In reply to Jrodimus (msg # 7):

"Huh?" asks the father, absently looking at Mike before his gaze drifts over to Byron. He weakly lifts a hand towards him and points at the stone grasped tightly in his hands. "You... you shouldn't have that... It's dangerous. Jack warned me..." His attention seems to drift away, but with a shake of his head a look of focus returns to his eyes. "That stone is what Jack stole from the Order. Its one of their most holy relics. The Order is nearly timeless and they are everywhere. It is their mission to return the elder gods to this world..." He silently crosses himself. "I have dedicated my life to stopping them from dooming us all..." A slightly dazed look returns to his eyes as he trails off.
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:29, Wed 15 Nov 2017.

In reply to The Keeper of Secrets (msg # 8):

Zoe kept her elbows on Byron's head. "Dangerous? Like a woman's right to vote? Or dangerous as in your skin will boil and crows will eat at your carcass?"

Clarke shot her a look to indicate the second one, and she knew exactly which one it was in the first place. He put the lantern on the ground and held the box up to Byron. "You did good," he gently touched him on the shoulder. "Let's put the stone away now and see where the rest of the night takes us. Maybe a hospital, if the elder gods smile on us."

In reply to trahernwithglasses (msg # 9):

With the adrenaline seeping away, the black burning ember solidified in his gut.

What the hell did we just battle in the cabin?

Mike stalked towards Father Hennessy, something feral behind his eyes. He grabbed the priest just hard enough by the collar to get his attention. "Were you waiting for Jack at the cabin?"

He turned his glare towards his friends, "The cabin might be compromised." He looked back at the Father, "Where can we hide for the night?"

In reply to Jrodimus (msg # 10):

A look of pity fills the father's eyes. "No, my son. Jack gave the stone to me to safeguard and then left to try and mislead the Order. I fear what might have become of him... I know the two of you were close." He gently removes Mike's hands from his collar and absentmindedly smooths it. "But now we have to figure out what our next step is. The Order won't give up, but I doubt we can stay at the cabin more than a few days." He seems to deflate slightly. "But if as you say the cabin is compromised, the only place I can think of is my church, but that's days from here."

In reply to The Keeper of Secrets (msg # 11):

Mike stepped back, regaining his composure at the Priest's gentle tone. Though the anger still burned in his gut.

He looked back at Clarke and Byron. He realized that though Clarke looked fine, albeit his odd ticks had seemed to increase, he appeared relatively uninjured.

Did his eyes always move that way?

Byron looked bloody, and Mike gingerly reached back to touch his own wound on his back.

"What do you say guys, see if we can get the truck out of the ditch then to nearest hospital?" He said to Clarke and Byron. He raised his eyebrows at the Father, "Assuming there is one?"

In reply to Jrodimus (msg # 12):

Clarke heard Mike's question and replied,"I think a hospital will be good for all of us." He kept his eyes on Byron while answering, keeping the box hovering just under his hands.

As Byron hadn't responded in a while, he tried a little more encouragement. "Did you hear that Byron? We're going to the hospital. You can let go of the stone. We're safe now."

To help the group, he tried to remember where a hospital might be in the local area.

(History: roll of 58)


Unfortunately, the stress of the day and lack of familiarity with the area made Clarke come up blank. Zoe stared at him and shrugged. "Not your town, I guess."
This message was last edited by the player at 02:45, Thu 16 Nov 2017.

In reply to Jrodimus (msg # 12):

"There are some supplies in the cabin. I wasn't sure how long I would have to wait for you to arrive," says the father. "There should be some bandages and food. I'm not sure how safe it is at the moment... But I'm not sure what our options are..." The father seems much more clearheaded than before. Straightening up, he adjusts his collar and brushes the leaves from shirt. He gaze returns to Byron, who remains slumped on the ground holding the stone. The little color the remained drains from his face. "My child.... It's ok... Lets just put the stone back in the box and head to the truck...."

In reply to The Keeper of Secrets (msg # 14):

"Come on Byron, let's do as the Priest says," Clarke again nudged his friend.

A worry grew in his mind, he wondered if the stone had infected his old intellectual compatriot. Perhaps the reason why Byron wasn't responding was because it wasn't Byron in there anymore. Rather, some malevolent force that had taken over his physical form.

Zoe patted his friend's head. "Think you been reading a bit too much Clarke."

Nevertheless, he started to lower the box to the ground slowly. Just in case he needed to grab his revolver real quick.

In reply to trahernwithglasses (msg # 15):

Byron could see his companions lips moving as they were talking, but he couldn’t hear them.

His mind was consumed by a chorus of other worldly voices speaking inhuman languages with inhuman tongues.

