B.P.R.D. Issue #2 "the Hunger"

[Karl Green]

The breeze, the breath of God, is still,
And the mist upon the hill
Shadowy, shadowy, yet unbroken,
Is a symbol and a token.
How it hangs upon the trees,
A mystery of mysteries!

SPIRITS OF THE DEAD
by Edgar Allan Poe
(1827)​

Today, October 10th, 2004, 9:01am, Briefing Room #2, level 3 Green, B.P.R.D. Field Headquarters, Fairfield, Connecticut

It has been many months sense the "City of Brass" incident. In that time you have all been assigned to minor missions here and there around the country and the world. Mostly working alone or with smaller teams, but never all together...until now. Looking into some rumored satanic cults within the Mid-West responsible for some cat mutilations and death of some teenagers, Ectoplasmic haunting in an Atlanta Museum, Gremlin problems at a NASCAR racing event, Weird howling ghosts at a Japanese concert, etc. Nothing too complex or dangerous, or exciting for that matter.

As you gather, you notice Professor Kate Corrigan standing at the front of the room, near the podium. She greets each of you by name, shaking hands and smiling to you all. While you are familiar with most everyone hear, there is one new member that you have not meet before… he looks like something of a cross between a man, a fish and a frog. Of course he is wearing a rumbled business suit and tie, with a hat perched onto his head. Professor Corrigan introduce 'him' as "Little Mouth" As before a continental breakfast tray and coffee/tea is set up at the back of the briefing room and you are encouraged to help yourselves by the Professor.

At precisely 9:00am Dr. Thomas Manning enters the room from a side door and approaches the podium says "Please take your seats people. It is now 9:00am and we should get started. You have a bit of a drive ahead of you today, and with the weather getting worst in New York, you will need all the light you can get.

"The following set of pictures are of 17 fairly important men and women in the financial world who all reside within the New York City great metropolitan area and have all disappeared with the last month. So far police have found no clues as to the whereabouts, nor do they have any suspects of those responsible.

"These events also seem to correspond with the freak weather that has gripped New York and the island of Manhattan in particular, for the last month. We are not sure if there is a connection, but we assume so.

"Starting six days ago, evidences was recovered… or discovered, by police in the office of this man, Marcus Ranhouse. Mr. Ranhouse was victim number 7, missing for sixteen days. The evidence was a small box, with a male ring finger with the wedding band still on. DNA evidence proved that it was Mr. Ranhouse's finger. When the police re-checked the office they found a strange archaic symbol painted onto the wall, written in blood (it was behind a picture and was not immediately found). Certain experts working for us, have identified it as similar to certain Native American wall carvings of a Turtle. Police Forensic teams went over Mr. Ranhouse's office when he disappeared and had found nether of these items before six days ago. They must have been planted there, but this office has a world class security system and armed guards. No evidence of the persons responsible were found after the finger and symbols where discovered.

"Five days ago, in the home of Ms. Maggie Janis, victim number 3, police discovered another box, similar to the one found in the office of Mr. Ranhouse. Within the box was an ear, with a designer ear-ring still attached. DNA again identified the ear belong to Ms. Janis. Another symbol was discovered on the wall, also in blood. This symbol has been identified also as Native American but from the South Western part of the U.S. This symbol was of an Owl. Again, Ms. Janis's home has state of the art security and on-site security guards. No evidence has been recovered from the person or persons responsible for planting the box or making the symbol.

"Four days ago, in the limo where victim number 2, Mr. Tanaka Yukikio, disappeared from, his driver discovered a box and bloody writing and informed the police. They found large piece of skin that had been removed from someone with the tattoo of an eye on it. This was identified as a similar tattoo that Mr. Yukikio had according to his wife, and DNA evidences pointed to it being his skin. The symbol found painted into the inside roof of the limo was from Native Americans caves in the Black Hills of South Dakota, and was identified as a Rattlesnake.

