Back to the Village (everyone)

[Snapper]

Ascot heads back to the bar to attempt to dry off, warm up, and await the Reverend.

[BoyBlunder78]

Slowly Dr Douglas crept his way to the wall. Crouching behind it he used it as cover as he felt his way along it. Heading towards the barn, now and again stopping and peeking over the top. Watching the both the farm house and barn for any signs of the owners appearing. Slowly creeping around the side of the barn he looks for any cracks or holes in outer walls he could use to peer in, before deciding on of to enter.

[Philulhu]

Dr Douglas could hear a faint murmur of conversation as he approached the barn and was soon able to find a knot hole through which he could observe what was happening inside.

It seemed the farmer liked to talk to his animals he worked and it was that the Doctor could hear. With his back to his hidden observer, the farmer was feeding some of his pigs who were stabled inside for the night. It all looked perfectly natural until he straightened up and turned around and Doctor Douglas saw the all too familiar bloody teeth and elongated jaw, and by God! The pigs were the same!

Father Ó Shaban was just coming down the stairs as Ascot finished his telephone call and returned to the bar. Everyone turned to look at them as they entered, and Mrs MacPherson said, “Well? Have ye rung fer the polis? Are they sending someone?”

”Perhaps ye’d be safer goin’ back inside while I fetch Dr McBride, Miss?” suggested Jamie, looking up and down the street.

[Snapper]

Ascot nods and finds a spare seat as close to the fire as he can.

"They are. And the Reverend should be here very shortly too."

[Mr. Handy]

"Like I said, he's oot," says Bonnie. "It can wait until morning. And ye'll be safer inside too. I'll go in if ye do."

[BoyBlunder78]

Letting out a small squeal at the sight, Dr Douglas clamps his hand over his mouth and slides down the side of the barn to his knees, eyes wide in terror

"Is there bo respite from these monstrosities? Will i ever find sanctuary?!!

The thoughts racing through his head, suddenly panicking, what if the farmer heard him?! Slowly he got to his feet. Made his way to the back of the barn and made his way to the tree line.

[Joajackson]

The Father took a seat next to Ascot, looking worried.

"Well, Sir Ascot, zat was ze conclusion of ze police? Have you informed of ze predatorr?"

[Snapper]

Ascot looks heaven-ward for a moment's reprieve.

He speaks in a quiet, reassuring voice to Shaban. "Yes, and they are on the way, but from Inverness so will not be here anytime soon. The Reverend MacAllan is also heading here and should be much quicker."

"For the moment, perhaps we say nothing that might cause unnecessary alarm, until we are joined by the Reverend, who obviously the good people of Strathmorn know, respect, and will listen to. As opposed to try to lynch." Ascot hopes this will quieten the conversation for now.

[Philulhu]

As Dr Douglas stepped carefully towards the rear of the barn he put his foot down on what felt like a pile of twigs. There was a strangled yelp and the ground erupted before him, and one of the long-faced creatures stood there, howling in pain! From the barn came a shout. ”Whee’s there?!” followed by the sound of a pig squealing and running feet.

Doctor Douglas and the creature both tried to run towards the trees at the same time, with inevitable results. In the rush, he found himself shoved roughly from behind so that he ploughed into a tree at full speed, banging his head, and spinning to the floor. As his consciousness seeped away, he looked up into yet another bloody-toothed visage, and heard, ”Aww, bugger! It’s wan o’ those folks stayin’ at the hotel…”

OOC:   I’ve moved the story on a couple of hours, so you’re back at the hotel (see below). Can I have a CON roll to see if Dr D regains consciousness?

Two hours had passed. Reverend McCallan had turned up and had listened carefully as the situation was explained to him. The news that the police were on their way and that a monster may be on the loose went a long way to keeping everyone indoors. Farmer McIntyre then arrived carrying an unconscious Dr Douglas, saying that he’d found him poaching on his land, so he’d then become the centre of attention.

By the time Ascot and Hamish had got the doctor into his pyjamas and settled into his bed, the police had arrived in the shape of Serjeant Lorimer and a grim-faced Constable Leslie.

Serjeant Lorimer frowned at them. “So, who wants tae fill me in oan whit’s been happening?” he asked.

