Operation Kerebos: Chapter Five

Exploring the scene of the crime in the Delta Green RPG using Mythic 2e

Published by arrangement with the Delta Green Partnership. The intellectual property known as Delta Green is a trademark and copyright owned by the Delta Green Partnership, who has licensed its use here. The contents of this document are ©SolumProtocol, excepting those elements that are components of the Delta Green intellectual property.

Chapter 5 Photo by Kaya from Pexels: https://www.pexels.com/photo/scenic-lakehouse-with-mountain-view-in-fall-31417369/

Knight’s Lake 12PM

I saw the Sheriff cruiser when we were just a few minutes away from the lake parking lot. It was parked on the side of the trail, and the Sheriff was leaning against the hood, a scooped rifle held in the crook of his arm as he looked forlorn over towards the lake. I directed Tracy to pull over next to him, and he bobbed his head. He seemed surprised to see Tracy, but he didn’t comment on it.

“What are you doing out here, Sheriff?” I asked politely. He licked his lips.

“I’ve kept my boys from looking around the scene.” he said stiffly. “Most of them just want to believe the whole thing is a horrible accident. I’ve had to practically muzzle some of them from saying as much to the parents.” He was rambling, and he seemed to realize it, pinching the bridge of his nose in exasperation.

“Look.” He said. “I’m happy to turn this case over to you folks. More than happy, in fact. But I have to see it. The place they found him. Please.” It was within my remit to tell him no, to focus on his part of the investigation¹. But I could tell he needed this. He looked exhausted. Hopefully I could show him something meaningful enough that he just went home for the rest of the week and let me finish the investigation in peace, but only time would tell.

“Get in sheriff.” I said, nodding my head to the backseat. “Day light is wasting.” Bosworth nodded, his posture shifting to one of visible relief as he climbed in the back of the truck.

---

“Are there any wildlife cameras overlooking the Lake?” I asked Tracy as we pulled back onto the trail².

“Quite a few.” she said. “Part of our offseason work is getting the memory cards from them and sending the over to the head office in Spokane.”

“Once you’ve seen the scene, can you collect together any that overlook this part of the lake, or the trails that lead to it?” She nodded, and then pulled us into a small dirt parking lot and we hiked the last few minutes to the lake, rifles and supplies slung over our backs as we marched in tense silence³. I checked my phone, and saw that we were out of range of the cell tower. The other two would still be driving to Spokane, but I would need to check in on them later.

“Is there anywhere near the lake that gets a cell signal?” I asked Tracy⁴.

“Ranger Station Bravo is a couple of minutes away by truck, or 15 minutes if we hike it.” She said. “It’s the only place that picks up signals this close to the Lake.” That wasn’t too bad. Hopefully we wouldn’t be too long here, and we could head there to check in. Tracy left to retrieve the wildlife camera’s scattered along the nearby trails, leaving me with the Sherriff to review the scene⁵. It was set up like a textbook crime scene, police tape, evidence tabs and a clear marking of where the body had been retrieved. It had been left unattended, likely after the Sheriff’s office had decided it was an accident, instead of a murder. I pulled out my own forensic kit, and began a sweep of the area⁶. There was little of use, which wasn’t surprising, given the climate⁷. Instead, I began to search for anything more mundane. There were a lot of tracks in the dirt, again unsurprising. but nothing I could make heads or tails of. There was something interesting, although it wasn’t in the immediate vicinity of where the body had been found. There was a small rowboat, tucked away behind some rocks near the tree line⁸. Tucked away beneath the bench was a small child’s shoe, waterlogged and already smelling of mildew. The sheriff was at my back, and he paled when he saw the shoe.

“Jesus Christ.” He said⁹. I ignored him, and examined the area around the oars and the main seat. There. I pulled out my tweezers and extracted a single, limp hair. I placed it in my evidence kit. It was likely useless, unless we found someone to test it against, but it was progress. “This wasn’t an accident then.” Bosworth said softly. He looked devastated, like a stiff breeze would bowl him over.

