Rhyaad de’Annar and Meili Rainheart, in their search for the mysterious Farnsworth Projector and the stolen films of Vera Endecott, used to transfer Lillian Margaret Snow into the body of her descendant Natashsa Snow, have made a shocking discovery. The mutilated bodies of several young woman in the Cransahw House, now being used by the necromancer Simon Orne, who is currently disguised in the body of Nicholas Bliar. With Nicole Collins away, somewhere in Rhode Island, Rhyaad has met with Meili and Esther Friedman to determine their next course of action — report their horrific discovery to Jamison St. Clair, the new chief of police for Collinsport
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Transcript 2.12.2012 1:49am
Location: Collinsport Police Department
Subjects: Agent [Redacted]
Rhyaad deAnnar
Begin Transcription: Primary Surveillance
–[Redacted]’s personal cell phone rings–
Agent [Redacted]: [Redacted].
Rhyaad deAnnar: [Redacted]? This is Rhyaad deAnnar. I’m actually behind the police station right now. I wondered if you could let me in the back door or something? Those badge people tend to get disturbed by people in Kevlar jackets with twin .45’s on.
Agent [Redacted]: Twin .45’s? Kevlar jackets? Ahh sure, just give me a second.
Agent [Redacted]: –Sounds of chair moving, footsteps
Agent [Redacted]: — Continuing sounds of movement through an office environment–
End Transcription: Primary Surveillance
Begin Transcription: Secondary Surveillance
— the sound of a metallic lock turning can be heard; a metal door opening —
Rhyaad deAnnar: I left the large silver claymore at home, but yeah.
Agent [Redacted]: Good, Come in. Lets head up to the office.
Rhyaas deAnnar: Are you sure?
Agent [Redacted]: Certainly.
End Transcription: Primary Surveillance
Begin Transcription: Primary Surveillance
Rhyaad deAnnar: I know I look rather strange, Ms [Redacted]. Battle armor and all. But what I have to tell you will be even stranger. I need your help. We need you help.
Agent [Redacted]: Well then, have a seat and tell me what’s got you packing twin .45’s in the middle of a snow storm.
Agent [Redacted]: –unintelligible
Officer Bishop: Hey chief we got two more stuck in the downtown rotary.
Agent [Redacted]: Call Arliss. He’s going to make a f**king fortune tonight.
Rhyaad deAnnar: A manhunt. If Pickman is actually a man . . .
Agent [Redacted]: Pickman?
Rhyaad deAnnar: That is what has brought me here. This is going to sound strange, but there are necromancers in town who are murdering people and trying to summon up some terrible figure purported to be planning to bring on nothing less than world destruction. One of these Necromancers is a former human named Pickman . . . I think . . . Im not sure if he’s human . . . or not. But he has a device that we must obtain in order to stop the necromancers.
Agent [Redacted]: You’re talking about Richard Upton Pickman, the artist, 1926, Boston, right?
Rhyaad deAnnar: I’m only one vampire . . . I can’t find him myself. But if you could find some reason to issue an alert, APB, whatever you call it . . . but yes, were talking about Richard Pickman. He’s that old. You see, these necromancers, they have a way of draining the life from other humans to extend their own. Blair is one of them also. He used to call himself Orne.
Agent [Redacted]: Orne, Simon Orne? Okay, okay, now youve got my interest, so were going to have to back up here for a second . . .
Rhyaad deAnnar: He’s already responsible for the murders of quite a few women in this town. Blair, that is. But I wouldn’t recommend you send officers against him. I know some of what such spellcasters are capable of.
Agent [Redacted]: Right. So– let’s get this all straightnow . . . first of all Pickman the artist Richard Pickman, of Boston? You do know he disappeared in like 1926 has never been heard of or seen since. Rumor has it the Pickman family was involved in a lot of occult s**t going down in Provience in the 20s. That Richard he was able to cross over into some other dimension, and that he is of the Ghul now. Or, maybe he always was as there was talk of Ghuls switching human infants out for Ghul pups and so he might have been one of these Changelings to begin with all along. So, yeah, I know, I know, Hollywood, everybody calls them Ghouls, but they are really Ghuls. They are a whole other race. Subterranean.
