Case File 2017.07.27
Rhea decided to cool off and meditate back in the hotel room for a little bit after Alex left for his walk. She managed to get her thoughts sorted for the moment before poking back out into town looking for a bookstore. A little bit of something to preoccupy her seemed like a good idea, and she located a small used book store with a mixed collection of titles. She found a barely used book on different meditation methods that she figured might help Alex...and then a curious old book that looked like it'd never really seen publication. It looked like something printed on the small scale, like making a few staple bound books at the local Kinko's or something. It claimed to be a collection of local myths for the area. She didn't give it much thought at first other than something interesting to read as she brought the items back to the front counter. It was the reaction of the clerk that made her curious...asking if she was one of the ghost hunter in town inspecting the tree recently and then dismissing the question when she seemed confused instead of confirming with direct yes.
She'd been a bit to absorbed with the book since the clerk mentioned that even ghost hunters were in town to take a look at the old tree by the time Alex returned and found her outside in the shade reading. He got straight to the point when he was in ear shot to state he was calmer and that he wasn't going to talk to Liam about what'd happened in town earlier. Rhea looked up, disapproving of the statement, pointing out that a slip up while traveling and leaving people in the dark could be potentially fatal. Urging him to keep Delilah's safety in mind and reminding him that if he reneges on their prior agreement, Rhea isn't bound to not go directly to Liam herself and taking the choice for Alex to broach the topic first.
Alex counters that Liam doesn't need another thing on his plate right now. Plus telling him isn't likely going to solve the problem or risk, that they'd still be traveling under a 'what-if' incident occurs. She knows Alex and Liam don't get along right now, but states that he does want the best for her former apprentice. Adding that by not disclosing the incident before they all get back on the road would leave them all at a disadvantage to prepare when seconds matter and asking that he humor her. Alex begrudgingly agrees but wants her help to stick up for him if Liam's an ass about the disclosure. She'd been present for the incident, so being a second witness to add explanation when Alex presented the information to Liam was something she could do. Maybe it would help...but they couldn't get back in the RV under a false pretense of safety given how suddenly it'd hit Alex back in town.
With that resolved for now until Liam's return Alex poked to ask what she'd been reading. Rhea mentioned it was a collection of the local tales, stating the clerk confused her for one of the ghost hunters in town trying to figure out something about a haunted tree. In the book she'd mentioned there was mention of Old Man Oak but the information was conflicting. Then remembering after a moment she dug in her messenger bag to pull out and hand over the meditation book she'd picked up for Alex, stating she'd thought it help if the method she'd taught hadn't been easy. She could tell he was less than enthused but despite his protests said he'd try as he accepted the book.
Then he turned back to the other topic about the tree. Alex stated there was word around the town had other conflicting stories. Men hung from that tree, but no one has clear details. Another recount states there was a shootout that'd left bullets in as it passed through a dead man. A lot of people had been complaining and seems like the town's getting meaner and on the decline...that was when Alex pondered if it was similar to that serpentine creature back in Colorado. He'd asked Rhea if it were a Gorgon or something. She admits she didn't really know...she'd only briefly seen the thing before nothingness consumed her-- the chill at the memory even now leaving her ill at ease. She tries to brush that aside and continue to state that from what she'd read so far there were claims of some angered spirit of a dryad or someone with ties to one. If the issue were Fae related then the ghost hunters investigate that tree, they were in for a bad time when poking that anthill.
That brought some amusement to Alex, thinking they should find it out first so they walk into nothing. Also asking what a dryad was, feeling a bit more at ease to ask Rhea questions about matters he didn't understand. She hadn't met one in particular but stated Greek myths identified a dryad as a nymph that inhabited forest areas...usually a specific tree or grove and were most commonly found in oak trees. She couldn't determine that's exactly what this 'haunted' tree was but couldn't rule out the idea that it might be something along those lines. If this were more of a spooky-natural thing tied up to the tree locals were calling haunted, she felt it was something to look into...if at the very least to get these ghost hunters out of harms way. She'd sent Alex back to the room to collect some things from their recent shopping trip while she went to the front desk to ask about the news of these so-called ghost hunters in town.
By the time Alex returned, she'd gotten just enough general information to have a direction of where the old haunted oak tree was and likely those ghost hunters too. As they headed out on the road towards that site, Alex prodded her on if she knew how to make a Shield Bracelet like the one he'd had and wanted to make from the new piece he'd picked up at the pawn shop earlier today. Rhea knew he wasn't going to like her answer, but stated that outside of knowing it would take a lot of power and focus as well as time that she didn't exactly know how to craft one. Stating that Liam probably would since he's been around longer to learn much of what she passed up on when she stopped being his apprentice. Sure enough, he wasn't enthused to find all roads leading to Liam regarding information. She gave him an apologetic smile and pointed out it was just one of the prices she'd paid for her past mistakes. Even with the self study and practice, she could only do so much without some mentorship guidance. While she'd done well...there were still gaps in her education.