“No.” I said “It likely wasn’t.” I was taking a risk here, but my read of John Bosworth was that he was no fool. The harder I tried to keep him from the investigation, the more dogged he was likely to become. I needed to give him a simple, easy answer. My evidence kit had a hair from our dead, drowned man from Ranger Station Alpha. If we got an ID on him, and we couldn’t finger the real perpetrator for whatever reason, we could foist it on him, say we killed him in self defense, and leave it at that. It wasn’t solid as a cover went, but It could work. Maybe. We would have to see.¹⁰

---

Ranger Station Bravo 1PM

“There is tea in the kitchenette, Sheriff. I’m going to get our computer set up.” Tracy said awkwardly. She had a handful of small memory cards extracted from the trail cams that she carried in both hands, as though handling a bomb that could go off at any moment. The Sherriff slumped into a chair as Tracy shuffled into a back room. It would take her a while to get all that set up, so I checked my phone¹¹. Signal was still spotty, but I should get through to Palmer with only a bar or two of signal. She picked up after the 3rd ring¹².

“I tried to call you earlier.” she said. She sounded, if not cheerful, then in a better mood than I felt.

“Signal is a crapshoot.” I told her. “I should be good here though. How did it go.”

“Dr. Giles is taking the rest of the day off.” She said. “We have the run of the office, for now.”

“That’s good. Do you have the Coroner’s report?”

“Yes.’ She said. I heard the shuffling of paper on the other end of the line, but she didn’t volunteer any information.

“Anything stick out?”¹³

“Cause of death is drowning. Time of death is estimated around midnight Sunday, September 22nd.”

“That’s interesting. A few hours before Gloria was found.” I said “The sheriff mentioned some bruises?”¹⁴ Palmer was quiet over the phone for a moment before responding.

“Yes.” She said thoughtfully. “We may want to suggest an edit here.”

“What do you mean?”

“The MI has reported that the bruises around Daniel’s arms and shoulders are more in line with a constricting force, like a snake or very large octopus, than that of human hands. The bruises run along his wrists, shoulders, arms and upper body in specific pattern.”

“Fantastic.” I said drily. “I don’t suppose he mentions if it could have been rope or anything more mundane?”

“He specifically mentions that it the bruises are not indicative of rope or ‘traditional’ bindings. Dr. Giles did look quite uncomfortable when he handed the report over.” She said idly. “Editing Medical records is not really in my skill set.”

“We can figure that out later.”

“So. Something dragged him underwater, something horrifying. It drowned him, and then what? Hid his body for a couple of days?” Palmer asked¹⁵.

“Seems that way. The body is scrubbed clean, not surprising in a drowning. The examiner didn’t pick up anything else.?¹⁶ The lights flickered over my head, and the phone line crackled. After a beat, the power seemed to right itself, and Palmer’s voice came through strong again¹⁷.

“-sed the computer here, I was able to scan through the missing persons reports.” she said¹⁸. “I had to extend the range, and once it hit Seattle, it was a lot to sift through, but I think I found our guy.”

“Who is he?¹⁹” I asked.

“A software engineer based in Seattle, originally from - “ The phone cut out again, and the lights flickered. I pulled the phone away from my ear as an ear piercing screech played out. I called out to Tracy.

“Is this normal? The power keeps nearly cutting out!”²⁰ I didn’t hear any response, and Palmer’s voice started up again.

“-ooks like he had a travel blog, and had been backpacking around Washington.” She said. “Seemed like a normal guy. His most recent post was last month.”

