CM:  We left you last time in the hospice room of Father Anton, who had just told you about Varinae....The Dark Blood Hunger of the Night.
Riker: "What was this old rivalry you mentioned, Father?"
Anton: "Before Varinae made it to the...chamber of the Lord, he fought and humiliated the guard there...but did not destroy him. Jophiel will not have...forgiven such an act."
Riker: Mutters "Great. We're stuck in the middle of a supernatural pissing contest."
Mulcahy: "Father Anton needs his rest."
Benny walks out of the room, but pauses on the doorway
Benny: "Thank you, Father..."
Francis crosses himself.
Benny waits for his friends in the hallway.
Riker mutters, "In th' name'a th' Father, th' Son an' th' Holy Spirit, amen."  A little louder. "Let this guy get his rest, folks.  We've got a job t'do."
Francis heads out into the hall.
Riker: "Ok, what next?  We've got some leads -- that weird-ass Church, Smythe, the Grail, Cabot an' Jophiel...hey, I just thought'a somethin'..."
Francis:  "Well, there's the obvious connection between Cabot and Jophiel - I think that we can be fairly confident that Jophiel is here for Cabot."
Benny nods. "I agree with Francis."
Riker: "Yeah...but what're th' odds that Jophiel ain't Jophiel?"
Benny: "I'm listening."
Francis gives Riker a grave look. "He can call down 'fire from heaven', Mr..er..Alan. I don't think it's germane whether or not he's really an angel."
Riker: "But they found the angel in the preacher's garden...maybe this guy gets dissatisfied with the way things're goin', right?  Maybe he takes on the...uhhh...aspect of the angel..."
Francis raises an eyebrow. "Interesting hypothesis - that would probably explain away some of the holes in the current data. I rather expect that Cabot had the Grail stolen, for God alone knows what evil purpose - stopping him is certainly a high priority. The museum is consecrated ground; that would suggest that Cabot could not enter, though I confess I don't recall whether he has a weakness toward religious items. Gustav's reaction to the Names suggests he might."
Riker nods, slowly. "Yeah...maybe some holy water? We can buy super soakers..."
Benny: "So how come Jophiel can call that white fire?"
Riker: "It'd explain why Jophiel's acting so damn weird...the preacher's taken on the power of the angel...but since he was mortal...boom, whacko city. As for th' white fire...what'd we have on that damn Church again...?"
Benny: "Not much. Maybe we can find something in his books. I haven't much time to read them."
Riker: "Francis, man...what're th' odds the Evangelical Crusade is just a new form of the Church of the White Fire?"
Francis: "They postulate God as something out of Lovecraft - a blind, mad god without form or consciousness, creating and recreating the universe."
Riker: "Right, okay...so maybe Gordon stumbles across this...an' then what?"
Francis: "The most germane portion is the connection of 'white fire' -- it's also the term for the life force God supposedly used to create angels. Thus circling around to Jophiel again."
Riker: "Okay...so we've got these guys on the flight with Gordon, their eyes're burned out...from seein' th' Divine? Or maybe his transformation into Jophiel...?"
Francis: "Perhaps we should see if we can have a look at the remains they recovered from Gordon's home... "
Riker nods. "Makes sense. The body'll be at the City Morgue."
CM: A high-pitched alarm sounds from Father Anton's room. Father Mulcahy appears at the door to the room, his face pale. "Call a crash team! He's gone into arrest!"
Francis jumps at Mulcahy's appearance.
Benny: "Oh no..."
Riker pales. "Damn it!" Feet pound towards the nurse's station.  "Hey! Hey! We've got a flatline! Need a crash team, stat!" No ponderence is given to what the word 'stat' might really mean.
CM:  The erratic tone of the heart monitor tells the truth of the matter. Rather than a flatline, Anton seems to be suffering severe cardiac spasms, and his breathing has stopped.
Francis runs into the room and tugs the plastic curtain aside, looking for some way to revive the old man.
Benny follows close behind.
CM: FEAR rolls for everyone in the room with Anton.