[BoyBlunder78]

OOC:   With pleasure.

1d100

CRITICAL!!!

[Philulhu]

In his room, Dr Douglas woke with a start. He blinked, trying to work out where he was and how he got there.

He remembered stumbling across the fields and coming across a barn, hearing a noise within and running away but the rest of it was a blur. He pushed himself up gingerly, his head pounding, taking in the bedside light and spotting a mirror on the dressing table on the other side of the room he was sharing with Ascot. At least he now knew he was back at the Strathmorn Hotel.

Looking down, he realised that he was wearing his pyjamas! When did that happen?! Was this all a dream?!

[Snapper]

Ascot looks at the other two then shrugs.

"Dr McBride and his man Willie kidnapped the four of us earlier this evening at gun point. McBride apparently had a claim to inherit the manor. He was very wrongly convinced we had discovered treasure in the place. All we found was horror."

"He marched us up to the manor in the dark. Then the beast attacked and killed Willie. We four and McBride took shelter in a room in the top floor."

"McBride lost his nerve and tried to run for it but the beast caught and killed him."

"Later it lost interest in us and we were able to escape."

"You will find McBride and Willie have been ... Slain ... In much the same horrible way as that earlier poor lad. I have McBride's revolver that we recovered and am happy to hand it over to you, Sergeant."

"And I cannot explain it, but the beasts hide in those African trees around the manor. The ones brought back by the last laird a century ago. The trees need to go. But not in the dark I'd suggest. The Reverend and the Father are more expert here than me, but there is something very unnatural about these trees and beasts."

[Mr. Handy]

"Aye, it also means that the lad you have in custody is innocent," adds Bonnie. "These two men were killed the exact same way, and he couldna have done it while locked up. Willie also admitted that the beastie killed Mr. McColl before it got him too."

[BoyBlunder78]

Mildly confused, Dr Douglas walks into the bathroom to freshen up and try to gather his thoughts of the previous nights events. Trying to find so e semblance of reason, a thread of coherence to his memories. As he yurns the taps on in the sink he looks up into the bathroom mirror.....

OOC:   What does he see?

[Philulhu]

As Dr Douglas raised his eyes from the sink and looked in the mirror, he saw his own reflection, For a moment it seemed as if his jawline was elongating, but gripping the sink and blinking rapidly, it was back to normal again!

“We’ll be the judge of that, Miss MacKenzie,” said Serjeant Lorimer, firmly. He looked around the room. “I’ll be needing some volunteers to come with me uptae the hoose,” he said. There was a general shuffling of feet and looks around the bar anywhere else except his direction but eventually a couple of the men stepped forward. Serjeant Lorimer frowned and called out a couple of others by name to go with Constable Leslie to go and check on Dr McBride’s home.

“Ye’ll be coming with us, tae,” he said to Ascot, Bonnie and Father Ó Shaban.

[BoyBlunder78]

Splashing cold water onto face, thinking he must still be half asleep that surely was the cause of the brief hallucination. Quickly drying his face his thoughts turned to the others. Where were they? How are they? Swiftly getting dressed he grabbed the journal and hus medical bag and made his way downstairs.

[Snapper]

Ascot looks to the Reverend for assistance.

"I will go with you now if you insist, Sergeant, but from what we've seen, these beasts roam at night like many other predators. It would be far safer to wait till dawn."

What actually is the time? How far is dawn?

[Mr. Handy]

"Aye, of course," says Bonnie. "Make sure ye are armed, although Willie and Dr. McBride were armed, and it did them nae good."

[Joajackson]

Father Ó Shaban decided to grumble in arabic as a response to it all. He really was tired and if he has to go to the house a second time during the night, he might even attempt to kill the beast himself.

[Philulhu]

Constable Leslie and his two volunteers departed for Dr McBride’s house as the other made themselves ready. “Come along, gentlemen,” Serjeant Lorimer said to the two men he had picked out as they reluctantly pulled on their coats. One had a shotgun and the Serjeant carried his police revolver.

He looked up as Dr Douglas entered the room. “Ye’ll be the companion? The wan who took a funny turn? How are ye feeling now, sir? Fit fae a walk?” he asked.