Kingbeast's Lair

[  Author’s Note: This is the episode synopsis for the 21st 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.  ]

Aside For Anne

Anne has heard of the blond gentleman that showed up representing the Hermetic Order Of The Golden Dawn.  He is Nigel Brighton who was the former leader of a group called the MI-666.  They are a monster hunting group from England.

After seeing a map of the red lightning strikes Anne asks if the group has researched any historical incidents that are similar.  When the group says they had not done so she calls her contacts and asks them to look into it.

Aside For Hunter

Blake is in town delivering Eva’s trailer.  After parking the load he asks Hunter about NOLA.  Then the former Texas Ranger tells Hunter that is going to be working on a haunting near Lubbock.  Hunter offers to help but Blake says that there are some “complications” but it should not be too tough.

Later in the day Lucas, a friend of Hunter’s from prison arrives in town.  He is staying with Eva and although the pair are vastly different they sort of work as roommates.  Lucas promised to fix up the trailer for Eva and to offer his services if Hunter needs any help.

Aside For MD

MD gets a call from Six’s cell phone.  Surprisingly it is Lapinto on the call.  Lapinto says that something has happened to Six and that he should come down to the Gator Bite.  When MD arrives Lapinto and O’Hara show him Six’s body.  His head had been smashed into bricks near a firepit by someone with large gloved hands.  In his hand was a broken purple bottle of moonshine.  The bottle is a strange thing to have in his hands because MD knows that Six does not drink due to a heart condition.  MD then calls Detective Kaz.

Later while Detective Kaz and MD are going through Six’s belongings a delivery man arrives.  The NOLA detective questions the man then allows him to leave.  The delivery man is bringing two cases of moonshine.  MD takes one case just in case.

Aside For Stone And Winston

The pair visit an antique shop on a reference from Astryd to pick up some alchemical supplies.  Astryd mentions being friends with the former owner.  She explains that his grandson is in charge of the shop.  The shop is called the Golden Sea Trading Company.  The sell Asian furniture and knick-knacks.  The owner is a young man named Osric Chau.  He is dressed in a button down shirt, blue jeans, and skate shoes.  When Stone turns on his magic sight he sees a glow under his shirt around the height of an amulet.  To his surprise the amulet glows with a demonic energy.  Alastair shows Osric a list of alchemical supplies to the young man to see if he makes a reaction.  He does not react confirming that likely he does not know about magic.  Osric returns from the back room with everything on the list including some items that are quite rare.  The pair leaves with more questions than answers.

Aside For Hunter

After unloading boxes at Val’s new apartment Michaela asks if everyone would attend this party her father is throwing to show everyone their new house.  After some prompting from Val, Hunter agrees to attend the party.

Although not a mansion the house is in a very expensive neighborhood.  It appears that Michaela’s Dad named the house “Crook’s End”.  When the group arrives for the party Michaela greets them then introduces them to her father Jack Duffy.  Hunter notices some prison scars on his neck but does not say anything at the time.  The party itself is a strange mix of the rich plus those that appear to want to be rich.

Later Hunter would find that Jack Duffy was put in prison on manslaughter charges.  He won the lottery 2 months ago in Florida.  After contacting a crossroads demon he learns that a contract was made with Jack Duffy.

Respect Your Elders

Stone receives a call from Willa-Mae Lee of the Galliano Gazette.  The old editor explains that she has received a strange letter at the newspaper that scared her.  The letter content seems strange so she called Alastair.  After viewing a fax of the letter Stone agrees that it has supernatural overtones.  He calls Anne to aid with the investigation.

At the Galliano Gazette office Anne and Alastair examine the letter in detail.  They also speak with Willa-Mae regarding the contents of the letter.  After some directed questioning she recalls an event that transpired nearly 30 years ago.  Two woman of questionable virtue were killed.  The woman were a mother (Anabelle) and daughter (Victoria) of a local man name Eugene Crae.  According to old articles the local sheriff pinned the crime on a vagrant named Mo Buckley who was never seen after the murder.

After quickly visiting a local cemetery where the Crae women are buried the two investigators visit Eugene Crae’s house.  He is not home but they scope it out.  A neighbor spots the pair but a quick lie gets information that Eugene has a recent love interest.  The neighbor also suggest that Eugene is likely still at work.  He works at the Powell Chemical Company in town.  The pair then break into Eugene’s house.  Everything is very normal except the refrigerator.  The fridge is packed with bags of blood!

