Welcome to Hemlock Falls

[Marcos Medeiros]

"Let's set up camp," Marcos says. That is what a totally responsible, totally experienced hiker would say, right? "And if we aren't too tired after fighting with our tents, why don't we have a little barbecue?" Marcos shrugs his rucksack back onto his shoulders and grins mischiveously at Sarah. "Maybe you'll tell us those ghost stories once we're finally sitting by a campfire."

Even while he's running his mouth, Marcos tries to piece together... something about what's going on. But what on Earth does what he saw in the chutch have to do with the strange transmissions? There aren't any deserts around here. There aren't even beaches.

All he can do now is stall until nighttime, when he can try sneaking into the radio tower... or until one of his companions come up with a better idea.

... He really hopes that they come up with a better idea.

 

[Sarah Whittaker]

Sarah nods, and looks around at the others, looking to see if anyone agrees (or disagrees) with Marcos' decision. She picks up her backpack as she does, and straps it on with the ease of long practice.

 

[Molly Dufrene]

"That, umm, makes sense." Molly agrees. She wonders silently if there isn't anything going on here at all. The council has the transmission they heard, but it seemed like nothing else so far connected to it.

Maybe it's time related? Nothing to find until early morning if that's the case.

 

[The Dullahan]

Rourke nods, "Setting up camp is a good plan. Can always do some hiking around the camp site once things are squared away. Thanks for the suggestions, Sarah." He gave their tour guide a brief nod, and then waited for her to lead the way.

So far they were coming up with nothing. He wondered if the others had encountered anything in their own wonderings in the town. They would all need to compare notes later. He would have nothing, but maybe a hike in the woods without so many people around would present an opportunity whatever is out there, couldn't pass up. Especially after craft's radio message.

 

[Sarah Whittaker]

Sarah nods, and diagrams the path the group will be taking by marking it more clearly on her mud map - basically, scratching it over with the stick a few more times.

"We backtrack as far as Harpes mansion, then turn right. We cross Grouse creek, then cross the road at the Firs - it'll be on our left. A short hike past some farms, then we recross the road, and cross Grouse creek right where the Falls is. It's rather lovely - it's a triple set of falls, and every amateur landscape painter or photographer in Kendrik's Crossing comes here to try to paint them. And if my uncle is any example, they fail." She shakes her head with a wry laugh.

"The camping ground is just a bit further along from that."

If Sarah knew what the rest of the group does, she'd be armed for bear. (And maybe she does. And maybe she is. Or maybe not.) More precisely, she'd be armed for strange mystic phenomena. Passing the mansion, crossing the creek not once but twice, passing the Falls ... and all that after taunting the mystic phenomenon? Yeaahhhhh.....

But this is just another stroll through familiar woods, this time along some of the best-marked and most well-used paths. La-la-la. Tra-li-diddle-de-dee. Easy-peasy.

She loosens one of the straps on her backpack, then heads off along the path back to Harpes mansion. Once the group is a short distance down the path, she waits, and counts them as they pass her. No need to leave someone behind by accident, right?

 

[Atrus]

The way back is uneventful, with none of the peculiar noises that caught some people's attention on the way up. Soon enough the group reaches the fork of the path near the jut of land that overlooks the Harpes mansion. The dilapidated building is giving everyone a bad vibe, but it may be due more to the state of disrepair than any supernatural malaise. Probably.

Another stretch of walk brings them to a pedestrian wooden bridge that crosses the Grouse creek. Not too many steps after the bridge the path crosses over a paved road and continues up to the north.
In front of them, right at the corner of where road and path meet, is a big L-shaped building, two story high, sporting rows of doors and curtained windows. Even without the large neon sign on front, it couldn't be mistaken for anything else than a motel. A few cars and trucks are parked in the lot by the left side of the Firs - for that was indeed the building they were facing.

On the right side of the path from the Firs, a short wire fence delineated the boundaries of a small camping ground. The group could see two pitched tents, a barbecue pit, and two sets of wooden tables and benches. Sarah confirmed that the small field was for those who wanted to set camp by the Firs, to make use of their bathroom and shower facilities without paying for a full room - or simply so they could reach their tent even when sloshed from a night of drinking. The next official campground for the trail route was about two-three hours away on foot, some time after the waterfalls.

Byt the time they had reached the Firs, though, everyone's stomach was grumbling, so the real choice was whether to cook lunch themselves, or to buy something at the Firs. "Truckers eat there," said someone in the back, "can't be that bad."

 

[Sarah Whittaker]

Sarah stayed on the pedestrian path, clearly trying to be conspicuously neutral: letting the group make their own decision.

