Failed Prospects.P7 Conclusion

Randall ‘Randy’ Tarsh [Paleontology professor, played by Jon], Martin Butcher [Paleontology student, played by Graham with Hugh out of scene], Henry Bates [Geology student, played by Jordan since Prof Marty Robbins died], Hugh Johnson [Geology student, played by Graham], Barbara Malters [investigative Journalist, played by Whitney], Charlie Stutz [student of Photography, played by Aaron]

5:30pm, Sunday , Oct 21^st: Hugh was in a hurry to aid his friends and thus couldn’t wait for weakened Clara (he just rescued from the clutches of Jane). As he carried her, Clara mentioned the map of the mine Dr. Baker had found in the Assayer’s office. The trail north from Jane’s cabin was easy to follow and thus they soon arrived in Mel’s Creek. Hugh took time to heal himself before leaving Clara, “Hide out in the hotel. I’ll be back soon. Stay quiet!”

Escape: Marty lay dead at the feet of the creature while Charlie was still last in line where he could hear noises behind him, coming from their prison cage area. His eyes adjusted enough to the darkness to make out distant shapes. He stooped to pick up 2 coprolite stones as weapons and readied. Meanwhile, Henry gasped at the prior scene of Professor Robbins shoving Professor Lynch at the creature. Henry turned and ran back toward the prison cell, past Randy and his flashlight, where he stumbled on a coprolite and fell just past Charlie. Martin was equally horrified at the sacrifice of Lynch and turned tail to follow his fellow student, bumping into Charlie. Left alone, Barb thought about running but instead raised her revolver and fired twice at the creature. It dropped. She bent down to cut off one of its fingers as proof of the encounter. Randy also stepped forward, first to check that Marty was dead, then to pilfer whatever useful gear was on his fellow professor’s body. As a final act of lost sanity or bravado, he wiped Marty’s blood on his face.

Charlie ducked the swing of another creature that appeared out of the shadows, and realized more were behind it. Charlie jabbed his sharpened stick (pulled from the prison cage door) at the Dweller before turning to run toward Barb. From his prone position, Henry clicked on his flashlight to blind the nearest Dweller (who flailed at him in passing) as he too took off to follow Charlie. Martin raised his flash camera and ‘clicked’ it: he gasped as he saw more creatures in the tunnel that seemed blinded by the bright light. [The flashlight isn’t as bright and only partially blinded close creatures. The flash camera effected distant creatures for longer true blinding affect.] Martin also turned and ran.

Barb prodded Randy who was now inspecting the dead Dweller, “What are you doing?! We need to get out of here!” But the true scientist couldn’t pass up the opportunity, “Fascinating! Look at its rows of teeth and huge chameleon eyes, and ridges of thorny bumps on its appendages.” While the others rushed past him, Randy took time to fashion a torch out of his prized boxing towel and then used Marty’s First-Aid kit to treat himself.

But as they moved forward with aid of their own flashlight, Barb heard noises from the tunnel branch to their right. She swore to the others she could hear Dr. Baker in conversation saying, “Most interesting Charles. I must agree these creatures are transitional ancestors of modern man. Why, they stand upright and have mastered tools.” Henry was dumbfounded, “There wasn’t any Charles in our group.” Barb corrected, “I think he is talking to Charles Darwin.” They entered the passage to investigate while Randy (to their rear) called out, “Where are you going?!” Charlie paused to fashion his own torch made from his stick and shirt.

The Main Cavern: Ambient green and yellow light (from phosphorescent fungus) dimly illuminated a huge cavern. While the outer edges of the cavern was nestled with stalagmites, the center area featured a huge stalactite under which was a pile of rubble. Before that stood Dr. Baker tied to a post where he continued to babble at his Dweller captors. [The man obviously insane talking to one of his captors as if it was Darwin.] 

[Sanity check] As their eyes took in the scene, all gasped at the dog-sized maggots that moved around Baker’s feet. Horror at the realization LONG tentacles draped from the stalactite, tending the maggots. Comprehension the large pile of rubble was a stack of bones! The fact the cavern hosted almost a dozen Dwellers didn’t seem as noteworthy.

