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The Complete Masks of Nyarlathotep d20
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<blockquote data-quote="Nebulous" data-source="post: 3992298" data-attributes="member: 31465"><p><span style="font-size: 12px">Adventure #6: The Paintings of Miles Shipley</span></p><p></p><p>February 21, 1925</p><p></p><p>The investigators take the omnibus back to London and return to <em>The Scoop</em> to see Mickey Mahoney. They tell him they found zilch relating to Jackson Elias, but boy did they get some good pictures! Many of Morty’s photos of Eloise’s transformation are blurry, but tantalizing nonetheless. Mickey’s eyes grow saucer-wide and he whistles, telling them “This stuff is ace, boys!” and pays Morty handsomely. </p><p></p><p><span style="color: Red">[GM Note: this is when we were still using the d20 Wealth System and Arnold Silvermine wanted to buy an airplane. I think the goal was to dropship guns and supplies into new locations across the globe. It didn’t work]. </span></p><p></p><p></p><p><img src="http://www.med.unc.edu/~saasha/Masks/mahoney.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p>“So, boys,” says Mickey after paying them. “There’s word on the street ‘bout some fellows fitting your description. I’m not saying it was you or not, but…well, you might want to be a tad careful. Misconceptions and all that. Inspector Barrington of Scotland Yard even stopped by yesterday, wanting to know if I’d seen anything particularly interesting that might make it into the Scoop. Just so ya know, all this Lesser Edale business is classified. Professionals like myself don’t release our sources.”</p><p></p><p>“Oh, one more thing,” he adds. “I forgot to mention this, but Jackson Elias interviewed Inspector Barrington. Don’t know what they talked about, but he might tell you. Or he might not.”</p><p></p><p>The investigators discuss their current options and leads: Inspector Barrington knows something about Elias and the London Murders (called the Egyptian Murders by the presses); there’s the possible Mythos painting that Jackson Elias was interested in from Miles Shipley; and Edward Gavigan of the Penhew Foundation has acted suspicious, but for what reasons they don’t know. He has otherwise been generous with his knowledge. </p><p></p><p>The investigators attempt to stave off further illegal accusations by going straight to Inspector Barrington of Scotland Yard in an act of goodwill. They find Barrington just as he is leaving his office one fine drizzly morning. In his early fifties, Inspector Barrington looks these four Americans up and down as they approach, obviously unsure of their motives.</p><p></p><p><img src="http://www.med.unc.edu/~saasha/Masks/cobb.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p>The PC’s say that they were supplied his name by Mickey Mahoney of <em>The Scoop,</em> and that they are professional investigators working for a private firm in the States. They believe that the rash of twenty-four cult-like murders might be related to a similar series of deaths across the Atlantic. </p><p></p><p>Lighting a cigarette, Barrington begins walking slowly in the rain, the investigators tagging along. While they hold an umbrella over him, Barrington begins jotting notes, asking their names and ages and other personal details. </p><p></p><p>“Private firm, eh? You know, there been people fitting your description turning up around trouble. You know anything about that?”</p><p></p><p>The PC’s deny any involvement in fires, murders, and burning down castles full of werewolves. But they DO supply Inspector Barrington with enough knowledge for an exchange of information. He’s informed about a death cult in New York called the Bloody Tongue, which is only a branch of its parent cult in Kenya. And they hint that this has something to do with a man who interviewed Barrington several months ago: the deceased Jackson Elias. </p><p></p><p>Mentioning the murders and Elias gets Barrington talking. He’s desperate to solve these so-called “Egyptian Murders” because most of the victims were Egyptian. </p><p></p><p>What He and Jackson Talked About:</p><p></p><p>1) Jackson said that the murders in London were conducted by the Brotherhood of the Black Pharaoh, an Egyptian death cult from ancient times. Elias interviewed Edward Gavigan of the Penhew Foundation, who finances Egyptian digs, but Gavigan denied that any such cult existed to his knowledge. </p><p>2) A favorite Egyptian club is the Blue Pyramid in Soho. Many of the victims frequented this place, but the police haven’t been able to make a connection.