He understood the stones desires without hearing words, but he gathered its meanings just the same.

The voices stopped with a violent suddenness

Byron say his friends staring at him with looks of concern and apprehension

He realized the stone, a dangerous weapon really, was still in his hand.

He slowly replaced it in the box

“We should check the cabin for supplies and try to move on” he said

In reply to novissimo (msg # 16):

Byron's mind is flooded with images as he starts to place the shard in the box. KILL. MURDER. DESTROY. REND. YOU DARE DEFY A GOD.

(The Keeper of Secrets, on behalf of novissimo, rolled 84 using 1d100.  Sanity. Fail)
(The Keeper of Secrets, on behalf of novissimo, rolled 6 using 1d6.  Sanity Damage)
(The Keeper of Secrets, on behalf of novissimo, 7 using 1d10.  Temporary Insanity for 7 rounds)

"We should check the cabin for supplies and try to move on..." Byron can feel his lips form the words but seemingly of their own volition. He feels his fingers curl around the stone and his vision begins to turn red.... THEY MUST DIE...

Clarke
"Isn't this Byron supposed to be one of those bookish types?" asks Zoe, her hair pulled back into a severe bun and square-framed spectacles perched on her nose. "You would think he'd know better than to play with.."

(The Keeper of Secrets, on behalf of novissimo, rolled 12 using 1d100.  Attack with shard. 4 Damage)

A blinding light fills Clarke's vision and he hears more than he feels the crunch of his nose as Byron strikes him with the shard. As his vision clears, he sees Byron standing over him, chest heaving and bubbles foaming at the corner of his mouth. "DON'T YOU DARE ADDRESS ME IN SUCH A MANNER! I AM A GOD!!!" he roars as he lifts the stone again.
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:18, Sat 18 Nov 2017.

In reply to The Keeper of Secrets (msg # 17):

It was a blur, Clarke had bent down nudge Byron to action. At first Byron seemed alright, albeit a bit disoriented, when suddenly bashed the stone against Clarke's face as he stood violently.

"DON'T YOU DARE ADDRESS ME IN SUCH A MANNER! I AM A GOD!!!" Byron roared down at Clarke, his fists clenched. A darkness in his eyes Mike had never seen before.

Mike charged towards Byron and lunged at him.

21:14, Today: Jrodimus rolled 49 using 1d100.  Brawl roll.

Mike made contact, wrapping his arms around Byron's torso, he kicked his legs out from underneath and landed on top of him. Instinctively, he mounted Byron and grabbed for the stone.

In reply to Jrodimus (msg # 18):

Clarke grabbed his nose. "What the fu...," he mumbled holding it to the stop the blood from spilling out. He saw Mike tackle Byron and land on the ground. They were grappling for control of the stone.

He pulled off a layer of his clothing and wrapped it around his hand to stop contact with the stone. He reached down and tried to hold Byron's hands still so Mike could forcibly remove the evil entity.

(Roll for fighting: 84)

Clarke tried to grab his hands, but failed and ended up tripping and slamming into the dirt - shoulder first. "Well, shit," he said trying to right himself.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:28, Sat 18 Nov 2017.

In reply to Jrodimus (msg # 18):

"You would dare to lay hand upon me!" Byron rages as Mike tackles him to the ground and attempts to wrest control of the stone from him. "I will flay your souls!"

(The Keeper of Secrets, on behalf of novissimo, rolled 53 using 1d100)

However enraged he might be, Mike's weight keeps Byron from breaking free. "I won't go back into the darkness!"
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:00, Sat 18 Nov 2017.

In reply to The Keeper of Secrets (msg # 20):

"Byron, get a hold of yourself!" Mike shouted. He grabbed Byron's wrist and twisted it in an effort to get him to drop the stone while keeping his weight centered on his friend's chest.

11:49, Today: Jrodimus rolled 49 using 1d100 ((49)).

In reply to Jrodimus (msg # 21):

Despite Byron's frantic thrashing, Mike is able to pry his hands from the stone and it falls to the ground with a thud. However, this doesn't seem to loosen its hold on Byron as he begins to thrash even more violently. NOOOOOOO!!!!!! I must be completed! For the moment he is able to keep the crazed academic pinned but Mike is unable to restrain him and grab the stone at the same time.

In reply to The Keeper of Secrets (msg # 22):

Mike gritted his teeth as he kept Byron held down. "Someone get the damn stone out of sight!"

In reply to Jrodimus (msg # 23):

Responding to Mike's call, Clarke struggled up and reached down - picking up the stone with his covered hand. He quickly dropped it into the open box and snapped the lid shut.

"I think that's it," he stated, wondering if there would be any side effects from his action. He wasn't sure if it worked via skin contact, or proximity to holder. He hoped it was the former.