[both students, Henry and Martin, reached their 20% threshold and incurred a Bout-Of-Madness] Henry (amnesia) forgot his fears as he tilted his head in study of his surroundings. Charles moved toward Baker in thoughts to rescue the man. Martin (Violent rage) reached into his backpack and removed flasks of oil, grabbed the torch from Charlie, and charged at the maggots, “Burn in hell!” He sloshed oil on 2 of the maggots before touching them with the torch. The maggots squealed with an almost human cry as they popped and sizzled. Barb dug into her backpack and held the stick of dynamite as she too charged forward with intent to light it from the burning maggots. And that’s when the overhead tentacles lashed out [tremor sense]! Martin used Baker as a human shield as a tentacle swooped near him. Both Barb and Charlie managed to dodge (extreme) out of the way.

And that’s when Randy entered the cavern and witnessed the unfolding scene. He too gasped at the horror within but gathered his senses, “This way! Come to me and I’ll lead you out.” Charlie pulled out his knife to cut Baker’s restraints then aided Henry helping the feeble man towards their exit. Martin joined in, pushing Baker along (almost to the extent of knocking the man over, but mostly using Baker as a shield). Barb lit the dynamite and jammed it in another maggot before she turned, “Fire in the hole!!” Despite 2 Dwellers nearby, Randy ran towards the others to lend a hand while shining his flashlight at the nearest threats. The Dwellers raked their claws in partial-blinded swipes but missed.

Meanwhile, a maggot larvae lashed at Barb who side-stepped. A tentacle from above swiped at Charlie but missed. Henry wasn’t as fortunate: 2 tentacles caught him (one chest the other his legs) and ripped him in two! Martin prodded Baker along, “Run you old bastard!” Charlie pulled a coprolite from his pocket and threw it at the nearest Dweller. Barb raised her revolver and blasted another creature. Martin tried to insert another flashbulb into his camera but fumbled. [Push- he stooped to pick it up] He quickly inserted it and clicked the camera, blinding those Dwellers before him.

[71 Malfunction check: 43] “KABOOM!” The dynamite exploded (30 points), knocking all but Randy to the ground. Long seconds of their ears ringing and their heads throbbing before they regained their senses. Most looked at the reaction of the Dwellers who still posed as threats, and were puzzled by the creatures’ sudden retreat from the cavern. [They knew what was about to emerge!]

Only Barbara chanced to look at the destruction caused. Only she saw the stalactite gone and thus the hole above exposing outer space. But not for long as something filled the gap: the Brood Mother had pulled its ass-end out of the hole and turned around to shove its head into the cavern! [Sanity check: pass and thus only (1D3+2= 4)] Barbara cried out in fright as she rushed out of the cavern to escape.

The Calvary: The survivors wandered passages as they looked for escape. Trying to follow footprints was useless as the Dwellers were constantly moving about. They had to backtrack from 2 dead-ends before they heard noise coming from in front. Barb readied her pistol as Charlie held another stone ready. And that’s when they saw light shining towards them. And soon saw and heard Hugh, “Follow me, I know the way out.” He led them to the mouth of the mine where he set his 2 sticks of dynamite. “Run while I lite them.” 

[71 Malfunction check: 04 and 77] “KABOOM!” Only one stick exploded but it was enough to collapse the mine. “Let’s just hope they don’t have another exit.” Words that sent shivers up the survivors’ spines!

EPILOGUE

Fortunately, Jane did not have time to disable their truck (like she had disabled Baker’s trucks). Thus, the survivors returned to West Haven. Some of the townsfolk heard the approach of the truck from the north and gathered, awaiting news that West Haven was about to be “put on the map.” They cheered when they recognized Dr. Baker in the cab of the truck. They were disheartened to hear the mad ramblings of the doctor. It was Professor Tarsh who restored their faith, “It has been a harrowing experience dear folks. But indeed, West Haven’s will be put on the map as you say.”

The survivors were closed-mouthed when attended by Dr. Weiss for their injuries. All had used the ride to town to gather their cover story. Some townsfolk were puzzled by the scary words offered by Baker and young Martin Butcher, till Dr. Weiss confirmed their institutional insanity. “I wonder what they saw that scared them so much?”

