Herein are carried over the adventures run previously involving the original group of agents, commonly known as the Raiders.

In reply to The GM (msg # 1):

Post 49:  The Harrowing Pt 2

Washington, DC and the Midwest
-----------------
-----Jack, Irina, Cameron, et alia-------
Jack considered the wand, already very aware that it was dangerous, and that getting rid of it was going to be difficult.  The immense feeling of power that it conferred when a spell was cast felt addictive; he could not help but muse about what to do next, before resolutely dragging his thoughts back to the task at hand.  Irina had climbed into the German's red plane and they had quickly taken off, the plane leaping into the air despite a good payload of chemicals.  It was getting easier to consider Gruber's obsession with the aircraft and his insistence that it was alive.
----------
Jack headed back to the truck, the wand a heavy weight in his jacket, and saw the mists roil a little around the truck.  It was disconcerting to walk into them, but he found the vehicle all right - with an open back gate, Angus sprawled on the floor clutching a bloody nose and swearing, and no sign of Ellison.   The floorboards were drenched with coffee but the steel percolator was not harmed.  "Bastard got the drop on me," Angus said, muffled, handkerchief held to his face.  "Broke my nose. Ranting about monsters."  Apparently Angus had been distracted with making more coffee and Ellison had attacked him - enough for the drunkard to get away to wherever he'd gone.
-------------
--------------
----Spider, Michaela, et alia-------
--------
 "By the way, Leonhard Seppala responded to our request for training dog teams and sled racing," Thorne reported, as Fritz handed off a rifle to Spider.  "He can train us this autumn.   We won't find a better man for the job."  The news had been all about the Diphtheria serum run to Nome, Alaska, in January - and Seppala had taken the medicine across country for more than 260 miles in a raging blizzard. "Fur coats all round !"
"We sight these in before we go find this girl," Fritz told Spider. "A soldier does not battle with an untested weapon."
"Fur coats," Thorne said again, somewhat miffed.
"Yes, yes, more fur coats," sighed Fritz, giving Spider a fistful of rifle rounds. "These are similar to two of the poisoned loads, should be good enough for you to sight the rifle.  We have targets in field, out back by the pines."
"Are you still set on kidnapping this poor girl ?"  Miss Black asked.
"Protective custody,"  Thorne said. "Let the two agents talk her into it while we set up the perimeter.  Easy peasy."


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GM:  I crossposted this to rpol.net, so reply here or there, at your convenience, before Saturday, 11 January, next post is Sunday.

“What?!” Jack sputters in surprise when he sees the state of Angus and the truck. “Are you all right?” He quickly soaks a dishtowel in cold water and makes a compress for Angus, then leaps back out of the truck to look for Ellison.
“Ellison!” Jack yells into the darkness as he looks for signs of the drunk aviator’s passage. “I warned you about keeping it together! Get back here, or so help me you’ll wish you were back in jail! We have lives to save!”

Post 50:  The Harrowing pt 3

DC and the Midwest, March, 1925

--------Jack, Irina, and Cameron----
Jack found a towel for Angus, who waved him off to go chase Ellison.  "Not the first time it's been broken," the older man said, voice muffled by the compress.  "Be wary, he's screwball !"
---------
Jack hurried into the fog, realised his hand was already reaching for the wand, and then forced himself to ignore it.  The fog muffled sounds but he could hear the footsteps of someone else in it, staggering more than walking.    Lurching from the shrouds of fog, a human form can be seen, with no apparent destination.  Something about the way the person was moving made Jack's skin crawl and his hand twitch towards the wand again.
-----------------
------------------
--Spider and Mikaela-------
-------------
Spider checked the rifle that he'd been handed; it was not a standard issue rifle but had been extensively fine tuned, with a German scope on it.  Miss Black took herself off to go enchant some more bullets.  "I can talk to them," Thorne agreed readily.  "So long as you listen to Fritzi's advice on the tactics."
"He is good man in a fight," Fritz spoke up on Spider's behalf.  "We go to sight in rifle; back in one hour, and you will convince young lady."
"We gotta plan," said Thorne.   Spider had sighted the rifle in using the impromptu firing range, and was confident about using it against the creature - though how effective the special ammunition might be was an unknown.  In short order, the agents were headed into DC, Spider following the Auburn in one of the motor pool's Model T's.   The butler allowed Thorne into the parlour first, and deigned to provide coffee while Miss Lockwood prepared to come downstairs.  It took her a while, given her leg brace, but she seemed surprised more than distressed to see the agents.  "Mr. Thorne," she said, "I have heard your name spoken by my Uncle's friends.  I didn't know you worked in the same office as Dr. Weintraub and Mr. Mallory."
"I'm a consultant on important cases such as yours," Thorne said smoothly. "We have a deep and abiding concern that your troubles may not be over yet, and we wish to provide you with every security at our command to ensure your safety.  But, as this is your Uncle's house, we'll have to speak to him as well.  I can't imagine he would deny you anything."  The charming words brought a blush to Miss Lockwood's face.   Fritz had disappeared from the room, presumably getting the lay of the land and building.
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GM:  Please respond with actions, etc, by Saturday, 18 January, next post Sunday, I will carry on with dual posts here and at rpol.net.  I'm not entirely happy about the change either, just not certain anymore about the duration of Yahoogroups.
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Jack forces his hand to stop moving toward the wand. He starts to go for his trusty .45, then changes his mind.
“I knew magic before I ever saw that wand,” he says defiantly to no one in particular, and unleashes a Fist spell at the shambling figure, whether it be Ellison or no. Then he draws his .45, and walks quietly to where he hopes the figure fell, being careful not to get too close.
“Identify yourself, unless you want another taste,” he says in a steady voice.

Irina will try to direct Gruber as best she can - presumably this involves a lot of shouting over the noise of the wind.
While she is airborne, she will try to get some kind of sense of the extent of the contagion and the surrounding area.

OOC: Sorry for dropping out - a combination of work, trying to develop the habit of checking RPOL, and general uselessness.

Post 51: The Harrowing pt 4

Washington, DC and the Midwest, March 1925, evening
---------
Jack unleashed the Fist spell on the staggering form, the magic drain enough to send him to his knees; the person was catapulted into the air and the ground shook from the impact on his return, the mists roiling.  From the corner of his eye Jack caught a movement; an owl silently soaring past him, in the direction of the impact.  It took him a moment to gather his strength to go look at the damage.  Ellison was sprawled across the barren ground, unconscious, with an arm that looked broken and plenty of scrapes and bruises.  Even in the dim light reflected from the fog, the pilot's complexion was ashen grey.  The owl reappeared, landing lightly on the ground in front of Jack, and raised its wings as if to prevent him from approaching Ellison.  It was a large owl, brown with pronounced ear tufts and huge yellow eyes.  "WoooooOOO." it said, blinking.   A voice seemed to drift from the fog, straight into his ear, the voice of a calm woman.  "Go back to the seer, young mage.  I will keep watch over the fallen."
-----------
Irina looked out at the dark landscape, unable to see what Gruber was pointing out to her.  "What ?  Use witch stone to see," was his mysterious advice, miming holding some kind of object to her eye.  With a few moments to think on it, she took the silver pendant and looked through it, as Gruber banked the plane and they dipped lower.  Down below, a million malignantly glowing dots burned, some drifting towards them, others dug into the dirt.
"Pull ! " Gruber yelled, over the noise of the engines, leveling out low over the land.   The chemical rattled out of the hoppers on the fuselage, sending a cloud of grey dust down onto the glowing dots, obscuring them from view.   As soon as he could, he pulled Elise up, the engines roaring in a maneuver that would stall out a lesser plane.  "Looks better.  We go for more chemical, make another pass.  Then I need fuel !"   He seemed rather more cheerful, and the hostile glow seemed diminished already.  Soon they were back on the ground, and hurrying to reload.  Two lumpy grey creatures the size of rats, with large, spidery fingers, actually helped hold the funnel steady as Gruber poured a huge drum of chemical into the hopper, by himself.  "Gremlins," was the only explanation.  "Danke shoen, Kobolde !"   Of course, by the end of the second run they were tired, dirty, and Irina's ears were ringing from the noise of the cockpit.  Elise touched down perfectly and Gruber threw a few more handfuls of the chemical around her in a careful pattern, patting the plane after he was done.  "Good work," he said to the plane.   "Now, food for Elise, food for me, and a good sleep."
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GM: Please respond with actions, etc for the next half hour of gametime, by Saturday 25 January, next post Sunday, I will continue to crosspost by email and here at rpol for the time being.
----------------------------------------------------------------

Jack looks at Ellison’s inert form, his gun pointed at the ground in front of him, shaking his head ruefully at the way things have transpired.
Then he looks curiously at the owl and listens to the voice in his head. He remembers the native shaman they befriended who seemed to communicate through animals and perhaps become one. The owl seems helpful and stereotypically wise, and the creepy feeling he got from seeing Ellison has faded.
“I feel I can trust you,” he says out loud, finally. “He may need more than just watching. I didn’t mean to break his arm, but he didn’t seem himself. Perhaps you can help him, or else we’ll patch him up in the morning.”
Jack hesitates, then asks, “Whom do I have the honor of addressing?”
Whatever answer he gets, he will say “Jack Sterling, at your service,” and go back to the truck to help Angus.

In reply to The GM (msg # 7):

Irina feels slightly better after her and Gruber's work that day, raising only a single eyebrow at the gremlins that are helping him. She will try to assess how much damage they may have done to the entity, and whether more sorties are needed.
SHe will also report back to Washington, if there is a working phone nearby.

Finally she will head back to the other Raiders to see what has been happening and get some sleep herself.

Post 51: The Harrowing Pt 5
--------
The Midwest: Jack, Irina, Cameron
--------------
Jack looks at the grey shape that is Ellison, past the owl, which blinks at him, and speaks to the voice.  " I am called ta theia noousa," the woman's voice said, again so close he could swear she was at his ear.  "We will speak again, mage."  He carefully made his way through the drifts of fog to find the truck again, where Angus was shakily laying out some scruffy, hand-tinted cards on one of the folding tables, his swollen nose padded with some cotton and the dark circles already starting under his eyes, promising stellar black eyes come the morrow.
The Scot laid out another card, shaking his head; it depicted a winged, devilish creatures with two arrows in its hands.   He set the rest of the cards down and looked up at Jack.  "Something bad back home," Angus said dolefully.
----------------------------------------------------------
Hans Gruber quickly led Irina back to the town, striding through the heavy mists as if they were nothing to him.  "You Raiders usually have food," he said, which meant he planned on raiding the cupboards.   The telephone at the municiple office was available, so she was able to get a call routed long-distance to Washington.  Edith answered it.   "I'm so glad you were able to get Mr. Gruber there," she said.  "I had a feeling that other fellow wouldn't amount to much.  There's some kind of creature that might be after a young lady here in DC, and most of the agents are on some kind of watch at her Uncle's house in town.  I'm sure Ben will want you to head home soon."
---------------
As the pair headed towards the mist-camoflaged truck, Gruber paused, waving at Irina to do the same.  "Something there," he said, watching the roiling fog carefully.   He edged around whatever it was but unfailingly led Irina to the truck, where Jack and Angus were looking at some kind of fortune-telling cards; Angus had a swollen nose packed with cotton and a magnificent start of black eyes.    The Scot picks up another card and slaps it down, revealing a dagger dripping blood.

----------
Back in DC; Spider, Mikaela
-----------
Spider and Mikaela were on site at the opulent mansion, noting that the staff was aware of their presence.  The Senator was on a trip to Florida for some reason or other and would not be home, but had at least given his permission to protect his niece.  That left the driver, who was polishing one of the cars, the butler, who was locking up the silver rather pointedly, the two maids, who were more than happy to play gin rummy with Miss Lockwood, and the Cook, who reluctantly turned out a simple dinner for the agents, chicken stew with dumplings.  The gardener had gone to the countryside to visit his family.  Thorne had scouted every room and decided that the room with the best line of sight for combat was the parlour, with a second best being the corridor outside it.  Fritz was stationed in the corridor and had rigged tripwires with bells attached to give warning, throughout the mansion and grounds.  "Look !"  Thorne said, popping open the huge globe on a stand in the parlour to reveal a set of liquor bottles and some glasses.  "Good to know where the supplies are kept."
"My goodness !"  Miss Lockwood said, shocked.
"This must be the safe," Thorne said next, swinging a portrait aside from the wall it was stationed, to reveal a wall safe.  "My goodness indeed, Miss Lockwood; perhaps your uncle could benefit from a consultation on home security."  He pushed the painting back in place and smiled with professional grace.   Then he lost the smile, as a ringing of bells came from the back half of the house, where the kitchen and pantry were - and the corresponding sudden scream of the Cook.
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GM:  Actions, etc, please, by Saturday 1 February, next post Sunday
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In reply to The GM (msg # 10):

Irina felt immediately better hearing Edith's voice, and her news was even more welcome.

"That's good to know, Edith - I feel bad about leaving this place, and these people, but I don't know if there's much more we can do until we have some way of severing this creature's connection to our world. Do you really think we should be getting back?"

She looks warily at the mist as Gruber leads her past it, and tries to stare into it to see what might be there, wondering if the Witch Stone might help.
"What did you see?" she asks him.

Back at base, she repeats Edith's conversation to the others.

"What happened to Angus? Don't tell me - Ellison? Useless swine. Where is he?"

If there is nothing else going on, she is content to turn in for the night.

Jack sits with Angus quietly, but does not interrupt.
“What sort of trouble?” he asks, once the man speaks.
Then he adds, “I saw something shuffling around in the dark in an unnatural way. I thought it might be a walking corpse, so I hit it with a Fist spell. I didn’t use the wand. Anyway, it turned out to be Ellison. The spell knocked him out and broke his arm. Then a big owl flew down out of nowhere and got between us. Very expressive, like a person. And I ... I heard a woman’s voice in my head, kind of reassuring. She said she would watch over him and I should come back inside here. She called me ‘young mage’ and called herself ‘ta theia noousa.’ If my Latin has held up, it means ‘she who knows divine things.’ Someone important. She said we would talk again. I told her we’d patch Ellison up in the morning.”
When Irina and Gruber get back, he will give her a relieved hug and then tell them everything that happened, including what Angus said about Ellison talking about monsters. “Maybe he was under a charm of some kind, and saw us as monsters.”

Post 52:  The Harrowing, pt 5, March, 1925

-----DC-------
Spider went to intercept whatever was causing the trouble, moving into the corridor, his rifle loaded with special bullets.  He saw Fritz in the hallway, gesturing to 'move onward' with a simple hand signal until they were closer to the kitchen; the cook's scream had been abruptly cut off.  A thick whiff of fog drifted from beneath the doorway to the kitchens, and then the door burst open.  Leaping through it was a creature from nightmares - a cadaverous, massive houndlike monster with blue slobber dripping from unnaturally long fangs, a long blue tongue whipping forth from its mouth.  There were no discernable eyes and a suggestion of armour plating, but it moved so swiftly at the two men there was little time to judge it better.   The sight of it was enough to freeze both men in their tracks; Fritz' first bullet missed, he was so shocked, but the second one struck it in the shoulder as Spider aimed at its head.   Spider's shot knocked it back, though the bullet just glanced off its thick hide; Fritz' bullet sunk home and the thing screeched, a howl that rang in their ears.   Then it leapt, bounding towards them with a snakelike undulation, whiplike tail lashing - it was now in range for close combat !
----------
Meanwhile, Thorne and Mikaela stood ready to defend Miss Lockwood and the two maids, who were worried; they'd pulled Miss Lockwood behind the settee and were cowering there while the two agents readied their firearms.
---------------------------------
-------The Midwest-------------------
---Irina-------
Edith paused a moment.  "I'll call Ben to let him know you're all right, and see if he wants you to stay any longer," she said. "A lot of calls have come in the last two days, so we've been busy.   Telephone tomorrow morning and he'll have an answer for you.  And Tom says something big is brewing."
--------------
Irina used the silver pendant, noting the fog had vanished from view; there was a human shape laying on the ground, with an owl solemnly sitting on the ground next to it.  The owl had a brilliant white aura around it and did not seem to mean the human any harm.  And Gruber was ignoring it, though who knew what he could see.   The German was more than happy to go to the Raider's truck; after a brief greeting he immediately went looking in cupboards for food.
------Jack-------
Jack spoke to Angus.  "I dinna ken," the Scot said, obviously concentrating more on the cards than on Jack.  Once Jack spoke about Ellison, though, he got more attention.  "A woman, this one," Angus said, pointing to a card depicting a bouquet of roses, right next to a shield.  "One with power.  Tread carefully."   Then a German they knew barged in and started looting the food cupboard, immediately finding a tin of shortbread.  "Hey !"  Angus protested, but Gruber had the lid off already.  Irina was much nicer to greet.   Cameron was still sleeping peacefully in a fold-down cot, the Djinn curled up on the pillow beside him in his handkerchief.
Gruber sat down in Angus' chair, handing him the empty tin, to the Scot's consternation.  "Got any milk ?"  the German asked.  "It is traditional !"
"For what, great bloody greedy -"  Angus squinted at Gruber as the pilot began riffling through the rest of the fortune-telling deck. "You're a Fae !"
"Yes, and no," said Gruber, looking at the cards with curiousity.  "I work, sometimes, for Raiders.  Always trouble.  But food, and money.  Money is needed in this world."  He handed a stunned Angus the cards, then found a tin of condensed milk and got out his pocketknife to cut it open.
"Elise will need fuel in the morning," Gruber said, having drained the tin. "We go to California soon.  You have all your crop-dusting done ?"
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GM:   Responses, please, by Saturday, 8 February, next post Sunday
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In reply to The GM (msg # 13):

Irina will check out the person lying on the ground, assuming that the owl doesn't try to prevent her. If the owl doesn't stop her, however, she'll examine the person, check they're okay, or whether they're alive.
If they can be helped towards the truck she'll do so, but if they are too much of a deadweight (or the owl intervenes), she will go inside and report on what she has seen, and ask if anyone knows who it is and what is going on.

In answer to Gruber's question as to whether they are done, she'll fill everyone in on the telephone conversation with Edith.
"I'll call again tomorrow and Ben will let us know," she tells Gruber.

Jack tries to play diplomat between Angus and Gruber.
“It’s always like this with Herr Gruber,” he says to Angus. “He’s a valued ally, but he’s not... familiar with every detail of the social niceties. We make allowances,” he finishes with a shrug.
To Gruber, he says, “California?” He will also check with Gruber with one of the maps so he can mark as accurately as possible where the chemicals were dumped.
After everyone exchanges information, and if there are no more interruptions, he is all for some shuteye.

Post 53:  Hounds and Hares pt 1
------------------------
-----The DC team---Spider and Mikaela-------
Spider chambered a fresh round, moving toward the houndlike thing, forcing himself to go closer to it as it surged forward, the tongue extending like a horrible tentacle towards him.  It latched onto his rifle and pulled hard, nearly wrenching it from his grasp, but he was able to reflexively snap the trigger.  The result was equally horrifying, as the hound screeched and knocked him back, sending him crashing into the wood panelling of the corridor.   As he tried to get air back into his lungs he heard three more shots, fired very fast, and then a rattling, wet sound, suddenly cut off.  Drenched in blue slobber, Fritz was sprawled over the body of the creature, holding the grip of one of the deadly knives he carried.  The blade was buried deep in the monster's chest.  "Got it," the German said;  then the body began to smoke, and suddenly diffused into a cloud of oily vapour.   Fritz fell to the ruined carpet, swearing and coughing, covered in blue gore and once again denied a trophy.  Thorne ran into the corridor, the Le Mat ready to fire, and skidded to a stop at the sight.   He stuck out a hand to help Spider to his feet and struggled hard not to laugh at Fritz, who was sullenly dripping goo onto the Turkish carpet.   "His shot," Fritz added, nodding to Spider.  "Third batch; most effective.  The hole it made, I made bigger, but -" he made a disappointed wave at the mess.
"That's not fair," Thorne said, uncocking the Le Mat and stowing it in his shoulder harness.  "I had a place on the wall all picked out for the trophy.  What did it look like ?"
"Big," Fritz said, "Big, with hide like a rhino.  No eyes.  Big blue tongue.  Sharp long teeth."  He looked at the knife blade, which was visibly rusting in front of them.  "I need wash !"
Several dousings with water and soap later, the Raiders were able to figure out what happened.  The monster had manifested in the kitchen; the cook had been killed by those long, sharp teeth.   Miss Lockwood was horrified by the death, but it could have been much worse.   Thorne of course knew a cleanup crew that would work for No Questions Asked Provided the Cash Was There, and soon the Raiders were headed back to the office.   A middle-aged man was puttering around in one of the labs with several boxes of electronic equipment, some of which looked like a movie projector in part.  "Mr. Jenkins has graciously come in to give us a hand with our communication system,"  Edith said.  "He's applying for a patent for his new device, a radiovision machine."
"We got funding for him through a government grant," Ben said.   "If we get this to work right, we could see what is going on miles away."

-----------------------------------------------------------
--The Midwest Team---Jack, Irina and Cameron-----
-------------
Irina went near to the man on the ground, pausing as the owl peered at her with huge yellow eyes and opened up its wings.  The man seemed to be Ellison, and while he didn't look completely healthy, he seemed to be all right to leave alone.  His skin was greyish but he was breathing steadily.  Angus is more than happy to leave the annoying pilot on the ground outside all night, as his nose was broken by selfsame individual and he's holding a grudge.
---------
Jack tried to smooth things over with Angus as Gruber shamelessly raids their cupboards.   "Jah, air show, quick money," the German responded to Jack's query.  He is easily able to show Jack where the chemicals were dispersed on the maps, as he pockets a jar of peanut butter, a tin of beans and some beef jerky.  He also shrugs at Irina's information on whether he can go or not.  "If that is all, then, I will go back to Elise," he said, and sauntered off into the drifting mists.
Angus glared, then relented.  "That one has a story worth waiting to hear," the Scot said.  He shuffled the cards, split the deck and looked at the card revealed; a forest.   "A secret hidden in the forest.  And - our work today -" the next card was the Sun.  "The best of omens.  I may have had my claret tapped today, but I met one of the Fair Folk."
----------
The next morning dawned well enough, with the Raiders breakfasting on oatmeal, one of the few things Gruber hadn't walked off with last night.  Outside, a sick-looking Ellison is sitting up, blinking resentfully at the sunlight; the owl is gone.  Ellison seems almost sorry for once, too; he allows himself to be shuffled off to the medical tent, though his affliction does not seem to be dangerous.   The Raiders ring up Washington DC and get Edith on the line.  "He's just getting coffee....here he is.  Ben, the Midwest team," and they heard Ben's voice.  "We're doing cleanup today in town, and getting some new equipment for field use," he said.  "You'll hear about it when you get back, but everyone's all right.  We need you back here, there's been a rise in the caseload."
-------------
---------------
The return to Washington DC
-----------------
After a few days of driving, the storm-shattered Midwest has been left behind and all the agents are again in DC, in the Grey Building.   Edith hands out folders of new cases.  "We have a report of a howling wolfman in Maryland," she said, "A horned monster in the Shenandoah valley, several reported hauntings in New York, New Jersey, and Rhode Island, a tree monster in Pennsylvania, strange lights in the sky in North Carolina, walking sharks in California.  Everything came in all at once.   There are four people missing and one confirmed dead in California, two dead in Pennsylvania, a child mauled in Maryland by the wolfman.   Any preferences ?"
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GM:  State your preferences and any follow-up actions, please respond by 15 February, Saturday, next post Sunday.  Will continue to cross-post as not everyone is getting on with new site
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OOC: Sorry to disappear. Jumping back in :)

IC:

"Jack," Cameron asks his friend. "Didn't you say Gruber mentioned going out to California? Maybe some of us can hitch a ride out there? Walking sharks," he shuddered at the thought. "Sounds grim, but we might be able to save people if they're 'missing'. I'm up for that, or Pennsylvania." He looked to the djinn for any preference. "That's certainly closer and just as deadly by the sound of it."

“Gruber is most likely already on his way to California, or even done by now,” Jack replies to Cameron.
“A child?” Jack interjects as a Edith is listing the casualties. “I’m from Maryland. I’ll take the werewolf. I’ll need some of Fritz’s special silver bullets.”

