Episode 27: The Curse of the Moths Revealed

After spending a night in the cells, the heroes are released with a warning. They head back to the park to pick up the dropped bundle, and meet an ‘old friend’ who makes an unexpected proposal. They drive to a country estate, meet a sick old man, and see the ghost of Lenore White in a cornfield, who leads them to the ultimate secret of the Moth curse…

GM: OK, I'm going to go into a little more detail about how the previous night finished...

GM: The policemen cuff and manhandle you out of Moth park in the middle of the night. The moon is out now and helps with visibility, the night is not so dark.

GM: As you exit the park, you notice a larger than life statue of stained and corroded metal. Its most notable feature, aside from its age and dilapidated condition, is the fact that the figure’s head is missing. It appears to be a man dressed as a colonial American and it casts an eerie shadow in the moonlight.

GM: As you pass the statue, Woodward notices that the bundle that the Broad Shouldered Man gave him falls out of his pocket.

GM: Any moves?

Ethan: "Hold on. I dropped something."

GM: "Quit your complainin'. I wanna get out of this place. It’s giving me the creeps, "says the senior cop. They shove you onwards.

GM: They push your heads down and shove you into the back of a police cruiser, and drive off to the local precinct, mercifully not the one near the Laketown quay, and your PSI agency HQ.

GM: The next morning, the sargeant interviews you, and hears your explanation about the dog attack. He checks your credentials, and after a confirmation call to PSI agency HQ, he lets you out with a brusque warning. "We’ve heard about your crew stickin’ your beaks in, and we don’t like it. Inspector Findlay is investigating this case, and if he wants your help, he’ll call you."

GM: You are standing outside Laketown Central P.D. on the kerb. There is a taxi in front of you, a street that stretches to your left and right, bordered with brown brick three storey buildings, and tram lines in the centre. It’s a crisp, frosty morning. Autumn is fading fast, and a Laketown winter is on its way.

GM: What are you going to do?

McMurdoch: Go back and get that bundle that fell out of Woodward's pocket by the statue in Moth Park?

GM: I assume you either walk back, or get a taxi back to Moth Park, or arrange some mode of transport.

GM: You pass the sports fields, and softball diamond, that make up part of the southern area of the park. You pass reach the strange headless statue. A little to the side of the path, just where it joins the grass verge, you can see Woodward’s bundle.

Ethan: Ethan runs to grab it.

GM: As Woodward stoops down to pick it up, he hears a faint mumbling sound, and manages to pick up a few words, "... gon’ freeze my ass off on dis here bench, one of these nights, that fo' sure...." The voice sounds oddly familiar.

GM: You see a pile of newspaper on a bench.

McMurdoch: McMurdoch follows as fast as he can, but his limp slows him down.

Ethan: Ethan listens to the voice as he goes by, trying to make it out.

McMurdoch: Did we get our guns back from the police?

Ethan: [1d20+12] - [19,12] = (31)

GM: Yes, you've got everything back

GM: Well, you can hear it well enough, but can you recognise it?

GM: I guess a good Wisdom or Intelligence roll. We'll use the one you rolled, which is good. You recognise the voice. It’s coming from the pile of newspapers on the park bench.

GM: Can you guess who it is? (I'll give it to you since you rolled well, but can YOU guess?)

McMurdoch: McNurdoch stares at the bench and then back at Woodward. "Whaa...?"

McMurdoch: "What the hell!"

Ethan: (The guy from last night. The pyromaniac guy. I have no idea)

GM: The newspapers part and erupt, and something emerges - it is an old black man.

Ethan: Woodard looks at him, shocked.

Ethan: Guy from prison?

GM: You recognise him, it is Old Will! He is the prison inmate that you met in the Edgeways prison incident.

GM: Large white eyes set in a seamed, dark face greet you, and you can sense a glimmer of warmth behind them that belies his gruff voice. "Nice to see you again, investigatuhs."

McMurdoch: McMurdoch jumps back in fright. He pulls out his shotgun from under his coat and levels it at the old man's chest.

McMurdoch: His hands are shaking.

Old Will: "Hey, put down dat piece, man."

McMurdoch: "No funny moves, mister."

Old Will: "I ain't got no beef wid you."

Ethan: Ethan stares at the man, motioning to McMurdoch and saying, "knock that off! Put that away!"

McMurdoch: Mcmurdoch lowers the gun. He looks spooked.

Old Will: "You shouldn’o come here. This place ain’t cool, man, that’ fo’ sure."

Ethan: "So you've been released?" He says. "Exactly what happened in that prison after we left?"

McMurdoch: Cradling the gun in the crook of his arm, he fumbles for his cigarettes and lighter.

Old Will: " I followed you up the laundry chute, an' 'scaped for that hell hole of a prison. I got out befo' it burned to the ground, in duh commotion. Weren't for you, I'd still be inside- or dead."

McMurdoch: "This place ain't cool! That's the understatement of the week." McMurdoch rasps, his throat still carrying the stitches from the wounds inflicted by the dog.

Old Will: "Anyways, I'm clean. I'm just tryin' to live, tryin' to get by. Ain't no way I can earn a livin' in this world, on the run from the law, an' all that. So I' living off my wits. Dis park as good a place as I can find to lay muh head."

Ethan: "So you've... escaped, then?" Ethan shifts his eyes left and right.

Ethan: "Well, I'm not going to try to put you back into a place like that."

Old Will: "Damn straight. Well aways from that hole. It burned down now anyways. Ain't doin' no wrong," Old Will wags a finger, "Just doin' the best I can. I need a job, I need to earn a crust, but I can' get none." Old Will looks miserably down at his shoes, worn leather cast offs that have massive holes in the toes.

Old Will: From his pocket Old Will pulls out a three-quarter burned stoogie that looks like it was picked up off the ground. He asks McMurdoch. "You got a light, brother?"

