Session 15 - Once more into the breach... Report

General Summary

Marcus returns with his report on the Durns' farm. Just like the Hawks said, it was a death house. Marcus tells the Mainer about the corpse of some... thing... that sits in the Durns' kitchen. Upon hearing at least some confirmation of the party's story, he sends them with Marcus, Katy, and Prete to examine the farm and determine what else is going on.    At the Durns' farm, Marcus elects the Hawks to go investigate the cellar of the farmhouse, a place none of them want to go. Jericho is eventually "elected" to go in. He finds a host of corpses, some half-eaten, most likely the remains of the Durns' and their hands. He also finds a couple more bodies of the things resting at the bottom of the other set of stairs. No thing, outside of Jericho, is alive in that cellar.    The Elmonters and the Hawks decide to go check in on the MacAlly farm as it is the next farm in the line and one of the closest to the lake itself. Stirge MacAlly is not known to be the most friendly of persons even to his fellow townsmen. Marcus and Katy lead on with Prete keeping up his air of suspicion and antagonism towards the Hawks.    After a not inconsiderable walk (especially after that morning's fight), the woods and trail opens up into a small grassy clearing. A small farmhouse, and overturned boat resting in front of it, sits here along with a couple small outbuildings. A stern looking man calls down from the doorway, with a woman sneaking glances around him. Stirge MacAlly and Marcus exchange words and eventually sit to parley. The woman, Stirge's wife Sarah and his eldest daughter Lacinda come to serve drinks to the two men. Sarah sports a livid purple bruise on her cheek.    While the conversation goes on about the recent events and potential danger that the MacAlly farm may be in, Weld starts to whine and look towards the woods to the southeast. He eventually gets up and starts to walk a few steps away. Eventually, Patch notices and wants to see what is causing the rockhound's distress. The Hawks want to go off and see what has got Weld worked up and Prete volunteers to "keep an eye on them".   Weld leads the group through the woods to the south until it opens up into an old clearing with an ancient Earth That Was house, vines and vegetation almost completely covering the structure. As the party enters, Prete hears a voice which he recognizes as a cousin of his and he races towards the back of the house. A young man sits atop a pile of rotting debris, a large multi-colored stone in his lap. He stares into it, muttering "It's mine, it's mine". Prete stands transfixed, peering deep into the colors and patterns of the stone. As the party enters the back room, all but Jericho feel the pull of the stone as something about how its center is made of living light grabs hold of their attention.