Tesia Rendulic says, "Auguste you are first."

You recite:

    "The tale which I will tell is a sad one from over 200 years in Morada's past, pieced together from references in a book on island legends and some old faded journals that I found in the Berringer Library. "

You recite:

    "In the 1780s, Pierre Laurent, the wealthy captain of a merchant ship, settled on Morada with his wife Yvette and his daughter Fleurette. Fleurette was said to have been the most beautiful woman on the island and the most courted. Her parents tried to protect her by only allowing the most reputable young men to have contact with their beautiful daughter. One of those barred from courting Fleurette was Antoine Beauregard, the dissolute son of a plantation owner. "

You recite:

    "During one of the Pierre's voyages, Yvette fell ill with malaria and succumbed soon after. Fleurette, who adored her parents, grieved greatly and prayed that her father would soon return. She would often be seen on the roof of the house, pacing the widow's walk and looking out to sea, hoping to catch a glimpse of her father's ship returning to port.  "

You recite:

    "But her father never returned. Not alive, anyway. One morning, splintered bits of wood washed up on shore, accompanied by the ship's flag which Fleurette had embroidered for her father. The ship and its crew were presumed lost. Already bereaved, Fleurette could not accept her father's death and kept watching the sea.  "

You recite:

    "With Fleurette's mother dead and her father apparently lost at sea, Antoine saw his chance to finally have Fleurette. He had coveted her from afar ever since she came to the island. One evening, he forced his way past the servants and into the Laurent home. He tried to force his attentions on Fleurette but she eluded him and ran outside.  "

You recite:

    "It was a stormy night, illuminated only by an occasional lightening flash. When Antoine and the servants made their way outside, they found Fleurette staring towards the sea as if entranced and yelling "I am coming, papa!" She then disappeared into the night, running towards the shore. "

You recite:

    "Antoine and the servants tried to pursue her but the darkness made it nearly impossible. During the next flash of lightening, she was seen on the beach, near the water's edge. When the lightening flashed again, Fleurette had vanished to everyone's horror. "

You recite:

    "Antoine appeared terrified and screamed that the girl's father was after him. He fled from the scene and returned home where he locked himself in his father's study. A gunshot was heard and when the door was broken down, Antoine was found with a pistol in his hand, shot through the head, an apparent suicide. "

You recite:

    "No one knows what actually happened that night. It was generally believed that Fleurette had drowned herself but her body was never found. Then, there are other questions. Did Fleurette really hear her father calling to her from the sea or did she imagine it in her grief? Did Pierre Laurent's ghost take vengeance on Antoine for his behavior towards Fleurette?  "

You recite:

    "I can't answer these questions but it is said that Fleurette still haunts what is now known as Balmour Beach. Through the years, sightings of a beautiful young woman in 18th century dress have been reported, always on stormy, moonless nights like the one of her disappearance."

You curtsy.