McMurdoch: Mcmurdoch's shaky hand finally manages to light his cigarette. He takes a drag and then offers one to the old man.

McMurdoch: "I sure do. Here, have a fresh one."

Old Will: Old Will takes the fresh, crisp cigarette with gratitude, accepts the light, and drags a slug of smoke down thoughtfully.

Old Will: He puffs a stream out of the corner of his mouth. He nods at McMurdoch. "You OK."

McMurdoch: Mcmurdoch then pulls out his hipflask and takes a long pull. He wipes the lid and offers it to the old man.

Old Will: He looks at Woodward. "You OK too. Lot o' bad m***r f**ers out there. You ain't two o' dem."

Old Will: Old Will knocks back some liquor from the flask, taking his time.

Old Will: He gives it back to McMurdoch.

McMurdoch: "We would appreciate it if you'd tell us what you know." Mcmurdoch nods in the direction of the statue.

Old Will: "I jus' lay muh head here. But I knows this place got some creepy sh*t like Edgeways. I got bad luck on dat score, you knows."

Old Will: "I need a job, man, o' else I gon' spend rest o' my days on duh streets, and that ain't what I want to do."

Ethan: "Speaking of which, hold on a bit." Ethan nods and heads over towards the discarded object from the night previous.

GM: It still there, wrapped in burger paper and newsprints.

Ethan: He grabs it off the ground and heads back towards the bench.

GM: Suddenly Old Will's eyes brighten. "Listen here, man. I can help you guys. I can work with you. You investuhgate places an' clean bad sh*t up, aint you? Like duh prison. That’s what you do. You investigatuhs need a man like me. I can help you. I can get you into places." He flicks his fingers.

Old Will: "An I ain't lost any of the old charm in dese here fingers, I could pick my way into Fort Knox, that fo' sure. People out here ain't seen duh likes of dese fingers for a looong time, l tellin' you. Forty years, an' some. I picked my way out o’ Edgeways some times but duh guards got me before I get over duh outer gate an’ put me in duh goddam hole. You know the hole, you been in duh hole wid me."

Old Will: Old Will appears quite excited.

Old Will: "I is in duh army befuh I got put inside, man, so I know som' in 'bout 'splosives an' sh*t. I wus in demolitions. I done blow up a lotta bridges in muh time, that fo' sure. Yeah man, I can help you. I can handle a piece too, but I guess you got enough o’ dat."

McMurdoch: "That could be useful to us..."

Old Will: He goes on. "I can help you with the bad things too, man. I come face to face with some evil sh*t in that prison, for forty long years, I learned how to survive. I know a lot more about the other side then yo' people out here, that fo' sure."

Old Will: "Besides, " says Old Will, "I owe you my freedom, an' I ain't forgot that"

McMurdoch: "We need information."

Ethan: Ethan moves a few newspapers away and sits down on the bench, staring at the object.

Old Will: "Like it or not, " he pauses and looks down at his feet, "yo' muh friends." Another pause. The he resumes softly, "An' I ain't got too many of those left in dis world." He rubs the back of his hand beneath his eye. "Jus' you an' some old boys who gotta bad run a luck like me. They's makin' dis park their home too."

GM: The object is still wrapped.

Ethan: He begins unwrapping it.

McMurdoch: "Information about what's going on here. We can pay for that."

GM: The bundle opens to reveal, a plaque.

GM: There is an inscription.

GM: "American Sycamore. Perhaps the oldest tree in the park, this sycamore is said to have been a favourite of Thomas Moth. He claimed it was already present when he purchased the land and built his estate, and he could often beseen walking or reclining under it as a reprieve from the demands of business. He said the tree put his mind at ease. Moth established several seedlings from the tree near his Columbus County summer home. The tree’s age is unknown."

GM: On the back is written in black permenant marker. "Too many words. Make sure the new one is shorter. H."

Ethan: "What the hell? How does this help me..."

McMurdoch: Mcmurdoch pulls a clean, crisp twenty dollar bill from his pocket and waves it in the air, while looking intently at the old man.

Old Will: "Man, that's what I'm talking 'bout."

McMurdoch: "Tell us about the stuff you've seen out here."

Old Will: "I tell you what, I want some mo' o dat. If you take me on, you give me a job, I'll look out fo' you. I ALWAYS got one eye over my shoulder. I learned dat real fast in prison. An' you can use that. You investigatuhs can't be too careful. You got some sh*t going down, you got some bad m**er f**er comin' after you who wants to bust yo' ass, you got someone else lookin' out fo' you. That's me, I'll be lookin' out fo' you."

Old Will: "I'll tell you what you want to know, too."

Old Will: Old Will is, well, oldish, but he is not decrepit. He looks to be around 60 years of age. He is shortish, but of stocky build, and underneath the burly grey woollen coat, looks to be strong and capable. His black hair is grizzled with grey, and he is sporting a fuzzy beard.

Ethan: "Don't taunt him with money, McMurdoch."

Old Will: "They put me away for life in that prison, but I didn't do duh crime. I picked a few locks in my time, that fo' sure, I ain't denying that, but I ain't killed nobody. Not ever. Not even hurt no sum-b*tch, even tho' a lot o' times they deserved it. But they put me away fo' killin' a cop. Duh cops rounded us up, beat us up some. Then some old woman, older than I am now, who was blinder than a bat in a sack, an' she picked me out of duh line up. That wus it. Judge an' jury did duh rest. I wus inside fo' forty years."

McMurdoch: Mcmurdoch gives the old man the money.

McMurdoch: "Take it. If your info is good... ther'll be more."

Old Will: Old Will raises his hands in indignation.

Old Will: "I'm gonna be straight wid yuh."

Old Will: "I ain't got nothing on this park. It's full of evil sh*t, that the truth, but I ain't seen much. Just some ugly dogs wid the big fangs, and some creepy sounds at night."

