Play@YSDC

Posted: **Wed Sep 30, 2015 3:37 pm**

'The Strageness of Hezekiah Mason'

Chapter 1 - An event.

OOC: We begin our tale in media res and in honour of Apocalypse World's first, and possibly, most important Principle 'Play to find out what happens'.

Our tale had started some two days ago with a funeral. That of one of the nation’s most underated, although in some people’s opinions overated, talents of the century, Hezekiah Mason, much hated, rarely liked, yet seldom ignored, who had at the age of 83 finally succumbed to the relentless tread of age, and gone to whichever destination awaited him.

The funeral had been perfect for a man who had snubbed his nose at the religious norms of polite society with his opera ‘Lucifers Claw’, play ‘The cage’ and his many other minor works both on paper and stage that focused on perhaps the darker aspect of human nature and the eternal conflict between good and evil. It had rained, a steady, cold, dismal, November rain that swept in from the north accompanied by a chill wind that denied the few mourners even the small comfort of an umbrella. Weather conditions that had turned a graveside rendition of ‘Shall we gather...’ from a mournful dirge to something akin to a dancehall song in the attendees haste to be gone from that cold, wet cemetery.

Now here you are again. The rain has stopped, thankfully, although the ground away from the gravelled pathways squelches and slurps with every footstep. If in daylight this place had looked a miserable spot to have to wait for the judgement call, at this time of the night, with the moon and stars hidden behind scudding cloud it looked positively awful. You can’t help but notice how Harry Blake, the author chap, keeps looking nervously about as if in expectation of seeing some spirit materialise before him – too vivid an imagination perhaps? Although to be fair to him he had joined this enterprise with all the enthusiasm of a schoolboy on an adventure.

There it is, the still fresh if damp mound of earth that marks the final resting place of Hezekiah Mason. Somewhere below that pile of mud and slime lies the coffin that you had watched lowered into the ground two days back, and within that coffin, beside a decaying corpse, is the thing for which you have risked so much…

What is it you seek?
What do you do?

OOC: Please use the OOC section for any character discussion, as to what or how you move on. This section should only be for narrative.

Posted: **Thu Oct 01, 2015 7:34 pm**

Harry stroked his beard, feeling the urge to light up. He had left his pipe at the guest house, probably because scurrying out of the guest house in the middle of the night would be something that Mrs Butterfield would *tut* at, and probably burn his eggs for breakfast in the morning.

Knowing Mrs Butterfields' ears, he imagined that she would have heard him anywhere. The damn woman ran a superb guest house, but had a habit of tutting and going to Church with a zeal that Harry found unwholesome.

He recalled the last letter he had received from the mysterious Hezekiah Mason. He would not say they were close, but they had met a few times and exchanged a few words and letters. Harry was more of a gutter author, churning out cheap but well liked horror novels. But despite this, he was a great big fat affable man, who just got on with people. Including Hezekiah Mason.

"Beyond the Veil of Perception". That was what Hezekiah had alluded to. Harry had no idea if it was an opera, a poem, a play, or just a mad rambling. But he knew he wanted it.

And as far as he could determine, it was buried with Hezekiah Mason, sewn into his Jacket.

He would need a spade. And ideally a man fitter than he to use it. And ideally a lack of witnesses.

He needed a gravedigger. A gravedigger who would do some dishonest work for honest sterling in the middle of the night. And it was time to find one. Harry walked, stumbling with excitement, towards that very man...

Posted: **Fri Oct 02, 2015 4:24 am**

Anne Dewar arrives at the cemetery on foot, only to find that a man has already gotten here ahead of her. In the darkness, she cannot identify him. Is he here for the dagger? she wonders. She isn't sure what she should do. Confronting him could be dangerous, but she cannot allow him to take the dagger. Still, he hasn't tried to dig up the grave yet. Biding her time, she watches from behind a tree to see what he will do next.

Posted: **Fri Oct 02, 2015 9:46 am**

Tommy Stone

Tommy was glad that the rain had finally stopped, his work this night was foul enough without getting sodden while he was about his macabre task. As he pulled up a short distance from the cometary gates, his car rattling and wheezing as if in protest at being driven about at this hour. He pondered the events that had led him here at this time, true he needed t he work but this was a far cry from his usual cases; the promised pay-off was almost treble his normal fee, and for one day or rather night's work.

Stepping out of his car and cursing under his breath as his foot splashed into a puddle.. 'perhaps I ought to have asked for half up front' he says to himself, shaking his foot to clear any water, he can feel his toes are wet and makes a note to buy some nice new shoes after he gets paid. He imagines counting the money after handing over Mason's signet ring... too bad that to get it he would have to become a 'grave-robber'. If only his car hadn't broken down earlier in the day, the delay meant that Mason's body had already been interred before he arrived, missing the chance to retrieve the ring from the body whilst paying his respects.

Taking a long handled spade from the boot of his car he marches back towards the cemetery gates, avoiding the puddles where he can.

In the gloom ahead he makes out a shape... amongst the grave markers, someone else is here in the cemetery!

Tommy lets out a curse under his breath, he should have been more careful and looks about for somewhere to secret himself and hopefully remain hidden.

His heart heart sinks as the shape turns and starts to make it's way towards him, the shape is revealed to be a man as the figure steps onto the path, something of the man's features seem familiar... someone from the funeral perhaps.

Tipping the brim of his hat back with a forefinger Tommy waits to see what this man wants..

Posted: **Sat Oct 03, 2015 4:00 am**

Anne observes the new arrival approach the other man. This one has a shovel! she thinks. They must be in this together! They're going to dig up the dagger! When I made Hezekiah Mason my last best offer to buy it, he told me he wouldn't sell it at any price, and he vowed to take it to his grave. He must have meant that literally! But what can I do? I can't possibly stop two men all by myself...I'd better keep watching them, wait for an opportunity. I don't really have anything to dig up the grave, nor the strength. I'm better off letting them do the work.

Posted: **Sat Oct 03, 2015 6:48 pm**

Rebecca Conners trudges up to the cemetery, camera in hand and shovel on her back. "This is my chance at the big times," she thought. She had spent much of the day planning her excursion, over a light lunch of pea soup and bread she had finally decided. "I need to dig him up for proof."

Rebecca had been a small-time journalist at a tabloid rag. She interviewed some people who thought their house was haunted, wrote a couple penny-dreadful-esque stories, and wrote reviews of novels. It seemed her career was cheap to an outsider, but to Rebecca it was a dream. She was a true believer, monsters and ghosts, good and evil, hauntings and magic - these were all real and if she could just prove it, people would take her seriously. Rebecca had heard all the rumors that Hezekiah's horror works were based on his own life, even though he denied it, and she was sure that one of the evil religious-analogues in his lesser known stories were real and snuffed him out for exposing them. "Could it be the Wizards of the Striped Star? The Brothers of the Sea? The Golden Moon? It couldn't be one of the three Abrahamic religions could it?" Rebecca thought, "In that box will be the answers. They'll see that it wasn't 'old age' that killed him. There will be proof of foul play and proof that his stories were real."

Rebecca stomps through the cemetery and nearly loses her boots to the mud. She hits the ground with a light thud as she struggles to free her boots and gives off a gasp when she notices other people in the graveyard.

Posted: **Sat Oct 03, 2015 11:02 pm**

Anne watches with interest as a woman shows up, also carrying a shovel. Is everyone after the dagger? she wonders. I need to hear whatever they say to each other! Silently, she creeps closer, using the trees and gravestones for cover.

Posted: **Sun Oct 04, 2015 2:47 pm**

carnage_lee wrote:Tommy Stone

His heart heart sinks as the shape turns and starts to make it's way towards him, the shape is revealed to be a man as the figure steps onto the path, something of the man's features seem familiar... someone from the funeral perhaps.

Tipping the brim of his hat back with a forefinger Tommy waits to see what this man wants..

Harry almost had a heart attack when he spotted Tommy, and froze solid in his tracks.

"Who goes there?" he said in a hoarse voice, cursing himself for using such a worn out phrase. He would have added "Friend or foe?" but that could mean he would have to listen to a most unwelcome answer.

Still frozen, he had the horrible feeling that the Graveyard was alive with people; shadows and whispers all around him.

Posted: **Sun Oct 04, 2015 9:39 pm**

So, Anne thinks, they're not working together after all. Are they going to kill each other over the dagger? If they do, at least they're already in a cemetery!

Posted: **Wed Oct 07, 2015 4:50 pm**

A night bird, possibly an owl, screams out into the darkness. Not close, but near enough to panic you momentarily. Every second you delay increases the risk of discovery. The sheriff, Otis Farmberger, may be old, fat and more than a little lazy, but there is a vicious look in his eye that speaks of a bullies delight in the infliction of pain. Also his deputy is younger, fitter, and takes his duties far more seriously, showing more than a little interest in the 'outsiders' who have suddenly arrived in town.

All around the night seems alive with shadow and sound, was that something moving over there by the looming cross shaped headsone? Was that a squelching footstep off to your left?

What do you do?

Posted: **Wed Oct 07, 2015 5:21 pm**

Tommy Stone

Tommy almost jumps as the man calls out 'The fool... why doesn't he keep quiet' he thinks.

About to hiss an angry retort for the man to be quiet Tommy stops ... what was that noise? The sudden screech of an owl makes him jump, almost making him drop his spade.

"Did you hear that?" he whispers hoarsely "We're not alone... did you bring anyone else with you?" he asks. Turning, he points over to his left; he motions the other person to follow... Tommy is determined to discover if anyone else is in the cemetery on this dark night.

Posted: **Wed Oct 07, 2015 7:13 pm**

Tommy Stone glances around trying to see if the moving shadows are persons, or simply tricks of the imagination. He counts three possibles at least two of which seem to be women, however in his attempts to clarify things he dislodges a balanced headsone which lands with a mixture of a crash and splatt that echoes acroos the dark infested graveyard with a volume that could wake the tenants of the nearby graves.

Posted: **Wed Oct 07, 2015 9:33 pm**

"what..me...I...er..." stumbled Harry, nerves prickling him. He felt like he was in one of his books.

He steeled himself. He had faced far far worse than this night. Admittedly, he had faced them in his dreams and nightmares and vivid imaginations, but still.

He followed Tommy; the man seemed to be a friend.

"I'm Harry...Harry Blake" he explained, warming himself up and trying to keep up. "Devil of a night. Typical of Hezekiah..." he said, wondering exactly what Tommy was up to...

Posted: **Thu Oct 08, 2015 4:45 am**

Terrified, Anne dares not show herself now. Who could that be? she thinks. Is it the sheriff? Or someone worse? While staying hidden herself, she peers into the darkness in the direction of the footstep, trying to see who might have produced it.