Post 54:  Wolves and Sharks pt 1
----------DC-----All----------
Spider and Jack selected the file on the wolfman, noting it was thin.  The newspaper article, clipped from a local weekly paper, tells a story of how Joy and Amanda had been out in Glen Echo Park celebrating their recent spelling bee victories; Joy had won first place and Amanda second.   They had gotten fireworks from Adams' father and were setting them off  towards the Potomac river, the evening being unseasonably warm.  The unfortunate Amanda had been hospitalised for her injuries, which the reporter described as horrifying.   The attack happened 9 January, during a full moon, and a wolfman is the attacker, and still at large as of the article.   The police report details the attack on ten year old Amanda Adams, daughter of the local preacher, savaged by a creature that witness Joy Mitchell described as a wolf man.  The police officer assigned to the case is Clayton Webster; he added a few details to the report of "bite marks, large mouth like a bear or wolf, left leg, torso, arms and face" and "Mitchell minor injuries from climbing tree to escape" and "said attacker howled and ran when she shot off Roman Candle at it".    The addresses of both girls are listed; they are neighbours, two houses apart on Oxford Street in a small village of Glen Echo.  Of interest is that Mr. Mitchell is noted as an employee of  Indian Head's Naval Ordinance Lab - a Department of Defense concern, a military proving ground.   Jack knew pretty quickly that this was what had put the file into the Bureau's caseload.  And Spider knew who to ask about werewolves.

"Silver, yes, have some for 1911 Parabellum, some for rifle," Fritz said.  "Some mixed silver and lead shotgun shells."  He looked keen to be off hunting werewolves again, but Thorne grumbled something about the Opera.


-------------------------------
The Djinn seemed curious about travelling around.  "Pennsylvania's snowy, and cold, so not there," she said.  "Is the other one nicer ?"
"We'll go to the Valley," Thorne offered then, "So long as you can wait til Thursday.  Or to North Carolina.  I have some cousins there."
"Walking sharks ?"  Fritz said, reaching for the file despite Thorne's glare.
"California ?"  Angus said, looking over his shoulder.  "It's near San Diego.  Is that a big city ?"
"We need more agents," Edith said in a low tone to Ben.
"How do we travel to California ?"  Fritz asked, handing Angus the file.
"Driving, take a few days, at least," Angus said. "It's more than two thousand miles away."
"The California case is the most serious; I want at least four of you in the group," Ben said.  "And I want you well-equipped for combat.  Fritz, even if you have to wait until Thursday, can you get the weapons we might need ?"
"For walking sharks ?  You bet, boss," Fritz said, with an evil grin.
"I'll take the truck in for service," Edith said, "And I'll restock it with food and essentials."
"Then it's settled; Spider and Jack are taking the Wolfman case; and at least four agents have to go to California.  Cameron, Angus, Fritz, Thomas - Miss Black ?"
"I can't drive the truck," she said, looking embarrassed.  "I don't know how."
"Plenty of time to learn, two thousand miles, schatzi," said Fritz.  "It is useful skill." He strode off to fetch the silver ammunition for Jack and Spider, returning with a crate full of carefully labelled bullets and shotgun shells.
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GM: Actions, etc, any preparations for your chosen case, for the next few hours of game time, please respond by 22 February, Saturday, next post Sunday; still cross posting to yahoo and here
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This message was last edited by the GM at 23:09, Sun 15 Mar 2020.

Cameron grinned at the djinn's question. "Well, it's definitely warmer," he answered her. "Nicer is relative, given the case. San Diego's a port city, lot of Naval bases." He looked mildly perturbed at the thought of being close to the ocean, but pushed that concern down. Walking sharks implied they were on solid ground, right?

"No way we can cheat and get there any faster?" Cameron threw the question out there. If Gruber's current location was in doubt, he'd attempt a contact, but Cam wasn't averse to another road trip in good company. "But yeah, we're... I'm in." He looked to the djinn for her own confirmation.

Cameron will research everything they have on the California case, help Edith gather the supplies and is more than happy to help her learn to drive the truck, if she's willing.

In reply to The GM (msg # 19):

As tempted as she is by werewolves, especially given the recent mission to Ohio, and the prospect getting to go along with Jack, Irina is concerned that the Bureau is spread pretty thinly. Two dead people indicates that *something* is happening in Pennsylvania, whatever it may be.

"If there's no-one else to go, I'll investigate the tree monster in Pennsylvania," she tells Edith. "If it looks dangerous I'll call for backup."

[OOC if you'd prefer not to split the party that much, I'm equally happy to take the werewolf case.]

Besides silver bullets for his .45 and silver shotgun shells, Jack will try to procure a silvered dagger of some kind, a couple of pounds of dried wolfsbane, and 3 or 4 flare pistols with a case of flares (since the monster ran from fireworks). He will read up on lycanthropy, and will try to gather background info: if the girls’ families moved recently or always lived there, where else their fathers worked previously, how the mothers and any siblings spend their time, any old monster stories or sightings in that area in the past decades, any big changes in town lately, etc. Also, the evidence indicates that the two girls are unusually bright. He’ll check with their teachers and the town library to see if they’ve been reading any unusual books, etc. (Jack will do as much of this as he can by phone, and what he can’t do long distance will have to wait until he and Spider get to town.)

March 31st, 1925 (post 55: And they scattered like squirrels in a pine forest)
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The Wolfman of Maryland
Spider and Jack
----------------
Spider decided to check in with Cressida, using the telephone.  To his surprise, the volatile heiress sounded calm and serene.  "They changed back," she said.  "They didn't even argue about clothes.  They're playing with some toys."  After he got her attention, she considered what information the file had.  "It could certainly be a werewolf," she said.  "One that has poor impulse control.  I think we can travel safely enough."  She will wait for Spider and Cameron to come round, and pack up essentials for a day trip.
Jack meanwhile stocks up on wolfsbane and gets one of the silvered knives from the armoury.  He also telephones the police station to find out more.  The officer he speaks to was the same one that made the report.  The background on the two families shows both have lived in the area for some time; the Mitchell family for three generations, the Adams moved to the area about twelve years ago.   Amanda Adams is home from hospital but does not leave the house, though Joy Mitchell visits her daily, usually with books and schoolwork to do.   The area is small, a very tight knit village where everyone knows everyone.   "We'd be very grateful if you can help us," the officer said.  "No one has seen anything like it since, but everyone is careful to stay out of the park at night."
----------
It is an easy drive to Maryland from DC; shockingly, Spider's errant offspring are looking human and decently attired, though both stare around with a predator's attention to detail, and they don't speak.  Cressida is sensibly attired in trim jodphurs, tall boots and a shining white silk blouse.   Curtains twitch at the windows as they drive slowly into the village of Echo Park, and find Oxford Street, stopping near the Adams and Mitchell homes.  Cressida inhales deeply, as do the twins.  "Humans, dogs, cats, birds, nothing unusual around here," she said.  "A rabbit in the bushes there.  Some squirrels - no, back in the car !"  The two terrors have bolted and are scrambling after a bounding squirrel, chasing it up into an oak tree.   Cressida strode after them and scruffed them both by the neck, effortlessly carrying two squirming toddlers back to the car.
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Irina in the Forest
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"We will be delighted to accompany Irina on her case," Mills the Mouse said, sitting up on the table and waving a paw.  Two more mice also sat up to volunteer.  It wasn't much of a force - but at least it was something.   Edith bit her lip, looking at Ben.  "You'll have to answer the phones," she told the Boss. "I'll be going with Miss Pallenberg."   Now that Edith was going along, Irina was a bit less worried.   Ben, however, turned pale at the thought.
---------------
The case was as follows;  Pennsylvania, Hillsgrove, Sullivan County; the report is from a school of forestry administrator, Johnathan Stuart.  He reports that two hunters were found dead in a part of the deep forest, under suspicious circumstances, the bodies having been smashed by what seems to be large hooves, more than a foot across, and one had a leg bitten off by 'something larger than a bear'.   The hunters were found last month, February 23rd, the bodies were no more than a day old, by a group of student foresters out on a survey of the area.  The file has been forwarded by the PA governor's office, with a terse note from Gifford Pinchot himself - 'find it !'  Thus far no one has claimed the bodies, which were probably buried in a Potter's Field by now.  A coroner had signed off on cause of death as "Trampled" for the fifty-ish man, and "Blood loss and trampled" for the thirty-ish man.   The missing leg was not found.  The area is uninhabited, heavily wooded, hills and valleys.  There is a hand-drawn map of the area showing the trails, the waterways, the forestry station, and the site of the deaths; it is finely detailed.  At the time, about a foot of fresh snow was on the ground, and one clear hoofprint was measured at 10 inches across, a cloven hoof like a goat.
-----------------------------------
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California, or Bust
Cameron, Angus, Thorne, Fritz, Miss Black, the Djinn
--------------------------------------------
"Our budget does not stretch that far," Ben said, when Cameron wanted a faster way to get to California.  "We're already in the red for hiring Ellison and Gruber, though we may be able to get some money back from Ellison's agent."
"Spear gun," Fritz said, and ran away, either to make one or fetch one.
----------------------
The file has a coast guard report on a damaged fishing boat found adrift near some shoals, with one body on board, clawed to shreds; Lonnie Kettleridge, 46 year old local charter captain of the Elsie Lee, a sport fishing boat registered to port in San Diego.  His crew manifest was Lou Hong, 38, first mate, and there were three people on the boat fishing; Marilyn Reed, 27, her husband Joe Reed, 29, and their friend Jane Weisman, 26, all of whom are missing. The boat was reported as missing on March 2nd by Jane's husband Nathan Weisman, 33, who did not go with the party as he had a business meeting that kept him from attending.  Nathan Weisman contacted the police when the boat failed to return to dock at its appointed time but the boat was not found until the following morning.   The weather had been fair, with some fog - nothing a skilled captain could not handle.  Damage on the boat was from scrapes and digs, on the port side.  There are three accounts from witnesses on the shore for that week, all reports of  'walking sharks with glowing eyes' prowling the sands.   Andy Jarvis, another fisherman, provided the most detailed description; "Three froglike men, about six feet tall, coming out of the water fast, and ran back in just as fast, at tide change near midnight, one was carrying a spear or stick.  Their eyes shone yellow like cat's eyes."
The California-bound group has time to do some research or practice some skills that might be needed near or in water prior to their journey.
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GM: Actions, etc, for the next interval of time: any preparations or queries before the next scene, please respond by Saturday 29 February, next post Sunday
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This message was last edited by the GM at 01:53, Mon 24 Feb 2020.

"Understood boss," Cameron returned amicably enough. "Get two!" He called after Fritz.

---

Cameron read the report through a few times, and checked into any family connections the deceased and missing might have. He pencilled in his notes a need to talk to both Mr Weisman and Mr Jarvis, and he made a call to the local PD to check their report as well as inform them that the BPRD was on the case too now. Here to help. Where had this fishing boat been, anything special about it or its route?

He couldn't help remember a certain mermaid encounter a while back now, which dredged up mixed emotions and a few thousand yard stare moments. Ocean. Frogmen with spears and cats' eyes. If it hadn't been for the whole 'clawed to shreds' part of this Cameron might have thought humans were involved. It didn't of course really exclude them yet either.

He'll look into any spells that can help with breathing under water, as well as binding or attacking waterbound foes. Once Cameron had spoken to the djinn, and the others about any personal experience in this realm of trouble, he'd hit the books for any references of walking shark types, claw attacks and fog.

OOC: In the initial file we were given, Mr. Adams is listed as both a naval employee and the local preacher. And also the supplier of the fireworks. I think at least one of those must apply to Mr. Mitchell instead.
IC: Jack greets Cressida politely when they meet, and says hello to the children. He is fascinated by her keen senses but tries not to stare. He doesn’t know much about children, but tries to buy his way into their good graces with some Turkish taffy, if their mother allows it.
“Let’s go by the park where the attack occurred, and see if we can detect anything there,” he says. “After that, I suppose we should talk to the Mitchell girl – the one who escaped – and her parents.”

In reply to The GM (msg # 23):

Irina's eyebrows rose as she read the file. Something with 10" hooves that eats people and drains blood sounds pretty unpleasant.
"Do you have any ideas what this might be, Ben?" she asks.

[OOC: I suspect a Dark Young of Shub-Niggurath, but I'm not sure if Irina's Cthulhu Mythos is up to deducing that on her own. But, searching the archive, I see the Group has encountered one - Jan-March 2014 - so I'm going to assume they can pass on that information].

Irina looks at the mice and Edith, and smiles and thanks them for volunteering. But as reassured as she is of their presence, tackling something on that scale in a physical manner might be beyond them.

"And is there a ritual to dismiss or control it?" she asks.

She will review any information that there is on such a creature, including, if necessary, in the Necronomicon.

The most pressing question is - do these things just wander about the earth on their own, or do they only appear in response to a summons? If the latter, then the question is who summoned it.
It's odd that no-one has reported the hunters missing - are there no missing persons reports that match their descriptions?
She'll get the best map of the wider area that they can and find settlements near the site [Hillsgrove, I'm assuming - wow, that looks fairly remote even today], and start stocking up on camping gear, warm clothing and guns.

Post 56: Onward

The Californian Walking Sharks
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Cameron does the background research on the Weismans, the Reeds, Kettleridge and Hong.  Kettleridge has been running charter boats out of the San Diego area for many years, and has a houseboat moored at Imperial Beach.  He has one son, Daniel Kettleridge, a local chef, who claimed his body.  Hong leaves behind a sister, Mei, and two nephews in the same area.  The Weismans are from Idaho, as are the Reeds. Marilyn and Jane attended the same university, Bryn Mawr, in Pennsylvania; Nathan Weisman and Joe Reed attended university at Penn State.  Nathan Weisman is by trade a corporate attorney and Joe Reed a corporate accountant at a banking firm in Idaho, both enjoy golfing and Reed is noted to be a sport fisherman.   The Coast Guard admits that attack was very unusual, and that Kettleridge had a good success rate with his charter and never revealed where his best fishing spots were located - so it would be very hard to guess where the boat was when the attack occurred.   The Elsie Lee is at the Coast Guard yard, since it is considered an active crime scene.  Nathan Weisman is still in the San Diego area.
-------------------
Cameron asks the Djinn about water monsters.  As far as he can remember, he's never seen her try to do more than taste any liquids, though she does practically inhale the Dragon's Blood potion whenever she gets the chance.  "Not much for getting wet," she said, thoughtfully pacing along a desk and leaning on a pencil box.  "What IS a shark, anyway ?"  After a description, she considers.  "No, I don't know anything about them," is the response.  "I'd fly above the water if I had to."
As far as other research goes, he is able to find the creatures of Father Dagon and Mother Hydra, the Deep Ones - which the Raiders have dealt with before - though these had more of a froglike than sharklike appearance.   Deep Ones are known to try to create hybrids with humans, though research indicates that the hybrids often revert to Deep Ones over time.  Innsmouth, Massachusetts had been a site where the Deep Ones frequented.  "You know," Ben said, after the information was run past him, "I think we ought to drop a lot of explosives into that immediate area.  Maybe I can get approval for it, for, I don't know, widening the channel to improve boat traffic.   As far as I can recall, enough damage will kill a Deep One, so take all the weapons you can."
"Yes, Boss !" came the joyful yell from Fritz.
As far as spells to breathe underwater, there are none that look reliable enough to try, but Edith knows that some experiments are being done with the US Navy; there is supposed to be some kind of experimental underwater breathing apparatus.  Official paperwork needs to be filed, though, as the BPRD is still very much a new organisation and Edith's contacts at the Navy are not as tight.
The California team prepares for their journey, as Fritz modifies shotguns to be a harpoon guns, and finds a harpoon cannon that can be mounted on a boat deck.   The large truck is loaded to the rafters with supplies and weapons, and the group assembled to travel West to California.
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The Dark Young in Pennsylvania
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Irina recalls the Dark Young attack.  The monster had been huge, fierce and resistant to damage; whipping tentacles, a huge mouth and stomping hooves.  "Yes, it sounds like Dark Young." Ben agreed.  "Someone must have summoned it.  There is an unsummoning spell, but it requires proximity and the Dark Young has to be in the pentacle to be dismissed.  And the larger the pentacle, the less powerful it is.  You may be dealing with an active cult, and they may be able to summon more of them; so go look, and report back with your findings - do not engage in combat."  She is able to research the dismissal spell, and can memorise the shape of the pentacle, which can be made in sand and salt on broken ground and is a variant of the Elder Sign spell, from the book Unaussprechlichen Kulten, which is on Trevor's desk.  As far as is known, no one has reported the two hunters missing, and no one claimed the bodies.  The area is remote, hilly, with water features and a lot of trees, with almost no one living up there.   The only local industry seems to be logging.   The forestry school agrees to reserve a room for housing Irina, Edith and the three mice, as the weather in that area is still too cold for outdoor camping; she can still load the Model T with camping gear and other essentials, in case they have to go out into the forest for any length of time.  Edith plans on wearing canvas trousers, hiking boots and a flannel shirt that belonged to her husband; the mice plan on taking shelter in her handbag.   It will be a long drive and they will need to stop for the night; some roads may not be entirely passable by the Model T, especially at night.  The map the forestry service sent is quite detailed, so the site should not be difficult to find, though they will have to survey it on foot, or by horseback.  The school keeps a stable of five horses.
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The Werewolf in Maryland
---------------------------------
Cressida gives Spider a quick smile as she offloads the offspring into the car again.  "Maybe," she said.
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Jack's offer of sugar is sniffed at by the children and immediately accepted; then they seem to look at each other, as if some unspoken communication is happening, then at their mother.  When she nods, they bite into the offering and both find it pleasant; soon Jack has a pair of toddlers gently clinging to his knees, leaning their cheeks against his legs.  Just as quickly they let him go and hurry off, to watch some squirrels bounding around in the treetops.  "That's as much a thank you as they will give, but thank you," said Cressida.  "It's not easy to be a young werewolf."
-------------
At Jack and Spider's suggestion, they move on to the Park, where a pine-needle laden path leads to a canal.  "Racoons," Cressida says, "Humans, dogs, birds, squirrels, deer, rabbits.....and something odd.  Chemical.  Harsh.  Sort of like gunpowder."   The site of the attack has been rained on, snowed on, and trampled for weeks; some marks on one maple tree might be clawmarks, or might not, about five feet up the trunk.  There is a faint North breeze; all of the werewolves sniff the air intently.  A careful search turns up some shreds of expended fireworks, which from their condition, might be the ones Joy Mitchell and Amanda Adams were setting off that fateful night.  These also get an intense sniff test.  "Not the same," Cressida said.  "The chemical smell is coming in on the breeze."  It was coming, Jack knew, from the direction of the Indian Head's Naval Ordinance Lab.
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GM:  Actions, etc, for your investigations, including any other preparations and research, please respond by Saturday, 7 March, next post Sunday
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OOC: Awesome, thanks for all the info :) Understood re breathing underwater - was there time to find any attack/defence spells for using specifically around the ocean? Thanks! V.

IC:

"I'd fly over the water too, if I could." Is Cameron's response to the djinn's answer to the sharks. He makes plenty of notes on everything they've read up on and discovered, keeps up his caffeine intake and widens his eyes as Ben gives them the advice that a bombing run would be beneficial.

"Sounds like we need to speak to the Navy then," he says. He'll definitely file paperwork for any access to field testing the underwater breathing gear - presumably with Naval personnel about as well - and will make contact with any relevant and useful people once they get to San Diego.

Cameron will look over their new harpoons with curious interest. He'll also ensure that he has a supply of the djinn's dragon blood food to take along with.

Irina nods at Ben's advice. A cult sounds like a lot to deal with! She will stock up on a few bags of salt and sand, just to be on the safe side, and give one to Edith.
She'll also pack her fur coat and some warm, practical clothes; layers are probably the thing, and some good boots. Irina can ride, so I'm guessing she has some jodhpurs and riding boots she can take along.
They'll drive up to Hillsgrove, breaking the journey at... [looks at map]... Harrisburg, PA?, and then see what there is to see - who remembers the hunters, who found them etc.

Jack thanks Cressida for her olfactory expertise, and agrees with Spider that a trip to the Indian Head Naval Ordnance Station is in order.
"Maybe if we just pull up to the gate, show our government badges, and turn on a little Eastern Shore sociability, we can get inside and look around a bit before someone kicks us out. And keep sniffing on the way -- we may find what we're looking for before we even get inside."

Post 57: Onward pt 2
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----------California Walking Sharks------Cameron, etc-----
Cameron looks over the harpoon guns that Fritz is producing, noting the barbed arrows they are loaded with look quite lethal.  The harpoon gun was apparently taken right off a whaling boat, though how legal it was remains an unanswered question.  "Slow to reload," the German says, grimacing as he studies a blackboard on which is a lot of undecipherable math apparently related to the harpoon alterations, the density of water and the ability to hunt underwater.  "I want faster.  Faster - but maybe not possible.  Must then be closer.  And waterproof.  Wax.  Zahnschmelz."  He is reluctantly dragged from his work by Thorne, arguing about an Opera, and the rest of the agents are stuck packing the truck for travelling.   Cameron tries through official channels to get access to the Navy's experimental underwater gear, filling out a great deal of paperwork then making a special trip to the offices of the Navy to deliver it.  His badge receives some curious looks; apparently word is getting around about the new Bureau within the Department of Defence.  The paperwork is taken away and he is told it is being processed, which 'takes as long as it takes'.  Nothing is forthcoming from the Navy before the Raiders board the truck and set off for the long journey to California; it will take about five days driving to get there.
------------------------------------
--------Pennsylvania Dark Young------Irina-------
Irina packs sensibly and the two women agree to share driving duties to get to Pennsylvania.  The weather being still chill, there is snow and ice as they get into the Pennsylvania hills, but they are able to reach the Forestry School with little difficulty.  It is a plain structure, little more than an oversized log cabin, with an outbuilding that has fencing, no doubt the stables.  An old truck is parked by the front porch, and a modest, hand-lettered sign denotes the building as the Western PA School of Forestry, Instructor J. Stuart.  Knocking on the door presents no one; as Edith cautiously opens the unlocked door, to call "Hello ?" the mice race inside the foyer.   No one seems to be in the building.  Tacked to the wall by the door are a number of dried leaves and twigs, with labels denoting their species and relevant information; a bench against the wall has a coil of old rope and a pair of old, muddy boots next to it.  A telephone begins to ring in a room down a short corridor, unanswered.  The first room they look in is a classroom, to judge from the old tables, chairs, and a slateboard with the agenda scrawled on it: Check perimeter, check for tracks, check river, muck out stables, chop wood, study for fire exam, laundry.   The room with the now-silent telephone is an office, with an old bookshelf stuffed full of books, a couple of filing cabinets, and a desk that has seen better days with a chair that looks worse.  On the desk is a notepad with the notations 'DC, Pallenberg, room 2', and a completely unrelated note of 'fix belt in truck'.  A framed diploma from the University of Pennsylvania, noting Johnathan P. Stuart had successfully completed a Bachelor's degree in Science twelve years ago. Some file folders are scattered across the desk, mostly relating to business receipts for coal, fodder, and upkeep; another holds some hand-drawn maps with the same fine detail as Irina had on her map.  "There's a barracks room down the corridor," Professor Mills reports, "Along with a room that seems to be the canteen.  And no horses in the stable, but five stalls.  And a cat, which has been warned."
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-------Maryland Werewolf Attack--Spider and Jack-----
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Spider checks with Jack about talking to the Ordinance Lab people, and also mentions tracking downwind.  There is not much downwind besides the river, and the marshy ground too wet to move around.  The agents have not yet decided to check in with the local police in person nor talk to the two girls and their families.  Cressida hurries after the two kids and grabs them for transport, in time for the one police cruiser the town has pulls to a stop near the park.  It's no surprise that the local law has noticed their presence in a village of this size.  "You folks lost ?"  the policeman asks, sounding like the one on the telephone when the agents had called earlier.
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GM:  Actions, etc, for the next session, please respond by 14 March, Saturday, next post Sunday
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“Officer Webster, I presume,” Jack says with a smile after Spider greets the man. “Jack Sterling, we spoke on the phone. As I said before, my family goes back a way over on the Eastern Shore. Tobacco, mostly. So this hits quite close to home for me. Any change in Miss Adams’ condition since we spoke?”
He will let Webster answer and then continue the conversation at an easy pace. Other questions he will ask:
What makes Miss Mitchell think it was a wolfman? Where has she even heard of such things? These girls are obviously bright, since they cane in first and second in the spelling bee. Have they been reading any unusual books at school or at the library lately?
What does Mr. Adams, the preacher, think about the possibility of a werewolf? What type of sermons does he preach in general – anything about demons from hell or such?
What does Mr. Mitchell do at the navy testing facility – is he a scientist or engineer, or a naval officer? Have the police received any unusual calls about the facility?
Any werewolf sightings or other strange activity during the full moons on February 8th or March 10th? Did anyone stake out the park?
Are there any legends or old stories around town about monsters or other strange goings-on?
Anything we should know about the other members of the girls’ families? Any newcomers to town, or odd oldtimers?
That should do it for now. :-)

Irina is a little perturbed that no-one seems to be home, though the fact that the horses are missing leads her to at least hope that they might be out 'checking the perimeter' or the river.

On the off-chance that the snow has preserved some tracks, she will take a look around the outside of the buildings. She is also unable to resist the lure of a bookshelf and will see what kind of reading material Johnathan Stuart favours. If the phone rings again, she will answer it.