Old Will: "We out of luck's make this our home, and learn to live wid sh*t like that."

Old Will: "So I can't take yo' money for nothin'"

Ethan: "Seen where the dogs are coming from?"

McMurdoch: Mcmurdoch's hand moves to his throat, an involuntary gesture.

Old Will: "Grey Pete, he's one of us, he says the tree is evil. He says the tree is the root of the evil, but he's some weird sh*t, you know man."

Old Will: "He's real spooked. Speaks weird old language. I don't know much more."

Old Will: "Is that worth twenty bucks?" Old Will grins a yellow grin.

Old Will: "I reckon I earned that now." He takes the bill from McMurdoch.

McMurdoch: "I reckon you have too."

Old Will: "But I can help you more, you know."

Old Will: "Now, listen here."

McMurdoch: "It sounds like you know alot of people..."

Old Will: "I reckon your thinkin', why take on an ex con like me. Can't trust im' as far as you can spit him. I can see that, right here."

Old Will: "Let me tell you the truth,"

Old Will: "I been inside fo' a long time, you know. Let me tell you somethin’. While I wus inside, my mother died. Now she always believed me. She knew that I never killed nobody. But she knew about the other sh*t, you know, I took a lot o' stuff that din' belong to me. She made me promise to never do that sh*t no more, so I ain't gonna do bad things wid these fingers no more, man. I 'm a-changed my ways. Now that muh mother is lookin' down on me from above, I gon' use these here fingers fo' good. An’ that’s duh truth, fo’ sure."

Old Will: He spreads his hands wide, pleadingly...

Old Will: "So, what do you say. Can I get on duh payroll?"

Ethan: "I got it, I got it."

Old Will: "You got whu? What you sayin'?"

Ethan: "I'm not sure if we need you right now, but if we need a handyman, we know who to call."

McMurdoch: "It sounds like you know a lot of people, Will. People who know stuff. Stuff that's going down on the street. Is that what you are saying?"

Old Will: "Hey, yo' a good man." He looks at McMurdoch, with wide, peading eyes.

Old Will: "What you say, brother?"

McMurdoch: "You want to work for us... providing information?"

Old Will: "Yeah man," exclaims Old Will. "You got it."

McMurdoch: "I say... that sounds like a very good prefessional relationship is about to blossom."

Old Will: "Information. An I can pack a piece and I know how to use it. You look pretty cut up there, brother, you want to get cut up again?"

McMurdoch: Mcmurdoch winks at Old Will and offers him another cigarette.

Old Will: He points to McMurdoch's wounds.

Old Will: "You look like you need someone to watch yo' back."

Old Will: "Someone who knows what to do when the sh*t goes down."

Old Will: Old Will takes the smoke, and plants it in his mouth.

Old Will: "An' I ain't spend 40 years in Edgways without knowing how to deal with sh*t when it goes down, you know what I'm sayin'?"

McMurdoch: Mcmurdoch nods at Woodward. "My partner can handle that. Saved my ass a couple nights ago."

Old Will: Defeated, Old Will buries his hands in his pockets.

Old Will: He looks downcast, miserable.

Ethan: Ethan stares at the plaque.

Old Will: "Back to duh bench I guess."

Old Will: He hangs his head.

GM: OK, this is entirely up to you, but if you want, you can cobble together some paperwork and justify his employment under the ‘consultant services’ catch-all. You won't need to pay him much, so it should slip under the radar. He's living off discarded cigarette butts, sifting through dumpsters for items of any value, and cooking the odd squirrel he finds in the park, so any money will seem like a fortune to him.

McMurdoch: "Tell you what. We'll start with the info. If you give us regular info. We'll give you regular money. A job, so to speak."

GM: It's entirely up to you. It could be fun.

McMurdoch: "If you shape up... maybe there will be more."

Ethan: "Right now, we're trying to figure out what to do about these murders..."

McMurdoch: "Do you have a contact number?"

Old Will: "You f****in' wid me? You think I have a contact number?"

Old Will: Old Will looks angry, and then calms as he realises that McMurdoch is an idiot.

McMurdoch: "Well here's mine." Mcmurdoch offers him his business card.

Old Will: "That's OK brother. You can find me right here, most nights. On dis here bench."

Old Will: Old Will takes the card.

Old Will: "Well, you come around if there's some sh*t goin' down, and you need someone to deal wid it."

Old Will: Old Will shuffles away into the park.

Old Will: He looks once over his shoulder, soulfully back, and then disappears around a bend in the path.

GM: OK, any ideas on what to do now?

McMurdoch: a) Go to Moth's Columbus County summer home and check out the seedlings (probably full grown trees now). b) Attack the tree with a chainsaw and slay it.

GM: OK, try them in alphabetical order?

McMurdoch: OK.

GM: OK

GM: You conduct some more research, and even though the Moth Country home is not listed, you manage to find the general location. Columbus County is a rural area about two hours drive out from the City of Laketown. By driving through the area, and questioning locals, you eventually are directed to Twelve Sighs Road, which winds through farm country.

McMurdoch: Mcmurdoch loads up the jetta with his shotgun, an axe and a couple of chainsaws.

Ethan: ...!

GM: After about 20 minutes on that road, you spot four huge sycamore trees growing across from a cornfield.

GM: As you get closer, you seea dilapidated farmhouse with faded red siding located amid the trees. The house is clearly in bad shape, with a sagging roof, a partially collapsed porch and windows with spider webs of cracked glass. The lawn is overgrown and strewn with debris and trash bags.

GM: There’s a gravel pad near the house with room for three or four cars. There’s a single car parked in the front yard. It’s a a relatively new economy model.

GM: What now?

Ethan: Dunno

McMurdoch: Mcmurdoch muses out loud. "OK then... if we wander up to the house and tell them we're PSI investigators... then they'll think we're nuts. Thats what usually happens."

