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<blockquote data-quote="The Forsaken One" data-source="post: 455467" data-attributes="member: 799"><p><strong>Chapter 1, session 1, day 3&4</strong></p><p></p><p>The skies over Miner’s Folly are bright and cloudless on the morning of the third day, but grow gradually darker as the day wears on. The night passed peacefully and without disturbance, Rom feels quite a bit better and is able to walk around and talk a bit. But the quiet night… this bothers the investigators the most. It was too quiet, the silence for the storm. But they are ready, they think.</p><p>By afternoon, thick gray clouds overshadow the valley, threatening and pregnant with snow. The wind picks up towards the evening and the roads begin to slowly drift once more. </p><p>Inside the Clearwater Hotel, the atmosphere is tense: The guests are miling about on the first floor, murmuring their conversations, glancing cautiously at the windows. There is something on the loose, a killer, a monster, and they all know it; they’re just waiting for the next shoe to drop. The five investigators are keeping guard at the windows and at the staircase, each taking shifts. </p><p></p><p>At 7:10 pm a loud bang breaks through the silence. The investigators jump to their feet, grab their weapons and ready their defenses. When a loud howl echoes through the valley and a scratching sound can be heard through the hotel. They know the time has come, destiny has searched them out and they can no longer hide. It’s time to face destiny, it’s time to stand on those walls of fate and to fight! And they know it, they sensed it coming all night and all day long and now it’s here. </p><p></p><p>Coen throws over a bed in the hallway on the first floor, Rom runs towards him to give him some backup. They expect the werewolf to appear on the first floor as they heard the sound somewhere there on the windows. Thinking it succeeded this time to leap through a first story window to bypass their defenses Coen, Rom and Mark rally behind two beds in the corridor and prepare themselves for the attack. But they are wrong, the wolf also failed a second time to jump through a first story window who were also barricaded this time. Now enraged in a primal fury it runs around the building where it hold for a second. It takes a breath and with a horrible howl it comes crashing through the front door, smelling its prey.</p><p></p><p>But they were ready, Richard and Patrick started pouring the gallons of alcohol down on the stairs the second they heard the wolf’s failed jump attempt. But the wolf is fast and before they were able to finish their work, the wolf came crashing through the front door. It moved swiftly, and within seconds it scaled the stairs with great leaps and now there it comes in all its rage and fury. Richard sees the wolf leap through the alcohol and before he can drop the alcohol and reach for his weapon the wolf is right next to him. The wolf bites in an attempt to finish what it started the night before. But Richard throws himself to the side and the wolf tastes nothing but vaporized alcohol as Richard dodges its bite. Richard gets back onto his feet and reaches for his shotgun, the werewolf closely behind him ready to strike again. But as Richard turns around shotgun in his hands the wolf leaps again. But it would never hit Richard again, because as Richard lets himself fall backward to get a clear shot at the beasts gut Rom’s voice echoes through the hallway.</p><p></p><p>“Halt Ian Maguire, I know who you are. I know you are Malcolm Maguire, the ambitious young prospector that lost his wife. That the Darkness corrupted you in this… form.”</p><p></p><p>And as he says this he holds the locket on the golden chain high op before him.</p><p></p><p>“Your wife is dead Malcolm or Ian, or whatever you call yourself these days. She is dead, murdered by the one you serve. And this is the proof.”</p><p></p><p>The wolf leaps over Richard and stands still, looking at the locket. Time seems to freeze, the winds seem to cease blowing and everyone holds his breath as the wolf keeps its gaze locked on the locket. </p><p></p><p>After what seems to be an eternity it looks up at Rom who stands there, bold, locket in one hand held up high, his loaded Glock clutched in his other, a pearl of sweat forming on his forehead.</p><p>The wolf looks at the locket and the man who holds it. And then it makes itself as large as possible and howls as it never howled before. Coen picks his gun and goes for a shot not the beast lets it guard down but Mark stops him. The Beast howls and everyone who hears it, everyone present at the Clearwater can’t help but feeling sad, hurt, at a loss. And with that the wolf dashes for a window and with a great leap it bursts through the window and disappears into the woods, howling with anguish.</p><p></p><p>Everyone stands silent, regarding what just happened in awe. Amidst this stands Rom, silent for a moment or two, then lowering his hand and looks at the locket for a moment before clutching it in his hand. </p><p>He turns around and they all know it’s over, the beast has gone and now Stonehill can safely come to get the disc and get the ritual over with.</p><p></p><p>Everyone sits themselves down and relaxes. Mark gives everyone something to eat and drink and calms everyone and assures them it’s over. Rom lies down to catch some sleep since he’s exhausted and his intestines still hurts like hell from the fall. Richard stands at the window looking to where the werewolf disappeared to. He feels at his shoulder wound and looks outside again into the darkness, and he feels at ease for the first time since he got here. Coen and Patrick have set themselves down on a bed somewhere to talk over what they witnessed here the last few days, glad it all seems to be over. The Indians will come soon and then they can go home tomorrow when the pass is cleared.