{"id":1779,"date":"2018-04-23T11:10:12","date_gmt":"2018-04-23T19:10:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/usandacat.com\/thelair\/?p=1779"},"modified":"2018-04-23T11:10:12","modified_gmt":"2018-04-23T19:10:12","slug":"episode-synopsis-session-25-road-trip","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usandacat.com\/thelair\/2018\/episode-synopsis-session-25-road-trip\/","title":{"rendered":"Episode Synopsis – Session 25 – Road Trip"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Florence<\/a>[\u00c2\u00a0 Author\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Note:<\/b> This is the episode synopsis for the 25th session of the Dark Waters Rising campaign.\u00c2\u00a0 This is my take as to what happened during the session.\u00c2\u00a0 Please let me know if there are any comments or corrections.\u00c2\u00a0 ]<\/p>\n

Stone Manor<\/b><\/p>\n

After a bumpy but uneventful flight the PC arrive at Heathrow.\u00c2\u00a0 They unload their gear then are driven by Aubrey back to Stone Manor.\u00c2\u00a0 At Stone Manor they find some landscaping happening in the backyard.<\/p>\n

Crowley House<\/b><\/p>\n

At the headquarters of the Hermetic Order Of The Golden Dawn (HOGD or the Order) the group is led to Edwin Baxter’s office.\u00c2\u00a0 (Edwin is the current leader (aka the Magus) of the Order.)\u00c2\u00a0 Along the way the group are introduced to a man who Edwin introduces as an expert with “acquisitions”.\u00c2\u00a0 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.\u00c2\u00a0 Nigel, Edwin’s bodyguard and former leader of the MI-666, is also present.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Stone carefully and cautiously lays out the situation for everyone.\u00c2\u00a0 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.\u00c2\u00a0 Edwin listens intently then agrees to show the Voynich Manuscript to the team.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Edwin then picks up the pocket watch from his desk and shows the PC into the basement of the Crowley House.\u00c2\u00a0 After going past many magical wards the group shown into a long thin chamber with two long bookshelves.\u00c2\u00a0 At the end is the statue of a gargoyle and two tables lit with magical lamps.\u00c2\u00a0 Edwin then speaks to the gargoyle who is apparently named “Marian”.\u00c2\u00a0 Marian goes into a smaller room on one side and returns with the original copy of the Voynich Manuscript.\u00c2\u00a0 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.\u00c2\u00a0 After asking Marian for more books Alastair, Edwin, and Kirk begin researching the spell.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

While the scholarly types are researching the spell Anne, Edwin, and Ron wait at the second table.\u00c2\u00a0 Anne decides to start researching the history of the last breach using the Order’s library.\u00c2\u00a0 Nigel asks for a book about monster hunting which he then peruses with Ron.\u00c2\u00a0 While the other table is researching the spell Anne discussed the current situation at MI-666 with Nigel.\u00c2\u00a0 Nigel explains that their former government liaison, Fosse, has retired.\u00c2\u00a0 He was replaced by a bloke known as Triggs.\u00c2\u00a0 Triggs is an Special Air Services Colonel who comes with some type of academic background.\u00c2\u00a0 After joining Triggs forces all of the current agents to go through extensive psychological evaluations.\u00c2\u00a0 Many who have served for years are deemed unfit and excused from duty.\u00c2\u00a0 These men are replaced with young agents from some type of secret academy run by Triggs.\u00c2\u00a0 Nigel explains that what caused him to leave was an event that happened 3 months ago.\u00c2\u00a0 The team was sent to dispatch some trolls that has appeared under South Hampton Bridge.\u00c2\u00a0 This group of trolls had kidnapped a group of kids in a van.\u00c2\u00a0 During the raid two of the newly assigned agents shot through the kids in the van to take down the trolls.\u00c2\u00a0 Nigel suspended the soldiers but Triggs gave them both medals.\u00c2\u00a0 This was the last straw for Nigel who left the MI-666.\u00c2\u00a0 Nigel tells Anne that she should take this information back to DOOR so that, “they know what they are dealing with now.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

After the story Nigel asks Marian to bring Anne a book that, “she would appreciate.”\u00c2\u00a0 Marian returns with a diary from a former leader of the Order known as Florence Farr.\u00c2\u00a0 At the end of the book is an Egyptian symbol.\u00c2\u00a0 After reading the symbol there is a flash and the room goes dark for a second!\u00c2\u00a0 Anne explains what happened then Alastair and Edwin take a look with their magical sight.\u00c2\u00a0 Alastair explains that attached to Anne’s soul is some type of containment spell.\u00c2\u00a0 He promised to examine Anne more closely later on at Stone Manor.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The research trio realize that is will take at least a couple of days for finish their research.\u00c2\u00a0 With that Edwin asks that the group stay at the Crowley House for dinner.\u00c2\u00a0 He also invites Abagail Blavatsky to dine with them and to conduct a seance afterwards.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

At the seance Abagail calls forth the spirit of her Great Grandmother Madame Blavatsky.\u00c2\u00a0 The PC are then given a chance to speak with the powerful occult spirit to ask questions about their current problem.\u00c2\u00a0 Before vanishing she remarks that Anne reminds her of a friend of hers.<\/p>\n