"At this point the police started staking out all the places where the victims were kidnapped from. Then three days ago, the elevator where victim number 11, Mr. Tad Wilson, was last seen by the night janitor at his law office, another box and symbol was found. This time there was a human eye in the box, and the symbol on the inside doors of the elevator was again the symbol of an Owl, but from an different Native American tribe found in the Canadian Rockies. Police found no evidences of who placed this items in the elevator, or when.

"Two days ago, in the home of victim number 1, Miss Wilma Alderson, again the box and symbol appeared, again with the police watching the place, and again without leaving any evidence. The item in the box was two of Miss Alderson's back teeth, still bloody as if they had been ripped out, but no tool marks where found. Suggesting that someone or something with great strength ripped them out of Miss Alderson mouth, while she was still alive. The symbol found at this site was that of a Canoe used by some the Pacific Northwest tribes in their rock carvings.

"Last night, within the parking garage where the 17th victim disappeared, Mr. Sandy Laffrey, police came upon another box and symbol in an area that two officers where standing not more then 10 feet away, and yet never saw or heard anything. Within the box was a kidney, already matched to the DNA of Mr. Laffrey. The symbol on the pillar nearby was that for Night, as certain High Plains tribes represented it.

"We believe that these symbols and 'trophies' will continue to appear and the police have reluctantly asked for our help. They have no real experience with these kinds of cases, and have no apparent way of detecting or stopping the persons or persons responsible for these crimes. It is theorized the those kidnapped are probably dead already but they were alive when these items were removed from their bodies.

"Your job is to determine as many of the facts as are accessible, and stop the persons or persons or entities that is responsible for these grisly crimes. You will be assigned two company vehicles, a sedan and cargo van. Both have been rigged out for winter conditions, due to the situation with the weather in the New York City area. Any other equipment may be requested as normal, but this is a U.S. urban city environment, so discretion and restraint will be expected. The dossiers at each of your seats has a photo, basic background information of all 17 victims so far, along with crime scene locations and all collected forensics evidence.

"It is only an hour and a half drive from here to NYC under normal circumstances, but with the weather and other problems, assume that it will take an extra hour or so to get into the city. Also it is getting dark within the city limits around 5pm at night, so you will want to leave within the next couple of hours to arrive then. You might wish to contact the lead detectives in charge of this case, Dt. Nick Daklin and Dt. Mike Hanford at their Manhattan Headquarters. Their numbers are provided within the dossiers you have.

"Any questions, please direct them to Professor Corrigan. Good luck people"

Without any additional fan fare, Dr. Manning closes his notes and walks out the door that he came in, not stopping to look at any of you. Pro. Corrigan looks to you all, and smiling, but with a troubled look within her eyes "OK people, fire away. We may not have lots of time with this one, and the soon you get onto the ground, the faster we can put a stop to whomever or whatever is responsible..."

[OCC]Questions? Also again describe your characters [/OCC]

 

[Kevin Perrine]

Rudolf Cavendish (aka Little Mouth)

Professor Kate Corrigan standing at the front of the room, near the podium. She greets each of you by name, shaking hands and smiling to you all. While you are familiar with most everyone hear, there is one new member that you have not meet before… he looks like something of a cross between a man, a fish and a frog. Of course he is wearing a rumbled business suit and tie, with a hat perched onto his head. Professor Corrigan introduce 'him' as "Little Mouth" As before a continental breakfast tray and coffee/tea is set up at the back of the briefing room and you are encouraged to help yourselves by the Professor.