Benny rolled 1d100 for a total of 3 [3]
Francis rolled 1d100 for a total of 46 [46]
CM: Benny is unmoved, but Francis feels a twinge of horror at the sight that lies on the bed...Whatever the old man was dying of, wasn't just old age. Something has been slowly eating him alive, reducing his flesh to a thin tumourous paste attached to brittle and twisted bones..
Private message from CM to Francis: First Aid roll.
Francis rolled 1d100 for a total of 20 [20]
Francis shudders, then expertly begins CPR on the withered priest. "one...two..three..four...five...breathe...one..."
Riker: "Dammit, we need some doctors, man! NOW!"
CM: The crash team explode through the door. Swiftly they get into position. "We'll take over now," says a thin faced doctor.
Riker runs in right behind them, too jazzed on adrenalin for the dying-dead man's condition to fully register right away.  Then he clicks in.
Francis backs away from the medical experts, letting them do their jobs.
Benny steps aside and starts looking out the window, without listening to the efforts behind him
CM: A nurse ushers you to the door. "We'll do what we can, but he's very old."
Riker: "Man...Francis, dude..." Riker backs out, frowning. "What the hell was that...?"
CM: Behind you, you can hear the whine of the crash cart building a charge.
Benny simply nods with sorrow
Francis: "I...don't know."
Francis rubs the back of his sleeve across his mouth, over and over.  "Whatever it was... I hope it's not contagious."
CM: "Clear!" buzzzztt!. The door swings shut, blocking out the sound.
Riker wipes his mouth, dry, with the back of his hand. "Nothin' we can do here, then?"
Mulcahy stares at the door, tension in every line of his face.
Benny: "I think it is contagious...and we already have it..."
Riker stares at Benny for a moment. "Man...don't you start too, Benny. This's trouble, true...but there ain't nobody left t'deal with it but us."
Riker: "Father...look, I'm sorry about that..."
Mulcahy: "Sorry? About what?"
Riker: "I...we kinda pushed him over the edge, comin' here."
Mulcahy shakes his head. "I don't think so lad. I think he was holding on for as long as he could, until he could pass on what he knew. I think it's past his time."
Francis: "Father, do you know...what... Father Anton was suffering from?"
Mulcahy flashes Francis a glance. "Best not to ask, son."
Riker: "If you say so..." Riker pales, swallows, recovers.
Benny walks outside and lights a cigarette.
CM: Ten minutes pass. Then the door to Anton's room opens, and the thin faced doctor emerges. "I'm sorry," he mutters tiredly. "We tried."
Francis puts a hand on Mulcahey's shoulder in faint comfort.
Riker hangs back, fidgeting by the wall. Definitely got to work on the tough guy act.
Mulcahy sags, the tension pouring out of him like sand from an hourglass...
Riker: "Padre...? We've gotta get back to Boston."
Francis: "I'm sorry for your loss, Father... but we have many lives yet to save, and time is of the essence."
Mulcahy nods distractedly. "Yes. Yes, we have...things to do."
CM: The doctor looks at you with sorrow. "Are you going to be alright?"
Francis: "We'll help him, Doctor. Thank you for your effort.  Father Anton had a long, hard struggle."
CM: Another priest rushes up the corridor, nods to the doctor, and ducks into the room.
Mulcahy mutters, "At least he died shriven. Come on. Lets get out of here." He leads the way out of the hospice...
Riker looks back at the room where Anton lays. Frowns. Follows along, pulling his keys from a pocket.
Benny waits outside and greets the saddened investigators with half a crooked smile.
Riker: "Awright, how we gonna play this? Padre...you think you can talk your way in? Maybe with Francis here? It is a Catholic town..."
Mulcahy draws a deep breath. "At the morgue? Yes, I think I could get us in there."
Francis gives Riker a puzzled look. "I'm hardly the persuasive sort, Mr...Alan."
Benny: "Sure you are, Francis. You have a trustworthy face. Unlike me for example."
Riker grins lopsidedly. "Benny's right...you look like an academic. I wanna stop at a 7-11 on th' way in, though."
Riker looks up at the sky. Sun's down, ennit?
CM: Going down yes, but not quite there. By the time you get back to Boston, it'll be truly dark.
Francis: "Er... I am an academic."
