The Doom That Came to Stafjord.v2.CG: GM- Brian

Settings and Time Period: Norway, October 29, 1863.

Hook: Father Percy receives the above letter from Father Patrik Danielsson, of the village Stafjord 4 hours north, where a sickly girl, Astrid, lies in her bed with a condition that baffles the doctors. And now reports vileness permeating the village: livestock missing or mysterious death, church items disappearing yet showing up someplace inappropriate.

Father Percy Eaton.RH (Bill) 43yo 5’7” Catholic Priest visiting from Rose House. Grey hair and brown eyes. His priestly black garments hide his frail-looking frame. His yellowed collar (once white) looks as worn as his pensive expression (wrinkled eyes and forehead). Somewhat twitchy and watchful.

Liam Sohlmann.CG (Nell) 25yo 6’3" Witch-Finder. He wears all black with no hint of color other than his amber eyes that seem to eerily glow at night. His hair is black with a silver streak on the left side and two scars. His expression seems to be stuck in either a more angry or serious tone. White shirt, black bow, trench-coat.

Holger Anthonsen.CG (Jonas) 31yo Danish Private Investigator. Medium height/build. At first glance, he is smartly dressed in a three-piece suit, but a closer look reveals it has seen better days, similar to its bearer who looks much older than his age suggests.

Marcin.SM (Arbor) Hunter from Polish chapter. Large frame could be intimidating yet he exudes a jolly demeanor.  Accompanied by his big-old dog, named ‘Darlo’ (devour). Carries a well-maintained hunting rifle.

Castle Gyllencreutz: Liam is new to the castle, but he would suggest anyone to take a batch of holy water from the Chapel, not just the father. Besides his own equipment (saber, scarred bible, and his compact book collection), Liam borrows the old journal from the castle vaults to aid in deciphering clues. He also takes a dagger from the armory just in case.

Holger, after conversation with Liam days ago and after silent midnight prayers, takes the witch-hunter’s advice to fill a vial with holy-water. To be added to his standard gear (his trusty revolver, magnifying glass and knuckle duster).

Newly arrived, after delivering Father Patrik’s letter to proper authorities, Father Percy visits the castle crypt and cemetery where he notices all the headstones identifying recently deceased priests and pastor. He begins to wonder and question his visit to CG. Anyone watching, would notice his LONG kneeling in the church, clutching his rosary in prayer.

Carriage Ride North: Marcin helped secure the luggage before climbing atop the coach with his dog at his side. Dimitry (carriage driver) couldn’t help but ask, “Sure you don’t want to sit inside where it’s warm?” Marcin just smiled, “And miss your lively conversation?” Inside the coach, the others were protected from the snowy slush being kicked up by the horses plodding along the road north. Occasional stops for bladder relief and to stretch their aching backs tested by the jarring carriage springs that barely dampened the frozen rut path of prior traffic.

Stafjord: Even the inside passengers knew they were drawing close to the village as the surrounding forest took on an eerie, dark foreboding. The cold soft rain only added to the gloomy atmosphere. Typical small Swedish village with church/town-square/stores of maybe 100 villagers, not counting the surrounding farmhouses. They sloshed through the streets toward the church, carrying their own gear, as Dimitry whipped the horses into motion. “I’ll be staying at a hotel in the neighboring larger city. Should be back in a few days.”

It was already dusk and the streets empty. As if the town already closed for the night. Oddly quiet. They were guided by house lights barely eking out the windows. They huddled on the church stoop as Father Percy knocked. A mousy man, 50ish, stopped his cleaning to answer, “I’m Father Patrik. Thank you for coming on such short notice. Please, come in.” He offered a weak handshake and grimaced at Marcin’s massive hand. They were already plying him with questions. “I’ll take you to see Astrid before housing you with the villagers who volunteered their homes. As I said in my letter, the girl became sick weeks ago… fever, vomiting, bedridden. Actually, missing livestock began 3 weeks ago. Chicken/pigs/goats… gates mysteriously left opened, the animals wandered off. Some returned, others found dead. Astrid took ill about 2 weeks ago. She and her brother, well all the village kids, like to play in the woods in a clearing. It was sometime after one of those playtimes. But come, it is getting late. Best visit the girl and get settled for the night.”