It was a month later when another team (from Arkham’s Miskatonic University) arrived. Strange how this team of professors and students appeared to be more soldier types. The team found Mel’s Creek and the mine and approached with caution. They excavated the mine and entered with flamethrowers and large caliber weapons. Yet when they reached the opening to the Dwellers’ tunnels, they found it empty. [All coprolite stones had been gathered up and removed prior to their arrival. The Sand-Dwellers sacrificed themselves to their great god.] The Brood Mother had moved on.

Jonathan Penman couldn’t understand when there wasn’t an influx of tourists. Even Carl and Nina Clearwater (and Ma Peters) had prepared for more business that never materialized.

Some called it rescuer-love; others called it joint survivor-love. Hugh didn’t care; he and Clara found each other as mutual comfort to their trauma and repeat nightmares of their almost sacrifice. Hugh stayed at Clara’s side at the Miskatonic hospital during her recovery from her wounds. They left the university for Hugh’s hometown where they were married and settled down to a life of farming. Lanterns set at their bedside to drive away the nightmares and ready if they ever heard that unnatural hooting from outside.

Barbara and Charlie collaborated on their report of the horror adventure. They used Charlie’s photos taken during exploration of the valley dig sites, and even Martin Butcher’s flash camera shots taken inside the caves. It was too bad Deputy Kangee Smith’s group photo of them was out-of-focus and tilted and heads cut off. As for Martin’s developed photos: one picture was a blurred image of the tunnels with ‘something’ nearby. One could easily make out the image as an out-of-focus human. His shot inside the main cavern was a great picture of stalactites. But they did have the finger Barbara had cut off. And the other bones and skeletons found by Baker’s team. And even the duffle-bag full of coprolite.

They wrote the truth of their encounters. Facts as seen by them. Barbara got a ‘D’ on her paper from her journalist teacher. The school wouldn’t publish it. Charlie got an ‘F’ from his photography class teacher. They did get offers from Science Fiction magazines and comic-books. Barbara’s pride nixed that offer to Charlie’s dismay. But it wasn’t long before each was approached by Dr. Henry Armitage of the university to join a club called the ‘Society for the Exploration of the Unexplained’. They were shocked to find all of the expedition artifacts stored in Dr. Armitage’s special library.

BACKGROUND

Once the miners of Mel’s Creek broke through the Dwellers tunnels, the nocturnal creatures came forth to attack the town and round-up the residents. Over the next few weeks, they were sacrificed to a being that the Sand-Dwellers worshiped called The Brood Mother: a great Old One that tore into their reality to build a nest for its gestating larvae. This nest was built from smooth, black stones excreted by the larvae as they grew. It hung down from the ceiling of a vast cavern, watching over the pulsing larvae below. Those who were not sacrificed immediately watched as the Sand-Dwellers prepared them one by one to be eaten alive by the larvae (thus the human teeth found in the coprolites). Starvation and desperation settled in amongst the captives, bringing some to drastic measures.

Jason Mel’s 11-year-old daughter, Jane, was driven mad by witnessing the ritualized preparation and devouring of her family. As her sanity slipped away and her hunger grew, Jane turned on her fellow captives in a cannibalistic frenzy, joining in the worship of the Old One. Through her assistance in finishing off the rest of the settlers, Jane was spared and even taught magical spells. She became a ‘herder’, shepherding humans (who entered Sica Hollow) to sacrifice. And as reward, she was given a few captives for her own ritual sacrifice (Food of Life) to bestow youth.

In 1923, Jane should be 73 years old. Yet to Dr. Baker’s team, she looked to be 60ish, having sacrificed other intruders of the woods. And when the investigators see her, she looks to be 50ish, having feasted on Eugene Stewart. It was Jane who seeded the fields with the coprolite stones to lure Baker’s team forward. She threw the stone that was blamed on young Matthew. Once the team entered Sica Hollow, she introduced herself and even provided them with a (poisoned) meal to weaken them further. She told Baker about Mel’s Creek and the complete Dweller skeleton locked in the jail. And as Hugh learned, she captured Clara and Stewart for her own life restoring ritual.