Riker: "Exactly. Climb in, boys...long night ahead of us."
Mulcahy: "If you keep quiet and play along, I might be able to pass you off as the latest crop from the seminary"
Benny: "Ha!! That'll be the day!!"
Francis: "Whatever you say, Father."
Benny blushes. "Sorry about that."
Mulcahy fixes Benny with a gentle smile. "There's a little bit of god in all of us, Benny. Even you."
Benny: "Very well hidden to prying eyes..." He winks.
Riker: "No prob, Benny. Keep smilin'. Makes me think we've gotta chance on this. Francis...what're the odds we can contact Smythe?"
Francis: "I can probably come up with a phone number or two to try in Europe... but I have no idea where he might be, unfortunately."
Benny: "You do that. We have to get a hold of him."
Riker: "Beats nothin'." Riker looks for a convenience store.
Private message from Francis to CM: Tell me that Francis and his photographic memory have seen the phone list for international contacts.
Private message from CM to Francis: You know the number for the main European archive...there's a good chance that's where he is.
Private message from Francis to CM: Does Francis have his cell phone?
Private message from CM to Francis: Yep.
Francis fishes a small cell phone out of his jacket and starts dialing. He's dialing an awful lot of numbers.
Benny: "So Father, what do you know of this Varinae?"
Mulcahy: "Only what Father Anton told you. That he's supposed to be the first vampire. There are legends that he raped Lilith, making her eternally pregnant with horrors. He's said to be the father of every earth-born demon."
Benny: "Ohh...sounds icky. Why are we stopping here?
Riker: "Lovely guy. Hey, it's salt an' water, right Father?"
Mulcahy: "Sorry Alan? I was miles away..."
Riker: "Salt an' water...holy water. Am I right?"
Mulcahy:  "Umm, the salt isn't vital, but it helps, being a magically pure element. Church doctrine merely states that the water has to be pure, and blessed."
Riker: "Pure water, right. Evian do?"
Mulcahy: "As long as it's not carbonated, yes."
Benny: "So, Varinae. Any legends of anyone who may have vanquished him?"
Mulcahy: "Varinae? Um, apart from the Archangel Michael and a large number of his army, no-one's beaten Varinae as far as I know."
Benny: "Until now, baby!!"
Riker: "First time for everything."
Benny: "I don't know what's wrong with me."
Riker: "You're crackin' like th' rest of us, Benny. Don't sweat it."
Benny: "I really have to calm down. It's like I'm on speed. I'm pumped!! It's almost like I want one of those suckers to appear so I can kick his ass!! Dangerous behavior, I tell ya!"
Private message from CM to Francis: The phone trills for a while, then it gets picked up. It's Andreas, an archivist you know well.
Francis glances up.  "Be careful what you wish for -- ah! Andreas!  Francis Walters here."
Riker points at Benny. "You can shut that shit up right now, mister man." He's grinning as he says it, though.
Benny: "That Cabot fella better watch out!! I'm telling ya!"
Riker: "Say that three times, Benny, he's gonna show up. Now quiet...let Francis work."
Benny: "Ok, ok. I'll go back to sulking, it suits me better."
Riker: "Just save up, man...like I said, it's gonna be a long night."
Benny: "Yeah, yeah... go find that water for the Father."
Benny steps out of the Bronco and lights a cigarette.
Riker hops out of the truck and goes into the store for a couple of sixpacks of Evian.
Mulcahy is chuckling over the idea of Holy Evian. The laughter is strained and brittle.
Benny: "We are going to douche him with French Holy Water, baby." He draws reflectively on his cigarette. "Damn it, I have to lose that 'baby' routine. I'm already tired of it after only five minutes."
 
Private message from CM to Francis: "Francis! What can I do for you at this early hour?"
Francis:  "Yes, well... things have been...interesting, to say the least. I'm on a cell phone, so I'll have to keep it brief. Have you any idea where I might find Dr. Smythe?"
Private message from CM to Francis: "Ellsworth? He's here. Has been for the last three weeks."
Francis: "You have no idea how pleased I am to know that. Would it be possible to disturb him? I can find a land-line so we can speak more openly."