Tesia Rendulic says, "Hamilton. You are next."
Hamilton Nash says, "Thank you."
Hamilton Nash nods to Tesia Rendulic.
Hamilton Nash coughs.
Hamilton Nash smiles slightly.
Hamilton Nash says, "I can remember a story that began innocently enough. "
Hamilton Nash says, "I had received a letter that had drawn me out to see an old friend from my school days.  She had taken a situation in the country, near Yorkshire. "
Hamilton Nash says, "She had a position as a schoolteacher after her return from some time abroad.  It had been a while since I had heard from Marian, and I was keen to see how she was getting on."
Hamilton Nash says, "The tone of her letter was altogether too formal, and rushed, I thought at the time."
Hamilton Nash says, "She was a proper woman, you understand. But, for years we had adopted a certain informality in the many letters that we had passed."
Hamilton Nash says, "She asked me to come to the country and visit her, if I was able.  The letter gave her address.  She was staying on at a local church."
Hamilton Nash says, "It was an Old Saxon church that could trace its lineage to the first crowned heads in England."
Hamilton Nash says, "I made arrangements to see her within the week.  My kit packed, I made my way into the Yorkshire highlands."
Hamilton Nash smirks.
Hamilton Nash says, "The small church was still a proud stone-faced building, even if it looked like time had taken its toll.  The staff gave me a somber welcome there."
Hamilton Nash says, "The Vicar was away.  But Marian was right enough.  We visited as I remember talking of this and that but not what she was troubled about."
Hamilton Nash says, "I had to press her to get to the matter at hand, as I could tell she was upset.  She explained after that, that screams and unusual happenings for the past three months thereabouts troubled most of the locals."
Hamilton Nash says, "She admitted even she had begun to think that they were more truth than myth."
Hamilton Nash says, "With her help, We interviewed farmers and local shopkeepers, and trades.  All of them rather full of tales of missing chickens and mysterious blood patches and howling in the night.  I think I remember I had a rather thin acceptance of these stories."
Hamilton Nash seems amused.
Hamilton Nash says, "I stayed on with Marian for a few days, and I think she had felt better for it.  "
Hamilton Nash says, "On the eve of my return to London, however,  I was startled awake by a strange gurgling-howl."
Hamilton Nash says, "Hard as I tried to stay calm, I could feel my heart pounding.  The howl issued again. I steadied my hand as I loaded the revolver."
Hamilton Nash says, "I threw on a robe.  I broke out into the hallway, and found Marian and an old retainer of the church, wide eyed and shaken."
Hamilton Nash says, "I left Marian in his care."
Hamilton Nash says, "I got outside the church and had the old retainer bolt the door behind me.  I proceeded, with slow and measured steps, not quite knowing what to expect.  The howling cry sounded again."
Hamilton Nash says, "I took my bearings and narrowed my search.  The sounds were coming from the old graveyard."
Hamilton Nash says, "I crept slowly towards the sound and I could hear an odd mixture of sobbing and something like an animal's growl."
Hamilton Nash says, "I could hear the sound of scraping, digging and the sound on metal on stone.  I could see a dark shape near one of the older stones there.  The shape was huddled over a gravesite."
Hamilton Nash says, "I slowly pulled the hammer back on my revolver; it made a soft click.  The shape looked towards the moon and I could see its profile.  Man like and yet, not a man.  It let loose a wailing cry and I froze."
Hamilton Nash says, "I stayed there looking for what felt an eternity.  I made a small noise, stepped on something. Must have."
Hamilton Nash says, "The pale and dirty face glanced toward me and leapt, crawling at me.  I gave a warning to it.  It did not heed my shout and kept coming."
Hamilton Nash says, "Only a moment before I was to fire, I saw it was the Vicar.  He was in torn and ragged clothes and his fingers and mouth were bloody."
Hamilton Nash says, "I turned my pistol away as he hit me.  My shot went off, hitting neither of us."
Hamilton Nash says, "He was a madman.  Scratching and biting.  I felt my knee bit and a warm sharp pain.  I struck at him with hand and pistol, shouting at him all the while."
Hamilton Nash says, "The blows did not phase him."
Hamilton Nash says, "I managed a clear knock on his head and he whimpered and fell away. "
Hamilton Nash says, "Our struggle had brought out quite a few people.  When I got him off of me I found a collection of white-faced onlookers."
Hamilton Nash says, "They never had a clear explanation of why the old Vicar went mad..."
Hamilton Nash says, "not one to satisfy the authorities anyway."
Hamilton Nash glances around.
Hamilton Nash bows slightly.

Tesia Rendulic says, "Destin, your turn."
Destin Faroda says, "My tale is has more of a modern persuasion, y'know, as if it happened on the mainland on this very night. And it goes a little something like this..."

Destin Faroda recites:

    "As he walked down the hall, his footsteps tapping a rhythmic pattern against the linoleum, the date was the farthest thing from his mind. Stock quotes, tax returns, all of the things he had to worry about pushed all other thoughts from him."

