In the final scene Falcone and the investigators confront the Byakhee in the Salt Marsh, and Cooper reveals his intentions.
The investigators have a simple choice, to help Falcone or not. Even if they choose not too Keepers can easily bring the storyline back to them in any number of ways `- most easily with the Byakhee deciding to attack them next.
The group should have compiled a number of key pieces of information to motivate them to act quickly;
The group could draw any number of conclusions but regardless Falcone will urge them to strike at the creature at dusk and he knows where to find it `- the Salt Marsh.
Keepers have a variety of options to delay, extend or simply complicate the final confrontation with the Byakhee.
With Sareks suspected murder he has access to his office and records. He discovers Sareks account of the original incident and also reviews the scene at Hedges Cottage.
Knowing the creature is not after him he concocts a plan to capture Falcone and offer him to the creature `- a gift he hopes that will earn him some of power that Chacko clearly had. He knows if Falcone has any hope it is to return to the Salt Marsh and either attack or surrender to the creature `- so he waits, ready to spring his trap.
Olive Ashley is a intrepid reporter working for The Evening Post[^The Evening Post Newspaper: Refer to page 95 of Secrets of New York^] and is desperate to crack a big story. She has been following the involvement of the Army since Williamsons death and knows there is something suspicious going on. Olive may get caught up in the final confrontation by;
Olive is a useful tool for the Keepers to have involved in the final sequence, if not to allow for convenient tying up of loose ends `- then as a potential new investigator should there be any deaths.
Detectives Stapleton and Hyatt may have been assigned to the Hedges murder and made the link between it and the Williamson death. At any time they could appear, looking to question the investigators on there involvement.
Any surviving Zombies from the attack on Hedges Cottage will have returned and hidden in the Marshes. Should the original three Zombies have been killed, Keepers may feel it useful to have a further number raised by the Byakhee as protection. The other four gypsies were buried in a mass grave at the Pennywell Church cemetery.
Falcone will assume the creature is in hiding in the Salt Marsh as opposed to the guard house. As a result he will lead the investigators off the road to the south of the marsh, where there is plenty of cover to hide their cars. In addition he knows they are less likely to attract attention from the base if they approach from the south.
In the marsh the river becomes more shallow and at its deepest point is only a half a metre. However the mud makes moving through the marsh slow and very dirty. If the group stick with Falcone he will pick the shallowest path and they will only need to get wet up to their knees. It is still the middle of winter however and unless the investigators have a change of clothes (or dry out by a fire), after another 20 minutes they will need to make CON x5 roll to avoid the effects of freezing. This will reduce to CON x4 after 40 minutes etc. Failure results in special damage of 1D2 HP and 1D4 CON loss `- this damage is recovered at 1 point per hour if the investigator is adequately warmed.
Immediately after crossing the deepest part of the marsh the group will stumble upon the decaying remains of a river barge. It was perhaps 25 feet long but only a dozen are visible above the still dark waters of the marsh. Falcone will freeze when he sees the boat and gibber something about the "Gypsy bodies." Looking around wildly, "It must be here ..".
The hull has several fist size holes in it. Investigators can shine a torch or lantern in but will see nothing but silt and water. If the kick or smash in a hole and stir up the water, they will be able to confirm there is nothing submerged there. The three Zombies are hiding beneath the marsh waters nearby.
If none of the investigators make a move on the barge Falcone will lose it, fire a burst of shots into the hull and rush over to kick in the side. Any surviving Zombies from the attack on Hedges Cottage will then rise from the muddy water nearby and attack the investigators. Alternatively Keepers may wish to wait for the Byakhee to use the Control Weather spell before the Zombies attack. If there is no attack or when the Zombies are over come Falcone will recover his senses and lead the group to the guard house - the only logical place left to look.
As the group move to leave the marsh the weather quickly turns, FIG(clouds), as the Byakhee uses the Control Weather spell to make Aldebarren visible. A strange fog seeps from the ground, FIG(mist) covers the entire marsh and barracks. Visibility is reduced to 5 feet and if investigators have not rolled a CON check for the effects of freezing following the marsh crossing, they should do so now.
When attempting to move investigators are required to make successful navigation rolls to avoid being disorientated by the unnatural mist. Those who are not immediately next to each other become separated when rolls are failed. Calling out to each other the investigators hear their voices echoing and bounce off the trees in a airy and bizarre fashion.
Cooper will have been watching the investigators as they moved through the marsh and will use this opportunity to try for Falcone - or alternatively if the Keeper prefers, he may be after Frank Hedges notebook (assuming one of the group is carrying it). Cooper will then head towards the guard house (with Falcone at gunpoint). He is quiet prepared to kill any investigator who gets in his way.