Posted: **Thu Oct 08, 2015 11:21 am**

Tommy Stone

Tommy looks about carefully trying to pierce the gloom, he's sure that there are more people about. As he thought, the cemetery was playing host to more people; turning to the other man he prepares to let him know that they are not alone. Disaster strikes, he momentarily loses his balance as one foot slips on a patch of mud, one hand shoots out to steady himself clutching at a nearby headstone. He manages to keep his balance but in his haste to remain upright he knocks over a headstone that was balanced. The noise of that falling monument as hits the sodden ground seems to reverberate all around. He lets out another curse.

The other man introduces himself... the name seems familiar. "Stone.. you can call me Stone." he says "We're not alone you know, there's three people out there..." he adds keeping his voice low. 'So, this guy mentions Mason, coincidence... I bet not, something fishy going on here.. is this a setup?' he wonders.

"OK.. you can all come out, we've seen you .. so why don't you show yourselves?" he calls out into the night.

"I'm sure two of them a women, but be prepared.." Tommy says in a lower voice to Blake, making the other man his ally, for now at least.

Posted: **Thu Oct 08, 2015 12:47 pm**

Sister Frances Mary walks through the lych-gate of the cemetery, noting the car parked outside.

She walks slowly along the sodden path, her cane clicking with each step as she leans on it. As she continues along the path she hears a crash of stone and then shortly after a man's voice calling out.

What on earth is going on? she thinks to herself It seems the good Bishop was correct and there are a few other parties interested in our late departed Hezekiah Mason

She continues along the path, making no effort to conceal her movements and then stops when she sees the two men conversing.

Good evening gentleman! she calls cheerily What brings you to a cemetery in the middle of a cold wet night? she starts walking towards them again.

Posted: **Thu Oct 08, 2015 3:03 pm**

"I regret I am no pugilist, Mr Stone. What am I going to do in a fight, smother them?" whispered Harry to "Stone", patting his magnificent belly. He was short of breath just walking around the graveyard.

"Oh lord, it would be a nun..." he mumbled under his breath as he saw the Sister approaching.

The damn play could wait. At least a little while.

He called out in a firmer, friendly voice. "I didn't know it was Halloween, ladies and gentlemen and assorted lurking shadows. This evening feels like a Witches Cabal from a comedy production of Macbeth. And more importantly, its cold, its wet, and I'm tired. I fancy a cup of something hot, perhaps with some whisky in..." he declared to all and sundry.

"Sister, I think Hezekiah Mason continues to exert his fame, or infamy, even when gone from this world. I doubt this will be the last night Hezekiah will draw moths to his grave in the middle of the night. He had..he has an attraction to the inquisitive. I recall his poem By moonlight undying...you may have many a fan, admirer, or obsessive trying to reenact that little masterpiece...."

Posted: **Thu Oct 08, 2015 3:17 pm**

Tommy Stone

Tommy has to stop an incredulous laugh as the nun calls out to them. The events were becoming more and more surreal and there were still at least two more people trying to remain concealed nearby. He listens to Blake as he answers her question.. the man does seem to be quite nervous.

"Well isn't this turning out to be a right 'shindig'?" he says somewhat sarcastically "It seems that we three have an interest in Hezekiah Mason and I'd wager that the other souls hereabouts, have the same fascination that we do." he continues, hand sweeping to indicate the locations that he had spied earlier.

The real question ought to be.. are we here to help or hinder each other?" he cocks an eyebrow as he asks his telling question, while wondering just who Hezekiah Mason was and what could possibly draw so many people to his graveside, so soon after the internment.

Posted: **Fri Oct 09, 2015 5:20 am**

Realizing that she's been spotted, Anne comes out of hiding. At least I'm in plenty of company here, she thinks. "So, what is your interest in the grave of Hezekiah Mason?"

Posted: **Fri Oct 09, 2015 9:12 am**

Tommy Stone

"Aha, one of the lurkers has come into the light... welcome." he says jovially, tipping his hat.

"I think you've hit the nail on the head ma'am... Hezekiah Mason but I think we should hold our tales, unless everyone is prepared to show themselves. By my reckoning there's at least one person still secreted about the tombstones..." once again he points in the general direction of where he believes someone to be hidden.

"Confessions may be good for the soul... but not with eavesdroppers." he favours Sister Frances Mary with a wry smile.

Posted: **Fri Oct 09, 2015 11:09 am**

Shadows thicken and seem to move to the east where there is no entranceway. Soft noises break the silence of the graveyard. Is that something slithering or merely a rustling in the longer untended grass near the wall?

Far off in the night the sound of a car labouring to ascend nearby Stone Hill, could it be Farmberger on a patrol? Or worse his oh so efficient deputy Cable?

Time slips slowly away, nearby the clock that adorns the crooked steeple of the town's church strikes one, the chimes fading into the moonless sky.

You can't help but think this is no night to be hanging around a cemetery.

Posted: **Fri Oct 09, 2015 11:49 pm**

"By Moonlight Undying in pale repose, My body is dust and my bones shadows, My grave is no end nor ever shall be, By Moonlight undying I return to thee...."

Harry gulped. It had seemed a bit of typical Hezekiah romantic nonsense when read on a cosy summers day. Right now when he quoted it, it felt much more spooky. A ghost in moonlight, returning to his love...

He shook his head.

"Ladies and Gentlemen. Dark, wind and rain have a most turgid effect on the soul. And this is no hour for respectable folk. Perhaps we could retire to somewhere warmer and lighter? Perhaps the church could offer sanctuary whilst we swap tales?"

Harry had no particular love for the Gothic, crumbling church ahead, but on the other hand, it was more respectable for a gentleman to be found in a Church in the middle of the night than trudging around a graveyard in search of a shovel...

Posted: **Sat Oct 10, 2015 1:40 am**

"Yes, I think that would be better than standing out here in the open trying to have a conversation," says Anne. "The church sounds good to me."

Posted: **Tue Oct 13, 2015 11:44 am**

Tommy Stone

Tommy joins his new companions in the short walk to the church, it looked like he would have to return tomorrow night to carry out his task and claim the signet ring. Their soft footfalls were swallowed by the dark to be replaced by the rustling of branches as the wind blew through the trees. After a few minutes the somewhat sinister shape of the church loomed out of the gloom. The large black oak door stood closed between the fluted columns of the entrance, the stained glass windows robbed of their colour by the night looked like blank staring eyes.

"Well, here we are then...." it looked like the church was locked up tight, so they weren't quite in the shelter that they sought.

Posted: **Tue Oct 13, 2015 2:53 pm**

Sister Frances Mary takes a thoughtful look at the group assembled in front of the church My what a strange gathering Mr Mason has roused, I wonder what they all want and more strangely what brought them all here at this precise same time

She approaches the church's door and tries the handle, smiling as she says This is God's house, a place of safety and sanctuary, the door should never be locked, the large handle turns in her hand, the door swings inwards on its hinges. She steps in and to the side and waves the group forward Come, come, there is nothing to fear here, God spreads His love to all

Posted: **Tue Oct 13, 2015 3:01 pm**

"God always struck me as a generous fellow with his Love" replied Harry, walking into the Church. There was a certain antiquity to the building, which stood defiantly despite the crumbling masonry. It looked like it had been patched up more than once.

Of course, in the dark and the rain, any Chruch would have a certain Gothic quality, but this one seemed awash with it. Footsteps and words echoed in a dull and sombre manner from its stones.

Posted: **Tue Oct 13, 2015 5:00 pm**

Rebecca sauntered up to the church with a sheepish look about her face, thoroughly defeated by the weather, pants covered in mud and one boot sloshing with water. The building's age surprised her, she didn't think there would be many churches around with gothic features. For some reason though, it reminded her of the unassuming little shrines and churches that would dot the pilgrimage roads, though that could just be because of the eclectic group that was gathering.

She carefully leaned her shovel against the stonework lining the door and smiled, "Room for one more, sister?"

Posted: **Tue Oct 13, 2015 5:01 pm**

Ah! A Shovel! And someone to do the digging! thought Harry, eyeing up Rebecca and pleased to do so. With a bit of luck, she could do all the hard work!

Posted: **Tue Oct 13, 2015 6:05 pm**

Sister Frances Mary smiles warmly at Rebecca Of course my dear

She looks out of the door Well it seems you're the last of our merry gathering she closes the door.

Shall we move further into the church, out of this draughty hallway and get to know each other a bit better? she walks down the church aisle towards the altar, genuflects and crosses herself before the iconography of Christ and then takes a seat on one of the pews.

Posted: **Wed Oct 14, 2015 4:59 am**

"Thank you, Sister," says Anne, beginning to relax a little now that she's inside the church and in the presence of Frances. If you can't trust a nun, she thinks, who can you trust? "My name is Anne Dewar. I own an antique shop." She looks around, admiring the old decor and unconsciously appraising it, though she has no intention of stocking any of it.

Posted: **Wed Oct 14, 2015 4:25 pm**

The interior of the church seems at odds with its neglected appearing exterior, obviously an attempt has been made to keep the interior in a relatively good condition. Although here and there an odd cracked floor tile or dark stain of water damage does reflect the building's age.
Luckilly a few candles are burning close to the altar making shadows dance with each draught. Little pinpricks of reflected light glitter in the high stained glass windows. The candle light is not enough to draw attention from without but sufficient to allow a limited view of the interior.

OOC: What does the inside look like? Is there anything odd within?.

Posted: **Wed Oct 14, 2015 10:14 pm**

Anne peers at the darkened stains on the floor, adjusting her glasses. Something about the stains by the altar looks off, so she takes a closer look. "Are these stains...blood?" she asks, choking back a gasp.

Posted: **Thu Oct 15, 2015 1:27 pm**

Tommy Stone

Tommy shivers, the inside of the church feels distinctly chillier than outside. He spins round at Anne's exclamation, "Blood... surely not.." he says looking at the Nun, "You must be mistaken." Tommy doesn't move nearer to find out though.

Posted: **Thu Oct 15, 2015 9:12 pm**

Outside the unmistakeable sound of an engine is followed by the reflection of headlights in the side windows of the church. Fro the angle of the reflection it would seem the lone vehicle had just turned Cooper's corner ready to begin the slight decline of Main Street at the end of which is the church.

Posted: **Thu Oct 15, 2015 9:29 pm**

"Expecting company, anyone?" asked Harry, peering out of the Church window at the light beams.

"'tis a funny question I grant you, as this night seems to have attracted more than its far share of odd folks" he suggested, gazing at the motley crew of would be grave-robbers.

"But still I ask it! I would hope none of you have particular fear of a fat buffoon like myself" he explained, pointing a chubby finger at himself. "And none of you have yet to raise fist or firearm towards my handsome face. But that does mean less scrupulous folks would not. Hezekiah had a mountain of Aztec Gold under his house, by the reputable account of the ocean of ill founded rumours that circled him. I would hazard a guess that means he would be attractive to the less charitable and polite type of Gentlemen..."