Destin Faroda recites:

    "Who cared if it was All Hallow's Eve? He had better things to think of than a stupid little holiday filled with goofy kids begging for candy! His co-workers were such idiots, with their little Halloween games and stuff like that! Telling them off was in his own best interest! He couldn't be bothered thinking about them.. It was his wife's birthday soon, and his daughter had a piano recital next Saturday... "

Destin Faroda recites:

    "Wait a second...where was he going? This doesn't look like the walkway to the parking lot! He looked around in confusion at the place he was in, searching madly for a familiar face or something, anything he had seen the likes of before. After a moment, he realized that wherever he was, it was not where he'd been only moments ago. "

Destin Faroda recites:

    "Of course, being the calm and logical man he was, he didn't allow himself to panic, even though he couldn't remember how he had gotten here, or even where he had been going before. He gazed at the hall, and noticed a few peculiar things about it, the creepy pictures on the walls for one. "

Destin Faroda recites:

    "What exactly were they of? He squinted at all the dark images that were within a few feet of him, but couldn't figure out their point, or even their subjects. There were figures in each one, vaguely human, but something was somehow wrong with them. Oh well, he thought, not being able to puzzle out what bothered him so much about them, it doesn't matter, anyway... "

Destin Faroda recites:

    "The sound of movement behind him startled him out of his contemplation, and he spun around to see who was there. To his surprise, the corridor was as empty as it had been moments ago. Deciding he must just be getting paranoid, he began to relax again when suddenly, the picture nearest him caught his eye. It was an extremely disturbing image, of demons and brimstone and hell, so he had been avoiding looking at it, but now it seemed different. "

Destin Faroda recites:

    "There was a...creature which was standing toward the centre of the painting, looking out at the world in general. It was a scary looking thing, but now it appeared to have moved. Its eyes held a new and powerfully frightening light that hadn't been there before, and once he looked at them, he couldn't seem to break eye contact. He looked deeper into the monster's glassy, slit-pupilled eyes, and suddenly, he felt the scene laid out before him. "

Destin Faroda recites:

    "He gasped as he felt the roaring fire, the flaming universe that had held the creature hostage for ever so long. He suddenly realized that even the unfamiliar hallway had disappeared, and he was left inside the picture he had previously feared even looking at. Feeling a very strange sensation spread over him, he looked down to see the orange glow of hellish flame covering his legs and torso. "

Destin Faroda recites:

    "Screaming in terror, he spun around to find that he was looking directly at the Thing from the now-real image. It looked him in the eye and whispered, in a gutteral voice that he could barely understand, "You brought this upon yourself, mortal...for you see, he who in too involved in his own life to think of others'...he who has no respect for the demons in hell and the flaming destiny we have befallen...he, as opposed to the axe murderers and rapists and such people, he is the next man doomed to our fate." "

Destin Faroda recites:

    "He screamed, cursed God, Satan and everyone else he could think of, and fell to his knees, knowing the creature was right. He hadn't given a damn about anyone outside his family, hadn't given money he could easily have spared to someone who might've desperately needed it."

Destin Faroda recites:

    "He had been a jerk to everyone he knew, and even as his face contorted and changed into the hideous mask it would remain as forevermore, he felt bitterness toward even the people who had loved him, blamed them for his damnnation. He cried sulphuric tears as his humanity washed away, leaving him an unrecognizable monster, doomed to spend eternity in his own little hell, just another picture on the wall."

Destin Faroda bows.

Tesia Rendulic says, "Patrick? You are up next."

