Kingbeast's Lair

[  Author’s Note: This is the episode synopsis for the 25th 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.  ]

Stone Manor

After a bumpy but uneventful flight the PC arrive at Heathrow.  They unload their gear then are driven by Aubrey back to Stone Manor.  At Stone Manor they find some landscaping happening in the backyard.

Crowley House

At the headquarters of the Hermetic Order Of The Golden Dawn (HOGD or the Order) the group is led to Edwin Baxter’s office.  (Edwin is the current leader (aka the Magus) of the Order.)  Along the way the group are introduced to a man who Edwin introduces as an expert with “acquisitions”.  He explains the Kirk Sanford has some skills that will prove useful in the investigation and the gathering of ingredients that might be needed for the spell.  Nigel, Edwin’s bodyguard and former leader of the MI-666, is also present.

Stone carefully and cautiously lays out the situation for everyone.  He starts by reviewing some basic information about the Outer Dark then outlines the spell that he and Winston devised to patch the weak spots in the veil in New Orleans.  Edwin listens intently then agrees to show the Voynich Manuscript to the team.

Edwin then picks up the pocket watch from his desk and shows the PC into the basement of the Crowley House.  After going past many magical wards the group shown into a long thin chamber with two long bookshelves.  At the end is the statue of a gargoyle and two tables lit with magical lamps.  Edwin then speaks to the gargoyle who is apparently named “Marian”.  Marian goes into a smaller room on one side and returns with the original copy of the Voynich Manuscript.  In the same room the group notice a set of scrolls that must be the mysterious cyphers that supposedly form the basis for the magical knowledge that spawned the creations of the Order.  After asking Marian for more books Alastair, Edwin, and Kirk begin researching the spell.

While the scholarly types are researching the spell Anne, Edwin, and Ron wait at the second table.  Anne decides to start researching the history of the last breach using the Order’s library.  Nigel asks for a book about monster hunting which he then peruses with Ron.  While the other table is researching the spell Anne discussed the current situation at MI-666 with Nigel.  Nigel explains that their former government liaison, Fosse, has retired.  He was replaced by a bloke known as Triggs.  Triggs is an Special Air Services Colonel who comes with some type of academic background.  After joining Triggs forces all of the current agents to go through extensive psychological evaluations.  Many who have served for years are deemed unfit and excused from duty.  These men are replaced with young agents from some type of secret academy run by Triggs.  Nigel explains that what caused him to leave was an event that happened 3 months ago.  The team was sent to dispatch some trolls that has appeared under South Hampton Bridge.  This group of trolls had kidnapped a group of kids in a van.  During the raid two of the newly assigned agents shot through the kids in the van to take down the trolls.  Nigel suspended the soldiers but Triggs gave them both medals.  This was the last straw for Nigel who left the MI-666.  Nigel tells Anne that she should take this information back to DOOR so that, “they know what they are dealing with now.”

After the story Nigel asks Marian to bring Anne a book that, “she would appreciate.”  Marian returns with a diary from a former leader of the Order known as Florence Farr.  At the end of the book is an Egyptian symbol.  After reading the symbol there is a flash and the room goes dark for a second!  Anne explains what happened then Alastair and Edwin take a look with their magical sight.  Alastair explains that attached to Anne’s soul is some type of containment spell.  He promised to examine Anne more closely later on at Stone Manor.

The research trio realize that is will take at least a couple of days for finish their research.  With that Edwin asks that the group stay at the Crowley House for dinner.  He also invites Abagail Blavatsky to dine with them and to conduct a seance afterwards.

At the seance Abagail calls forth the spirit of her Great Grandmother Madame Blavatsky.  The PC are then given a chance to speak with the powerful occult spirit to ask questions about their current problem.  Before vanishing she remarks that Anne reminds her of a friend of hers.