Private message from CM to Francis: "He's in the restricted area. Hold on, I'll put you through." There's a click. Then, "Smythe here. Walters, is that you?"
Francis: "Yes, yes - I'm on a cell phone. We've had a spot of trouble here, right up your alley so to speak. Considerable trouble, if the truth be known."
Private message from CM to Francis: "Do you have a name?"
Francis: "Sir, it's the name I'm sure you hoped you'd never hear.  A local boy, so to speak."
Private message from CM to Francis: "Ca... Good god man. He's left Salem?"
Francis: "We need to know, rather urgently, what weaknesses he might have.  I'm afraid things are somewhat a shambles here.  I believe he may be here, sir. There may be a rather special, old drinking vessel invoved."
Private message from CM to Francis: "Weaknesses? Let me think...We know precious little about him. He's been observed in sunlight and seems to be vulnerable to faith and religious icons. The problem is that he's smart. He could be faking it. He knew we were observing him in '88 and '95, I'm sure. Are you sure he's in Boston? There's never been a confirmed sighting of him outside his estate before..." There's a pause, then, "it's funny, he's actually the reason I'm here..."
Francis: "We mustn't underestimate him. You remember Gustav Reyner? He's...well... you get my drift.  And with some very strange effects. I believe our old friend is behind Gustav's former condition. I nearly followed him."
Riker emerges from the store bearing the two sixpacks, a bag of salt, and a small plastic package filled with colorful objects.  Climbs into the truck.  "Padre, will this do?"
Benny:  "Where have I seen this before?  Those boys in Hollywood, perhaps?"
CM:  Mulcahy looks at the salt bag. "If it's rock salt it should be fine."
Benny:  "Holy squirt guns.  This sounds surreal."
Riker:  "Naw, that was squirt guns.  Rock salt, you bet.  None'a that iodized stuff."
Riker taps Francis on the shoulder. "Don't forget th' part about th' blood, Francis...that was creepy."
Private message from CM to Francis: "You were...and you recovered?"
Francis:  "Thanks to the timely assistance of a priest with some training in the Vatican's...darker arts.  I've been dispossessed, so to speak.  And there was...exudate.  That seemed to have motility of its own."
Private message from CM to Francis: "My god, Gustav... there's no telling how long he's had access to our data..."
Riker:  "Exudate, exudate...I don't think that's a word, Sam."
Private message from CM to Francis: "This might be of help. I came here to study a journal relating to the Salem Witchtrials..."
Francis: "You begin to grasp the immensity of our difficulty, sir.  And there are...other forces.  You heard about the plane crash?
Private message from CM to Francis: "Quiet man, this is important! There was mention of ... a Salem gentleman in it. There was also mention of why witches were active in the area..."
Francis: "Yes, sir?"
Private message from CM to Francis: "According to one of the judges, only one of the accused was a genuine witch. Under pain of torture he confessed that the witches were here to renew something..."
Francis:  "Oh...dear..."
Riker frowns.  "Francis, man...what is it?"
Francis:  "Shhh..."
Riker grunts and settles back in his seat, muttering quietly to Mulcahey about the holy water.
Private message from CM to Francis: "It was a barrier, designed to hold something terrible inside. The capture of this man disrupted the working briefly. It's possible that something may have got out. Not long afterwards a number of deaths from an unspecified 'wasting disease' occurred in the community."
Francis nods, his face tense. Then he realizes that the man on the other end can't see him.  "Yes, sir, I understand.  Please go on."
Private message from CM to Francis: "The journal reports the capture of the man being near one of five 'caerns' located at the edge of the property of a certain gentleman. That's all I've been able to discover so far. There is one more thing however..."
Francis:  "Yes?"
Private message from CM to Francis: "In checking the records of the settlers, I can find no mention of the...gentleman ever arriving in the New World. It's almost as if he was already there when the colnists arrived."
Francis swallows hard, a look of horror dawning on his face.
Riker catches the look in the rearview, and mumbles, "Aw, no...what now?"
Private message from CM to Francis:  "I'll continue to look into it from this end."
Francis:  "You might want to extend your stay in Europe, sir.  It may not be...safe...here for a bit."