If there is a cult in the vicinity, the foresters are all potential suspects (Shub Niggurath is almost a twisted nature deity after all), so she will suggest a check of the bunkhouse - how many people seem to be living there? Are there any strange belongings?

I'm assuming it's probably late afternoon if they've been travelling all day, and so there may not be much daylight left, so it's probably not a good idea to go wandering too far, especially with no horses, so she will suggest she and Edith sort themselves out and find 'Room 2', make some supper and see if anyone returns.

Are there any firearms or other weapons around? Axes, presumably?

Post 58: Onward pt 3
March, 1925
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---Jack and Spider---Maryland----
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Jack greets the Officer pleasantly, seeing that the man relaxes slightly.  "Yes, I was called over by Ira Jenkins, the retired Army Major who lives just there," Webster points to the last house on Oxford Street, a modest white-painted cottage with a decent garden of roses.  As for Spider's promise that Cressida knew about wolves in particular got a raised eyebrow.  "This is something else for us," Webster admits, settling in for a long chat.  "My brother Harold is godfather to Joy Mitchell.  She's not known for being fanciful in any way - smart and cool in a crisis.  Plans on being a chemist.  Amanda Adams is her best friend - also a smart girl.  As far as I know, they read a lot of books about science.  Joy said it was a wolfman, a man with a wolf's head and paws, not walking upright, more of bent over.  He went after Amanda when she was standing on the path while Joy was setting a fuse.   Joy said she lit up a Roman Candle just as he knocked Amanda over and went for her; she went up a tree and aimed it at him, and he ran.  Preacher Adams was the one who provided the fireworks to the girls as a reward for their schoolwork.  John Mitchell, that's Joy's father, was going to take them out to the city for a film the next weekend; John Mitchell never says exactly what he does at Indian Head, but he did serve in the Great War.  The Ordinance place does tests on this and that, at whatever time it pleases them, more than once the local residents have been awakened in the middle of the night by weapons testing.   Never heard of any other strange things around here - but I had a cousin near Carroll County tell me about a snallygaster monster, some kind of lizard and bird creature."  His description of the snallygaster sounds very much like the Jersey Devil, but the account dates back to 1909.  "There are no newcomers to town unless you count the Sanderly brothers, two retired bakers from Boston, who arrived five years ago and routinely win the town bake-off contests; both are in their mid seventies, and one needs a cane to walk; they live off of Barr Road.  Amanda isn't too happy to have anyone look at her scars, but Joy says they aren't so bad.  Joy's doing whatever she can to keep the girl's spirits up."
Webster goes on to tell them that the Naval Base closes up tight at five o'clock, which is coming up quickly.  "Most of the folks as work there, they come home then, though there's always someone at the base."  Clayton Webster knows everyone in town, including their hobbies, what time they go to, or get back from work, and can easily direct the Raiders wherever they want to go.

---------Irina, Edith and mice-----
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Irina takes a look in the muddy, snow-slush tracks; there are plenty of hoofprints, though only one stands out, the hooves being large enough for a plowhorse.  All of the horses are shod.  There are boot prints of several sizes in the slush as well, and she finds a lost leather glove.  It is late in the afternoon as she peruses the office and observes a bookshelf full of earth science and ecology texts, along with a volume of Keats that looks like it has never been opened.  The School Book of Forestry, by Charles Lathrop Pack, seems to be the school's main text; it is full of bookmarks, underlining, and notes jammed here and there.  There is a small volume on medicinal plants, well-worn, that also has some bookmarks, and a partial set of encyclopaedia, a dictionary, and some notebooks, also written in the same fine hand that her map shows.  The notebooks seem to be for college-level classes on ecology, biology, and earth sciences.   There are also books of leaves and twigs, mounted like a scrapbook, with information about each tree, bush or weed depicted, and another detailing animal footprints and scat, fortunately drawn in ink.    A closet holds a good amount of axes, picks, rope, climbing gear and there are a few empty hooks that doubtless held hatchets.  There are no strange belongings besides a small tin dish holding a triplet acorn, three nuts on one twig, in a drawer of the desk.  As far as she can tell, there isn't a room 2 anywhere, just the office, a short corridor, the canteen and the barracks - even the WC is an outdoor building, a tiny privy near the barn.
------------
The canteen is fairly plain, with a small range for cooking; some salted beef is soaking in a large pot, possibly meant for the evening's dinner.  Cans of beans, a sack of dried peas and some wrinkled potatoes suggest that dinner will not be memorable.  A coffee pot is set aside, the remains of the morning brew cold and thick as tar in the bottom.  The barracks is a fairly sloppy mess of six bunks, one set off in an alcove with a curtain, the rest crammed together.  There are plenty of woolen blankets.   Personal effects are stored in wooden boxes or canvas sacks, and there is a string holding some still-damp woolen socks.  There is nothing odd, unless you count the terrible drivel contained in the tatty pulp paperbacks she finds hidden here and there.  One student has a picture of Lillian Gish hidden in his Bible. Heat is supplied by a wood-burning stove in the middle of the room, and it is still warm even though the wood is down to embers now.   As she looks around, she hears the whinny of a horse, then the sounds of hoofbeats.  A look out the door shows five horses, the lead horse a massive black and white mare that looks familiar to Irina as a Gypsy's vanner.  Riding it is a middle-aged man with an eyepatch, sitting tall in the saddle, wearing a plain brown uniform; brimmed hat, jacket and trousers, with tall, muddy leather boots.  Behind him are four more horses, two bay, one grey and one dun, all saddle horses of middle quality and ridden by young men in similar uniforms, though they wore caps instead of a brimmed hat.  All of them have a hatchet strapped to their belt and a knife, and there are rifles on their saddles.  "A lady !" said one of the young men, though Irina had noticed at least three of them looking at her curiously.  "Miss Pallenberg, I presume ?"  the older man asked, reining in the big horse.  "John Stuart, at your service.  This is the School of Forestry.  How may we assist you ?" He swung down off the big horse effortlessly and then struggled to decide whether to bow, or to offer his hand for her to shake.  He finally opts for both, bowing over her offered hand, and gives an evil glare to the snickering youths.  They go silent and he introduces them in turn.  "My students; Curtis Lester (the blonde one who shyly looks at the ground); Martin Blaine (the one who said "a lady !"); Frank Donnegal (missing one glove); Henry Whitely (who fell off his horse rather than dismounted).  All of them are in their early twenties and greet Irina, and then Edith, politely, then take the horses off to the stables to be groomed and put up for the night.  Martin Blaine also leads the massive Gypsy horse into the stable, with notable caution.  "Vadoma likes to bite," Stuart muttered.
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---Cameron, et alia-------
The truck trundles westwards, with minimal delays.
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GM: Actions, etc, for the next few hours of gametime; it is getting onto evening for everyone.  Please respond by Saturday 21 March, next post Sunday.  Still cross-posting.
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Irina realises her mistake on examining the bunkhouse. The 'room 2' must have referred to the number of guests expected, and the curtained off area is presumably for herself and Edith. Ah well - she has roughed it on her father's archaeological digs before.

She will accept Mr Stuart's proferred hand, and nod with a slight smile at the others.

"Good afternoon, Mr Stuart, I am indeed Irina Pallenberg, and this is my colleague, Edith Wilkins. I'm sorry to turn up and disrupt your routine; we're just following up on a report about two bodies being found, out in the woods. Hunters, I'm led to believe, but... I understand that the remains were... in a bad way. Did you and your men find them?"

She'll ask about the site, and the condition of the bodies - anything unusual about the location, tracks thereabouts etc. Have there been any other unusual occurrences in the area of late? And of course, whether they could lead her and Edith up there the next day. Also - what happened to the bodies (or what was left of them)?

At some point she will remark on the horse he has been riding.
"That's quite an animal you have - where did you get her?"

Jack suggests they make a quick excursion to the naval testing range before it closes, just to get a look (and a sniff), and maybe introduce themselves to whomever’s in charge. Then perhaps they can drop in on the Mitchells for a talk, and then on to the Adamses (possibly with the Mitchell girl along, so her friend will feel more at ease revisiting her attack with a group of strangers).

Onward, pt 4 Post 59
----Irina, PA----------
Irina greets Stuart and gets straight to business.   Stuart is definitely old-school when it comes to women and is very polite.  "I was telephoned to expect two agents, but I must confess I was surprised to learn there are...lady agents.  I'll have my students clear out my office to give you acceptable sleeping quarters.   As for the bodies, we were doing a routine ride along the streams, after a snowfall, to teach the students tracking.  The bodies - had been savaged by something I can't identify.  I have made some sketches."  He goes to the office, and pulls a file from a desk drawer, then issues orders to the young men who file into the building.  "Pack up my desk and put it in the corridor, unfold two cots from storage for the ladies and get dinner started."
"Yes, sir," said Blaine, trying to hide a weary look.  Stuart waits until he is out of earshot to continue.  "The bite marks were also at an unusual angle.  As if the mouth was vertical, not horizontal.  And the hoof prints - I know of no ungulate predator.  We have a very sparsely populated area, though I know of some places that have vagrants and squatters outside the park.  This is government land and no residency is legally permitted, though we tolerate logging camps and other necessary use, and some of the residents have been here since before the park was made.  There is some kind of settlement in the northwest side of the forest, in some caverns, but that's fairly far away.  I've been systematically searching each quadrant of the map looking for more signs of this creature." He  is able to unfold a pieced-together map of sketchbook pages, detailing the lower south and east quadrants of the forest, which also marks were the bodies were found, not too far from a stream.  "There are hundreds of acres to map, and we can only cover so much in a day - the weather does not permit camping outdoors, not that I would consider it safe to do so.  I will be happy to show you the site, though the tracks are by now obliterated, tomorrow.  Do you ride ?"
As for the horse, Stuart nods.  "I was fortunate in being able to trade for her," he said.  "The gypsy camp is on the East side of the park, where there's a trading post.  They came to me after hearing I was looking for another horse and offered me a trade for her.  I gave up a few oil lamps, a decent rifle, and some canned goods - that was what they asked for, and I didn't want to insult them."  From what Irina can gather, the man doesn't want to insult anyone, but it's clear that he got a very good bargain, something very unusual when gadje are dealing with Gypsies.
The rest of the evening is a busy one as the students carry out Stuart's desk and set up to folding cots for Irina and Edith.  Dinner is indeed a mediocre offering; stew of salted beef, potatoes and some still-crunchy dried peas.  "Frank, Curtis - if you see a buck, take the shot," Stuart tells the two students, after the disappointing meal.   Irina and Edith have no trouble dropping off to sleep after a long journey, despite the cots.  There are plenty of wool blankets to keep warm with and the students are polite.  The green mice set up to stand guard, but the evening is uneventful, though a screech owl makes a racket about two AM.  Next morning is fairly busy; oatmeal for breakfast, with honey taken from a woodland hive, and the students getting ready for the day.  Morning seems to be lesson time, though Stuart cuts the study short to take Irina, Edith, Frank and Curtis out on horseback to the site of the deaths.  Edith is given Star, the bay with a small star on her forehead, a calm and quiet mare, and Irina is given the dun gelding, called Monday.   The two students remaining at the school are specifically told to work on their target practice. The weather is grey and chill, with a fog rising along the stream as Stuart leads them to the scene of the crime, about three hours of riding.  As promised the more recent snows and melts have destroyed the marks, but they have their map of the scene, and some dried blood can be seen on a fallen log.  Luncheon is a bit of jerked venison and some hardtack biscuits in the saddle.
--------------------------
----Jack, Spider, MD-----
Jack suggests a trip to the Naval Ordinance labs before end of day, and is certain he can smell something on the breeze as well.  It is also noted by Cressida and the two young werewolves, who are standing hand-in-hand, frozen in place, while their mother staggers slightly as she walks around.  "Whew," Cressida said, shaking her head.
Webster provides them with directions to the Base, and they load up the car.  Cressida looks tipsy, and the youngsters are sleepy, but struggling to stay awake.  "Something in air," she said.  "Not right."
-------------
Please respond by 11 April, Saturday, next post Sunday

Onward, pt 4 Post 59
----Irina, PA----------
"I was telephoned to expect two agents, but I must confess I was surprised to learn there are...lady agents.


Irina smiles a slightly wearily familiar smile.
"Well, these are changing times," she says. "But please don't try to shield us from any... unpleasantness. You may be surprised at what we have seen in our careers."


The bodies - had been savaged by something I can't identify.  I have made some sketches. ... The bite marks were also at an unusual angle. As if the mouth was vertical, not horizontal.  And the hoof prints - I know of no ungulate predator.


Irina nods. "It is certainly nothing ordinary. But there are darker things that lurk just beyond the world we know, and I have encountered such a thing before. One thing I am sure of: if it is here, it is because someone has called it."


I will be happy to show you the site, though the tracks are by now obliterated, tomorrow.  Do you ride ?"


Irina nods. "My father taught me."

In the evening she'll study Stuart's sketches of the site to see if anything strikes her as unexpected.

In the morning she'll ask if any belongings from the dead men were recovered, and if she can see them.


As promised the more recent snows and melts have destroyed the marks, but they have their map of the scene, and some dried blood can be seen on a fallen log.  Luncheon is a bit of jerked venison and some hardtack biscuits in the saddle.


Irina is not tremendously surprised to find the marks gone, but she will have a look around the surrounding area to see if the metling snows have revealed anything that might have been dropped.

Once she is sure she has gleaned all she can from the site, she will turn to Stuart.

"Is it far to the tsygani... the gypsy camp from here?"  she asks. "Could we get there today? They might know who the dead men were."

She also suspects that if anyone was able to summon a Dark Young, they might be found among the Romani. But if Stuart thinks it too far to get to today, she will suggest a visit tomorrow.

Post 60, Onward pt 5
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---Irina, in the wilds of Pennsylvania----
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Stuart's sketches are realistic and detailed.  He has enough artistic skill to render a fine map in pen and ink, and accurately show trails, significant landmarks and waterways.   The sketches made of the bitemarks do indicate a certain oddness, as if the mouth was indeed very long, with irregular teeth, and the angle of bite seems to suggest a vertical line.  He considered Irina's words about the summoning of a creature with an unusual intensity but makes no comment.  As for the students, the two with them acting as lookouts and scouts, the blonde one, Curtis, seems to be carefully listening as well, though Frank is idly whistling and watching a raven soar overhead.    There were no other clues revealed in the scene. "The gypsy camp is a day's ride on a logging trail, here," Stuart showed her on the map.  "We would take the truck but the belt is broken, and I haven't had time to fix it.  I'm not sure a Model T could handle the trail."  He paused, eyeing the grey sky.  "We have weather coming in tonight - it will be a wet ride tomorrow, but there are enough oilskins.  Curtis - any sign of deer ?"
"No, Sir," the blonde young man said.   At this, Frank looked around, his horse moving uneasily.  "We should go," Frank said, looking around with alarm.  The horses seemed to be picking up on something too, getting nervous.  "Black bear, sir, fifty yards," Frank said, pointing; a smudge of dark fur among the trees.
"Let's go," Stuart said, in a calm, authoritative voice; his big black and white horse shaking her head and stamping a large hoof.  "I'll take the rear guard, Curtis, you lead."  They made an orderly retreat back to the school, where one of the students had at least gotten a pair of grey squirrels for the dinner pot.  The rain began pelting down just at sunset, rattling the roof as a squirrel and mushroom stew was doled out into bowls, with some cornbread.   The green mice huddled in Edith's handbag, nibbling some cornbread, and Stuart tortured his students for a solid hour on leaf scar identification of trees from an extensive twig collection.   Then a shopping list was made, and saddlebags waxed to resist water.   Edith decided to stay at the school the next day, as riding was not so kind to her posterior.  Stuart gave the students orders.  "Martin, you will accompany us tomorrow to the trading post, get a list of what is needed.  Frank, Henry and Curtis, patrol the southern trail and hunt for deer.  Only bucks; if you shoot a doe, you fail."
------
The next morning, rain was still falling, though not a downpour.   Stuart led the way, his vanner and himself draped in oilskins.  It was chilly and wet but the waterproofed cloth kept the rain from soaking in, and Irina was glad to see signs of civilisation as they headed east on a track that was mostly cut tree stumps and drag marks.  A clapboard shack stood at the end of the trail, with a sign proclaiming it to be Western Woods Trading Post; another horse was hitched to the rail, draped in a large oilskin, chewing oats in a nosebag.  Inside was a small wood stove, a table, quite a few sacks, casks and crates, and a disagreeable-looking old man in a green hunter's outfit.
"Your gypsies moved," this worthy told Stuart. "I tole them to go or I'd shoot up the whole camp.  Don't know where."
John Stuart took this news calmly.  "I need flour, beans, potatoes, peas, corn meal, a box of 22 cartridges, a box of 12 gauge shells, a pound of butter."
----------------------

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-----Spider and Jack, Maryland------
--------------------------
Spider notes Cressida and the kids looking less than well and ushers them back to the car.  The two silent children seem alarmed, but Cressida seems drunk.   They leave a puzzled police officer behind.  After driving out of the park, along the more easterly roads, the effects seem to wear off.  "What the hell was that ?"  Cressida said, slapping a hand over her eyes as if a hangover was making its presence known.  "It feels like something Dorothy would drink was brewed in my skull.  I'm seeing spots everywhere."  The wind direction is shifting to the East.
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GM:  Responses, please by 18 April, Saturday, next post Sunday.  Please be careful out in the world.
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Jack keeps an eye on the two cubs to make sure they are recovering like their mother, then asks her if they need to leave the area.
If they’re out of immediate danger, he asks, “Any idea what was in that? Was it like man-made chemicals? Or something more primitive, perhaps like an alchemist or witch might brew? Or completely natural?”
If going to the ordnance range will take them back the direction of the strange fumes, Jack suggests he and Spider drop off the others somewhere safe and go on alone. Otherwise they will proceed cautiously together to investigate it, as planned.

Irina doesn't get very positive vibes from the trading post owner. That and the rain conspire to put her in a bad mood. Still, she has a job to do...

"Have there been many other people through here recently?" she asks. "Maybe some hunters?"

If the answer is in the affirmative, she'll ask where they said they might be going, how they got on with the gypsies - the idea that the Dark Young might have been set upon them as a punishment for some transgression occurs - she wonders if the trading post might go the same way if he has driven them off.

She will also ask Stuart if he can see which way the gypsies have gone - presumably their tracks will be easy to follow if there are a number of them. Actually - she'll ask both man how many gypsies there are, and if any of them stood out in any way.

If she gets a moment to ask Stuart quietly, she'll ask about how the gypsies are received around here - he seems to have got on with them quite well, considering the bargain he got.

"In the country of my birth - Russia", she tells Stuart, "there are some who fear gypsies, who say they have dark powers, some are unkind to them, drive them away, like this man here. But I find people like them often have wisdom that eludes the majority of humanity. I would like to speak with them, if that is possible."

Post 61, Onward pt 6

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Irina, out in Pennsylvania, late afternoon
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Irina meets the local trading post owner and is not impressed, though John Stuart weathers the man's tirade with quiet patience.  The man also looks at Stuart before answering, and simply refuses to believe that Irina has anything worthwhile to ask - and responds, "None of your business, nosey Missy !"  After they are back outside, Stuart having signed for the food on the school's account, and loading the bags onto the mighty vanner's saddle, does the quiet man respond.  "I am sorry for his ill manners," Stuart says.  "Hunting season is over, but there is a lot of poaching, and there are several moonshiners who have lost their stills thanks to me - which is partly why the bad treatment here, as they would move their bootleg liquor through this store.  As for me, I have always treated everyone I meet as if I was their friend, and hope they treat me the same.  Gypsies have also been kind to me in the past and traded me a very good horse when I needed one.  And I have a fair idea where the camp went to, I can read their signs."  He pointed to a fallen tree, where a number of symbols were carved deep into the bark, a sun, an arrow, and a stick figure.  "They went East.  There are about thirty of them, with seven wagons."  For a one-eyed man, he didn't miss much.  The rain lightened up a little, but it was still a chill, damp ride across a half-logged rise, then along a creek swollen with muddy water.  Even in the grey half light, Irina could see the yellow and red painted wagons, and see the black and white vanners gathered in a portable corral; then Vadoma let out a loud whinny, prompting more activity in the camp.  An oilskin-clad person came out of a wagon and raised an arm in greeting, which Stuart returned.
------------------
"Droboy tume Romale," Stuart said slowly, gently reining in Vadoma, who stretched her nose out to the Gypsy, a middle-aged man with a dark beard.
"Nais tuke, Stuart of the Forest," the man said, rubbing the horse's nose and slipping her a slice of apple.
"May I introduce Miss Pallenberg, she is looking into the matter of the dead men we found," Stuart said.  "This is Uncle Spiro, a gentleman traveller."
"God has brought you to us again," said Uncle Spiro, with a winning smile. "Come inside; we have porcupine stew and strong coffee to warm you up, and then we will talk of these matters."
"Thank you, and the King, for your kindness," Stuart said, with his formal little bow.  Uncle Spiro smiled and bustled them toward one of the larger wagons, while some younger gypsies hurried out of cover to take charge of their horses.  Inside was a small brazier, doing a good job of staving off the chill, and plenty of cushioned benches.  A covered pot stood near the brazier and a heavy brass samovar was next to it, with some simple clay cups.  Martin Blaine's eyes were like saucers, but then he smelled the stew and sat down staring at it like it was the only food he'd seen in years.  The smell was indeed rich, a succulent pork slow-roasted with beans and rice.  An old woman in a nicely embroidered shawl came out from behind a curtain and began to serve them.  "Thank you, Ma'am," Stuart said, nudging Martin to echo him.  The food and coffee was delicious.
Uncle Spiro wasted no time, as they sipped coffee and Martin had his third helping of stew.  He addressed Irina in good Russian.  "You are far from home, to look for answers here," he said.  "What can a simple man such as myself help you with, Miss Pallenberg ?"  She could not help but notice that the old woman had inobtrusively settled on a cushion nearby.
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Spider and Jack, in Maryland, evening
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Cressida did seem to recover though she reported a headache.  "It's coming from the North," she said.  "Crept up on me.  Something very odd, chemical, not far off....rye ?  Something bitter, like rye, or maybe morning glory, but much stronger.  Not natural, not really...."  She eyed the two youngsters, who solemnly looked back, then glanced at each other with slight nods.  "I'm not sure I want them any closer to it, whatever is causing it."
---------
They are able to drop Cressida and the twins at a roadhouse inn, after heading  East and finding a county road, then Jack and Spider drive North and West to get to the Ordinance Testing Base.
-------------------
As expected, there is a guard at the gate, which is down, though he is preparing to lift it to let three cars out; the time is close to 6 pm.  All the cars are late-model, and driven by middle-aged men.  The guard is burly and does not seem inclined to be nice.  "You want what, now ?"  he responds, when they ask for admittance.  It takes a badge flash and a threat to call Washington for the guard to reluctantly pick up a telephone and call into the main office.  "Well, you're out of luck.  Only man left on base is the janitor, so unless you want to waste your time talking about mops, you better come back tomorrow."  There are a few too many lights on in the sprawling brick building, and about ten cars in the parking lot, that highly suggest the guard is lying to them.
-----------------------------
OOC:  Cameron, California: Please carry on from last posts
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GM: Actions, etc, for the next half hour, please respond by Saturday, 25 April, next post is Sunday.  Hope everyone is healthy and keeping safe.
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Irina accepts the gypsies' hospitality politely, but raises her eyebrows slightly when she hears Spiro talk in Russian.
"It sounds like I am not the only one far from home," she tells him, speaking the same language, and looking apologetically at John Stuart for not including him in the conversation.
"I will get to the point. I am sent here by the government, which does not understand much, but it understands at least enough that it is important that there is someone in its employ who understands. I am here because two men were killed in the woods. They had been attacked by... a creature that does not belong here. I am trying to discover who called it, and why, and whether as a result the government needs to be concerned for the safety of... ordinary citizens."