Harry had not come to the graveyard without fear. Not particularly of any spooky sort of stuff; he had written enough horror to fancy he would face a ghost with a degree of amusement. No, no, it was a fear of being punched in his face by a graverobber.

Which, technically speaking, he was too. And probably so were half or more of the folk in the Church. It was just they seemed gentlemen. Or ladies.

Posted: **Thu Oct 15, 2015 9:46 pm**

"You're right, it's not blood at all," says Anne. "It's water, probably from a leak in the roof. The discoloration could be due to rust." When she hears the vehicle approaching, she turns to look. "I'm certainly not expecting any more company, but like you said, it could be someone after some valued possession of Hezekiah Mason's."

Posted: **Sat Oct 17, 2015 3:52 pm**

The approaching cars lights halt on the road outside the church. For a moment the engine continues to tick over before it is shut off, followed by the lights. You hear a car door being closed with a thud, no attempt at being quiet there, followed a few moments later by the squeal of unoiled hinges and the unmistakeable sound of footsteps on the gravelled path outside...
What do you do?

Posted: **Sat Oct 17, 2015 9:36 pm**

"'Tis a night for skulking in the shadows it seems" commented Harry. "I'd scurry myself off into a Priests hole or something, if my fondness for beer and meat had not graciously given me such a formidable frame" he sang, patting his belly.

"Well, I hope this gentleman or lady is of friendly disposition. Or, if not, I hope they shoot me in the belly rather than the head" he said, boldly walking to the Church Doors and opening them.

"Come on in! God loves you!" he sang out to the darkness.

Posted: **Sun Oct 18, 2015 5:24 am**

Anne looks on in shock as Harry deliberately exposes himself to danger. "Being shot in the gut just means a slower and more painful death," she says. Considerably slimmer than the corpulent man, she conceals herself behind a large stone statue, one that would also provide cover in the event that shooting did ensue.

Posted: **Sun Oct 18, 2015 8:00 pm**

Sister Frances Mary watches as Harry moves back up the aisle, thinking There's a poor soul who has succumbed to the sins of the flesh.

She listens as he calls out his greeting, whilst sitting calmly on the pew, intrigued as to who is next to join this strange night.

Posted: **Mon Oct 19, 2015 1:48 pm**

As if in answer to Harry's invitation the gravel crunching footsteps halt just ouside the door. For a moment the handle of the door starts to turn then halts. Almost immediately fast moving footsteps can be heard moving away from the door towards the churchyard gate and the road beyond.

Posted: **Mon Oct 19, 2015 5:48 pm**

"Perhaps the visitor didn't agree with God's love," Rebecca added while moving towards a window, "this is hallowed ground after all, perhaps he couldn't stand much more of it." You can't be quite sure whether the woman is joking or truly believes in the protection of the divine - and the requisite evil that accompanies it.

Rebecca tries to get a good look outside to see if she can glimpse their quickly retreating visitor.

Posted: **Tue Oct 20, 2015 4:33 am**

Anne emerges from her hiding place and looks through a window, also trying to get a look at whoever is fleeing.

Posted: **Tue Oct 20, 2015 7:52 pm**

Tommy Stone

Tommy moves up to the door as he sees the handle of the heavy door start to turn, bracing himself to deal with a potentially hostile interloper. 'This cemetary seemed to be attracting a lot of people, coincedence... or was the recent interrment of Hezekiah Mason somehow drawing people here, it certainly seemed to tie everyone here in the church together. Could they all be after the signet ringm or was there some other reason for all this interest' he thinks as he moves.

Just as suddenly as they appear the footseps withdraw; why would someone intent on coming here on this night and then turn tail? What would make them change their mind?

He notices Anne and Rebecca peering out of the window..."Do you see anything?" asks.

Posted: **Wed Oct 21, 2015 1:21 am**

Rebecca wipes her section of the window with her sleeve, "I can't hardly see anything, can you?"

Posted: **Wed Oct 21, 2015 4:57 am**

"I can see in perfect detail," says Anne.

Posted: **Wed Oct 21, 2015 3:21 pm**

Posted: **Wed Oct 21, 2015 5:51 pm**

"Church windows are not the most translucent of things" said Harry, barging open the Church doors with a most mangificent creak.

His frame would not allow a chase, or even a run of more than a dozen yards, but it did allow a most theatrical of exits, he burst out of the Church framed by its weak light, and huffed and puffed out in the direction of the departing guest. Was there a car? was there a shadow in the moonlight?

Posted: **Thu Oct 22, 2015 4:00 am**

"The fellow looks to be in his late fifties," reports Anne. "I've never seen him before. He's driving a dark pickup truck, probably an older Ford. He has spades and other gardening equipment in the bed of the truck. I presume he intended to dig up the grave of Hezekiah Mason, but our stout friend scared him off."

Posted: **Fri Oct 23, 2015 3:04 pm**

Posted: **Sat Oct 24, 2015 2:31 pm**

Dig up his grave, dear? Sister Frances Mary looks quizzically at Anne Why in the good Lord's name would anyone want to dig up the poor soul that has just been buried?

Posted: **Sat Oct 24, 2015 8:59 pm**

Harry wheezed like hell, his heart threatening to beat out of his chest.

"I don't believe in exercise. I am of the opinion it uses up your lifetime's supply of heart beats at a disagreeable rate!" he gasped, hands on knees, lungs on fire. He had run about twenty yards.

He shuffled at a fair more sedate pace to where the car had taken off, taking a look at the ground and the tyre marks...

Posted: **Sun Oct 25, 2015 3:20 am**

"There is speculation that Hezekiah Mason was buried with an item," says Anne. "This item is said to possess great power, but it comes with a terrible cost."

Posted: **Sun Oct 25, 2015 10:38 am**

Posted: **Sun Oct 25, 2015 5:40 pm**

Harry wheezed back to the Church, not far for most men, a marathon for him.

Leaning, somewhat theatrically, against the door, bathed in moonlight, he paused for breath and wiped sweat from his brow.

"I believe our friend is heading for Hezekiah Mason's old home, in the woods" he explained to the motley crew in the Church. "Clearly he, or she, is not so fond company as we merry few"

He took a few steps and slumped on a hard wooden chair.

"Hezekiah ever was a one for drama and mystique. He bought an old secluded house, more of a ruin, really, in the midst of the most gnarled and haunted woods for a hundred miles. The locals said the trees ate people" he added. He had used such artifice for his book, The Root of all Evil. It was not his finest work but had been lapped up by the pulp of the day.

Posted: **Mon Oct 26, 2015 3:07 am**

"If he is going there," says Anne, "we should get there as soon as we can if we're going to stop him. Since we thwarted him here, he may be trying to look for other possessions of Mason's at his home."

Posted: **Mon Oct 26, 2015 5:38 pm**

Tommy Stone

Tommy barely has time to move aside before the portly author barrels his way outside, intent on catching up to the intruder. 'I don't fancy his chances of catching up.' he thinks his gaze on Harry's back as he lurches towards the gates.

Tommy tries not to look guilty as the bespectacled woman blurts out that the other man was possibly going to dig up Mason then being mad even more uncomfortable by the Nun's pointed comment.... 'Indeed... who would want that man dug up and something recovered..' he thinks.

"Stop him? Whatever for?" he asks. 'If I play this right, the others will go charging off and I can get back to work..." he schemes.

Posted: **Mon Oct 26, 2015 9:37 pm**

"I dare say we can hardly stop him. We don't know what he is doing in the first place" said Harry, catching his breath.

"Indeed, the same can be same of each and every one of us here" he added, meeting everyone's gaze. "I suspect that none of us smell of roses, shall we say? The difference is, however, that I can see each and every one of you. Our departed visitor remains a shadow"

"Before traipsing into a forest in the dead of night, perhaps we should play our own cards, hmm? What brings you to a graveyard in the middle of the night?"

Posted: **Tue Oct 27, 2015 5:18 am**

"I'm here to make sure nobody gets their hands on Hezekiah Mason's possession," says Anne. "It could be dangerous. Your turn. Why are you here?"

Posted: **Tue Oct 27, 2015 12:28 pm**

OOC: Those who knew Mason, or even knew of Mason, are aware that he had a large house at Long Hill on the edge of woodland about two miles out of town on the East Road. A somewhat rambling house originally built for a Wendel Oliver, an arms manufacturer who had made a fortune during the Civil War, it is the source of various supernatural rumours locally, dating from before and during Mason's occupation. You all know that since Mason's death the house has been emptied and closed up. Even his large collection of cats have been rehomed.

Posted: **Thu Oct 29, 2015 12:33 am**

"My intentions are less noble, madam, I confess!" said Harry, slumped and recovering his breath. "I believe Hezekiah Mason left his last art on his person. It would be a shame to deprive the world of his art. Even if its acquisition would be by ungentlemanly means. I hope that does not make us at odds, Madam" he said, hopefully.

"There, my cards on the table and laid true and honest. Hezekiah was, well, I dare say a friend, of sorts. He held queer company but we knew each other well enough and I dare say he considered me a friendly soul. The old devil did depart this world under odd circumstance, and it seems his strangeness has not fled with his death. And out of respect of whatever friendship we had, I would know exactly who and what resides in his old home..."

Posted: **Thu Oct 29, 2015 5:15 am**

"Well, at least you are not after the dagger," says Anne. "It should never again see the light of day."

Posted: **Thu Oct 29, 2015 3:26 pm**

Tommy Stone

Tommy listened as the fat man 'sang', dagger, art... there was something fishy going on here; why had Tommy been engaged to acquire Mason's signet ring? The more he thought about it the more bizarre the request seemed, only his lack of funds and paying clients had spurred him into taking the commission. Not that Tommy was above 'bending' a few laws in the pursuit of his investigations but agreeing to rob a corpse was further over the line than he would normally be prepared to step. Tommy could smell a rat, and this one was huge the veritable 'King Rat'.

As he thought things through the candles flickered in a sudden draught, shadows danced across the walls of the dimly lit church making strange humanoid shapes that seemed to be mocking his musings.

With his mind made up he coughed to clear his throat "It seems that I too have a macabre confession to make." He tips back his hat and looks at the others in turn before continuing. "I was engaged to retrieve an item from the person of Hezekiah Mason circumstances meant that I was late to the undertakers and could not ... well suffice it to say, my only option was to come here tonight and gain he item through unconventional means, much like our friend here. " Tommy indicates Harry with a wry smile.

"So... I'm wondering if we have all been manipulated to congregate here... at this place... at this hour." Turning to Anne "You said 'possessions' before and 'dagger' just now, so that's what concerns you, how did you become aware of this item?" Tommy points to the fat author "And you sir... how did you come to know that Mason had his last work interred with him?"

