Kingbeast's Lair

[ Author’s Note: This is the log for the 13th session. Instead of posting your standard log of everything that happened during the session I will post “Then” and “Now” sections that summarize the story. The players will need to recall the details as to how it unfolded. This means that the players will be responsible for remembering any loose ends that may come back to haunt them in a later Episode. ]

Then

Gulf Of Mexico,Just Outside Of New Orleans, USA – July 15th, 1892
Mary Ann Hartnett stood on the bow of the Lady Grace deep in thought. Their decisions to to move to New Orleans was a difficult one but one that was full of opportunity. William approached the ship rail with a smirk, “The Captain says that we shall arrive within the hour. Do you think you can be a Southern Belle?” Mary Ann giggled then replied, “I hope so…things are so different here.” After searching in his inner coat pocket William pulled out a jade necklace that glinted in the warn moonlit summer night. “Oh dear! It’s beautiful! When did you get it?” After placing the intricately carved jade pendant around her neck he replied in a soft voice, “I arranged for Captain Aleri to pick it up for me from Vladivostok on his last voyage. I’m so glad you like it. Happy anniversary my love.” With a soft smile Mary Ann kissed her husband. Their conversation is interrupted by the appearance of the first mate, “We should be in soon maam.” Mary Ann briefly thanked him with a nod and a smile. William glared at the first mate his eyes filled with hate. How dare he look at Mary Ann in such a way!

Now

Intersection Of Two Dirt Roads Somewhere In The Middle Of The Bayou, New Orleans, USA – July 10th, 2015
He stood on the dirt road intersection shifting his weight from back and forth from one foot to the other. The crickets were loud this far out of New Orleans and the sound of frogs croaking meant that they were having a feast. “Hello,” the lilting voice stated flatly. He turned to see a beautiful blond in a dark blue dress with silver embellishments. She looked completely out of place on the rural dirt road. “Are you the demon?” “Of course…sorry if you were expecting horns and a forked tail,” she spurned hands on hips. “Please tell me what you want.” After his brief explanation she closed with, “Lucifer will accept the standard arrangement. You have 10 years then your soul will be his for the taking.” Turning quickly with a seductive glance over her shoulder she utters, “Goodnight Mr Maher.” He watched her leave with sweat beading on his forehead. He had made hundreds of important deals during his career but this one was the deal of a lifetime…literally.

[ Author’s Note: This is the log for the 12th session. Instead of posting your standard log of everything that happened during the session I will post “Then” and “Now” sections that summarize the story. The players will need to recall the details as to how it unfolded. This means that the players will be responsible for remembering any loose ends that may come back to haunt them in a later Episode. ]

Then

A Lush Study, New Orleans, USA – July 7th, 2015
The large woman walks across the room to the brandy decanter. After pouring some of the golden liquid she turns towards the large desk knowing that the interrogation with begin shortly. “Barker is brilliant but trapped between you and the hunters. You really did not give him much of a chance to succeed.” The woman turns with a glare, “I don’t want sheep reporting to me I want lions. We’ll see, Black Tamanous is quite resourceful and powerful in her own right.” After a brief pause the voice with the English accent continues, “I think my son and his hunter friends are a lot closer than you think.” Gently stroking the rim of her crystal tumbler she continues, “Maybe…but Boston and Ms. Barker completed their parts of the plan.” “I guess that is not inaccurate…but now the fated three are down to one…”

Now

Birchwood Schoolhouse, Sulphur, USA – July 11th, 2015
Once MD and Ron had left in the truck Val and Hunter settled into a grove that they had experienced after many successful monster hunting missions. Val gathered up weapons while Hunter started setting up the schoolhouse to burns down both quickly and completely. Working in silence the pair complete their tasks. As Hunter pulls out his trusty Zippo lighter Val walks over with hands on hips, “I wonder what happened to that little girl?” As if on direction the pair spot a small ghost with her head down emerging through the schoolhouse door. When she spots Hunter and Val her head comes up with a smile. It is then that her head unnaturally cocks to one side showing that her tiny throat is cut ear-to-ear. The small ghost then skips off towards the nearby meadow with her head lilting to one side. As she dances through the wildflowers she sings…

Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire burn and cauldron bubble.