Rhyaad deAnnar: Simon Orne, yes. Oh? –unintelligible I suspected he wasn’t human.
Agent [Redacted]: The Ghul have burrows all along New England — Boston, Providence, Arkham, Innsmouth, Ipswich, hell who knows where else, most likely here too . . . so . . . putting an AB on him won’t do much as he moves underground . . . if he is even in this f**king dimension — sound of a desk drawer opening, cigarette lighter snapping open, strike wheel turning, the lighter being snapped closed again So now, just what has this corpse eating b*****d got to do with Simon Orne?
Rhyaad deAnnar: Ha! I knew it! Artemis said I was crazy for saying they were in Arkham. And . . . here. Look [Redacted]. He has to be found. Orne, Pickman, they are two of the necromancers gathering here. Pickman has the special key they need.
Agent [Redacted]: Just a minute –sound of papers being shifted . . . Okay yeahwe have a report of a fire, near where his old studio used to be . . . so maybe he is back in Boston?
Rhyaad deAnnar: We did that. We stole his camera and set fire to his studio.
Agent [Redacted]: You did what? –five seconds of silence So that’s why Collins’ car was reported stolen? No, on second thought, no don’t tell me. I dont want to know . . .. So okay, so yes, I happen to know some s**t about the whole Pickman family, but Richard he sure as h**l isn’t a necromancer . . . not that I know of hes just a Ghul changeling and the leader of a Ghul pack. But lookyou were saying . . . about Orne. Lets lets get back to Orne. I am still confused as to what you say Pickman is supposed to be doing with Orne.
Rhyaad deAnnar: You do need to know that if these men do whatever it is they intend to do, it’s supposed to be some kind of Armageddon. Pickman must be stopped. I’ll kill him if I can find him.
Agent [Redacted]: Pickman Richard Pickman and Armageddon? What is all this s**t about Pickman? What I want to know about is Orne!
Rhyaad deAnnar: I am not sure what his role in this is, but he has ‘the key’. The ‘key’ they need. And Blair has a collection of bodies in his house.
Agent [Redacted]: Just a minute! Let me try to catch up with you . . . So . . . youre saying what, that Pickman is somehow working with Simon Orne? And he has something that Orne needs? A key? Right?
Rhyaad deAnnar: Yes. And don’t forget the Armageddon, blow up the world part.
Agent [Redacted]: Oh I have not forgotten about that
Rhyaad deAnnar: I doubt it’s actually a key. It’s an object of some sort.
Agent [Redacted]: Well from what I know about Richard Upton Pickman, you can certainly assume he isn’t working for free so there has to something in it for him, so what is it that Pickman wants from Orne?
Rhyaad deAnnar: Other way around. Pickman is bringing the object so Orne can use it.
Agent [Redacted]: Got that, but that is not Pickman. Old Richard, he has to be getting something out of this? Do you know what that is?
Rhyaad deAnnar: Should I mention Nyarlathotep? Or would that be dropping unmentionable unpronounceable ancient names? They are going to open a portal to some ancient city, and bring forth some kind of god figure. I suppose they think this will transform them and make them all-powerful, or something. If they succeed, you can kiss your planet goodbye. According to what we are told. But then again . . .. All the people telling us things are liars. All I can tell you for sure is that Blair is a mass murderer and Pickman is bringing him something to help him kill even more people.
Agent [Redacted]: Right, now Orne and Nyarlathotep that makes total sense to me Mr. deAnnar, but I still don’t understand Pickman’s role in any of this. Look this ghul b*****d cares about only one thing, himself, and I don’t see him giving anybody anything unless he is getting something in return, so what is it he wants? If I know what he’s looking for I have a better chance of stopping him by taking away whatever it is . . . . Now you said Blair has killed some women, which I assume you mean Orne. I gather Orne has assumed the identity of this Blair, right? You know Orne is supposed to be dead. Killed in Praguegod only knows how long ago.
