Sapphire:Sessions:20140816

About four miles west of Winslow, Rory, Trace, Chalker, and Striker approach a deserted village. The aura of evil deeds is so palpable here that Rory shudders; he knows that people have died here, in fear and pain. Something big and bad must have slain them. Chalker remarks, "I wasn't expecting to talk to Aaoo so soon. It's the pain and insanity, not the death, that bothers me." Trace says that there is a gate between the old mill and what looks like a receiving building; the gate is 40 feet from the creek bank and 30 feet down. Chalker hears a faint splash from the creek.

Trace begins to Shape Earth; he feels a creepy, "squishy" taint to the mana here.

Chalker sees eyes glowing an eerie red in an upper window of the mill. He taps Rory's shoulder and points to the eyes, then waves at them. The mill's front door opens and emerging from it is a scarecrow, nine feet tall, glowing eyes, and ragged clothing. Chalker drops two coppers into his lantern.

Rory notices something skittering behind the scarecrow... many things... so many targets... too many.... Rory realizes that this fear is directed toward him as a bowman.

Chalker calls out to the scarecrow. It 'smiles' and steps back inside the mill.

From an upstairs window leans someone with delicate features and gently upswept pointed ears. A feminine voice calls out, "I'm going into a tear in reality!" The woman withdraws from the window. There is a faint exclamation, and a few seconds later something gets thrown out the window. It is an animated doll with glowing eyes, wielding a silver butcher knife. Reacting quickly, Chalker chops off the doll's knife arm, then he knocks the doll aside as it grabs at him with its other arm. Striker latches onto the doll and shakes it back and forth. Chalker chops off the doll's head.