McMurdoch: "We need a cover..."

Ethan: "Probably, yeah."

McMurdoch: Mcmurdoch drums his fingers on the steering wheel, his brows furrowed in thought."

Ethan: "I wonder who owned the land of the park before Moth bought it."

McMurdoch: "Good thinking..."

McMurdoch: "...old Indian graveyard, maybe?"

McMurdoch: He suddenly sits bolt upright. "Eureka!"

McMurdoch: "Tree doctors!"

McMurdoch: "We'll be tree doctors. Horticultural experts."

McMurdoch: "Come to look at their sycamores."

McMurdoch: "You think it'll work?" He looks at Woodward pleadingly.

Ethan: "..."

Ethan: "Do you know anything about trees?"

McMurdoch: Mcmurdoch shrugs. "I know how to kill them..."

Ethan: "...If you want to do it, go ahead..."

GM: So cover number one: cleaning crew, cover number 2, tree surgeons?

GM: Excellent

McMurdoch: Mcmurdoch turns, reaches back and pulls an axe, a chainsaw and a bag of gardening tools from the back seat.

McMurdoch: "It's just like surgery, Woodie... except the patients don't complain if you get it wrong."

Ethan: "Heh, they never complained. I wouldn't let them."

McMurdoch: Mcmurdoch caresses the chainsaw and turns to Woodward with a grin that splits his face from ear to ear. "It's the PSI boys versus the Triffids, Woodie. Ready for some high voltage gardening?"

Ethan: "Lead on..." Ethan says, shrugging.

McMurdoch: The intrepid heroes suit up in overalls, carry the axe, chainsaw and tools over their shoulders, and head towards the front door of the house.

Ethan: "I really don't think we should walk around with _chainsaws_ until we're sure we have to cut things down, though..."

GM: You park and walk towards the house. The ground is thick with twisted tree roots. Some have broken through the pavement of the path that leads to the front porch. The porch is covered with broken branches, and a limb from the nearest tree seems to have grown right through the roof.

GM: A mailbox on a crooked post near the front porch is painted with the letters E. Moth. A sign next to it directs visitors to use the side entrance.

McMurdoch: BTW, Mcmurdoch has put his shotgun in the toolbag.

Ethan: "Huh, doesn't look very lived in. What the heck is that car doing out there, then...?"

McMurdoch: "Dunno. You want to check it out? I'll try the side door."

GM: What now?

Ethan: "Yeah, let's go."

McMurdoch: Mcmurdoch marches up to the side door, puffing his chest out and walking with an exaggerated display of confidence.

McMurdoch: He cknocks on the door.

GM: A long time passes, and then the door is opened by a big boned woman dressed in a nurse’s uniform. Without as much as a hello, she crosses her arms and looks at you.

GM: She mutters, "The old fool said he'd have visitors today, damned if he wasn't right."

Ethan: "Who's the old fool?"

McMurdoch: "We've come for the trees, Ma'am."

McMurdoch: "T. Rees Ltd. Arborial surgeons."

McMurdoch: "Professional tree doctors, at your service."

GM: She turns around and enters the house, leaving you on the doorstep, as if you are supposed to follow.

McMurdoch: "The old man called us to look at the sycamores..."

Ethan: Ethan keeps an eye on her as he enters and follows after.

GM: You find yourself in a cramped hallway.

McMurdoch: Mcmurdoch pauses for a second, surprised by this result, and then shrugs and follows Woodward.

GM: You see the nurse further down the hall. She warns you sternly not to upset Mr. Moth.

GM: The glares at you, and leads you down a hallway, (where doors, closed and open, and a stairs leads mysteriously upward), into a sitting room

GM: A frail looking old man in a wheelchair is sitting, waiting, looking at the clock. An old grandfather clock.

GM: The house is as broken fown on the inside as on the out.

GM: The paint on the walls is cracked and peeling, and every corner is home to a spider web.

GM: The flor boards are worn and stained and covered with cheap rugs.

GM: The furniture looks as if it was retrieved form the curb on trash day.

GM: Lamops and light fixtures are without shades.

GM: The house has a faint smell of manure, potpourri, and boiled cabbage.

GM: The most unusual feature is what hangs on the walls. A multitiude of religious icons.

GM: Most are Christian in origin, but there are also Jewish items.

GM: What are you going to do?

McMurdoch: Is the nurse in the room with us?

GM: She leaves you and heads further down the hallway, to what looks like the kitchen.

Ethan: Ethan spends some time examining the man as he steps over.

McMurdoch: Mcmurdoch whispers to Woodward. "Something ain't right here."

GM: The old man tries to rise out of his wheelchair.

GM: He strains and heaves, but soon gives up.

GM: He nods, and gestures for you (those who are in the room), to sit on the tired looking sofa and chairs opposite him.

GM: "So, you're here"

McMurdoch: Mcmurdoch walks over to the door and closes it, then sits down.

Everett Moth: "My name is Everett Moth."

Everett Moth: He is a thin man in pajamas and a robe.

Everett Moth: He's pale and his eyes are deep set and dark.

McMurdoch: "Good afternoon, Mr Moth."

GM: On a small table next to him, rests an oxygen mask and breathing tank. And various pill bottles

McMurdoch: "We'd like to talk to you about some of your trees."

Everett Moth: He chuckles, wryly. "They told me someone would come today, but they didn't say who."

McMurdoch: "They are very interesting botanical specimens."

Everett Moth: "Intesting, yes. Infinitely, infinitely."

McMurdoch: "Yes. Most fascinating specimens."

McMurdoch: "Would you be able to enlighten us about their history?"

Everett Moth: "Godammed rain and cold lately, winter's coming you know."

McMurdoch: "Not the best weather for old bones..."

McMurdoch: "But good weather for trees. They thrive on rain."

