Run at Continuum 2014, Leicester University, UK

by Chris Jensen Romer

In September 1922 English explorer Colonel Reginald Warrenne-Hart set out to the Amazon basin to explore the jungles of one of the last great mysterious wildernesses on earth — some say to find the fabled Lost City of El Dorado. He jauntily few off inland in to the jungle in November, having sent a single telegram explaining he had put his affairs in order and left a will with his solicitor, just in case. he has not been seen since, and despite rescue expeditions he and his companions are lost, believed dead.

A year to the day after that last telegram his wife and other interested parties have gathered to hold a seance in a supposedly haunted hotel, not just to try and find peace for the spooks in the building, but also to try and contact the missing explorer. Owing to a mysterious fire which burned down the solicitors office, the will is lost — did the Colonel leave another copy? Why did he choose to go to the Amazon? And what secrets do the people gathered hold?

Lost Souls is a murder mystery style game, set in the year 1923 and played physically in a building, in costume, so should appeal to those who love dressing up The game is for 12 players willing to enter in to the spirit of things, and dress the part, before setting out to have a great night in character. Players will get to play with props, read letters, newspaper articles, and examine items as they try to piece together the mystery. Each player also gets a detailed unique character with a background, tellling them the secrets they know about the other characters, and explaining their goals and what they need to do to win…

The characters you can play include Edith, the colonel's grieving widow, the colonel's wayward son Charles, and beautiful daughter, Ethel. A surprise arrival is the Colonel's brother George, back from the United States, who has not been seen or heard from since he disappeared in 1912, believed lost with the Titanic!

Also present are Mrs Astrid Dexter, Society Medium, known for her exotic looks and ability to converse with the dead, who is conducting the seance, and her friends the noted author Mr E.D.Scrivens and pretty young psychical researcher Violet James. Faithful servant and bat man Tom Stephens, family solicitor Lionel Mason and noted hardnosed journalist Frank 'Pug' Brown are also present, as well as a surprise visit by an attractive young lady, Jane croft, with a startling secret! Finally the party is joined by noted stage actress and singer Ida Durant, fresh from the United States, who is playing at the Theatre opposite the hotel and who joins the seance at the last moment.