</p><p>As Mark finished his round he sits down for a moments rest. But as he sits down he hears something strange very, very near… and he looks up to see something his mind cannot comprehend. He just sits there in fear and shock for a moment, and then screams. He screams in absolute terror as horror fills his heart, he screams again, and again, and again.</p><p></p><p>Mark saw Reginald Thompson, one of the other hotel guests stumble towards him, he stares at Mark for a moment and then with madness in his eyes his face contorts as in great pain. On the following moments his skull creaks as it shifts on its seams and stretches into a snout; coarse brown hair sprouts from every follicle, ripping flesh in its haste to break through the skin; muscles swell and twist like enormous subdermal tumors, reducing his clothing to ribbons. Mark cannot do anything but scream in absolute terror as another werewolf rises before him. When will the horror end?</p><p></p><p>Rom rockets up from his bed as he hears the scream, he ignores his pain and grabs his gun and runs through the door only to see the horrible creature rise to its full stature, an imposing 10 feet high.</p><p></p><p>The Beast looks at the screaming figure before him and prepares to attack. As the creature leaps forward and moves in for the kill it gets thrown to the ground by a figure that leapt in from the left and crashed into the beast its side, throwing it off balance and sending it howling to the ground. Patrick rises from behind the creature, the sky-metal disc gripped tightly in his right hand, radiating with a strange blue light. The beast gets back up again and engages Patrick in mortal combat. </p><p></p><p>While everyone starts to comprehend that Patricks heroic and selfless act just saved Mark’s they all quickly realize that he needs help. Bad.</p><p>Rom raises his Glock fires a few bullets at the back of the beast while Coen unloads a shotgun shell on the beast’s back. Richard beckons Mark to grab a couple of Molotov cocktails like he does himself.</p><p></p><p>Meanwhile Patrick and the werewolf are locked in mortal combat and they dance around eachother, Patrick boldly swinging his disc while trying to parry the beasts fierce claw and bite attacks. Patrick scores another hit on the beast right arm but as he strikes the beast comes down on him and sinks its teeth in his left side. Patrick and the wolf go down to the ground and Patrick doesn’t scream, no. Patrick holds himself together as the soldier he was trained for. He kicks the beast in the stomach and the disc flies again, flickering with arcane energies radiating from it with a strange blue glow. But the wolf is fast and dodges his blow. But as the wolf prepares for another attack and Patrick looks up from the ground and prepares to defend himself, the chamber suddenly flashes with light as flames envelop the wolf from the back.</p><p></p><p>Richard and Mark hadn’t been idle and they hasted as fast as they could to get to the Molotovs. They lighted them and waited for a safe moment to throw them and this was the moment they were waiting for. The wolf turns around and charges blindly at the first target he sees but only to be greeted by two more Molotovs straight in its face. The beast is now fully on fire but before it can attack one of the two Molotov throwers Patrick is in front of it again, slashing with the disc. Enveloped in flames the werewolf throws himself onto Patrick once again and tears his shirt to ribbons as its claws rip across his chest. But as the wolf attacks Patrick, the flames that envelop the wolf now also set fire to Patricks ripped shirt and other clothes as the two interlock again.</p><p></p><p>One of the sparks of the Molotovs went over the edge of the staircase and fell down into the alcohol that was sprayed down over the furniture on the staircase. The spark hits and both staircases are an inferno in seconds as fire spread across the staircase and over the ceiling and through all of the foyer.</p><p></p><p>Rom drops his gun seeing it has no use anyway and runs to grab one of the fire-extinguishers to help his friend that is on fire. Coen just stands in awe as he doesn’t dare to fire his shotgun in the fear to hit his friend. Richard grabs his shotgun and waits for a change to shoot and Mark just looks around frantically for something that might work against the creature.</p><p></p><p>Patrick keeps on slicing the wolfs flesh and the wolf keeps tearing at his chest and arms, blood begins to seep over the floor where the two burning figures fight to the death in a maniacal battle, bloodlust in their eyes, neither giving in or allowing the other reprieve.</p><p></p><p>Rom returns with two fire-extinguishers and sprays at the wolf. The wolf’s hairs freeze and the broken skin and blood blister beneath the cold spray of the extinguisher and the wolf backs off howling. Rom understanding that he has a effective weapon in his hands yells someone to pick the other thing up and use it against the wolf. Mark grabs the thing and burst another cone of cold at the beast which falls slowly back. </p><p></p><p>Coen runs to Patrick and grabs a blanket on the way to put out the burning clothes and some water to throw over him to soothe his wounds. As soon as Coen extinguishes the fire and gives him some water he sees that aside from some burnings and the claw mark on his chest and the bite wound on his side he’s all in one piece after that while under the beast.