"Little Mouth"
It was the name Hellboy gave him back in '95 following Rudolf's induction into the BPRD. Bud Waller & Abe Sapien had been the team that tracked him down in Atlantic City... Tipped from angry Casino bosses from security tapes, the BPRD recognized Rudolf as a kin to the Cavendish family from the follow-up 1994 case.
Rudolf Cavendish
One of the "lost" Cavendish brothers had regained most of his human facilities, the two surviving brothers had nearly been lost in a dillusion more Frog than Man. Following the apparent death of the mad wizard Rasputin, the brothers ran and hid - slowly regaining their human minds they split. Where Rudolf's brother is now is unknown... But with additional aid by the BPRD biologists Rudolf continues to make a partial recovery. With agent training, a new start with people of "his kind" and a nice incentive package Rudolf is now the newest field agent of the BPRD.
Nicknamed (now Codenamed) "Little Mouth" by Hellboy during the regular poker games Rudolf held for fellow agents in his bungalo on the BPRD campus, 'Mouth lives up to his name in stature and conversation.

Standing nearly 5'4" tall, weighing in around a heafty 210 lbs - his mouth can open much like a snake jaw revealing jagged teeth... But rarely does he reveal this monsterous visage. Generally Rudolf downplays his odd looks. Formerly a strong and tall member of the Cavendish clan he now resembles a small husky man slowly reverting into a large husky frog.
His skin is a dull grayish green and his face is sloped like a neanderthal man mixed with a frog. His eyes are a sickly ice blue pale as if revealing cataracks.
Generally you'll see Rudolf in a "Mike Hammer" style brown tweed suit, rumbled from days of wear. Pants, leather shoes, a grey-white shirt un-buttoned at the color with a dull-red often stained tie. He normally carries both his waiste coat and over jacket to avoid sweating.
He's never without his trademark "card dealers hat" that reveals his balding white haired head. The surface of his skin is slick and moist as a toads with bumps and warts.
While traditionally ugly - Rudolf's personality shows through making him more attractive and friendly than you'd think.

As "Little Mouth" shambles in, he greets Professor Corrigan tilting his dark glasses down to give her a wink as he shakes her hand, snatching up a bagel and locks with the other hand.
"...call me Rudolf, doll..."
he says in the most respectful way that statement can be said, looking back toward everyone already assembled...
"...you boys, you can call me Cavendish, Mr. Cavendish - only Big-Red and my pals calls me Little Mouth..."

Rudolf swipes a coffee cup up, it's always been hard to push his slightly webbed fingers through the cup handles - but he manages as the black coffee sloshes on his shoe and pant-leg.
Cavendish sits down with a slump organizes his breakfast and pulls a notepad from his wrinkled shirt pocket, knawls on his pencil to sharpen it a touch and looks up ready to solve the mystery.

Rudolf was still learning the edicate of BPRD Agents, but just as he'd learned in poker - it's always best to bluff like you have a hand no matter what you got... so he acted like he'd been to dozens of briefings...
In reality, this was his second actual field assignment - the first down in Georgia routing out a Gremlin from the Mello Yello Racing Team's lead car...

"discovered, by police in the office of this man, Marcus Ranhouse, victim 16..
When the police re-checked the office they found a strange archaic symbol painted onto the wall, written in blood (it was behind a picture and was not immediately found). Certain experts working for us, have identified it as similar to certain Native American wall carvings of a Turtle.

"home of Ms. Maggie Janis, victim number 3, police discovered
Another symbol was discovered on the wall, also in blood. This symbol has been identified also as Native American but from the South Western part of the U.S. This symbol was of an Owl.

"the limo where victim number 2, Mr. Tanaka Yukikio,
piece of skin that had been removed from someone with the tattoo of an eye on it.
The symbol found painted into the inside roof of the limo was from Native Americans caves in the Black Hills of South Dakota, and was identified as a Rattlesnake.

"victim number 11, Mr. Tad Wilson,
the symbol on the inside doors of the elevator was again the symbol of an Owl, but from an different Native American tribe found in the Canadian Rockies.

"home of victim number 1, Miss Wilma Alderson,
The symbol found at this site was that of a Canoe used by some the Pacific Northwest tribes in their rock carvings.

"the parking garage where the 17th victim disappeared, Mr. Sandy Laffrey, police came upon
The symbol on the pillar nearby was that for Night, as certain High Plains tribes represented it.