</p><p>3) A spice dealer named Tewfik al-Sayed had once guided a Penhew Foundation expedition to Egypt. Barrington was suspicious of this man and had him tailed, but turned up nothing. He’s still on their “suspicious” list. </p><p></p><p>Barrington and the investigators reach Traflagar Square as the rain beats down harder. Barrington ends the interview by giving them a warning:</p><p></p><p>“We can use the help, but I would refrain from any illegal activities. Overzealous foreigners can find a mess of trouble. Consider yourself warned. Have a good day.”</p><p></p><p>Barrington leaves, and the investigators have New Clues added to their growing list of Things To Do. Jackson Elias had certainly homed in on some problems here in London, and the investigators think they’re getting close. They decide to talk to this Tewfik al-Sayed fellow who owns a spice shop. </p><p></p><p>A few hours later, they find him, a chubby Egyptian fellow behind the counter of a two story building in Soho. Tewfik sees amiable enough, but denies knowing anything. He admits to knowing Edward Gavigan, and yes, he was hired a few times as a guide on an Egyptian dig. The current dig is being led by Dr. Clive of the Clive Expedition, a competent man who doesn’t need Tewfik’s services. </p><p></p><p>The investigators don’t get any more useful information out if Tewfik al-Sayed, so they leave his shop and continue their search for clues. </p><p></p><p>Options: </p><p></p><p> 1. Return to the Penhew Foundation and search for clues.</p><p> 2. Snoop around this Blue Pyramid nightclub for clues</p><p> 3. Check out the “Shocking Canvases” newspaper article that interested Jackson. </p><p></p><p>They settle for the last option and head to the house of Miles Shipley. On the way they see an issue of the Scoop and read the cover story:</p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Courier New'"></span></p><p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New'">“DERBYSHIRE DEMONS!”</p></span></p><p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New'">By Mickey Mahoney</p></span></p><p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New'"></p><p>Last night in Lesser Edale the disturbing rash of murders in the area met a horrific conclusion. A dozen witnesses saw and hunted down a huge hairy beast seen departing the residence of Sir Arthur Vane. Armed with torches, pitchforks, guns, and—amazingly—two silver axes, the citizens of Lesser Edale and several visitors chased the monster and killed it, only to find it was the daughter of Sir Vane IN DISGUISE, as admitted by local Constable Tumwel. There were a number of deaths involved with this incident, including Sir Vane himself, his daughters, and several townsfolk…</span></p><p></p><p></p><p>Shaking their heads at the memories of that night, the investigators continue to the residence of Miles Shipley and knock on the door. </p><p></p><p>His mother, Bertha Shipley, opens the door and inquires if they are here to purchase paintings. Lying, they say YES, but Arnold Silvermine gained the Wealth Feat early in the campaign and has been supplying everyone with money since the beginning. A little extravagant spending on New Age art is nothing. Hell, Arnold wants to buy a plane! </p><p></p><p><span style="color: Red">[GM Note: The short-term goal is still to contact Jonah Kensington in New York as often as possible, mailing and telegramming him their current whereabouts, persons whom they’ve met, and clues collected. They succeed at this reasonably well in London, taking the time after each chapter (or during) to contact Jonah and keep him abreast of their progress (or lack thereof). The party is VERY worried about a TPK and the difficulty of story continuity. I happened to agree with them.] </span></p><p></p><p>So masquerading as art dealers, the investigators easily talk their way inside and are led to the drawing room. Bertha is plump and likable enough, and talks about current art deco trends and her son’s fantastic progress and fortune as she leads them to the waiting area. </p><p></p><p>Stacks of paintings lean against the walls, and while the investigators wait for Miles to arrive, they casually browse through the collection. The scenes are horrible, horrifying Mythos-related abominations, and everyone suffers Sanity loss for the unprepared shock, especially Arnold Silvermine who thumbs through about ten pictures! One particular painting features a towering black mountain with a manlike creature standing over it, as large as the mountain itself, waggling a hideous red tongue…</p><p></p><p><img src="http://www.med.unc.edu/~saasha/Masks/artwork.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p>Miles Shipley finally arrives. He is a thin, pale young man with hollow cheeks and vacant eyes. He mumbles a greeting and asks if they have come to purchase his masterpieces? </p><p></p><p>“Dark beauties. Ancient lust. Sinful yearning of the flesh and soul and pain and pleasure. I can share it with you. For a price. Yes, always a price…”</p><p></p><p><img src="http://www.med.unc.edu/~saasha/Masks/shipley.