Blom House: Father Patrik led them to the house at the end of a street. A burly, bearded man in overalls offered his hand, “I’m Oskar Blom. Come in. This is my wife Anna and that scamp in the back doorway is our son Johan (6yo).” The others noticed; Father Percy too intent to see the child. In a corner of the room, a black cat raised its back hairs and silently hissed before darting out of the room. Oskar led them to the back bedroom where 8yo Astrid laid in one of two twin beds. Johan already sat on his to watch the procession of visitors now routine. Scores of doctors hovering over his sister without success. One even resorted to bleeding the poor child. Water and soup grew cold on the nightstand.

None of the team members were doctors. Thus, all Father Percy could do was sit on the edge of the bed and feel Astrid’s bluish skin. Strange how the girl feverish yet her skin cold. Her eyes greyish when they weren’t rolled back in her head as she wandered in and out of consciousness. Percy asked the parents, “We understand this started sometime after the kids came back from the woods. Would you mind if my compatriots spoke to Johan privately?” Johan more than eager especially when Marcin mentioned his dog, “Darlo is part wolf.”

While Liam and Percy remained beside the girl, Holger and Marcin questioned the boy outside, “We see you have your own pet. What can you tell us about your cat?” Johan continued to play with Darlo’s ears as he answered, “Midnight? He followed us home from the woods about 3 weeks ago. From the clearing where we like to play. There’s a felled tree we like to run across, and a swing the older kids added to another tree. Anyway, Midnight really took a liking to my sister as he stays in our room and mostly on her bed. He gets along with everyone. Well, except Father Patrik when he comes around.” Before returning inside, Marcin gave the boy a length of wire, “If you like the woods so much, maybe you would make a good hunter. This snare-wire will help you catch rabbits and game to add to your mother’s cooking pot.”

At the bed, Percy got his first glace of the cat in his peripheral vision, “Is that a new addition to the household? Maybe Astrid is allergic.” Oskar asked, “Allergic, what’s that? Oh no, we’ve had cats before.” Percy suggested, “Maybe this cat has been eating something strange in the forest and secretes an odor or oil harmful to the girl. Perhaps try to remove the cat to test my theory.” As if the cat could understand, it arched it back, with hairs spiked, hissed nastily, before slowly exiting the doorway. THAT raised Percy’s eyebrows! Oskar apologized, “Normally he’s friendly.” Before leaving, Percy knelt beside Astrid to hold her hand in prayer. And that’s when the cross over her headboard fell.

They compared notes on their walk back to the church. Marcin suspected the cat for more than just allergies. Liam consulted an old book from his backpack, “I seem to remember reading about witches having familiars… cats, ravens, snakes.” The conversation set all on edge. After gathering their gear, Father Patrik instructed each to a separate farmhouse for the night while Percy stayed in the church rectory. Where he had a restless night. A bladder call at 1am had him seeking the outhouse in the chilling drizzle. 

He froze in his tracks at the sound of “Clip, clop, clip, clop.” He looked toward the end of the street and saw the outline of a goat. He had to wipe the rain from his eyes that teased him, “Is that deformity?! One horned? One normal while the other curled over the back of its head!” No longer an urge to pee, Percy held his torch waist high to keep sight of the goat and path as he tried to backtrack to the church without falling. When he got to the door, the goat gone.

Morning Breakfast: Marcin was already on his 2^nd helping when all heard commotion outside their village homes. Marcin grabbed his rifle as he dashed out where he noticed his companions also staring skyward. A thick, ominous cloud hung over the village. Yet they barely had time to soak in the visage as a piercing scream echoed from a nearby home. Esther cried out, “My baby! Someone stole her. HELP!” Liam and Percy rushed inside the house while Holger and Marcin checked outside for tracks. Inside, the empty crib was set beside an open window and the forest edge only a hitched-wagon’s length away. As Percy checked the window frame for pry marks, he saw Holger kneeling beneath it, retrieving something from the mud. “A silver ring with the inscription ‘OB+LF’.” No time to reason as Marcin revealed his own find, “Cloven hoof tracks from and to the woods. But these bipedal. That damn thing walks upright like a man!”