Rhyaad deAnnar: They think that by doing this horrid thing, they will become something like all-powerful. It’s a common theme among humans; a story I’ve heard over and over. I came to you because you have a whole police force to look for the one man with. And yes, Blair is Orne. The same. He changed his name, as we all do when we live for centuries.
Agent [Redacted]: Simon Orne is in Collinsport! Now, that is not good news at all. Do you know where he is?
Rhyaad deAnnar: He is going by the name Nicolas. Nicolas Blair . . .. And he’s usually at the Inn. Most probably, since his nightgaunt smashed the hells out of his roof before I killed the damn thing. And it’s all a big pile of rotten spaghetti, [Redacted].
Agent [Redacted]: Night-gaunt?
Rhyaad deAnnar: We had to battle it and I finally killed it at Natasha Snows house. Made a mess of the place.
Agent [Redacted]: Just a minute, this s**ts connected to the Snow case?
Rhyaad deAnnar: Yes, the Snows are connected. Finch worked with Blair. Probably was murdered by him.
Agent [Redacted]: God, how am I so behind on this one . . .
Rhyaad deAnnar: My fault. One of the many stupid decisions I’ve made. Not telling you more about this whole affair.
Agent [Redacted]: Okay, Bishop . . . . –Agent [Redacted] calls out
Officer Bishop: Yes, [Redacted].
Rhyaad deAnnar: The point is, if Pickman meets Blair, you can expect something along the lines of what dropping a thermonuclear bomb in Collinsport might do.
Agent [Redacted]: Get Anderson and go over to the Collinsport Inn, and pick up a Nicholas Blair.
Rhyaad deAnnar: Um. . . [Redacted]. Can they handle Blair?
Officer Bishop: What’s the charge?
Agent [Redacted]: The charge is I say so but write it up as endangering the public safety. Now go over there and see if he’s there which I figure he is not, but you never know. Oh, and if he starts making strange or odd looking hand movements Bishop, shoot him in the head.
Officer Bishop: In the head?
Agent [Redacted]: Right and be quick about it to.
Rhyaad deAnnar: He does the finger spells. I know them. His are probably almost as bad as mine. Do you want to see your cops blood splattered all over the Inn?
Officer Bishop: Say what, Chief?
Agent [Redacted]: Its part of The History, you have heard of that. Right?
Officer Bishop: Yes, Ma’am. –unintelligible
Agent [Redacted]: This guy is History in a big way, if he twitches odd, you shoot him, you got that. But it has to be in the head.
Officer Bishop: Right.
Rhyaad deAnnar: Fingers, [Redacted]. I’d demonstrate, if you had a rat or something.
Agent [Redacted]: I don’t figure he is there, but just in case he’s crazy enough to stay at the Inn have to check. And yeah, I have seen it; mostly it looks like doing origami in the air without paper.
Rhyaad deAnnar: I expect he thinks he’s indestructible. He’s the sort of man that could nonchalantly come over and chat with you while he’s planning mass destruction. He practically did just that. And yes, that is what it looks like. Something like that.
Agent [Redacted]: Well he’s casting a spell when he is doing that so be careful.
Rhyaad deAnnar: Um. . . your officers don’t freak when you say such things?
Agent [Redacted]: They are getting used to me. I am a bit flamboyant, or so I have been told. Of course, after Patterson, I had to rebuild the force and so I tried to make certain I hired good men who have had some dealings here in Collinsport with what they like to call here The History. I do have a new Officer. Officer Mills, she doesnt have any background with the outré, but she was too good not to hire. The others, well, they have all seen something horrid in their past so they know what they are up against. But I do strongly suggest if you have to go after one of these necromancer, you go for the brain, else they can still think some spells into being. In [National Security redaction] I have seen men melted for cutting a wizard’s head off instead of putting a .45 between the eyes . . . .
Rhyaad deAnnar: I’d prefer chopping it off.
Agent [Redacted]: They are still basically human, and so a bullet to the brain stops them in their tracks. But you have to get them with a headshot. So–Orne is here in Collinsport . . . and he’s what working a deal with Nyarlathotep?