Posted: **Thu Oct 29, 2015 11:33 pm**

"A letter. Sent to me the day before he died. Mad ramblings, most of it. In honesty, I could barely read it; the writing was tremulous and faint, like a man beset by insanity or terror, or a fever. And yet, in it, some grains of wit. He referred to his last work, Beyond the Veil of Perception. He alluded that it was a work of horror, doubly so because it was a truth that no man should see. He determined that it would go with him to the grave..."

Harry shuddered. "And like a moth to a flame, I could not resist. I am a writer of horror, and could not drag myself away from this piece, no matter how grisly the manner of acquisition..."

"Knowing Hezekiah, he could well have manipulated us. He was a genius, although a crazed one..."

Posted: **Fri Oct 30, 2015 5:48 am**

"Hezekiah Mason would sometimes visit my shop, and we talked about antiques," says Anne to Tommy. "He showed me his antique dagger once, and I researched its provenance. There is a legend attached to the dagger. It is said that it can grant you your heart's desire - but only if you kill someone with it. I don't believe it would actually work, but there are people who do. They would stop at nothing to get the dagger, and when they did, they would commit murder with it. If I find it first, I can lock it away in my shop's vault, where it will be safe. I had made several offers to buy it from Hezekiah, but he would always refuse. After I made my last, best offer, he told me that he would not sell it at any price, and he vowed to take it to his grave. I don't think that was just a colorful turn of phrase. He actually meant it. Perhaps whoever hired you is really after the dagger. Who is this person?"

Posted: **Fri Oct 30, 2015 5:21 pm**

Tommy Stone

Tommy nods as he listens to Harry as he explains how he came to know about 'Beyond the Veil of Perception' before he can comment Anne pipes up, with her story. He ponders things for a few seconds, thumb and fore-finger stroking his chin as he tries to work through things.

"Well, it's certainly strange... the timing of events if nothing else. OK, I was approached yesterday by a well-to-do sort, calling himself Nathanial Nemo he span me a story about being a relative of Mason the signet ring being an heirloom and it ought to have been passed down to Nemo but Mason was shall we say 'estranged' from the rest of the family. he shrugs as he summarises what happened in his office the previous day.

"So... what about the rest of you..." he asks pointedly.

Posted: **Fri Oct 30, 2015 6:26 pm**

I am here on church business explains Sister Frances Mary Hezekiah Mason was well known to us and we have observed him from afar for many years.

His...dabblings..and writings around the occult have raised questions and caused concern for my superiors in the church. The archbishop, the bishop of this diocese, instructed me to discover what was to be buried with his body, determine its nature and if necessary to place it in the care of the church.

It is no secret that Mr. Mason was said to have made a deal with the devil, it is thought the instrument that he used to invoke the demon or possibly even to bind the contract would be buried with him.

As servants to God's flock, as good shepherds, it is our duty to protect the innocent and remove such instruments of temptation and damnation from the weak souls that we guard.

I am not sure of what I am exactly seeking, it may the dagger that is powered by sacrifice, the signet ring or even the manuscript itself may contain revealing passages or clues as the contract he bound himself with but I am charged with discovering it and placing it safely within the church.

As to why I am here at midnight? I was delayed by this inclement weather and with no elsewhere to stay chose to wait in the church, in contemplation with the Lord, until the good pastor arrived in the morning.

Posted: **Sat Oct 31, 2015 4:30 am**

"Nathaniel Nemo," muses Anne. "Like Captain Nemo in 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Nemo is Latin for 'No one.' I think it's likely that is not the man's real name. Can you describe him?" She nods to Frances Mary. "You have my full support, Sister. Whatever items Mr. Mason may have had that are dangerous need to be put away somewhere safe, whether it's the dagger or some other item. I had been planning on locking the dagger away in my shop's vault, but if the church is willing to guard it, that suits me just fine. I wouldn't feel comfortable about keeping something like that under my roof anyway."

Posted: **Sat Oct 31, 2015 11:39 am**

OOC: Other than yourselves the church is empty, and alarmingly silent. Someones pocket watch chimes the hour - midnight. By now the pickup will be several miles away, its engine noise and headlights no more than a faded memory. Outside it seems as quiet as a, well, graveyard.

Posted: **Mon Nov 02, 2015 11:33 am**

Tommy Stone

Tommy shivers, the Church seems to be getting colder somehow more oppressive, was that due to the late hour or the subject of their various quests.

"So I had a visit from 'Mr No One' ... did I, well he was a 'someone' .. old.. in his 60's and tall, thin but well built, not frail looking I mean." Tommy indicates someone who would be slightly taller than himself, maybe 6' tall. "thin face and lips, narrow ling nose... dark piercing eyes." he replies to Anne's question.

Tommy Stone thinking: 'Something off with the good Sister's story... OK it seems [i]Mason[/i] was into some weird things, everyone seems to agree on that part and if you accept that then it's not beyond the realm off possibility that the Church would take an interest in such a person. But why send someone to just see what was buried with him... what about his other possessions; sounds like the Bishop had some concrete information? And why wait here in this cold church over-night, just because you arrived late? It doesn't look like I can get this lost to move out on their own accord...'

"Looks like we all want to see what's been buried with Mason and if the good Sister is on the level She has the authority to get the grave exhumed.. so why don't we get on and do that?"

Posted: **Mon Nov 02, 2015 10:11 pm**

Harry felt his lungs had just recovered, and was ill inclined to test them further.

"An excellent idea. I'll keep lookout whilst you dig".

Posted: **Tue Nov 03, 2015 7:01 am**

"You have legal permission to exhume the body, Sister?" asks Anne. "It may be a bit unorthodox to dig up a body in the middle of the night, but at the same time it's rather strangely fitting. All right, let's get started."

Posted: **Tue Nov 03, 2015 8:05 pm**

As if in answer to Anne's suggestion a gentle tapping sound comes from the windows. It seems the rain that had the burial of Hezekiah Mason, has come to take part in any exhumation of his corpse.

OOC: A nice description of Tommy Stone's 'Mr No -One'. Does his description awaken any memories of such a person to any other of you?

Posted: **Wed Nov 04, 2015 5:52 am**

"We'd better move quickly, before the rain gets worse," says Anne. "At least the damp earth will be easier to dig."

Posted: **Wed Nov 04, 2015 12:11 pm**

Priest wrote:
OOC: A nice description of Tommy Stone's 'Mr No -One'. Does his description awaken any memories of such a person to any other of you?

OOC: Kind of hoping someone says.... that's remarkably like Mason

OOC: We're missing a reveal from Rebecca - I don't think anyone will be willing to exhume the body without hearing from her.

Posted: **Wed Nov 04, 2015 3:53 pm**

Mr. Stone church business does not grant me authority to exhume the body. All I stated was that I wished to examine what was to be buried with Mr Mason.

I arrived too late to do so. Now that the body is in the ground, I would need to apply to the bishop to exhume it or to a local judiciary if there were compelling legal reason to do so.

I personally do not have the authority to do so. I am here at the bishop's bidding not as his representative, I do not speak with his authority. she smiles warmly at him.

She then winks at him Of course, I might be able to persuade the bishop to grant the exhumation license retrospectively...

Posted: **Wed Nov 04, 2015 5:59 pm**

OOC: (I am writing this for Crakkhead's character to move the story forward)

Rebecca Conners steps forward, casually brushing at some imaginary dirt on her raincoat sleeve. The dull flickering candlelight reflects on her somewhat refined features giving her eyes a determined, inquisitive cast.
"I am here to find out just what Hezekiah Mason died of, was his death fair or foul?" She gazes towards Tommy Stone, "I see you have a spade Mr Stone. May I suggest we cease any pointless debate and begin our task? After all..." she pauses and listens to the sound of the rain on the windows, "...the sooner we start the sooner we finish"
She steps towards the door passing the still heavilly breathing man and slides something from her coat pocket. A small flashlight which she proceeds to turn on. "Shall we?"

OOC: What do you do?
Does Tommy's 'Mr No-ONe' remind anyone of Mason? Harry Blake knew Mason best.

Posted: **Thu Nov 05, 2015 5:48 am**

"It's easier to ask for forgiveness than permission, I suppose, Sister," says Anne. "And the Church is all about forgiveness. Let's go," Anne follows Rebecca outside into the rain.

Posted: **Thu Nov 05, 2015 4:34 pm**

Outside the limited comfort of the church the graveyard looks as inviting as before, just wetter. Raindrops drip incesantly from the bushes that line the footpath, probably adding a dash of colour to the drab surroundings in the daylight, but now adding nothing more than a pool of shadows which seem to writhe and twitch in the darkness.
Retracing your steps to the grave of Hezekiah Mason is simple, even the dark does little to mask the freshness of the grave. The heaped mound of wet earth still retains a few waterlogged flowers left by the few mourners. One still tied bunch sports a small card its writing smeared by the rain.

Hardly a sound breaks the silence of the place, even the nightbirds seem to have retired to a sheltered, dry perch. Yet there is a sound, maybe scratching somewhere distant...

OOC: What do you do?
Does Tommy's 'Mr No-ONe' remind anyone of Mason? Harry Blake knew Mason best.

Posted: **Thu Nov 05, 2015 9:44 pm**

Harry stroked his beard, pondering the "Mr. No One".

"That face, sounds like Hezekiah himself" he said. "If the old man had lost a few dozen pounds". Hezekiah had been, if not as corpulent as Harry, a man who was of "robust" build throughout his life. He had a well known fondness for exotic meats, and Harry recalled how he would slowly masticate and savour rich and fatty cuts with a black joy to his eye.

But thin lips, that nose, and those piercing dark eyes. Yes, that was Hezekiah. The right age too.

He shuddered. Did Hezekiah have a brother? or had something eaten him up in his last days? Or was the thin and emaciated man described by Tommy Stone a ghostly shadow of the man himself? There was something about sustenance that kept cropping up in Hezekiah's work, be it food, or more spiritual essence. The talk of a soul-sucking dagger did little to calm his disquiet.

Posted: **Fri Nov 06, 2015 4:27 pm**

Tommy Stone

With some reluctance Tommy starts to dig, the blade of the long handled shovel making a wet sucking sound as it spears the ground. The spade slides into the freshly turned earth easily enough but the rain has made the clay soil heavy and sticky. A mound of dark wet soil starts to pile up to the side of the grave, despite the breeze and intermittent cold rain Tommy starts to sweat and curse under his breath. This was a lot harder than he had anticipated.

After a good half hours work he stops, his muscles ache and he stretches and rubs his arms and back; he's starting to resent the others, oh they mean well with the odd comment of encouragement but it's not them getting their 'hands dirty'.

He eyes the pile of earth he's excavated, it's too near the edge ... "One of you can make yourself useful and start moving that of earth back a bit." he shovels more earth out.. "Ohh.. and someone go find some ropes, we're going to need to bring the coffin up.." he adds.