And that’s when they were drawn to more yelling coming from the town square. A mob with raised pitchforks and scythes, “It’s the Bloms. They are responsible. It all started with them!” [Manipulation] The team tried to reason with the angry crowd. Marcin spoke first, “Murder is not the answer. Nor the Bloms guilty. Let us finish our investigations.” Percy stepped up on the church stoop as he had Father Patrik ring the church bell to get their attention, “Least not forget your bible and commandments. To kill a sin. Scripture tells us to ‘fear not’. ‘Lay your burdens upon God’.” As the crowd reluctantly dispersed, all realized, “This is only temporary as the villagers are running out of patience. We need to get to the root of the problem quickly.”

And that’s when they quietly focused on the silver ring. “The crowd wasn’t completely wrong. OB must be Oskar Blom. Who is LF? Maybe a first wife?” Percy offered to consult the church marriage licenses but Marcin offered a quicker solution, “Let’s just ask Oskar himself. Discretely of course.” They asked Oskar to join them at the church where they presented the ring. Oskar confused till he read the inscription, his face drained of all color, “Where did you find this?! It is the promise ring I gave to another 10 years ago. But I had to break it off per my parents’ objection to her parent’s poor reputation.” Liam asked, “What was her name and what bad reputation?” Oskar reluctantly revealed, “Ludmilla Falconburg. I never knew anything bad about her family who moved away. And my parents are now dead. Father Patrik is new and wouldn’t know. Your best bet is to ask our village elder, Sixten Wahlgren.”

Wahlgren’s shack was on the other side of town. Father Patrik introduced the team to the frail elder (60ish) with an eyepatch. Holger stepped forward, “Perhaps you’ve heard of me. Famous detective from Denmark. I’ve been informed you are the wisest man in town and thus we seek your guidance. What can you tell us of the Falconburg family?” Sixten itched his patched eye as he pondered in memory, “Not welcomed they were. Rumors they dabbled in witchcraft. Thus, the villagers ran them out of town. I hear they moved to the city.” Liam took over the conversation as witches his specialty, “What do I know about witches?” Sixten slammed the door in their faces, “Cat hexes or curses which I want none of if THEY are back in town! Begone.”

10ish: As they left, Percy asked Liam the best way to deal with witches. “Don’t die. Don’t be hexed. She will try to lead you into temptation.” Holger remembered his own experience, “I was almost lured down a well.” Percy remembered, “Church records tell of possessions. Demons breathing into their victims. Perhaps the cat breathes on Astrid. The need for exorcisms.” Marcin slapped Liam on the back, “Sound advice.” They returned to the Blom house to get Johan to lead them to the clearing. But Oskar was at the door, “Quick, inside! Astrid has turned for the worse.” Indeed, Astrid’s skin was beginning to rupture in welts and blisters. Her lips cracked and bleeding. “Time is of the essence.” They gathered Johan to show them the clearing. Marcin reasoned the sidetrack, “Twenty percent of hunting is preparation. Maybe the Falconburg’s old home is near the clearing.”

As described, the clearing with a fallen tree and tree swing. But as they looked closer, they found patches of an ugly fungus. Liam’s 6^th sense and witch knowledge kicked into gear, “The way I understand it, witches are not vaesen while their familiars are. That, my fellow investigators, is what is called Witch’s Butter. The vomit of familiars! Our best bet is to trap the cat. It likes herbs so we need to gather garlic or mustard seed and line the cage with pages from a bible to contain it.” Marcin offered his trap while Holger pulled mustard seed from his pack. Liam offered his 2^nd bible. “Now, where should we set it? Here in the woods or closer to the Blom house? Not too close, we don’t want family members accidently freeing the cat.” Percy added, “That cat seems smart. I suggest we dirty the bible pages to hide its writing.”

As they re-entered the village, all noticed the hint of sulfur in the air. Wafting from the clearing, now permeating the entire village. Father Percy was already beginning to understand Liam’s words, “Sulfur. Demonic summoning per church records. Did the cat follow us into the woods and overhear our plans? Or the witch herself?!” Yet once more, they heard Esther scream, “Help! My boy ran off with the shotgun with plans to hunt for his sister himself!” Again, Percy reflected on Liam’s words, “We must be on the right path. The witch is trying to distract us, turn us from her trail. I’ll gather Father Patrik for an exorcism of Astrid while you hunt the witch. Save the child and her brother.”

