The Idol Hands of Death

Setting: Cairo, Egypt, the summer of 1921.
Scenario: Colonel Gillette Thompson is holding a social get-together to meet some of the new Europeans in the region. The get-together is at Colonel Thompson's home, within walking distance of the dig site of the Enfield Expedition. Despite the deaths on site in the week since the burial chamber was unearthed, Doctor Enfield insists there is no such thing as a curse. Doctor Enfield promises to reveal the startling new artifact he's discovered.

• Abbas Ibn Abbas: (AH-bah-ss IB-in AH-bah-ss) The most respected digger in Egypt, Abbas is courted by archaeologists from every nation. If you need a digger in Egypt, Abbas is the man to talk to. Long considered a good-luck charm, Abbas has been the target of some recent malicious rumors about artifact thievery.

• Ras Akbar: (RAH-ss AH-kk-bar) A mover and shaker in Cairo, Ras is an official in the Egyptian government. He is the man that all archaeological expeditions must get permission from before a single grain of sand can be moved. He is not a man to annoy.

• Neville Balfour: (NEH-vil BAL-fer) A rising star in the home offices of the Hammermill business empire, Neville has come to Cairo to escort and chaperone the recently-widowed Winona Williams Hammermill. He undoubtedly has Hammermill business to conduct as well. He arrived in Cairo a few days ago aboard the tramp steamer Southern Cross.

• Professor Alistair Chadwick: Professor of archaeology from Greystoke College, Alistair has made several minor discoveries in the past. However, the big find has always eluded him. He seems to be getting a little desperate to put his name on a major find. He has a lot of experience in the field.

• Camille Chesterfield: An American from Texas, Camille is an explorer, adventuring about the Middle East. She dresses like the nomads, spits and swears like a man, and speaks passable Arabic. You suspect that some of the locals she talks to have no idea she is not a man. She wanders out in the wilds for weeks at a time.

• Althea Williams Enfield: Professor Enfield's wife seems rather bored. Many people are quite surprised that she would even come to Cairo on the expedition. After all, she is the heiress of the Williams fortune of America, and she is married to one of the richest men of England. She could afford to go wherever she wants, just by using the money she always carries with her.

• Professor George Edward Enfield: Professor of archaeology from Greystoke College, George has a top-notch reputation as an archaeological scholar. After years of research, he's convinced he's on the track of a major discovery. He's put up some family money, arranged for the rest, and convinced the experienced Professor Chadwick to be his partner in this highly publicized expedition. This is his first full-fledged field dig.

• Hassan Nur Faroukh: (HAW-san NOOR FAR-ook) A merchant, a dealmaker, and a local expert on Egyptian antiquities, Hassan has uncles and cousins and other connections everywhere. Archaeology is his passionate hobby.

• Kala Nur Faroukh: (KAY-lah NOOR FAR-ook) The only surviving adult child of Hassan, Kala is also passionate about archaeology. She is an expert at the fine detail work. Kala is also passionate about her own mind. She refuses to let anyone make choices for her, including resisting her father's efforts to marry her off.

• Winona Williams Hammermill: Recently-widowed, Winona is still suffering from the loss of her beloved Bernard. Winona has come to Cairo to be with her loving elder sister Althea Williams Enfield. Winona, still wearing black after several weeks of mourning, arrived a few days ago after a difficult passage aboard the tramp steamer Southern Cross.

• Beatrice Haversham: A respected buyer and appraiser for the Higginbotham Museum of Ancient History in London, Miss Haversham is at the dig to look over the newly-discovered artifacts. Miss Haversham arrived a few days ago aboard the tramp steamer Southern Cross.

• Narat Ibrahim: (NAH-rot EE-bra-heem) A weasel of a man, furtive and suspicious, Narat is also greedy, which makes him the perfect middleman. He is involved in many of the deals that take place in Cairo. He has connections to many in the government, often finding ways around the red tape and roadblocks that are found in bureaucracies. He is also Jewish, and is known to be involved in the Zionist movement.

• Katya Irinova: (KAH-tcha EER-ih-no-vah) A visitor from Russia, Katya is here to raise funds to buy food for the starving children back home. The War and the Revolution have made times very difficult for the young. Katya and her friends have pooled their meager resources to help those less fortunate. Miss Irinova also arrived a few days ago aboard the tramp steamer Southern Cross.

• Jefferson Davis Jackson: Another American from Texas, Jefferson is an explorer, adventuring about the Middle East. He wanders out in the wilds for weeks at a time, dressed as a native.

• Henry Jones: An undergraduate student of archaeology and ancient languages at Greystoke College, Henry has a keen mind and and an eye for detail. This is his first real archaeological expedition.

• Jeanne L'Enfant: (ZH-onn LEN-font) Little is known about this woman. She arrived on the Southern Cross after a difficult crossing. She was very sick and remained in her cabin most of the time. There is something about her that unsettles people.

• Isabella Mercier: (IS-a-bell-a MARE-see-yea) A striking young Frenchwoman, Isabella is one of the most eligible young women of Paris, courted by handsome young nobles and aristocrats from across the Continent. She's known for her sense of high fashion and her ability to enliven the stuffiest of parties.

• Madame Alexis Sokolev: (AH-lex-is SOCK-oh-lev) A Russian emigre, Madame Alexis is an aristocrat. She is a lady of taste and refinement, living in luxury - waiting for the day that she can safely return to her estate. She is convinced that the difficult times of the War and the Revolution will soon end. Madame Sokolev and Calliope Thompson have become quite good friends.

• Ilse Steinmetz: (IL-seh STINE-mets) The loving wife of Karl, they are here in the Middle East as part of an extended vacation celebrating their fifth wedding anniversary. She is hoping to return home carrying a child. Their dream trip has not been without incident; they have been threatened by thugs on two occasions.

• Karl Steinmetz: The loving husband of Ilse, he is a chemist for Sprengstoff-Gipfel, the large German chemical and munitions firm.

• Calliope Thompson: The wife of Colonel Thompson, she plays an important role for the Army. She helps to organize the dances. She helps the soldiers to mix with the few single British women available. In short, she is the perfect wife for a Colonel in the British Army.

• Colonel Gillette Thompson: The head of British forces in Egypt, he is the second ranking Englishman in Egypt, which is a Protectorate of the Crown. He is a pleasant, friendly commander who dotes on his wife and his troops.

• Professor Oliver Undercroft: Professor of archaeology at Livingstone College, Oliver is known in academic circles for his careful research and a few recently-published papers. This is his first trip away from England. He and his older brother arrived a few weeks ago in Cairo.

• Stanley Undercroft: An adventurer and dilettante, warrior and humanitarian, and an officer and a gentleman, he is always searching out new and exciting experiences around the world. Major Undercroft was awarded the Victoria Cross during the War for "gallantry of an outstanding nature" at the Battle of Marais Lâche. With the incredible tales coming out of Egypt, it's no surprise that Stanley has come to Cairo!

• Miriam Voight-Wellesley: The ace reporter for the London Royal Observer, Miss Voight-Wellesley is here to do several stories about Egypt and the search for artifacts. Miss Voight-Wellesley promises to spend time interviewing each and everyone here, so that she can inform all of her readers back home. Miss Voight-Wellesley also arrived a few days ago aboard the tramp steamer Southern Cross.