</p><p></p><p>While Rom and Mark advance on the wolf with their fire-extinguishers and Richard keeps unloading his shotgun at the beast, two black SUVs pull up to the scene. Their headlights spearing through the swirling snow and light the inside of the burning hotel for split moment, giving the scene a ghastly look. Maximilian Delaney steps out of one, his face a stone mask of displeasure. Three DMI enforcers in blue parkas emerge from the other vehicle, pistols drawn.</p><p></p><p>“You have slain my servants, delayed my plans, and caused me great distress,” Delaney says sternly. “For that, you must be destroyed.” </p><p></p><p>With those words he raises his hand threateningly at the inferno on the first floor of the hotel where the ghastly scene is being displayed and where a horrible fight is being fought against the infernal background of a burning hotel. The flames slowly encrouch over the whole hotel and by this time it’s almost fully ablaze. All the hotel staff and hotel guests have leapt out of some of the side windows and ran off in the snow in the direction of the village, not knowing where else to go in this madness.</p><p></p><p>As Delaney raises his hand everyone inside feels the dark chill of the mines pass through them once more. But before Delaney can make good on his threats, he is distracted by the sound of drums. Five ancient Native Americans emerge from the surrounding forests, dressed in ceremonial feathers and beads beneath their winter coats. In the lead in John Stonehill who is carrying and beating a drum.</p><p>The Shamans form a semicircle facing Delaney and chant their ancient song while Stonehill keeps the beat with his drum. As the shamans sing the investigators inside can feel the mystic energy gathering in the air, sending shivers down their spines.</p><p></p><p>Delaney turns his hand towards the circle, and the shamans’ singing falters. They recover quickly, however, and now Delaney takes a step backward, surprised at the strength of their magic. The circle and Delaney engage in a duel between mystic forces.</p><p></p><p>Inside the battle reaches its conclusion as Rom and Mark drive the wolf ever further back while Richard keeps hammering it with shotgun shells. When the fire extinguishers are about the run empty the wolf readies itself for one last attack with the last of its powers. As the wolf leaps in the direction of Rom in the hope to deliver a killing blow it’s met by two cones of cold, a shotgun shell, but it’s not enough and the beast throws itself onto Rom. Rom falls backwards in fear as the mutilated and shriveled body of the werewolf is about to crush him under it’s weight a blue light flashes through the hallway as a blue slice of light sears through the air and strikes the wolf in the chest where it remains, blood flowing out of the gaping wound.</p><p></p><p>The lifeless body of the wolf slumps to the ground and Rom looks around to see what happened. As he crawls back to a stance he sees Coen holding up Patrick, against a background which has turned to an inferno, who is breathing heavily, his arm still stretched from the throwing move, pointing in the air where once was the werewolf. A shiver runs through Rom as he sees Patrick so heavily wounded, with a maniacal grin across his face and against that background he seems on fire himself. Rom shrugs off the image of the evil demonprince Patrick and grabs his crossbow and a couple of bolts.</p><p></p><p>Richard reloads his shotgun and rushes to the front window to see the two mystical powers battling it out. </p><p></p><p>“Guys, lets have the Indians to the Voodoo stuff without any problems, let’s take out those goons out there. We owe them some.”</p><p></p><p>Richard breaks through the window with his shotgun. The DMI enforcers below look up as they hear the sound of breaking glass only to see three men bursting through the windows, guns pointed down at them.</p><p>Using the surprise moment of his opponents to his advantage, Richard grins and pulls the trigger of his 12 gauge. The shell hits the middle enforcer, tearing him in two as the shell took off the whole right side of his torso.</p><p>Richard merely grins: “Should have worn Kevlar bitch, you had it coming to ya!”</p><p></p><p>Coen leaps through one of the windows down into the snow and Patrick throws a Molotov out of Richards window. The Molotov hits the SUV of the enforcers on the hood and splashes out but it doesn’t ignite. Richard fires another shell at one of the enforces and hits him square in the chest. The enforcer while falling back, fires two rounds at the first floor of the hotel. But before the enforcer hits the ground he gets impaled by a crossbow bolt sending him straight to the ground. Rom trashed through another window and saw the wounded enforcer and finished him off with a clean shot of his crossbow. </p><p></p><p>As a miracle Patrick is back up, and with the disc flashing in his hands he leaps out of one of the trashes windows, Rom closely behind him down into the snow.