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p>He talks like a loony, but the investigators want to learn what he knows, so they end up buying six works of art. Only Arnold has the balls to view each one, and after the resulting Sanity bash the others carefully roll the paintings up. </p><p></p><p><span style="color: Red">[GM Note: Included were multiple CoC pieces depicting various aspects of the Mythos unrelated to this adventure, although Arnold picked up ranks in the Mythos Skill. Much of it had an Egyptian flair, which fueled their expedition to Cairo] </span></p><p><span style="color: Red"></span></p><p><span style="color: Red">[GM Note 2: the d20 cthulhu mythos skill is inaccurate. The character’s Sanity is percentile based, while their Mythos Skill is d20. I never fixed this problem really, but the EASY solution is this: make the Sanity and Cthulhu Mythos skill all percentile. Don’t let PC’s gain ranks in Mythos. They gain small increments of percentiles, at the GM discretion. Their max sanity goes down an equal rate.]</span></p><p></p><p>Morty notices a stairwell with a padlock on the door at the bottom, but when asked what is down there, Miles says that’s his secret project, and no one can see it. </p><p></p><p>Temptation is deadly, and the investigators try to talk him out of his decision, but the man is adamant. Miles gives them a receipt for the paintings they bought and callously waves them off, even as he strips naked and begins to paint with his fingers a new blasphemous creation. </p><p></p><p>On the way out, Chang notices a funny smell in the kitchen as the Bertha closes the door behind them, but can’t quite place it. Bertha carefully watches them leave…</p><p></p><p>The investigators naturally want to return and scope out the Shipley residence in more detail. Returning after midnight, they sneak in under cover of London fog, and Chang picks the lock. It is deathly quiet inside, and Morty sees Miles Shipley asleep in bed. The door to his mother’s room is closed. </p><p></p><p>They sneak to the vaulted art room and Chang picks the lock on the door to the basement. Beyond is a small chamber housing a single large painting under a canvas. Fingers twitching, Huey volunteers to peel the canvas back, knowing that something horrible and Sanity draining surely lurks beneath. </p><p></p><p>The painting depicts a jungle setting from a prehistoric era. Hundreds of serpents writhe in false motion around a black stone altar in a swamp. In the background, hints of large dinosaurs peek above the trees, and lizard eyes glance through the branches. Huey stares, mesmerized, and continues to stare…</p><p></p><p>…and stare….</p><p></p><p>…and stare…</p><p></p><p>…and the serpents begin to truly wiggle! He feels a part of him detach, but through supreme willpower Huey pulls away, and averts his eyes from the painting.</p><p></p><p>“Cover it!” he gasps. “Cover it!”</p><p></p><p>Chang whips out a knife and cuts away the back of the painting, rolls it up, and stuffs it inside an empty cardboard tube. This is the only painting they actually steal. </p><p></p><p>But on the way to the backdoor in the kitchen, they are met by Bertha Shipley standing by the exit with a cup of coffee in her hands. </p><p></p><p>“Did you forget something?” she asks in a strange, husky voice. </p><p></p><p>Huey tries to stammer out a lie, but is cut short by a serpentine rasp from Bertha. Her tongue flicks in and out, forked, as she hisses:</p><p></p><p>“I will devour you meddlesome humans! You DIE NOW!”</p><p></p><p>Bertha’s transforms in a heartbeat, her fat skin sloughing off to unveil the true creature beneath: Ssathasaa, a huge serpent-man sorcerer who has encased himself in Bertha’s flesh. The investigators are taken completely off guard, and the serpent person flings itself into their midst, clawing and biting with sharp poisonous fangs. </p><p></p><p>Huey and Morty are both ripped across the face, blood pouring into their eyes, and they stumble backward shrieking. Arnold is flipped over the kitchen table as it cracks beneath his weight, and Chang unloads both barrels of his pistols into the snakething’s abdomen. </p><p></p><p>Green blood splatters, and then it’s atop him in a flash, poisonous fangs gnashing at his throat, but Chang barely manages to keep them from piercing his jugular. Huey slams a kitchen chair onto the serpent’s head, and Morty pulls out his pistol, clicking off rounds. </p><p></p><p>Arnold recovers, and whips out his shotgun, planting buckshot in the thing’s back as soon as he has a clear shot. The serpent staggers under the blow, then backhands Arnold, knocking him into the wall where he crumples, dazed. </p><p></p><p>About that time, Miles Shipley stumbles into the kitchen, screaming “Leave Mother ALONE!” but Morty tackles him to the floor and starts raining punches on his head to knock him unconscious. </p><p></p><p>The serpent man staggers away, chanting the words to a spell, and Chang thinks these words sound familiar-- he heard the same thing in the basement beneath the Ju-Ju House when he lost his pinky finger. “Nooooo!” he screams, and plants two more bullets in each serpentine eye.