Laissez les bon Temps Rouler

* The group goes about making preparations to leave for New Orleans. It’s going to be a long, tiring journey as Cyrus refuses to sail on the ocean. 
** They will need to take a train to New York, then a train to Pittsburgh, then a boat up the Ohio River, then a steamboat on the Mississippi to New Orleans. . . This will take a couple weeks. 
** Cyrus would rather fly to the moon than take the ocean route. 
* Martha is all set with her disguise to make sure no one recognizes her in New Orleans.
** She’s packed at least two steamer trunks (that William and Cyrus will carry) filled with her new outfits.
* Cyrus travels very light; very casual wear, his duster, new lock picks, and his crystal ball. 
* William stocks up on all his pharmaceuticals for the journey.
** He’s wary of traveling back to the South; he plans on keeping his Civil War (Union) affiliations on the down-low. Though as a doctor he treated both Union and Confederate soldiers. 
** Just in case. . . he stocks up on some silver bullets. His paranoia is growing. He’s on his way to becoming a werewolf doomsday prepper.
* Alec attends the library in New Arkham, and gathers information on what would be relevant to New Orleans.
** Books on local history, travelers guides, local flora/fauna, almanac
*** Was a big Confederate city before its liberation during the Civil War, there was a cholera outbreak, there is a huge Haitian/French/African American cultural influence. . . just to name a few historical details. 
*** These cultural influences create a huge modge-podge of Vaesen lore. 
*** There are two types of werewolves Alec finds:
# More common/traditional werewolf legends, the full moon, but with no solid accounts of strengths or weaknesses. 
## Similar to the Witch Trials in the North East in the 16th century, in New Orleans they blamed “strange occurrences” on the Lougarou, as a scapegoat. 
# A Haitian/French legend of an older woman who can shapeshift, murders and consumes children to preserve her life force. 
* In a carpet bag they carry a small library, including the German Vaesen book. 
* Signe takes some time to procure a New Orleans newspaper, called the Crescent Observer
** It reads like half news, half tabloid newspaper. It frequently mentions supernatural events, sorcery and witchcraft.
** Marie Leveau, the local Voodoo Queen, or head witch.
** Lots of editorials/opinion pieces of superstitions 
** Signe can deduce that New Orleans is filled with both “old world practitioners” who seem legit and well respected, and snake-oil salesmen, who exploit superstitions to make money.
*** They will have to be cautious. 
*** Pockets will need to be greased. 
* We are all gathered in the sitting room in Covencrest. 
* Signe continues to see a black cloud around Cyrus’s head all the time. She is constantly making “subtle” glances in his direction.
** It’s always out of the corner of her eye.
* Alec plies William with several glasses of whiskey. They show him the Lougarou information they found at the library.
** William gets very flustered, his stutter returns momentarily, everyone notices the little outburst.
** Alec tries to make him feel better with their wisdom
** Martha, seeing the book of the Lougarou, imparts some of her knowledge onto William: Just put 13 objects outside your door every night, and since they can’t count to 13, they get confused and run away.
** William blesses us with a rare, amused, smile. 
*** There is also a small possibility that Lougarou only attack Catholics who don’t follow the traditions of Lent (awkward).
* Alec makes a point to note that during our previous two investigations, while Vaesen were involved & had to be dealt with, both situations wouldn’t have occurred without human interference (Mary Chamberlain & Mr. Sorin).
** Cyrus adds that in all he’s seen, it’s people with evil in their hearts that are more unpredictable than Vaesen.
** Signe reminds them they have to be careful of the individuals looking to exploit their need for information.
* Martha makes William a bauble bag that just happens to be filled with seven cursed pirate coins, and some shards of broken glass. . . 
** William definitely puts it outside his door
* As they’re turning in for the night, Cyrus asks Signe for a word privately.
** He asks her if he’s done anything to offend her. 
** She feigns ignorance about her bahaviour, and tells him nothing is wrong.
* Wila quizzes Martha about returning to New Orleans, her home.
** Martha says she doesn’t want her parents to see her, especially the “man she was arranged to marry, Mr. Snarfblou”
** Wila is a bit nervous about her fashion, but Martha assures her she’ll blend right in. 
* Signe has the same nightmare again that night. A dripping sound of water turns into a visualization of red, and she sees an alleyway between two red-brick buildings. Faceless people in the main street, mausoleums across the street in the cemetery. Then she sees the mangled and torn bodies of her and her friends, and this time, a seventh body: A woman, wearing a strange pendant around her destroyed neck.
* The next morning, everything is packed into our carriage and we make our way to New Orleans!!
** It is long, and tiring. 
* On the way, the investigators do some work to gain ADVANTAGES:
# Alec - WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE
# William - CRACK SHOT 
# Cyrus - SPIRIT GUIDES
## Something is baring his spirit from moving
## A full moon
## Lots of death
## War
# Martha - LOCAL EXPERT
# Signe - CRESCENT CONTACTS
* We arrive at our destination mid-afternoon!!!! 
** We decide to get rooms at a hotel so we can rest and freshen up.
** Martha refuses to be uncivilized. 
* Our hotel of choice is definitely better than modest. 
** Chateau Nouveau is not as fancy as the other hotels on this street, to Martha’s credit. 
** We get five rooms; Signe, Martha & Wila on the 2nd floor, the others on the 3rd.
** The rooms have plumbing!!! Signe and Cyrus take a glorious bath (not together)
* Alec takes a walkabout around the city to see any places mentioned in the Men of Letters papers. 
* The next day we take a carriage to Madeline Beaudroux’s residence. . . 
** It’s a nice place, with the typical wrought iron fence, though the garden is overgrown and looks untended.
** We are led inside to the solarium, there are small talismans and protective charms subtly placed around the home.