As the marsh thins the investigators find the heavy mist abruptly parts, leaving a clearing in the fog approximately 20 foot across. They are on the boundary of the Pennywell Army base, the 10 foot perimeter fence is barely visible just beyond the guard house, which stand ominously at the heart of the mist clearing.
The banks of mist press in on the group as above the swirling clouds part. The night turns to twilight as the constellation of Aldebarren suddenly illuminates the investigators as they stand before the guard house. Those witnessing the chilling effects of the Control Weather spell should make a SAN check (0 / 1d2).
If Cooper gets away from the group he will run for the guard house (potentially with Falcone). Investigators will be in time to see him enter the guard house just as they emerge from the mist `- if they wait for a moment or two, they will hear shrieking as the Byakhee slaughters him. If unhindered then Falcone will move in on the guard house immediately.
The guard house itself is a plain and visibly aging brick two story structure. Simple and small it has thick walls and a single window facing each direction, on each floor. The only doorway, which was previously chained closed has been smashed open. Visible only during the day, the roof has a hole torn in it by the Byakhee. The ground floor of the tower is poorly lit and only contains a table and three chairs. In the shadows are the remains of Dryden. His mangled remains have been drained of blood, SAN Check (0 / 1d3). The Byakhee itself is upstairs, waiting for the investigators.
| Str 25 | Con 18 | Siz 24 | Int 16 | Pow 18 | Dex 20 |
| Dam +2d6 | HP 21 | Magic Pts 18 | Armour 2 | Move 5/20 Flying | San Lose 1/2d4* |
| Attack= | Claws 35% (2 per round) `- Damage 1d6 + db | ||||
| Attack= | Bite 35% (1 per round) `- Damage 1d6 + 1d6 Str drain | ||||
| Skills= | Listen 50%, Spot Hidden 50% | ||||
| Spells= | Power Drain, Song of Hastur, Find Gate, Control Weather*, Call flesh of Hastur* | ||||
A foul hybrid of unearthly creatures the Byakhee[^Byakhee: Refer to page 150 of the Call of Cthulhu manual^] is of an appearance like nothing the investigators will have encountered before. Part bird, part insect, part corpse, it is altogether alien yet frighteningly familiar to the images of the diabolical servants of Satan.
The Byakhee TAB(byakhee) weights 450 pounds (or 200 kgs) and with its wings extended stands more than twice the height of a typical man. Its barbed wings are composed of a decaying leather hide, yet somehow allow the monstrosity to fly. Over the centuries its beak has decayed into a freakish maw, ringed with jagged broken barbs, large enough to devour a mans entire head whole.
Although only a lesser servitor race, with the favour of Hastur some of the Byakhee can live for centuries if not millennia - and acquire significant power as they age. Ancient ones such as the beast roaming free in Pennywell possess spells and a cunning wit. A formidable adversary the creature will not be easily gunned down or caught unawares.
Sanity loss for the Byakhee is 1 / 2d4, this is worse than the typical loss for a Byakhee but represents the creatures age and particularly foul appearance. Investigators who have previously who rolled a sanity check (i.e. during Sareks attack) are stilled required to make a further San Check (cost of 0 / 1) at each encounter of the creature. This is again a result of its ancient and truly awful appearance.
When confronted in the top floor of the guard house the Byakhee has the advantage of the investigators only being able to approach in single file. When one or two have climbed the stairs it will come shrieking from the shadows, and hurl the twisted body of Sarek at them. The creature will then use its spells to attack the investigators. Beginning with Song of Hastur[^Song of Hastur Spell: Refer to page 243 of the Call of Cthulhu manual^] for a couple of rounds, the creature may then use use Power Drain[^Power Drain Spell: Refer to page 240 of the Call of Cthulhu manual^] to recoup some of its used MPs.
Song of Hastur requires a roll of (POW + DEX) x2 or under on d100 for success, which is 76% for the Byakhee. It costs d4 MPs. Damage inflicted is d6 HP / round, d6 APP / 2 rounds, d6 CON / 4 rounds.
Power Drain is a simple match of MPs with the target, refer to the resistance table on page 55 of the Call of Cthulhu manual. There is no cost to the Byakhee and the effect is a lose of d6 MP to the loser of the resistance check. Should the investigator win the check, Keepers may wish to require a Sanity Check as power from the Byakhee flows into them.
Keepers should give some consideration to the effects and recovery from the Song of Hastur spell, adapting it as they feel appropriate. In comparison Power Drain has a more theatrical appearance and is somewhat more survivable.