----

OOC - Hi Mel, all good here. Going a bit stir crazy with lockdown, and fortunately or unfortunately I have a job that can be done from home, so still as busy as ever, but otherwise getting through these strange times. I hope everyone else here can say the same.
Richard

Post 62:  Onward, pt 7
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---Irina, Pennsylvania----
Irina speaks in Russian to the gypsy, but John Stuart doesn't seem to mind.    He sips his coffee and nods to Martin Blaine.
"Yes, the two men who were killed," Uncle Spiro says in Russian, glancing at the old woman very briefly.  "One of them came to us looking for a charm to keep away evil.   A moonshiner, a man of bad ways.  There are some people in the forest who may have called such a thing from the darkness.  This bad man had crossed their path in an unhealthy way.  Look north, in the caves, and be wary."
"Take nothing from their land," the old woman said, in a whisper.
"Now, that horse, she is doing well ?"  Uncle Spiro addressed John Stuart in a jovial fashion, in English again.
"I am grateful for her," Stuart replied, "I could ask for no finer horse."
"My cousin has never missed a shot with the rifle you traded, so we are all very pleased."  Uncle Spiro grinned.  "And you know, we will be moving again soon, for there is to be a great wedding this Spring, to the South, so do not be sad that we are leaving."
"Travel safely, Uncle Spiro, and may we meet again." John Stuart said.  "Miss Pallenberg, I'll go check on the horses."  He nodded politely, having removed his hat before entering the wagon, and stepped out into the rain, dragging Martin along.
"A gentleman," Uncle Spiro said.  "Speak freely, Miss Government Who Understands."
"That's enough, Spiro," the old woman said, "Do not cross a witch."
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GM: Please carry on with actions, etc, respond by Saturday, 2 May, next post Sunday, and all of you stay safe and keep well.
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OOC:  Glad to hear you're managing in this difficult time, Richard.  My job is essential, so I've been working a lot of overtime.  Stay healthy and keep gaming !  Seems to be helping us here at any rate.

OC: Sorry for absences, just a lot going on. Work at hospital, family issues, health issues. Hanging in there and hope you all are well.

IC: Jack looks meaningfully at the row of cars and the lights in the windows, then speaks without looking at the guard.
“I’ll say this once more, and I’ll say it nice and slow. We have identified ourselves as federal agents, and we are investigating a violent crime. Obstruction of justice — that means keeping us from our job — is a federal offense that carries a penalty of five years in federal prison. So you can let us in to look around unobtrusively now, or we can come back in force and when we’re done turning everything upside down we’ll take you with us in handcuffs.” Then he looks at the guard impassively.

Irina smiles slightly at being described as a witch. It's still a designation that she's getting used to.
"Like yourself, grandmother?" she asks the old woman. "Forgive me, I don't think I caught your name."

She turns to Spiro.
"What can you tell me about these 'people' in the forest who can call the Young from their Darkness? And about the caves? And what had the man done to upset them?"

Post 63:  Onward, pt 8
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-------Jack and Spider, Maryland---
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The guard's expression could be only called sour.   What with Jack's threat, he waved at Spider to stop the car.  With ill grace he snatched up the phone again, dialed, and had a whispered conversation with someone.  Jack and Spider heard, "..won't GO AWAY...." and "damned DC jackasses".  And, finally, he capitulated. "Milton's on his way to escort you," he snapped. "Wait here."
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It took a long time, but finally, another guard appeared, an older man, who was ill-shaven and sloppily uniformed, his shirt stained and wrinkled.  "Oh, hello," he greeted Jack and Spider, not sounding even as smart as his appearance. "Where do I take them, George ?"
"Take them to see whoever's in the office.  NOT Hightower."
"Okay, George," Milton said, nodding far too much.  He pointed to the parking lot, and Spider parked next to a new Ford with a fancy chrome grille.  "This way, Sirs," the guard set off at a nonchalant saunter.   They went into the main doors, where the corridors were empty except for a janitor with a mop at the far end; the corridors stretched on a long ways.  Milton paused, clearly thinking hard, and slowly turned to the left, then thought better of it, and turned to the right, ambling along.   He led them past a room full of desks and typewriters, where a grey-haired woman was furiously typing away, all alone.  "Milton !"  she yelled, as they slowly moved past, "What the hell are you doing ?  You don't let civilians walk around here !"
At the proferred ID, the woman calmed down to a seethe instead of a boil.  "Just...whoopee," she muttered.  "Well, most everyone but the night staff is gone for the day.  I am Betsy Halliday, head office secretary; I can probably figure out who you want to talk to, if you tell me what you're here for.  Don't wander off, Milton."  She pushed up the sleeves of her cardigan and squinted at Jack and Spider, with a grim look.   Considering she was all of five feet tall and at least fifty years old, this was not very threatening.  Milton simply stood there, gently smiling and staring off into the middle distance.
------------------------------
-----Irina, Pennsylvania----
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The old woman smiled, nodding at Irina's assessment.  "I am Arabella Dasculu, Miss Pallenberg.  The mother of the King and the seer for this tribe.  We sold the gadje moonshiner a small charm, which would only turn away a weak creature, but he deserved what he got and worse.  A bad man.  Here, I will show you."  She rummaged in a small drawer, and pulled out a glazed ceramic token engraved with a simple evergreen sprig, pointed towards the upwards left corner.  Irina recognised it immediately a variant of the Elder sign.  "Keep it, as my gift to you."
"We gave Stuart that horse, according to the omens." Uncle Spiro said, pouring out more coffee for all of them. "He is a good man, but that is not enough."
"The people in the caves, the tribe have been there a very long time," Arabella Dasculu said.  "They worship a goddess, the Mountain Mother.  This they told us, when they came to visit.  Two women, one old, one young, who did not look as they should, and were not entirely human.  They traded this for some of my linen and cotton cloth."  She took a small leather bag from her pocket and handed it to Irina.  Inside was a bright green crystal, hexagonal in shape; it was an emerald.  "The gadje moonshiner also tried to pay us with an emerald, much smaller.  He had taken it from their land.  A place they warned us not to come near."
"There is a curse on their land," Uncle Spiro said.  "You must keep John Stuart away from them; we like so few of the gadje.  It broke my heart to damage his truck, to keep him from going North to find them in their caves.  Tell him that nothing can be done, and maybe - if they are left alone - the creature will go away.  Vadoma will run from it."
Arabella glared at him.
"Only a fool -wishes- for better things."  she said.  "It is here.  I know.  It waits."  Then she looked at Irina, with a gleam in her dark eyes.  "You will have to deal with it.  So I have seen."
"We leave in the morning." Uncle Spiro said. "Good luck."
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GM:  Please respond with actions, etc, by Saturday, 9 May, next post Sunday. Hope you are all well and continue to be safe and healthy !
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As they walk, Jack reverts to his natural Maryland accent and tries to chat up Milton.
“Say, you seem like a perceptive fellow. Ever see anything unusual? Strange animals that got inside the compound somehow? Mysterious visitors they said to forget about? We really need something to send back to the office. They said our jobs depend on it.”
When they meet the head secretary, Jack gives her a smile. “Thank you for your time, ma’am. My partner and I are investigating the attack on the young girls two months back. One of the girls’ fathers works here. Basically, we’re here to rule out this research center as the origin of the attack. We’re not interested in bullets, bombs, mortars, flamethrowers, aircraft mounted weapons – anything conventional. We specialize in more unusual types of attack – mental tricks, psychological warfare, drugs and chemicals that deceive the senses, even things sometimes labeled as spiritualism.
“Is there someone we could talk to who has an overview of the programs here? Dr. Hightower, perhaps?”

Irina thanks Arabella for the charm, and slips it into her jacket pocket.

She hears the gypsies out, nodding at what is said.

"Thank you for your honesty," she tells Arabella. "I have faced such creatures before, and worse, though not alone. Perhaps there is another way. But you have been very helpful already. May fortune guide your path."

She takes her leave and heads out to rejoin John Stuart in the rain.

"Thank you for bringing me here," she tells him. "They've been very useful. But it looks like I need to go north. You mentioned something about some caves? Some people who've been in the park a long time?"

She casts a look at the clouds.

"That may be a job for tomorrow, I guess."

Post 64: Getting the Clues in Order pt 1

---Jack and Spider, Maryland, Naval Ordinance Labs----
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Milton blinks several times at Jack's flattery, daft smile on his face.  "Jobs are important," he agreed, with an odd cadence to the words, as if reciting.  Then he stares off into the distance again - it is quite unsettling.
------------
Betsy Halliday's eyes narrow suspiciously.  "And what do you think, that we're the cause of some strange goings-on ?  That jackass J. Edgar Hoover send you ?"  Then she sighed, obviously too tired to argue.  "Look, I only heard the usual canteen gossip on that one.  Girl's been scarred for life, some kind of wolf creature.  Worst thing around here is my boss, you want anything like a demon straight from hell, it's him.  Mitchell's a pretty steady guy, works in the chem lab, but I know he already left for the day.  (And yes, Jack was right, your GM screwed up the descriptions).  Hightower - he's in.  Leaves about seven. But he may not want to talk to you, badge or not.  I'll call his office and see if he will take a meeting with you."  She goes to the switchboard and plugs in some wires, holding a headset to her ear; the Raiders can clearly hear an irritated male voice thundering, "WHAT ?"
"Sir, this is Halliday.  Some DC agents want to talk about strange goings-on.  Do you have time for them ?  Johnstone wants his report done."
"Hell, Betsy, I have better things to do with my time !"
"They'll only come back tomorrow," Betsy Halliday said, with a shrug.
There was a pause, as if the man on the other end was counting to ten. "Fine," he said at last, in an angry growl.  "Send them up with an escort.  I can't have people wandering around this place."
"Okay," Betsy Halliday said cheerfully.  She disconnected the wires and tossed the headset onto the table, and resumed her scowl.  "Milton.  Milton !"  she snapped her fingers to get the man's attention.  "Take them to the Boss Man."
"He's mean," Milton protested, dropping his gaze to his scuffed boots.
"Yes, he is, but you can do it.  I'll bring you a GooGoo tomorrow."
"A GooGoo ?"  Milton said, looking up hopefully.
"But you have to take them now.  Tomorrow, you get candy."   Betsy was patient with Milton.  "Go on now.  Mr. Hightower is waiting."  Milton pulled a long face, but reluctantly began to shuffle off down the corridor, without paying much attention to whether Jack and Spider were following.   Betsy didn't even wait til they'd cleared the room before going back to the typewriter.  Thus far security at this installation was less than stellar, at least in the offices.  They passed by many shut, numbered doors, went up a flight of stairs where the Raiders clearly heard some strange, mad laughter echoing upwards from below, and into another corridor, to a large brass-trimmed door with the title "Administrator James Hightower" on it.  Milton timidly knocked on the door, and cringed at the bellow from within.
"What do you WANT ?"
Milton struggled to reach the door latch, obviously unwilling to open the door.  It was then snatched open by a paunchy, sixty-something balding man in an expensive suit; this worthy was livid with rage.  "YOU !"  he shouted at Milton, who fled with a clatter of boots.  Squinty blue eyes focused on Jack and Spider next.  "Washington," snarled Hightower.  "What is it now ?  Don't we send you people enough reports ?"  The office was opulent; a huge teak desk, lit by two glowing lamps, with a pair of plush chairs in front and a giant thronelike chair behind.  A file folder lay open on the desk with a fountain pen near it - it showed some kind of machine with a huge set of coils and the words "Electromagnetic Radiation".  A fancy adding machine was next to it, tape spilling onto the desk.  On the wall, a wooden board set with electric lights was on display next to the clock; two lights were lit.  None of them were marked.
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Irina, Pennsylvania
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The gypsies are cordial in their farewells, but she can see that they are indeed packing to leave.  John Stuart regards her thoughtfully.  "You're welcome, Miss Pallenberg," he said.  "The forestry school will assist you in any way that we can.  There are caves to the North.  And -" a cloud seems to pass over his face; he visibly shakes something off, and continues, "The caves have people living up there, an old settlement, possibly colonial.  They live very simply off the land.  I wanted to drive in from the North with the truck along a logging road, to properly map the area but the truck broke down."  He also assesses the rain with a knowing eye.  "Yes, it will let up tomorrow."  They had a long, cold wet ride back to the school, arriving near darkness; Martin was even too tired to chatter.  He and Stuart took charge of the horses and Irina was pleased to smell something good cooking - not venison, but probably rabbit.  Edith was at the camp stove, stirring a pot of stew.
"Rabbit with pine nuts," she said.  "Henry got the rabbits.  Frank and Curtis had no luck with deer today.  But I had some luck," she lowered her voice. "Curtis is really Charlene, by the way, I promised I would only tell you.  The school's been trying to map the North end of the park for a while but they keep on having bad luck.  Frank's horse bucked him off last time they went that way.  And then the truck broke down, right before they were going to try driving the logging roads to get there.   All of them told me they felt uneasy about the area and the horses don't like it.  I suspect a supernatural element.  And Martin is keenly interested in magic - he wants to meet Houdini.  That nice Mr. Weiss."
At that point, Curtis, Frank and Henry came clomping into the lodgings, carrying the sacks of provisions that Stuart had gotten earlier.  Martin and John Stuart arrived later, having cared for the horses first, and the Forestry School was happy to eat what must have been the best meal for ages.  For a while all that could be heard was spoons scraping on the plates.  "Aww, Ma'am, that was great," Frank said, echoed with similar statements from the other students.
"I ate with gypsies," Martin Blaine said, not to be outdone, "And it was incredible.  It was porcupine !"
"Well the river is rising, so the fish will be moving with it," Henry said, "I'd like to try my new flies, Mr. Stuart."
"First thing, we will go over tracks and scat; then you will be assigned duties.  The weather should break by morning." John Stuart gratefully gave Edith his empty plate; she was doing her harmless little old lady act, which always disarmed people.   "Miss Pallenberg may need our assistance in her investigation; she is to be obeyed as if I spoke the order myself, understood ?"
There was a chorus of "Yes, Sirs."
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Actions, etc, please respond by Saturday 16 May, next post Sunday, hope all of you are safe and well
-----------------------------

Edith's cooking is very welcome after a day riding in the rain.

"You've been busy!" Irina remarks to Edith, and dropping her own tone to a conspiratorial one, also quietly fills her in on what she has discovered so far. "I know it may be dangerous, but I think I need to take a trip up to those caves tomorrow."

She will also try to get to speak quietly to John Stuart at some point during the evening.

"Whatever killed those men, it came from the caves up there," she tells him. "The gypsies don't want you to go up there, because they like you - I assume you're one of the few hereabout who treat them decently - that's why they sabotaged your truck. For your own protection. The skittish horses, the bad luck - it's all somehow part of what the 'colonials' are up to."

"Now, it may be they are no danger provided people leave them be and don't go around stealing from them - the gypsies say that's why they set the... creature on those hunters. Or it may be they're just part of something bigger and darker that needs rooting out. I have to find out which before I can report back. I don't like asking you to come with me, because I'm not sure it's fair on you, but I admit I'd be grateful of your company. But only bring students who are... steady. It could be unpleasant."

"I don't know if we can get the truck repaired - I'm not much good with mechanical things. If not then I suppose we take horses part way and do the final part on foot. Tell people not to pick up anything shiny - especially green stones."

Irina isn't sure about risking Edith, or what Ben might say, but she won't tell her not to come (and suspects it might be no use anyway). She will, at some point, quietly canvas the mice as to any knowledge of broken trucks. She will also make sure she has her bag of sand and salt and has memorised the Elder Sign/Dark Young unsummoning ritual.

Post 65: Getting the Clues in Order pt 2
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---Irina--Pennsylvania-----
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Irina tells Edith that the caves need investigation; Edith agrees.  "That will probably be quite dangerous, though," she adds.
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As for John Stuart, he considers her words with the same attention and gravity as always.   "The horses definitely do not like heading North," he said thoughtfully.  "It is my duty to map every part of this forest, and I consider it a personal failing to have been unable to get into the North side.  As a gentleman I cannot permit you to travel alone into any area that may be unsafe."  He drew out a thick sheaf of papers, and began laying them out on the desk, forming a larger map.  "This stream comes down from the North and heads West, and I think it comes from the caves." he indicated a blue line that trails between two ridges.  "The area is a glaciated high plateau, the going will be rough, though we can ride horses up into the valleys for a good way.  Then it is about 15 miles of hiking along a waterway, over rock.  Farther than we can travel in one day.   That will mean camping out at least one night, and nightfall will drop temperatures below freezing.  As for the best shots, and most steady, Frank and Curtis are my choices.  I have no practical skills with vehicle repair; it was only Henry that noticed the belt was broken.  If you are determined to go North, and you are certain that it may be...unpleasant, I will ask Frank and Curtis to volunteer with that understanding.  This rain will end, and it will be cold and windy tomorrow."
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The mice prove to be much more useful.  "Yes, we can probably fix the truck, given some leather and sewing supplies," Professor Mills said.  "Johnstone here was quite the mechanic in his earlier days.  We'll need human hands to do the tricky bits though."  With the news that the truck can be repaired, she returns to Stuart's office, where he is already getting the two students to volunteer.  The mice hurry out to the stables to liberate some leather.   Edith will also not be left out; she will come along in the truck, which might be able to get them closer to the caves than approaching from the South, and stay with it for three days, to carry them back out.  The mice will also come along.  Edith and Irina sneak out to the truck and replace the belt shortly before dawn, and as promised, it is cold and windy.  Irina has the say on who goes, and what they bring, though Stuart will insist on full packs, rations, shotguns and rifles.
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Actions, etc, please respond by Saturday 23 May, next post Sunday
Hope all are well and life is beginning to have some normality !
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Jack leans into his Eastern Shore Maryland accent to help establish rapport.
“Sir, we know you’re busy and we appreciate you seeing us. I’m Jack Sterling and this is David Mallory. We look into unusual cases for the government – mental tricks, psychological attacks, even things sometimes classified as spiritual or supernatural. We are out here looking into the attack on the Mitchell girl. Reportedly by some sort of wolf creature that walked upright. is there any sort of research undertaken here that could, in your opinion, have contributed to such an attack? Enhancing human soldiers with animal traits? Or training animals for combat? Hypnotism or other mental effects that could make a person think they saw a monster when it was a regular person? Anything at all? Or, alternatively, is it possible that Mitchell is working on something specific that might cause an enemy to attack his family, maybe as a message or a threat of blackmail? Our goal is to make sure there are no more of these attacks, so any help you could give us would be greatly appreciated. By us, and our superiors.”

OOC: Sorry for the delay in posting - lockdown is starting to make me forget what day of the week it is!

IC:
With the truck back repaired, Irina is happy to take that. She is also happy to take Stuart's recommendations of Frank and Curtis, and pleased that Edith will not be travelling into the most dangerous area.
She'll write up a report for Ben that night just in case and hand it to Edith to be delivered if she doesn't come back, along with sealed personal letters to Jack and her mother.
The next morning, she'll make sure she has her shotgun, pistol, sand and Dark Young dismissal, and the gipsy charm. And take a deep breath and steel herself for whatever is to come today.
After making sure of her

Post 66: Getting the Clues in Order pt 3
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----Jack and Spider, Maryland------------
Jack speaks plainly in a familiar accent, which earns him a second look from Hightower.  "I am not at liberty to discuss the confidential work done here," the man growled back, with a glare.  "And I doubt you have the security clearance to force me to divulge anything but where the exit door is."
Then Spider speaks, his accent also warranting a look from Hightower.  "The little girl in town has nothing to do with anything here," he said, almost sounding human for a moment.  "Mitchell's work is nothing relevant to the incident, but by all means, ask him yourself.  I will pass along your concerns to my staff.  Leave your names and contact information with Halliday.  Good evening to you."  And with that, he pointed to the door.  Outside, Milton the guard was lurking in the stairwell, oblivious to the faint sounds of cackling laughter echoing along it.  He crept towards them after Hightower shut the door, and offered them a daft smile.  It occurred to the two Raiders that Milton would take them pretty much anywhere in the building they asked, so long as he wasn't afraid of the place in question.
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-------Irina, Pennsylvania---
At first light, Irina loads her gear into the truck, noting the blankets and tarpaulins that Frank and Curtis will be covered by already in the truck bed; Frank is loading up a casserole dish that smelled like Edith's cooking.  Stuart drove, with Edith and Irina in the cab; a tight fit, but warm enough, while the two students rode in the bed with the gear.  It was a rough ride over a bad road, but sometime in the afternoon, they were at a rock ridge where the road ended and scrubby trees clung to the precipice above.  A jagged trail led up the ridge.  Frank pulled chalk from his pocket and marked the trail with a 1, with an upward arrow, as Curtis pulled packs out of the truck.  Edith set up a chair and offloaded food, as Frank set up a camp stove and lit it.  Stuart checked his maps and compass and jotted notes in his sketchbook, then checked his rifle, shotgun, a .45 parabellum, and a hunting knife.  "The plan is, three days from now, if we are not back, you must leave and report us as missing to the School of Forestry and the Governor," Stuart told Edith.  "Then a search party may be raised from the local law enforcement and any volunteers.  I have left a proposed itinerary in the truck.  I am not happy with the idea of leaving a lady alone here."
"I'm quite prepared, Mr. Stuart," Edith replied serenely.  "Be careful and keep a close watch."  The party ate a good meal and set off just before noon.  Frank went first, securing a rope line to help the rest of the hikers up onto the rock ridge, as well as taking the gear up by hauling it with rope.  Once up top, the view was splendid; miles of forest ranging over ridges and hills, with jagged drops of rock.  A flash of silver among the trees to the South; the sun glancing off the waterway.  Curtis took point after an hour or so and marked the second waypoint on the trip, a chalk mark on a flat slab of granite.  They slid and scrambled into a narrow gap, using available scrub trees and brushes to assist, and the third mark was made, carving an arrow onto a dead log.  The rock gave way to a steep slope downward and Irina could hear the water gurgling, as well as a woodpecker twittering.   A pair of chipmunks took fright at their passage and scampered away.   The trail led down to a riverbank, where a wash of mud showed some deer prints and smaller pawprints, probably squirrels or chipmunks.  There was enough of a rock ledge along the riverbank that the going was not terribly difficult, despite having to scramble over some massive boulders left behind by the Ice Age.  The afternoon sun was well overhead when Stuart called a rest break along the riverbank.   Frank snoozed in the sunlight, stretched across a large boulder, while Curtis roamed the riverbank, pausing to look in the shallows.   Stuart drew in his sketchbook, consulting his compass - mapping.
"Found a green stone, sir," the quiet student said, waving Stuart over.  In the mud was a dull green pebble, not the same clarity as the one the gypsies had shown Irina.  Stuart fished it out on the end of his knife, squinting at it.
"That's an emerald," he said, and proferred it to Irina to look at.  "As per your warning, we shall leave it here."
"Emerald ?"  Frank perked up.
"Not a gem quality one, just an interesting beryl specimen."  Stuart said. "We have seen metamorphic rock all along this path.  List the types."
"Quartzite, gneiss and schist," said Curtis quietly, as Frank watched the emerald.   John Stuart let it fall back into the water.
"Very good Curtis.  Frank, take point.  There was also a run of shale as we came up the side of the rock ridge.  Refill your canteens if you need to and let us continue."  Stuart stood by the emerald, making certain Frank took water from the river and nothing else.  They set off again, startling a small herd of deer from their path.  There was a rocky hill in sight now, the river apparently running alongside it.  "We will be near the area in a couple of hours.  If we had more daylight I would do the required sightings to make the map truly accurate."  Stuart looked back over his shoulder, to make certain of Curtis and Irina; Curtis was in the rear guard, one hand on the stock of a Winchester rifle, as Frank led the way along the riverbank.  Suddenly Frank stopped, holding up a hand.  "Sir ?"  he said, in a whisper.  "Something."  Stuart silently stalked up next to the student, and they both stared at something.  It was a crudely carved face in a boulder, the eyes almond-shaped, the mouth a simple gash in the rock.  Stuart whipped out his sketchbook and copied it.
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GM:  Hope all is well with you in this time of pandemic, and please send in your responses by Saturday, 30 May, next post is Sunday.  Paul, just glad to have heard from you, I was getting worried.  I will carry on double-posting.
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Jack smiles and replies, “We don’t fuss too much with clearances in our department, since our boss reports directly to the President. We’ll be sure to mention your cooperation in our report.”
Once outside Hightower’s office, he’ll ask Milton, “Say, can you take us to see what’s so funny to make someone laugh that much?”
On the way, he’ll add, “You must see all sorts of interesting things here. Is there anywhere you don’t go?” — hoping to find out where the scary stuff is, so he and Spider can investigate those areas further...

Irina nods vigorously. "Yes, I think that's best."

She's pleased that Edith isn't risking herself heading for the caves, though worried that the Dark Young might still be out there and find the car.



Irina will take a look to see if she can make anything of it, and check the surrounding area.

Post 67: Hunting for More Clues pt 1

----Jack and Spider, Maryland---

Jack can sense that Hightower was tired and stressed, and didn't seem to believe Jack about Coolidge's interest in the BPRD.  "Just leave," the man suggested strongly.  "If you want a tour, have your boss call me."

Milton was much easier to deal with.  "The bottom," he said, pointing down, "Way down.  I can show you."  They ambled off to the staircase and headed down; Milton never seemed to hurry.  They passed a landing, showing a dimly lit corridor.  Most of the rooms seemed to be empty at this time, to go by the lack of sound, but there was some kind of rhythmic thumping sound, some kind of machinery that they could hear now, along with a trickle of the mad laughter.  At a guess, they were at least two levels below ground floor when the stairs ended, at a heavy metal door that Milton had to unlock with two different keys.