Posted: **Sat Nov 07, 2015 1:56 pm**

Rebecca Conners holds the flashlight up allowing the lbeam of light to illuminate the faces of the group. "Well" she says her voice a little tight. showing her nervouness as to the situation, "I have the flashlight so I can't go looking for a rope". As if to emphasise her view she allows the light to play across the heaped earth that marks the grave.

Posted: **Mon Nov 09, 2015 6:52 am**

"Perhaps Hezekiah Mason is not dead at all," says Anne. "But then who was buried in his place?" She looks around at the rainswept vista. "Where would we find ropes around here? Maybe there's a storage shed or something."

Posted: **Mon Nov 09, 2015 11:33 am**

OOC:

Previously Anne Dewar said: "Where would we find ropes around here? Maybe there's a storage shed or something."

You know that there is a small building near the churchyard entrance, you had watched the unknown visitor rush past it on his way back to his pickup. It is quite likely from its size and position near the gate to be some kind of storage shed, the ideal place to store bits and pieces.

Posted: **Tue Nov 10, 2015 6:20 am**

"I remember seeing a storage shed near the entrance," says Anne. "There could be some ropes there. I'll go get them if someone comes with me. I'm not strong enough to carry too much by myself." And I'd rather not be alone in this place, she thinks with a shiver.

Posted: **Tue Nov 10, 2015 10:21 pm**

Harry had his breath back and had resigned himself to the inevitability of physical exertion that night. He stroked his beard and stood up.

"I'll accompany you madam. I'm used to carrying a heavy load" he said, patting his belly. "And besides, I don't think anybody should be alone tonight..."

With that, he cracked his knuckles and accompanied Anne out of the Church...

Posted: **Wed Nov 11, 2015 10:11 am**

Tommy Stone

Tommy watches for a few moments as Harry and Anne trudge off across the sodden grass towards the storage hut near the entrance to the cemetery before continuing with his macabre task. The soil seems less wet and heavy a few feet below ground level, still wet but not sodden like the soil at the surface and he starts digging with a little more gusto.

The wind suddenly picks up, gusting through the cemetery, making a moaning, mournful whistling through the trees. Some soil slips back into Tommy's excavation. Tommy jumps back before the earth can cover his shoes. The wind dies down as fast as it picked up, leaving behind a chill in the air.

The spade sides into the earth but stops with a dull metallic 'clunk', the sudden arrest of the spades movement sends a shock-wave through Tommy's hands and forearms.

"What the... there's something here..." Tommy chops the spade down a few times with less force, a dull metallic sound rings out each time. "That's weird.. we're not deep enough to be hitting the coffin yet, shine that light down here here..." he asks Rebecca looking up at the two women, puzzlement on his face.

Tommy moves the spade around tapping lightly to find the size of the object ... "It's about two feet .. sounds pretty solid..." he then sets about scraping the earth away, the light from the flash-light slowly illuminates a disk the size of a small tray, there seems to be carving or marks on the disk but darkness and packed soil make it impossible to make out any detail.

Posted: **Thu Nov 12, 2015 3:46 am**

"Thank you," says Anne, grateful for any company. She leads the way to the storage shed to try the door and look around inside for some ropes.

Posted: **Thu Nov 12, 2015 4:22 pm**

Rebecca carefuly directs the flashlight's beam to the object that Tommy has pulled from the ground, "Here, maybe this will help?" From the pocket of her raincoat she pulls a handkerchief. The small building built of brick and timber, its shape partialy obscured by a tall Yew tree, is secured by a single plank door, looking almost as ancient as the rusted catch holding it shut. With a tug the door opens, a low dragging sound marking its progress across the ground, to reveal a dark, damp, earthy smelling interior. In the darkness you can see a motionless shape.

Posted: **Thu Nov 12, 2015 5:19 pm**

Posted: **Thu Nov 12, 2015 6:16 pm**

carnage_lee wrote:
Tommy Stone - Poke Around Roll,[dice]176327:0[/dice]

Posted: **Thu Nov 12, 2015 6:27 pm**

Priest wrote:
Tommy,Select 1 of the following: (modified to fit the occasion) *Find 1 good item (Keeper’s choice) *One minor item, other than the object you already have (Your choice) *Find 1 clue on the item (+1 forward when acted upon) * Determine the presence of one physical hazard (if none present, you learn that)

Posted: **Thu Nov 12, 2015 8:46 pm**

Spoiler:

Posted: **Thu Nov 12, 2015 11:50 pm**

Supercape wrote:
Spoiler:
[dice]176335:0[/dice] meaning 6, a faiiiiil

Posted: **Thu Nov 12, 2015 11:56 pm**

Posted: **Fri Nov 13, 2015 4:08 am**

Anne rummages through the miscellania in the shed. Years of puttering around her shop searching for this and that have honed her skills to a fine degree, and she almost immediately finds the ropes she seeks.

Posted: **Fri Nov 13, 2015 4:46 pm**

Posted: **Sat Nov 14, 2015 6:48 am**

Posted: **Sat Nov 14, 2015 11:44 pm**

Mr. Handy wrote:
OOC,Cool! I didn't know I'd get something else in addition to the ropes and thought I'd have to choose them as what I find. In that case, I'll take a good item, your choice.

Harry, you manage, with a litle help from Miss Dewar, to find some rope as you reach for it something moves within the shadows and a pile of rubbish falls towards you. What do you do?

Posted: **Sun Nov 15, 2015 1:07 am**

Harry pulled back his hand as he reached for the rope, staggering backwards.

"Something...something moved!" he gasped, clutching his chest and reaching backwards. His hand closed around a rubber plunger, dirty and half rotted. "A rat, maybe?" he hoped, although it had not looked like a rat. It had squirmed.

He held the plunger out in front of him, pointing to the shadows. It was a useless weapon, but if it was a rodent, he would exterminate it!

With a growing resolve, he inched forward, and poked around the shadows at arms length.

Posted: **Sun Nov 15, 2015 5:02 am**

In addition to the ropes, Anne finds and hoists a kerosene lamp. "Ah, this will help," she says. "Do you have a light, sir?"

Posted: **Mon Nov 16, 2015 5:53 pm**

Tommy Stone

Tommy tips his hat as Rebecca hands down her cotton handkerchief and in the dim light he starts to clean off the surface of the metal disk. Surprisingly the soil rubs off easily enough and each time Tommy's finger tips brush the metal an unpleasant tingling sets in, lasting no more than the fleeting touch as he wipes but it is unsettling. Slowly some of the marking become more pronounced, odd geometric shapes that look intricate Tommy's mind is taken back to yesterday and the encounter in his office with 'Mr Nemo'.

".. I know it's a strange request but the ring is an heirloom.. rightfully it should be passed down to my side of the family but poor departed Hezekiah's[/b] father was estranged from my father many years ago... Hezekiah[/b] has passed without any family of his own and I would rightly claim the ring for my family..." the man had said, his words uttered with a fervour that was almost hypnotic Tommy was carried away and picked up in the story... ".. it's a gold signet ring bearing engraved markings, swirling patterns .." the man's piercing eyes bore into Tommy as he continued.

Tommy was snatched back to the present as his fingers closed around the rim of the disk in an attempt to prise it loose from the soil; that same disturbing tingling was running up his hands and with a curse he sprang back. "Can you see those markings?" he asks, shaking and blowing onto this hands to ward off the chill that has set into his fingers. "Damn that things cold..." taking up the spade he digs under one side, then presses down to lever it form the earth. With a wet sucking sound the disk lifts free, Tommy leaves it propped up and wrapping the muddy handkerchief around his hand to protect his hand from further touching the strange metallic artefact. The disk is surprisingly light and Tommy almost overbalances as he pulls the object free, he lays it onto the wet grass.. "Have either of you seen anything like that before?" he asks, looking alternately between Rebecca and Sister Frances Mary.

"The markings seems a bit familiar... I'm sure I've seen them before but I can't recall where..." he adds.

Posted: **Wed Nov 18, 2015 2:56 pm**

Sister Frances Mary lifts her robes slightly before squatting down to examine the disk. She takes a handkerchief and tentatively wipes more of the earth from it.

I can't say I have she replies slowly. She leans closer, trying to make sense of the patterns in the torchlight.

Is this what the Bishop has sent me to retrieve she thinks to herself.

Posted: **Wed Nov 18, 2015 6:57 pm**

Tommy Stone

Tommy nods slowly as Sister Frances Mary studies the disk.

"Careful... don't touch it... it has some kind of static charge." he says as the Nun leans closer to the strange artefact. His eyes are drawn back to the markings, they're decidedly odd seeming to look at, as if forming shapes... shapes that you can't quite make out as if a portion was missing. The perspective of some of the 'glyphs' seemed wrong too, almost stretching - although the disk was no larger than a drinks tray is seemed as if it wasn't possible to keep it all in focus... his eyes kept darting about trying to make sense of the overall pattern. "Whoo that's weird.. I better take a few moments to rest up before I start digging again..." he says trying to clear his head of a sudden dizziness, he deliberately averts his gaze.

"Have you heard of anything like this before, Sister? he asks, wondering why the disk would be in the grave, and who would have put it there.

Posted: **Wed Nov 18, 2015 8:47 pm**

Rebecca leans closer allowing the light from her flashlight to focus on the strange object Tommy Stone has pulled from the earth. For a moment she stares at it almost transfixed, the with a shrug of her shoulders looks away to the grave of the writer.
"Never seen anything like that before, but there is something unsettling about the way the pattern seems to,,,swim"

Posted: **Wed Nov 18, 2015 10:21 pm**

Posted: **Fri Nov 20, 2015 3:26 pm**

Meanwhile:
As the shadows of the shed seem to come alive with movement, Harry Blake, startled momentarilly uses an old, rotted plunger, its rubber head half decomposed through age and misuse, to prod at what he fears may have been a rat, or some such creature. After a moments tense probing, he seems satisfied that the movement had been due to some inadvertant movement during his reaching for the rope. Above the rapid beating of his heart he hears Miss Dewar's closeby voice, "Do you have a light, sir?"

Posted: **Sat Nov 21, 2015 2:32 am**

Mr. Handy wrote:In addition to the ropes, Anne finds and hoists a kerosene lamp. "Ah, this will help," she says. "Do you have a light, sir?"

Harry struck a match. "Indeed I do madam. I find light most illuminating" he commented as he lit the lamp, calmed his nerves, and turned to examine the movement...

Posted: **Sat Nov 21, 2015 1:31 pm**

Posted: **Sun Nov 22, 2015 3:27 am**

"Get the rope Harry. I got the flashlight."

Rebecca's flashlight centers on the disk as she peers at its strange carvings. The jazz journalist places the flashlight on the ground pointing at the disk, takes out her camera, and snaps a shot. From her research on Mason, those weird writings have some significance. The fearless flapper isn't sure what significance exactly, but she'll find out.

