"Shadows Over..." - The Investigations of Josephine & Gordon

[GreyWolfVT]

Gordon Pym the only food with no tentacles and no head save for that roast pig. Once done dining the P.I. answers the baptism question "I suppose we should unless there is a better time? Maybe a ceremony in the morning? What is the normal custom good Reverend?"

[makken123Tabs]

"I'm ready," says Eddie.

[Grognardsw]

Rev. Hillman nods with a smile, stands up from his seat, raises his hands in a supplicating manner, and announces:"Praise be to Joad, now we shall initiate these fine men and woman into our sacred order. Great is their wisdom in such a choice, greater still our benefit. For in the multitude do we all grow."

Rev. Hillman leads Eddie, Gordon and Josephine up to the first floor worship hall, followed by the congregants. Upon reaching the impressive ship alter, Rev. Hillman releases a lever and the whole ship altar slides forward, revealing a stairwell down. Hillman leads the investigators, with the congregants behind them, down the stairs and into an obviously very old tunnel.

[GreyWolfVT]

Gordon Pym gives Eddie and Josephine a knowing look of "perhaps this was a bad idea" after the reverend speaks. "Yes praise be to Joad. Shall we forever swim in his infinite wisdom." is the inspectors reply the reverend.

[makken123Tabs]

Eddie wished he had asked a few questions. "Maybe the others will trust me after I'm baptised?" he wondered. He raised an eyebrow in response to Gordon.

[Grognardsw]

Josephine wonders why she hasn't asked any questions about Elsie, the poor student whose death led the investigators to Innsmouth.

Rev. Hillman leads them down a long cave corridor that they think is heading east, toward the ocean. "Our ancestors used these tunnels against the British," comments the priest.

Along the walls are crude drawings of religious iconography and underwater themes that become increasingly graphic and disturbing. "Don't mind that. We don't like to erase the fishistory of this place."

They come before a heavy steel door that is locked and barred.



"Praise Joad and his apostles!"

[FantasyChic]

Josephine doesn't like the look of the drawings one bit. She stays in the back as best she can, less they decide they need to lock them up in the cellar.

[makken123Tabs]

"It's a peculiar place to be baptised," said Eddie, hoping he was not about to be turned into a cod.

[GreyWolfVT]

Gordon Pym "I agree is a bit of an odd place for such a thing." shrugging not sure what to think though still something in his gut tells him this is not good.

[Grognardsw]

Rev. Hillman unbars and unlocks the door, leading investigators and congregants behind them. Josephine hesitates, hoping to get behind the crowd, but there are a few dozen congregants behind her in the corridor. She is swept in* with the others. The door opens to a water-filled cavern about 40' wide by 60' long. Beyond the door is a 20' area like a beach of rock and stone that ramps into the water. At the far end 60' away, the water goes under the cavern wall. Gordon, Eddie and Josephine smell salt water, confirming suspicions that the water leads out to the ocean.

Running along the wall that the door is in are benches. The walls have more of the graphic and crude drawings, now with disgusting scenes that could be out of a Tiajuna bible. On the rock beach are two closed chests. Rev. Hillman opens one of them and takes out an exotic gold helmet and places it on his head.

He opens the other chest and takes out a wide stout drum, A congregant begins thumping upon it with his hands.

"Let the baptism begin!" Rev. Hillman announces with a smile on his face and intent gleam in his eye.

The door closes, pushed from outside the corridor. The sound of the bar being set is heard.

The congregants begin disrobing.

*

Josephine can physically attempt to push through the congregants behind her, which will take real physical effort and seems beyond the spirit of her last post.

[makken123Tabs]

Eddie begins to unbutton his shirt. "I won't look if you won't," he said confidential-like to Josephine. He ensured he does not catch sight of Ms. Crawley--the froggy-looking lady--undressing. He hissed to Gordon: "If we gotta cornhole the Reverend, bags I'm first," and winked, but gulped back his fear also.

[GreyWolfVT]

Gordon Pym just stands there hearing Eddie Sharp but not saying anything back trying to keep his calm, and his clothing on.

[FantasyChic]

Josephine Clark gives a light blush as the members start to take off their clothes. "Goodness, they are really going at it, aren't they?" she says, still keeping her clothes on.

[Grognardsw]

A dark foreboding is felt by the investigators as the congregants remove their clothes. Only Eddie boldly joins them, thr reporter's humor perhaps hiding dismay.

"Brothers and sisters, let the orgone flow," announces Rev. Hillman.

The sight of this group sans clothes is repellent. What they proceed to do with each other is unspeakable.

"The spirit rises!"

Blasphemous rites of degradation, seemingly enjoyed by each man upon woman, woman upon man, man upon man, woman upon woman.

"Praise be to Joad!"

A large woman, big-boned and wide with swaying hips and ample bosom, grabs Eddie's waist with lecherous intent. "Release your sacred waters," she says with a toothy smile, hands moving.

Gordon is approached by a couple who proceed to remove his shirt.

Two women step up to Josephine. "Your beauty is like a pearl among oysters. Come swim with us."

[GreyWolfVT]

Gordon Pym attempts to stop the women and tries to leave the place. "This surely is no baptism."

[makken123Tabs]

"Jesus Christ!" thought Eddie despairingly. However, resolving to take a hot shower, get fall-down drunk and, to save his sanity and self-respect, ignoring Gordon and Josephine's predicament, he joined in with the fornication. Eddie hoped his thighs did not crack under jumbo, toothy Tess.

[Grognardsw]

Josephine is speechless at the perverse situation she finds herself in. The two women smile at her and grab her arms (Grabbing Josephine [1d100] = 22, [1d100] = 14).

Gordon pushes away the salacious couple attempting to disrobe him. "Now you aren't going to refuse the sacred sacrament are you?" says the woman. "No, he sure isn't," answers the man. The man tries to grab (Grabbing Gordon[1d100] = 55) Gordon but the private eye shakes him off.

"She gots the color out of ma pants!" gasps a hump-backed man twisted about two woman in the water.

Eddie, following the dictate 'when in Innsmouth,' does as the Joadians do and partakes in the loathsome lust rites of the malignant congregants. He closes his eyes.

"You can have my little cat, Ulthar," bleats a woman with leprous lips.

All around are the moans and groans and grunts and gasps of this lunatic menagerie of deranged men and women.

"You're my Dunwich whorror," grunts a man to a woman who Eddie could swear has gills. "Good one," she answers.

"Praise be to Joad, I feel the love hear, the flow of orgone, and so will They!" exclaims Rev. Hillman

[makken123Tabs]

"For God's sake, man," thought Eddie to himself about Gordon, "grab one of 'em who's not too repulsive." He yelled out: "Praise be to Joad!"

[GreyWolfVT]

Gordon takes out his pistol "No! Mister Sharp I will not. If you wish to stay and join this orgy then so be it. But I'm going to take my leave. Now leave Josephine alone at once or I'm afraid I will be forced to use this." the P.I. indicates his weapon.

[makken123Tabs]

Sounds like Gordon thinks that Eddie is trying to molest Josephine. He's not. It's some heffalump.

Don't blow my cover, thought Eddie.