In reply to The Keeper of Secrets (msg # 22):

While Clarke is only in contact with the stone for mere moments and his hand is covered by the torn off sleeve of his shirt, he can feel it probe his mind. He can feel the shard slid across the surface of his thoughts. As he quickly pries open the lid of the box, an alien thrill of success fills his mind. You know says a weak but triumphant voice  as the image of a large wooden sign depicting an eye with a burning pupil enclosed by a star fills Clarke's head. The image abruptly disappears as his connection to the stone is cut off as Clarke drops the shard into the lead lined box and closes the lid.

"I WILL DESTROY ALL THAT YOU LOVE! I WILL FEAST ON YOUR INNARDS! I WILL BATH IN YOUR BLOOD" Byron continues to rage for several moments after the shard is sealed back inside the lead lined box. Eventually his resistance  abates, replaced by a sort of empty and hollow look. Mike and Clarke recognized the look as they had seen it many times on the battlefield. Many referred to it as shell-shocked. While responsive, Byron does little more then react to prodding. Father Henesey gently puts his arm around Byron's shoulders. "It will be ok my child," he says soothingly. "The stone wields powerful psychic energies," the father says to Mike and Clarke. "Jack claimed they can be controlled, but I hate to imagine the cost...." As he looks around the clearing, you notice for the first time how tired the father looks. Deep lines etch his face and his eyes are darkened by heavy bags. "Come, let us return to the cabin and I'll do my best to tend to your wounds."

The walk back to the cabin happens in almost complete silence, broken by the dragging shuffling gait of Byron and the occasional whispered "careful" from the father as he gently guides him through the underbrush. As the party reaches the cabin, they find the thug's car in the drive, silent and still.

The dim light of dawn reveals a long trail of blood leading from the abandoned Studebaker to the front of the cabin where it mingles with the ivory liquid placed across the threshold...
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:23, Mon 20 Nov 2017.

In reply to The Keeper of Secrets (msg # 25):

Seeing the trail of blood and remembering the black toothed one legged man, Mike pulled his revolver out and approached the cabin keeping an eye out for traps or anything amiss.

23:50, Today: Jrodimus rolled 93 using 1d100 ((93)).

In reply to Jrodimus (msg # 26):

Revolver in hand, Mike carefully passes the abandoned car, noticing that the keys are still in the ignition. Approaching the door of the cabin, he finds that there are no new footprints. The inaudible shrieks of the otherworldly shadows are also gone, although the interior of the cabin remain hidden in darkness.

In reply to The Keeper of Secrets (msg # 27):

Out of sight of the cabin's windows, and with a tired voice that is both quiet from intent and exhaustion, Clarke asked the priest, "How much are you in love with this cabin?"

To show his intent, he hefted up the lantern.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:04, Fri 24 Nov 2017.

In reply to trahernwithglasses (msg # 28):

Father Henesey lays a hand on Clarke's shoulder. Looking into the father's eyes, Clarke can see a sort of resolute determination. "Sometimes you have to put your fate in the hands of a higher power." He gently takes the lantern from Clarke's hand and strides towards the cabin. At the door he pauses for a moment, muttering a quiet prayer, before stepping over the threshold and into the cabin. As the light disappears, the tension that has filled the night seems to evaporate.

In reply to The Keeper of Secrets (msg # 29):

Mike heaved a sigh of relief as he followed Hennessy into the cabin. He turned to Clarke, "We can't burn this place down. Too many memories."

"Alright, lets get us fixed up."

In reply to Jrodimus (msg # 30):

With shuffling feet and a hang dog gaze, Byron goes into the cabin as well .

“I’ve seen... things. Things you people wouldn’t believe.” Byron mumbles to no one in particular.

“Yuuzhan Vong soldiers marching into oblivion. Hydralisk spawning pools boiling under a black sun.”

He visibly shudders.

“All these horrors, lost ... in space and time.”

In reply to Jrodimus (msg # 30):

Mike
As Mike enters the cabin he is stopped short by what he sees. The father has placed the lantern on the large wooden table and is rummaging through an armoire on the far side of the room. Seemingly unnoticed by the clergyman, on the opposite side of the room slummed against the wall is the one legged thug the party had previously encountered. His hands still clutch at the gunshot wound in his chest as he lies still and motionless in a darkening pool of his own blood.

Byron
Although strange geometric sigils and glyphs still whirl about in his mind, Byron has begun to regain his mental faculties. The last episode with the shard seems to have been torn from his memory, little more than a hazy blur. Only the image of a large wooden sign depicting an eye with a burning pupil enclosed by a star remains, as if branded there with a hot iron.