Spoiler:

Posted: **Sun Nov 22, 2015 1:39 pm**

The sudden intensity of the cameras flash seems to cause the pattern to react. For a moment it seems as if the strange focussing of the pattern seems to intensify into an almost identifiable pattern - words perhaps? The effect lasts a fraction of a second and fades as fast as the flash. Each of you see it, what do you do?

Posted: **Mon Nov 23, 2015 6:39 am**

"Thank you," says Anne, shining the light around the storage shed's dark interior. She helps Harry collect the ropes to bring them back to the grave.

Posted: **Mon Nov 23, 2015 10:51 am**

Tommy Stone

The stark white light of the flash-bulb illuminates the strange artefact retrieved from the half open grave, the blurry after-image burned into Tommy's retina show a more cohesive patten etched into the surface of the metallic object. The patterns seemed to have been frozen by the vivid illumination, somehow changed and more distinct the effect was even more unsettling than not being able to comprehend any overall pattern to the markings. The brief white afterglow replayed in staccato images as Tommy blinked, something in the middle of the object like a wheel with four, no five 'spokes' and some kind of weird outlandish lettering around the outside of the pattern. The letters, if indeed that is what there were seemed to be stamped on engraved one over the other, the effect like writing two or three words over the top of each other but the script was not recognisable to Tommy.

"Did you see it?" he asks "That pattern.. in the middle; I've seen it before!"

Posted: **Tue Nov 24, 2015 5:05 pm**

Tommy's awestruck statement hangs in the air, has anyone a response?
The drizzle which had added to the sogginess of the ground, and the misery of the surroundings, stops as suddenly as it had begun. Now the night is alive with the sound of water dripping from the graveyard's abundant foliage, close up it could easilly be taken for surreptitious footsteps except for the lack of any accompanying squelching noise.
Far off a solitary dog can be heard barking, while closer a nightbird, possibly the one heard earlier, cries out as if in annoyance at some disturbance. The reverie of group at the graveside, is broken by the reappearance of the rope finders armed with a lit lantern whose yellow light helps illuminate the partialy disintered grave, and reflects off the pale sweat lined features of the writer, Harry Blake. It would seem from the sickliness of his appearance that the visit to the shed had not been without some sort of occurence.

Posted: **Tue Nov 24, 2015 8:32 pm**

Rebecca Conners, reporter

The Mirror reporter blinks her eyes as the after-image fades. "Yes, I did see it!" whispers Rebecca urgently. "When the flash went off! Where have you seen it before?"

She wonders if the picture will show the pattern. The flash seems to have effected the disk.

"I'm trying again, look at it closely."

Rebecca snaps another photo.

Posted: **Wed Nov 25, 2015 5:31 am**

"Let me take a look at that," says Anne, walking up and shining her lantern on the disk. She studies the pattern intently, squinting at the lines and circles. "I've seen that pattern before! That's the Tree of Life, an important element of Kabbalah. I suppose it shouldn't be a surprise. Hezekiah Mason was into all sorts of occult things. As for this particular piece..."

Posted: **Wed Nov 25, 2015 5:35 pm**

Tommy Stone

"Stop that!" Tommy says crossly, as the keen reporter takes another picture "Those flashes might draw attention!" Anne and Harry come back from their errand shortly after he administers his scolding.

Anne then declares that she can see the pattern and make it out and the proceeds to examine the disk more closely.

"A tree?" Tommy says questioningly, "Well I don't know about that but the central part... well something like it was carved on the end of one of the pews back in the chapel." he points back to the chapel for emphasis.

Posted: **Thu Nov 26, 2015 4:57 am**

"It's not a literal tree," says Anne. "It's symbolic. If there's a similar symbol in the chapel, we should have a look at it and make a tracing as soon as we're done here. Was this the only thing in the grave, or is there an actual coffin beneath?"

Posted: **Thu Nov 26, 2015 9:41 am**

Tommy Stone

Previously Anne said: "..Was this the only thing in the grave, or is there an actual coffin beneath?"

"I stopped digging a few minutes ago after coming across the disk; there's another couple of feet to dig out yet to get to a coffin." Tommy replies hotly, obviously not impressed with Anne's comment.

Posted: **Thu Nov 26, 2015 1:08 pm**

Clearing the last couple of feet from the grave is, courtesy of the rain, a simple, if somewhat dirty, affair. Within a short while the top of the walnut casket is exposed. The disc you had found seems to have been placed directly over the head of any inhabitant of the box.

Those of you not involved in the digging notice a red glow far off to the north-west. You would imagine it to be some sort of fire possibly close to a local beauty spot know as 'Pershing Point' several miles distant from Mason's house. However none of you know of anything out there to burn, other than a trees and scrubland. But whatever it is, it seems to be drawing attention from the town several cars can be heard moving in that direction accompanied by the sound of sirens.

Luckily the cars are moving along roads that will not bring them past the church, however your lights may be seen. What do you do?

Posted: **Fri Nov 27, 2015 5:38 am**

"We should douse our lights," suggests Anne. "We don't want to draw attention to ourselves, and the darkness shouldn't interfere with the digging. I wonder if our erstwhile visitor caused that fire. That is the direction of Hezekiah Mason's house, but the house itself is miles from there. It could have been intended as a distraction."

Posted: **Fri Nov 27, 2015 1:03 pm**

Posted: **Fri Nov 27, 2015 8:16 pm**

Harry Blake scratched his beard, lost in thought at the mysterious lights and symbols. It had an arcane feel to it, by his estimation. Not that he believed in that sort of thing. That sort of thing belonged in the pages of his pulp, not in real life. But still...

At least he didn't have to dig.

"As unpalatable as darkness is, when faced with the mysteries of the night, it is quite preferable to being caught grave robbing. Which is, on reflection, actually what we are doing. Even if by moral consensus, I doubt the eyes of the Law would take kindly to our endeavour.." he commented.

"And besides, we appear to have illumination from yonder" he added, gesturing at the distant red glow. "Which is adds yet more unease. For there is nothing there too burn..."

"Whilst I dislike firearms, right now I would quite like the comfort of a sidearm!" he blurted. "But a shovel and firmness of spirit will have to suffice. Let us open the coffin and be done with it!"

Posted: **Sat Nov 28, 2015 2:59 am**

Anne nods, dousing her lantern. "The sooner we finish, the sooner we can be out of this place," she says. "The disk looks to be early eighteenth century, most likely of English or French manufacture. Though the diagram does have Kabbalistic elements from the Tree of Life, there is something different about it. The lettering isn't Hebrew or Aramaic, as one might expect. They're like nothing I've ever seen before, and they seem to move. It does seem to have a ritualistic purpose, but beyond that I couldn't say. Perhaps there is a clue in Hezekiah Mason's writings somewhere."

Posted: **Sat Nov 28, 2015 3:45 am**

Rebecca Conners, reporter

"That disk is proof that Mason's stories were real," claims Rebecca. "The symbology is reminescent of that found in his The Dread That Came to Innsport."

"That better not be Mason's house burning down!" exclaims the Rebecca at the distant light, as Anne's lantern extinguishes and darkness returns.

She watches intently as Tommy keeps digging and strikes wood. "You've reached it!"

Posted: **Sat Nov 28, 2015 3:45 pm**

CLUNK! Tommys spade strikes wood.

Posted: **Mon Nov 30, 2015 5:04 pm**

Tommy Stone

Tommy works quickly to clear the top of the coffin from any earth and then digs along the sides to get to the handles. "OK.. let me have that rope."

Tommy measures and cuts four lengths from the coil, looping each piece through a handle and tying off with a couple of overhand knots. He then gives each rope a pull to make sure they're all secure. "Right... take these.." he says and passes up the ropes, two per side and then scrambles out of the freshly opened grave.

"Take the strain..." he says picking up one rope.. "Come on, all together now.." the ropes creak and with a wet squelching sound the coffin starts to lift.

Posted: **Mon Nov 30, 2015 8:29 pm**

With a reluctant sucking noise, the coffin breaks free of the suction of the grave and rises, suprisingly easy, into the darkness of the night...

Posted: **Mon Nov 30, 2015 11:53 pm**

Harry took a few steps back and stumbled to his knees, muddying his threads.

"No! No! Don't let it go!" he yelled, and tried to cling onto the rising coffin as it ascended. For all his lack of strength, his impressive stomach would at least mean that he would be effective ballast.

Posted: **Tue Dec 01, 2015 5:41 am**

"It feels rather light," says Anne as she holds the rope. Even with her meager strength, she had no problem helping to haul up the coffin. "That does suggest that in fact Hezekiah Mason's body is not inside, lending credence to the theory that he yet lives."

Posted: **Tue Dec 01, 2015 6:14 am**

Rebecca helps haul the coffin up. She's too skittish to be the one to actually open it.

Posted: **Wed Dec 02, 2015 9:57 am**

Tommy Stone

Tommy nods in agreement at Anne's comments and looks on with disbelief as the fat author almost wrecks the manoeuvre with his clumsiness. "Steady on there.. watch your footing." he says, perhaps a bit belatedly.

Tommy thinking: This coffin is suspiciously light though but I thought that there was an open casket at the under-takers prior to the funeral itself? That's the information that I had.. so if that's the case then there was a bosy in the coffin prior to the internment...

With Harry's aid Tommy manages to get the coffin slid across the wet ground and away from the impromptu excavation.

"Well, that's that part done... now Sister why don't you do the honours and open it up?"

Posted: **Sun Dec 06, 2015 4:09 pm**

As he speaks Tommy gances upwards, even in the darkness he can see that the nun has disapeared. He looks around who is still here?

Posted: **Mon Dec 07, 2015 9:41 am**

Tommy Stone

"What the..." Tommy exclaims, where has she gone? "Where did the nun go?" he asks, wondering if this is all a trap... he looked about... were the others concerned? Was it his revelation about the marks he saw etched into hat pew in the Church?

Posted: **Tue Dec 08, 2015 1:55 am**

Rebecca looks around. She's not too concerned about the Sister, but asks,

"Harry, where'd the nun go?"

Then, to Tommy, "Well, you going to open it?"

Rebecca looks at the coffin with her flashlights to see if it has any strange writing on it like the disc. She spots writhing letters.

"Look!" She points. Then the over-anxious reporter realizes with embarrassment that it is only squirming earthworms, not letters.

Posted: **Tue Dec 08, 2015 4:51 am**

Anne looks around as well. "Perhaps she went back to the church," she suggests. "I'm not sure where else she might have gone, but she can't have gone far." She bends down to examine the worms, then looks away in disgust. "Why would there even be worms there, if there's no body inside?"

Posted: **Tue Dec 08, 2015 11:22 am**

Tommy Stone

"Perhaps she did... but why? She was all in favour of our impromptu exhumation practically giving us the 'go ahead' and then she ups and runs off... smells fishy to me."

"Just worms... in the earth." he says, using the spade to clear the top of the coffin from soil. "Well we're in this up to our necks, might as well get it finidhed with. Tommy tries to find the mechanism for opening the lid ...