Pro. Corrigan looks to you all, and smiling, but with a troubled look within her eyes "OK people, fire away. We may not have lots of time with this one, and the soon you get onto the ground, the faster we can put a stop to whomever or whatever is responsible..."

[OOC: Do any of the painted symbols look familiar to Rudolf? Using his Comprehend ability (Flaw: only Lovecraftian related). If it's helpful he could spend Extra Effort to recognize something into them - buying off the flaw for the scene...]

"..uhh, Professor... I'm confused a little... Director Manning mentioned the victim's numbers - were those the order they were FOUND in or the order they disappeared in?"

the victims were gone - no way to focus on them right now, so concerned more about the evidence than the victims at this point Rudolf continued...
"and the evidence... these symbols and the boxes, where are they now - are they secured together or appart? I'd wonder if someone's organizing different bits of these people in a jigsaw fashion... I'd hate to let them keep adding pieces toward some goal that might be the gathering of parts rather than the assault of the victims..."

confounded at the despiration he'd come too trying to impress his fellow agents, Rudolf realized that it'd be best just to get on seen and work from there... he was thinking more and more about the symbols though as he stood up to refill his coffee cup watching and waiting as the others gathered their thoughts...

"I'm thinking we got some sort of Canadian Indian Shaman freak'o, with the looks of them symbols, ready to stop up NYC in a chilly Canadian winter...... Professor - how far out does the weird weather extend from the city? Is it the region, New England or just Manhattan?
Geeze.... freakin Canadians and their country envy... heheh... where all the victims Canadians refugees? heheheh... "
Little Mouth joked in his jaded and disrespectful tone.

You will be assigned two company vehicles, a sedan and cargo van. Both have been rigged out for winter conditions, due to the situation with the weather in the New York City area.

Any other equipment may be requested as normal,

after listening to any other question and answers Rudolf spoke up again...
"I call shotgun on the sedan..."

[OOC: Rudolf is a little inexperienced with prepping for equipment. He'll go along with his team and snatch up some helpful tools as needed after watching what they grab...]

 

[Karl Green]

Pro. Corrigan smiles at Rudolf and nods her head "Sorry, Rudolf"

Using Comprehend, only the symbol for "Night" seems somewhat familiar, and Rudolf thinks that it could mean not just night but space, sky, dark, or eternal night. No other symbol really stands out to him

She listens to his questions and checks some notes and replies "The number assigned to the victims are in the order that they 'disappeared'. The evidence that was left at the disappearance sites was not in the order that they disappeared in. We are not really sure why or if it related, that is something you will have to look into. None of the bodies of any of these people have been found, so while we are not sure if they are still alive or not, it is probably unlikely that they are in very good shape. The victims started disappearance 29 days ago. Marcus Ranhouse, for example, was victim number 7, who disappeared 16 days ago. The police recovered the box and found the symbol six days ago. His finger was the first physical evidence of any of the victims recovered. No other blood or anything else had been recovered from any of the other victims.

"Yes the evidence is in the Police evidence holding room. Dt. Nick and Dt. Hanford should be able to help you gain access to all of it.

"And yes, the freak weather patter is more or less confirmed just to Manhattan Island. Scientist are at a lost as to how or why this is, and psychic and mystical experts say that while there is a 'strange' vibe in the area, they have been no more insightful.

"A shotgun or such should be no problem. When we wrap up here head over to supply and Danny should be able to set you up. Just remember to sign it out."

Kate then looks out at the rest of you and back to Rudolf "Any other questions?"

 

[Andrew D. Gable]

Gennadi Tsurkeyev, the Russian mathematician known as Kongming, leaned back in his chair. His MENTAT-sharpened mind collating all the information in the briefing, he cautiously raised his hand. "Prof. Corrigan? I was just wondering, are there any meanings beyond the obvious associated with the symbols, the rattlesnake, canoe and owl? The owl could conceivably also be representative of night. Is the snake, as well? Or the canoe?"