Private message from CM to Francis: "It might not be safe anywhere if he's active and mobile..."
Francis:  "Agreed.  I'll call again when I have more information."
Private message from CM to Francis: "Be careful Walters. He's very, very clever."
Francis:  "I'm realizing that, sir."
Private message from CM to Francis: "God be with you." Click.
Francis presses a button on the cell phone and its light dims.  He drops it into his lap.
Benny simply looks away into the night sky and blows smoke through his nose. He's unfazed, ready for whatever. Or so he thinks.
Benny:  "Ok, Francis.  Give it to us..."
Francis takes a deep breath.
Benny:  "What?"
CM:  The last glimmer of light dims on the horizon, and is gone...
Benny:  "Francis, what is it?"
Riker:  "Better get that water ready, Padre.  Spooks're gonna be out tonight in force."
Francis:  "Mr. Smythe is in Europe researching Cabot. We must be very careful not to underestimate him - he's very, very clever, and there is reason to believe that he is much older than we may have orginally thought."
Benny:  "And...  I know there is something much worse is going to come out of your mouth right now."
Mulcahy mutters over the bottles, "If we get to the church we should be safe for tonight."
Francis:  "Mr. Smythe's researches have uncovered evidence relating the Salem witch-frenzy to a ritual designed to keep...something... IN. Bound. At Cabot's property."
Benny:  "Not Varinae, right?"
Riker:  "Shit, that's what Uriel was talkin' about...somethin' that should've never been released. Ohhhh, man."
Benny:  "Tell me it isn't Varinae, Francis."
Francis:  "The witch questioned -- tortured -- revealed that they had gathered to renew the wards, for lack of a better word. His capture allowed...something... to escape. Deaths from a mysterious wasting disease followed."
Francis gives Benny a grave, sad look. "I'm afraid I can't tell you that, Benny. It would be untrue. Cabot has never before been known to leave his property in Salem.  His presence at the Chapter house - and I'm convinced that he was there - is, to put it mildly, a very bad sign."
Riker: "Maybe he's bound somehow with whatever it was that wasn't supposed t'be released...?"
Francis: "I fear he IS what wasn't supposed to be released."
Benny: "Could be... but somehow it doesn't quite fit."
Riker grimaces. "Okay...that sucks. But if he was bound once, we can bind him again, right?"
Mulcahy: "You're not confusing him with Varinae are you?"
Francis: "I fear he might be Varinae."
Benny: "Yeah, that's what I was fearing."
Francis: "Or, if not, then working to his ends."
Mulcahy: "He could be a custodian, or a high priest."
Francis: "It must be something very important, to have dislodged him from his Salem lair."
Riker: "Right, Francis...? Or is it easier t'just take out Jophiel...Gordon...whatever, then worry about it?"
Benny: "But let's not jump to conclusions. I feel better thinking that Varinae is not at large and that we can defeat Cabot."
Mulcahy shudders. "I'm with you on that Mr Fitzpatrick."
Benny: "Benny, Father. Benny."
Francis tucks his cell phone away with hands that betray a slight tremor.
Riker: "First things first." Riker puts the truck in gear, heading back towards Boston. "Th' morgue. At least there, with any luck, everybody'll be the kinda dead that don't move."
Francis: "From your lips, Mr...Alan, to God's ears."
Benny: "Or the church, safe haven."
Riker: "No time, Benny. Work t'be done. Our asses're hangin' out in th' wind anyways..."
Francis: "Consecrated ground may not offer us sanctuary, Benny.  Don't rely to heavily upon it."
Private message from CM to Benny: Roll 1d100, please.
Private die roll from Benny:  1d100Total 28 [28]
Private message from CM to Benny: The shriek stabs into your brain like a knife. Pure fear, pure agony fuel the wordless message that drowns out your thoughts....
Benny: "AAAHHH!!"
Riker doesn't quite slam on the brakes. "What?! What?"
Benny drops to his knees, his face creased in terrible pain.
 
Private message from CM to Benny: "BENNNNNNYYYYY!!!!" It's Carla, alive, but in pain and desperate fear...then contact breaks.
Benny: "Carla... I've failed her..."

Session ends

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