[Scenario 1] The Edge of Darkness

[ken-do-nim]

Elmer "Big City" Ramsey

He frowns upon hearing Ma Peters' question. I'm sorry, Ma'am, but I don't know who Maggie is neither. Is there some reason you think she might be in trouble? I'd really like to try and help her if I can.

She whispers, so as not to let other customers overhear, "Just so you boys know, there's a search party after her. She hasn't been seen since last night, after she went to check on a noise by the barn. Her husband fears the worst. He knows more, but he ain't saying, at least to me. I believe he's over at the church. The pastor is out with the search party though, last I heard."

[ken-do-nim]

Archie decides not to crowd the woman. He steps off to one side and eyeballs the other customers.

The other customers seem to be suspicious country folk who give you a wide berth.

[ken-do-nim]

Aloysius Taft

A snack procured, Aloysius proceeds to eat it at the front of the general store, keeping a close eye on the store patrons and wanderers on the street just outside.

[I'm LARPing this weekend and may not be able to check much.]

You see the sheriff's patrol car drive by, his eyes darting back and forth, searching, but he continues driving and doesn't stop.

[ken-do-nim]

Hyacinth Ausby Hudspeth, antiquarian

Hyacinth sticks close to Jasmine, feeling awkward while the two wait for the praying man to notice them. She hates to disturb him during worship.

36 on your listen roll. Since you put points into listen, you heard his prayer as well, though perhaps not as well as Jasmine.

[ken-do-nim]

Dr. Pale watches with awkward bemusement as the others spread out and begin interacting with the town with such confident purpose. At the hospital he felt so in charge—but here, among strangers and... the working class, he feels lost at sea. He fumbles around with the buttons of his coat for a bit, trying to look busy. Eventually, he settles for walking up and down the street, peering into storefronts and generally looking around the place.

Getting a feel for the town, you estimate that only about 40 people live in Ross' Corners proper; the rest in the outlying farms. You get the sense the village is in decline.

[ken-do-nim]

Jed

Realizing that fast talking is really not his thing and not remembering a Maggie, Jed tries to play it pretty straight and still get some more information.

"Frankly, ma'am, I don't rightly know, though some of my companions may. We came about the house, but it has a troubled past so it might be linked to any other troubles around here. I'm not at liberty to say more, but I can tell you that the Professor wanted us to get up here fast to make sure that nothin' bad happened to the good folk round here. We'd like to put things right so anything you can tell us, we surely would appreciate. Professor Merriwether passed awful sudden and we're all tasked with honoring his last wishes. Ev'ry man oughta have a chance at redemption and putting his affairs in order, they say."

Ma Peters looks interested. After telling the two of you about Maggie's disappearance, she asks, "Do you think her disappearance is related to the Professor's farmhouse? Why is it suddenly more dangerous now that he's passed on?"

[geomys]

Archie looks back over at the proprietress.

"Hard to say, ma'am. But if we can figure it out, we will. I guess we'd better go meet up with Jasmine at the church, if this Maggie's husband is there."

[Stirling]

Jasmine Faversham

Sitting down close to the man, Jasmine coughs softly and leans in to speak.

"Excuse me Sir, I hear your prayer. You sound disconsolate over your wife. Your Maggie, has been taken by a Thing?. By heavens what do you mean. I'm sorry to pry but I came here to pray also, we err...Jasmine looks around and indicates Hyacinth well, we lost a close friend also recently. Some Thing also had gripped his mind terribly. In his lucid moments before he passed, he told us answers may be found in the this run down place. Have you knowledge of this abandoned old building at all?"

[ken-do-nim]

Jasmine Faversham

Sitting down close to the man, Jasmine coughs softly and leans in to speak.

"Excuse me Sir, I hear your prayer. You sound disconsolate over your wife. Your Maggie, has been taken by a Thing?. By heavens what do you mean. I'm sorry to pry but I came here to pray also, we err...Jasmine looks around and indicates Hyacinth well, we lost a close friend also recently. Some Thing also had gripped his mind terribly. In his lucid moments before he passed, he told us answers may be found in the this run down place. Have you knowledge of this abandoned old building at all?"

OOC: I think you are confused. The church isn't run-down or abandoned. And Rupert didn't say answers would be found here at the church.

[Stirling]

The abandoned rundown building Jasmine refers to is the farmhouse.

[coil23]

Hyacinth nods sadly when Jasmine indicates her and the man looks over. She hopes that this man may have some idea of what is going on, some clue that could point them in the right direction. This mystery, these ideas were exciting for her but here is yet another person broken in the wake of...what exactly? Seeing the human toll up close dampened her academic enthusiasm some.

[MI70]

Jed

Jed agrees with going to check the church. He says his goodbyes to Ma and thanks her profusely for her help. "You take care of you and yours, ma'am, and we'll see what we can do to help with Maggie."