Everett Moth: "The trees? Great Uncle Thomas, his legacy, his, curse. Loved trees more than he did human beings."

Everett Moth: "If he hadn't wasted so much time growing trees, and attended to his business and familty, maybe he would have left something to his descendants other than this wretched half acre."

McMurdoch: "What, precisely was his business, by the way."

Everett Moth: "If I hadn't thrown away my uncles family picture, I would have shown you where his priorities should have lain."

Everett Moth: "It matters little now. It's all gone. Cotton, wool, textiles." He waves his hand.

Everett Moth: "Have you heard the story of my uncle?"

Ethan: "Some of it, yes. A bit of it is unclear."

McMurdoch: "We know he built the park in Laketown, and that he was an avid botanist. But not much else."

Everett Moth: "Well, you know about the murder then."

Ethan: "Of his wife, by the gardener, supposedly?"

Ethan: "Child too."

Everett Moth: "You know." He shudders.

McMurdoch: "So... was it really the gardener who did it?"

Everett Moth: He looks at McMurdoch, with a squint in his eye.

Everett Moth: His eyes bore into Mcmurdoch, as if looking into his soul. A man to trust?

Everett Moth: "Who did you say you were, again?"

Ethan: Ethan steps in

McMurdoch: Mcmurdoch touches his throat, pointing to the freshly stitched wound. "I'm a man who had a run in with a rather nasty dog just recently."

Everett Moth: Moth glances up at one of the religious icons.

McMurdoch: "You a religious man, Mr Moth? Or just superstitious?"

Everett Moth: "You've had your share of trouble too, I can see that."

Everett Moth: "I don't know what's on the other side, but I believe that certain things can make a difference, can help preserve life."

McMurdoch: "I have... and then some. Wild rabid dogs in Moth Park. Near your great uncle's sycamore tree."

Ethan: "That's... What we're here for. Your uncle's trees are causing... some problems for people, and we want to do our best to help fix that..."

McMurdoch: Mcmurdoch looks at Moth to see his reaction.

Everett Moth: He looks at Woodward, as if seeing him for the first time.

Everett Moth: He rubs his head in his hands. "Dear Lord, it's everywhere."

McMurdoch: "Do you mind if I smoke, Mr Moth?"

Everett Moth: He waves his hand with indifference.

Everett Moth: He points to the oxygen tank. "One less suck on that and I'll be a happy man."

Nurse: The big nurse walks in.

McMurdoch: McMurdoch lights up a cigarette, crosses one leg over the other and leans back in the chair. He puffs thoughtfully on the cigarette.

Nurse: "What do you think you're doing! Put that out right now."

Nurse: She is rather portly, and big bosomed, in a motherly way, but the sort of mother that would give you a severe hiding.

Ethan: "You heard the woman, McMurdoch! Honestly, what were you thinking..." He smiles at the nurse.

Nurse: "Do you want me to send them away?"

McMurdoch: Mcmurdoch turns to her with an insolent stare. "I thought this was the Moth estate. He said I could." Mcmurdoch looks aggrieved.

Everett Moth: "Leave them be."

GM: The nurse leaves the room.

McMurdoch: Mcmurdoch grins smugly at the nurse and winks.

Evertt Moth: He looks again at Woodward.

Ethan: Ethan shrugs at Evertt.

Evertt Moth: "OK, I can see that you want to help. But you can't. I've lived it. All my life. You can't help. I don't know who you are, but you don't look like tree surgeons to me."

Evertt Moth: "But let me tell you what I can. Maybe you can do someting."

Ethan: "Anything at all that you can tell us about your uncle would help."

Ethan: "Or the trees."

Evertt Moth: "The tree in the park has been cursed since the days of Great Uncle Thomas. Every generation knew it, and we've searched , they searched for a way to put it right."

Evertt Moth: "But nothing changed, nothing ever changes."

Evertt Moth: "The curse remains."

Evertt Moth: "The tree needs death, demands death."

Ethan: "Was it cursed before the murder of his family?"

Evertt Moth: "No. You can thank my Great Uncle."

Evertt Moth: "He claimed as much on his deathbed. But nobody knew exactly what he did."

Ethan: Ethan nods.

Evertt Moth: "I tried to forget about it and live life as I saw fit."

Evertt Moth: "When the tree killed in '52, I was a young man and was torn up with guilt."

Evertt Moth: "I used to visit the tree, I begged it not to kill."

Evertt Moth: "I have no strength left to do that now, and I doubt it ever did much use."

Ethan: "Has anyone tried to... physically remove the tree?"

Evertt Moth: "And the OFFSPRING."

Evertt Moth: Moth starts coughing.

Ethan: "Are you all right?"

Evertt Moth: "The offspring of that tree, are reaching out to, (Choke), me , (cough )"

McMurdoch: "How precisely does the tree kill, Mr Moth?" Mcmurdoch leans back in his chair and blows a smoke ring at the ceiling

Evertt Moth: Moth starts a fit of deep, hacking coughing.

Ethan: Ethan grabs the man.

GM: The nurse enters.

Ethan: "Hang in there!" He yells as he tries to put his knowledge of medical skills to use.

Nurse: "You must leave now, he's a sick man."

Ethan: [1d20+12] - [11,12] = (23)

McMurdoch: Mcmurdoch gets up abruptly and picks up the oxygen mask. He passes it to Woodward.

GM: Woodward massages Moths neck and shoulders.

GM: The nurse picks up a large syringe from the table, and plunges it into the old man's withered arm.

GM: He slumps back into the wheelchair, breathing shallowly.

Nurse: "He'll be alright. Too much excitement."

McMurdoch: There is a thump as Mcmurdoch's limp form slumps to the floor.

Nurse: "And you, with you're damned smoke, you ought to be ashamed."

Ethan: "I'm terribly sorry about that."

