|
Eric Dodd
New Zealand
Martinborough
Wairarapa
-
Long session this time - lots seemed to happen, and the players were very focused.
SPOILERS FOR ENTIRE SESSION
Desperate to track down two kidnapped boys before they are sacrificed, the group of four investigators returns to Kingsport, feeling sure the boys are still there but not knowing where in town to look next. They have an interrupted night's sleep after a strange noise outside the window of the hotel. Matt Elliott looks out over the sleeping Kingsport, and thinks he might have seen a sinuous, flying creature in the distance. What looks like a paw print has been left on the outside of the window, but the neophyte investigators cannot identify the creature that left it. Zappo takes a photograph of the print for later.
They decide to check out the suspicious High House on top of Kingsport Head. Setting out up the cliff the next morning from behind the shoe factory, they easily manage to climb to the lookout, but realise that climbing up the sheer cliff is too risky. They head back out of town towards Arkham and back onto the level ground that leads along to headland. Somehow the track to the Strange High House is difficult to follow, but eventually they manage to come out of a weird shrubby forest and see the back of the little house, improbably sitting right on the edge of the cliff.
They Sneak up carefully, and peak through the old, dirty windows. Listening carefully, they decide there is no-one home. Luckily finding an opened window, the three braver investigators decide to sneak into the Strange High House, while the Doctor remains outside on guard. The house is indeed empty, and the single room is quickly searched. Inside the large old sea chests are a strange mixture of sea shells, scrimshaw and some tempting looking wine. Zappo scours the bookshelf and is getting quite excited at the thought of taking some interesting books away when a strange noise is heard from outside the front door.
The party panic briefly, then decide to face their unknown foe, keeping their weapons in hand as the door handle opens. Matt Elliott catches a brief flash of some impossible creature, before a large, bearded man fills the doorway then closes it behind him. "Hello," he says "What are you gentleman doing in my house?" The investigators are not entirely convinced that this giant, bearded man means them no harm, but play along with him and initially pretend just to be curious tourists. Mr Bain is very friendly, and offers a glass of wine to his guests. Every one who tries the wine agrees it is the finest vintage they had ever tasted. Soon the investigators and Mr Bain are talking as if they were old friends, former suspicions are forgotten, and they confess the real reason for their trip.
"I have not heard of these missing boys," says William Bain "But I do know the old cult was centered around Congregational Hill. My great friend will know more, and may be able to show you exactly where to look. If you can do me a small favour, I will call him and see if he can help you." The dubious investigators agree and are sent back into the strange dark forest to look for...a Zoog. Mr Bain provides a small wicker cage. "The Zoog is a curious beast - he followed me on my last trip back from ...ah, another place. Last time I was picking mushrooms in the forest I saw him, but couldn't catch the little fellow. He really doesn't belong here, so you will be helping him and me out if you can catch him and bring him back to my house."
After a brief chat the investigators agree to attempt and catch the Zoog. They spend half an hour tracking the beast, and finally catch up with it on the edge of the odd forest. With a mixture of chivvying and tempting, the small rat like creature is enticed into the wicker basket. Forewarned by Mr Bain, they do not suffer any shock from seeing the ring of small tentacles around the creature's mouth. By the time they have climbed back up the cliff to the Strange High House, William Bain has begun a ritual to summon his friend. The investigators are suddenly apprehensive, but decide to wait and see what is summoned. Strange music and a sudden bright light comes from outside the front of the house, and a peculiar knocking sounds on the door .
There stands great lord Nodens, an ancient but hale figure, bearded and in white robes. Somehow he has arrived on the back of a sea-shell, pulled by a pair of fabled beasts. The investigators are shocked but not shaken to see a mythical Unicorn and Griffin in the flesh. Nodens barely acknowledges the presence of the investigators, but warmly greets Bain. Nodens agrees that those who are seeking to restore the old cult in Kingsport must be stopped. He points towards the town and a large single house opposite the Congregational Hill. "Look there, and you will find the one who has last seen your lost boys." With that the Lord of the Abyss majestically departs.
Now they know exactly where to look the investigators are invigorated and trek back to their hotel just as night falls. Deciding against a night exploration, the characters rest up, digesting what they have learned and wondering what they will face the next day.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Making an early start, Dr McFarlane parks the Rolls Royce in sight of 306 Summit Street. Elliott and McHone approach openly and knock on the door. No answer is forthcoming. McHone successfully picks the lock and the pair sneak inside. The house is dusty and quite empty - there is no sign that anyone has slept in the bedrooms for months if not years. The kitchen does show signs of recent activity, and an impressive walk-in ice box gets the investigators interest. To a mixture of relief and disappointment, there are only beef carcasses and not human ones hanging in the ice box.
Down in the basement, McHone finds a trapdoor and carefully opens it, with Elliott standing by with torch and handgun. A wooden set of steps leads down into the gloom, and it appears a tunnel stretches out in two directions. Suddenly, a strange snuffling, scrabbling sound can be heard. McHone catches a glimpse of a hideous three-head worm thing - a human centipede. He recoils in horror, but keeps his nerve. The duo decide there is something worth searching for below, and go to get some meat from upstairs to distract the beast. Flinging open the trapdoor again they throw the meat out behind the beast, leap down the steps and race in the opposite direction along what they hope is a tunnel.
