Leaving No Trace
The investigators clean up the ritual site and return to the Fresno House to sleep. As soon as his head hits the pillow, Dr. Miller fears that he has forgotten something at the site. He borrows the car and drives back out to the pond, only to find that the missing item was in his other pocket. He thoroughly searches the area, just in case, before returning home to go to bed.
Saturday, November 22, 1924
The investigators sit around the breakfast table and discuss plans for dealing with the church. They think that blowing up the hidden altar to Hylmunder might be the easiest way to solve the problem, so Dale and Martin head out to a farm supply store in Salem, CT to buy dynamite. They easily convince the proprietor that they are going to do a little dynamite farming to get their fields ready for next season, and come away with several sticks, a detonator, and some rope.
Back at the house, Dr. Miller wonders if throwing a party mightn’t be the way to go. He suggests that if they can throw a big enough shindig to attract Port Harbor’s elites, they might be able to also draw in Alpha Solaris and Helios Rebecca. While some of the investigators remain at the party, others could go destroy the altar. Dr. Miller is so pleased with this idea that he immediately calls Fitzwilliam Carruthers, his party planner. Mr. Carruthers is delighted at the prospect of throwing a big party in Port Harbor and promises to drive out right away to discuss the matter.
The investigators remember seeing an ad in the paper from the Luminous Church about a Thanksgiving party they are planning to host next week. Before anyone can stop him, Dr. Miller calls the Luminous Church and asks to speak with one of the priestesses on the phone. He gets put on with Helios Rebecca and tells her that he wants to help turn the church’s Thanksgiving party into a soiree to remember.
Helios Rebecca is baffled by this sudden generosity but seems unwilling to refuse the offer. She invites the investigators up to the church for a more in-depth discussion. Dr. Miller agrees and says that he will bring along his party planner.
Fitzwilliam Carruthers
Before too long, Mr. Carruthers arrives in a cloud of exhaust smoke, having accidentally (but enthusiastically), run his car up on the curb and onto the Fresno House lawn. He disembarks with two large suitcases, makes introductions, and begins showing off samples of silverware, linens, curtains, and other sundries to the investigators. Eventually, Dr. Miller manages to get a word in edgewise, telling Mr. Carruthers that they are going to be giving a full presentation at the Luminous Church. Mr. Carruthers is delighted.
Everyone but Martin (and maybe Ada, because her player was sick) makes plans to go to the Luminous Church. Val once again dons her ingenue disguise, planning to attend as Dr. Miller’s arm candy. This draws a raised eyebrow from Mr. Carruthers, who planned Dr. Miller’s wedding. However, the party planner is a consummate professional, and doesn’t say anything.
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| The Esteemed Fitzwillam Carruthers, Party Planner |
The investigators arrive at the church, where they are greeted in a friendly, if skeptical, way by the church leadership. Two tables have been pushed together in the center of the church to provide a meeting space, and coffee and pastries have been provided. The investigators meet with Helios Rebecca, Alpha Solaris (who still seems not to recognize Val), and a slightly limping and pale Zebulon Davis.
Dale asks Zebulon if he’s all right, which draws a lot of grunts, hisses, and eyerolls from the other investigators. Zebulon, however, seems not to notice, and says he hurt himself working around the grounds. Mr. Carruthers dazzles everyone with his brisk patter, his samples, and his reasonable price points. He suggests a red and green theme before rejecting it for being too Christmasy. He also suggests hanging up some curtains in the church to make everything more festive.
The priestesses are overwhelmed at all of this attention—and decoration—and ask why the investigators want to help with the party. Dr. Miller replies that they’re new in town and they want to make a good impression.
The Snooping Begins
At some point, someone brings up the number of attendees. Dr. Miller enthusiastically says he would like to invite as many people as possible. While the church leadership balks at this, Mr. Carruthers says that it’s doable, but they may have to set up some overflow tents on the grounds. He, of course, has several options, including a 40x30’ tent that is “just delightful”.
Dale offhandedly mentions the smokehouses in the back and says that they could be converted to small dining rooms without too much difficulty. Mr. Carruthers, of course, wants to inspect them. He arranges a guided tour that includes himself, Dr. Miller, Dale, Zebulon, and Helios Rebecca. This leaves Saul and Val sitting at the table with Alpha Solaris.
But what of Father Wilk?
The good reverend is ill at ease being at the church again and decides it would be best if he not sit in on the negotiations for doctrinal reasons. Instead, he starts wandering around the church to look for clues.
He first inspects the wooden table that the church uses as an altar. He wasn’t sure if Molly Scott had said the golden plates were hidden inside of the church altar or the secret stone altar. He manages to give the altar a quick going over and finds no sign of the plates.
Father Wilk then starts poking around in various side rooms. He is aided by Val who, upon seeing his intention, begins to distract and annoy Alpha Solaris with a breathless string of verbal twaddle. Her nattering soon irritates Alpha Solaris so much that the priestess excuses herself to make more coffee. Saul, who seems to be enjoying this, says that he’s perfectly happy to take another cup. Alpha Solaris retreats into the kitchen. Val follows her, to the priestess’ barely concealed dismay.
Father Wilk discovers stairs leading down beneath the church. He takes them and finds himself in a storage room whose walls are covered with shelves. Remembering that Val had dropped an earring down here on their first visit to the church, Father Wilk gets down on his hands and knees to look for it. He soon spots a glint of silver on the ground and well behind the shelves on the western wall. He also realizes that those shelves alone are mounted on well-oiled casters.
Carefully, so as not to draw attention from above, Father Wilk rolls the shelves aside, revealing a concealed tunnel. After pocketing the earring, he places a hand on the tunnel wall and follows it into the pitch blackness. As he progresses, he soon begins to hear Mr. Carruthers’ voice. The party planner seems to be describing Dr. Miller’s wedding and is getting quite choked up by the memory.
As Father Wilk draws closer to Mr. Carruthers, he blunders into a sconce affixed to the wall ahead of him. Feeling around, he finds a torch, which he quickly lights. Using the torch to illuminate his way forward, he steps into a large chamber containing Hylmunder’s secret altar. He approaches the altar and looks up to see the brick shaft of the roofless silo looming above him.
Father Wilk searches the altar and quickly discovers a loose brick, which conceals a niche containing the gold plates. He is intrigued by the strange language engraved upon the plates and is convinced that he has seen it somewhere before. He attempts to translate them, but is so focused on discerning their meaning that he accidentally starts sounding out the words aloud…
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| What Father Wilk Found Beneath the Church |
A Bolt from the Blue
Up above, the tour of the church grounds continues. Zebulon and Mr. Carruthers seem to agree on a good place for one of the party tents. As Mr. Carruthers starts describing the decorations and the various catering stands, the others notice the acrid smell of ozone in the air. As they watch, Mr. Carruthers’ well-coiffed hair starts to stand on end.
“Why are you all staring at me like that?”
Dr. Miller, fearing what is about to happen, leaps for Mr. Carruthers and tries to pull him to the ground. The doctor does manage to push Mr. Carruthers out of danger just as a bolt of lightning strikes. The bad news is that the bolt strikes Dr. Miller, who collapses stunned and badly injured.
A booming crash of thunder resounds across the compound, rattling windows and shaking the ground. Zebulon and Helios Rebecca turn to look at one another, horror dawning on their faces. “Basement!” shouts Zebulon, grabbing Helios Rebecca by the wrist. “Now!”
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