Rhyaad deAnnar: Where I come from I never saw that. But then from what I heard there weren’t even supposed to be wizards in this world. I’ll remember that. Oh, to let you know, and this is odd, it seems Nyarlathotep actually wants us to kill him.
Agent [Redacted]: Christ . . . okay are you saying youre talking now to Nyarlathotep or one of his avatars?
Rhyaad deAnnar: Well he showed up here in a limo with New York plates.
Agent [Redacted]: Then thats an avatar. That has to be Stephen Alzis from New York. Stephen Alzis owns the Club Apocalypse a bizarre nightclub in New York. Hes connected. He runs an occult network known as the Fate, but he has given [National Security redaction] and me in particular information when it suits him.
Rhyaad deAnnar: Now I didn’t see Nyarlathotep myself. Esther and Meili did. I don’t know. It could be him . . . What? You knew about this Nyarlathotep all the time? He actually talks to you?
Agent [Redacted]: unintelligible
Rhyaad deAnnar: I think so. Didn’t see him myself. He identified himself by his real name. When Esther asked. So you and these [National Security redaction] people talk to ancient so-called gods who want to destroy the world all the time? I am amazed at you, [Redacted].
Agent [Redacted]: He plays a game he says he is not Nyarlathotep and then he says he is but, I assume he is . . . at least a main avatar of him. And yes I have spoken to him and no shooting him in the head won’t do s**t to him. Dont give me that look . . . sometimes I have to talk to the devil and then the devil he talks back. You just have to be very cautious when you do, else you could be making what he calls a personal arrangement with him and then youre really f**ked you can end up in some deal of his imagining. What? Okay, deAnnar. Then you tell me? Just how do you suppose I fight these things from beyond the stars? With whatever weapon I have available and so if one of then wants to give me information Im sure as h**l not going to question where it is coming from Im just going to use it.
Rhyaad deAnnar: [Redacted], you should just kill him.
Agent [Redacted]: So, when was the last time you caught the Devil? Or God? I can tell you it is not that easy if even possible. And we have tried to take him down several times but he just shows back up. Now, you see with Orne . . . you can shot him in the head, whereas with Alzis you just hope to get out with your own head. So, I do not recommend you talking to him.
Rhyaad deAnnar: As I understand it, the deal is that ol’ unpronounceable wants to destroy the world in his own terribly tedious, complex, drawn out ‘crawling chaos’ way. And these men, Blair, Pickman, and others, who used to work for Nyarlathotep, are planning to blow it all up at once, which pleases Nyarlathotep not at all.
Agent [Redacted]: I would not think so he thinks of this as his own personal playground.
Rhyaad deAnnar: Therefore he wants us to kill them. Which brings up a question. If he’s so god-like powerful, why doesn’t he kill them himself?
Agent [Redacted]: Strange are the ways of Gods Mr. D’Annar. I guess the best way to describe this is to use an example. The Mafia. Let’s say your job is get the big boss out of prison, but if you get the big boss out of prison you don’t get to run the city any more. So by in large, you just act like you are getting the Big Boss out, but you never do . . . but if youre playing this game it can be dangerous like what happens if the Big Boss finds out you are not really trying? That pretty much sums up Nyarlathotep game. It is one he has been playing for a very long time and so he is good at it.
Rhyaad deAnnar: So the one they want to bring here is Nyarlathotep boss? Great. Just great. He said sarcastically.
Agent [Redacted]: I would not think it is Azathoth because that is the end of everything, the second Big Bang.
Rhyaad deAnnar: Well one evil ancient god is bad enough. We certainly don’t want two.
Rhyaad deAnnar: Your legends amaze and frighten me. I don’t believe in this Azathoth. Then again, I didn’t believe in Nyarlathotep either before all this.
Agent [Redacted]: Well, Azathoth is Nyarlathotep boss, using the same mafia example as before. The problem you see is Nyarlathotep has all but exclusive access to earth and he wants to keep it that way.
Rhyaad deAnnar: I believe that Pickman is bringing something to Blair. I believe I’d like to get my hands around Blair’s neck. Or better yet my fangs.