“What date, exactly?” I asked. “Close to when Gloria went missing?”²¹

“Not really?” She said. “I cross referenced it with her dream journal, and it would have been a bit after the dreams started, but before they got really dark.” When the lights flickered a third time, I preemptively moved the phone away from my head, in time to avoid the worst of the noise. This was unusual. There was no reason why the power of the Ranger Station should effect my phone. I waited for Palmer’s voice to return, and we agreed she would try to research what she could of Gloria’s diary before checking back in with me before hanging up²². I glanced around the Ranger cabin and frowned. It was too quiet. When I had called Palmer, Tracy had been tapping away at the keyboard, and the Sheriff had started pacing back and forth in the kitchen. Sunlight still shone through the windows, but I unhooked the rifle from my back and slowly cranked back the bolt²³. I crept towards the door and peered through, trying my best to keep out of sight of anything that could be nearby²⁴. There was no sign of Tracy or the Sherriff. A cup of tea sat on the kitchen counter, growing cold and the computer was powered down²⁵. The door was closed, so I stalked towards the window, making a bit more noise than strictly necessary as a sense of dread settled in my stomach. I twitched the curtains to peek out the window, my rifle held in a white knuckled grip²⁶. I couldn’t see Tracy or the Sheriff outside. In fact, I couldn’t see anything. A roiling ball of fog sat on the lake, like a low hanging cloud, dense and impenetrable. It rolled off the lake, and as it engulfed the Ranger Station, the lights finally gave up and winked out²⁷.

---

Ranger Station Bravo 2PM

The fucking computer wasn’t working. The power in the whole station was out. I didn’t have any bars on my cell, and the fog that rolled over the Station was making the sunlight murky. I glanced outside the window again²⁸. There was something moving in the fog, a flickering shadow that made me feel very uneasy. It was gloomy enough that I couldn’t make it out, but I barred the door anyway. I had one last, fruitless search of the house²⁹ . There was no sign of the other two, but there was something off about the attic room. Like the other Ranger Stations, most of the interior was on a single floor, except a small room up a ladder near the back. The ladder led into darkness, despite the larger windows that took up the front wall, giving a view of the lake. It was so dark I couldn’t see my hands at the top of the ladder, and I had to take out my flashlight, shining it around the room before settling on the far wall³⁰. Above the small single bed, there was a painting. Not on a canvas, but painted with delicate, child like strokes directly onto the varnished wooden wall. It was a monster painted in shades of reds, and browns, the shades of rapidly drying blood³¹. 8 tendrils curved around a spherical, fleshy mass at the center and held in each curved tentacle was a shape³². One was a childish rendition of a dog, the rear legs angular and double jointed, while another was a stick figure man with a wickedly detailed dagger. A few more animals, a bear with humanoid hands, and a bird with a wide, toothy grin, but it was the last figure that caught my eye; a man with a crown. This figure was oddly detailed, the crown flickered as though the part of the wall was made of the gold it represented, and the angular lines of its face looked almost detailed enough to make out. I couldn’t place it who it was, though³³. It held a long blade in one hand, and a cup that spilled over in the other. It was hard not to stare, at the figure, and at the betentacled, child-like drawing of the thing that held him³⁴. There was a crash of thunder and a ray of light burst through the window, washing away the darkness as I threw my arm up over my eyes. When I opened my eyes, the painting was gone³⁵.

---

The fog was also gone by the time I returned downstairs³⁶. There was still no sign of Tracy or the Sheriff and the power was still out, but I had a single bar of signal, so I dialed Palmer, and gave a terse report.

“Tracy and the Sheriff are gone, there’s a weird fog and its cut out the power.” I said.

“Ok” She said, nonplussed. “None of that is particularly good news, but I also don’t think I can help you.”

“No.” I said, twitching the curtains to look outside again³⁷. The lake and surrounding forest looked its usual picturesque self, but I could still remember the twitching, roiling shadow that was lurking in the fog. “Look, don’t ask for details, but I saw something really odd when the fog came in.” I described the painting, the monster and the figures held in its grasp.

“Hmm.” Was all she said³⁸. I waited, and she when she still didn’t say anything I snapped.

“Is that it?”

“If there was a dog, and a man with a dagger, its likely safe to assume that the painting indicated a connection between the monster, and the strange things we’ve run into out here, yes?” She said hurriedly. “Was there a smaller figure, like a child?”³⁹

“Yes. I think so. It was holding something small, like a knife or-”

“Or a scalpel?” She asked hurriedly.

“Yes.”