With that Anne and Alastair go to the Powell Chemical Company to speak with Eugene and his new flame, Lucille.  They find them having lunch at the company canteen.  During the questioning Maher and Stone upset Eugene by bringing up the blood and deaths of his family.  Lucille grows cold and with an evil smirk says, “Beware the ashen storm.”  At that point an explosion rocks the chemical plant!  With urging the pair convince Eugene to go help his co-workers.  They also capture Lucille for later questioning.

With direction from Anne and Alastair the rest of the monster hunters go to Eugene’s home.  The front door is bashed down!  Coming out of the house is a creature with needle-like hands carrying the refrigerator full of blood!  After nearly disemboweling Ron the group takes down the creature by burning the blood in the refrigerator.

As they drive away from the Powell Chemical Plant Anne and Alastair have a lot of questions for Lucille…

[  Author’s Note: This is the episode synopsis for the 20th 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.  ]

Lyssa Martin’s Face
The night begins with a restless spirit in the form of a vengeful snuff golem! As it moves toward the house to find it’s prey Ron moves in with a cold-rolled iron machete to attack. With blinding speed the creature reaches out with an extension cord and easily tears the blades from the large Marine’s hands! As it moves forward Ron throws the beast to the ground opening it up for MD to pin it to the ground with a well-placed arrow shot. As it tried to rip free Stone calls forces of magic and the Outer Dark to unleash a terrible blow on the beast! This gives Hunter time to grab the stoned porn actor who is the target of the golem’s rage and move him to safety. Calling Winston the team meets at the morgue where they summarily burn Lyssa’s body. At the scene of the attack Winston’s cleanup crew finds that the snuff golem’s camera head is from a German movie director and is likely cursed. With help from Stone they destroy it.

Aside For Stone – Orion Calling
Alastair gets contacted by his father Orion through the magical pocket watch. Orion first asks if Alastair is ok. He then explains that Medwin did some type of powerful spell without him being present. Alastair describes that Medwin took over the body of an old woman. Orion then ends the communication by suggesting to Alastair that Medwin should not be trusted.

Aside for Ron – Mutual Friend
Ron gets a call from a woman named Danai Mhizha who explains that she has a notebook that was given to her by Ron’s brother Kenny. After meeting for coffee the two get a chance to speak in detail. Danai explains that she tracked down Ron to give him a collection of papers that were left to her by her brother Kenny. She continues to explain that she met Kenny in Zimbabwe where he saved her brother. After helping her brother Kenny took them under his wing making sure that they were not only healthy but had a path to escape from the country. Over the years she kept touch with Kenny. She learned to drive a truck then went to England for a time. She is now driving trucks in America. Danai received the package with the portfolio roughly a month before Kenny was killed. She figured Ron should have it. Ron examines the portfolio and finds it full of notes about monsters and monster hunting. This surprises Ron who knew his brother was informed about monsters but not this early and not to this extent. Danai mentioned reading the notes but not understanding their significance. The meeting is cathartic for Ron and Danai. The two part but she gives Ron her cell phone number as she leaves.

Aside for Winston – Alchemy Book
Winston gets a chance to research the book that he got from a bookseller in Europe. The tome is a German translation of a 10th century Arabic book known as the “Keys Of Wisdom” by an alchemist known as Zosimos. The old tome is water-stained and has several layers of text but using modern scanning devices Winston is slowly extracting the text. The tome describes the four alchemical elements of fire, air, earth, and water. The first section is on fire. The book covers principles of heat transfer and how chemicals and magic can be combined to form a variety of heat, fire, and burning techniques. The books extensive treatment of the topic can be extracted but it will take some time and a lot of study.

Aside for Hunter – Reports From The Field
Val and Christian introduce a new friend Michaela. They plan to celebrate the end of their Symbology final from Dr Stone’s class. Hunter sees them off then gets a call from Jenny Hui, a hunter in the Northwest. She witnessed Anne’s team in action in Alaska on a wendigo hunt. The team used hard core monster hunting gear but their outfits had no insignia of any time. Hunter informs Jenny that they have some type of dark hole where they place people and monsters. Jenny does not seems perturbed and takes it in stride. She suggest that it makes sense then says that she will also put out some feelers and let Hunter know if she finds anything.