The hunters wandered the woods east of town for almost 4 hours before they heard the shotgun blast. Marcin led the way toward its origin. The 17yo boy lay dead, his throat ripped out. As Marcin closed the boy’s eyes gently lifting him to bring home, Holger found prints in the mud. “Damnedest thing! Quadruped but with cloven rear legs and front paw prints. Like a large cat, possible lion.” Not even Liam recognized such beast. Marcin nodded toward the dropped shotgun, “Then perhaps you’ll want to arm yourself in case we encounter the beast.” Esther sobbed as her boy was brought before her. Marcin’s only words, “He was a good boy trying to protect his family. I promise to find your daughter alive and return her. When you are ready, I’ll carry him to the church for blessings.”

They found Percy in the church with Father Patrik returning from his records library, “I found these old town records. Genealogy shows the Falconburgs related to Anna Eriksdotter.” Percy was already suspecting Oskar’s wife Anna the relative, “What’s her maiden name?” But Liam interrupted the questioning, “I’ve read about Anna Eriksdotter. It’s here in this book I carry:”

Anna Eriksdotter or Anna Ersdotter (1624 – 15 June 1704) called Sotpackan (English: 'soot witch'), was a Swedish woman who was executed for witchcraft. She was the last person to be executed for witchcraft in Sweden.  She was rumored to have a pact with Satan for decades before she was put on trial because of her claimed ability to heal blood wounds, which gave her the sobriquet 'Sotpackan'. She was employed as a domestic servant of the parish vicar, but he fired her when he heard about the gossip about her. She was poor, and it appears that she was essentially begging, since it is described as normal for her to always ask for a gift of something when she left after visiting the villagers.  One morning when the vicar was going to the church to give a sermon, seeds were observed laying on the road. When he arrived at the church, he was allegedly unable to speak. The rumour was, Anna had cast a spell on the vicar, making him unable to hold the sermon, as revenge for firing her.  Witch trial In 1704, Anna Eriksdotter was arrested and imprisoned on the charge of witchcraft. She was accused of having cast a spell on the villager Nils Jonsson, causing him to experience loss of sight, speech and hearing. Nils Jonsson claimed that her motive was a conflict between them caused by his refusal to give her tobacco on a Sunday visit she had made to him. She was refused tobacco but shared dinner with him and was given a sausage, a cake and some wool when she left.  Some days later, he had been standing talking with the widow Karin when he suddenly felt a whiff of wind, despite the fact that there had been no wind that day, and the next moment, half of his face had gone numb, liquid flowed from his right eye and his mouth went twisted. Anna had been sent for and asked to remove her spell and give him back the use of his ability to see and speak. She agreed to do so and told him that he would awake the next morning recovered. The next morning, his ability to see and speak was indeed restored, but not his hearing, as he had forgotten to ask her for that. Several witnesses, among them Karin, confirmed his statement.  Anna Eriksdotter herself freely confirmed the whole story without any torture being put to use.

And that’s when more cries from the streets echoed forth. A strong wind blew thru the village, extinguishing all lights, except for one house. Again, the villagers became an angry mob, “Why is the Alder house with light?! THEY are in on it.” Again, the team tried to quell the crowd but this time, impossible. Mr. Alder already on his porch with shotgun in hand. He shot into the air as warning which only inspired a thrown brick through his kitchen window and guns from the mob revealed. Liam repeated Percy’s prior words, “The witch. She’s trying to distract us. Keep us busy and off her trail.”

As Father Percy stepped back into the church to gather his exorcism gear, he found Patrik sweating and kneeling in prayer. All crosses mounted on the walls, fallen. The Stations-of-the-Cross fallen. The crucifix that hung on the wall behind the altar bleed. Then suddenly exploded. All prompted into action: they rushed to the Blom house, finding the cat trapped as hoped. Strange that it not hissing. Oskar called them inside, where they found Astrid sitting up in bed, her back to them. Percy concerned for her sudden recovery splashed holy water on her back. That blistered at contact. The girl’s head tuned 180 degrees as she locked her red eyes on them and spewed vile green vomit at them. Percy and Marcin instinctively dodged which left Liam and Holger flatfooted targets now covered in the stench.

With her skin blistering, like a spider, Astrid climbed the walls and hung upside down from the ceiling all while speaking in devilish voice, “We are legend. Fear us. Leave us!” They all steeled themselves against the devilish vision. And that’s when things began thumping on the roof and the front door burst open as Father Patrik entered, “Look outside.” Indeed, a vortex of black clouds spun out a rain of critters: snakes, frogs, crickets. Marcin returned to the bedroom and challenged the possessed girl, “You hid in a little girl. Come, face me. Or are you scared?” But Astrid only continued to blather nonsense. Percy reasoned, “Father Patrik and I will stay to exorcism the girl. You find the source of this evil. Together, we might rid the town of its curse. Surely, Ludmilla Falconburg has returned to seek revenge for her family.”

