WOGD: Plot Synopsis II

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Watchers of the Greater Dark, Act II

In the parking lot of the hotel where our meeting took place as guns and equipment are being loaded, we learn that Murphy was in the unit that investigated the disappearance of several children shortly before Rio vanished.  Such disappearances happened in the area every twenty years or so, going back to the late 1800's.  In his investigation, Murphy visited and questioned Whitefeather who owned an occult shop in town.  Although not implicated in the disappearances, the investigation ruined Whitefeather's business, and he committed two years later.  His only remaining descendent, Joy Beck, blames Murphy for her father's death but is the team's only hope of finding the key Rios was searching for.

Once at the Beck home, Murphy, refused entry by Joy Beck, sits on the porch while Kate and JD question her.  Eventually, she offers them a small Aztec or Mayan statue of a head that belonged to her father, and from it Kate receives a vision of a river and gazebo.  There is both nearby, so head in hand the team jumps back in the car and races to that location.

At the river, Kate's intuition leads the team to a bluff where they find an ancient carved face matching the statue of the head in Kate's hand.  She and JD climb the bluff to the face, and find hidden within a leatherbound book wrapped in oil cloth.  A storm is brewing, so the team retreats back into town to rest and investigate their find.

Arriving at a coffeeshop, they are told by Bill to remain where they are: Watchers agents are on their way with a package. 

Coffees in hand and secluded in the upper loft of the coffeeshop, JD opens the book: it is a diary written by Frank James, detailing his involvement in the Watchers and revealing the healing powers of the local spring waters.  Jesse, it seems, did indeed die after being shot but was resurrected by the magic in the waters of Shiloam Springs.  Shiloam Springs is the 19th century name of Excelsior Springs, Missouri.  After being brought back to life, and having found the Key of Solomon, Jesse and his brother Frank bury the artifact in what would be Jesse James' grave.

Two Watchers arrive with a large metal case for Kate.  When she opens it she find an ornate silver staff with a large, flame-shaped crystal head.  When she takes it out of the case it responds to her touch by flaring with an intense light.  As it does, JD notices two more people in the coffeeshop: dressed in black suits and standing by the door, agents of the shadowy government agency MJ12 are waiting to take the James diary and the staff.

While JD and Murphy confront the two, Kate and the other two Watchers leave.  JD and Murphy follow, and the team being making their way to the Historical Society Museum.  They gain admittance to the archives and make several discoveries:

In 1905, the same year Jesse James - using the alias Thomas Howard - truly dies, Elizabeth Bathory arrives in town from Hungary.  She is met by, and later marries, a Dr. Musgrave, who the team believes is the infamous Jack the Ripper.  The first set of child disappearances is reported in the local paper.

Dr. Musgrave keeps an office in the Royal Hotel, and the two share an apartment there.  The team decides that's the next logical place to visit.

As the team nears the hotel, a storm begins to brew above it, and energy begins to crackle around the Royal sign.  Kate and Murphy discuss the Bath of Immortality: Bathory would drain the blood of local village girls and bathe in it, believing the practice lengthened her life.  Kate suddenly stops.

In the front window of the hotel, Kate sees a group of children.  Murphy recognizes them as the group that disappeared at the same time as Rios.  Unable to open the main door to the hotel, Murphy shoots out the lock but when they enter, the children have disappeared.

In their search, they are attacked by Katarina, Bathory's living dead handmaiden, who attempts and fails to steal the staff, and they barely escape. 

Next Up: The Death of the Scholar

 

Comments

[billthetailor.livejournal.com]

You and everyone else. :)

Sorry sorry...Internal Editor Malfunction...Outside Voice...

[starwyse.livejournal.com]

I occasionally have the same malfunction...

[iarraidh.livejournal.com]

Does 'the scholar' share the same meatspace as 'He Who Shall Not Be Named' (and can't direct independent films)?

That explains the internal misfire.

Norman - coordinate.

[billthetailor.livejournal.com]

Long while back I had intended to give the Scholar his own diary entry - and probably still should. In fact, I think I'll do that...