 

[Karl Green]

Prof. Corrigan shakes her head and says "At this time we don't have any ideas or leads as to what these symbols might mean or what significance they might have to this case. I am afraid that this is also one of the questions that you will have to try and answer."

If Kongming wish to make an INT or Mathematics rolls (and/or spend any Hero Points) he certainly can

 

[Keia]

Sgt. Michael Camden "Ace" HP's 4

Ace sat in the back of the meeting room, looking over the file in front of him. He let the others ask questions. He wasn't much for the talking part of a mission . . . hunting, searching, shooting - that was up his alley.

He nodded and smiled to those he had worked with before - particularly on the City of Brass mission, but otherwise he remained silent and attentive.

 

[Andrew D. Gable]

Sure, Kongming will do a Mathematics check to see if there's any sort of discernable pattern in the dates of the disappearances, discoveries of the body parts, geometrical layout of the sites, etc. Roll 17, +16 = 33.

 

[Velmont]

Paul seems to be away from the conversation for a moment. His eyes were closed when he suddenly say out loud.

"Shut up Leo! I am tired to hear you whinning and complaining about the lack of action. We are not militaries..."

Paul open his eyes and look around and see that everyone is looking at him.

"Great! Sorry, didn't mean to say that out loud. Just one of my roommate who is starting to be bored, so he must annoyed everyone... For that case, I suggest to take a look at the piece of... 'people' we have. We may find something more. And I would look at some book here too. Maybe there is a ritual that would allow to see what happen to the victim, or where they are. The piece of them could serve as a link to them..."

OOC:
Paul try to remember if he havn't seen such a ritual before.
Ritual: 16 + 13 = 29
Know (Occult): 9 + 7 = 16

 

[Sollir Furryfoot]

Andy, HPs: 5

In the back of the room a brown-haired, freckle-faced teenager lounges in his chair, the front half off of the floor as he leans it back against the wall. He looks a bit out of place, and a random person looking at the scene would think he was some sort of intern, by the looks of his pin striped shirt and tie. A bemused look betrays his formerly apathetic facial expression as the others offer their opinions.

The case intrigued him, that was certain. After all, it must be involving magic, and magic was his specialty. He mentally shudders, thinking about the new knowledge he gained from the books found at the City of Brass...it gave him alot more arcane power, but at what price?

...

This is going to be fun. I was afraid they were gonna send me on another boring mission Andy thinks as he returns Ace's smile. Underneath his breath, he mutters, "Jeez, they let anybody join, don't they?" as he notices the half-frog/half-man newcomer.

OOC: Andy will do some Knowledge checks too,
Know: Occult, roll of 10+10=20
Know: Ritual, roll of 8+15=23

 

[Karl Green]

Studying the items, looking over the information, thinking and looking for patterns, Kongming is not sure but something about this case gives him spark of some insight… something does not "add up" as it were… but the order in which the victims where taken does make him sit up… it might be nothing, but victims number 7, 3, 2, 11, 1, 17… hmm all prime numbers?

Paul is not sure about it, but something in the taking of victims, and the leaving of offerings… it might be some kind of summoning or sustaining ritual is being worked within the NYC area. You would need to study the crime scenes yourself though to get a better 'vibe' about it

Andy is not sure, if this is a ritual or spell, it is not one he is familiar with, but this sure looks like it involves the Occult. The weather and whatever ritual is probably related. You would want to study the weather first hand though to get a better "feel" for it

Also if Paul and Andy would like to do some research at the occult library before leaving they can, but this would take time.

Prof. Corrigan nods her head to Paul "Yes well the detectives should be able to get you access to anything you need in that regard. Any other questions? If not you should get started as quickly as possible. If the persons guilt of these crimes hold to their pattern they will be leaving another symbol and body part of another victim tonight. Good luck."