</p><p>Mark throws out another Molotov as Richard leaps from the burning floor as well, the flames are now everywhere around them on the first floor. The Molotov explodes on the ground before the last enforcer, and it ignites the gasoline on the hood of the SUV which quickly catches fire. The enforcer jumps out of the way and keeps firing at the infernal display before him. He fires four quick round at the people jumping from the windows but they all miss. </p><p></p><p>The enforcer takes a step back and fires another couple of rounds in the direction of Richard who is rushing towards him. He can only witness that none of his shots find their target. As he sees Richard closing in, a mad grin across his face, a bolt pierces his right shoulder and in that moment of pain he drops his Glock. Richard pumps his shotgun as he closes in and fires a shot at point blank range into the enforcers gut. The shell rips through the enforcers intestines and his gut splatters all over the white snow behind him, painting it red. The last enforcer drops gutless to the ground, his whole intestines spread out in the snow behind him.</p><p></p><p>Now all that rests them is Delaney, who is caught up in his mystical battle with the circle and he’s winning the battle for domination and magical supremacy. Patrick in his bloodlust leaps after Delaney slicing at him with the sky-metal disc but he just can’t seem to hit the silent figure. Coen and Mark unload their guns on Delaney but to no avail. Bullets easily pierce his human flesh, but he ignores the damage and keeps focused on the battle at hand. As Delaney’s skin is broken and pierced by the numerous bullets and bolts, beams of darkness shine out, as he is “lit” from the inside with the same terrible blackness that pervades the bottom of the mine.</p><p></p><p>The investigators watch helplessly as their bullets hardly have any effect, and the circle visibly grows weaker as one of their number falls onto his knees but keep chanting, barely. Mark runs over to the Indians and attempts to mimic the song to strengthen it and as he runs over a large dark shape leaps howling over the Native Americans. </p><p></p><p>Ian Maguire, the first werewolf has returned, with a vengeance. The wolf dives straight for Delaney and takes him down under his massive weight. Delaney now having his concentration on his spell disrupted unleashes his terrible magic at the wolf, but the wolf shrugs it off with a howl and it keeps on tearing at Delaney and keeps him pinned to the ground beneath its weight.</p><p></p><p>While Mark attempts to chant and strengthen the Indian magic, the rest stands merely in awe what’s happening before them with the wolf and the aberration. Richard however runs towards the remaining SUV, looks inside and finds that the keys are still there. He jumps in, starts its engine and floors the gas pedal. The SUV accelerates and races towards the two struggling figures on the ground before the burning hotel. Richard braces himself and crashes the SUV into the two monsters. The car rushes the two right into the hotel wall where they crash, caught between the car and the wall.</p><p></p><p>Richard hurries out of the car to see what damage he did. The rest merely keeps watching in awe at Richards incredible move. The SUV falls back a bit to reveal the werewolf lying in a unnatural position, twisted and turned, obviously crushed by the SUV. But Delaney has turned into a boiling black ooze that’s slowly taking solid form again. Only this time it’s not human…</p><p></p><p>The investigators grabs their guns and pump as much lead in the black thing that is forming as they can. The ooze ignores the damage as the bullets sink into its boiling mass but the investigators keep firing, they must do something to defeat this menace, this monstrosity.</p><p></p><p>Before their very eyes the ooze turns into a gigantic blank panther like creature, 15 feet long, 5 feet high. Once its forming it complete it gnarls and rushes towards the circle of Shamans. It leaps up into the air, ready to pounce the defenseless John Stonehill. But in its way appears Mark. The black panther like shape comes bearing down on Mark who just barely dives aside from under it to avoid its raking claws. Delaney looks in front of him again and as he leaps in for the kill on Stonehill the Shamans finish their ritual. Delaney’s monstrous form shrieks in pain and defeat as it turns into a black blob that falls to the ground, slowly growing more translucent and less vicious until it disappears from view, soaked into the earth, defeated and imprisoned.</p><p></p><p>The circle takes a few steps back after their victory, totally exhausted from the spiritual duel with Delaney. The make a small bow in the direction of the investigators and then head back into the woods leaving the dazzled five behind them.</p><p></p><p>The five drop their weapons and just look at each other. They can’t smile even though it’s over. They will never forget this, the horror, the madness and the surreality of it all. It just can’t have been real, but when they look at their wounds and feel their aching bones they know it’s all too real.</p><p>They gather their stuff, what’s left of it, and leave in their jeeps. The hotel burning to the ground behind them and as they drive off, it collapses into burning ruin. </p><p></p><p>The five spend the night in their cars, surprisingly they all sleep well and have pleasant dreams. They sleep an untroubled sleep, peacefully, and well deserved.</p><p></p><p>The next morning the skies are clear, the wind blows gently across the plain, through the valley. The five are greeted by the orange uniforms of county workers and the roaring of the snow trucks. They start their engines, sip their coffee and as they head over the pass a small hour later they look back one more time at that accursed valley and hope never to return there. </p><p></p><p>Relieved they head off for their destination, hoping to forget the horrors, the pain, the anguish. They hope it will all go away in time. But they have no idea what the future has in store for them, they cannot even begin to phantom the paths which destiny will lead them across. </p><p></p><p>And all they can do is fall back on each other and not go astray.