Kingbeast's Lair

[  Author’s Note: This is the episode synopsis for the 18th 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.  ]

The Day After
It has been a day since Lamashtu was banished from our realm back to hell. Even though the pressing evil is gone the characters are uneasy. Alastair wakes with a vivid dream about being kidnapped and thrown into a swamp. Winston has located a 10th century German book on alchemy that he begins to reconstruct. MD calls Detective Takashi and asks for information on where the red lightning bolts struck then tells him to call if anything “unusual” happens. Anne gets a report that there is a bug on her car but decides that she has more pressing matters.

Lyssa Martin’s Face
Winston and MD get a call from Detective Takashi. Apparently there has been a murder and he needs a cleanup and some help. The murder is at an industrial park in an empty building that is for lease. Inside lashed to some industrial shelving is a woman who appears to have been flayed. Clues at the scene include:

• The victim’s face is missing.
• The cuts used to pull back the skin are made with a short bladed knife.
• A gray equipment box with a frayed electrical cord is nearby. It appears that the cord was forcefully yanked from a socket placed in front of the body. The box is spray painted with “Flesk Rentals”.
• A bloody set of Men’s size large scrubs with no hospital logo.
• Clothes and ID from the victim who identify her as Lyssa Martin.

The characters wonder why the perpetrators left the scrubs and Lyssa’s belongings at the scene. After a cleanup of the crime scene the groups leaves.

Sutherland And The Deep Dark Hole
Anne texts the characters and asks them to meet at MD’s airboat landing at the edge of the swamp. The plan is to discuss what they want to do with Jason Sutherland. After some heated discussion the group decides that the two options are a bullet to the head or to drop him into a “deep dark government hole”. They decide to give Jason the choice on what should be his fate. Sutherland decides that he would rather be alive in a “hole”. The team drugs him then return to meet Anne’s contacts.

As they travel to the meet with Sutherland in their trunk Anne spots a tail and alerts the rest of the hunters. They all then realize that they are all being tailed! Each group creatively loses their tail and while doing so discover that a local PI named Frank Gitrare arranged the tails. After luring Frank to the dock the group learns that he was hired by a man with a British accent to find Sutherland. Stone discovers that Frank’s car has been marked with a tracking symbol in spray paint. With that knowledge the group tells Gitrare to call the British man and setup a meeting at a local warehouse. Everyone then waits at the warehouse to see who or what will show up…

[  Author’s Note: This is the episode synopsis for the 17th session of the Dark Waters Rising campaign. This session was the end of the first campaign arc. This is my take as to what happened during the session. Please let me know if there are any comments or corrections.

Heads Up: For the players at the session please read the end of The Trap Is Sprung carefully. I forgot something during the session that needed to happen for the next campaign arc. It is in italics.  ]

The Cahokian Guardian Dragon
After bandaging themselves from the hell hound attack the characters approach the small structure at the old mining complex. Anne bashes down the door and confronts a tiny deformed man who is hiding in the corner. After making a bargain with Ebon Gnails he tells them that he knows the location of the sword but he has never held it. He explains that the sword is down in the mines below his shack. Down in the mines Ebon leads the way to a crystal cavern lined with sphalerite. Adorning the entrance to the cavern are Native American cave paintings. Stone deduces that the writing is from the Cahokian tribe and based on the pigments used they are from the 13 century. Anne finds a pictograph of a lion with a human head on a snake body and a long fish tail. She explains that the creature is a piasa. Piasa are actually protectors of the land and are actually a type of dragon.

On the other side of the crystal cavern is a small alcove. Embedded in the rock with only the hilt protruding is a very old looking bronze sword. As the PC approach, rocks beside the sword move aside and a crazy looking creature emerges. The piasa explains that he is the guardian of the land and that a sword with so much evil must be kept out of the wrong hands. After some careful bargaining the PC convince the piasa that they plan to use the sword to destroy a demon that is even more foul. Reluctantly the piasa agrees. He asks them to return the blade within a season then to seal off the tunnel so that others may not so easily find its location. At this point Stone reaches out to touch the handle of the sword with his mystical senses. The piasa raises an eyebrow but only watches. When Stone touches the sword hilt he feels a cool wind coming from the west. The wind becomes biting cold tearing through his clothing, As he looks down terrible scorpions and spiders are climbing up his legs stinging him! He releases the sword clawing at his legs! Even though mentally scarred the entire event was something only he observed. The piasa seems content with the results and allows Ron to take the sword from the stone. Was Alastair’s vision some type of test? The PC leave the mines and return to New Orleans leaving Ebon to his shack.