Stone Man Mountain

After finally reaching Stone Manor the group goes to bed.  That night the group is awaken with a young girl’s scream!  The scream is coming from Stone’s backyard.  When the group rushes to the back door they find the ghost of a small girl in a turn of the century period dress who is screaming as a massive creature made of earth is vainly attempting to pummel her!  Stone spots something magical on the hillside and directs the PC into action.  While Ron distracts the massive creature the rest of the group circles around to the spot behind the creature.  Anne arrives first where she notices a small 3 foot tall creature who appears to be made of mud.  She attempts to tackle the small man who barks at her in some type of ancient Celtic tongue!  Stone rushes up and begs the creature to stop!  He promises that they will make the situation right.  The creature stops then in broken English explains that his home must be restored.  It appears that the landscapers have dug up a stone slab that must be its home.  Stone speaks with the duergar and works out an agreement to move his home back farther on his property.

During this conversation the ghost of the small girl runs to Anne and grabs on to her leg.  Through tears she explains that her name is Flo.  Anne realizes that this must be a ghost of Florence Farr.  The child then vanishes into Anne’s leg and the ghost of a woman in her 30’s appears.  She explains the she is the ghost of Florence Farr.  When Anne asks for details on the spell from the book the ghost says that it must be something Madame Farr setup.  Florence Farr then vanishes inside of Anne and this time an older woman with a cane and parasol emerges!  Madame Farr explains that she setup the book as a way to preserve her spirit.  She hooked it to a person who was considered “a woman of character”.  Madame Farr is kind of surprised to discover that it took so many years for her spirit to be released.

Sutherland Estate

The next day the researchers get details on the spell.  It will take an intricate circle where the casters are in the center.  Also in the center will be a brazier where several very unique ingredients must be added.  The ingredients actually vary based on the cycle of the planets so Stone estimates that the spell must be cast within the next 5 weeks to be effective.

The ingredient list looks like the following:

Start with fruit spawned from the darkest night.

Pestle with tears from a tortured soul.

Stir in a beam from the morning sun.

Baste with vitae of one who has seen into the abyss.

Finish with distilled essence of that which should not be.

Stone supposes that all of the abyss and darkness references likely infer an Outer Dark connection.  When Kirk reads the list he instantly zeroes in on the third ingredient.  He recalls that there is a mystical relic known as the Phylactery Of The Morning Sun.  It is rumored to be a captured ray of sunlight from the fairy realm.  Kirk explains that this item is owned by one Jason Sutherland.  It is held at his estate near St Albans.

Kirk then sets up a plan to get the caretaker out of the house so that they can break in.  He takes the lead by sneaking into the house then shutting off the security system.  After doing that the rest of the PC join him as there are bound to be magical defenses.

After finding a secret door the PC venture down into an ancient structure.  Inside they find a hallway covered in moss.  Along the way Stone spots a magical spot on the floor that appears to protect against flora.  He disables it then proceeds.  As he walks forward ivy on the wall springs out to attack.  Dodging back the group decides to proceed more carefully.  This time Stone turns back on the ward.  He then moves forward and stands in the circle.  The plants spring out then pull back.  This allows the PC to enter an inner sanctum.

The next room is glowing with a crystal vial that is being held by a tiny root.  Inside the room are books and some small trinkets.  Stone uses his mind to move the vial into a wooden box that Anne readies.  As the vial settles into the box the roots holding the vial spring forward!  The groups makes a hasty retreat as the house is nearly pulled down by massive root and vine growth.

Back at Stone Manor the group prepares for their trip back to New Orleans.  Before leaving Kirk Sanford contacts Stone and let him know that he will be moving to New Orleans soon to be with his daughter.  He also seems excited about trying to find the other ingredients on the list…

[  Author’s Note: This is the episode synopsis for the 24th 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.  ]

Stone Dreams

Alastair has another nightmare.  In this dream he is teaching a class when three Men In Black enter his classroom.  When he wakes up Stone calls Winston.  The pair deduce that the dreams are related to the spell that Stone used to banish Lamashtu.  They theorize that maybe the darkness somehow affected Stone to cause the nightmares.