Agent [Redacted]: Okay, so first things. Looks like we need to stop Pickman from getting to Blair. But something is missing in all of this, I mean, I still do not see Richard Pickman doing anything for anybody unless he is getting something in return you sure you have no idea what Pickman wants?
Rhyaad deAnnar: He snapped his fingers. Yes! Snow. Pickman wants Snow. Lillian Snow. You see, this Finch guy wanted her and got Blair to use magic to pop her put of that film, The Hound. Then Blair killed Finch. He’s going to hand Snow over to Pickman to be his . . . . I don’t know. Bride? Dinner? Sock puppet?
Agent [Redacted]: Ahhh, now then. That makes things a bit more interesting because you see if we know what Pickman wantsthen what we need to do it get it first. If we have it then Orne will not be able to give Pickman what he wants and so Pickman will not deal and . . . we even be able to bait a trap.’
Rhyaad deAnnar: Whatever it is, I’m sure Snow wouldn’t like it. Neither would I. The man is hideous.
Agent [Redacted]: Oh, now, this is beginning to make some kind of sense Lillian Snow was Vera Endecott and Vera Endecott was Pickman’s lover back in the 1920’s. I discovered that when I did some checking into Endecoots past.
Rhyaad deAnnar: Is. She’s in the flesh now. That’s why we raided Blair’s house. We stole his projector and films and some books. Then we raided Pickman and got his camera.
Agent [Redacted]: So the Ghul wants his mistress back . . . mmmm, do we know where she is — if we have her then we can stop the exchange and then Blair will have to come for her and we can set a trap.
Rhyaad deAnnar: She was in that house with Blair. But I can’t imagine anyone staying in there now, the way it must smell.
Agent [Redacted]: Well I will go out to the Cranshaw House and take a look.
Rhyaad deAnnar: You need to do that yes, there are . . . a lot of bodies out there.
Agent [Redacted]: Bodies?
Rhyaad deAnnar: Yes young women that is what I was coming here to report actually. Mass murder.
Agent [Redacted]: S**t, might have mentioned that to begin with so how many?
Rhyaad deAnnar: Gods I dont know I was fighting a nightgaunt thing so I didnt count.
Agent [Redacted]: From what I gather this all sounds like I am going to have to get state police crime scene boys in on this one, it sounds much larger than just poor old Doc Albert our ME.
Rhyaad deAnnar: You will not believe what you see.
Agent [Redacted]: I have seen a lot.
Rhyaad deAnnar: House is a mess also, so I am sure he is seeking a new residence to do his unholy rites.
Agent [Redacted]: What’s up, Amos.
(Individual identified only as Amos): Call in from Bishop and Anderson at the Innthat Blair guy checked out early today
Rhyaad deAnnar: I’m surprised Blair hasn’t tried to kill me yet.
Agent [Redacted]: Have them check his room I want anything he might have left behind.
Rhyaad deAnnar: He was using an alias at the Inn. . . what was it again. . . He may have rented something under that alias.
Agent [Redacted]: These guys believe that they are above everyone else, Mr. deAnnar, they think we are inconsequential it’s their ego’s.
Rhyaad deAnnar: And they’re willing to murder countless people to serve their purposes. You had better be prepared for that house, [Redacted]. It is full of dead women. And by now they don’t smell pretty.
Agent [Redacted]: So, just asking, Where the f**k is Collins?
Rhyaad deAnnar: He looked to the floor. Another of my stupid, STUPID mistakes. I left her in Boston. Now she’s in Rhode Island.
Agent [Redacted]: Rhode Island, oh Christ. Nikki Collins is in Rhode Island?
Rhyaad deAnnar: Yes, she went to Providence to meet a man who turned out to be our old buddy, N-tep.
Agent [Redacted]: Sound of [Redacted] picking up the phone.
Rhyaad deAnnar: And I have to deal with a crazy Roma from previous centuries that wants to kill Nyarlathotep.
Agent [Redacted]: Yeah, this is [redacted]
Rhyaad deAnnar: I wish he could. I really do. But I am trying desperately to save his life by convincing him to NOT attempt to kill Nyarlathotep.
Unidentified voice on phone: Yes Ma’am
Agent [Redacted]: I have a [redacted], do you understand a [redacted].