[ken-do-nim]

The abandoned rundown building Jasmine refers to is the farmhouse.

In that case I'll change your last sentence to:

"In his lucid moments before he passed, he told us answers may be found in the old farmhouse he keeps up on Boone Road. Have you knowledge of this abandoned old building at all?"

The mourner looks up at the group that has assembled around him, his lips trembling, "What's that place got to do with it? It's over half a mile away from my farm. I think I would have seen her heading towards it. Don't you see? After her scream, I bolted out to the barn to help. I saw her tracks. They just ... just ... stopped! Like she'd been plucked out of the Earth!"

[Stirling]

Jasmine Faversham

"well I err... I'm sure she's fine. Women have a way with these things, if she fell over in the mud, she might not want to be found in disgrace so she limped home a back way. But if we do see her on the way down Boone Road , I'll let her know where you are." Jasmine pats the man on the shoulder and walks out of the church. If there is a font of water by the door she will fill her hip flask up with it, raising her eyebrows to Hyacinth. "Saw that Nosferatu movie, the heroes put him to flight with some blessed water, if there are spooky kidnappers around they can get a faceful of this!" Jasmine points to the man at prayer. "I hope I don't end up with a wimpy bloke like that Hyacinth, crying baby tears in a chapel instead of flexing his biceps and storming the castle to get me back. Are there no more dashing heroes anymore?"

[coil23]

Hyacinth kneels for a few moments and prays before leaving the chapel. If there is a bible or hymnal, she will take that with her discreetly. She is uncertain what is going on but things are becoming more unfamiliar and, frankly, more frightening. She is leaving the comfort and safety of books and feels the need for something to bolster her spirits.

Outside with Jasmine, Hyacinth shakes her head. I think sometimes we just have to be our own heroes. She wishes she felt strong enough to be her own.

[ken-do-nim]

Jasmine Faversham

"well I err... I'm sure she's fine. Women have a way with these things, if she fell over in the mud, she might not want to be found in disgrace so she limped home a back way. But if we do see her on the way down Boone Road , I'll let her know where you are." Jasmine pats the man on the shoulder and walks out of the church. If there is a font of water by the door she will fill her hip flask up with it, raising her eyebrows to Hyacinth. "Saw that Nosferatu movie, the heroes put him to flight with some blessed water, if there are spooky kidnappers around they can get a faceful of this!" Jasmine points to the man at prayer. "I hope I don't end up with a wimpy bloke like that Hyacinth, crying baby tears in a chapel instead of flexing his biceps and storming the castle to get me back. Are there no more dashing heroes anymore?"

You get as far as saying, "fell over in the mud", when to your surprise he rises, faces you, his expression all blustery now, and shouts indignantly at you, "Fell in the mud! Is that what you think! The others - out searching for her - think I'm daft, that it was a trick of the moonlight, but I'll tell you what I saw, oh yes I will, I saw poor Maggie a good 20 feet off the ground, in the clutches of ... of ... " now he breaks down, in tears, and collapses on a bench. But he finishes the thought in gasps, " ... it. All I could see was ... a ... vortex. Revolving colors ... I don't know what it was, but it had poor Maggie. Most solid of all, was ... was ... the claw around her belly."

[Scott308]

Elmer "Big City" Ramsey

Elmer shrugs his shoulders in response to Ma Peters. Well, Ma'am, I don't rightly know. That is some of what we came here to find out. But we'll be sure to keep an eye out for Miss Maggie. I do hope we're able t' find the poor gal. I'd hate to have somethin' bad happen to one of ya'll in this nice little town. Thank you for your time, Ma'am, but we best get on our way. Lots to do and daylight's a burnin'.

[ken-do-nim]

I'm going to move the game along to the party's arrival at the old farmhouse on Boone Road. It doesn't take very long to get there since the party has motor vehicles, and it is only a mile and a half out of town.

The ancient house sits atop a hill, visible from the road and about a hundred yards east of it. It is of early 18th century saltbox design with a high peaked roof and windows sealed by sagging shutters. You don't see any windows for the attic from the roadside view of the house. In the back of the house, a huge brick fireplace sticks up. The roof is bowed, but all the shingles are intact.

Actions?

[Pulpatoon]

Doctor Pale: "Shall we discuss our manner of approach? I'm afraid the protocols of the situation quite escape me. Should we knock upon the door? Enter directly? Or, em, scout about a bit? Is that the sort of thing one does in this species of circumstance?"

[MI70]

Jed

Jed will look for a path or dirt road to the house and make a Track (60%) or Spot Hidden (75%) check as needed to see if anyone (or thing) has been there recently.
He also gives his .22 and shotgun to the best qualified shooters (maybe Jasmine and Elmer, but people can choose.).
He belts on his hunting knife, fills his pockets with ammo, and checks his own 30.06 while he thinks about the best approach.