A poorly lit corridor stretched off into the distance; the thumping sound was louder still, and the mad laughter suddenly stopped.   A door opened up about a hundred feet along the corridor, with a very thin, balding man in a white lab coat stepping out into the hallway.  He didn't seem to be concerned about Milton, but looked quizzically at the two Raiders; he carried a leather briefcase and seemed to be on his way out.  "Doctor Brown." Milton said, and saluted.
"Hello, Milton," the man in the lab coat said, his accent sounding European, his manner suggesting he was curious.  "Who are you bringing into the laboratory ?"  Then the laughter started again, a shrill, insane cackle from some room down this corridor - this provoked no response in either Milton or Doctor Brown.

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Irina, Pennsylvania
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Irina observed the face and the area around it.  The face seemed slightly alien, the features just out of whack enough to give her an unsettling feeling.  "I believe it be a territory marker; it doesn't look Seneca nor Mohican." John Stuart said.   "It looks weathered, so it's been there a while."  He too looked around, including up at the sky, where a raven was soaring among the clouds.   Frank was looking around nervously, while Curtis marked the rock near it with another number and an arrow.   Stuart led the way for a moment or two, along the rocky bank of the waterway.  They did not have to wait long for the next marked stone, this one with some kind of jagged 'S' below the face, which this time had an open mouth.   This time the face definitely seemed to be a warning.

"Curtis, take point," John Stuart said. "Be on the lookout for any sentries or traps or trip lines."  He watched Curtis move cautiously forward and gave an encouraging nod to Frank and Irina.  The blonde student moved silently across the rock, pausing perhaps fifty feet up the trail, then moved onward.  The land was more jagged still, with scrub trees clinging to the choppy landscape and trails of ivy winding down the rock faces.  By all indication, neither Curtis, Frank or Stuart noticed something that Irina could not fail to notice: a disturbance in the air, a charged feeling as if a storm was approaching, a threat to the psyche.   The afternoon sun was definitely heading towards the horizon and the clouds seemed to be gathering again, dimming the sunlight.  Nothing was visible, and that was perhaps the most unsettling.   When the next carved stone was found, there were columns of scratch marks and lines, some curved, some twigged, some complex, some simple shapes like a half-circle.  There was no face on this one; it was a plainly etched skull with the jaw open, suggesting a scream.  The marks were shaded with something red as blood.
John Stuart got out the sketchbook and immediately began copying it.  Frank stuttered in a scared whisper, "Is that...that...b...bl...blood ?"
"Iron oxide," John Stuart said, in a low tone.  "This is some kind of writing. I've seen something like this before."
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GM: Actions, please, by Saturday 2 June, next post Sunday.  Hope all of you are doing well and staying safe
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Jack follows Spider’s lead, presenting his own credentials and introducing them both to the doctor.
“We’re trying to eliminate this station as a possible source of the problems. We just met with Dr. Hightower, and we want to eliminate any future headaches for him. We don’t want to add to his stress with any larger investigations or interference. I’m sure you can see the value in that. “

Post 68: Hunting for More Clues pt 2
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---Jack and Spider, Maryland----
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Spider's straightforward and nonaggressive approach seems to soothe Dr. Brown, as does Jack's presentation of their credentials.

Their daft guide happily waves at the doctor, who views the proferred documents and badges with a studious air while waving back.  "I didn't know this Bureau existed," Dr. Brown said.  "And it's only Mr. Hightower; he's a glorified accountant with excellent connections.  It is most likely that this facility is the source of many problems."  He said that with a sad shake of his head.  "And, given that I am related to someone who was in a very similar position as you have now, I will help you.  Do any of you know Professor Mills ?  And what happened to him ?  He is...was...my uncle.  But - you have your own duty to attend to.  What are you looking for ? Is it chemical, or physical ?  This corridor leads to the magnetron and the other physical labs, the chemistry labs are the floor above."  He reaches into his lab coat pocket, producing a large ring of keys. "Milton has most of the keys, but I can 'lose' mine for the evening.  My wife is waiting for me and she mentioned pot roast this morning.  Most everyone has gone home already, so you may not find anyone to ask questions - and Hightower may have the authority to bar you from the building tomorrow.  He can keep a Vice Admiral out with one telephone call.  I can answer questions about my own lab, the magnetron devices.  Milton, you can show them the labs, but you be sure to tell them where it's not safe.  Thank you, Milton."  He also passed a business card to Jack and Spider, including his home address and telephone number on it.

Again the mad laughter echoed along the corridor, but neither Brown nor Milton reacted to it.
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GM: Actions, etc for the next hour of game time, please respond by Saturday, 13 June, next post Sunday.  Hope you all are keeping well.
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OOC: Sorry for missing last week. I got caught up in something on Sunday and clean forgot about MiskU.
Richard



Irina will search her own memory to see if she recognises anything like it. (Archaeology? Occult? Cthulhu Mythos?)

She takes a look at the sky and fingers the protective talisman in her pocket, then speaks quietly to Stuart.

"You said we'd need to camp at least one night. Would this be a good place to stop? If we're still encountering warnings, they may let us alone thus far, but a skull with blood - even fake blood - only means one thing to me - keep out or face death. It may be best not to push on past it with the light going. I'll take a watch tonight."

“Professor Mills! We do indeed know him. We work together at our bureau. He has been… changed… by his work, in ways that are sort of hard to explain. But he is still helping us fight the good fight. We will give him your regards and try to arrange for you to speak with him.
“Regarding the current situation, what makes you say this lab may be the source of many problems? Is there no oversight? Have you had accidents?
“To tell the truth, we are investigating the attack on the young Mitchell girl by some sort of wolf creature that walked upright. We were at the scene today, with a colleague who is a world-class expert on wolves, and she detected strange odors coming from this direction. We are interested in any research here that could conceivably have contributed — soldiers being modified with animal traits through chemical means, perhaps. Or animals trained to attack in new ways. Psychological warfare. Drugs or hypnotism that might make a man think he was a wild animal. Even things that some might classify as supernatural. We have to be very open-minded in our investigations. Our goal is to be sure it won’t happen again. I know your pot roast is waiting, but any direction you can point us in would be of great help.”

Post 69: Hunting for More Clues pt 3
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-----Jack and Spider, Maryland-----
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The news that not only was his uncle still alive, but was actively working with the new BPRD surprised Dr. Brown.  "Tell him Boo misses him," the Doctor said, handing over his keys to Spider and Jack.  "And there is very little oversight on any matters of safety, a complete disregard for the health and welfare of the community and the environment.  I would look in the chemistry labs, where Doctor Gernhardt works, but it may be any one of those jokers.  Wolves, huh ?  I heard some stories; I should not like to meet your expert under a full moon.  Good luck, complete strangers whom I have never met before, Milton can give me the keys back in the morning.  Milton, be careful, and Do Not Touch." Dr. Brown left them with a smile.   They had the run of the labs.  The closest was a set of rooms with some puzzlingly complex tubes, wires and electrodes, with a long, rifle-like creation pointed towards a wall made of bricks.  The bricks looked burnt.  A nearby chalkboard had some incomprehensible mathematical formulas on it, with a lot of crossing out.  The next room contained some more complex machines, with magnets, metal housings and power cables; it was amply labelled with "Do Not Touch", "High Voltage" and "Danger, Hot" all over; a much neater chalkboard with more incomprehensible math on it was in this room.  Milton looked happy.  "Dr. Brown works here," he said.  "Do Not Touch."  The next lab had a bunch of crates and cardboard boxes, with nothing actively going on, and the next one had a powder-weighing scale almost as nice as Fritz's scale, a selection of weapons, and a bullet press the same model as Fritz's.  There were canisters of various kinds of gunpowder and other loading equipment everywhere, and a large caged red and green parrot, who paused in demolishing a piece of fruit to shriek at them.  Then there were stairs, going up; Milton led the way, taking up a flashlight from a closet in the hall, as the floor was dark.   The few windows showed that night had fallen outside.
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The Chemistry floor had a funky smell to the air, unsurprisingly.  Milton walked along the corridor more cautiously than before, keeping the flashlight low so that it would be less likely to be seen through the windows.  The first room was a washroom, where massive sinks and tables held all sorts of porcelain and glass apparatus, in various stages of cleanliness and preparation.  No one was in sight. The next room was labelled "Test Lab One" and had a wire rack full of tin pans with mesh lids containing unhappy white mice.  There were labels on the pans but it was in an alphanumeric code.  The next lab was "Dr. Gernhardt" and had racks upon racks of test tubes on the counters, some complicated distillation apparatus on another table, a large desk with about fifty notebooks, files and folders on it, and a chalkboard full of chemical notation.   In a glass-fronted cabinet the Raiders could see trays of mushrooms and other vegetation, with Latin names.  "Do Not Touch," Milton intoned, making a face at them.  He had needed to use Dr. Brown's keys to unlock the door.

--------------------------
-----Irina, Pennsylvania----
---------------
(And the dice rolled 4% for archaeology.)  The odd sticklike drawings are precisely letters a runic alphabet that Irina can recall from that particularly nasty semester in Professor Maxwell's class, where they had to identify and translate various obscure languages.   The language is an ancient Norse that seems more like Ogham for some of the vowels but mostly Futhark.  That iron oxide was used points more towards Futhark.  There was a viking axe head in Ohio after all; not so very far away.   She asks about spending the night by the runestone, but before John Stuart can reply, Curtis interrupts. "There - saw one," the blonde student points at a stand of trees along the rock ridge.   Irina looks away from the ravens wheeling in the clouds.
"Man or woman ?"
"Couldn't tell.  Too quick."
John Stuart watches the treeline for a while, as does Frank, but Curtis looks around very carefully, quite alert.  "They know we're here.  If we push onward, we travel across their marked boundary.  If we wait here, perhaps they will send an envoy.  We will camp here as you say, Miss.  First, I will state we are here for peaceful reasons."   John Stuart turned and faced the woods, and shouted in a voice that would easily carry across a battlefield, "We are here in peace !  We wish to speak with you !  Please !"   There is no reply, but he watches the surroundings as Curtis and Frank start to offload their packs and set up a campsite.  Irina takes another look at the runestone before the light fades unnaturally early, and thinks that one of the prevalent marks is a triple-V, indicative of a witch mark.  Soon the darkness is too deep to spot anyone looking back and the small party gathers by a campfire made by wet deadwood, smoky but warming.  A few well-cut saplings with a tarpaulin form a lean-to beside the rock face, and there is enough bedding for three people; one will be on watch, facing away from the fire.  Irina is allowed to take first watch, though she notes that John Stuart also keeps watch with her.  He does not have a weapon in hand, but keeps his sidearm holstered and a rifle nearby.  Curtis sleeps with a Winchester and Frank sleeps with a buzzing snore.  By the light of a gibbous moon, Irina sees the movement in the treeline of the rock ridge, but John Stuart cautions her to not react with a simple hand gesture, and nudges Curtis with a boot toe.  Curtis wakens suddenly and sharply, looking around before sitting up.  "Rifle down," Stuart whispers.  "Wake Frank; hand over mouth."  Soon Frank is awakened roughly and looked like he was going to whine about it, but for the stern eye of John Stuart upon him.
-------
Using some unseen footholds in the rock, three simply dressed people were descending, coming towards them.  Their clothing was rough homespun, tunics and robes, and they were barefoot.  In the moonlight their skin was very pale indeed, their hair a pale grey or blonde.  None of them are carrying anything apart from the last one, who had some kind of long walking staff.  They halted about sixty feet away, just at the edge of the firelight, standing unnaturally still.
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Actions, etc, for the next half-hour of game time, please respond by Saturday 20 June, next post Sunday.  Hope everyone is well !
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Before they leave the physics floor, Jack will check the bullet molds and surrounding area for any signs of silver bullets or other unusual rounds.
When they get to Gernhardt‘s room, Jack will quickly flip through the notebooks looking for anything related to their case. If that doesn’t pan out, he’ll look over the names of the fungus species, relying on his knowledge of Latin, to see if any suggest sinister effects.
Otherwise, unless Spider has additional thoughts, they will keep searching more rooms, starting with any that emit weird odors.

Post 70:  Hunting for More Clues pt 4

----Jack and Spider, Maryland--
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Jack looks over the loading equipment; the range is very good, from dainty .22 dies to what must be a .45-70.  There is no sign of silver being used, though the range of kinds of gunpowder is quite extensive, and includes "test mixes".
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  Up in  Dr. Gernhardt's lab Jack skims the top of the desk, looking for whatever might be going on here.  The Latin names are Amanita muscaria, Balansia cyperi, Claviceps purpurea, Conocybe #1 and #3a, Gymnopilus,  Rivea corymbosa, and Psilocybe azurescens.  They are mushrooms, plants and fungi, all with notable psychoactive and/or hallucinogenic properties.  Inside the first file folder he finds a study of how B. cyperi is "the most likely species for our needs" as written in a memo to a Dr. Schuler, in Washington, DC, with a lot of data on how it kills mice, which can be presumed to be a dosing study.  The notebook under it has detailed drawings of various fungi and their properties, with notes on how to raise and keep them.  There is a purchase order for laboratory animals; the Navy let Gernhardt spend 350$ on guinea pigs, rats and dogs just last month.   Another folder is labelled "Phase Two" and the language is very stilted, calling "Test Solution A-12" to be "Dispensed to specified Area Release".  No idea what it might be, or where it might be, but the drawing of the machine involved looked like a sprayer of some kind.  Another folder has a series of scientific journal articles, written in German, from the Kaiser Wilhelm Society, and another folder has articles from the Harvard University Journal, all of which are about plants and fungi.   Milton was content to stare off into the middle distance while Spider and Jack searched, and just as ready to take them to the next lab, which was a chemical storage room with a fine set of scales, a marble desk that had seen better times and several unopened crates marked "Dangerous, Do Not Touch."
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GM: Actions, etc, for the next half-hour of game time, please respond by Saturday, 27 June, hope everyone is doing all right out there
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[OOC: Sorry about last week - all is still well. I also wish this setup didn't remind me quite so much of Bone Tomahawk!]

Irina will put down the shotgun but keep the pistol holstered on her belt, and take a few steps forward, palms open to show she is not carrying anything, trusting the three men to cover her if need be.

"We come to your land in peace," she tells them. "I am Irina, and I represent the wise men of my people. Will one among you speak with me?"

"Two men were killed near here within the past moon. I know that a Young of the Goddess was conjured to do it. I seek to understand why."

Jack agrees with Spider that there are many possibilities here. After jotting down the names of all the plants/fungi, as well as whatever he can make of the “Phase 2“ notes, he moves on to the next room and carefully examines the crates, the floor around them, and the desk for any minute clues. Then, other avenues having been exhausted, he thinks a peek inside is in order. When Spider expresses trepidation, Jack says, “You and Milton stand back through the doorway. So you can rescue me if this is a bad idea. Or at least notify my family.” Then, pulling a large folding knife from a pocket, he will start prying up the top of the largest crate.

Post 71: Meeting New Enemies pt 1

--------Irina, Pennsylvania--
--------------------------
Irina put down the shotgun and showed her open hands, speaking to the three pale people.  There is a pause; the three glance at each other, and one of them makes a sweeping, elegant gesture, muttering something; there is a sudden pair of thuds as both Frank and John Stuart suddenly collapse unconscious onto the ground by the fire.  Curtis stands, Winchester ready to bring death.  "We do not speak to men," said the eldest of the three, stepping forward while leaning on a long stick that reminded Irina a lot of Ben's mage staff.  The voice was rough and hesitant, as if speaking English was not commonplace.  "And I see not all that stand here are men.  Come forward, women.  We will talk and decide what to do with you."
"The hell you will," growled Curtis, stepping in front of Stuart's prone body and raising the Winchester.  Irina sees the familiar gestures of the Protect from Harm spell being cast by one of the younger people.  They draw closer, stopping about forty feet away, so that Irina can now see that all three are women; one a teenager, one perhaps thirty, and an older woman of about sixty.
"Your kind came onto our land, and stole from us, Irina," the oldest woman says. "The aspect of the Goddess was sent to punish the thieves."  The middle-aged woman seems a bit unsure about that statement, Irina notices, though she maintains the Protect from Harm spell.  The youngest one seems most confused by Curtis, who does a very good impression of a man with a rifle keenly interested in shooting them.  All three are wearing very plain shifts and robes; the eldest's expression is inscrutable, the other two seem very uncertain, perhaps even afraid.  There is something about their features that makes Irina think they are not entirely human.

----Jack and Spider----
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Looking out in the corridor, the windows reveal an extensive complex of buildings joined by walkways, and there are doubtless more grounds that cannot be seen from this area.  Spider squints out across the complex, trying to figure out where someone might have stashed a testing area, and there are a lot of possibilities.  Milton seems concerned about violating a Do Not Touch order from his friend, nice Dr. Brown.  "Doc Brown says, Do Not Touch." he protests, even as Jack shoos him out the door into the hallway.   There is a screwdriver in one of the drawers that Jack can also use to prise open one of the crates.  Inside it is a 2-lb tin cannister of something finely powdered, labelled "Poison, Do Not Touch" and "Exp 12a Fine Powder".  This is taped shut but his knife makes short work of that.  The powder inside is fine, in appearance much like a gunpowder - but has a strong, sweet smell to it.  (And the GM rolls.....) Jack appears to suffer no ill effects from his current contact with the chemical compound, and there is no paperwork around that might indicate where it was to be taken or used, just some straw to pack the crate so that the cannister does not wobble.
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Things are not as good for Spider and Milton, who are both surprised to hear someone shout "Milton !  What the hell are you doing up here ?!"  Another guard, in uniform, but with a gun on his belt, has snuck up along the dark corridor and confronts Spider and Milton.  Upon sighting Spider, he puts his hand on his gun.  "Hold it right there !  Hands up !"
"Hello, Jamie," Milton said, hands up but smiling.  "You found me !  You are really good at that !"
"Milton, NOT NOW, what are you doing here with this - civilian ?"
"Tour," Milton said.  "From Wa-shing-ton.  Dee Cee."
"What, again ?" the other guard said, grimacing. "These rooms are off limits.  You know that.  Take him back to the parking lot."  At this point, it seems clear the other guard has not yet seen Jack.
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GM: Actions for the next few minutes of game time, please respond by Saturday 4 July, next post Sunday
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This message was last edited by the GM at 21:13, Sun 05 July 2020.

Irina gestures at Curtis to lower his rifle.

"It's okay, Curtis," she tells him. "This is why I am here. There is nothing more that you can do. Your bullets won't hurt them. Make sure that the others are okay. I need to speak with these ladies. If I don't come back, tell Edith they're Norse magi, descendants of Vikings. And that their leaders seem to be women - possibly something more - or other - than human."

She takes a deep breath, and steps forward again.

"Those you killed did not represent us," she says. "If they stole from you, then perhaps your actions were justified. I seek to understand, not to judge. But you must also understand me... if you harm me, or those who have travelled with me, others will come. People who know what it is that you do. Your Protection spells will not keep you safe if we bend the full extent of our will upon you. I do not threaten, I only caution you."

She continues to walk forward. "I am happy to talk. But do not think me as ignorant as those of my kind you may have met before. I am a witch, and I have seen those from Beyond."

Jack tries to will himself invisible and silently puts the lid down on the poison. If he can step back into deeper shadows, he will. If discovered, he will comply with the new guard’s  orders. If they leave without him, he will put the crate lid back on quietly and then continue searching further rooms, or moving outside if there looks to be anything interesting out there.

Post 72: Meeting New Enemies pt 2

-----------------
Irina cautions Curtis, who gives her a sharp look.  "You got it," the hidden female in men's clothing said.  As Irina approached the three females, she hit upon the oddness; all three had large, dark eyes, even the sclera, and didn't blink.  It was like looking into shark's eyes.  "You may call me Urda," the eldest one tells Irina. "We do not have names as your kind does.  You are a witch; then perhaps you will understand better than most.  The sending of our Goddess is to be praised and worshipped.  It has done us great service."
This did not sit too well with the middle-aged woman, who was standing slightly behind the oldest one.  It was just a momentary twitch of a scowl, but it was enough to let Irina know there was something not right; and then she released her hold on the Protection spell, letting the mana frizzle into the atmosphere.  The youngest one slowly drew nearer to the others, tucking her hands into the sleeves of her robe and looking very curiously at Irina's clothes, and back at "Curtis", who was standing watch back at the campfire, eyes on Irina and the three strangers.   She seemed especially nervous too - when a branch snapped, somewhere along the treeline, she visibly jumped and looked around in terror.   The eldest one snapped something at her that could may well be Old Norse, but Irina could still see the young one trembling.  "Let us take our sister witch to our caves and offer her our hospitality," the middle-aged one said quickly.  "It is the Proper Way."
"Let it be so.  It is the Proper Way." the old one said.  "We must blindfold you for the journey, for no stranger is permitted to know our home.  Do you consent to this ?"
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------Jack and Spider----
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Spider obediently follows Milton out, under the watchful eye of the other guard, as they reach the front door.  All the corridors are dark now and it is getting harder to see, but Milton apparently knows the place by heart.   "You finish your rounds, Milton, and go home," Jamie the guard said as he went off towards the other wing.  Milton paused, sorting through keys, dropped the key ring, and then sorted through them again.  It looked like he was stalling.   Finally he opened the door, and held it for Spider to walk through, and stepped into the foyer with Spider, closing the door.  Milton for the first time spoke normally, whispering, "I'll get your friend out.  Wait in your car."   He went back into the building, locking the door, and quickly vanished from sight.
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Jack, hidden in the room, waits for the sounds to diminish before resuming his search, now by the light of the moon, certain that he will attract unwelcome attention if he switches on any more lights.  The poison container is easy enough to seal and set back down, though the crate is now open.  The next room down the hall is another chemistry lab, this one belonging to Dr. Dowling.  It smells worse than a monkey house in August, so Jack moves along quickly.  He is looking into a room full of lab tables and more glassware when he hears a slight sound at the doorway.  Milton stands there, looking simple, but now it doesn't seem to reach his eyes.  "Not safe now," he says very softly. "I'll take you out the west door, close to the lot.  There's a testing ground out in the swamp, I don't know where, so you'll have to tail Gernhardt.  82 Westfield Avenue.  Do not blow my cover, Sterling."  Milton led Jack down a deserted stairwell and soon there was a door that opened out near the parking lot.
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GM:  Actions, etc, for the next few minutes of game time, please respond by Saturday, 11 July, next post Sunday. Glad to hear from you and hope you are all keeping healthy !
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This message was last edited by the GM at 19:50, Sat 11 July 2020.

Irina isn't quite sure what is going on between the three women, but notes the youngest's skittishness and curiosity and the apparent disagreement between the elder two, and makes sure to try and keep aware of any such ways in which they may not present a united front.

Of course, for the time being, she's not going to be able to see anything...

She really doesn't want to be led blindfolded into the woods by a bunch of Shub Niggurath cultists who can summon Dark Young, but she isn't sensing any active hostility from them. She wonders briefly if she should have encouraged 'Curtis' to come with her, but doesn't want to risk it. For now she simply acquiesces.

"Very well."

On the way, she will ask, "tell me more about this... Proper Way."

OC: Sorry I’m late, rough couple of weeks. And way to go, Keeper! I was completely fooled by Milton.

IC: Jack’s mouth drops open in surprise, and then he shuts it diplomatically.
“Lead on,“ he replies.
When they part ways, he will hand Milton the “lost“ key ring. “Thank you; call if you need us.” And then Jack rejoins Spider and fills him in. They will meet up with Cressida for dinner, I suppose, and plan to tail the doc into the swamp in the morning.

