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Episode 1 Episode 2 Episode 3

(BenChalmers)

In which DrGarfieldParrish makes an unnerving discovery

guest starring Windsor Davies as MrFlanagan

Episode 1

Sunday, 24th November 1924

Professor Johnson was approached by DrGarfieldParrish, following the morning service at the First Episcopalian Church. Parrish was pleased to let RobertJohnson know that he had finished with the book Johnson had been interested in: Symbolica. Parrish was then overcome with excitement and invited Johnson and his friends from TheUnitySociety to pop over the next day to collect the book - and also to see the important discovery Garfield had made during the dig at the chapel.

Jack Proctor made his first appearence at the society for several months. He told of his adventures tracking down an indian shaman who helped him produce a necklace to ward off his lycanthropy. Julius Erlich took a saliva sample from Jack, a portion of which he injected into a rat.

Monday 25th November 1924

The members of the society (Eric, David, Jack, Julius, ? and Robert) met at Roberts office at JenkinUniversity, before proceeding to the School of antiquties attic which houses the school of antiquities collection, and its curator, Parrish's, office. On their arrival, as ever, the library was deserted, but unusually Parrish's office was locked.

Everybody waited, but, as Parrish still did not show, their concern grew. Many options were considered, including walking around the roof in an attempt to gain admission through a window. Eventually the department secratary was consulted - he unlocked the door, then returned to his office to call the police. There had been a break in. People were shocked, especially since the last anybody cound remember, only a couple of hours ago, Parrish was returning to his office.

As the door was left unlocked, several investigators gained entrance to the office noting that Parish's papers had been flung around indiscriminately, a window was smashed open, apparently from the outside, and that a smear of blood clung to the glass, with further drops lieing directly outwards towards the edge of the roof. Samples of the blood (both from the wondow and also on the ground below) were taken, and later shown to be human.

Frank Short arrived, and agreed that there had indeed been a break in. He was a little bemused by the appearence of the unity society there, and resignedly took them to Parrish's flat - which was also locked and, apparently, empty

A visit was paid to Hilary Merritt, who funded the dig and renovations at the church. Something disturbed Merritt about the news that Parrish - or possibly dig artifacts - had vanished, but he put on a brave face, and ordered his boy to fetch more expensive drinks.

Having little to go on, it was finally decided to stake out the church - the site fo the dig - overnight.

Meanwhile, in another part of Unity, pipes, funnels, flasks and tubes sat connected in the darkness, the only illumination coming from a burning bunsen burner. Slowly the darkness itself filled the funnel, rolled around and dripped, a black, viscous, liquid into a bowl beneath.

Episode 2

Monday 25th November 1924 (continued)

Julius had business to attend to, and left the party. Alex longed for a good night's sleep. The others gathered at the church, and climbed onto the rooftop, in order to survey the area, and Hilary Merritt's house. In a top room of Merritt's house a light turned off, and a dark, batlike shape became visible. The shadowy bat flew towards the church. It was fast, and it was large, perhaps one and a half times the size of a man. And it was flying striaght towards the society members.

A fight ensued. The shadowy beast fought with bite and claw, focusing it's attentions upon the poor Eric. While others tried in vein to fend it off, Jack plumetting to the floor as a result of his attempts, Eric was grabbed and whisked up into the air, and carried off into the darkness. church. Jack falls from roof. Eric carried away. Eric reaches inside shadow, finds human. Shadow begins to break up, Eric is dropped a block away. Eric gets taken to hospital.

The uninjured members gave chase. Eric himself struggled, and noticed that inside the shadow's form was what appewared to be a human. He reached in and grabbed hold. Shards of shaddow fell from the beast, and drifted away into the night. The beast was clearly peturbed and less able to control its flight. It dropped Eric, who tried to hand on to no avail. Eric fell to the ground, over a block away from the church, and lay unconcious, until he was taken to hospital.

Tuesday 26th November, 1924

David and Jack took the opportunity to look around Parrish's office and discovered, amongst the papers scattered over the floor, an illustration of a stone found during the dig. The paper referred to a quote from Shattenbewohnetshutz.

It was quickly discovered that the unity society had a copy of said book, but merritt had taken it out on Sunday afternoon... shortly after the meeting with Parish. Everything was so clear now - the beast came from the direction of his house, Merritt clearly knew what was going on. He must be the culprit. A number of ways of capturing Merritt were discussed and rejected. Eventually, one option remained: to confront him, that very evening

Merritt himself invited the party into his house, and to his library. He listened to their story with concern - at first, concern that he was being slandered, and then growing anxiety as he realised his apprentice, Jones, was the person that normally retreived books for him. And that Jones had not been seen at work today.

Only Jones, Merritt and Parrish new about Parrish's discovery.

Episode 3

Tuesday 26th November, 1924 (continued)

At speed, the PCs fled to Jones' house. It was dark, but sharp eyes noticed candle light and movement comming from a basement window. A carbide lamp barely illuminated the darkness within, but made out a shape that looked like Parrish.

Worried by this turn of events, Jack broke down the door and rushed downstairs to the basement. He entered the front basement room, filled with a darkness that overwhelmed even the strongest lights. The room was filled with chemical apparatus, which was dripping an opaque black liquid into a bowl, a bowl resting baove parrishes sleeping head.

Jack went to get parrish and david examined the candle. Eventually choosing to snuff it out. He also reached under the apparatus to retrieve a book.

Long story short: Jones appeared wrapped int he shadow, there was cuffuffule in which the apparatus broke and the shadow was released. This hit Jones' power, and the shaddow wrapping him left. Jones, by now certifiable, gibbered in a corner, claiming that Merritt knew dark mysteries, but didn't teach him any, so he had to learn on his own. He tried to eat the pages from Symbolica which explained things - upsetting robert in the process.

Parish came round, and all was set right in the world.