Adam spat the name with such hate he felt himself shaking to retain control. "Cyrus Collins. I make no promises on his premature death."

"Huh. Well, unless I remember where I've heard that name before... well, as long as I don't remember anything bad in connection with it... I'll take whatever help I can get on these strange goings-on."

Elihu snorts.  "Collins.  How did I not guess?  How one family can be tied up in seemingly every machination and act of skullduggery up and down the coast of New England, I'll never know.  I wouldn't be surprised if Dracula's mother's maiden name was Collins."

"And here we are, right in the center of the spider's web.  Just about every person in town owed at least part of their livelihood to the Collins family, so any allies we may find will be few and far between.  That doesn't leave us with many options at all."

Elihu takes a sip of his tea.  He frowns that it's already gone cold but finishes the cup off in one big gulp anyways.  "The only thing going for us is that usually the biggest enemy of a Collins is another Collins.  That's at least how it was in my ti -- er, experience.  Do you know of anyone whose toes ole Cyrus has stepped on recently and would be more than happy to see him take a stumble?"

Adam can easily fill the doctor in on the very basics of the Collins family-- the patriarch of the family, Isaac Collins, his eldest son, Aaron Collins, Isaac Collins' brother, Lucas Collins...

But other than that the Collins family don't necessarily have fond feelings about Cyrus, Adam can say little more.

Adam grunted, "Cyrus is from New Amster...New York City. He is a blacksheep, but I care not for any Collins. Only good one is when they are dead and burned to ash."

"the black sheep of the Collins family," Elihu replies.  "How bad do you have to be to get that title?"

"If he's in New York, there's little we can do about it now.  Still, we can keep an ear out to see if we can determine which family member hates him the most and why.  Find that out, exploit it, and maybe you'll get your revenge and then some."

The doctor looks about the room.  "Well, I've made some stakes and found a mallet, so we won't be totally unarmed against the vampires.  Harry's off to see if she can find some holy water.  Until then, I think we just have to sit tight until she gets back.  Unless you have any ideas."

Adam spoke quietly, "Decapitation, and then burning the body." Looking about he casually asked, "Do you have a whetstone?"

In reply to Constable Patterson (msg # 163):

Harry nods gravely. "This is just th' overture. Gonna get much, much worse 'fore long. Much, much worse." She leaves and makes her way back to Elihu's, hopefully sans interruption.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:59, Mon 07 Aug 2023.

"A whetstone?  I might,"  Elihu looks around at the crates.  "I haven't had the time to unpack, but I'd imagine we might find one among the scalpels and other blades."

"Star over that side and I'll start over here."

Harry raps twice on the doctor's door before entering. "Ain't much," she says, displaying the two vials, "but somethin's better'n nothin'." She skims the two men's face. "Spoke t' th' Constable, filled him in on th' basics."

After a brief search, Adam finds what he seeks. He then sits and begins sharpening the edges of his shovel's head, adding to its deadlyness.

Elihu shared with Harry what he learned from Hans.  "Regina has already turned and is certainly involved if she's not the ringleader herself.  The two sailors haven't fully turned but are on their way.  If we can kill their sire before they turn fully, maybe we can save them, but I can't guarantee that."

"So nay suggestions on our next move?  The only two things I can suggest is to return to the house to look for more clues and to go back and visit Mary to see if we can learn more from her."

Adam continued to sharpen his shovel while speaking, his voice sounding eerily similar to the sound of metal against stone. "Since I am to trust the two of you, there is something you should know. I was a grave robber, trinkets and gold were my rewards and body parts were Cyrus'. If this is found out, even now I fear, will have repercussions." Adam looked up at them, "For me, and by extension you. Having my assistance has consequences, though I offer it in exchange for your assistance with my problem. Your problem first as mine seems to be beyond my reach for the moment."

Looking back down at his shovel he continued. "Also I would appreciate it if the two of you would refrain from treating me as if I were stupid. Brilliant I am certainly not, but I am not stupid. The two of you believe yourselves to be out of your proper time. My guess is that you are from a date in the future but not necessarily the future of this. The ramifications are that you could be in for repercussions, and by extension myself. So you see we have a détente'. I am satisfied with this arrangement."

