightened state that is Britishness. |
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Barbara Millicent Waller-Bethel (later the
Marchioness of Aylesbury) - an American heiress whose search of
a husband with a title was ultimately successful.
Daughter of a newspaper tycoon who is currently in Edinburgh on
business. She keeps flats in both Edinburgh and London. Owns a rather
racy little sports car and has not yet been disqualified from driving
it. Cousin of Alice. (Also known as 'Millie'.)
(Letters and newspaper cuttings relating to the
Marchioness's courtship and marriage can be found at 'A
Cthulhu Chapbook). |
| Erika von Sodenburg - an impoverised Austrian
aristocrat in her late twenties who keeps an occult library for her
uncle. |
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Owen Ainderbury - a 21 year old journalist.
Brenton McAllister's successor as occult
correspondent for 'The Scotsman' |
Alice Anna Mills - a historian doing research
in the Edinburgh University library with Stephen St-Chapman. Born in
Massachusetts, moved to California at the age of five, with her father,
after the death of her mother. In 1906, her father and stepmother died
in the San Francisco earthquake. Until adulthood, she lived with her
invalid aunt and her uncle (an acclaimed occult scholar). Earned a B.A.
in history from the University of California at Berkeley. Moved to
Europe to continue independent research. Easily startled by loud noises
or by people sneaking up behind her. Cousin of Millie.
Currently in a coma following an unsuccessful trip to the
Dreamlands. |
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Inspector David Menzies - a former admirer of
Jasmine's who was called in to investigate the
death of Sr Campilioni and several other people on Arthur's Seat and in
the Borders. Had a lot of trouble dealing with the Carson family in the
course of his enquiries, and deeply disappproves of the
Marquess of Aylesbury since having seen a portrait painted by
Sr Campilioni.
His current aim is to see that several Italians spend the rest of their
lives behind bars. |
| Ada Hudson - Alice's
respectable, widowed landlady. An excellent cook. |
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Robbie Burns (pictured immediately
after his recent bath) - cheeky street urchin from Fife who does
odd jobs for Hari and Miss
Carson. Enjoys reading trashy novels. Is on good terms with many
local cooks and housekeepers.
Nominally the owner of the R. Burns Detective Agency (no
problem too unusual), although he is kept from actually meeting
his clients by Hari, Miss Carson and The Laird |
Laird James McDonald - A well built, slightly
portly gentleman of aging character and vintage, now surpassing 40 years
on God's Holy Earth. Well groomed black hair with a touch of gray on the
sides and a slightly out of fashion pair of lampchop whiskers and full
moustache. Hazel eyes with thick eyebrows and a glowering look most of
the time. Always seen wearing a full deerstalker or glengarry cap in
tweed jacket with white shirt and kilt tie wearing the McDonald tartan
kilt. Ghillie Brogues, black with plain ties and a leather sporran.
Stout walking stick, whisky hip-flask, . Never without his trusty Black
Labrador gun dogs, Nelson and Byron. He is a well to do ex Army Officer
(Gordon Highlanders) from the Highlands (Taine, Invernesshire) who
currently acts as stockbroker and financial advisor to selected clients.
Has a small working estate in the North and has gained the nickname 'The
Wandering Laird' for his penchant of walking round the estate for
days on end. Not married and is not courting at this time.
(Also known as 'Major McDonald' or 'The Laird'.) |
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Jonathan Hawkswell - from Northern England, a
private detective, ex army intelligence. |