OOC: Does that count as 'poking around'?
If so..
Poke around (Roll+Luck)
[dice]0[/dice]

Posted: **Tue Dec 08, 2015 3:01 pm**

OOC: The lid of the casket seems to be fastened by means of a simple screwed locking plate, there are four screws to be removed allowing the opening of the plate and then letting the casket's top to be opened on hinges to the left hand side.

Posted: **Tue Dec 08, 2015 3:43 pm**

Sister Frances Mary slips quietly away as the others watch Tommy continue the excavation.

She heads back to the church, taking a seat on the rear most pew.

[ic-think],the image on the disc, I've seen it before, where was it now? Think dear! The vatican - it has been long years since I was there? Hmm, I don't think so...maybe the bishop's library. Yes, that seems to ring bells.

What were we discussing, why do I know this symbol?[/ic-think] she ponders in thought, recalling her last few discussions with the bishop. Finally the answer clarifies in her head.

Of course she says quietly to herself It was on his desk, the book was open on his desk and the page had this symbol on it. She smiles to herself in congratulation.

[ic-think],And after he closed the book and returned it to the shelf, in the section devotes to the occult and he then instructed me to come here. To dig up a man and find an artefact that would signify a pact with the devil. Well I think we may have found what I am seeking[/ic-think]

She gets up, genuflects to the likeness of Our lord and Saviour and starts back outside before recalling that one of them had mentioned seeing the same symbol on a pew.

She turns back and starts examining them - looking for the likeness.

Posted: **Tue Dec 08, 2015 6:35 pm**

Posted: **Tue Dec 08, 2015 6:45 pm**

Posted: **Wed Dec 09, 2015 6:38 am**

Anne inspects the locking mechanism. "There must be tools to open this in the storage shed we found," she says.

Posted: **Wed Dec 09, 2015 10:20 pm**

Anne, you do recall seeing a number of wooden handled scredrivers in a battered toolbox just inside the shed. It is but a matter of moments to retrieve the box.

Posted: **Thu Dec 10, 2015 2:26 am**

Rebecca the reporter eyes the casket for its depth. She holds her flashlight steady while Tommy looks at the lock screws. Sees herself the writing around the screws and looks closer.

Posted: **Thu Dec 10, 2015 3:19 am**

"I saw an old toolbox in the shed, right near the door," says Anne. "It had some screwdrivers in it. It'll only take a minute to go get it." She looks over at Harry. "Let's go back there and get it."

Posted: **Thu Dec 10, 2015 9:57 am**

Tommy Stone

As Anne and Harry rush back to the shed to retrieve a screwdriver, Tommy tries to get a better look at the locking plate.. "Can you bring the light closer please? There's something .. lettering here... can you make it out?" he asks Rebecca

Posted: **Thu Dec 10, 2015 9:46 pm**

Harry follows Anne with a lumbering gait, sweating profusely but with a smile on his face. Despite the exertion, it is an invigorating romp.

"Screwdriver be damned. Hammers and Crowbars!" he ventures, contemplating a more direct approach.

Posted: **Fri Dec 11, 2015 4:16 am**

"Not only would that damage the casket and leave evidence that we've been here," says Anne as she walks along more steadily, "it would also take longer and make noise. The screwdrivers in that shed were specifically designed to open and close these locks, and that's precisely what we'll do."

Posted: **Sun Dec 13, 2015 1:25 am**

Rebecca, reporter

Rebecca brings the light in closer as Tommy and she try to make out the letters.

"I think I need a magnifying glass," she says.

Posted: **Sun Dec 13, 2015 8:53 am**

Sister Frances Mary rejoins the others by the graveside I see we haven't opened the casket yet, that's a relief she murmurs to herself and then a little more loudly for everyone else to hear You were correct, there is a similar carving on the one of the pews and more intriguingly a series of numbers have been carved into the floor next it - 3, 7, 4, 11, 3 and 10 she pauses a moment before continuing I also recall seeing the pattern on the disk before - it was in a book on demonology. I would suggest we proceed with caution.

Posted: **Sun Dec 13, 2015 4:10 pm**

Anne Dewar, the puffing Harry in close pursuit, appears at the coffin, large wooden handled screwdriver in hand just in time to see Rebecca Conners lean closer to the coffin and direct the beam of the flashlight onto something, and whisper ""I think I need a magnifying glass". Whatever it is it looks like tiny letters written in a spiral of dcreasing size around the screw heads.

However before they have a chance to study them further the nun steps from the darkness, "You were correct, there is a similar carving on the one of the pews and more intriguingly a series of numbers have been carved into the floor next it - 3, 7, 4, 11, 3 and 10" she pauses a moment before continuing, "I also recall seeing the pattern on the disk before - it was in a book on demonology. I would suggest we proceed with caution".

In the sudden silence that follows her words, you hear a engine approach the church from the direction of the fire. For a moment headlights shine bright, then darkness as they are switched off. Whoever it is has stopped just outside the gates almost exactly in the same spot as the earlier visitor had parked only this time facing the opposite direction. As you wait, you hear the sound of two car doors being closed, What do you do?

Posted: **Mon Dec 14, 2015 3:34 am**

"He must have come back with friends!" hisses Anne. "Quick, we'll hide inside the church and take the coffin with us. We can't risk opening it until we figure out what these numbers mean, and there's no time now."

Posted: **Mon Dec 14, 2015 6:16 am**

Rebecca, reporter

The bulldog reporter covers her flashlight with her hand when the car stops.

"Take it with us?!" whispers Rebecca. "It's a coffin! Quick let's open it up now."

Posted: **Tue Dec 15, 2015 11:36 am**

Tommy Stone

"I'm not opening the coffin... not till we find out who's approaching.. if it's the Sheriff then we're up the proverbial and I am not going to face a charge of 'body snatching'."

"Let's move to behind the walls of the church... keep out of their way, let's see who we're dealing with...

Posted: **Tue Dec 15, 2015 2:15 pm**

Yes, conceal yourselves - I will see who it is, I am here on church business, afterall. she heads quickly down the path towards the gate.

Posted: **Wed Dec 16, 2015 3:10 am**

"All right," says Anne, grabbing one of the casket's handles. "We can carry it with us. It's light enough, as there's no body inside. It's better than leaving it for whoever's coming."

Posted: **Wed Dec 16, 2015 4:47 pm**

Rebecca, writer

Rebecca ponders the numbers - mystic numerology, or lock combination?

The hot-headed dame grunts agreement on hiding.

"If we move the coffin and its coppers, that's as bad as opening it. Let's just hide behind the wall," Rebecca says and does so.

Posted: **Wed Dec 16, 2015 7:20 pm**

Harry would have taken the coffin then and there, but it seems sentiment and morals were impeding the task at hand.

Still, he would prefer not to get caught grave robbing. It might boost the book of his sales, but it might land him in the slammer. He was not sure he would survive hard labour.

Grumbling his discontent, and giving an ill look to Rebecca, he hid himself.

Posted: **Wed Dec 16, 2015 9:48 pm**

Tommy Stone

Tommy grabs a handle and helps Anne man-handle the coffin to cover.

Posted: **Wed Dec 16, 2015 11:09 pm**

As Sister Francis Mary heads towards the gate, Anne and Tommy lift the light casket and head towards the nearest cover of the shadows close to the wall where Rebecca had disapeared moments earlier. Harry, a somewhat sick looking expression on his face quickly vanishes into the deep shadows of a bush opposite the others, where he proceeds to attempt to marshall his breathing.

From the direction of the gateway comes the sound of voices and the unmistakeable flash of a flashlight.

[/color]

Posted: **Thu Dec 17, 2015 3:38 am**

"I don't think it's the police," whispers Anne. "I think it's the same man we saw earlier, but now he's not alone. We may wish it were the police."

Posted: **Mon Dec 21, 2015 1:38 pm**

I might ask the same question of you gentlemen? she responds quickly.

And then with a beatific smile on her face she continues However, God's house is always open to those that wish His love, guidance and counsel.

What is it that you gentlemen seek of the Lord at this late hour, perhaps I can help guide you?

Posted: **Mon Dec 21, 2015 2:54 pm**

Sister Francis Mary (near the church gate):
Not needing a light to be aware of the confusion her appearance in the cemetery at such an hour has caused the pair, Sister Francis Mary almost smiles at the sudden reversing of tables.
For a brief moment the cap wearing individual plays the beam of his flashlight around the gravestones, too fast to see anything even if there had been anything to see.
“Someone said they had seen somethin’ in the cemetery, a strange light, and what with the fire over at the point and all, we thought it might be a good idea to take a look”
Now obviously caught on the backfoot by the nun, the pair seem more than ready to return to the car. The tall figure takes a nervous step backward and the cap wearer holds the light still, its beam of light illuminating a few feet of gravel covered pathway.

Everyone else (In various hiding spots):
Further down the path towards the front gate, voices can be heard. It seems that Sister Francis Mary has managed to head off the visitors and has engaged them in conversation, stopping them from moving further into the cemetery. The beam of a flashlight can be seen momentarilly sweeping the gravestones. Luckilly its search does not reach as far as the now empty grave of Hezekiah Mason.

Posted: **Tue Dec 22, 2015 2:48 am**

"That was close," whispers Rebecca, keeping her flashlight off.

"Let's open it up now."

Posted: **Tue Dec 22, 2015 4:40 am**

"I think we'd better wait until those guys have gone," whispers Anne, "and we really should figure out what these numbers mean." She ponders it, deep in thought.

Posted: **Tue Dec 22, 2015 2:48 pm**

Tommy Stone

Tommy motions everyone to keep quiet... if the nun gets into trouble... well he'd have to help but otherwise better to lie low.

Posted: **Tue Dec 22, 2015 3:23 pm**

A strange light? Well I haven't seen anything out of the ordinary, though I did see the orange glow which I assume came from the fire that you mentioned she steps forward into the space the tall man has just vacated, pressing them into retreating further.

I do hope no one was hurt in the fire.

Now if there is nothing else I can help you with? she leaves the question hanging in the air, her arm gently indicating their car.

Posted: **Tue Dec 22, 2015 8:14 pm**

Sister Francis Mary (near the church gate):
Indeed as she steps forward the two men are forced to retreat a step. The tall man, who from up close seems probably in his early twenties and beneath his raincoat well dressed, smiles, "I doubt anyone was hurt Sister, the point is a wild place that some folks hereabouts would like to see remain as is".
The cap wearer nods in agreement, a motion that is transferred to his flashlight, "Yeah" he drawls "Best Jones leaves it be, ifn he knows what's good for him"...

Everyone else (in various hiding spots):
The hub-bub of voices continue from near the entrance gate. Over to the north-west the glow of fire continues unabated, those working to douse that fire certainly have a job on their hands.