Ethan: Ethan tries his best to act sincere for the woman.

GM: Mcmurdoch, what?

Ethan: [1d20+5] - [9,5] = (14)

McMurdoch: Mcmurdoch lies on the floor on his back, in the starfish position, unconscious.

Ethan: Actually +6

Ethan: "McMurdoch...?" Ethan says as he moves over to his prone form.

Nurse: The nurse's frostiness does not thaw. She steps over to McMurdoch.

Nurse: She kneels, and checks his pulse, and his airway.

McMurdoch: Mcmurdoch starts to twitch.

McMurdoch: Suddenly he sits bolt upright, his angular wiry torso whacking into the nurse.

Nurse: The nurse leaps back, in fright, and clutches her nose. Blood spurts from it.

McMurdoch: He leaps to his feet and makes for the door as fast as he can.

McMurdoch: He runs out the door into the hall.

Nurse: "There isn't anything wrong with you, you fainted, you lily livered sissy!" she screams, her nose leaking red.

McMurdoch: "Don't do that again!"

Nurse: The nurse runs into the kitchen.

McMurdoch: "Not in front of me."

GM: The old man is still unconscious.

McMurdoch: "I don't like needles, man!"

GM: You hear the sound of pounding feet running down the hallway. She is, as I say, a very large woman.

GM: Where are you, McMurdoch?

McMurdoch: Mcmurdoch comes back into the room. His face is ashen and he is trembling.

McMurdoch: He struggles to light a cigarette with his shaking hands.

McMurdoch: He sucks deeply on the cigarette and then pops a little blue pill from a container he takes from his pocket.

GM: She bursts into the room. She has a paper towel stuffed up her nostrils. She sees the cigarette, goes purple, roars in indignation, and throws the cold water from the tin pail she is holding over McMurdoch's face.

McMurdoch: Mcmurdoch stands stock still with shock.

McMurdoch: He looks a little sheepish, a sodden cigarette drooping from his lips. "I don't like needles, man."

Nurse: "That'll wake you up, you big sissy, that's teach you not to smoke, and that'll get you out of here quick smart. Now MOVE!"

Nurse: The woman drops the pail, opens a cupboard, grabs a broom, and starts attacking McMurdoch.

Nurse: "Get the hell out of Mr. Moth's household, if I'm not Nurse Delaney!" she roards, punctuated with blows from the broom.

McMurdoch: "Listen, Ma'am... we just want to ask Mr Moth a few questions." Mcmurdoch dances out of the way of the attacking broom.

Nurse: She drops the broom, goes to the table, and picks up another syringe, this one with a red top on it.

Nurse: She turns around, and runs towards McMurdoch.

McMurdoch: Mcmurdoch's face goes white. He starts to flee. "Woodward! Do something! You're a doctor. You know how to deal with nurses."

Nurse: She yells at Woodward from the corner of her mouth.

Nurse: "Get this man out of here. Get out of here, the both of you!"

Nurse: "Or I'm going to call the police!"

Nurse: "Tree surgeons my Nellie!"

Ethan: Ethan sighs.

Nurse: "I haven't seen a worse pair of conmen since Jack McGinty came around trying to get that grandfather clock for 50 dollars!"

Nurse: She points to the ornate clock in the sitting room.

Nurse: "Now GET!"

Nurse: She brandishes the syringe at McMurdoch.

McMurdoch: Mcmurdoch sprints out the door into the hallway.

Nurse: "And you." You glowers at Woodward.

Ethan: Ethan shakes his head.

Ethan: Ethan tries to reason with her. "I really think there's been a big misunderstanding here..."

Ethan: [1d20+6] - [14,6] = (20)

Nurse: The woman seems to calm down a little.With Woodwards soothing charm. But only a little.

Nurse: She still glowers, and gestures to Everett Moth.

Nurse: "He's going to be out for a long time."

Ethan: "I'm really sorry for the commotion that we've caused."

Nurse: "So you should be." She harrumphs.

Ethan: "We'll come back another day and hopefully, we'll be able to sort all of this out, peacefully, then."

Nurse: "Maybe." She shrugs, angrily.

Nurse: "Now, would be be on your way."

Ethan: Ethan nods politely and makes his way towards the door.

Nurse: She leads Woodward to the side door and the porch, and closes it after him.

McMurdoch: McMurdoch, finding himself outside the front door, notices the tree they saw earlier. The one whose branches and roots appeard to be burrowing into the house. He decides to investigate.

Nurse: "You're friend isn't stepping foot on this property ever again!" she says as she closes the door.

GM: McMurdoch investigates the tree. It is a sycamore, similar to the one in Moth Park, but smaller and younger.

GM: McMurdoch gets the feeling that he is being watched.

McMurdoch: BTW, I'm assuming that Woodward had the presence of mind to bring the tools back outside. The ones that Mcmurdoch forgot in his blind panic.

GM: Spot checks.

Ethan: [1d20+12] - [6,12] = (18)

GM: Across the road, you can see the figure of who you now know to be Lenore White. She is standing in front of the cornfield, staring.

GM: She turns, and walks towards the corn, and then into it.

Ethan: Ethan shouts out as he runs towards the fields.

McMurdoch: Mcmurdoch, still in a blind panic, his soaking hair plastered to his scalp, sprints after her without thinking.

GM: Woodward reaches the edge of the cornfield. Lenore seems to have disappeared, but then he sees her, further into the field, parting the corn, walking away from him. Deeper into the golden stalks.

GM: A wild wind suddely washes over the cornfield, and the field lightens and darkens, like stroked velvet.

Ethan: Ethan tries to keep his gaze on the woman as he follows after her.

GM: Lenore's locks float around her head, dark against the golden corn.

GM: OK, Woodward and Mcmurdoch together, Murdy catches up.

McMurdoch: Mcmurdoch follows behind Woodward, his gangly limbs flailing in all directions as he sprints madly after the woman.

