Event Open Murder and Mayhem on the Orient Express

Murder and Mayhem on the Orient Express is a VR event sponsored by the mystery writer, Samuel Regis Churchhill Christie, and great-nephew three times removed of the famous British author A. Christie. The event is a tribute, not only to A. Christie but to celebrate the launch of Samuel Regis Churchhill Christie's fifth novel, "Murder on a Train"... a loose (if not carbon copy) adaptation of A. Christie's, Murder on the Orient Express.

The setting is the Orient Express and includes access to a Sleeper Passenger car where one can sit back in privacy and just enjoy the scenery as the train moves through the Alps to Istambul, the Dining car and a car with a bar, armchairs, a small piano and two small gambling tables. There are alcoholic as well as non-alcoholic refreshments being served as well as fine dining in the Dining car. Participants may move freely between each carriage throughout the event.

The event will take place over the space of a virtual weekend - where they will board the train in Paris on Friday and arrive in Istambul, Sunday evening. However, for participants, the real time spent in the VR will be approximately 6 and a half hours.

Participants are encouraged to participate in the main event, the murder of CC Philips, a famous actor with a very checkered past, that takes place in the early hours of Saturday morning and concludes before their arrival in Istambul.

Period clothing is mandatory - and may be selected beforehand in the VR system - and it also may be purchased prior to the event for those who want to arrive attired for the event. All participants will board the train, starting off in the refreshments carriage pictured above and are encouraged to get themselves situated with the other parts of the train.

Important: Please be aware that each participant will be awarded a random profession according to that time period - unless otherwise contracted beforehand with the event organizers. This will be found on a card somewhere on their persons.

(*RPers may actually decide for themselves what profession their character is assigned - or if you prefer, you may pm me and I will assign a profession of my choosing. ;) But remember, it must be something around and popular at that time... that means, for example, no computer analysts, neuro-surgeons or astronauts, etc. )

**There is no age limit to this event, although minors will be restricted from the gambling tables and from purchasing alcoholic drinks.

(If there are enough participants. I may choose a person to be the murder. There is also a possibility for a detective, please pm me if interested. )

Zoraida had been working late one night at work when the private invitation had crossed her desk. She was actually friends with Regis and had read a few of his books, even financing his second book when the struggling author had asked her for a loan to self-publish his second book. His style, she had noticed was similar to other British mystery writers. And so, intrigued by the idea she had booked a passage up to the space station, and was now waiting in a comfortable bed type apparatus to enter the VR. Seeing the attendant, she relaxed and prepared herself for what was next.

Moments later, she found herself standing in Gare de l'Est station in Paris somewhere in the late 1920's or early 1930s, and there before her was the luxury passenger train the Orient Express. Looking around her at everything in amazement, seeing people greeting loved ones, sending them off in tears, and walking past her with steamer trunks and suitcases as they made their way to their trains. She even noticed the faint smells of lavender and rose water mixed with pipe tobacco, leather and soap. Voices around her speaking were chatting in French, Spanish and English...

Suddenly, a voice addressed her, "Miss Del Bosque? This way please," a young porter dressed in the dark blue livery uniform of the Orient Express said with a slight bow as he escorted her to the train and helped her up the few steps into the train.

It was only then that Zora noticed how restricted her movements were. She had on a long fitted skirt and jacket of the same dark red, wine, colour, a fox fur stole, and she was wearing a tiny birdcage hat as well as high heels with t-staps.

Chuckling at how real everything was, she made her way into the refreshments carriage and sat down at a table as a waiter immediately approached her and asked if she would like anything to drink, perhaps a glass of champagne. Nodding at this, she opened her small handbag and extracted a gold-embossed card with her social standing and profession in the event - she had been assigned: rising starlet/actress.

Clothes:
https://imgur.com/srRUefe

"Starlet?" Zora had a good laugh at that. She was nowhere near being a good actress in real life, stage fright and an incapability to remember lines being probably a good part of it, though truthfully, she was never one to seek the spotlight that way.

Opening her velveteen clutch again, Zora placed the card back in the bag, now curious about what else they had thought she needed. Zora then pulled out a gold tube of bright red lipstick, a mother of pearly compact, a white handkerchief, a silver Zippo-type lighter, a long thin cigarette holder and a packet of Pall Mall cigarettes which were popular at the time. She also had a small silver flask that upon opening it, was filled with brandy.

"So, I'm a good time girl, is that it?" she chuckled to herself as she lifted her hands to her hat and then noticed the kid leather gloves she was wearing.

"Gloves too? .. You have got to be kidding me?!" she laughed, wondering now if her undergarments wear also mid 20s issue. Placing her hands on her lap, she felt the telltale metal clasps of garters. Amazed at this, she just started laughing. It was going to be an interesting time, she thought, slowly lifting her glass of champagne to her lips, smiling at the guests now entering the train and having similar reactions to hers.

Appearing before the Orient Express, Sterling smiled happily - seeing the train again was like greeting an old friend. It had been almost 90 years since he had last boarded the Belgian owned luxury train that sped through Europe taking passengers to Istambul, or later on to Athens. He had travelled both routes and couldn't decide which one he liked better.

Glancing down at himself, he saw the simulator had chosen a very curious outfit for him. It was very formal, a navy suit with tails, a vest... very upper class. He even had gloves, a cane and was wearing a top hat. Patting his breast pocket, he felt a small card there. Taking it out, he saw embossed, "Sterling Silver, Banker for JP Morgan".

Nodding at everything, pleased so far, the angel sauntered off onto the train, smiling as he climbed aboard and was met with a familiar site. The refreshment carriage, ah yes, the memories.

Looking around briefly, Sterling sat himself down on one of the couches, leaned back comfortably, and tipped his hat in greeting to a lovely dark haired lady, obviously another one of the event's participants.

Zora looked up and over from behind her half-full champagne glass, just as a very tall fair-haired man, dressed in a very smart suit and hat, addressed everybody in the refreshments carriage. Cocking an eyebrow at this greeting, Zoraida continued to regard him with subtle interest since she had never seen the individual before and he appeared to somewhat be in character already, saluting the room in a military-like way.

Putting her champagne down, Zoraida proceeded to light her cigarette, taking a long drag on the end of the long cigarette holder, then after a second, she slowly let out a stream of smoke, smiling invitingly at the newcomer and greeted him as an actress back in the 1920's might.

"It certainly will be, if anything else, PC Phillips and Regis Christie always throw amazing parties..." she said as she eyed him over, "First time on the Orient Express?" she inquired of him, cocking her head, and taking another drag of her cigarette.

@Boop