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="The Forsaken One, post: 455467, member: 799"] [b]Chapter 1, session 1, day 3&4[/b] The skies over Miner’s Folly are bright and cloudless on the morning of the third day, but grow gradually darker as the day wears on. The night passed peacefully and without disturbance, Rom feels quite a bit better and is able to walk around and talk a bit. But the quiet night… this bothers the investigators the most. It was too quiet, the silence for the storm. But they are ready, they think. By afternoon, thick gray clouds overshadow the valley, threatening and pregnant with snow. The wind picks up towards the evening and the roads begin to slowly drift once more. Inside the Clearwater Hotel, the atmosphere is tense: The guests are miling about on the first floor, murmuring their conversations, glancing cautiously at the windows. There is something on the loose, a killer, a monster, and they all know it; they’re just waiting for the next shoe to drop. The five investigators are keeping guard at the windows and at the staircase, each taking shifts. At 7:10 pm a loud bang breaks through the silence. The investigators jump to their feet, grab their weapons and ready their defenses. When a loud howl echoes through the valley and a scratching sound can be heard through the hotel. They know the time has come, destiny has searched them out and they can no longer hide. It’s time to face destiny, it’s time to stand on those walls of fate and to fight! And they know it, they sensed it coming all night and all day long and now it’s here. Coen throws over a bed in the hallway on the first floor, Rom runs towards him to give him some backup. They expect the werewolf to appear on the first floor as they heard the sound somewhere there on the windows. Thinking it succeeded this time to leap through a first story window to bypass their defenses Coen, Rom and Mark rally behind two beds in the corridor and prepare themselves for the attack. But they are wrong, the wolf also failed a second time to jump through a first story window who were also barricaded this time. Now enraged in a primal fury it runs around the building where it hold for a second. It takes a breath and with a horrible howl it comes crashing through the front door, smelling its prey. But they were ready, Richard and Patrick started pouring the gallons of alcohol down on the stairs the second they heard the wolf’s failed jump attempt. But the wolf is fast and before they were able to finish their work, the wolf came crashing through the front door. It moved swiftly, and within seconds it scaled the stairs with great leaps and now there it comes in all its rage and fury. Richard sees the wolf leap through the alcohol and before he can drop the alcohol and reach for his weapon the wolf is right next to him. The wolf bites in an attempt to finish what it started the night before. But Richard throws himself to the side and the wolf tastes nothing but vaporized alcohol as Richard dodges its bite. Richard gets back onto his feet and reaches for his shotgun, the werewolf closely behind him ready to strike again. But as Richard turns around shotgun in his hands the wolf leaps again. But it would never hit Richard again, because as Richard lets himself fall backward to get a clear shot at the beasts gut Rom’s voice echoes through the hallway. “Halt Ian Maguire, I know who you are. I know you are Malcolm Maguire, the ambitious young prospector that lost his wife. That the Darkness corrupted you in this… form.” And as he says this he holds the locket on the golden chain high op before him. “Your wife is dead Malcolm or Ian, or whatever you call yourself these days. She is dead, murdered by the one you serve. And this is the proof.” The wolf leaps over Richard and stands still, looking at the locket. Time seems to freeze, the winds seem to cease blowing and everyone holds his breath as the wolf keeps its gaze locked on the locket. After what seems to be an eternity it looks up at Rom who stands there, bold, locket in one hand held up high, his loaded Glock clutched in his other, a pearl of sweat forming on his forehead. The wolf looks at the locket and the man who holds it. And then it makes itself as large as possible and howls as it never howled before. Coen picks his gun and goes for a shot not the beast lets it guard down but Mark stops him. The Beast howls and everyone who hears it, everyone present at the Clearwater can’t help but feeling sad, hurt, at a loss. And with that the wolf dashes for a window and with a great leap it bursts through the window and disappears into the woods, howling with anguish. Everyone stands silent, regarding what just happened in awe. Amidst this stands Rom, silent for a moment or two, then lowering his hand and looks at the locket for a moment before clutching it in his hand. He turns around and they all know it’s over, the beast has gone and now Stonehill can safely come to get the disc and get the ritual over with. Everyone sits themselves down and relaxes. Mark gives everyone something to eat and drink and calms everyone and assures them it’s over. Rom lies down to catch some sleep since he’s exhausted and his intestines still hurts like hell from the fall. Richard stands at the window looking to