GM: You head into the cornfield, the stalks parting easily. They ar about waist to chest height.

GM: Lenore doesn't look back, but is ahead of you, always the same distance, no matter how fast or slow you move

GM: You follow her for some time.

GM: After a while, you find yourself on the other side of the cornfield, where a dirt road runs between the crops.

GM: Lenore looks back at you, looks down, and then fades, her image like a dispersing cloud, leaving only the corn, and the wind, and the blue sky.

GM: The wind whips the corn. You are alone.

Ethan: "Well what the %#&$..."

GM: You last saw here about 20 yards away, where two dirt roads cross.

McMurdoch: Mcmurdoch continues running, up to the spot where she disappeared. With a dispairing wail, he dives tackles, grasps nothing, and does a face plant into the soil.

GM: Lenore has gone.

Ethan: "You stay here, Mc... Ah %$#&..."

Ethan: Ethan catches up and tries to help him to his feet

GM: But that look in here eye, that last look, at you, and that last, lingering look towards the ground...

McMurdoch: Mcmurdoch gets up, with Woodward's assistance. His face is covered in mud.

McMurdoch: "Son of a b*tch." He mutters. He lights a cigarette.

GM: What now?

Ethan: "Well, geez..."

McMurdoch: He sucks on the cigarette, shivvering through his drenched clothes.

McMurdoch: He looks at the ground, just near where he dived.

Ethan: "Everywhere we go, we get only dead ends..."

McMurdoch: Spot check.

McMurdoch: [1d20] - [20] = (20)

McMurdoch: Spot check on the piece of ground the GM just mentioned.

Ethan: "Come to think of it, though... If Lenore died in the park, what's her ghost doing here?"

GM: You find a wooden platform, about 7 foot square.

GM: It is set into the ground in a concrete frame.

GM: It's hinged on one side, and padlocked closed.

McMurdoch: "Maybe the story about her dying in the park isn't true."

GM: What now?

McMurdoch: Mcmurdoch turns to Woodward. "You got that axe, buddy?"

Ethan: "What have you got there?"

Ethan: "I dropped it back when we saw the ghost. Stay here."

Ethan: Ethan heads back over towards the axe to grab it and then comes back.

McMurdoch: "Let's smash that padlock! See what's inside here."

McMurdoch: Mcmurdoch steps back to give Woodward room.

GM: The lock breaks and you lift the platform. Beneath it is a circular hole six feet in diameter, bordered by a ring of flat stones.

GM: It looks like an old well.

GM: It has rough, hand hewn sides.

GM: What now?

McMurdoch: Is it easy to climb down or will we need a rope?

GM: It looks dangerous.

GM: But if you are good climbers, you might make it.

GM: Feet against one wall, shoulders against the others.

GM: Pretty tiring though.

Ethan: "&$*#... I hate this kind of thing."

GM: What now?

McMurdoch: Mcmurdoch's is winded by the chase after Lenore. His face is green and he is panting and wheezing.

McMurdoch: He is still recovering from the battle with the hounds and only has 4 hp.

GM: True

McMurdoch: A fall would kill him.

GM: Give him 1 HP for a nights rest, so make that 5.

McMurdoch: He could lower Woodward down on a rope. If I remember rightly they have a rope in the car.

McMurdoch: Mcmurdoch picks up a stone and drops it down the well.

McMurdoch: He cranes his neck, listening for the sound of the stone landing.

McMurdoch: He counts out the seconds as it falls.

McMurdoch: "One... two... three..."

GM: Well, it's narrowish, but it would take extreme skill and strength to get down unaided.

GM: Judging from the plop of the stone, you estimate about 90' deep,

GM: However, a big roll might make it.

GM: Feeling lucky?

Ethan: "Only lead we've got so far, god $#^#&$..." Ethan says as he begins moving down the ladder.

McMurdoch: McMurdoch turns to Woodward. "Ninety feet. That's pretty deep, dude. Want to chance it?"

GM: If someone holds the rope at the top, and is strong enough, should be a doddle.

Ethan: "On second thought, let's go get that rope."

GM: OK, you come back with the rope.

GM: You'll need to roll a strength check. Only a really bad roll will fail.

GM: Unless you can find something to tie the other end of the rope too.

McMurdoch: Is there anything soldid/attached to the ground that we could tie the rope to?

GM: No. The padlock clasp is too narrow.

McMurdoch: Mcmurdoch searches...

McMurdoch: [1d20+3] - [17,3] = (20)

GM: You find nothing

Ethan: "Let's drive the car over here and tie it to that."

McMurdoch: Mcmurdoch is starting to knot the rope around his waist. "Good thinking."

GM: Woodward goes back and gets the car. The sun is getting low by now, and the wind is up again.

McMurdoch: "I haven't quite got my strength back yet."

GM: Woodward finds the dirt road, and drives back to the spot, the dust rising against the now russet sky.

GM: What now?

GM: Just roll a dex check, and unless you get a reall bad roll, you'll be OK.

GM: This saves you from rolling a dex AND strength check.

Ethan: "Help me out here, tying this rope."

Ethan: Ethan attaches the rope to the back of the car.

Ethan: [1d20+1] - [8,1] = (9)

McMurdoch: Mcmurdoch helps Woodward tie the rope to the car's tow bar.

McMurdoch: [1d20+2] - [11,2] = (13)

Ethan: "Hmm, doesn't seem very stable. On second thought, you do it. I'll help you out."

GM: OK, climb down ?

Ethan: I guess

GM: OK, roll dexterity checks.

McMurdoch: [1d20+2] - [6,2] = (8)

McMurdoch: #$%@!!!

Ethan: Ethan begins climbing down...

Ethan: [1d20+1] - [13,1] = (14)

GM: That's alright, it was only going to be a shocking roll that would fail.