Harry grunts at Adam's words. "Definitely not the future of this. Saw a way back t' th' future, but 'tweren't my future. May be no makin' it right again, either."

Elihu clapped his hands together, "if we can't make it right again, then we don't have to worry about making a muck of things."

"And as for you. my large friend, they'll have to prove you robbed graves first.  That'll be a bit hard to do without catching you in the act."

"So, what's our plan?  I say we visit Mary and see what more we can get on Regina."

In reply to Elihu Cromwell (msg # 176):

This brought a round of laughter from Adam, an abnormal occurrence, and one most would rather he didn't repeat. The sound is like bags of heavy gravel being shaken at high speed. It is only when he realized the Doctor wasn't joking that he stopped laughing. He leaned in and spoke in a slow clear manner, "Listen carefully. This world's rules don't work like yourn. Here the accusation is enough to raise a posse. Now I can handle a few pissed off blokes, but a mob will bring even me down. I died once, I am not in a hurry to repeat that. You best keep that in mind, they catch wind that you even think you ain't in the proper time and they'll be about lynching you too." He is dead serious, and though not angry he seemed to be ready to move. "You keep that in mind for yourself, me, and the good Harry. All three of us are only two steps from the noose, so walk carefully."

Harry chuckles morbidly. "Reckon hangin's an improvement over burnin' at th' stake." She suggests to the doctor, "Best you check on Mary in a medical capacity, I've already questioned her once." Leaning against the door jamb, Harry idly scratches her cheek. "Given 'tis approachin' sunset, search parties'll be returnin' soon. May shed some light on th' fates of our missin', which'd leave us one less mystery t' solve."

"No can do," Elihu replies with a frown.  "I already visited her.  That was before I even knew Regina existed in this time period.  I don't think her attack is related to the vampires though.  Sounded more like a psychopath who enjoys beating up women."

"I guess that leaves meeting up with the search parties.  Is everyone ready to go?"

Harry grunts. "Like as not Mary was a victim of th' last doctor hereabouts, McKenzie. Had a bit of a Jekyll-and-Hyde problem, seems. Came with WIlloughby and Macintyre the werewolf. All three are among th' missin'. I'm th' sole member of th' group ain't vanished. Charity Trask and her damned séance."

Adam lay the shovel at his feet. He pulled a Bouye knife from under his coat and sharpened it. "Do either of you possess a tinder box? If not it might be a good idea to purchase one before we go looking for trouble with the restless dead."

Harry opens her ditty bag and fishes out her various fire-making tools: a wooden tinderbox, a steel trench lighter, and three small tins of stormproof matches. "Got two hurricane lanterns and spare whale oil for both. Fish oil's way cheaper but stinks t' high heaven."

Elihu emits a low whistle.  "So we have a vampire, a werewolf, a Jekyll and Hyde, a Franken -- um, yes, that's a lot.  All we have missing is a mummy and the Creature from the Black Lagoon."

"I'm sure I have a tinderbox around here as well, but to be honest, I'd have just as much luck using one as a butter churn."

Adam place a hand on Elihu's shoulder, "Have you any skill with a blade? Fear not, your safety is in good hands."

Harry grumbles at Elihu's words. "Wouldn't count on there bein' just one vampire." She leans back to spit out the doorway. "Collinsport's had its share of witch-cults too." She stows her fire-making kit back in her ditty bag. "Not t' mention warlocks and th' devil-bought. Even met me a damnable Beast."

"That's a good point," Elihu says with a grimace.  "I'm excellent with a knife, as long as it's an inch long and my victim is very very still.

I could probably shoot a pistol, but I sure as hell wouldn't be able to load one.  It'd probably blow up in my face."

Elihu walks over to the fireplace and picks out a thick branch from the woodpile.  "This is probably my speed.  Swing wildly and hope it connects."


"Wonderful." Elihu sighs.  "This is a veritable Disneyworld of fun and frolic."

"We may as well get going then.  If we're going to tempt Fate, we may as well go big."