Patrick Braddock says, "Oh, I'm not telling a story. He is."
Patrick Braddock points at a vampire jumping jack.
Tesia Rendulic says, "Ok then."
Patrick Braddock's vampire jumping jack takes a precarious perch on Patrick's hand.
Patrick Braddock's vampire jumping jack says, "I'll be telling this story, so bear with me..."
Patrick Braddock's vampire jumping jack smiles woodenly.
Patrick Braddock's vampire jumping jack says, "On this island, there once was a wicked, wicked man, a man who was obsessed with death ever since his beloved wife was taken from him.
Patrick Braddock's vampire jumping jack says, " This man began a slow descent into insanity. He spent hours in his lad, where experimented on corpses day and night, trying to find the secret to eternal life."
Patrick Braddock's vampire jumping jack says, "This man, he worked tirelessly on his quest, using whatever cadavers he could steal from the morgue, and even...
Patrick Braddock's vampire jumping jack leans forward and whispers, "On the not so dead..."
Patrick Braddock's vampire jumping jack says, "On a rather sunny day, a little boy was wandering along a beach, picking up pretty shells to bring home to his mom."
Patrick Braddock's vampire jumping jack says, "This boy was traipsing by a run-down shack and didn't notice the pair of malevolent eyes watching him."
Patrick Braddock's vampire jumping jack leans foward dramatically and says, "The insane fellow had found his next victim."
Patrick Braddock's vampire jumping jack resumes its original perch on its master's hand.
Patrick Braddock's vampire jumping jack says, "The child heard the sound of his favorite television show coming from inside the house. Unafraid, he poked his head into the open door and looked around. But no one was home."
Patrick Braddock's vampire jumping jack whispers, "He never noticed the dark figure that moved from the shadows as he sat before the television, intent as he was upon the screen."
Patrick Braddock's vampire jumping jack says, "You see, the evil man had finally devised a way to make a person immortal..."
Patrick Braddock's vampire jumping jack shifts uncomfortably on Patrick's hand and says, "The boy felt hands close around him and tried to scream, but his head exploded in pain and all became dark."
Patrick Braddock's vampire jumping jack says, "The man hauled the boy down to his lab and began his experiments."
Patrick Braddock's vampire jumping jack says, "The man had found a way to channel a dying person's soul into an object, giving the object a semblance of life and stealing death from the person."
Patrick Braddock's vampire jumping jack sags for a moment.
Patrick Braddock's vampire jumping jack whispers, "You see, the man channeled the little boy's soul into something wonderfully relevent...
Patrick Braddock's vampire jumping jack whispers, "He had poured the little boys soul into a toy...into a jumping jack."
Patrick Braddock's vampire jumping jack goes limp on Patrick's hand, its story finished.
Patrick Braddock rubs the limp jumping jack gently with his fingertips.
Patrick Braddock says, "Sorry, little buddy. I guess you do get to be sardonic."

Tesia Rendulic says, "Morgan? You are up next."
Morgan LeFox arranges herself into her "Nawlins Lady Storyteller" pose.
Morgan LeFox says, "This story didn't start with me, but was told to me by a friend from Savannah, where they like their stories thick and rich. It goes like this:"
Morgan LeFox says, "Over in Savannah, Georgia, there lived a Wicked Man. Everybody feared him - he'd get neighbors fighting against one another (oh, he loved that!), he'd tie tin cans to the tails of cats, put poisonous things in children's food. He even beat his wife and dog."
Morgan LeFox says, "Nobody liked him - except the Devil, of course. 'Cause you know how the Devil likes evil people. So that Wicked Man was right surprised when he was walking down the street one day, and he felt a presence behind him. He turned and looked, and there he saw the long arm of the Devil himself reaching out for him. The Wicked Man said, "Wait! Mr. Devil, you're not comin' for me, are ya'?""
Morgan LeFox says, "The Devil said, "I reckon I am.""
Morgan LeFox says, "The Wicked Man said, "But I got SO much meanness. Could you let me stay just a little bit longer? C'mon, please?""
Morgan LeFox says, "After a bit of consternatin' the Devil said, "Alright, I'll let you stay here a little bit longer.""
Morgan LeFox says, "Then the Wicked Man added, "And I know it's askin' a lot, but next time, could you not sneak up on me like that? Could you give me a sign first? Something I could see? Something I could hear?""
Morgan LeFox says, "The Devil said, "Sure, no problem - it's a deal." And he went back down to hell."
Morgan LeFox exclaims, "That Wicked Man got the biggest ol' grin on his face. You see, he wasn't only just as mean as the Devil - he was as smart as the Devil, too. He knew he was going both blind and deaf! So anything that the Devil sent for him to see or hear - why, that Wicked Man wasn't going to be able to do it!"
Morgan LeFox says, "Time passed and passed, and Wicked Man just kept doin' his evil ways, getting eviler and eviler. The Devil came back up for him many times - flashin' his name out in lightning, thunderin' it out in the clouds. But Wicked Man couldn't see or hear - so he couldn't die! Finally, the Devil just gave up, since there was nothing he could do."
Morgan LeFox says, "But there's a trick about bein' too clever fer yer own good. Wicked Man was so mean no one would talk to him, or go near him, and certainly no one was ever goin' to help him out. And those with aspirations to wickedness themselves took a liking to seeing how bad they could be to Wicked Man just to increase their own reputations. So, after far too long a time, Wicked Man just faded away, but, since no one would take him, above or below, his hair stayed around. "
Morgan LeFox says, "The folk in those parts where Wicked Man wandered got to callin' it "Spanish Moss", and if you ever try to pick some, you'll know whose hair it must be, and you'll end up with some chiggers under under your skin. That's Wicked Man letting you know he's still around 'cause even the Devil can't take him. A deal's a deal, after all."
Morgan LeFox winks and curtsies.