where the werewolf disappeared to. He feels at his shoulder wound and looks outside again into the darkness, and he feels at ease for the first time since he got here. Coen and Patrick have set themselves down on a bed somewhere to talk over what they witnessed here the last few days, glad it all seems to be over. The Indians will come soon and then they can go home tomorrow when the pass is cleared. As Mark finished his round he sits down for a moments rest. But as he sits down he hears something strange very, very near… and he looks up to see something his mind cannot comprehend. He just sits there in fear and shock for a moment, and then screams. He screams in absolute terror as horror fills his heart, he screams again, and again, and again. Mark saw Reginald Thompson, one of the other hotel guests stumble towards him, he stares at Mark for a moment and then with madness in his eyes his face contorts as in great pain. On the following moments his skull creaks as it shifts on its seams and stretches into a snout; coarse brown hair sprouts from every follicle, ripping flesh in its haste to break through the skin; muscles swell and twist like enormous subdermal tumors, reducing his clothing to ribbons. Mark cannot do anything but scream in absolute terror as another werewolf rises before him. When will the horror end? Rom rockets up from his bed as he hears the scream, he ignores his pain and grabs his gun and runs through the door only to see the horrible creature rise to its full stature, an imposing 10 feet high. The Beast looks at the screaming figure before him and prepares to attack. As the creature leaps forward and moves in for the kill it gets thrown to the ground by a figure that leapt in from the left and crashed into the beast its side, throwing it off balance and sending it howling to the ground. Patrick rises from behind the creature, the sky-metal disc gripped tightly in his right hand, radiating with a strange blue light. The beast gets back up again and engages Patrick in mortal combat. While everyone starts to comprehend that Patricks heroic and selfless act just saved Mark’s they all quickly realize that he needs help. Bad. Rom raises his Glock fires a few bullets at the back of the beast while Coen unloads a shotgun shell on the beast’s back. Richard beckons Mark to grab a couple of Molotov cocktails like he does himself. Meanwhile Patrick and the werewolf are locked in mortal combat and they dance around eachother, Patrick boldly swinging his disc while trying to parry the beasts fierce claw and bite attacks. Patrick scores another hit on the beast right arm but as he strikes the beast comes down on him and sinks its teeth in his left side. Patrick and the wolf go down to the ground and Patrick doesn’t scream, no. Patrick holds himself together as the soldier he was trained for. He kicks the beast in the stomach and the disc flies again, flickering with arcane energies radiating from it with a strange blue glow. But the wolf is fast and dodges his blow. But as the wolf prepares for another attack and Patrick looks up from the ground and prepares to defend himself, the chamber suddenly flashes with light as flames envelop the wolf from the back. Richard and Mark hadn’t been idle and they hasted as fast as they could to get to the Molotovs. They lighted them and waited for a safe moment to throw them and this was the moment they were waiting for. The wolf turns around and charges blindly at the first target he sees but only to be greeted by two more Molotovs straight in its face. The beast is now fully on fire but before it can attack one of the two Molotov throwers Patrick is in front of it again, slashing with the disc. Enveloped in flames the werewolf throws himself onto Patrick once again and tears his shirt to ribbons as its claws rip across his chest. But as the wolf attacks Patrick, the flames that envelop the wolf now also set fire to Patricks ripped shirt and other clothes as the two interlock again. One of the sparks of the Molotovs went over the edge of the staircase and fell down into the alcohol that was sprayed down over the furniture on the staircase. The spark hits and both staircases are an inferno in seconds as fire spread across the staircase and over the ceiling and through all of the foyer. Rom drops his gun seeing it has no use anyway and runs to grab one of the fire-extinguishers to help his friend that is on fire. Coen just stands in awe as he doesn’t dare to fire his shotgun in the fear to hit his friend. Richard grabs his shotgun and waits for a change to shoot and Mark just looks around frantically for something that might work against the creature. Patrick keeps on slicing the wolfs flesh and the wolf keeps tearing at his chest and arms, blood begins to seep over the floor where the two burning figures fight to the death in a maniacal battle, bloodlust in their eyes, neither giving in or allowing the other reprieve. Rom returns with two fire-extinguishers and sprays at the wolf. The wolf’s hairs freeze and the broken skin and blood blister beneath the cold spray of the extinguisher and the wolf backs off howling. Rom understanding that he has a effective weapon in his hands yells someone to pick the other thing up and use it against the wolf. Mark grabs the thing and burst another cone of cold at the beast which falls slowly back. Coen runs to Patrick and grabs a blanket on the way to put out the burning clothes and some water to throw over him to soothe his wounds. As soon as Coen extinguishes the fire and gives him some water he sees that aside from some burnings