Chapter 3: Approaching the Unknown (everybody)

1976, South California
The Sandoval couple is worried sick: their daughter, Elizabeth, ran off and joined a cult, the Temple of Concordance. They had no contact with her until recently, when she called them, clearly in a state of distress. The call ended abruptly, without any answer from Elizabeth about her status. The police checked up on the Temple, but found everything to be in order: Elizabeth is 21, practicing her right to worship as she wishes. The Sandovals decide to take matters into their own hands...

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Re: Chapter 3: Approaching the Unknown (everybody)

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Tobias has slightly tense relations with his teenage daughter. She hasn't mentioned the weird company again since. Now that Tobias thinks about it, he cannot really account for Rachel's comings and goings, and he wonders whether she could have sneaked off to meet these folks.
"I feel as if my soul would be torn out of my body," she gasped. "I am being drawn into a whirlpool. What is happening? What does it mean?" - The Secrets of Dr. Taverner
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"No. I don't think she ever mentioned them again, but really, she doesn't mention a lot of things these days." Tobias said curtly, after a very very long silence.
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Ray nods grimly. "Kids," he says and then goes on. "Well we'll keep an eye out for those three teenagers, but I think its time we get going."
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The Investigators get into their cars, and roll into Kane Springs. Indeed, it's not much of a town. At first, there are a few houses by the road, then the buildings get closer to each other, forming a small cluster around the main road and a single street that crosses it. This place must be "town center"... The paint on the facades is peeling, there are abundant "for rent" and "closed" signs on shop windows.

This place isn't a ghost town, just a slowly dying place, forgotten and lost.

Open businesses include the two motels the gas station clerk mentioned (Desert Flower and The Imperial), a bigger building called Exhibition Hall, a diner, and two pubs.
Tobias already knows the two pubs (he has toured all the watering places in a dozen mile area), and he isn't allowed to enter one of them.

The Investigator's take lodgings. There are plenty of available rooms, on discount prices, in both places. Desert Flower is a roadside motel at the entrance of Kane Springs, basically a row of rooms around a parking lot and an administration building. The Imperial is closer to the cluster of buildings you might call town centre: it's a hotel, a two-level building, with reception and a small bar downstairs.

As far as the Investigator's know, Cavendish's compound is located a bit farther away, a few miles into the desert area.
OOC,Please, pick the place you want to stay! Tobias and his family are living in a different location, in a resort area you crossed before the gas station.
"I feel as if my soul would be torn out of my body," she gasped. "I am being drawn into a whirlpool. What is happening? What does it mean?" - The Secrets of Dr. Taverner
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"Nat, didn't you mention that the gas station manager described the Desert Flower as very clean?" says Julie. "That sounds good to me."
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Nat also prefers the Desert Flower, mostly due to the bigger parking space.

The Desert Flower motel is run by Mr. Horton, a tanned man in his 60s. He is extremely pleased to hear that you are looking for rooms, and has all kinds of combinations to offer: single, twin, double rooms, conjoining rooms, two rooms that share a bathroom, rooms with individual shower cabins... Most of the furniture and appliances have seen better days, but they are indeed clean.

"You folks here on holidays?" he says, while filling out forms. "How long do you plan to stay? I have special discounts if you pay for three days or more..."
"I feel as if my soul would be torn out of my body," she gasped. "I am being drawn into a whirlpool. What is happening? What does it mean?" - The Secrets of Dr. Taverner
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"I think we should get two rooms," says Julie to Ray, "a single for me and an adjoining double for you two."
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Ray agrees, "Two rooms sounds good." Turning to Mr. Horton he asks, "What would the rate be for two rooms, one a single and one a double, each with their own bathroom for say a week?
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"A week? You mean seven full nights?" Mr. Horton gasps, and then names a sum. Discount indeed - the allowance provided by the Sandovals easily covers it (even after the subtraction of the hefty price paid for the wire tap equipment). Mr. Horton fills out a couple of forms. "Parking is free of charge. No breakfast, but I can give you some discount coupons for the diner in town. There's a minibar in the double room, it's empty right now, but I will make sure to stock it by the evening.

"Anything else I can help you with? Any special requests?"
"I feel as if my soul would be torn out of my body," she gasped. "I am being drawn into a whirlpool. What is happening? What does it mean?" - The Secrets of Dr. Taverner
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"Thanks," says Julie. "What places should we see while we're in Kane Springs? And what places should we avoid?"
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"There is the beach, of course, it's a only two hundred yards away," Mr. Horton says. "The water is very salty, but they say it's perfectly harmless.

"At night sometimes there are kids building bonfires and partying. But you are not the type who enjoys that kind of partying, are you?

"In town, you can go see the Exhibition Hall, we have some natural history displays. The sign outside says "Dinosaurs!!", but don't go in there expecting anything big, it's mostly fragments of bones and other fossils. But you can get a good guided tour if Dr. Corman is around. You can call ahead and ask before you go.

"And, you know, while you stay, you can always go to the other towns up the highway, they have some casinos and waterslides. Kane Springs is small..."
"I feel as if my soul would be torn out of my body," she gasped. "I am being drawn into a whirlpool. What is happening? What does it mean?" - The Secrets of Dr. Taverner
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"I think we saw a few of those kids on the way here," says Julie. "They were hanging out at the gas station, and they went by weird names: Do, Ria, and N. They were real strange. Know anything about them?"
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"Those are some strange names indeed! Well, I cannot tell if those are the same kids. I don't go to the parties.

"The youth from around the area doesn't have much else to do, you know. A decade ago there were many clubs, and casinos, and dance halls, but now most of them closed down. The richer kids go to San Diego to get their kicks, but not all of them can afford the city. So the local teenagers go to these beaches, light the fire, and have a good time. I'm not judging, I used to be young too...

"So I'm just warning you, that there can be rough kids at the beach by night, and the bonfires really bring out the animal instincts of them. So, you know, be careful."
"I feel as if my soul would be torn out of my body," she gasped. "I am being drawn into a whirlpool. What is happening? What does it mean?" - The Secrets of Dr. Taverner
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"Thanks, we'll be careful," says Julie. "We've heard of a place nearby called the Temple of Concordance. Do you know anything about it?"
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Mr. Horton raises an eyebrow.

"That's what those hippies call themselves, who are squatting over at one of the old ranches... I didn't know they were known outside of the area. Are they famous or something?"
"I feel as if my soul would be torn out of my body," she gasped. "I am being drawn into a whirlpool. What is happening? What does it mean?" - The Secrets of Dr. Taverner
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"They're not," says Julie. "I wouldn't know about them myself if a friend of mine hadn't gone off and joined them."
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"Oh!"

Mr. Horton takes a few seconds to digest the information.

"So you are here to meet your friend?

"I don't know much about this group or church. They are quite reclusive."
"I feel as if my soul would be torn out of my body," she gasped. "I am being drawn into a whirlpool. What is happening? What does it mean?" - The Secrets of Dr. Taverner
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"Yes, I'm planning to go see her," says Julie.
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"Do you need directions to the ranch? Or you agreed to meet someplace in town?"
"I feel as if my soul would be torn out of my body," she gasped. "I am being drawn into a whirlpool. What is happening? What does it mean?" - The Secrets of Dr. Taverner
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"Thanks, directions would be great," says Julie.
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