Tesia Rendulic says, "Wendy? Your turn."
Wendy James gets a black bat-shaped keychain flashlight from inside her evening bag.
Wendy James shines the flashlight on her face to make herself "more spooky like"
Wendy James exclaims, "this is a story I remember from my youth...maybe some of you will remember it too!"
Wendy James says, "This is a story about a man...""
Wendy James says, "A man who lived many years ago...""
Wendy James says, "Alone...isolated from the people he loved and the things he cherished."
Wendy James shudders.
Wendy James says, "This man lived in a ramshackle cabin in the middle of the woods, and these were not your average woods, by no means!""
Wendy James says, "This forrest consisted of thick, gnarled trees with branches that reached for the sky like boney fingers.  This wood always seemed dark even in daylight and had many cavernous crevaces and ravines."
Wendy James cringes.
Wendy James says, "A hunter by trade, the man would venture out into the woods everyday searching for his unsuspecting prey.  He always kept his rickety old rifle by his side and at night he placed it by his bed."
Wendy James says, "one particular day in late October...the man went out to hunt for deer.  He shot two and brought them back to his cabin in a makeshift cart.  The man had an uneasy feeling for some odd reason..."
Wendy James says, "but he shruged it off, and went upstairs to bed.  Now the Moonlight was very bright this cold Autumn evening, the moon shone in right through the man's bedroom window. "
Wendy James says, "Strapped for cash the man sold his big down comforter the night before and was reduced to using a scrawny sheet that barely covered the lenght of him.'"
Wendy James grins.
Wendy James says, "The man was frigid but he was so tired that he turned off his light and proceeded to fall right asleep.  He closed his eyes and pulled his sheet up close.  He began to drift off but..."
Wendy James says, "he felt that uneasy feeling again and tossed and turned.  He began to feel like something was watching him!!  He didnt want to open his eyes but he felt like he must!!  "
Wendy James exclaims, "He couldnt take it anymore he was going to explode!  The man opened his eyes and there they were!!!!  Two shiny, glowing eyes staring right back at him though the darkness!"
Wendy James says, "The man screamed, but he dare not move he was so terrified.  He closed his eyes and prayed for this to all go away.  He could hear the blood rushing in his ears and his heart pounding in his chest."
Wendy James says, "the man quickly closed his eyes again, and waited...waited...waited..."
Wendy James cowers in fear.
Wendy James exclaims, ""maybe if I open my eyes again they will be gone" he thought...he slowly began to open them, BUT NO!! THEY WERE STILL THERE!!"
Wendy James lets out a blood-curdling shriek.
Wendy James says, "He couldnt take it anymore...he had to do something, but what??  He grabbed his rifle and fired off two shots!  Suddenly........""
Wendy James says, "the room was filled with the most horrible screaming the world has ever known.  Blood curdling shrieks and anguished moans.  The man was in blinding pain and he reached down to the end of his bed..."
Wendy James falls backwards from her seat and passes out!
Wendy James sits up.
Wendy James exclaims, "He began to feel for his toes, BUT THEY WERE GONE!!"
Wendy James screams!
Wendy James says, "...the moonlight drifting in from his bedroom window reflected off his own toes and the man had mistaken them for two devlish eyes!!""
Wendy James says, "The moral of the story is...."
Wendy James exclaims, "Wear socks!!"
Wendy James chuckles.

Tesia Rendulic says, "Ok, give us a moment to tally up the scores."
Tesia Rendulic says, "Ok. Here we go."
Tesia Rendulic exclaims, "In third place ... Morgan!"
Tesia Rendulic exclaims, "In second place... Wendy!"
Tesia Rendulic exclaims, "And in first place!"
Tesia Rendulic exclaims, "Patrick!"