A little ways down the road they finally found the path towards the hill where the tree was supposed to rest not far from a stream. Alex asked as they were getting closer what they should be prepared for...and those words weren't something he'd like to hear either. She didn't know what exactly they'd be encountering and stated for him to prepare for the worst and hope for the best. She wasn't even sure if they found what it was that they'd be able to handle it...and likely the best idea was to minimize casualties and get the ghost hunters out of the area. As they neared the tree she could spy a tent for a makeshift camp a little ways away but didn't appear to see anyone there. There was definitely something odd about the area, Alex confirmed feeling some strange magic around it when resting his hand on the tree...saying he felt like ht could pull at it...
That set off a warning bell in her gut, she told him to refrain from experimenting on that idea with the tree. There's no telling what could be causing it...and usually if you got the impression or impulse to use something-- it led down a not-so-fun path. It wasn't long before the sound of a rough voice pierced the air behind them. Turning she saw a large man with red hair, peppered with spots of grey demanding to know why the two were there and complaining that a woman in town hadn't kept anyone from walking up the hill. Without lying she'd stated interest in the site and that she'd heard about his work and wanted to catch it first hand. Which was all true and left vague enough to hopefully allow assumptions of a fan or someone involved in the field.
Alex didn't state much yet, letting her do the talk as this new guest made his appearance while continuing to preoccupy himself with his cigarette. The man didn't seem convinced but wasn't chasing them off yet...however Alex had gained the attention once more as it registered he was smoking under the tree. The older man fussed for him to put it out or he'd scare off them off and ruin the day's work. It could have been a bunch of BS but it also gave her a bit of an opening to prompt for questions and attempt to divert the man's attention again as she pulled out a mall notepad and pencil from her bag. Asking what kind of data had been collected and adding if he thought it was the restless spirit of the hanged man. If she wasn't going to look like a fan or one in the field...report of some kind would probably be better, and she could pry more openly with questions.
She wasn't expecting how Alex would react, they'd really not bothered to arrange a cover story should they actually encounter anyone. He ended up putting on the air of a skeptic that was just along to humor a friend and demanded to know what his smoking could possibly scare away and dared the old man to make him a believer. The man retorts that he didn't think the boy would want to end up cursed after chasing off the spirit's mate, some girl of fourteen years that was beaten ta death by a man that'd smoked like a chimney and supposedly buried the body around this place. Rhea took a slight step closer to play up the interested reporter angle while inquiring if there was more than one spirit present. The old man seemed exasperated with the two of them and asked if they'd leave if he answered their questions and making a gesture back towards the tent area.
Alex only half agreed, not promising to leave right away but would keep clear of a ghost started snacking on the old man. It seemed the old man found that amusing and pointed out it'd be Alex first before gesturing to follow back towards the tent and makeshift campsite. There were about five chairs in all scattered about but no other sign other than the man they'd just followed up to the area. Rhea openly asked where the rest of his group was and got a confused look from the man that appeared to clearly believe it'd just been him and only him at that site. It was perhaps a moment later when the protest of various electrical devices from within the tent started going haywire. Probably due to the sensitivity of a magic user being close by and from what she'd heard, those technical devices were intended to pick up all sorts of readings so were highly sensitive. Though she can't recall if those had been put within close enough range of a practitioner like herself.
As the old man went to fuss at the equipment in the tent she asked Alex if he'd heard group too when hearing word about the ghost hunters in town. She knew the clerk at the bookstore had implied the plural when asking if she was with 'them' as she was purchasing the books. Alex confirmed that he'd heard group as well...wondering if people had already been eaten or if people had actually been missing already. The camp set up didn't look to be arranged for just one person and when she was glancing around back to Alex she'd noticed a cigarette butt on the ground and asked if it was his. He stated it wasn't and that meant it belonged to someone else. It seemed the electronic doodads were misbehaving terribly as the old man hadn't returned yet. This was appearing more and more to be like a bad idea and likely more than the two of them could handle. She wasn't even sure at this point if she was talking to an actual man.
Alex prompted the leave of the campsite and she didn't linger behind. He wondered if it could be a ghost an if they could even appear in the daytime. From what she understood as she followed to leave that didn't seem likely otherwise it would have been difficult for them to travel in the daytime even with the RV because of Wanderland's Lost following Liam. Even with the spooky vibe that'd set his hair up on ends, he teased that it had to be the man, that he was a ginger and they're always evil. As they were putting distance between themselves and that tree along with the campsite...she stated he shouldn't judge. She wasn't certain what all that was but something was odd about the tree in the area and it would have to be dealt with later. If not before they left...probably after they sorted out the issue with Gwen-- to come back and do whatever damage control was needed.
