The Oakley Collection

Randall ‘Randy’ Tarsh [Paleontology professor], Martin ‘Marty’ Robbins  [Archaeology professor], Hugh Johnson [Geology student], Barbara Malters  [investigative Journalist], Charlie Stutz  [student of Photography] Saturday , Oct 20 th : They had placed Marty’s duffle-bag full of the coprolites into the bed of the Mac truck which was then parked on the outskirts of town. Which ended the town food spoiling. Marty was already up and on the porch, dabbing his forehead sweat (bad dream). Which left Hugh to make the trip upstairs to bang on Professor Tarsh’s door, “Rise and shine.” They started the morning with a good breakfast and hearty conversation of both Marty and Charlie revealing their dreams. Randy chastised the other professor, “I thought you only believed in facts, not superstitions and foreboding dreams.” Barbara offered, “We should at least put the offending items back.” Both professors tried to stifle their snicker, “If we listened to all of the locals from our d...

Randall ‘Randy’ Tarsh [Paleontology professor], Martin ‘Marty’ Robbins  [Archaeology professor], Hugh Johnson [Geology student], Barbara Malters  [investigative Journalist], Charlie Stutz  [student of Photography] 1:30pm, Friday, Oct 19 th : The “fish and chip” lunch Mary Penman promised was a failure. “How can the fish be bad? We just saw the boys with the string barely an hour ago.” Barbara consoled Mary, “That’s OK. I’ll help you make PBJs. Something simple. We’ll figure out what is causing the spoilage.” As they sat around eating, Barbara told them about her library research, “Sica Hollow is an old Indian burial ground to the north. Sacred land supposedly haunted. I understand the town deputy is Lakota. I can go ask him more details.” Hugh offered to tag along, “I can describe the food spoilage at Ma’s Store. Get his help on that.” Professor Tarsh sent them on their way, “Yes. See what he has to say about Indian curses. Maybe someone on Baker’s team robbed a grave s...

Randall Tarsh [Jon], Martin ‘Marty’ Robbins  [Jordan], Hugh Johnson [Graham], Barbara Malters  [Whitney], Charlie Stutz  [Aaron] 8:30pm, Thursday, Oct 18 th : Barbara and Charlie had already retired to their rooms. Hugh was planted in his room as an unconscious drunk [where he had a bad dream; foreboding]. Thus, it was the professors in the lobby when Sheriff Jeremiah Marsh arrived, led by young George sent by his father Jonathan Penman. “Evening folks, I understand there has been a bit of a disagreement?” Jonathan couldn’t wait to accuse the others, “That one kept insisting he get into the storage area where Dr. Baker stores his fossils from his digs. Then this one makes the excuse of needing his medicine left in the gear they stored.” The sheriff calmly took Jonathan’s statement then asked him to leave so he could get the professors’ statements. Elder Marty calmly explained, “Why yes, I did call him an ass, with all due respect, when he grabbed for my medicine. I ca...

Playtest of "Failed Prospects"; created by a team of ITD (Into the Darkness) members. Intro : During the summer break of 1923, Dr. William Baker (Paleontology Dept Head at Miskatonic University) tried to relieve his boredom by trolling the museum basement’s uncatalogued fossil collection. One particular fossil marked as found in South Dakota piqued his interest and renewed his ‘itch’ for field work. Thus, it was Oct 1 st when his team of professors and students waved goodbye as they boarded the train bound for West Haven, SD. Friday, Oct 12 th : Dr. Baker’s campus secretary (Joanne Smythe) signed for the telegram and pondered the request. She contacted Professor Tarsh, “You’re the most senior paleontologist. Care to form a team to join Dr. Baker?” Randall immediately thought of the elder archaeology professor Robbins, “I hope he’s not too hobbled.” Marty suggested one of his Geology students, Hugh, “If nothing else he’s strong as a mule. That’s him on the track field th...