Kingbeast's Lair

[  Author’s Note: This is the episode synopsis for the 16th 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.  ]

Research Is Best Done Early And Often
The PC begin by going over all of the information that they have collected. This includes files from Anne’s former agency contact, Daisy’s journal, and Winston’s mythology tome. These documents will not be repeated in the synopsis. The players have this information in the form of handouts. During this research Aunt Eva asks Stone if he feels something strange. Stone reaches out with his mystical senses and senses an uneasy calm and stillness. It feels like the air before a storm. Aunt Eva says that the veil between purgatory and our world is weakening. When Stone asks for clarity on the “veil” Aunt Eva explains with an analogy of water behind a levee, “When the dark waters rise pressure is put on the levee.  Even just a pinprick in the levee will quickly widen causing a flood.”
Crazy People Around Town
As part of researching combating demons Ron visits a local Catholic church. As he approaches he sees a skinny college student leaving the place of worship followed closely by the parish priest who is as white as a ghost. Ron senses something strange with the young man and tackles him. After Ron quickly subdues the young man the father races inside then contacts the police. Before the police arrive the college student stares down Ron and says that he will “skin him” if he does not let him go! Detective Kaz arrives on the scene first. With Ron’s help they put the now handcuffed college student into the back of the police car. After getting statements the Detective pulls Ron aside. He asks him if there is “anything strange going on”. According to Detective Kaz this is the fifth person like this that they have brought in today. Ron says that he should contact MD.
The HOGD Team Meeting
Anne feels strongly that the Hermetic Order Of The Golden Dawn (HOGD) are the ones that duped her brother into making a deal with a crossroads demon. She works with Winston who contacts his mob boss friend Ernesto to setup tails on the group.

At one point Weber leaves the group and heads out on her own. Anne follows a tracker that they placed on the car to a small rundown hotel. Outside he spies not only Weber’s rental car but the Grace family Nova. Anne bribes the man at the counter to find their room then walks close by the window so that she can listen. She hears Weber and Hunter making love. With that Anne waits outside so that she can speak with them.

After Hunter and Mags leave the hotel room the trio leave for a local waffle house where they can talk. Anne speaks to Weber and Hunter about the HOGD. She explains to Weber that Sutherland works with vampires just like the kind that killed her GSG9 brethren. Hunter confirms what Anne is explaining. This shakes Mags’ faith in her employer. While the trio is speaking the rest of the HOGD agents pile into Marcus’ van and starts heading to their location!

At this point Winston alerts the PC that the van has left the hotel and that the HOGD team is heading to the waffle house. In the parking lot the groups have a heated discussion. Anne speaks to hired members of the team (aka Weber, Marcus, and Savannah) about some of the things that Sutherland and the HOGD have done around New Orleans. Professor Hivu explains that the HOGD also desires to stop Lamashtu but they want to gather information from her first if possible. It is quickly apparent that the HOGD party line regarding the gathering of supernatural information is that the ends justifies the means. The Professor mentions concern about endangering human lives but then suggests that briefly supporting supernatural entities can sometimes bring more knowledge. Anne counters with an argument about the HOGD supporting the vampires in NOLA so that they could retrieve Orion Stone. Professor Hivu agrees and suggests that this is a perfect example of how these arrangements can pay out. Orion is a prominent member of their organization. After all of this comes out Anne speaks to Mags, Savannah, and Marcus. After Anne makes some solid points the three hired guns decide that they do not want to work for the HOGD anymore. Savannah agrees to stay in touch with the team. Marcus leaves with his van. Mages speaks with Hunter then departs via a cab.

After being left by their teammates Piers steps up and informs the characters that he and Professor Hivu would like to leave this meeting alive. Winston then asks if they know the location of a weapon that he has been researching called Pazuzu’s Cleansing Blade. Professor Hivu says that he knows who has the blade. At this point Anne makes a deal with the Piers. Piers and Professor Hivu will be allowed to leave NOLA after the PC deal with Lamashtu. Piers reluctantly agrees. At this point Professor Hivu explains that the blade rests with a sorcerer known as Ebon Gnails. He then explains that he can contact Ebon. Back at the hotel the Professor uses a strange urn and some of his own blood to cast a spell to contact Ebon Gnails. Winston makes a deal with the sorcerer to give him knowledge from a very old Romani mythology tome and a propane tank for the location of the blade. Ebon agrees then tells the PC that he is in the Ozarks. He gives them his GPS location.
“They Grow Em Big And Invisible In Arkansas!”
At this point the PC gather their outdoor gear and head toward the GPS location in the Ozarks. It is only a few hours drive from NOLA. In the middle of the rocky terrain they drive up to what was once an old iron mine. The sign says danger and warns visitors to turn around. The PC open the gate and proceed. At the top of the hill they find an old metal shack and the top of a mine head. As they get out of their cars Winston approaches the small metal shack. In the windows he spies two small scared eyes peeking out. In a rush Winston is slammed to the ground by what must be an invisible dog! A hell hound! Quickly the PC race to combat the dogs. Ron rushes up with his iron sword and cuts into the dog on Winston. Once hit MD shoots an arrow into its side. This gives the other PC a place to shoot! The second dog grabs Ron in his jaws! Winston rolls out from under the dog and sprays the ground with the propane tank sending dirt into the air. Now the dogs can be seen! Anne opens up with an assault rifle hitting one of the dogs squarely. Pissed off the hound rushes Anne sending her sprawling on the ground. With some fancy telekinesis Stone shoots a dog killing it. Ron chops the other sending it back to hell!

After tending to their wounds the PC head towards the shack and their meeting with Ebon Gnails…