Episode Synopsis – Session 23 – Crook’s End
[ Author’s Note: This is the episode synopsis for the 23rd session of the Dark Waters Rising campaign. This is my take as to what happened during the session. Please let me know if there are any comments or corrections. ]
DOOR Call
Hunter Grace gets a call on his “other cell phone” from a fellow hunter named Doug Burnett. “Burnsy” claims to be a member of DOOR! After a brief conversation Hunter explains his concern that the “Hole” may not be secure. Burnsy says that he trusts “these people” but that he will keep an eyes open.
Memory Deposit
Dustin, the airboat delivery man, calls MD. Dustin tells MD that his bank account has been cleaned out. He is dumbfounded as the bank is telling him that he called and withdrew the money from his account but he does not remember doing it! Winston tracks the funds to an account owned by Ray Morales. After digging Winston finds that nearly $250,000 have entered this account in the last 12 hours from a variety of locations.
Doctor Dreams
Stone has another dream. This time he sees 3 men in black suits at his door. After knocking and patiently waiting the “Men In Black” bash down the door and start searching his house. Stone carefully sneaks out the back door but watches through a window. The three men call out for Stone in cold emotionless voices, “Heed our call! Obey!” Stone wakes up when two men in suits that he did not spy at the front door knock him unconscious.
TLC
Christian visits Hunter at the motel. He tells Hunter that he is concerned with Val. He explains that Val’s college work is slipping and that she seems very tired and depressed. Hunter sets up a lunch with Val who looks tired and emotionally spent. After some chicken wings Val admits that she is feeling unease about her body again. Hunter reminds her that she does not have to go through this alone. Val gives Hunter a peck on the cheek then heads back to her apartment.
Hunter then thinks to check the lightning strike map. Near Val’s apartment is a park that had been hit by a strike. After calling MD they find that the park is in an unnatural state. Homeless people huddle in the scrubs. A foul cold wind blows through the area. In the center of the park is a large tree that MD knows has a history. It was once a hangman’s tree when Louisiana founders settled in the area. The two decided that they do not have time to dig into this mystery tonight and leave.
Crook’s End
After checking in on Val, Hunter gets a call from Michaela. She is distraught! Michaela begs Hunter to come and help her. Hunter calls in MD and Stone.
At the house the trio of hunters finds that things are not good. They start finding several ghosts about the house who appear to have been brutally murdered. On the grounds there is some type of strange plant-like creature. After finding Michaela they ask her about the various ghosts that they have found. She identifies some of the ghosts as being ex-lovers, neighbors, and associates of her father, Duffy.
Eventually the mystery unravels when the characters discover a video camera in Duffy’s safe. The video shows how Duffy lured these people to his house then had them killed! As the group returns to show Michaela the tape they hear a truck arrive. It is Duffy! When he gets out of the truck he levels a shotgun at Hunter. Duffy screams that it is just more mess that he will have to cleanup. Duffy’s shot goes wide as Hunter dives to the side of the doorway. Behind Duffy a huge creature made of blood, branches, and earth arises! Hunter pegs the creature as a Residue Demon. Residue Demons appear where there have been a lot of traumatic violent deaths in a limited area. They exist only to enact vengeance from those that have died! When the creature forms MD tries to hit Duffy in the leg so the creature can have him but the shot goes wide. Hunter approaches the creature and severely wounds it with a cold iron fireplace poker. Begrudgingly the hunters save Duffy and dispatch the creature.
When the Residue Demon is dispatched MD calls Detective Kaz. They show him the tape after Duffy is taken into custody. Detective Kaz mutters something about everything “going to hell lately” then shakes his head and closes the site. Hunter takes Michaela to stay with Val until she is allowed back into the house.
