March 18th, 1921
After accepting an offer to join an archaeological expedition to uncover a lost pyramid in Peru, Alvin Holder, Jacque Brochet, Nicodemus Ford, and Hugo Blanchard arrived at Bar Cordano in Lima to meet with the expedition leader, Augustus Larkin. With simple pleasantries out of the way, the group was greeted warmly by Larkin, his aid, Luis de Mendoza, and another expedition member named Jesse Hughes.
As Larkin talked of their travel plans and certain artifacts discovered in the area, it became increasingly clear that de Mendoza and Hughes shared some level of animosity. The bulk of this ire seemed to emanate from de Mendoza, who glared incessantly at Hughes whenever he spoke.
After plans were made to meet at the Hotel España in three days, Larkin excused himself and retired to his room, accompanied by de Mendoza. Upon his leaving, it was noticed that the Larkin seemed out of sorts. His hands shook, and he was sweating more than the temperature accounted for.
Once alone, Hughes confided in the group that he did not trust Larkin or de Mendoza and that he suspected they were not what they seemed. He then revealed that “Jesse Hughes” was an alias and that he was, in fact, Jackson Elias, a writer from New York City. Elias explained that he was in Peru to research a “death cult” that was rumored to take part in some form of vampiric ritual killings. Elias suspected that Larkin and de Mendoza were either members of the cult, known locally as Kharisiri, or the unwitting pawns of it.
Over drinks, Elias invited the group to accompany him the next day to meet with his friend Prof. Nemesio Sánchez at the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos (National University of San Marcos), where some exciting research on the lost pyramid was underway. Elias then made it clear that he himself did not believe in the supernatural elements associated with the cults he wrote about, but that their members certainly did, making them dangerous entities to interact with.
March 19th, 1921
The following day at the university, Sánchez laid out his case against Larkin, stating that he was nothing but a grave robber—something difficult to argue with considering the riches Larking promised his expedition members. Sánchez then pleaded with the group to abandon Larkin and instead join him on an expedition to find the lost pyramid—one that would be science-based rather than greed-based.
To help convince them, Sánchez asked that the group go see one of his students, Trinidad Rizo, in the basement storeroom of the university, where she was translating a document believed to be associated with the pyramid.
Upon arrival, the group discovered a grisly scene: the emaciated body of Rizo lay underneath a pile of boxes, artifacts, and files that had fallen off the crowded shelves. After examining the body, which had a nearly mummified appearance, a large and vicious disc-shaped wound was discovered on the upper chest, as well as a trail of bloody footprints leading away from the scene.
Further, a notebook was found sticking out of the victim’s jacket pocket, which appeared to contain a translation and summary of a journal entry made by a conquistador in 1543, as well as a two-foot-long, 3-inch-wide golden band that had been sheared or severed at each end. On the band was what appeared to be burned or melted human skin.
The Friends of Prospero
Peru: Episode VIII • Peru: Episode VII • Peru: Episode VI • Peru: Episode V • Peru: Episode IV • Peru: Episode III • Peru: Episode II • Peru: Episode I
The Two-Headed Serpent
Coming soon…