Stone Man Mountain<\/b><\/p>\n

After finally reaching Stone Manor the group goes to bed.\u00c2\u00a0 That night the group is awaken with a young girl’s scream!\u00c2\u00a0 The scream is coming from Stone’s backyard.\u00c2\u00a0 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!\u00c2\u00a0 Stone spots something magical on the hillside and directs the PC into action.\u00c2\u00a0 While Ron distracts the massive creature the rest of the group circles around to the spot behind the creature.\u00c2\u00a0 Anne arrives first where she notices a small 3 foot tall creature who appears to be made of mud.\u00c2\u00a0 She attempts to tackle the small man who barks at her in some type of ancient Celtic tongue!\u00c2\u00a0 Stone rushes up and begs the creature to stop!\u00c2\u00a0 He promises that they will make the situation right.\u00c2\u00a0 The creature stops then in broken English explains that his home must be restored.\u00c2\u00a0 It appears that the landscapers have dug up a stone slab that must be its home.\u00c2\u00a0 Stone speaks with the duergar and works out an agreement to move his home back farther on his property.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

During this conversation the ghost of the small girl runs to Anne and grabs on to her leg.\u00c2\u00a0 Through tears she explains that her name is Flo.\u00c2\u00a0 Anne realizes that this must be a ghost of Florence Farr.\u00c2\u00a0 The child then vanishes into Anne’s leg and the ghost of a woman in her 30’s appears.\u00c2\u00a0 She explains the she is the ghost of Florence Farr.\u00c2\u00a0 When Anne asks for details on the spell from the book the ghost says that it must be something Madame Farr setup.\u00c2\u00a0 Florence Farr then vanishes inside of Anne and this time an older woman with a cane and parasol emerges!\u00c2\u00a0 Madame Farr explains that she setup the book as a way to preserve her spirit.\u00c2\u00a0 She hooked it to a person who was considered “a woman of character”.\u00c2\u00a0 Madame Farr is kind of surprised to discover that it took so many years for her spirit to be released.<\/p>\n

Sutherland Estate<\/b><\/p>\n

The next day the researchers get details on the spell.\u00c2\u00a0 It will take an intricate circle where the casters are in the center.\u00c2\u00a0 Also in the center will be a brazier where several very unique ingredients must be added.\u00c2\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The ingredient list looks like the following:<\/p>\n

Start with fruit spawned from the darkest night.<\/i><\/p>\n

Pestle with tears from a tortured soul.<\/i><\/p>\n

Stir in a beam from the morning sun.<\/i><\/p>\n

Baste with vitae of one who has seen into the abyss.<\/i><\/p>\n

Finish with distilled essence of that which should not be.<\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Stone supposes that all of the abyss and darkness references likely infer an Outer Dark connection.\u00c2\u00a0 When Kirk reads the list he instantly zeroes in on the third ingredient.\u00c2\u00a0 He recalls that there is a mystical relic known as the Phylactery Of The Morning Sun.\u00c2\u00a0 It is rumored to be a captured ray of sunlight from the fairy realm.\u00c2\u00a0 Kirk explains that this item is owned by one Jason Sutherland.\u00c2\u00a0 It is held at his estate near St Albans.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Kirk then sets up a plan to get the caretaker out of the house so that they can break in.\u00c2\u00a0 He takes the lead by sneaking into the house then shutting off the security system.\u00c2\u00a0 After doing that the rest of the PC join him as there are bound to be magical defenses.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

After finding a secret door the PC venture down into an ancient structure.\u00c2\u00a0 Inside they find a hallway covered in moss.\u00c2\u00a0 Along the way Stone spots a magical spot on the floor that appears to protect against flora.\u00c2\u00a0 He disables it then proceeds.\u00c2\u00a0 As he walks forward ivy on the wall springs out to attack.\u00c2\u00a0 Dodging back the group decides to proceed more carefully.\u00c2\u00a0 This time Stone turns back on the ward.\u00c2\u00a0 He then moves forward and stands in the circle.\u00c2\u00a0 The plants spring out then pull back.\u00c2\u00a0 This allows the PC to enter an inner sanctum.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The next room is glowing with a crystal vial that is being held by a tiny root.\u00c2\u00a0 Inside the room are books and some small trinkets.\u00c2\u00a0 Stone uses his mind to move the vial into a wooden box that Anne readies.\u00c2\u00a0 As the vial settles into the box the roots holding the vial spring forward!\u00c2\u00a0 The groups makes a hasty retreat as the house is nearly pulled down by massive root and vine growth.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Back at Stone Manor the group prepares for their trip back to New Orleans.\u00c2\u00a0 Before leaving Kirk Sanford contacts Stone and let him know that he will be moving to New Orleans soon to be with his daughter.\u00c2\u00a0 He also seems excited about trying to find the other ingredients on the list…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[\u00c2\u00a0 Author\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Note: This is the episode synopsis for the 25th session of the Dark Waters Rising campaign.\u00c2\u00a0 This is my take as to what happened during the session.\u00c2\u00a0 Please let me know if there are any comments or corrections.\u00c2\u00a0 ] Stone Manor After a bumpy but uneventful flight the PC arrive at Heathrow.\u00c2\u00a0 They […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16,3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1779","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-game-news-dwr","category-games"],"post_mailing_queue_ids":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usandacat.com\/thelair\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1779","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usandacat.com\/thelair\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usandacat.com\/thelair\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usandacat.com\/thelair\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usandacat.com\/thelair\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1779"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usandacat.com\/thelair\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1779\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usandacat.com\/thelair\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1779"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usandacat.com\/thelair\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1779"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usandacat.com\/thelair\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1779"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}