Geoff Bottone's Blog, page 2

The Circle of Seven: Session Twelve

The Circle of Seven: Session Eleven

The Death OrbThe Fresno house fills with heat and light. Saul tuns into the attic andjoins Val and Dale (and the raccoon, held by Val and wearing Val’s hat over itseyes) in the protective circle. Dale completes the spell and the temperatureinside the circle drops dramatically. Dale also drops dramatically, into afetal position.Ada flees from the orb in a blind panic, running into the

The Circle of Seven: Session Ten

Al’s ApartmentThe investigators discuss their options over breakfast and decide toinvestigate “Al,” Maude Collins’ crony who happens to live in Wilton MacKnight’sapartment building. All of them go on this mission apart from Father Wilk, who staysback at the house.The plan is as follows: Val will dress to the nines and try and sweettalk Al out of his apartment to go on a date. While he’s

The Circle of Seven: Session Nine

Up Close with Maude CollinsDr. Miller interrupts Maude as she’s about to get into her car (the same one containing three very large, angry-looking men). Val follows Dr. Miller while the rest of the investigators watch from the house. Val intentionally antagonizes Maude and the men in the car. When one of the men tries to get out to pound Val into the pavement, Maude brings him to heel with a wave

The Circle of Seven: Session Eight

Content Warning: Descriptions of mental illness. I have tried to be sensitive in portraying the individuals described below, but I may have made mistakes in places. Wednesday, November 19, 1924Dr. Miller, Father Wilk, and Dale meet with Dr. Neumann, FMD of Kendrick Sanitarium, in his office. The trio notice that, in addition to the de rigueur brain in a glass jar of formaldehyde, Dr. Neumann

The Circle of Seven: Session Seven

At the Police StationUpon reaching the police station, Father Wilk and Saul are escorted into an interrogation room. After a few minutes, they are joined by Chief Murphy, who wants to have a friendly chat with them. It is anything but. The chief insults both men’s character and suggests that they were trespassing on church grounds for nefarious purposes.Several minutes into the chat, Alexander

The Circle of Seven: Session Six

Prelude to Being StealthyPrior to leaving the church grounds, the investigators promise to helpZebulon escape later that evening. They propose parking at Ringrose Mountain,near the church, around 7:00 pm. They hope that Zebulon can get away from thechurch and join them. He agrees to the plan.On the way back to the Fresno place, Val reveals that she knows AlphaSolaris Maxima Est. Val knows

The Circle of Seven: Session Five

Tuesday, November 18, 1924This is one of the days that the Heartfire Church has one of their openhouse/public worship services at noon. The investigators prepare themselves tovisit the church and take the measure of what they are sure is an evil cult. Aftersome discussion of whether to split up, spy on the proceedings, and otherthings, they all resolve to go to the church like normal people

The Circle of Seven: Session Four

An Odd Expression of GriefDale attempts to tackle Dr. Miller before he can reach Saul. This resultsin the two men rolling around on the carpet, ineffectually slapping at oneanother. Ada tries to coax Dr. Miller back to his senses while Father Wilkkneels in supplication before Val—who gamely goes along with it.Father Wilk sees his deceased, former mentor, Father Anatoli, standingbefore him

The Circle of Seven: Session Three

Monday, November 17, 1924The investigators, joined by the Detherages, once again descend on the Fresno house to continue the cleaning. Dr. Miller and Father Wilk take breaks to read Fresno’s journals, helpfully collated by Ada. Dr. Miller finds them discomfiting, but not unusual. As a psychiatrist, he has read stranger things. Father Wilk’s mind becomes a touch unbound from reality when perusing