Post 73:  Meeting New Enemies pt 3

----------Irina, hanging out with Cultists in Pennsylvania----
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Irina gets a length of fairly soft homespun cloth wound around her eyes, tied carefully by the middle-aged female.  The young one takes her right hand and the middle-aged one takes her left hand, to guide her.  "It is level for a way then we will be climbing up, we will help you," the middle-aged one says.  "Under the rule of hospitality we cannot harm you.    It the Proper Way to welcome guests.  You may call me Verdi and my daughter is Skuld.  We are the three Nornir."  The walk is long, involves a splash through the cold brook, and then some climbing up a rock stair, past trees and shrubs.  Her assistants are indeed careful and she does not slip, though she hears the old woman curse a few times and stumble, sending some gravel skittering along the ground.   Irina's ears seem sharper, and there is a notable lack of nighttime noises - nothing is moving around in the undergrowth, no owls are hooting, no foxes calling - it was much louder outside the Forestry cabin at night.  Another loud snap of a branch has the young one clutch Irina's hand tightly; not so far away something large is moving among the trees.  "Quickly now," whispered Verdi, and they hastened their pace, practically lifting Irina as she stumbled over a ridge in the path.  A rumble of stone moving on stone, the smell of woodsmoke and flax, and some kind of cooking aromas, and the rustling of people moving.  Irina's blindfold is removed as the old woman intones something in Old Norse; she sees a huge cave lit by fires, with about seventeen people standing around, most looking curiously at her.  She sees only three men, who have close-cropped white beards; the rest are female, from children about five years old up to a very aged woman crouched by a spinning wheel.  All are pale, in pale clothes, with pitch black eyes.  "Few of us speak English," Verdi whispered to Irina. "I will stay near you if you wish to speak to anyone.  First, we speak the words of welcome."
The Norn Urda raises her staff and intones in Old Norse. "We welcome a daughter of the Old Ways, from the strange land beyond ours, into our hospitality.  Let all welcome her as is the Proper Way." Verdi quietly translated to Irina, and Irina was fairly sure the translation was accurate. "She has come to ask about the Goddess and Her Protection.  Her name among the strangers is Irina.  Speak to her as you would to a stranger."  Verdi grimaces at that, but is careful to face away from Urda. Young Skuld is still much taken with Irina's clothes, and can't help but touch her sleeve.  "How do you get the dye for this ?" whispers the young girl.
"Skuld, fetch our guest a bowl of porridge, she must be hungry," Verdi says.  "It is barley, sweetened with wild berries.   We have mead to drink."   The young girl scurries off.  The rest of the odd tribe return to their tasks.  One of the men is scraping a deerskin hide, the very old woman is spinning flax into thread, and two of the other women are setting up an old-style loom - it looks like the tribe is mostly nocturnal.  Everyone seems to settle into some task or other, but there are quite a few glances towards Irina.  Urda seems satisfied and thumps her way over to Irina.
"Our home is yours, for the duration of Hospitality," Urda says to Irina, leaning on her staff.  The firelight picked up small metallic gleams in the wood.  "We have closed the cave entrance to keep wild animals out."  Irina can tell without any difficulty that those words were a bald-faced lie.  A very heavy boulder has been levered into a place that blocks the cave entrance.  It would take at least three people to move the thing using the thick poles next to it.  Skuld hustles back with a wooden bowl of lumpy porridge and a large clay flask of mead.  "Sit by the fire with us and tell us how a witch can be happy in the strange land."  Verdi pours out some mead into simple pottery beakers and sips hers, as if to show Irina that it is safe.  The porridge is warm and filling, but not particularly tasty, the mead is much better.  As Irina sits and her eyes adjust to the firelight, she can see that practically every surface of the cave wall is carved with pictograms and the Old Norse runes.
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------Jack and Spider, sneaking around Maryland----
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Jack hands off the 'lost' key ring.  "We all have our assignments," said Milton, and then the daft look was fully back in place; if the man went on the stage as a Vaudeville stooge, he'd make a good paycheck.  As it was, Jack was fairly certain that Milton was some sort of government agent.  Jack found Spider safely in their car and they made the drive back to their lodgings without incident.   Cressida and the twins seem to be recovered, and they even try to eat dinner with utensils, though both refuse anything vegetable.
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It is easy enough to find Dr. Gernhardt's address and determine that the neighbour's overgrown forsythia bushes make good cover for the car.   At a few minutes past six am, the doctor emerges from the house with a small grey terrier, walking the dog around the block; by six thirty the doctor has returned, gathered up his briefcase and drives directly to the Naval Ordinance labs in a black and burgundy Packard sedan.   It makes for a long, boring morning, waiting to see what happens next; in fact, nothing happens all day, until about four o'clock, when a strange-looking truck trundles up to the gates and is let inside.  The truck had a large tank on the back, with a complex spraying arrangement that Jack recalls from the papers in Gernhardt's lab; there are no markings on the truck and the license plate is obscured by mud, as is most of the truck.  Gernhardt does not leave with the bulk of the employees, who depart anywhere from five o'clock to six o'clock.
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After another hour or so of being very bored, irritable and hungry, Spider and Jack are rewarded by sighting the odd truck departing the compound, with Gernhardt's Packard sedan following it.  As far as Jack and Spider can tell, they are tailing the two vehicles and have not been noticed, at least as far as the paved road goes.  When the truck and car veer off on a dirt track heading west, they are less sure they won't be spotted following.   (Drive roll, whomever is driving please)
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GM: Actions, please, for the next half hour of game time, please respond by Saturday, 18 July, next post Sunday.  Glad to have fooled you, Mr. Sterling !  It's much more challenging these days.  Hope all of you are healthy and as happy as circumstances allow.
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Like Spider, Jack has only basic driving ability. I rolled a 47. It seems like Spider’s idea to pursue on foot is the best course available! Jack has a shoulder-slung shotgun and a .45 in his belt, both with silver ammo. He also has a flaregun and six flares. And a flashlight. And fifty feet of rope and a ten-foot pole. (Okay, not those last two...)

Irina is briefly non-plussed. In truth, she isn't sure. Something about half-remembered chemistry from school. Azo dyes? Not the sort of thing she ever expected to have to remember.

"I don't really know," she tells the girl. "We have alchemists who do all of that. And... weaving machines. I just wear the clothes they make." Sensing the girl's curiosity about the outside world, she adds: "we have all kinds of colours, like the rainbow. Any colour you can imagine."



Irina eats and drinks sparingly.

"It is not the land in which I was born," she admits. "I come from far to the East. I think that we may once have had ancestors in common. We called them Rus - Northmen who settled along the great rivers. Your ancestors must have come west instead, across the great ocean. But... in my home there was civil war, and my mother and I fled to this land. I have been made welcome here, but I have also discovered that I carry the Power within me, that I have a lineage. Sometimes, when I look in the mirror, I can see Grandmother. I am still learning how to control it. I am uncommon in our land, I admit, and I cannot show my power openly, except to close friends. But I have good friends there. Ours may seem a strange land to you, but your ways are strange to me. We each grow accustomed to what we are used to."

"Tell me, have you always worshipped the Goddess? And... forgive me if this is an indelicate question but - I see children, but no men. Where are they?"

"There is something out there you fear. What is it? It is not a wild animal, I think."
This message was lightly edited by the player at 20:22, Sun 19 July 2020.

Post 74: Trouble Brewing pt 1
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----Irina, in a cave full of Cultists---
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The young girl Skuld's black eyes widened even more, keenly interested in a world full of colourful fabrics.  "Really," she murmured.  She also picked all the berries out of her porridge mush and ate them.
"We only keep three males," Urda said, with a smack of satisfaction at her mead.  "Why bother with more ?"
Irina is offered some flatbread from Verdi's wooden plate; coarse-ground flour, but not without some merit.  "We have been with the Goddess for many seasons," Verdi said. "There is an accounting of our travel to this place, but I'm not sure how you measure time.  Midwinter has come and passed over nine hundred times."  Irina caught the sudden sharp rap on Verdi's leg from Urda's staff, but the woman made no sound.
"It is well that you speak to the Grandmother spirit," Urda said.  "Perhaps you can learn sense.  We fear nothing, Irina of the Strangers, who claims the Rus bloodline.  We are one with the forest and live in the protection of the Goddess.  And all who would trouble us will die.  As will your three friends at the runestone."  Urda laughed then, a mad and evil laugh, then spoke in the old Norse language, to all the people in the cave. Most looked up; one or two looked horrified; the very old woman paused in her spinning; Skuld dropped her porridge bowl, mouth hanging open, staring at Urda.
"The Sending will devour them." Verdi translated, in a faint voice.
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--Spider and Jack, Maryland------
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Spider was indeed happy to see the family was in better health, and left the two offspring in their mother's care.
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Jack's driving is more suited to paved roads, and the Bureau's motor pool leaves much to be desired for stability, handling and off-road capabilities.  He plows into a thick patch of sedge that was doing a good job of hiding a mudhole, and the car is mired.  It will take a winch to get it out.  Spider and Jack bail out into the muddy ditch and slog along after the truck and the Packard.  The truck goes slowly, the Packard even more so, but it's clear both vehicles have taken this path before from the ruts in the roadway and the drivers' familiarity with the area.  With some cautious wading through the swamp, Jack and Spider eventually arrive at the edge of a flat dry area, near the extensive waterway; the two vehicles are parked.  Oddly, they also don't encounter much by way of wildlife.  Two men in worn work clothes are setting up some kind of fan and generator, while Dr. Gernhardt carefully unloads a wooden crate very much like the ones Jack saw earlier.  The doctor is wearing heavy rubber gloves and a face mask, the goggles definitely limiting his peripheral vision, and the two workmen seem preoccupied with their tasks; they are moments away from operating this strange device.

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GM:  Now that the PCs have plenty to worry about, please respond with actions, etc for the next few minutes of game time, by Saturday, 25 July, next post Sunday.  Hope you are all safe and healthy !
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Irina gives her a hard stare.
"Love? Companionship? You deny yourselves too much."



Irina stands up and throws her bowl of porridge to one side.

"Not while I am alive," she tells Urda. "You can't control it, can you? That's why you're so afraid of it. That's what you're hiding from. You pretend to have the Goddess's power, but actually you only know parts of it. You keep these people from the outside world because it would diminish your power over them. Well those are good people, who came to your land in good faith - one of them is a woman, even. They do not deserve death. I can stop the Dark Young. I can send it back. I have that power. And I intend to do so. And if you try to stop me, I will kill you. Who is with me?"

She will try to see how the rock at the cave mouth is fixed and how it might be removed, all the time grabbing for her pistol and keeping am eye on Urda.

Jack’s thoughts are the same as Spider’s for now: observe whatever occurs, make sure they are upwind, figure out what is downwind, and leave a mark so they can find a this spot again. They will also have to be careful not to be seen by the doctor and his henchmen when they leave and as they hoof it back to town. Hiring a discreet tow truck driver to pull their vehicle out may be difficult – that too is on his mind.

Post 75: Trouble Brewing pt 2
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-----OOC; having trouble posting to rpol yesterday
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----Irina, with Cultists in Pennsylvania-----
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Irina could tell at a glance the heavy rock that seals the cave will need at least three strong people to shift it.  Her sudden stance rivets all eyes to her; and she is still surprised that Verdi also stands and shouts in Norse, apparently translating for Irina.  Urda seizes her staff and shrieks bloody murder, the staff glowing with eldritch light - but Verdi steps in front of Irina, shielding her, hands already flicking in the Protection from Harm spell.
She says something in Old Norse to Skuld, who looks startled.  "I know the hidden way out," Skuld tells Irina.  The rest of the cultists scurry around, mostly out of line of fire for Urda's staff.  Verdi continues to shield Irina with her own body as Skuld tries to convince Irina to come with her.  One of the few men rushes to help the very old woman rise from her spinning wheel and flinches as an arc of eldritch lightning stabs at him from Urda's staff.  There is screaming, yelling, confusion, and over it all, the shrieks of rage from Urda, now interlaced with words of power.  Young Skuld all but pulls Irina from the cavern into a dark passageway.
"You must trust me," Skuld says to Irina, "We know Urda is mad, but she is also the most powerful of us.  Put your hands on my shoulders and I will lead you out.  Can you -really- make the Sending go away ?"  It becomes obvious to Irina that Skuld can see in the dark, for the passageway has no light at all.   Scraping by along rock walls, in utter darkness, while the echoes of madness and arcane magic crackle and blast behind them is like something out of a nightmare.  Then Irina can smell the rich scent of pine needles and fresh air.  "Up the ladder - there are handholds.  You cannot see them.  Two favn up, the holds are - the fot."  Skuld pulls Irina's hand to the stone wall, where crude steps have been carved into the walls, about a foot apart, to the left and right.  Her guide helps her up the blind ladder and soon the cold night air surrounds her, with the trunks of pine trees on top of the rock ridge.  The sounds of the cave are lost now, and the night is unnaturally silent.  Then she hears a loud thudding sound as of a giant hoof pawing into the earth.  In the faint light of the moon and stars, Irina can just about make out Skuld's face; the girl looks terrified.  There is the unmistakeable crack of a Winchester being fired.

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------Jack and Spider---Maryland---
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Jack and Spider quickly determine the direction of the wind - from the North West at about 7 miles per hour - and note besides that, there is also a bank of dark clouds heading in from the West.  This may limit the dispersion of the chemicals if the rain comes soon enough.  The two agents are half-hidden in a run of sea oats to the South of the machinery, and the fan is pointed due South - right along the waterway.  The prevailing winds would carry South and East, so they are unfortunately downwind.  Some ugly squelching in the muddy marsh can put them more towards the West.  Neither man has much hope their footwear will survive this experience intact.  Shortly after they are stuck in another bog to the North of the site, the two workmen start up the fan and the Doctor loads the machine with some fine purple dust.  Both workmen pause to tie scarves around their faces and step back from the machine, and Spider and Jack can hear them speaking to each other in German - something about who has to go check the animals, and neither one wants to do it.  Then Gernhardt releases the chemical, the fine dust mixing into a toxic fog, blowing it South.  He carefully closes up the cannister and puts everything away but his mask, points at one of the two men, and then returns to his car before taking off his gas mask.  So far no one has spotted Jack and Spider (08% on their hide roll).   Of the two workmen, the one that was pointed out is grumbling curses as the Doctor drives away.  The machine continues to make fog for another ten minutes, then the chemicals run out, the fan sputtering to a stop as the generator runs out of juice.  The workmen begin to take the machine apart, not looking too happy about it.
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GM: Actions for the next few minutes of gametime, please respond by Saturday, 1 August, next post Sunday. Hope you are all healthy and continue to be so !
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Jack agrees with Spider’s plan. He pulls out a bandanna and ties it around his face, bandito style.
“We’ll have to be sneaky in all this wet muck. And I don’t think we can leave them out here. They might get poisoned. We’ll have to bind their hands and blindfold then and toss them in the back of the truck, and make sure there’s nothing they can get a hold of back there. We can question them there, if you think that’s a good idea. And if there’s a rope or a chain, we could even pull our car out. Then we can take any evidence with us, and leave them in the truck on the side of the road.”

"Yes," replies Irina, more confidently than she feels. She knows that Urda could have killed her, could still kill them all, but she couldn't stand by and do nothing as the rangers were killed.



Irina tries to remember what Ben told her, what she read. Sand and salt on broken ground... the creature must be in the pentacle, and the bigger the pentacle the less powerful it will be. She takes a deep breath, feeling for the bag of sand and salt in her pocket.

"Stay with me," she tells Skuld, taking her hand and heading for the sound of the gunshots. She needs to try to see the Dark Young, so that she can start trying to circle around it, hopefully staying hidden or at least out of reach, laying the salt and sand in as small a pentacle as she dares. She can only hope that the Dark Young is preoccupied with other things as she does so.

"Can you run quickly?" she asks Skuld. "I need... someone... to distract it while I draw a magical circle of containment around it." She looks into the girl's eyes. "Please trust me. But be careful of the tentacles. They can stretch further than you think. Stay in the trees." Irina tries to assess if she is up to this. If not, she will have to rely on her own stealth and speed.

Post 76: Trouble Brewing pt 3
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March, 1925
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---Spider and Jack, Maryland, swamp----
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The two agents watch the German workmen take down the machine, apparently planning on driving towards wherever the test animals are kept.  Both are complaining in German to each other - the one who was tasked with the animals chore the loudest.  The other one has a coughing fit and has to sit down for a moment, allowing the agents time to move around towards the front of the truck.  They can easily steal it; the keys are in the ignition.  As Spider and Jack get closer to the truck they also note a distinctly skunky smell to the air, and a fine purple dust haze is around the truck.  Now both of the Germans are coughing, and thunder rumbles off to the West.    Then one of the Germans - the younger one - notices Spider and yells.  Jack is near the driver's side door, Spider a few steps closer to the back of the truck, where the two men are.
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---------Irina, Pennsylvania----hunting Dark Young----
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Irina heads towards the last known location of John Stuart and his two students, realizing she is up above them now, along the rock ridge.  It is dark, with only moonlight and starlight to see by.  The caverns are closer than she thought and she can just see a glimmer of the campfire, past the ledge of rock.  Skuld's hand is held tight in her own, and the girl easily moves in the darkness, stepping over or around stumps, brush and rocks that Irina struggles around.  "But, it IS the trees," Skuld said, in a small, scared voice, wrapping both arms around herself as if to hide, trying to come to a decision at Irina's request.  Another shot from the Winchester, this time with a roar of something otherworldly in answer.  There was no mistaking the direction, towards the campfire by the runestone. "We use the hlynr," Skuld said, hurrying to a skinny sapling with three-lobed leaves; she grabbed up as high as she could, bending it downward and then kicked off, using the bendy sapling's rebound to propel herself several yards downslope.  "Grab high, kick hard ! I will call the Sending to me !"  In seconds the girl is nearly to the edge of the rock ridge and scrambling down it, headed towards the runestone camp site of the forestry school.
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GM: Actions, etc., for the next few minutes of game time, please respond by Saturday 8 August, next post Sunday.  Glad to see you all !  Hope everyone is doing well !
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OC: Sorry for the delay.
IC: Jack takes note of the purplish cloud — was it here before, or did it drift back against the wind somehow, or what? In any case, he moves quickly but quietly into the driver’s seat and fires up the truck. He immediately starts it moving slowly back toward the road, and once he hears Spider jump in the back he will speed up to faster than the workers can run (but not much faster, since he doesn’t want to miss a turn or hit a log or something). When they get back to the road they can figure out their next step, such as pulling out their car.

Post 77: Running for Your Lives pt 1

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Spider and Jack, Maryland, some swamp
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Spider acted harmless and lost, which brought both the German workmen up short as they tried to decipher his accented English.  The one who was coughing was wiping his face with a stained rag, the one who had shouted at him was reaching for the spanner that was hanging from a loop on his leather belt. "This bad place, you leave now !"

Jack observes the purple cloud as probably the last exhaust of the machinery, and jumps into the cab of the truck.  It starts easily enough, surprising the two Germans, and Spider makes a leap for the tailgate as Jack starts it rolling.  The heavy apparatus that cast out the vapor also skids in its trailer, part of it falling over from being only partly disassembled by the Germans.   Spider scrambles into the back of the truck before the Germans can reach him, and Jack manages to keep the wheels on fairly dry land.    The two workmen struggle to reach after the truck, but cannot keep up, both of them soon falling by the wayside.  Whatever that chemical is, it's giving Jack and Spider a vicious headache and nausea.  They roll past the ditch where the company car is stuck.  Might be able to get it out before the Germans catch up, might not......
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Irina, atop a rock ledge in an area full of cultists, a Dark Young, etc.
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Irina quickly loses sight of young Skuld, who probably forgot Irina could not see in the dark.  But she can certainly hear; the thunder of hooves, crashing into the ground as something large began to move with purpose.
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GM: Please send in actions, etc, for the next few minutes of game time, please respond by Saturday, 15 August, next post is Sunday. Hope you are safe and well !
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Irina will try to copy Skuld's technique to get down to the forest floor. Once she does, she will try to circle around where she can hear the hooves, dropping the sand and salt to try and form a protective circle, and, where she dares, dart between them to form the five points of the pentagram.

Still worried that they will be identified by the car they left behind, Jack nevertheless agrees with Spider's logic and heads the stolen truck back toward headquarters. Once they have some distance, he will keep an eye open for somewhere they can pull over to clear their heads (or lose their lunches) if necessary.

Post 78: Running for Your Lives pt 2
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----Irina, with Dark Young in Pennsylvania, night----
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Irina grabbed a likely-looking sapling and found herself catapulted nearly twelve feet.  It was not a method of transport for the faint of heart.  From her new vantage point, she can see the firelight of the forestry campsite, with a lone figure standing at its edge, aiming a rifle at something moving in the trees down trail.  The thundering hoofbeats echo in the night air and a horrible roar accompanies them.  Irina grabs the next sapling and finds herself tossed onto a rough slope, slipping downward onto pine needles and scree.  There is no time to waste as she can see the silhouette of something unworldly galloping towards the campsite, though "Curtis" stands steadfast and ready to fire.  Someone screams in a high pitch, a long warbling sound that seems to hold a hidden meaning, and the hooves skid to a stop, the heavy legs bunching with muscle, the great long ropy tentacles reaching up and around, the drooling fanged mouths hanging open, not a hundred feet from the campsite.  Curtis fires, the shot enough to rock the Dark Young on its hooves. (Irina, san loss -2 for seeing a big Dark Young).   The Dark Young howls and stamps its hooves, and there is another long scream causing it to pause for a few seconds - probably Skuld but Irina cannot see her at the moment.  Curtis reloads the rifle.
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Irina scrambles to her feet and circles around the Dark Young, cautious of the swaying tentacles and finally sees Skuld, who is standing near a birch tree and gesturing as if casting a spell.  The girl looks terrified of the monster, but she isn't running away.  Irina begins laying the pentacle out, hoping she has enough materials and that the horrible thing won't run out of range.   It must be seventy feet tall and it is terrible to behold.
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Spider and Jack with a stolen truck in a swamp in Maryland-----
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Jack swings the truck along the roadway, and catches a glimpse of a man running close by the trailer - one of the Germans.  The man tried to grab onto the trailer and completely missed it, falling and rolling into what was no doubt a bog, for he vanished from sight in a mess of weeds.  Taking all this for good enough, the two agents drive on, until Jack's nausea overcomes him and Spider is forced to take the wheel.  Once they are a good distance away, with the windows cranked open all the way for fresh air, the muddy, weary agents of the government's most secret service are pondering what exactly they have gotten out of it.  The ill feeling is slowly fading away to a persistent headache.
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The truck is a beat-up Oldsmobile T Grain Box truck, with a trailer hitched to the back that looks handmade and still has most of the odd fog-making apparatus.  The fogger has some kind of fan system powered by a gasoline generator, and still has traces of purple dust on the mechanisms.  It has seen some heavy use and did not take well to the speedy getaway, so a mechanical repair will be needed to determine more about it.  A search of the truck shows some scribbled maps on cheap paper, with all the notations in German, though the name "Gernhardt" is written on one of them.  Jack finds a lunchbox with a flask of some kind of dark liquor and half a sausage sandwich, heavy on the mustard. Spider finds that the truck definitely needs some mechanical support itself, as the steering is rough, the brakes are sketchy and it lists to the left.  The fuel gauge does not work.  A mostly empty tool box is in the back of the truck, with only a screwdriver left in it.  The other tools are probably scattered by their hasty getaway.  The time is now late afternoon.  The weather is turning windy and wet, the storm coming in from the West has arrived.
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GM: Please respond with actions, etc for the next few minutes of game time by Saturday, 22 August, next post Sunday.  Hope you are all healthy and getting along with the New Normal.
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Post 79: Running for Your Lives pt 3
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-----------Irina, with Dark Young-------
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Irina begins laying out the pentacle, hoping she has enough raw materials to make a strong enough symbol, and that the creature does not stampede out of it in any direction.   She can feel the ground shake when it stamps a hoof, the tentacles swaying as Skuld continues her strange ululation.   Everything seems to be going well enough - at least it wasn't attacking yet.  There is an almighty grinding and rumbling sound, as a part of the rock ridge begins to slide somewhere along the plateau.  Arcs of green light snap and crackle along the rocks, blazing eldritch light along the ridge.  (The GM rolls.....)
So far Irina's spell seems to be proceeding well.  Perhaps the Old Norse gods are watching......

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-----Spider and Jack---Maryland------
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Spider rings up the Grey Building.  Ben answers on the second ring.   "Damn, I was hoping you were Edith calling," he said.  "I've already had two phone calls from Thorne asking me to expense all kinds of equipment.  I don't even know where the forms are let alone how to fill them out.  We have our janitor's niece doing the filing or I'd be knee deep in files.  So, you're in Maryland and require extraction ?  You do know that means me, driving down in Thorne's truck ?   Hold on,"  and then Spider heard Ben talking to someone else in the room.  "Gladys, can you keep the office running for a few hours ?  Take messages, that kind of thing ?  I need to drive to Maryland."
"Okay, Doctor Weintraub," came a light female voice.  "I'll ask my Uncle if I can stay late."
"Thank you.  I'll pay you overtime, Gladys.  Just leave a note on my desk.  Or pin it to the lamp." Then Ben was back to talk to Spider. "All right; give me your current address and I'll be there in a few hours."  Spider is able to put in a few gallons of gasoline and can get the ailing stolen truck to a decent rendevous point.  Sure enough, a few hours later the two agents see Thorne's Brush Company truck racing down the road, Ben at the wheel.
"It is as if the paranormal hurricane has come," he said, after greeting Jack and Spider. "The telephone does not stop ringing.  Most of it is probably nothing, but some of it is very disturbing.  So show me this thing."
After perusing the fogger machine, Ben agreed it needed to be taken into custody and that samples of the purple dust collected should be tested by someone who knew what they were doing.  They hooked the trailer up to the brush truck and left the stolen truck on the side of the road.
"So what else needs to be done down here ?" Ben asked.  "Did you find the wolfman ?"
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GM: Please respond with actions, etc, for the next few minutes of gametime, by Saturday, 29 August, next post Sunday.  I am sorry that rpol.net was not working for us this weekend.