Posted: **Wed Dec 23, 2015 4:40 am**

"I don't think I know enough yet to figure out what these numbers mean," whispers Anne. "I'll have to look at the ones in the church too."

Posted: **Wed Dec 23, 2015 4:58 pm**

Posted: **Wed Dec 23, 2015 5:23 pm**

Tommy Stone

Tommy nods at Anne's words. "Well, we shall have to wait till those fellows depart." he says in hushed tones.

Posted: **Thu Dec 24, 2015 4:34 am**

Anne ponders the meaning of the numbers on the coffin while she waits, discerning a pattern to them.

Posted: **Thu Dec 24, 2015 11:56 am**

Posted: **Fri Dec 25, 2015 4:26 am**

Posted: **Sun Dec 27, 2015 5:36 am**

Rebecca copies down the numbers in her reporters notebook for future reference while waiting for the coast to clear.

Posted: **Sun Dec 27, 2015 2:51 pm**

Hidden amongst the deeper shadows of the wall, Tommy and Anne crouch beside the wooden casket. Tommy peers nervously in the direction of the church gates from where voices can be heard in discussion, while Anne, the collar of her raincoat turned high to add shadow to her features, wrinkles her brow in thought. Close by Rebecca, using her overcoat to shield her light, carefully notes down the numbers she had seen spiraling around the screw heads of the caskets locking plate. While Harry Blake, still desperately trying to regulate his breathing so that the sound will not attract unwanted attention, squirms deeper into the shadows of his hiding place and waits...
[/color]

Posted: **Mon Dec 28, 2015 4:28 am**

"Eureka!" hisses Anne, still being quiet to keep from being overheard, but not able to contain her excitement completely. "Each number in the sequence after the first two is equal to the sum of the two numbers preceding it. -3 plus 7 equals 4, 7 plus 4 make 11...but then the next number is 3, not 15. And then there's a 10, not a 26. But wait! 10 plus -3 equals 7. The numbers go around in a circle, so they must start with the 10. The only number that doesn't fit the pattern is the 3. I wonder what the numbers in the church are? They may clear things up."

Posted: **Wed Dec 30, 2015 9:49 am**

Tommy Stone

"I think we can open the casket here without being heard by those new arrivals... who's got that screwdriver? Tommy asks in a low voice.

Posted: **Thu Dec 31, 2015 4:42 am**

"I've got it," whispers Anne. "Let me just try something first." She touches the number 3 on the casket, hoping there's a hidden button or catch that will make it safe to open once pressed.

Posted: **Tue Jan 05, 2016 4:26 pm**

Tommy Stone

Tommy looks on "Do you think there is a secret compartment?" he asks, wondering why Anne is prodding at the lock plate.

Posted: **Wed Jan 06, 2016 5:12 am**

"That's one possibility," says Anne. "Or there might be some sort of trap that has to be disarmed before the casket can be safely opened."

Posted: **Thu Jan 07, 2016 10:27 am**

Tommy Stone

"Really? Good grief... what have we gotten ourselves into? Do you want me to open the casket... just in case?" Tommy asks, his chivalrous nature surfacing at the most inopportune moment.

Posted: **Thu Jan 07, 2016 11:03 am**

Anne's questing fingers fail to trigger any concealment device. After several attempts to locate a switch you remain with nothing more that an interesting enigma, surely the spiraling numbers mean something, but just what remains a mystery.

Posted: **Fri Jan 08, 2016 3:34 am**

"Yes, thank you," says Anne. She hands Tommy the screwdriver and, not entirely consciously, moves away from the coffin.

Posted: **Fri Jan 08, 2016 3:45 pm**

OOC: Tommy will open the casket... with caution.

Posted: **Fri Jan 08, 2016 4:36 pm**

Rebecca Conner, reporter

Rebecca leans forward as Tommy opens the casket, the camera around her neck bumping into the wood. She helps if necessary. This is the moment she has been waiting for.

Posted: **Fri Jan 08, 2016 7:16 pm**

Slowly with a modicum of effort,Tommy, using the screwdriver, turns the screws. A few moments later the screws have been removed, without incident, and the locking plate is loose. Then with a little more effort the lid of the casket is swung open, its hinges making no sound...
Eagerly you all lean forward to see..nothing, as you had surmised the casket is empty. Yet an impression left by a body is plain to see as is something that shines, dully, where the feet may have rested...

Posted: **Sat Jan 09, 2016 3:35 am**

"What is that?" asks Anne, leaning closer for a better look. "Is this a dagger I see before me?" she adds, quoting the Bard.

Posted: **Sat Jan 09, 2016 11:44 am**

[/color]

The sound of voices, and the occasional light beam, seems to have moved away further towards the gate. It would seem that the sister has calmed the situation.

Posted: **Sun Jan 10, 2016 4:44 am**

"It is a daggger," whispers Anne, removing it from the coffin. "This must be the one I sought, but I was expecting a functional weapon, not something purely decorative. Still, this could conceivably be lethal in the wrong hands. There's writing engraved on the blade, but it's too dark to make it out. I dare not light the lantern until our visitors are gone - and we're inside the church. That will help keep the light from being seen from outside."

Posted: **Sun Jan 10, 2016 6:05 am**

Rebecca Conner, reporter

Rebecca muffles her flashlight to provide dim illumination to look at the dagger. Those squiggly lines look like some writing, though none she's ever seen.

The New York Mirror reporter than grabs the casket cloth in which the body impression has been made and tears it back to expose the wood. She starts tapping the bottom, running from top to bottom.

"It wasn't a dagger I was expecting to find," explains Rebecca as she taps around. "Mason had papers - personal notes, letters, and a controversial story draft - that I believe were buried with him. Nosing around for the scoop, I talked with Mason's funeral home director who said the coffin was unusual and hand-crafted. Which led me to talking with the builder, who after some financial persuasion said there were secret compartments."

Posted: **Sun Jan 10, 2016 11:57 am**

With the flashlight mostly covered, there is just enough light to make out that the letters are some form of Latin inscription. Age has worn them so the writing is difficult to make out and makes the script almost unrecognisable, however, it reads;
‘Deleth Viae Patent’ .

With a snort of dismissal over the dagger, Rebeccca begins a wild investigation of the erstwhile empty casket, and finds nothing hidden inside. Luckilly her tapping of the wood is far too quiet to carry to the cemetery gate, where it seems the unexpected visitors have been ushered by Sister Francis Mary.

Posted: **Mon Jan 11, 2016 12:18 am**

"It says 'Deleth Viae Patent,'" says Anne as she studies the inscription. "It's Latin, but my Latin is rusty, so I'm not sure what it means. Sister Frances Mary should be able to translate it when she gets back. It makes sense that there would be secret compartments. I was expecting something of the sort. Perhaps those numbers are the key to opening it somehow. I've identified the one that doesn't fit - the three - but I don't know how to use that information."

Posted: **Mon Jan 11, 2016 3:04 pm**

Tommy Stone

"Shhhh" Tommy hisses, "We don't want to be caught now..." he peers into the darkness, trying to make out whether Sister Frances Mary has deterred the men from entering the cemetery.... or not.

Unable to be sure what is occurring near to the gates he starts to move off in that direction... keeping low and using the grave-stones as cover.

Posted: **Mon Jan 11, 2016 4:39 pm**

Tommy, as you get closer to the entrance and the three figures. you overhear the conversation just enough to guess that the visitors have been put at ease by whatever Sister Francis Mary had said. Clearly lit up by the flashlight they carry are two men, as you settle in behind a gravestone you can hear one speaking, "Well I guess all seems quiet here. We'll be going now Sister, got to report in. Wouldn't want any hot headed types rushing up here with the wrong idea"
From the way the final words are accompanied by the creak of hinges it would seem that the gate has been opened. For a few moments there is silence then car doors can be heard opening and closing with a thud, this is quickly followed by a car's engine turning over.
It seems the visitors have departed...

Posted: **Mon Jan 11, 2016 8:31 pm**

Harry Blake vexed in the shadows. To be seen, or not to be seen? By nature he was a gregarious sort, but there seemed danger afoot.

"Blast it, what is going on? is it safe?" he hissed in progressively louder tones through the darkness to the ears of his conspirators.

Posted: **Tue Jan 12, 2016 6:49 am**

"I think they're leaving," whispers Anne.

Posted: **Tue Jan 12, 2016 4:18 pm**

Sister Frances Mary gently ushers the two men back towards the lych gate, smiling and nodding as they assure themselves that everything is fine. Yes I quite understand she says at the suggestion that her presence needs to be reported and it's good to know that there are stout hearted and good men keeping a watchful eye on our Lord's place of worship

She watches as they get back into their automobile. As the engine fires up and they start to drive off, she smiles and gives them a gentle wave goodbye. As the car disappears around the corner she turns swiftly and heads back to the others - her curiosity as to what may be in the casket nagging at her mind.

Posted: **Tue Jan 12, 2016 6:40 pm**

Tommy Stone

Tommy stops when he sees Sister Frances Mary walking back. Making sure that there's no-one with her he steps our from his current hiding place "That was good work, we don't want any 'more' snoopers around... we got the casket open... no body... just a fancy 'dagger'." he says as they move back to where the casked is and the others are gathered.

Posted: **Tue Jan 12, 2016 9:18 pm**

Rebecca measures, with her reporter notebook as an impromptu ruler, if the bottom of the inside of the casket is higher than the exterior bottom. And similarly with the inside-outside sides of the casket.

Play@YSDC

'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1

'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1

Re: 'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1

Re: 'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1

Re: 'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1

Re: 'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1

Re: 'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1

Re: 'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1

Re: 'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1

Re: 'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1

Re: 'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1

Re: 'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1

Re: 'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1

Re: 'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1

Re: 'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1

Re: 'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1

Re: 'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1

Re: 'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1

Re: 'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1

Re: 'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1

Re: 'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1

Re: 'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1

Re: 'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1

Re: 'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1

Re: 'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1

Re: 'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1

Re: 'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1

Re: 'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1

Re: 'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1

Re: 'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1

Re: 'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1

Re: 'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1

Re: 'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1

Re: 'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1

Re: 'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1

Re: 'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1

Re: 'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1

Re: 'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1

Re: 'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1

Re: 'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1

Re: 'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1

Re: 'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1

Re: 'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1

Re: 'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1

Re: 'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1

Re: 'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1

Re: 'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1

Re: 'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1

Re: 'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1

Re: 'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1

Re: 'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1

Re: 'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1

Re: 'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1

Re: 'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1

Re: 'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1

Re: 'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1

Re: 'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1

Re: 'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1

Re: 'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1

Re: 'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1

Re: 'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1

Re: 'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1

Re: 'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1

Re: 'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1

Re: 'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1

Re: 'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1

Re: 'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1

Re: 'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1

Re: 'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1

Re: 'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1

Re: 'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1

Re: 'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1

Re: 'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1

Re: 'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1

Re: 'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1

Re: 'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1

Re: 'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1

Re: 'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1

Re: 'The Strangeness of Hezekiah Mason' - chpt 1