Cool it with a baboon’s blood,
Then the charm is firm and good.

Waiting in the field are two ghosts dressed in very old garb that must be her father and mother. With a wave back to Val and Hunter the three ghosts vanish. Hunter flips the lighter into flame then lights the building with a small grin. The pair of hunters drive off knowing that on this night they have made a difference.

[ Author’s Note: This is the log for the 11th session. Instead of posting your standard log of everything that happened during the session I will post “Then” and “Now” sections that summarize the story. The players will need to recall the details as to how it unfolded. This means that the players will be responsible for remembering any loose ends that may come back to haunt them in a later Episode. ]

Then

A Lush Study, New Orleans, USA – July 7th, 2015 –
After taking a sip from her aperitif the tall redhead takes a seat in the plush red armchair. Looking through the velvet curtains she recognizes the sunset but only as it pertains to the passing of time; the beautiful tapestry of azure and pink clouds escapes her. Her thoughts are interrupted by a knock on the study door. After the knock her butler ushers in the visitor that she had summoned. Once settled the redhead stands, straightens her slacks, and continues in a business like tone, “As you have no doubt heard there is a group of hunters in New Orleans. This rag-tag gang of misfits has taken down many minor threats but now they are starting to encroach on some key assets in my chain-of-command. It is time that these burrs be eliminated from my side. I would like you to setup a trap that I have devised with your particular organization in mind.” As she pauses to take another sip of her drink her visitor speaks up, “I’m sure that my devotees can enact whatever trap you have in mind but currently my people have other priorities. I’m sure you can get someone else to do your dirty work.” Leaning over towards her guest the tall redhead continues through clenched teeth, “I can see that maybe stronger words are needed. I will completely wipe you and your disgusting cannibal cult from the face of the earth if you do not follow my orders! I am only barely able to stay in the same room with you right now. Don’t tempt me to take action! It is your decision…setup the trap or die.” With that the visitor with hate in their eyes slowly nods in assent. With a smirk the tall redhead explains her plan to use a hunter as bait for a trap…

Now

Dr Roth’s House, New Orleans, USA – July 9th, 2015 –
Astryd Trudeau sighs as she picks up the black and white photo on Roth’s fireplace mantel. Ferguson, Kyle, and her were a great team back in the day. They never considered what the future might bring. After a dusting she gently places the framed photo into a cardboard box labelled “Research”. Dr Stone wakes her from her daydreams, “Um…Astryd…can you hand me that bin?” Noticing that Astryd seems lost in her thoughts the sensitive young occult scholar pauses briefly then says, “I wish I would have known the ‘real’ Dr Roth. His writing reveals a brilliant mind and his collection of books on ancient Mesopotamia is unparalleled.” Astryd smiles and continues in a soft tone, “I never really considered how hard retirement from huntin’ would be…I reckon’ us hunters are born to die alone…chased into the grave by our fears. Sobberin’ thought…” She continues in a straight business like tone, “Kyle’s brother was given the house but all of his research was willed to me. I would ask two things of you chéri. First I would like you to take all of Kyle’s research journals and book. You can keep any that you want then give the rest to the university.” After a solemn nod of assent from Dr Stone the voodoo mambo continues, “I have also decided that I want to celebrate his passing with a Sumerian death rite…at least the ‘old man’ taught me somethin’ eh??? I want to bury Kyle’s glasses and sword cane under his basement in the house. That is how the Sumerian’s did it…I guess they used clay pots but we’ll just use cement.” Alastair nods then respectfully replies with, “I would be honored to help in any way that I can.” The two occult scholars continue boxing up the large quantity of book in silence.