GM: You climb down the dark well. It appears very dry.

McMurdoch: Mcmurdoch, spluttering, grunting and cursing, bumps and slithers his way to the bottom of the well.

McMurdoch: Mcmurdoch pulls his flashlight from his belt and sweeps it around.

GM: The bottom is layered with dry leaves, twigs.

McMurdoch: We could have had Woodward reverse the car towards the well, with McMurdoch tied to the rope...

Ethan: unless you're in danger, a rope climb for most people is just, "I climb up/down..."

GM: A flat rectangular object leans against the wall, its bottom, buried in detritus.

McMurdoch: Mcmurdoch sweeps the beam of his flashlight back and forth.

McMurdoch: Mcmurdoch moves warily towards the object.

GM: It's a large oil painting, some sort of group portrait.

Ethan: Ethan approaches the object, shining his flashlight on it and trying to discern any features.

GM: The painting is covered in dust.

Ethan: Ethan examines every part of it.

McMurdoch: Can Mcmurdoch use his shotgun, or does he have to use his handgun if he's carrying a torch?

Ethan: Search check

GM: It depicts a man, a woman, and two children.

Ethan: [1d20+10] - [14,10] = (24)

GM: All are dressed in 19th century clothing.

GM: You find nothing else of interest.

GM: The man is jowly and broad, withg bright blond hair and a thick moustache.

Ethan: "Hmm... And here I thought we were finally on to something..."

GM: He stands in the centre of the portrait, holding a garden spade, and a potted sapling in the other.

McMurdoch: "Let's move it to the rope. We can bring it back up with us and get someone to look at it for us."

GM: The woman stands behind him, her hands clasped in front of her waist.

McMurdoch: Mcmurdoch bends down to pick up the painting.

GM: The blond haired woman stares solemnly.

Ethan: "I wonder if that's Moth."

GM: The children are dark haired, are on either side.

McMurdoch: "Could well be."

Ethan: "Wait a minute... How many kids did Moth have?"

GM: You recognise the people.

McMurdoch: "Let's get it to some one who knows."

Ethan: Ethan stares intently.

GM: From your research you see that the man is Thomas Moth, and the womanis the wife Felicity, and the children are Millicent and Edmond.

GM: Woowards notices something.

Ethan: "Hmm, two, that's right."

GM: Moth seems to transform into a bloated, dark haired man.

McMurdoch: "You know... I think you're right."

GM: He's being strangled by a hangman's noose.

Ethan: "Holy...!" Ethan says as he moves backwards.

GM: Meanwhile, the wife and children appear as rotting corpses.

GM: The trame of the painting seems to transform into a living tree branch.

Ethan: Ethan draws his gun.

GM: Then the painting reverts to normal.

GM: THe children seemed to bear more resembleance to the hanged man, that the original Moth in the painting.

Ethan: "^&$*..."

GM: OK, we are nearing the end of the show.

GM: Let's finish this up tonight, and start next adventure with the Bolivian trip.

McMurdoch: Mcmurdoch puts his flashlight on the ground, aiming the beam at the painting. He aims his shotgun carefully at the center of the beam. His heart is hammering wildly and his shakey hands are making his aim a bit wobbly.

GM: You may be able to piece together the puzzle, from what you have just observed.

Ethan: Ethan, left hand still on his revolver, moves his hand towards the painting.

GM: The painting appears normal now, the phantasmagoric transformation has gone.

Ethan: "Moth..."

Ethan: "I think... Maybe he killed the gardener?"

GM: Apart from the faint smell of boiled cabbage, it's gone.

Ethan: "Because he found out... the kids... weren't his?"

GM: !

McMurdoch: "Sounds like it."

GM: On to something there.

Ethan: "And then he killed them, too."

GM: Pi, you've got it.

Ethan: "Went crazy..."

GM: OK Well done.

McMurdoch: "Using the trees?"

GM: Well, I'll let you in on it now, since you've pretty much got there.

Ethan: "Just maybe. Somehow, I don't know..."

GM: Thomas Moth found his Gardener Henry Creed having an affair with his wife, in fact, caught him in the act. He murdered them, and his wife and kids, The kids were Creed’s. hanged Creed from the The tree was not ordinary, but a reservoir of great spiritual When the power was tainted by murder, it became poisoned and The tree was transformed into a trap, a snare for souls, that held dfast to the ghosts, of Creed, Felicity and the Every so often, the tree of Moth Partk craves the taste of another murdered It sends one of its ghosts to take the life of someone nearby, and the victim is trapped with the other spirits in the evil branches.

GM: And there you have it, the mystery of the evil tree, revealed.

GM: You did well, and deserved the detail for all your efforts.

GM: What now?

McMurdoch: How do we fix it? Chainsaws and axes?

McMurdoch: A tree exorcist?

Ethan: kill it with fire!

Ethan: Get rid of the painting... The family doesn't want to be with Moth any more!

GM: This could be a challenge. Do you want to make a scene out of destroying it, or let me conclude it? I don't mind, either way.

McMurdoch: Cut the tree down, make it into a gallows, and sell it to a place that has capital punishment. That way the tree is happy - it gets to hang people... and the state is happy - it gets to hang people.

Ethan: rofl

GM: I'm gettin' tired, we can either have a destruction of the tree scene next week, or you can tell me how you destroy it, and I'll write a short paragraph to conclude.

GM: Your call

McMurdoch: Mcmurdoch and Woodward pile firewood around the tree, set it alight, get drunk on fine whiskey, invite loose women and have a riotous party dancing around the tree and chanting new age mantras as it burns?

Ethan: Report our findings to the higher ups. Tell them that the tree - and all the trees related to it - need to be removed, using whatever excuse they can get.

GM: OK, one of you can write up a short concluding paragraph, and send it to me, so we can conclude the episode.

GM: END OF SCENE