 

[Marcos Medeiros]

So pitching up a tent a stone's throw away from a motel might not strictly count as camping, but Marcos is more than willing to give up his (nonexistent) camper cred if it means having easy access to... greasy truck stop food. Well, it's nothing special, but it's a whole lot better than starting a forest fire trying to cook his own food, that's for sure.

Besides, those truckers were bound to have heard that awful screeching noise over their radios, too, and with any luck, they'll still be talking about it.

"Well, I don't know about you, but I'm starving. And lazy. I will admit that." Marcos smiles crookedly. "Let's take a look inside?"

 

[Molly Dufrene]

Molly felt her stomach growl a bit, but mostly she felt tired. Hiking on a lack of sleep was apparently not the best combination.

"I kinda have to agree with him. I think we should be able to have time to set up camp after we eat."

 

[Sarah Whittaker]

Sarah nods. "Plenty of time. And you'll feel better once you've eaten." She turns towards the motel, but looks to those of the group who haven't spoken up; the obvious question in her eyes.

 

[The Dullahan]

Rourke was quiet and kept to himself mostly as they treked along. The hike no hardship for him. When the topic of food came up, he nodded once, "Truck stop food sounds good." He said simply. It also gave them an oprtunity to talk to more people. See if they could drum up any more information. He turned towards Sarah, "Lunch is on us, if you want anything. Thank you for being so helpful." He gave her another single nod and then headed to the firs to get something to eat, and hopefully some information.

 

[Sarah Whittaker]

Sarah smiles at Rourke and nods. "Thank you, that's kind of you. And it's fine, you're an interesting group to show around." She follows him towards the truck stop.

 

[Atrus]

If anyone in the group had spent any time wondering how the interior of the Firs looked like, they probably wouldn't be dissastifised by the reality. Wooden boards all over the walls; a long wall of liqueur bottles fronted by a countertop that was once, probably, shining brass; a raised dias which doubled as stage for a band and as dancing floor; and a varied assortment of small tables, rickety chairs, and uncomfortable stools.

There were very few customers at this time of day, evidently just there to scarf down lunch before getting back to their work or on the road. Behind the bar, a man who looked to be wizened before his age was stacking plates and glasses into a dishwasher. He stared at the newcomers after a second, noting the trailing attire and the unfamiliar faces. "Welcome to the Firs. Rooms or dining?"

 

[The Dullahan]

Rourke took in his surroudings in a sweeping gaze as he held the door open for Sarah. Once she stepped inside, he followed behind her. He made his way over to the bar, nodding at the man behind it once in greeting. "Probably a bit of both, but lets start with the dinning. Lunch menus?"

 

[Atrus]

The man fished a handful of laminated menus. From the creases and bent corners, they were obviously coated in the plastic-like substance after years of continuous use.
The fare they offered was pretty much standard for that type of establishment: burgers, ribs, corned beef, fried chicken. Glued on at the bottom of each menu were a couple vegetarian options, clearly a recent addition.

"I only got doubles or triples in case, so I hope you don't mind sharin'," the man said, "You lot planning on sticking around long?"

 

[Sarah Whittaker]

Sarah smiles, accepts a menu, and passes any extras she was handed on to the rest of the group. She scans the menu only briefly, as if it's what she was expecting, and then starts to unbuckle her pack. Staying here or camping, either way she wants to have the pack off while she eats lunch!

 

[Marcos Medeiros]

Aaaand the place is a ghost town. Of course. There goes any hope of eavesdropping. Time for Plan B — chatting up the bartender, who thankfully looks like he's Seen Shit.

"A few days," Marcos says, looking up from his menu. "Or as long as they allow me to, anyway." He nods in the general direction of his fellow 'hikers' and smiles crookedly, then glances around the room. "We didn't scare everyone else off, did we?"

 

[Molly Dufrene]

Molly rubs some dust off her glasses before taking a look at the menu. Not too many surprises on there, kinda like the Hemlock Falls so far, at least for Molly herself. She wondered if anyone else had figured out anything?

Probably. They all seem like they're good at this field work stuff.

 

[Atrus]

"Not a hiker, huh? Got along on the trip for the company?" The barman leans over and winks, whispering. "Got an eye on of of 'em ladies, perhaps?"

He resumes his normal tone of voice. "You missed most of the lunch rush. Place usually fills up more after dinner anyway. Prime spot for a drink around town."

 

[Sarah Whittaker]

Sarah waits patiently while Marcos and the barman chat. She sets her menu down, as if she knows what she wants already.