and the claw mark on his chest and the bite wound on his side he’s all in one piece after that while under the beast. While Rom and Mark advance on the wolf with their fire-extinguishers and Richard keeps unloading his shotgun at the beast, two black SUVs pull up to the scene. Their headlights spearing through the swirling snow and light the inside of the burning hotel for split moment, giving the scene a ghastly look. Maximilian Delaney steps out of one, his face a stone mask of displeasure. Three DMI enforcers in blue parkas emerge from the other vehicle, pistols drawn. “You have slain my servants, delayed my plans, and caused me great distress,” Delaney says sternly. “For that, you must be destroyed.” With those words he raises his hand threateningly at the inferno on the first floor of the hotel where the ghastly scene is being displayed and where a horrible fight is being fought against the infernal background of a burning hotel. The flames slowly encrouch over the whole hotel and by this time it’s almost fully ablaze. All the hotel staff and hotel guests have leapt out of some of the side windows and ran off in the snow in the direction of the village, not knowing where else to go in this madness. As Delaney raises his hand everyone inside feels the dark chill of the mines pass through them once more. But before Delaney can make good on his threats, he is distracted by the sound of drums. Five ancient Native Americans emerge from the surrounding forests, dressed in ceremonial feathers and beads beneath their winter coats. In the lead in John Stonehill who is carrying and beating a drum. The Shamans form a semicircle facing Delaney and chant their ancient song while Stonehill keeps the beat with his drum. As the shamans sing the investigators inside can feel the mystic energy gathering in the air, sending shivers down their spines. Delaney turns his hand towards the circle, and the shamans’ singing falters. They recover quickly, however, and now Delaney takes a step backward, surprised at the strength of their magic. The circle and Delaney engage in a duel between mystic forces. Inside the battle reaches its conclusion as Rom and Mark drive the wolf ever further back while Richard keeps hammering it with shotgun shells. When the fire extinguishers are about the run empty the wolf readies itself for one last attack with the last of its powers. As the wolf leaps in the direction of Rom in the hope to deliver a killing blow it’s met by two cones of cold, a shotgun shell, but it’s not enough and the beast throws itself onto Rom. Rom falls backwards in fear as the mutilated and shriveled body of the werewolf is about to crush him under it’s weight a blue light flashes through the hallway as a blue slice of light sears through the air and strikes the wolf in the chest where it remains, blood flowing out of the gaping wound. The lifeless body of the wolf slumps to the ground and Rom looks around to see what happened. As he crawls back to a stance he sees Coen holding up Patrick, against a background which has turned to an inferno, who is breathing heavily, his arm still stretched from the throwing move, pointing in the air where once was the werewolf. A shiver runs through Rom as he sees Patrick so heavily wounded, with a maniacal grin across his face and against that background he seems on fire himself. Rom shrugs off the image of the evil demonprince Patrick and grabs his crossbow and a couple of bolts. Richard reloads his shotgun and rushes to the front window to see the two mystical powers battling it out. “Guys, lets have the Indians to the Voodoo stuff without any problems, let’s take out those goons out there. We owe them some.” Richard breaks through the window with his shotgun. The DMI enforcers below look up as they hear the sound of breaking glass only to see three men bursting through the windows, guns pointed down at them. Using the surprise moment of his opponents to his advantage, Richard grins and pulls the trigger of his 12 gauge. The shell hits the middle enforcer, tearing him in two as the shell took off the whole right side of his torso. Richard merely grins: “Should have worn Kevlar bitch, you had it coming to ya!” Coen leaps through one of the windows down into the snow and Patrick throws a Molotov out of Richards window. The Molotov hits the SUV of the enforcers on the hood and splashes out but it doesn’t ignite. Richard fires another shell at one of the enforces and hits him square in the chest. The enforcer while falling back, fires two rounds at the first floor of the hotel. But before the enforcer hits the ground he gets impaled by a crossbow bolt sending him straight to the ground. Rom trashed through another window and saw the wounded enforcer and finished him off with a clean shot of his crossbow. As a miracle Patrick is back up, and with the disc flashing in his hands he leaps out of one of the trashes windows, Rom closely behind him down into the snow. Mark throws out another Molotov as Richard leaps from the burning floor as well, the flames are now everywhere around them on the first floor. The Molotov explodes on the ground before the last enforcer, and it ignites the gasoline on the hood of the SUV which quickly catches fire. The enforcer jumps out of the way and keeps firing at the infernal display before him. He fires four quick round at the people jumping from the windows but they all miss. The enforcer takes a step back and fires another couple of rounds in the direction of Richard who is rushing towards him. He can only witness that none of his shots find their target. As