Tuned To A Dead Channel
Val returns from her outing with Christian and Michaela then shows Hunter a video. The video was posted in the film area of the New Orleans University forums. According to the poster, a film student named Jonas Gubevitch, posted it. The video begins with the opening of a local monster movie program called Creature Features. As the movie is about to start the screen shows heavy static. Floating in the static are shapes that slowly float into view. The shapes include what appears to be a young boy, a woman, an infant, then a man’s face. The man’s face has deep black eyes and mouth. Hunter and Val are both convinced that the man’s face is a ghost or revenant of some kind. With Winston’s help they track down the address of the film student. Hunter and Val visit the apartment in the guide of film producers while Winston hacks into the student’s computer to retrieve a higher resolution version of the video. After some digging and carefully questioning Val and Hunter figure out that the static only happened on the student’s cable signal. Stone confirms that the student’s apartment is near a lightning strike then joins Val and Hunter at the site of the strike.

At the site Dr Stone switches to his magical sight. He spies a massive swirl of Outer Dark magic at the top of a local electrical pole that appears to be where the lightning hit. The cloud of energy is so severe that Stone feels it could even be influencing those without magic. Also he feels that any monsters or magic nearby would be corrupted then enhanced. During this time Winston researches the site and gathers details on the housing complex and area under it. He finds that over the years there have been three disappearances in what was once referred to as Purdy’s Pool. The people who disappeared were a young boy, an older man, and a woman with a baby. All are people who the group witnessed in the video.

Winston and Ron join the group as they search the new housing complex for the bodies of the three victims. Hunter affirms that this is the best way to stop restless spirits. After some careful searching the group finds some bubbles in one area that radiate with magic. Hunter wades into the water then starts digging. After only one shovelful he sees a white head appear from the brackish pool. Only the eyes of a young boy peer out. They immediately start to entrance the young monster hunter! Acting quickly Val and Stone pull back Hunter while Ron moves forward with his machete. A deathly cold is emanating from the creatures that freezes the blood of anything that gets close to them! Next a woman holding a baby emerges then finally an old man. Hunter and Val open up with pistols while Stone starts blasting with lightning. Eventually the “drowners” turn into a black goo. Winston retrieves some dead man’s blood then dispatches the creatures. Digging up the bones the group salt and burn them. The spirits are now free…

[  Author’s Note: This is the episode synopsis for the 19th 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.  ]

Flashback – Hunters Without Homes
Hunter is loading up Val’s car with Aunt Eva’s luggage when a beat up VW Golf pulls up. As soon as the car comes to a stop Val gives Aunt Eva a peck on the cheek then yells to Hunter that she is going off to study with her friend Christian. The driver of the car is a young man with an earring and a tattoo of a zombie screaming on his neck. Hunter accosts the young man but lets the pair leave to study for their Symbology final in Dr. Stone’s class.

After a call from a hunter friend from Texas, Blake Reeves, Aunt Eva and Hunter discuss her safety. Eva is afraid to go back to her trailer alone with everything that has happened in New Orleans. Hunter agrees that she can stay in the area. He sets up a spot at a local trailer park then asks his friend Blake to get the trailer and bring it to New Orleans.

While buying a new truck Hunter gets a call from his old prison cellmate Lucas. Lucas explains that in a month he is getting out of prison and would appreciate it if Hunter could put him up for a month or so. Hunter explains that he has a friend who should have space for him in her trailer. Hunter also explains that she could use some protection. Lucas readily agrees to the arrangement.

Flashback – Six Anniversary
The Gator Bite is a vibrant and active place on the anniversary of Six’s lost toes and subsequent founding of the bar…the $2 beer and $4 crawdad plates don’t hurt attracting a crowd either. Six gives a brief speech to the crowd then with a cheer dumps his mug of water on the ground as a tribute to the bayou. Later in the evening Lapinto and O’Hare approach MD. Lapinto carefully asks MD is they are “good”. MD says that they are good then the three celebrate into the night.

HOGD House Call
The hunters prepare the meeting site for a visit from the Order. Ron sets himself up on a roof across the street. Hunter hides in the trunk of Frank Kitrare’s car which has been pulled into the warehouse. MD waits in the shadows. Stone waits with Frank inside. Two hours after they have finished setting up a large black SUV with tinted windows pulls up. The driver, a blond gentlemen with short cropped hair and a visible shoulder holster gets out. He walks to the back of the SUV while surveying the scene. Out of the back of the SUV he pulls out a wheelchair. The blond man then goes to the passenger side and carefully helps an elderly woman into the chair. The two of them then cautiously approach the building. They knock then slowly enter. This is not the response the hunters were expecting.