CLIMAX

Except Father Patrik cowered in a corner as Astrid rained down more green bile. Leaving Percy to perform the exorcism alone. His own resolve tested as he clutched his rosary about his neck and began quoting bible verses as he set up the lit candles.

The hunters tracked the source of lightning strikes emanating from within the forest. Near the original clearing where they found a small hill. The vortex now centered over the hill. Lightning flashes revealed a woman standing before a stone altar with a dagger raised. A baby’s cry drifted in and out of hearing as the vortex distorted its sound. Liam recognized the witches’ tongue chanting and knew the ritual sacrifice about to occur. But that is when another flash revealed… 

Holger instinctively raised the shotgun and blasted at the lion-goat monstrosity that posed to charge them. Marcin raised his rifle and aimed at the witch: a solid hit that disarmed her as the dagger flew backwards into the brush. Liam tried to sneak closer to the witch for melee while trying to avoid the beast. And the witch… faced her assailers and cast… except the rifle bullet interrupted her spell.

Marcin tumbled out of the way of the charging lion-goat. It now almost point-black range for Holger’s shotgun blast. [Ranged 2 versus Dodge 4] But so close, it dodged the blast. Ludmilla was hit again by another bullet which only stiffened her resolve, “I will bring down hell upon the village for what they did to me!” She cast once more at Liam who writhed in stomach pain before vomiting a gush of spiders/snakes/frogs.

The beast so close, it raked claws upon its foe while dodging close-range rifle and shotgun blasts. Until one bullet tore thru its shoulder, spilling green demon gore. The beast howled in pain as it clawed the air where Marcin once stood. Meanwhile, Liam tried another tactic, charm to distract the witch, “I see you have lovely hooves.” So silly yet effective as the witches’ casting failed.

In the background, the beast sank its teeth into Holger’s shoulder. Holger swung his shotgun butt to dislodge the beast that held on, causing more blood to pour forth. But the beast disadvantaged against Marcin who blasted it with another rifle shot. The beast’s green bile mixed with Holger’s blood pooling on the ground. Watered down by the rain.

Laim close enough now to strike with his saber. A fighting dance between saber and claw attacks, till Liam’s arm bleed from a swipe.

Strength waning, Holger squeezed the shotgun once more. Just as he slipped in the mud. But the slip drew the beast over the barrel… its head exploded, showering Holger with its gore.

The tide had turned, for Marcin also steadied his aim against the witch in melee combat with Liam. The witches’ head also exploded. Her body paused upright for seconds, before collapsing lifeless to the ground. Enough pause for Liam to pull out a vial and collect witches’ blood.

Percy’s hand began to bleed as he clutched his rosary so tight in prayer. Voices in his head tormented him, “Weakling. Sins of your own father betray you. Give up for hope is lost.” Father Patrik had already run from the room. Percy’s voice wavered for just a few seconds before he found his strength and fortitude, “Begone devil before the wrath of God ripe you asunder. Leave this poor child and return to your hell.” Another shower of green bile fell along with Astrid who collapsed upon the floor. Exhausted but freed from the devil. Father Percy sprinkled holy water once more for certainty before collapsing to the floor himself.

The black clouds blocking all sunlight began to dissipate throughout the village. The villagers exited their houses and stepped into the light. And saw the large man and others returning from the woods. A faint baby cry sprang from their midst. Esther ran forward, crying for her child.

EPILOGUE

“Well, what do we do with this cat?” Percy still skeptical, “One less cat. Who’s to say the familiar won’t repossess it?” But Liam and Marcin more forgiving, “The castle could use another mouser. Unless Father, you want to take it back to the Rose House with yourself?”

That last night in town, Percy stirred from sleep at the sound of “Clip, clop, clip, clop” echoing thru the rectory hall. The black goat at his door beckoned, “Join me.” Father woke with a jolt. Only to feel a strange sensation in his legs. He threw back the covers to reveal his cloven feet and hairy goat legs. Only then did he truly wake from his nightmare as Father Patrik arrived pounding at his door, drawn by the screaming that woke him.