The beast seems satisfied with the extra feast, and the investigators are able to more carefully advance down the tunnel. It appears to lead back under the road, and out towards the cemetery. After a few minutes they hear a soft sobbing noise - could it be human? Following the sound they face a pitiful sight. Chained to the wall in a small alcove is a teenage boy. He is dirty and crying, and has lost his left leg entirely below the hip. Without waiting to determine his identity the investigators set to work on the manacles, and soon manage to break them open. "Jeff, he took Jeff away," croaks the boy they assume is Matt Pierce. "Wanted to know where Tom Michael was. When I didn't say .. he ate my leg... the worms." The boy faints; the investigators scoop him up and stumble on up the corridor.
Luckily, there is an accessible exit up to the surface just a bit further on. Elliott and McHone carry the young man back to the waiting Rolls, where Dr McFarlane deals with his physical and mental injuries. McFarlane confirms that the leg has been removed very neatly by a sharp edge. There is a disturbing sign of tiny bite marks around the stump. Matt is revived and is able to tell the investigators the same address he finally told his assailant - Robbin's Apartments on Burke Street.
The investigators try to get some police backup before they raid the apartment. Unluckily, the cops are busy dealing with a fight down at the docks, and the team just can't wait for them to be finished. Racing over to Robbin's Apartments, Zappo and Elliott follow FBI agent McHone out of the car and up the stairs. The investigators can hear arguing from within Apartment 12 as they burst through the door. Two men are shouting at each other. One is a gnarled old man who is tall and thin with a scraggly beard and wisps of white hair. Facing him is a younger looking man who is more respectably dressed in a dark suit. The younger man holds a knife and the older what appears to be a straight razor. They seem ready to come to blows. Lying on the ground behind the younger man is a unconscious boy.
With surprise McHone yells: "Freeze! Rev. Thomas - you're under arrest!", and prepares to fire if either party offers resistance. The older man backs off a little and seems to mutter under his breath. Reverend Thomas snarls and leaps to attack the FBI agent with his knife. Elliott decides not to wait and shoots at Thomas. He takes a wound to the leg but continues to attack. Zappo heroically dodges into the room and goes to protect the boy. McHone dodges Thomas's knife attack and fires his shotgun at pointblank range. Thomas screams and collapses to the floor.
The old man continues muttering and advances on Elliott, slashing the air with his razor. The ex-fighter pilot is shocked to feel a sharp slash across his chest, even though the razor is a good ten feet away! Zappo holds down Thomas, who seems to have slumped into unconsciousness due to blood loss. McHone shoots this new villain who has attacked his friend. The shotgun blast seems to damage the old man, who slashes back at Elliott. He dodges and fires his pistol, making a solid hit in the chest. A second hit from his pump shotgun seems to kill the old man, who collapses to the floor and - shatters into a horde of worms. As the investigators look on with mouths agape the worms wriggle off in all directions, disappearing into the kitchen plumping and through cracks in the walls and floors. By the time they can react there is only an old, worm-riddled corpse left.
Thankfully, Jeff Pierce is merely unconscious. He is quickly revived and seems to remember little of his terrible ordeal. The investigators arrange for the boys to be returned to their parents. The four are already planning another assault on the Summit Street house, to destroy the hideous creature in the basement. But where has the old man of worms got to...
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
KEEPER'S NOTES:
Lots more details taken from the Kingsport (2nd edition) book this week. All addresses mentioned can be found in there. The Strange High House on the Hill may make one more appearance before being destroyed. Israel Soames is the name of the old man made of worms. Where has he gone, and are there others in Kingsport who support him?
Rev. Michael Thomas is back in custody, but will he stay there. Will the investigators warn authorities of his "unusual" powers, and keep an eye on his prison sentence?
The investigators are looking for help in understanding the Mythos. Maybe the Hermetic Order of Silver Twilight, a friendly fraternal society will be able to help them...
-
Barad The Dwarf
Belgium
De Haan
Got some sanity left?
Come over to the RPGG Tavern, I buy you a drink.
-
Great story, love to read more about it. But what happened to the doctor when he was on the lookout at the beginning of the story?
-
Eric Dodd
New Zealand
Martinborough
Wairarapa
-
Barad_the_dwarf wrote: Great story, love to read more about it. But what happened to the doctor when he was on the lookout at the beginning of the story?
Dr McFarlane was waiting on the landward side of the Strange High House when the rest of the party sneaked in through the windows. I think he did come inside and join everyone else once William Bain arrived home. the players really do like to keep their medic and getaway driver safe!
-
Barad The Dwarf
Belgium
De Haan
Got some sanity left?
Come over to the RPGG Tavern, I buy you a drink.
-
Wich is understanding, but not really a good lookout though
-
Eric Dodd
New Zealand
Martinborough
Wairarapa
-
No, more of a hideout than a lookout.
-
|
|
|