Jack seconds Spider’s report, and adds, “I think we got a pretty good look at the lab, but nothing obviously pointed to the werewolf. They are experimenting with fungi and other plants that cause hallucinations and visions, so that could have influenced someone to act like a wolf. Miss Hamilton-Riesling detected a chemical odor at the scene of the attack that made her ill, which could be this stuff. We contacted a scientist who works there and was sympathetic to our investigation, as well as a federal agent of some kind who is undercover as a simple-minded security guard at the lab.”  Jack fills him in on their names and contact info. “One thing we intended to do, but didn’t yet, was to speak to the girls and their parents, since one father is a clergyman and the other works at the lab. Our research thus far has revealed nothing unusual about either man, though. Clearly we haven’t solved it. I’m not sure what our next move should be.”

Post 80: Stand and Deliver
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---Irina---Dispelling a Dark Young----
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The Dark Young roars through several of its drooling, grotesque mouths, a horrible counterpoint to the ululation from Skuld, who is walking towards it.  Its long tentacles sway and whip towards the night sky, and it paws the ground again with a huge hoof.  A dreadful stench from it rises up, making Irina's eyes water.
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------Spider and Jack---Dealing with Government Conspiracies--------
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It was often hard to read Ben's expression.  Over time the Raiders had learnt that when Ben was quiet a little too long before he responded, there was a lot going on in his head.  "So they're testing it on animals now," he said, voice level. "And this Gernhardt, he's being paid by the Department of Defense, the same one paying us.  And some other agency is also at the labs, looking for something.  And I thought a government job, easy work, regular paycheck, less headaches, pension...great idea...."  He trailed off in a faint sigh, glanced at the horizon.  "As much as I'm glad to get out of the office today, I will have to get back to DC tonight.  Take the Brush truck, drop me at the train station.  Interview the families, the girl herself if her parents will allow it.  If you think there's a chance of another attack, based on what seems to be going on, make the judgement call on closing the case or not.  We could use some help in DC."
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The agents drop Ben off at the rails to catch a train into DC, and they decide their next move.
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GM: Actions, etc, please, by Saturday, 5 September, next post on Sunday.
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In reply to The GM (msg # 91):

Irina is beginning to wonder if this was the best idea she has ever had, but the ritual of banishment is the only real ammunition she has. Even so, magic or no magic - she can't let Skuld walk to her death just to save her own life.

"That's enough, Skuld!" she shouts across the clearing, "I can finish it now. Get clear!"

On the other hand, Skuld does seem to be somehow controlling it with her screeching, which is strange... in the hope that she is, Irina dashes to and fro, sprinkling sand and salt, desperately trying to complete it and hoping that means the creature can't leave it while the banishment takes place.

OOC: not sure what order things need to be done in, or how far through Irina is, but I'm assuming it's: complete pentacle (which keeps it in one place), then chant, so for now I think it's still running around completing it. She will also look to see where 'Curtis' is.

After dropping Ben at the station, Jack heads the truck for the girls’ homes. “Maybe try the unharmed one first,” he suggests to Spider. “The other family might be more disposed to let their daughter speak with us if we can say we’ve already got most of the story from her friend and just need a few minutes with her.”

Post 81:  Stand and Deliver pt 2
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----Irina, with a Dark Young in her sights---
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Irina called to Skuld as she tries to seal the last lines of the pentagram.  The salt and sand are getting thin now and she just has to hope there's enough.  The Dark Young is howling along with Skuld now, tentacles lashing in a pattern.  It's impossible to say if it is resisting Skuld's attempt to control it, or is trying to control her.  Regardless, the young girl is still moving towards it, at least until the Winchester cracks again and the Dark Young is distracted by the shot.  It begins to turn, stamping its hooves as it focuses its attention onto Curtis.  Irina begins the chant to dismiss the Dark Young back to whatever dark abyss from whence it came.   To make matters worse, there is a rumbling sound in along the ridge - a rockslide of some sort, too close to be welcome, with the accompaniment of blue and green arcane lightning.  Whatever is happening back in the caves is now spilling into the outside.   (Irina, roll % dice for spell casting)
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---Jack and Spider, down in Maryland----
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The Mitchell house is two doors down from the Adams house on Oxford street.  The Adams house has a pretty porch, with a wooden set of porch furniture painted with doves, and the lawn needs mowing.  The Mitchell house has no appreciable porch in the front, but an American flag is flying from the house flagpole and the lawn was cut recently.  There is a Ford in the driveway of the Mitchell house with the engine still ticking as it cools, and the agents can hear voices inside.  A knock on the door is quickly answered by a brunette woman in her thirties, wearing an apron over a green dress.  "May I help you ?"  she asked, and once asked for John Mitchell, she called back over her shoulder, "John !  Someone from work for you."  The house was tidy and clean, with a lot of bookshelves full of books.
John Mitchell, tall, thin and prematurely balding, stepped into the room from what was probably the kitchen.  He was wearing a grey suit that was rumpled from a day's work.  "I was hoping that something would be done," he said, in a very reserved voice. "I'm sure you'll want to speak to Joy, also.  She's in the kitchen icing some cookies for Amanda.  Have you found out anything ?"  John Mitchell has worked at the Indian Head labs for several years, primarily in the metallic coating lab, looking for ways to reduce frictional coefficients between pieces of metal in a firearm.   His lab was one of the boring ones with tables, scales and clean countertops.
In the kitchen, a girl of about eleven is studiously piping green sugar caps onto red iced cookies that are meant to represent strawberries.  She has a smudge of red icing on her cheek and a determined look.  "Almost....done...."  her hair is the same rich brown as her mother's but she is tall and thin like her father.  The sharp look in her eyes when she sets the icing funnel down lets the agents know that Joy Mitchell is clever; she measures them up in a look.   "Dad, try the ugly one on the end, do I have the jam to cookie ratio correct ?"  Her father, to his credit, examines the cookie with great attention, finally breaking it in half to check on the filling, sniffing it, and then tasting it.  "Success !"  He pronounced.
"No more testing cookies, dinner in a few minutes.  Would you gentlemen like to sit down ?  Nothing fancy, just some pork chops and potatoes."  Mrs. Mitchell invites Jack and Spider to dinner.
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GM: Actions, please, for the next few minutes of game time, please respond by Saturday, 12 September, next post Sunday.  I hope you are all well and dealing with the New Normal.
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Irina felt the power of the chant moving through her, and could only hope that all of the future stories about her being a magician, and the descendant of Baba Yaga, were not just overblown hype...

[OOC: 10! I guess not...]



Starting to feel it a bit after so many months. This weekend was one of the more normal yet - a socially distanced visit to the cinema, an outdoor barbeque with a small bubble of friends, an afternoon in a pub garden, but the dreaded Second Wave seems to be on us now here in the UK. I hope everyone else is staying safe and well.

Jack gives the bookshelves a once-over when the chance arises. He responds to the dinner invitation with a warm smile and a dip of his head to their hostess that suggests a bow.
“Thank you most kindly, ma’am.”
He will compliment the food and the array of books, and will make pleasant conversation, contrasting Spider’s far-off tales with his own stories of growing up in rural Maryland. He will try especially to win the approval of the young girl. He will let their hosts take the lead as far as bringing up the incident in question. When asked what they do, he will say they are troubleshooters for a small branch of the War Department that looks into unusual occurrences that might represent threats.

Post 82:  Stand and Deliver pt 3
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-----Jack and Spider, at dinner with the Mitchells----
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Jack looks over the bookshelves and finds there is a good collection of scientific texts as well as classical works, many of them with bookmarks.  The chemistry section is particularly notable, including texts dating to the 1850s as well as the most recent Modern Chemistry.  Spider's origins also intrigue the family and the two agents feel welcome to dine there.  It turns out a branch of the Mitchells are not far from Jack's home.
The table is quickly reset for the two agents to join in.  Joy sits across from Jack and notices that he correctly picks up the proper tableware.  As promised, dinner is simple, pork chops with mashed potatoes, peas and carrots.  Grace is not said.  John Mitchell takes the first chop and passes the plate to Spider, who is next to Mrs. Mitchell.  Once everyone has settled their food on their plates from the bowls, and Mrs. Mitchell has poured out iced tea or milk to drink with the meal, not one of the Mitchells hesitates.   Spider and Jack don't even need to ask, the family knows full well why they are here.
"So...." John Mitchell says, as his wife started, "How was the drive down ?" and Joy's "Are you going to do something about Amanda's attack ?"  There was a chorus of apologies, then Joy got in the first question.  "What are you going to do about Amanda ?"  she demanded, spearing her pork chop and mercilessly slicing it.  It takes very little to get Joy's story, and it is told with a dry, scientific detachment, as if she has gone over every moment and dissected it for study.
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"We were laughing and racing each other to get to the woods to set off our fireworks," Joy said.  "The moonlight was bright so the path was easy to make out, with the leaves off the trees.  Aiming them over the waterway was the safest option.  I had a copper chloride two-stage rocket I wanted to see and I was carrying the howitzer, Amanda had the bigger box with the rest of the fireworks.  It's not the first time we did fireworks, last summer our team won the debate challenge.  We had a spade to dig up dirt in event of a misfire.  It was not surprising that we did not hear any wildlife, we were making enough noise to scare anything around - which also made us easy to follow.  The Major must have heard us, I remember seeing his kitchen lights on, but he didn't come out to yell at us.   He did last summer.   We continued into the park until we could see the water and I set up the howitzer.   Amanda helped me and we decided we'd start with the small stuff, the Roman candles.  I had one in my hand, ready to set it and light the fuse, so I had the lighter."  She pulled it from her pocket; it was a well-used and maintained foxhole trench lighter.  "It was a lot of fun up until then.  I was happy, Amanda was happy, and we were going to see some great fireworks.  Something ran at us out of the woods, big, more like an animal than a man, and it knocked down Amanda.  She screamed at it.  It took a step back from her, looking at me; I was so scared I went up a tree like a squirrel, the Roman candle in my teeth.  It looked like a wolf-faced man, some kind of cross of species.  Snout, hairy, paws instead of hands, hunched over as if it wanted to go on four legs.  It couldn't climb up, or it didn't want to, but it clawed at the tree I was in.  Then it turned back to Amanda and went to claw at her.  I grabbed my lighter and lit the Roman candle.  It was the only thing I could think of to do, it was more than twice my size and I don't know how to fight.  I pointed the candle at it and shut my eyes so I wouldn't lose my night vision.  It howled and I heard it run, but it had already hurt my best friend."  Joy's iron control over her emotions slipped just a tiny bit, a small tremor of the hand holding her fork.  "I had to drop the Roman candle in the water before it burned me, and I went to Amanda.  There was so much...blood.  I yelled for help.  I couldn't leave her.  It seemed to take forever, but the Major came out of his house.  He lost one of his carpet slippers on the way and he was wearing a plaid bathrobe.  We carried Amanda out to the road and then Amanda's parents were there, and then Mom, and Dad, and Officer Webster.  He drove her to hospital with her Mom."  Joy's fork was gently set back on her plate; she had lost her appetite.
--------
Her mother looked from Jack to Spider, then said, "We hope you can find it, or at least stop that from happening again."
"It's not a simple problem," said John Mitchell, very quietly.  "I cannot disclose what I am doing, just the basic information that would be shared between Bureaus under the DoD.  I cannot say what other colleagues of mine are doing."  He also set his fork down.  "So I asked a friend, to ask a friend, to send for help."
---------------------------
---------------------------
------Irina, with Dark Young----
-----------------------
Irina's chant ran rough against the keening of the girl Skuld and the howling of the horrible Dark Young.  She felt the mana drain from her as she completed the ritual, so fast that her knees sagged and if she hadn't been near a tree, she'd have fallen.  The lines of salt and sand lit up, a ghostly grey fog misting up from the ground within their perimeter.  The lashing tentacles begin to reach for Curtis but their motion seems to slow, enough that the student can hurl a hatchet at the creature and have it bite deep.  The Dark Young roars, pawing at the ground preparing to charge, but the sound seems far away.  The heavy fog rises, swirling up over the shape of monster and girl, obscuring them from view, and then it boils up over the pentagram's lines and Irina can barely see her hand in front of her face.  The fog roils and rolls, sounds coming from it that seem as if the monster is galloping, trying to find the way out........then the shrill yelp of Skuld, suddenly cut off.......
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GM:  Sorry to hear that the Second Wave is hitting, Richard.  Hope everyone can stay healthy.  We were gathering illegally to play Clank! just to maintain some sanity. Haven't seen the inside of a restaurant since February.   As usual, everyone please send in your responses by Saturday, 19 September, post will be on Sunday.
----------------------------------------

“That’s definitely why we’re here,” Jack replies to Joy. “Whatever you’re prepared to tell us will be of immense help.”
When she tells her story, he pays rapt attention and does not take notes or look away. After she’s done, he says gently, “Miss Mitchell, your quick thinking probably saved your friend’s life. And that was a top-notch field report, equal to or better than many I have heard from trained agents. Your perceptiveness and analytical abilities are exceptional.” He then speaks more broadly, to answer the questions of the whole family.
“We can’t talk much about other cases we’ve worked on, but I can tell you that we have faced situations that were... comparable. And we resolved them satisfactorily. We have agents and specialists with a very wide spectrum of experience and expertise, from all over the world — “and here he nods at Spider— “including both the sciences and subjects that are generally thought of as supernatural. The latter, we have learned, can be quite real, even if little known and only partially understood. Studying them is part of our mission, to better eliminate those that are threats to the public.
“When I first heard about this wolf-man, I thought perhaps it was merely a deranged person. Or someone whose mind had been altered by something like hypnosis or drugs or unusual plants.” And here he gives Mr. Mitchell the merest look, as if involuntary, to suggest he knows about some of the work at the lab.
“Those types are not uncommon. But” — here he meets Joy’s eyes — “your clear description of a hybrid animal-man puts it in a rarer category. The legends of European werewolves, as well as the transformational beliefs of such native tribes as the Mohawk and Navajo, have some basis in reality. In short, there really are wolfmen. Your eyes were not playing tricks on you.
“So we need to find this person. We have already been investigating around town. Your workplace, Mr. Mitchell, immediately drew our attention. It’s not unknown for government experiments to get out of hand. So far, however, there does not seem to be a connection. Thus we need to broaden our search. With that in mind, I would like to ask all of you to think back over the past few months for anything out of the ordinary. Anything at all, even if it doesn’t seem remotely related to the attack. Strange coincidences. People who appeared in unusual places, or people who weren’t  where they were supposed to be. Unusual objects found or seen. Also, if you have heard anyone say that the attack reminded them of something in the past, that might be significant. We’ve done background research on the town, but of course we might have missed something. You and your neighbors have the best feel for what is normal in your community and what is not. So please take a moment and think back. And if nothing comes to mind now, something may later. We’ll be around town and we’ll leave you our card, of course.”

Post 83: Stand and Deliver pt 4
-------------------
---Irina, with Dark Young---
---Still stuck in a dense, confusing fog----
--------------------------------------
--------------------------------------
-----Jack and Spider, Maryland----
--------------
John Mitchell has a tell; he takes off his eyeglasses and polishes them with his handkerchief when he's worried.  "As an employee of the Navy, I cannot comment," he said finally, after Jack asked them to consider things.  Joy flicked a glance his way, her eyes narrow and calculating.  Truly, the young girl would be a formidable opponent.
"If," Joy Mitchell said, as her mother started to give HER the squinty look, "there are wolfmen, and other things, and you agents are ALSO government, like my father - then you ought to have more of a conversation.  And the Major is the biggest busybody in the village.  If anything was weird, he'd know about it."
"Major Jenkins is writing a book about the local history," Mrs. Mitchell said. "He lives right by the park, the white cottage with the rose garden.  I can give you a tray of brownies to take to him, that might make him a little...more amiable."
"He's a cranky old man," Joy said.
"Joyce Marie Mitchell !" hissed her mother, and the girl dropped her gaze to the table.
"I apologise for my behaviour," she said quietly.  "He DID help me with Amanda.  I owe him."
"Take your plate to the kitchen, then, and I'll get those brownies," her mother said, rising up to take more things to the kitchen.  Joy followed her, leaving the glasses-polishing John Mitchell at the table.
"Be careful who you investigate," the scientist said in a low voice. "Some of them have very powerful sponsors.  And some of them were in the War.  Not on our side."  He put his glasses back on, and still looked worried.
"Joy will take those strawberry cookies to Amanda and ask her if she can talk to you two gentlemen," Mrs. Mitchell said, giving Jack the plate of brownies with a tin foil neatly wrapped on top.  "Just leave us a telephone number.  Amanda is very concerned about her appearance and she may not want to speak to you in person."
"And if you have any good stories about monsters, I would like to hear them," Joy said, after her mother's back was turned again.
"Oh, Joy," her father sighed, taking his glasses off to polish them again.  The clock on the wall begins to chime out 6 o'clock.  The evening is drawing into night.
----------
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GM:  Actions, etc, for the next few minutes of game time, please respond by Saturday 26 September, next post Sunday.  Hope everyone is doing as well as can be expected, may you all stay healthy !
-------------------------------------------------------

Irina sags with relief - all she can do now is to hope that that will hold it and dismiss it. She tries to make her way to find Skuld, wherever she last saw/heard her, shouting for her.

"Skuld!"

She will also try to call out for Curtis. "Curtis - get clear - protect the others! I'll be with you as soon as I can!"

"Curtis? Curtis where are you?"

Jack answers Mr. Mitchell: “ I understand your reluctance, and of course you have your duty. If you think of anything further that you can share with us, just call. We’re trying to make sure no one else  in your community gets hurt.“
“Mrs. Mitchell, thank you for your hospitality and for a delicious dinner. And for helping us by supplying the brownies. Very clever.“
“And as for you, Miss Mitchell,“ Jack says, “we greatly appreciate your help on this case. I’m sure you will excel in whatever path you choose in life. If you decide you want to pursue monsters, come see us in Washington when you finish your education. Until then, you can consider yourself an honorary deputy.” He lowers his voice to a whisper and removes from his pocket an obsidian spearhead. “Keep this as a token of my appreciation. I took it from a snake-man underneath the Great Serpent Mound in Ohio.”

Unless Spider has anything to add, the pair will take the Brownies and head for the Major’s house.

Post 84: Stand and Deliver pt 5
------------------------
-----Jack and Spider, Maryland, night-----
---------------------------
In the quiet little village at evening, it seems hard to imagine that something terrible could happen, such as some strange beast maiming a young girl.  Joy Mitchell thanks Jack politely for his gift and pockets it, disappearing into the kitchen to wrap up her special plate of cookies for Amanda.  The two agents take the brownie offering over to the white cottage with all the roses, which are budding up nicely for March.  They knock at the door with the fancy brass knocker and get a grumpy, "Hold on, hold on...."  The door opens up to reveal a burly, bald man of late sixties, whose bearing shows a military background, though his clothes are rather shabby, a ratty old woolen cardigan over a worn canvas shirt and trousers.  He is wearing carpet slippers that look new.  He pushes his spectacles up his nose and gives the agents a long look, then sniffs.  "That Mitchell woman made brownies," he says.  "Major Ira Jenkins, if you didn't already know.  You must be the strangers from Washington.  What do you want ?"  He does not have a Maryland accent.  If Jack had to guess, it would be more Southern.  To Spider, he's just another Yank.
---------------
The cottage is small, with a low ceiling.  Despite the fairly warm evening there is a small fire in the fireplace, where a half-sprung old overstuffed chair has a newspaper spread over one arm, with a lamp nearby for reading.   A laden but organised desk is by the window, with a typewriter and folders of notes on the blotter, with a nice pair of German binoculars in a leather case.   In a tidy wire cage a sleepy green parakeet twitters and bobs its head.  "Tenshun !  Tenshun !"  the parakeet cheeps, deciding to wake up.  The room is noticeably warm.
"At ease, soldier," Major Jenkins said to it, the bird happily fluffing its feathers and eyeing the two agents curiously.  "Put the plate on the desk, I'll heat up some coffee."  At least so far the old man hasn't been outright rude.  He shuffles into the kitchen area, limping, and they hear a coffee pot being set on an iron stove.  There are few decorations to the room, just a framed award for "Floribunda Aachen, 1921 Maryland Garden Show, First Place."  Books on cultivating roses and local history are stacked neatly near the desk.  There are stove-stoking sounds from the kitchen, with a muffled swear and a clank as the Major shuts the stove door with the poker.   "Arthritis is giving me hell today," the Major said, returning with a mismatched trio of mugs and a rose-decorated sugar bowl.  "Don't have any fresh milk, but there's a tin in the cupboard.  Ask your questions."  He sits in the stuffed chair, letting Jack and Spider decide who takes the desk chair and who stands.   The parakeet opts to check for sunflower seeds in its food dish.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------Irina, with Dark Young, night---
-------------
Irina struggles to see through the gouts of fog.  She is relieved that she no longer hears the stamping, roaring monster, but is a little more concerned when she hears a plaintive wail in what sounds like Old Norse.  "Over here, Ma'am !"  she hears Curtis shout back, in as low a voice as the hidden girl can muster.  Something moves through the mist; it is Curtis, wild-eyed and holding a hatchet that is dripping black ichor.  The student lurches back into a bank of fog and Irina can hear Skuld crying. "Injured girl, ma'am, looks like she broke her leg," Curtis reports.  Irina stumbles over the rough ground, across the huge hoof prints, where Skuld is sprawled and clutching her left leg, which clearly is broken, a compound fracture.  Curtis is pulling out a bandanna to help staunch the bleeding, but is unwilling to relinquish the hatchet and is looking around with considerable wariness. It is no small wonder that everyone's sanity has been tested by these events.
---------
As Irina takes in the injury, which is bad, she hears other voices calling in the swirling fog - mostly women's voices, though one sounds deeper, and they are all calling in Old Norse.
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GM: Please respond with actions, etc, for the next few minutes of game time, by Saturday, 3 October, next post Sunday.  Hope you are all well and surviving all the many challenges of the Coronapocalypse.
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Irina has no particular skill with first aid, but will help Curtis with Skuld as best she can.

"We need to get out of here," she tells Curtis quietly. "If those witches find us we're done for. Can you help me carry her?"

"Skuld..." Irina tells her, "I know you're in terrible pain, but we have to get you out of here. We can get help, but we can't let your people catch us. You've already been brave enough for one day, but can you try to be quiet as we carry you? I'm so sorry..."

Irina can't provide anything more helpful than a stick to bite down on for now, but hopes that John Stuart might be a bit better at dealing with injuries as and when they can reach him.

Hopefully between Curtis and Irina they can move Skuld, and prevent her from putting any weight on her injured leg. The aim now is to get back to the camp and the men before they are found by the lost tribespeople.

Jack sits and thanks the Major for the coffee. “Black is fine.” He lets Spider start things off to get the man relaying what happened. He’ll wait until the man’s finished before complimenting him on his perceptiveness and asking for any necessary clarifications. After those (if any) he’ll repeat what he asked the Mitchells about anything else unusual, even if it doesn’t seem to relate: strange people or goings on, weird coincidences, reminders of events from the past, etc. “Anything might help.”