</p><p></p><p>Brain matter explodes out the back of Bertha’s inhuman head, and she slowly crumples, her scales flaking off, green froth bubbling from her mouth. Stinking fumes rise from her corpse, even as the investigators hear the WAIL of police sirens outside. </p><p></p><p>They’ve been busted.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Nebulous, post: 3992298, member: 31465"] [SIZE=3]Adventure #6: The Paintings of Miles Shipley[/SIZE] February 21, 1925 The investigators take the omnibus back to London and return to [I]The Scoop[/I] to see Mickey Mahoney. They tell him they found zilch relating to Jackson Elias, but boy did they get some good pictures! Many of Morty’s photos of Eloise’s transformation are blurry, but tantalizing nonetheless. Mickey’s eyes grow saucer-wide and he whistles, telling them “This stuff is ace, boys!” and pays Morty handsomely. [COLOR=Red][GM Note: this is when we were still using the d20 Wealth System and Arnold Silvermine wanted to buy an airplane. I think the goal was to dropship guns and supplies into new locations across the globe. It didn’t work]. [/COLOR] [img]http://www.med.unc.edu/~saasha/Masks/mahoney.jpg[/img] “So, boys,” says Mickey after paying them. “There’s word on the street ‘bout some fellows fitting your description. I’m not saying it was you or not, but…well, you might want to be a tad careful. Misconceptions and all that. Inspector Barrington of Scotland Yard even stopped by yesterday, wanting to know if I’d seen anything particularly interesting that might make it into the Scoop. Just so ya know, all this Lesser Edale business is classified. Professionals like myself don’t release our sources.” “Oh, one more thing,” he adds. “I forgot to mention this, but Jackson Elias interviewed Inspector Barrington. Don’t know what they talked about, but he might tell you. Or he might not.” The investigators discuss their current options and leads: Inspector Barrington knows something about Elias and the London Murders (called the Egyptian Murders by the presses); there’s the possible Mythos painting that Jackson Elias was interested in from Miles Shipley; and Edward Gavigan of the Penhew Foundation has acted suspicious, but for what reasons they don’t know. He has otherwise been generous with his knowledge. The investigators attempt to stave off further illegal accusations by going straight to Inspector Barrington of Scotland Yard in an act of goodwill. They find Barrington just as he is leaving his office one fine drizzly morning. In his early fifties, Inspector Barrington looks these four Americans up and down as they approach, obviously unsure of their motives. [img]http://www.med.unc.edu/~saasha/Masks/cobb.jpg[/img] The PC’s say that they were supplied his name by Mickey Mahoney of [I]The Scoop,[/I] and that they are professional investigators working for a private firm in the States. They believe that the rash of twenty-four cult-like murders might be related to a similar series of deaths across the Atlantic. Lighting a cigarette, Barrington begins walking slowly in the rain, the investigators tagging along. While they hold an umbrella over him, Barrington begins jotting notes, asking their names and ages and other personal details. “Private firm, eh? You know, there been people fitting your description turning up around trouble. You know anything about that?” The PC’s deny any involvement in fires, murders, and burning down castles full of werewolves. But they DO supply Inspector Barrington with enough knowledge for an exchange of information. He’s informed about a death cult in New York called the Bloody Tongue, which is only a branch of its parent cult in Kenya. And they hint that this has something to do with a man who interviewed Barrington several months ago: the deceased Jackson Elias. Mentioning the murders and Elias gets Barrington talking. He’s desperate to solve these so-called “Egyptian Murders” because most of the victims were Egyptian. What He and Jackson Talked About: 1) Jackson said that the murders in London were conducted by the Brotherhood of the Black Pharaoh, an Egyptian death cult from ancient times. Elias interviewed Edward Gavigan of the Penhew Foundation, who finances Egyptian digs, but Gavigan denied that any such cult existed to his knowledge. 2) A favorite Egyptian club is the Blue Pyramid in Soho. Many of the victims frequented this place, but the police haven’t been able to make a connection. 