After the initial attack the Byakhee will tear through the floor and drop onto the remaining party members from the ceiling. It will lunge and slash at the investigators before grasping one and feeding on them. If it gets hold of an investigator it will smash through a wall and fly into the night. It will not go far but simple circle the guard house feeding.
A very lucky investigator might struggle free (or alternatively the Byakhee could be wounded) in which case they will fall to the ground or more dramatically through the ceiling of the guard house. Investigators sustain d6 HP / 10 feet fallen, although with a successful Jump roll the damage is reduced by d6.
Should the Byakhee be wounded Keepers may wish to treat the STR drained from a bite as replenishing Hit Points. Alternatively the Power Drain spell could be adapted if appropriate.
Any surviving investigator who is bitten and drained of strength can recover. With rest and a blood transfusion they can regain up to 1d3 STR per day.
Once the Byakhee is reduced to half HP Keepers may wish to treat it as being sufficiently wounded to no longer be able to fly. In this case it will crash to the ground, perhaps for a final confrontation in the guard house, or amongst the Salt Marsh.
Besides the obvious conclusions (the Byakhee kills or is killed by the Investigators) there are several additional possibilities Keepers may wish to incorporate into the finale;
Consideration should also be given as to the remains of the Byakhee should it be killed. Keepers may wish to have the creatures flesh glow and then burst into flames, destroying it (and the guard house / part of the marsh). Perhaps leaving behind only a shattered and deformed skeleton `- an interesting plot hook for later scenarios.
There a range of loose ends to tie up at the end of the scenario, detailed below are the likely areas Investigators may query.
Most importantly is the number of Sanity Points Investigators earn as a result of completing the scenario `- suggestions as follows for per investigator;
Assuming he survives Falcone will be arrested (turning himself in if necessary) and will be pivotal in covering up for the actions of the investigators.
Following the incident Falcone explains he fled the scene and sort help on the main road from a party returning to the city after a hunting trip.
He recognised the group from the toxic clean up and assumed they were snooping around Pennywell. If any of the investigators are injured he states there was a hunting accident and figures they got themselves into trouble in the woods.
Keepers should alter Falcones statement to accommodate any cover story the investigators may have prepared.
The entire party is likely to be questioned but the suspicion is that they were attempting to snoop around the base following the toxic spill. No doubt there will be circumstantial evidence to tie any or all of the investigators to Cooper, the guard house and Frank Hedges cottage `- but with Falcone's statement the cursory investigation misses all of this detail. Any injuries are put down to a hunting accident, whether it was snooping around the base is dismissed as irrelevant.
Assuming he is killed his body is recovered. Evidence of him tampering with military records is identified but all details of the Pennywell incident have been erased by him.
Barely mentioned in the media it is suggested he was an accomplice of Cooper who ended as a victim of Coopers plans. His remains are recovered from the Guard House.
Any damage to the Guard House is attributed to Cooper, as an attempt to cover his tracks, eliminating the bodies of Sarek and Dryden. There are no reports of oddities in either the Media or the official police report.
The squad is disbanded. The barracks and Artillery range remain open.
Immediately comes under suspicion and despite vigorously denying any wrong doing is suspended from duty pending a full investigation. He commits suicide shortly thereafter.
The Army convenes an independent investigation in which all investigators are interviewed. It is clear no action against civilians is going to be taken and with Dobbins suicide little further action in Pennywell either. The final report is classified.
The gypsies disappear following the incident moving north and remaining out of sight.
He is listed as having died under suspicious circumstances at the hands of Cooper, the cause of death being a fall.
She will need to spend a month in hospital before being discharged and after a single visit to her favourite investigator, she will states she is leaving town. Keepers may wish for her to become a regular contact for the Investigators, either as a informant or potentially a love interest for one of the investigators.
Any samples the investigators may have had will suddenly die over night when the Byakhee is killed / flees. If they have been given to the Morgans Institute, then they will report they were having some success with them apparently developing them but they all died out quickly shrivelling up (tiny residue on plates can be recovered). No new data was able to be acquired.
Recovers from her ordeal in coming in contact with Cooper (and potentially the Mythos) very quickly. She capitalises on her the story she uncovers and publishes a serialised story about 'Coopers rampage'. From an unknown leak she establishes a number of details and pieces together a story where the madman begins killing off the squad members in some bizarre act of retribution for an early incident in 1914. She doesnt have the full story but makes a link with the disappearance of a group of gypsies and there is wild speculation about how they are linked. At no point does she mention any Mythos related detail (even if she came face to face with it). Attempts are made by the Army to discredit her articles but regardless she is widely acclaimed.