This realization motivates the pair to search for a way to seal the breaches that had been formed by the various lightning strikes.  They believe they can devise a spell that patch the weak spots but it will take some study.  Stone comes upon the Voynich Manuscript that he feels could have the answer that they need to complete the spell but he will need to examine the copy that was actually written by John Dee.  This original copy is in the possession of the Hermetic Order Of The Golden Dawn.

Root And Branches

Hunter gets a frantic call from Michaela.  Val has locked herself in the bathroom and is moaning.  As Hunter drives up Michaela says it is getting cold then drops the phone.  Hunter breaks into the apartment with an iron fireplace poker in hand.  Inside Michaela is on the floor trying to draw a circle of salt on the floor.  Hunter hands Michaela a box of salt then opens the bathroom door.  Val is naked and curled up in a fetal position at the far end of the shower.  Her arms are cut and the blood is leaking down the shower drain  Hovering over her is the ghost of a woman covered in bandages with sharp claws who appears to be feeding off of her pain  The ghost slashes Hunter in the thigh before he manages to dispatch her.  After dispatching the ghost Hunter quickly grabs Val and Michaela then heads towards Stones house to get some healing.

Stone and Winston who are talking about the spell take a break to heal Val and Hunter’s wounds.  Winston manages to capture some of the ghostly essence from the wounds on Val’s arms in a small vial.  Using the vial Stone can use his spell to track down the body of the ghost from the bathroom.  The body is in a cemetery in New Orleans.

At the cemetery the group finds and burns the body but to their surprise the corpse not seems to glow when burned.  Anne decides to look for a lightning strike and finds that close by is a family tomb that has been struck.  The tomb belongs to the Moth family.  After doing some research they find that Thomas Moth owned an estate that was on the site of the current park.

This leads the group to Moth Park where they find the place, “dirty with ghosts.”  All of the ghosts seems to around a tall sycamore tree in the center of the park.  While investigating the park the hunters sees a strange ghost of a woman in a black rain slicker.  When the cloud parts the moonlight hits the tree showing shadows of bodies hanging in the branches.  After discussing the situation the team decides the best course of action is to perform an exorcism on the site of the tree.  To complete the ritual the group needs something intimately associated to the tree  They decide the best course of action is to find a relative of Moth  Some quick research reveals that one Everett Moth still lives in New Orleans

Everett Moth is a crazy old man who is living in a shack under three large sycamore trees.  His shack is full of religious symbols and there is even a line of salt leading into the room.  Anne explains that they believe he is being haunted and that they are here to help.  This seems to make the elder Moth very happy.

As the group goes to leave the ghost of the woman with the black rain slicker appears again.  She appears in a cotton field near Everett Moth’s shack then sinks into the ground.  Anne follows her to a well on the property.  At the bottom of the well is a portrait of the Moth family.  When the group cleans it up and looks at it the picture changes!  The portrait reveals the true story of Thomas Moth.  Thomas Moth killed his gardener who was sleeping with his wife.  Then in a fit of rage he killed his wife and two children who he realizes are not his but those of his gardener.

At Moth Park around the sycamore tree the group conducts the exorcism.  While Ron, MD, and Anne shoot down crows Winston and Stone fight to continue the ritual uninterrupted.  When they finish the ghost of the gardener, Creed, emerges from the tree and walks over to Everett Moth.  The ghost of Creed scowls at the feeble Everett Moth then disappears.  Creed silently expires on the spot.

Later that night NOLA police officers find the body of an older woman with gray hair and a black rain slicker in the park.

Road Trip

The adventure closes with Stone having a phone call with Edwin Baxter, the Magus of the Hermetic Order Of The Golden Dawn.  Edwin agrees to show Stone the Voynich Manuscript from John Dee if he will come to their house in London.  Stone agrees.

[  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.