3) A spice dealer named Tewfik al-Sayed had once guided a Penhew Foundation expedition to Egypt. Barrington was suspicious of this man and had him tailed, but turned up nothing. He’s still on their “suspicious” list. Barrington and the investigators reach Traflagar Square as the rain beats down harder. Barrington ends the interview by giving them a warning: “We can use the help, but I would refrain from any illegal activities. Overzealous foreigners can find a mess of trouble. Consider yourself warned. Have a good day.” Barrington leaves, and the investigators have New Clues added to their growing list of Things To Do. Jackson Elias had certainly homed in on some problems here in London, and the investigators think they’re getting close. They decide to talk to this Tewfik al-Sayed fellow who owns a spice shop. A few hours later, they find him, a chubby Egyptian fellow behind the counter of a two story building in Soho. Tewfik sees amiable enough, but denies knowing anything. He admits to knowing Edward Gavigan, and yes, he was hired a few times as a guide on an Egyptian dig. The current dig is being led by Dr. Clive of the Clive Expedition, a competent man who doesn’t need Tewfik’s services. The investigators don’t get any more useful information out if Tewfik al-Sayed, so they leave his shop and continue their search for clues. Options: 1. Return to the Penhew Foundation and search for clues. 2. Snoop around this Blue Pyramid nightclub for clues 3. Check out the “Shocking Canvases” newspaper article that interested Jackson. They settle for the last option and head to the house of Miles Shipley. On the way they see an issue of the Scoop and read the cover story: [FONT=Courier New] [CENTER]“DERBYSHIRE DEMONS!” By Mickey Mahoney [/CENTER] Last night in Lesser Edale the disturbing rash of murders in the area met a horrific conclusion. A dozen witnesses saw and hunted down a huge hairy beast seen departing the residence of Sir Arthur Vane. Armed with torches, pitchforks, guns, and—amazingly—two silver axes, the citizens of Lesser Edale and several visitors chased the monster and killed it, only to find it was the daughter of Sir Vane IN DISGUISE, as admitted by local Constable Tumwel. There were a number of deaths involved with this incident, including Sir Vane himself, his daughters, and several townsfolk…[/FONT] Shaking their heads at the memories of that night, the investigators continue to the residence of Miles Shipley and knock on the door. His mother, Bertha Shipley, opens the door and inquires if they are here to purchase paintings. Lying, they say YES, but Arnold Silvermine gained the Wealth Feat early in the campaign and has been supplying everyone with money since the beginning. A little extravagant spending on New Age art is nothing. Hell, Arnold wants to buy a plane! [COLOR=Red][GM Note: The short-term goal is still to contact Jonah Kensington in New York as often as possible, mailing and telegramming him their current whereabouts, persons whom they’ve met, and clues collected. They succeed at this reasonably well in London, taking the time after each chapter (or during) to contact Jonah and keep him abreast of their progress (or lack thereof). The party is VERY worried about a TPK and the difficulty of story continuity. I happened to agree with them.] [/COLOR] So masquerading as art dealers, the investigators easily talk their way inside and are led to the drawing room. Bertha is plump and likable enough, and talks about current art deco trends and her son’s fantastic progress and fortune as she leads them to the waiting area. Stacks of paintings lean against the walls, and while the investigators wait for Miles to arrive, they casually browse through the collection. The scenes are horrible, horrifying Mythos-related abominations, and everyone suffers Sanity loss for the unprepared shock, especially Arnold Silvermine who thumbs through about ten pictures! One particular painting features a towering black mountain with a manlike creature standing over it, as large as the mountain itself, waggling a hideous red tongue… [img]http://www.med.unc.edu/~saasha/Masks/artwork.jpg[/img] Miles Shipley finally arrives. He is a thin, pale young man with hollow cheeks and vacant eyes. He mumbles a greeting and asks if they have come to purchase his masterpieces? “Dark beauties. Ancient lust. Sinful yearning of the flesh and soul and pain and pleasure. I can share it with you. For a price. Yes, always a price…” [img]http://www.med.unc.edu/~saasha/Masks/shipley.jpg[/img] He talks like a loony, but the investigators want to learn what he knows, so they end up buying six works of art. Only Arnold has the balls to view each one, and after the resulting Sanity bash the others carefully roll the paintings