Post 85: Stand and Deliver pt 6
Late March, 1925
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----Spider and Jack, Maryland----
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Spider plainly asks about the incident where Amanda Adams was mauled, giving over his badge, which gets examined quite thoroughly by the old man.  "Mmmm." Jenkins mutters, handing it back, face setting in a scowl as he recalled the event.  "I remember the night.  My feet were hurting and I was soaking them in epsom salts.  Was about to go yell at them girls for being too damn noisy.  Then I heard the Mitchell girl screaming for help.  Took me a while to get over there, and then, the poor Adams girl.   Got her to the road, and the Preacher came running up, and then Webster loaded the girl into his patrol car with her mother to take her to hospital.   Lost a slipper.  Never found it.  Never saw the creature they said did it."  He sniffed again, carefully got to his feet and shuffled into the kitchen, emerging with the coffee pot to pour out three cups.  "But if the Mitchell girl said she saw a monster, I believe her.  Plenty of strange stuff going on around here."  He picked up the tin foil on the plate and seized a large brownie, eyeing it with the lust of a true sugar addict, then added about five spoonsful of sugar to his coffee.  "There are Penn Dutch folk stories about a local creature like a wolf, but standing like a human.  It's called a Hexenwolf.  Or a Dwayyo. And it's the mortal enemy of the Snallygaster - another creature, called a schneller geist by the Penn Dutch.  Teddy Roosevelt might have tried to hunt the Snallygaster back in 1909."  He bit into the brownie.  "That Mitchell woman can bake and no mistaking that."  He sipped his coffee, added more sugar, and then leaned over towards his desk, pulling out a file from a stack of them.  "I also checked on a similar type of creature to the Snallygaster, the Jersey Devil.  Been a strange year.  First an earthquake, then the big tornado, and all the fog."  He finished his brownie and sipped more coffee, then wiped his fingers on his robe before riffling through the folder.  "It's notable that several of the accounts say that the Dwayyo can disappear.  It may be more...unusual... in its makeup from a garden-variety werewolf."  He held up a very amateurish pencil sketch of a creature with a dog's snout and shaggy hair, on two legs but with clawed hands.  "Got this from a farmer near Fredricksville, said it was after his goats along about 1902, but he shot at it and then got a Hex sign for his barn.  Never troubled again."  The next sketch was an elaborate pentacle, with an oak leaf border around it.  "But I imagine you know a lot about such things."
------------
-----------
----Irina, Pennsylvania-------
-----------
Irina asks Curtis to help carry Skuld.  "No problem, Miss," said Curtis.  The girl masquerading as a boy dead-lifted the whimpering Skuld over one shoulder, and still retained the hatchet.  They headed towards the fire, a dim glow in the fog, and soon found the campsite.  Frank was sitting up, blinking and reaching for his shotgun, and John Stuart was groggily waking up.  "What the ?"  Frank said, taking in the sight of Curtis with a girl draped over one shoulder.
"Bring the girl within the light, that I may tend her painful plight," John Stuart said.  He scrambled to his feet, adjusted his eyepatch, looked at the wound then went for his pack, hauling out an oilskin wrapped bundle.  The fog was still thick, especially within the pentacle.  Skuld froze, staring at him, after Curtis gently lowered her to the ground.  Working with calm efficiency John Stuart cleaned, wrapped and splinted the leg - with Skuld not even blinking.  Within the fog some lights were starting to glimmer, various blues, greens and whites, more like will of the wisps.
"Ah, can someone tell me what the heck happened ?"  Frank asked in a whisper.  "Who's this girl ?  Why's she hurt ?  Why's she look like that ?"
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GM:  Actions, please, for the next few minutes of game time, please respond by Saturday, 10 October, next post is Sunday. Glad to have Spider back !  And I completely understand the absence, all of us have been tested to strange extremes by the pandemic.  Hope everyone is all right and maintaining Sanity.
-----------------------------

Jack asks for more information on the hexenwolf/dwayyo — how it might be detected, tracked, and/or warded against.
“Is there anyone that you think might be involved in these attacks?” he asks the major levelly. “And you say there are many strange things going on – have you detected any overarching pattern? What do you think might be behind it all?”

"The hillbillies are some kind of survival of the Norse settlement of the area," Irina said. After the terror of the past hour, she feels herself starting to sag slightly as the adrenaline wears off.

"They live as their forebears did, crafts and stories passed down by oral tradition. And... they appear to be a matriarchy. They keep only a few men alive, for... breeding purposes. The rest are all women. Skuld here helped me escape - I owe her my life. And we all owe her a debt for helping to destroy the creature in the woods, the thing that killed the hunters. It did that to her leg before I was able to finally dispel it."

She takes a deep breath.
"But the threat is not ended. Mr Stuart - the vikings - whatever you want to call them - are after us. We should not stay here too long. They are not numerous, but they have powers of... well, powers that place them beyond your or indeed my ability to harm them, and they are angry, and will seek to kill us all. Will Skuld be well enough for us to get her back to the truck? I need to get back to a telephone, to call my office and let them know what is going on here."

Post 86: Stand and Deliver pt 6
------------------------
---Irina, in Pennsylvania---
------------------------
"What...." Frank said, looking at Irina with big eyes.  Curtis had gone to the packs and was calmly reloading the Winchester.
"They will listen to me, as you will soon see," John Stuart said to Irina, gently patting Skuld's shoulder to reassure her.  "Frank, carry this lady fair to the creekside there; wait for me to clear the air."
Frank cautiously settled Skuld into his arms, the girl still looking at John Stuart with wide eyes.  She hadn't made a sound for a while.  Once they were out of earshot, Stuart nodded sharply to Irina.
"Odin Allfather speaks in rhymes," he said in a low voice to Irina.  "I have one eye.  It may buy us time, but there's no way we can make a run for the Model T before they get to us.  The young girl has a bad break.  Do you know any old Norse ?  Anything ?  And Curtis will take you back on the trail.  Leave me here.  I'll keep them busy.  You are all my responsibility."
---------------
The bobbing lights, about four or five feet off the ground and still wrapped in fog are drawing closer, along with voices speaking in Old Norse, with "Skuld ?" as a common element.  Irina has perhaps a minute or two to dredge up some memories from Maxwell's torturous lectures on the Norse. John Stuart readies a .45 and tucks it into the small of his back.
-------------------------------
------------------------------
---Jack and Spider, in Maryland----
----------------------------
Jenkins takes in Spider's mention of the swamp testing site and considers it a while, sneaking his second brownie. "That would explain a lot," the old man said thoughtfully.  "I don't go out near the labs, the fishing is dreadful.  I prefer going on on the bay anyway.  I took note of the fog when I started having nightmares - the kind that keep you up the rest of the night.  Couldn't work on my folklore book, couldn't concentrate on the roses, nor read a book.  Let me get my journal." He got to his feet with a wince and shuffled towards a shut door, which led to a very spartan bedroom, and returned with a leatherbound book.  "I noted the fog.  Wrote down the nightmares too.  Not much else to do."  He ate the rest of the brownie and wiped his fingers on his robe before going through the pages.  "About two weeks ago; then last month.  I was away in Baltimore for a few weeks at my sister's so I could have missed one or two.  Fog smelt terrible on the one two weeks ago, bitter and nasty.  I'll go through my journal and write down the details tomorrow."
--------------
As for Jack's interest in the Hexenwolf or Dwayyo, Jenkins nodded.  "It's an old legend.  Early 18th century.  A humanoid wolf creature, not known to attack humans very often, but known to attack livestock.  Not like a typical werewolf which is more active during the full moon when it transforms, and apparently a hex sign like this pentagram is enough to keep it at bay.   There are also several barns with seven-pointed stars painted on them.  I am collating the local folklore and legends of the area.   As far as I can tell, the Hexenwolf doesn't turn into a werewolf, it looks like that all the time, but it can disappear.  And it likes to hunt the Snallygaster - the Schnelle Geist.  If, as you suggest, that the Naval labs are releasing some kind of gas that is corrupting their habitat - that could lead to trouble, like the Adams girl."  Jenkins seemed to be taking all of this rather calmly, and speaking as if he considered werewolves and other monsters to be real.  He slurped down the last of his coffee and contemplated a third brownie.  "I should not like to have the Snallygaster show up and cause trouble, certainly," he said as he took up the treat.
--------------
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GM: Actions, etc, for the next few minutes of game time, please respond by 17 October, Saturday, next post is Sunday.  Hope you are all well and able to stay sane in RL.
-----------------------------------------------

Irina looks puzzled at Stuart at first, then her eyes widen as she understands what he is planning and she manages an admiring grin at his audacity. She looks at the eyepatch. Impersonating Odin? It might even work.

She thinks back and tries to remember Maxwell's classes on Norse archaeology. Rune stones. Boat graves. The Lewis chessmen. Elder Furthark. They had some inscriptions to transcribe and translate...
'Wotan and Wigi are...'

"L... logathor," she finally manages. "That means a magician. Er... 'leubo' means 'beloved'."
She tries to calm her mind and think.
"Father, brother, mother, daughter, sister are all the same as in English. So is guest. The gods you know - Odin, Thor, Freya and so on. Er... skildr is a shield. Heather is a wasteland. Armr is a hand. Kallar is 'he calls'. Wikik is viking, as in a raid. Thar is there. Urthr is fate. 'Ek' - like ich in German is 'I am'. I mean, if you know any German, then if you say it in a Scandinavian way, it may not sound too far out."

[FWIW that's a 12 on an archaeology of 70%.]

Irina is reluctant to leave Stuart to the tender mercies of the furies.

"Are you sure about this? I can't let you stand alone. They mustn't see me but... I can stay in sight, in case I can help."





Just about!

Presumably you've seen that Verizon are closing Yahoo Groups down in December?

https://www.zdnet.com/article/...on-december-15-2020/

It's a great tragedy to see it all go - so many roleplaying groups I was part of whose archives will be lost. It's worse than when Yahoo shut down Geocities. Such is the ephemeral nature of the internet I guess. I have Miskatonic University preserved in my email records, but it's not the same.

Richard

“That’s a good idea about the tests disturbing the natural habitat,” Jack says to Jenkins. “Are either the hexenwolf or the snallygaster reputed to live in that type of area? Maybe the snallygaster or other prey of the hexenwolf has been driven off, so the hexenwolf resorted to hunting vulnerable humans. Or maybe the poisonous gas disoriented the hexenwolf, and it mistook the girls for snallygasters.” Jack shakes his wryly, agreeing with Spider’s assessment that they are not making concrete progress.
“Who could we talk to in the area about the hex symbols? They might know something. And at least we could recommend that people in the town consider using them for protection.”
Other than that, Jack likewise thanks the major and gives him a card with contact information. “I’d be interested in reading your book when it’s published. Thank you for your time.”
On to the Adams family, if it’s still early enough(?)

Post 87: Loose Ends pt 1

------------------------------
----Irina, Pennsylvania--------
--------------------------------
John Stuart nods once, as Curtis takes up the hatchet and tucks it into a belt loop.  "If you hear trouble, make for the car," he said.  "If I call you Irina, it's safe."  With that, Curtis' calloused hand was on her shoulder, hauling her into the deeper eddies of the fog, where it was huddling over the creek.  Irina could hear voices, then some exclamations.  Through the fog she could see the white-clad strange folk of the mountains, several of them holding up one hand, in which a flame could be seen dancing, like a conjured magical torchlight.  Each of them was a slightly different colour and size.  The brightest was the pale green one held aloft by Verdi, who squared up to John Stuart.  There was a conversation of sorts, with some more exclamations as the odd folk took in the appearance of a one-eyed man.  It was then that Irina noticed something else; Curtis could imitate bird calls - specifically, the quarking caw of a raven.
It was an agonising few minutes that felt like hours.  Finally, Irina heard John Stuart's voice.  "Curtis, Irina, Frank; all is well.  Bring the young lady for a healing spell."
---------------
"Oathinn Alfadr, heill, heillir dags og dottors, oreiuim augum litioo okkr pinig og fri ar," Verdi said.  "My daughter will be returned to me safely and we will speak of many things, strangers.  Urda has fallen in battle.  Her way was not the path we now choose to take.  The Sending of the Mother of the Forest was as much a danger to us as to our foes.  The magic of Irina was mighty.   Tonight there is peace.  Fridur."  Skuld was nearly unconscious, clinging to Frank, but stirred as her mother touched her face.  Then Verdi looked at Irina, and Irina noticed that one of Verdi's eyes was now occluded white, and the woman looked exhausted.  "We owe you a debt, Irina of the Rus witches," she said. "Now we will go, in peace.  You will do the same.  No one will disturb you this night."  One of the few men stepped forward to take Skuld from Frank.   It had been a long and difficult night, along with a great expenditure of mana on Irina's part; she was near done in and the campfire looked as cheery a home as might be had.  The drifts of mist began to slew away on a slight western breeze as John Stuart set more wood on the fire.  Frank looked as if he was considering about a hundred questions, but couldn't figure out what to ask first, so he simply stood up and took the next watch.  John Stuart quietly sat and tended the fire as Curtis slept.  "Must have missed the best part," he said softly.  "Get some rest, Miss Pallenberg; we'll be leaving in the morning."
------------------
Morning did dawn cold and clear, with a pair of grey squirrels chattering in a tree along the cliff and some sparrows eyeing up the biscuits that were heating by the fire.  The ground where Irina had cast her spell was trampled heavily, but the huge hoofprints could still be see here and there in the softer earth.  The monster had been unable to break the bonds of the spell.  Unsurprisingly, Stuart was drawing in his notebook, recording with careful detail the exact turn of the creek, the formation of the stones and the runestone's pictograms.  Curtis came back from the creek with a bucket of water and nudged Frank awake with a boot.

--------------------------------
--------------------------------
---Spider and Jack, Maryland---
----------------------------
"Sightings of both are common to Maryland as a whole, though most seem to be Frederick County, especially the areas of South Mountain and the Middletown Valley."  Jenkins replied, with noted reserve.  "I'll write down some of the details for you and include a copy of the sightings map I've made."  He takes Jack's card and places it carefully on his desk.
----------
The evening is still early enough for the two agents to knock on the Adams' family door.  It opens fairly quickly, to show a plump man in a black shirt, white collar in place.  He has a notepad in one hand and a pencil tucked behind his ear.  "Yes ?" he ventures, looking at the two of them.  "Joy mentioned you might come along.  I'll tell the girls you're here and ask if Amanda wants to speak to you.  Beth," the last was directed to the plump woman in the floury apron that was looking around the kitchen wall at them, "is there coffee ?"
"I can make some, just let me get the next batch of rolls out of the oven," the woman said, disappearing into the kitchen.  The preacher nods.
"Please wait a moment in the parlour," he said.  The room was warm, the decor leaning towards bright chintz and cotton quilting, with some bible verses rendered in good needlepoint hanging in frames on the wall.  The smell of baking bread was amazing, but nothing compared to the Mitchell brownies.  A heavily bookmarked Bible was sitting on a chair by the lamp, and a few issues of the Reader's Digest and Time magazine were in a magazine rack beside it.
They were served coffee in a few minutes, by the preacher's wife, who had fresh cream in a small cow-shaped creamer; it was a thousandfold times better than the sludge Jenkins had served them.  But it was Joy who came out to tell them the bad news.
"I asked her, but she's not going to speak to you face to face," Joy said.  "She'll talk to you on the telephone.  Just the thought of it was enough to make her cry again.  Old man Jenkins give you a hard time ?"  She passed over a note with the telephone number of the Adams house to them.
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GM:  Yes, I knew that yahoogroups was going to eventually close.  I tried to save some posts, but there's going to be gaps.  We've spent years together adventuring in the madness of Call of Cthulhu.  I had no idea that the game would last for decades, but I know I am grateful to have such dedicated, challenging, loyal players.
As always, Please respond by Saturday, 24 October, next post is Sunday.
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Irina nods wearily in reply.

"Thank you, Verdi. I am sorry about Urda, but I hope that this day will be the start of a better way for you. As long as you do not send the Mother of the Forest again, then my people will leave in you peace as well."

"Skuld - thank you for all that you have done. Your bravery was an inspiration. I hope that we meet again, in better circumstances."



Irina does so, gratefully.

She wakes to find the tracks of the creature, and shudders to think what might have happened had the ritual not worked. That felt entirely too close for comfort, and Ben had been right to warn her not to try it on her own. Still, it was done now.

She finds that she is ravenously hungry.

"Well," she says to no-one in particular. "That was a night such as I won't care to repeat again."

She'll ask John Stuart for a copy of the pictograms - someone might find them interesting - bot otherwise is happy to be heading out of these woods and back to civilisation.

Jack nods in understanding when Joy tells them her friend’s decision, and seconds Spider’s remarks.
He thanks their hostess quite sincerely for the coffee, and asks the clergyman: “What do you make of this creature the girls saw, sir? Does your scripture or your faith offer any insight that might help us end this problem and prevent further attacks? You know about the protective hex signs, I’m sure—do you think they’ll help? And have you or your wife noticed any other strange goings-on in recent months?”

Spider thanks Joy.  "Tell her we'll call and ask for when she is ready.  Jenkins wasn't too bad.  And you can tell her we're doing all we can to make sure whatever it was won't hurt anyone ever again."
__._,_.___

Post 88: Loose Ends pt 2
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----Jack and Spider, Maryland---
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The Preacher takes in Jack's question with a sigh.  "I believe that my daughter was attacked by something not normal.  As far as the Good Book goes, there is nothing that leads me to anything but to have Faith that all things happen for His Reasons.  There is much more to my daughter than her looks, but she needs time to learn that.  As far as the hex signs you mention, we have no dealings with such folk beliefs.  And we're far too busy to lend any attention to anything that old Jenkins character has to say."  Joy kept quiet, but her eyes narrowed.   She slid out of the room, presumably to talk to Amanda again.  As the two agents were on their way out of the house, she met up with them again.
"I'm sorry Amanda won't talk to you." she said.  "I have a picture I drew of her that shows the claw marks.  Maybe it will help.  And maybe you're right about Jenkins.  He's certainly one who watches everything."  She handed over a simple but accurate sketch that shows some ravaging scars across a young girl's forehead, left cheek and nose.  They were more widely spaced than a wolf's paw and the claws had done some terrible damage.
"Tell me if you find anything," Joy said.  "PLEASE.  And what I can do to help."
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-----Irina, Pennsylvania---
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The late night and the brisk Spring air had given Irina quite an appetite.  She ate three fairly stale biscuits and some oatmeal mush flavoured with maple sugar.  John Stuart obliges her with an exact copy of the runestone and Curtis tosses some burnt crumbs into the bushes, where the squirrels squabble for them.  This quickly ends when a pair of ravens dive into the brush and attack one of the squirrels.  The campsite is carefully taken down by Curtis and Frank, under Stuart's watchful eye.  The fire's ashes are soaked and stirred, and soaked again with the creek water, their packs are loaded and the sun is shining in a pale blue sky as the party leaves the rock ridge where the strange folk dwell.
"What I don't get is, Mr. Stuart, what exactly happened, because it was like someone sapped me and I didn't wake up until dark," Frank said.  "There WAS a big monster, wasn't there ?"
"There was, but I wasn't in a place to see the activity," John Stuart replied.  "You saw the tracks.  What was it ?"
"Nothing from around here," muttered Curtis.
"All right," Frank said, lapsing into a frustrated scowl.  "If you don't want to say, don't."
"Let's get on the trail.  Curtis, take point."  Stuart straightened his broad-brimmed hat and shouldered his pack, taking a fresh-cut sapling as a walking stick.  He stirred the wet ashes a third time, then set off North, towards the Model T.  As Irina followed after him, she noticed the pattern drawn in the ashes was an angular fish-like symbol, a diamond with a tail to it.   There were several of this rune inscribed on the runestone.  A small doe bounded away from the creek as they came round the trail toward it, and the threatening atmosphere of the place seemed lifted.
It took a few hours of hard walking, but soon enough they saw the Model T, where Edith was camped.  A coffee percolator was on the boil and a chair was set up, with the old lady comfortably settled in a wool blanket, reading one of her detective stories.
"Hello !"  she called and waved to them. "I heard you did wonderfully.  So happy to see you all !  I have coffee, but our  johnnycakes didn't do very well.  They're half-burnt and half-raw."  It wasn't the finest feast but certainly better than nothing.  Edith happily drove them back to the forestry school.  All four of them were still weary and Frank was soon snoring as they rocked and bumped along the logging road.
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GM:   If there are any other avenues the agents wish to explore, please post with those actions.  Please respond by Saturday, 31 October, next post Sunday.  Since we have not heard from Cameron for a while his adventure will be wrapped up as well and the BPRD will have a new set of cases waiting for them in DC.
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"Well, I suppose that means that on avaerage they're fine," Irina says.

She gives Edith a big hug.

"I am so glad to see you. Next time I'll take Ben's advice. A Dark Young was nearly too much for me. Still, hopefully that's the last one that will be summoned here. I'll tell you all about it on the way back to DC."





Irina will say her farewells to the forestry students, and wish Crutis well in 'his' chosen endeavour. She gives John Stuart a careful look.

"Thank you for all your help," she tells him, and passes him a card. "You're clearly a very... gifted man. If you ever come across something strange again, and you need help, then just let us know. And if you ever need work, I'm sure we could find something for you."

Back at the BPRD, she'll give Ben the rundown on what happened, trying to skirt over quite how close she came to getting herself killed. But also she'll mention Stuart, and his strange Odin-like affinity.

Post 88: Loose Ends pt 3
---------March, 1925----
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---Irina, Pennsylvania----
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Edith seemed no worse for her part in the adventure, and the mice also seemed cheerful.  John Stuart agreed to host the two ladies for as long as they required to prepare for their return trip to Washington, which had the students cheering - mostly for Edith's culinary skills.  The students were very interested to hear about the creature and the people in the caves, but Frank had very little to say about it, apart from the one girl he got a good look at - Skuld - and the way they had magic lights in their hands.  Curtis had even less to say, despite having been in the thick of it, and would only mutter "there was a lot of fog."  Irina's well-wishes get her a slight nod; it's clear that Curtis keeps secrets.   John Stuart takes Irina's card and in his careful way, tucks it into his notebook with a paper clip.  "Thank you, Miss Pallenberg," he said, the cordial manners fully in place.  "I will pass along any messages that come from the lady we met in the forest."  He returned her look with a slight smile. "Thank you for your kind assistance.  I'm sure we would not have been able to deal with the matter on our own."
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A day or so later, the Model T is creaking and puffing along the rough roads, headed South.  "I heard that the creature was sent away from Tom," Edith said.  "He was watching for me. No one bothered us at our campsite.  You could tell when the thing was gone, though, it was like the whole mountain took a sigh of relief."  She had taken down Irina's account in shorthand.  (Irina +5% Cthulhu Mythos, Spell Dismiss Dark Young).
They drove well into the night, vowing to make it home in one day.  It was rough but they made the trip without incident.  Ben would have to wait for his report though, as only Professor Mills was awake enough to telephone the office that they'd returned safely.  Irina's report on the Dark Young got her a careful look from Ben, and a slight nod about the Odin affinity.  "Sounds like a god hiding," he said. "Close by people who worship the Old Norse ways, perfect place for him.  Wonder if there are any others hanging around there.  But I'm glad you're back; I expect Jack and Spider in by tomorrow.  And I had the delightful experience of telling an Admiral to go to hell, implying I could send him there if I wished.  Don't go into the back labs; there's a Deep One head in some kind of taxidermy going on there."

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----Cameron and Co., returning from California---
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The big Ford rumbled into the garage at the Grey Building, the guard promptly disapparating at the noise, and the assembled agents disembarked.  Fritz's sunburn was peeling but he was grinning at Agent Black, who handed down her valise to him.  Angus climbed out of the driver's seat and helped Thorne offload the weaponry.  One spear gun had survived the trip and the extremely smelly package tied to the roof was presented as a trophy; the severed head of a California-area Deep One, a humanoid skull with much like a shark's jaw.   "There was no way we were bringing the whole thing back." Thorne said.  One arm was in a sling and he had a black eye mostly hidden behind sunglasses.  "That was from the speakeasy we found after the fighting was over.  Turned out, the fighting wasn't over."
"Unsere kleine goldene can copy it though.  I won bet." Fritz said, very cheerful, helping Agent Black out of the truck.
"Let me get to my desk to find some ointment for that burn, Schatzi," she said.  From Cameron's report, there was a group of Deep Ones in the bay area, living in underwater caves along a cave shelf.   The monsters were making excursions onshore to capture humans for sport and for breeding, as well as attacking boats that came too close to their caves.  The unfortunate women captured were used for breeding; the men for gladiatorial combat.  Then Fritz showed up and the Deep Ones didn't do quite so well against someone with a passion for slaughter. The Djinn had been distraught at the sight of so much water and Cameron had had his hands full dealing with her and the local authorities.  Miss Black had learned to drive with Angus patiently teaching her, while Cameron had watched Fritz and Thorne plan on how to destroy a large section of underwater reef with explosive charges.  Thorne had also invested in some real estate in San Francisco.
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The agents were reassembled for a training session with the famous Harry Houdini, whom the Raiders knew as the intense, serious and mannerly Ehrich Weiss.  He spent two weeks training the agents on breath control, lock picking, escaping handcuffs, rope ties and straitjackets.  Unsurprisingly, Fritz excelled at picking locks.  Cameron had the best breath control.  Spider's knowledge of ropes enabled him to get out of them quickly.  But it was Angus who had the biggest effect on Houdini - by telling the man he had to get his affairs in order - a fighting man was coming for him.
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GM:  New Cases coming soon for the Agents in May 1925; any loose ends you wish to deal with, please respond by Saturday, 7 November.
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Jack suggests that he and Spider go somewhere quiet – maybe the police station? — and use the phone to call Amy, using the number Joy gave them. When she’s on the phone, he will gently explain who he is, including his Maryland roots, and again tell her that they want to stop this from happening again. Not wanting to re-traumatize her, he will say he already has the gist of what happened, but just wants to know if there are any little details that they might not have heard yet. Smells, sounds, unusual fur, metal or fabric, how the creature walked or sounded or anything at all that she could describe, as well as any unusual goings-on either beforehand or afterwards. He will thank her and wish her well, and tell her that life throws us unusual obstacles but we can always find our way past them.