“Fuck.” She said with a sigh. “Well, Daniel is locked in a room and Montford is watching him, so if he wakes up, we can take care of it.” Her voice was shaky at the prospect of taking care of it, but I didn’t blame her. I would be too

“If we can trust an ominous, disappearing wall painting, then this figure with the crown is as good a lead as any. Can you figure out some suspects? A crown would indicate wealthy towns folk, or families that have been here a long, long time?”

“I’ll try to find something, although It would be easier from the local library, rather than here, and your Sherriff might have a better idea than the internet.” She said lightly. “It also doesn’t address that there seems to be a monster living in the lake.”⁴⁰

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Thanks for reading! We are just over halfway through Operation Kerebos, and would love to hear your thoughts! Leave a comment or drop me a message! And please consider subscribing if you want to keep up to date with Kat’s investigations.

1. Skill: HUMINT - 69/80

2. Oracle: Are there any Wildlife cameras around the lake? 50/50 07 - Extreme yes.

3. Oracle: Any Phone Signal? 50/50 81 No.

4. Oracle: Is there anywhere nearby that reliably gets signal? Likely - 07 - Extreme yes.

5. Oracle: Site set up like a crime scene? 50/50 41 - Yes.

6. Skill: Forensics - 98/54 . Kat, why are you so bad at your job? 0_0

7. Skill: Search: 39/74

8. Oracle: Any evidence the a child had been in there? 50/50 34 - Yes

9. Oracle: Anything else in the boat? 50/50 65 - Yes. Skill: Forensics 04/54. Any hair or prints? Likely - 67 - Yes.

10. End Scene. Chaos Factor - 5. Test Scene - 9. As Expected

11. Oracle: Full Bars? 50/50 56 - No.

12. Palmer Skill: CHA X 5 - 06/75 (To sweet talk the coroner)

13. Oracle: Is the body old body? Almost certain 73 - Yes.

14. Oracle: Are the bruises caused by something Unnatural? Unlikely 10 - Yes

15. Oracle: Anything to indicate where the body was stored? Unlikely - 55 No. Random Event. (PC Negative - ‘Inquire Energy’)

16. Sanity: (Helplessness) 10/49

17. Oracle: Has Palmer had time to research? Unlikely 15 - Yes

18. Oracle: Is the missing person Local? 50/50 66 - No.

19. Oracle: Is he a Businessman? Likely 74 - No. Trust fund guy? 50/50 57 - No

20. Oracle: Does Tracy respond? 50/50 86 - No.

21. Oracle: Is it close to when Gloria went missing? Likely 100 - Extreme no.

22. Skill: Alertness: 65/71 Is there anything suspicious? 50/50 48 - Yes.

23. Skill: Stealth 54/12 (I don’t know if there is anything, but if there is, it knows where I am now.)

24. Oracle: Is Tracy there? Likely 79 - No. The Sheriff? 50/50 86 - No.

25. Oracle: Is the door open? Likely 97 - Extreme No.

26. Oracle: Do I see anything? Likely 98 - Extreme No.

27. End Scene. Chaos Factor - 6. Test Scene 5 Altered Scene Reduce/Remove an Activity - Wildlife cams.

28. Oracle: Any enemies outside? Unlikely 30 - Yes.

29. Oracle: Do I find either of my people? Impossible 16 No. Search: 49/73 What do I find? “Transform Interior”

30. Oracle: Is there a Clue? Likely 37 - Yes. Words from Gloria’s journal? 50/50 - Extreme no.

31. Oracle: Does the monster look like an octopus? Very Likely 80 - Yes

32. Oracle: Is it the victims + agents? Likely - 92 No. Things it controls? 50/50 37 - yes.

33. Oracle: Any other features? Unlikely 06 - Yes. “Creator, Fighter”

34. Sanity: 11/49. 0 Loss

35. Oracle: Did the fog dissipate? Likely - 14 Yes.

36. Oracle: Any sign of my people? 50/50 95 - No.

37. Oracle: Does the lake look normal? 50/50 18 Yes

38. Palmer Skill: Occult: 39/70

39. Oracle: Was there a child in the painting? Very Unlikely 34 - Yes

40. End Scene. Chaos Factor 6. Test Scene 5. Altered Scene. Increase an Activity - Search for Tracy