The Trap Is Sprung!
Now having a weapon to use against Lamashtu the PC prepare to summon her. Stone focuses on the spell while Ron and Anne setup the location and gather the remaining components. They decide one of Anne’s warehouses will be the best location as they can keep out the moonlight and the floor is a concrete slab. They get sweat from a mother and blood from her baby by bribing a private midwife. This is used by Stone to draw the mystical circle that will call to Lamashtu. To make things tough on Lamashtu and her demons the group sets up a large salt square around the area and several strategically placed demon traps. The result leaves only one portal unprotected. Dual sets of curtains protect the area from moonlight.

Alastair starts the spell near midnight. As he chants the characters hear thunder and wind buffeting the warehouse. When the spell reaches a climax he calls out to Pazuzu for his power! The circle lights up with a red demonic glow. The characters then whisper messages to Lamashtu to draw her into the circle. The powerful messages complete the spell and now they only have to wait for her to arrive.

About 45 minutes later a black van pulls up the warehouse. Two men and two women get out of the van. Quickly one of the men walks around the build then one of the women enters the door. She walks across two demon traps causing them to merely flare up. When Lamashtu enters the second curtain the PC see a young woman in her 20’s with a pink hoodie. Around her is a glowing protection. Ron strikes out with the sword landing a massive blow to her neck. Lamashtu falls to one knee when Anne opens up with blessed M16 rounds. Anne lands several deadly shots! At that point Stone calls forth lightning that seems to cause her pain. After the barrage Lamashtu stands and enters the circle. After reaching the center of the circle the host that Lamashtu is inhabiting rips in half! A multiarmed multifaced demons woman emerges! Lamashtu taunts the characters then moves to stop Ron who is wielding what Lamashtu refers to as that “foul blade”. She strikes at Ron who takes a blow that grazes his chest. Anne then lets the PC know that a second or so after the first attack breached the shield that it was momentarily down. Acting as a team Ron waits to strike in concert with Anne and Stone. First Anne shoots another volley into Lamashtu bringing down her shield. Once down Ron strikes home with the sword and Stone lets loose with another lightning bolt! Lamashtu falls to the ground and turns to dust. The other demons see their master fall and turn to leave. One gets caught in a well-placed demon trap then stares on hopelessly as Ron cuts off its head.

After the battle ends the PC tend to their wounds and call in Winston’s crew to clean up the mess. When they leave the warehouse they are shocked to see that the clouds have not cleared. For nearly 15 minutes at several points around the city they see red lightning striking the ground. What is causing the lightning strikes?!? Is it some type of after effect of the spell?!? Within an hour the sun is shining and the clouds have parted.

Cliff’s Wish
At this point the characters visit Sutherland and try to decide what to do with him. Anne thinks back to a scene that she had with her brother Cliff. She enters his office and confronts him about the crossroads demon. At first Cliff tells Anne that he wanted the company to continue to do well. When Anne argues that the company is not doing poorly Cliff explains that he wanted to leave something for his wife, Sarah, and their two kids. Anne continues to berate Cliff who goes quiet. After a pause Cliff tells Anne that he has terminal pancreatic cancer. Doctors gave him a month to live. Cliff explains the he knew about supernatural creatures because of Anne and tried to find a cure or a way out. A member of the Rosicrucian’s told him about crossroad demons. He used this as a starting point for his research. Eventually he found a man in England (Sutherland) who offered to sell him details on how crossroads demons could be contacted. Cliff made the deal and contacted a demon. He asked for 10 more years of life and success in business. In 10 years his soul would be condemned to hell. Anne consoles her brother then the scene shifts back to Sutherland.

Anne and Stone are not sure what to do with Sutherland. Anne feels that a simple verbal agreement is not enough. Stone does not think killing him is the right answer. The two are left discussing their options…

Fortune Teller
Sleep does not come easy this night for Madame Astryd Trudeau. After tossing and turning she decides to let the tarot direct her thoughts. The voodoo priestess pulls out her deck and pulls up a chair to her table. Queen of Wands reversed. Seven of Cups reversed. The Sun reversed. The Magician upright. The Empress upright. The High Priestess reversed. The Moon upright. Strength reversed. The Lovers upright. The Devil upright. The Chariot upright. Ten of Swords reversed. With sweat dripping down her face she thinks of the dangerous game that her friends are playing with that demon bitch. Three of Wands reversed. She breathes out a sigh of release, “The fates are with you this time mes amies…I pray that they continue to be in your corner for evil is rising like a dark tide…”

Loose Ends
This section details some of the loose ends that remain after the close of the first campaign arc.

• The Ikon Of Khan – Left hidden in the swamp.
• Sutherland Captive – Should he live? If so what should they do with him?
• Red Lightning Strikes – What was that all about? Does it mean anything? Stone said that spell to call Lamashtu was really evil. Is this related and if so how?

[  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…