up. [COLOR=Red][GM Note: Included were multiple CoC pieces depicting various aspects of the Mythos unrelated to this adventure, although Arnold picked up ranks in the Mythos Skill. Much of it had an Egyptian flair, which fueled their expedition to Cairo] [GM Note 2: the d20 cthulhu mythos skill is inaccurate. The character’s Sanity is percentile based, while their Mythos Skill is d20. I never fixed this problem really, but the EASY solution is this: make the Sanity and Cthulhu Mythos skill all percentile. Don’t let PC’s gain ranks in Mythos. They gain small increments of percentiles, at the GM discretion. Their max sanity goes down an equal rate.][/COLOR] Morty notices a stairwell with a padlock on the door at the bottom, but when asked what is down there, Miles says that’s his secret project, and no one can see it. Temptation is deadly, and the investigators try to talk him out of his decision, but the man is adamant. Miles gives them a receipt for the paintings they bought and callously waves them off, even as he strips naked and begins to paint with his fingers a new blasphemous creation. On the way out, Chang notices a funny smell in the kitchen as the Bertha closes the door behind them, but can’t quite place it. Bertha carefully watches them leave… The investigators naturally want to return and scope out the Shipley residence in more detail. Returning after midnight, they sneak in under cover of London fog, and Chang picks the lock. It is deathly quiet inside, and Morty sees Miles Shipley asleep in bed. The door to his mother’s room is closed. They sneak to the vaulted art room and Chang picks the lock on the door to the basement. Beyond is a small chamber housing a single large painting under a canvas. Fingers twitching, Huey volunteers to peel the canvas back, knowing that something horrible and Sanity draining surely lurks beneath. The painting depicts a jungle setting from a prehistoric era. Hundreds of serpents writhe in false motion around a black stone altar in a swamp. In the background, hints of large dinosaurs peek above the trees, and lizard eyes glance through the branches. Huey stares, mesmerized, and continues to stare… …and stare…. …and stare… …and the serpents begin to truly wiggle! He feels a part of him detach, but through supreme willpower Huey pulls away, and averts his eyes from the painting. “Cover it!” he gasps. “Cover it!” Chang whips out a knife and cuts away the back of the painting, rolls it up, and stuffs it inside an empty cardboard tube. This is the only painting they actually steal. But on the way to the backdoor in the kitchen, they are met by Bertha Shipley standing by the exit with a cup of coffee in her hands. “Did you forget something?” she asks in a strange, husky voice. Huey tries to stammer out a lie, but is cut short by a serpentine rasp from Bertha. Her tongue flicks in and out, forked, as she hisses: “I will devour you meddlesome humans! You DIE NOW!” Bertha’s transforms in a heartbeat, her fat skin sloughing off to unveil the true creature beneath: Ssathasaa, a huge serpent-man sorcerer who has encased himself in Bertha’s flesh. The investigators are taken completely off guard, and the serpent person flings itself into their midst, clawing and biting with sharp poisonous fangs. Huey and Morty are both ripped across the face, blood pouring into their eyes, and they stumble backward shrieking. Arnold is flipped over the kitchen table as it cracks beneath his weight, and Chang unloads both barrels of his pistols into the snakething’s abdomen. Green blood splatters, and then it’s atop him in a flash, poisonous fangs gnashing at his throat, but Chang barely manages to keep them from piercing his jugular. Huey slams a kitchen chair onto the serpent’s head, and Morty pulls out his pistol, clicking off rounds. Arnold recovers, and whips out his shotgun, planting buckshot in the thing’s back as soon as he has a clear shot. The serpent staggers under the blow, then backhands Arnold, knocking him into the wall where he crumples, dazed. About that time, Miles Shipley stumbles into the kitchen, screaming “Leave Mother ALONE!” but Morty tackles him to the floor and starts raining punches on his head to knock him unconscious. The serpent man staggers away, chanting the words to a spell, and Chang thinks these words sound familiar-- he heard the same thing in the basement beneath the Ju-Ju House when he lost his pinky finger. “Nooooo!” he screams, and plants two more bullets in each serpentine eye. Brain matter explodes out the back of Bertha’s inhuman head, and she slowly crumples, her scales flaking off, green froth bubbling from her mouth. Stinking fumes rise from her corpse, even as the investigators hear the WAIL of police sirens outside. They’ve been busted. [/QUOTE]
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