The blond man introduces himself as “Nigel”. He whispers something in the ear of the elderly woman who has dozed off. At this point her eyes go white and she stands up! The PC learn that Medwin Baxter, one of the Hermetic Order leaders, is somehow possessing the old woman! Medwin explains that this “conveyance” allows him to hold a more “personal” conversation. He first conveys that he is the acting Magus of the Hermetic Order and that he is acting with their full support. Next he explains that Dr. Sutherland acted in a manner that does not reflect the current leadership. Medwin asks that the Order be allowed to handle the situation. Stone carefully explains that this will not be possible. Baxter asks if Dr. Sutherland is dead and Stone says no. Medwin then asks if the New Orleans hunters need any help. He explains that his people have detected that the “Outer Dark” is dangerously thin in New Orleans. (Stone takes this to mean what he and Eva have referred to as the Veil.) Medwin asks that the Dr. Stone proceed carefully. Stone assents. Medwin then signs off and Nigel helps the old woman back into her wheelchair. Before leaving Nigel hands Stone a purple business card with a silver pentagram and a phone number in England. Nigel then calms the old woman referring to her as “Gran”.

Lyssa Martin’s Face
After dealing with the HOGD MD and Stone meet with Detective Kaz. Kaz explains that he has a report for MD and that there has been a “break” in the Lyssa Martin case that needs their attention immediately. Once inside Kaz’s office he summons a rookie detective, Kelly Franklin, who has generated a report showing the various locations of the red lightning strikes. Stone notes that the center of many of the strikes are around ley lines. MD pinpoints the center of the strikes near the warehouse where Lamashtu was summoned. He also deduces that some of the outlying strikes are on cemeteries. He also finds some marks in the bayou.

The Detective then asks Officer Franklin to leave. He then shows the PC a video on a tablet. The grainy black and white video is from the outside of the industrial part building where Lyssa Martin’s body was found. The video shows a light colored van pull up. Two men and a woman (Lyssa Martin) get out of the van. Lyssa seems to be holding a conversation with the men. She is not being held captive in any way but her mannerisms seem to convey that she is nervous. The men get a large brown suitcase and several large gray totes out of the van. About an hour later the two men races out of the building and jump into the van. Both are looking over their shoulders as if there is something bad inside. As the van backs up the front bumper folds in half then pulls off of the van! A light then appears in thin air and shines on the tire tracks. It then clicks off and that is all that is shown!

Kaz then explains that they have tracked down the van and the driver. The van is owned by Grossman Studios. The driver is Marty Grossman. Grossman Studios is run out of a local office. Detective Kaz asks the PC to accompany him. At the office the hunters finds Grossman hanging from the ceiling tiles from an electrical cord. Coming out of his mouth is video tape. Searching the office reveals a camera that is in the front office. This higher quality video shows Grossman at his desk upset after the thinner man leaves. He turns as the door pops open. Next the video shows Grossman grab at his neck as he is lifted off the floor by some an unseen force! He struggles as his mouth fills with something that can also not be seen. Stone uses his vision and discovers that the electrical cable and video tape are in fact magical. They dimly radiate with Outer Dark energy.

After getting details on the other man from the Grossman Studios office the hunters race off. They decide that likely he is the next target. They find Matt Taylor’s apartment torn up but there is not a body present. After collecting several clues they find information on his girlfriend. They call her then with some clever phone call antics get the drunk girlfriend to reveal her address.

Hunter arrives at the girlfriend’s address first. He approaches the house carefully then peers through a window. Hunter finds Matt and his girlfriend snorting cocaine and listening to very loud music. Matt seems to be watching something on his mantle. To his shock he is looking at the skin from Lyssa Martin’s face! As the other hunters approach Hunter bashes through the window and quickly subdues Matt. The rest of the PC change into the house and take control of the situation. When Ron goes out to his truck to get some salt he spots a manhole cover opening. From the manhole cover a strange creature built from an old video camera, a brown suitcase, extension cords, a gray tote, and a light stand crawls out. It moves directly towards the house ignoring everything else in its path! At that moment the PC realize that this creature is Lyssa Martins restless spirit who is seeking revenge! Ron grabs the cold rolled iron sword from his truck lockbox and moves up to stop it!