he sees Richard closing in, a mad grin across his face, a bolt pierces his right shoulder and in that moment of pain he drops his Glock. Richard pumps his shotgun as he closes in and fires a shot at point blank range into the enforcers gut. The shell rips through the enforcers intestines and his gut splatters all over the white snow behind him, painting it red. The last enforcer drops gutless to the ground, his whole intestines spread out in the snow behind him. Now all that rests them is Delaney, who is caught up in his mystical battle with the circle and he’s winning the battle for domination and magical supremacy. Patrick in his bloodlust leaps after Delaney slicing at him with the sky-metal disc but he just can’t seem to hit the silent figure. Coen and Mark unload their guns on Delaney but to no avail. Bullets easily pierce his human flesh, but he ignores the damage and keeps focused on the battle at hand. As Delaney’s skin is broken and pierced by the numerous bullets and bolts, beams of darkness shine out, as he is “lit” from the inside with the same terrible blackness that pervades the bottom of the mine. The investigators watch helplessly as their bullets hardly have any effect, and the circle visibly grows weaker as one of their number falls onto his knees but keep chanting, barely. Mark runs over to the Indians and attempts to mimic the song to strengthen it and as he runs over a large dark shape leaps howling over the Native Americans. Ian Maguire, the first werewolf has returned, with a vengeance. The wolf dives straight for Delaney and takes him down under his massive weight. Delaney now having his concentration on his spell disrupted unleashes his terrible magic at the wolf, but the wolf shrugs it off with a howl and it keeps on tearing at Delaney and keeps him pinned to the ground beneath its weight. While Mark attempts to chant and strengthen the Indian magic, the rest stands merely in awe what’s happening before them with the wolf and the aberration. Richard however runs towards the remaining SUV, looks inside and finds that the keys are still there. He jumps in, starts its engine and floors the gas pedal. The SUV accelerates and races towards the two struggling figures on the ground before the burning hotel. Richard braces himself and crashes the SUV into the two monsters. The car rushes the two right into the hotel wall where they crash, caught between the car and the wall. Richard hurries out of the car to see what damage he did. The rest merely keeps watching in awe at Richards incredible move. The SUV falls back a bit to reveal the werewolf lying in a unnatural position, twisted and turned, obviously crushed by the SUV. But Delaney has turned into a boiling black ooze that’s slowly taking solid form again. Only this time it’s not human… The investigators grabs their guns and pump as much lead in the black thing that is forming as they can. The ooze ignores the damage as the bullets sink into its boiling mass but the investigators keep firing, they must do something to defeat this menace, this monstrosity. Before their very eyes the ooze turns into a gigantic blank panther like creature, 15 feet long, 5 feet high. Once its forming it complete it gnarls and rushes towards the circle of Shamans. It leaps up into the air, ready to pounce the defenseless John Stonehill. But in its way appears Mark. The black panther like shape comes bearing down on Mark who just barely dives aside from under it to avoid its raking claws. Delaney looks in front of him again and as he leaps in for the kill on Stonehill the Shamans finish their ritual. Delaney’s monstrous form shrieks in pain and defeat as it turns into a black blob that falls to the ground, slowly growing more translucent and less vicious until it disappears from view, soaked into the earth, defeated and imprisoned. The circle takes a few steps back after their victory, totally exhausted from the spiritual duel with Delaney. The make a small bow in the direction of the investigators and then head back into the woods leaving the dazzled five behind them. The five drop their weapons and just look at each other. They can’t smile even though it’s over. They will never forget this, the horror, the madness and the surreality of it all. It just can’t have been real, but when they look at their wounds and feel their aching bones they know it’s all too real. They gather their stuff, what’s left of it, and leave in their jeeps. The hotel burning to the ground behind them and as they drive off, it collapses into burning ruin. The five spend the night in their cars, surprisingly they all sleep well and have pleasant dreams. They sleep an untroubled sleep, peacefully, and well deserved. The next morning the skies are clear, the wind blows gently across the plain, through the valley. The five are greeted by the orange uniforms of county workers and the roaring of the snow trucks. They start their engines, sip their coffee and as they head over the pass a small hour later they look back one more time at that accursed valley and hope never to return there. Relieved they head off for their destination, hoping to forget the horrors, the pain, the anguish. They hope it will all go away in time. But they have no idea what the future has in store for them, they cannot even begin to phantom the paths which destiny will lead them across. And all they can do is fall back on each other and not go astray. [/QUOTE]
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Forsakens CoC Story Hour!: Nocturnum. Night Falls.
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