Unidentified voice on the phone: Christ, yes, Ma’am just a moment.
Agent [Redacted]: I need a team here yesterday.
Unidentified voice on the phone: Right, Right. They are on the way.
Agent [Redacted]: Collins went to see the Metropolitan, right?
Rhyaad deAnnar: That’s right.
Agent [Redacted]: S**T! This could become a f**king war.
Rhyaad deAnnar: War? He looked curiously.
Agent [Redacted]: Providence that means only one thing . . .
Rhyaad deAnnar: If you mean take out the necromancers, I’m all for that. And I’m going to that house with you.
Rhyaad deAnnar: That’s what they keep saying, yes.
Agent [Redacted]: You are aware of the Social Register, what they call New England Old Blood?
Rhyaad deAnnar: So you understand why I want to find Pickman and rip his un-human head off, yes? . . . New England Old Blood, you mean Bluebloods and the pretentious.
Agent [Redacted]: Well, in New England there is a social order to the various paranormal activities. Old world vampires, Ghuls, occultists, witches and warlocks.
Rhyaad deAnnar: I am only now seeing the tip of that iceberg. I had no idea magic and occult things were so prevalent here.
Agent [Redacted]: The Metropolitan Bishop of Providence is their middleman
Rhyaad deAnnar: Old world pffft (a moment of silence) I doubt they’re over 500.
Agent [Redacted]: This is New England, Boston, and Providence; think how they are when they are undead.
Rhyaad deAnnar: So he arranges things?
Agent [Redacted]: Yes.
Agent [Redacted]: I can think of only one reason for Collins to have gone there. She has gone to ask for a sanction.
Rhyaad deAnnar: Ah . . . . pretentious Vampires. . . . yes, I am all too familiar. They think they are indestructible and own the world.
Rhyaad deAnnar: A sanction? From such as them? For what?
Agent [Redacted]: Orne, Hutchinson, Curwin, the Snows, they are all part of it this old order. So, she has gone to ask for permission.
Rhyaad deAnnar: Permission? To do what?
Agent [Redacted]: To kill them.
Rhyaad deAnnar: All connected to Nyarlathotep. And I think we should kill them all. If Nyarlathotep was telling the truth, he’d actually like that. But there’s a fly in the ointment . . . you see . . . I haven’t told you everything . . . quite.
Agent [Redacted]: What have you not told me.
Rhyaad deAnnar: There is also this thing . . . this Shining Trapezohedron . . . theyre trying to find it. Put N-tep back in his cage, so to speak. And this is something we want.
Agent [Redacted]: The Church of Starry Wisdom?
Rhyaad deAnnar: Yes.
Agent [Redacted]: Anything else the kitchen sink maybe.
Rhyaad deAnnar: No, thats about it. I wish Nikki were here I dont understand this whole sanction thing but if you say she needs it.
Agent [Redacted]: Oh she needs it, but if she gets it then Collinsport will see a war the Necromancers will know then they have no allies.
Rhyaad deAnnar: So . . . we can make war and kill all the necromancers . . . but then who will put our old friend back in his cage? Assuming anyone actually finds the thing. Blair may be the closest.
Agent [Redacted]: I have to say, your Nicole Collins has come along way from when I first met her, if she’s gone to Providence.
Agent [Redacted]: Once you get it, we will have to decide how to make that happen.
Rhyaad deAnnar: We argued about this, but I think Blair’s ritual murders are following a script described in a scroll . . . with the Trapezohedron as the final prize. And what do you mean? Yes, Nikki has amazed me with how fast she progresses. Y’ud think she was centuries old by now. But why Providence? This nexus of wizards and vampires and the like?
Agent [Redacted]: Yes, she is so very young to be going to ask some very old order monsters to give up their own . . . Providence is a very old order town.
Rhyaad deAnnar: I had no idea this place was so full of the arcane and occult. And I’m both of those, in a way, you might say. And I want Nikki back. I curse myself for having let her go without me. I hope she is okay but you need to look at the Cranshaw mansion.
Cue Music — End Transcription: Primary Surveillance