Eckstein Interview - Mon, Sep 19, 2016

The session begins with Luke providing a recap of the previous events:

• Working Group Masticate finished canvassing the Myers Point trailer park.
• They learned that everyone’s pets disappeared around the time of Clove’s death.
• Old Chuck saw three vandals who broke into Clove’s trailer and exited into the swamp without using a vehicle.
• Steel Monroe saw a rider clad in yellow, who mesmerized him with a hypnotic monologue and licked him with a giant bloody tongue.
• When Steel tried to explain his experience, Matthew McCarter concluded that God was coming to speak to all of them individually.
• The team visited Rush Library at Southwestern State College, where Clove worked.
  • Clove’s supervisor, Laura Corderoy, spoke highly of her abilities and professionalism.
  • Student library clerk Jay Oliveira said he saw Clove trying to drown her sorrows at Joe Mama’s Swamp Shack.
  • They reviewed the list of library books Clove studied, indicating she never stopped trying to understand what happened at Cornucopia House in 2001.

The team discusses their next steps.

• Mark asks how much McCarter shared about his experience talking to God.
• Steel and McCarter discuss their supernatural encounters.
  • Steel asks McCarter about what the entity told him.
  • McCarter shares that the entity told him to kill their “unsubs” and mentioned being hungry.
  • They debate whether the entity is truly God or something else with delusions of grandeur.
  • Steel believes the entity might be messing with them and suggests it might target Drummond and Cortez next.

The team plans to approach Officer Eckstein (X-Teen).

• They discuss whether to go in aggressively or be more conservative.
• They decide to visit Eckstein’s duplex directly.
  • Upon arrival, they notice a security camera and a ring doorbell.
  • Eckstein communicates through the doorbell, expressing reluctance to let them in.
  • He prefers to meet in public and suggests a nearby park.
• The team notices Eckstein’s pickup truck with a Punisher skull and Blue Lives Matter sticker.
• At the park, they meet Eckstein.
  • He is young, fit, and appears wary of them.
  • He questions who they work for and why they’re interested in Clove.
  • The team shows their DOJ badges, but Eckstein remains suspicious.
  • He mentions that he doesn’t trust the sheriff and suspects a cover-up.

The team attempts to persuade Eckstein to share information.

• Steel tries to ease tensions by flattering Eckstein and discussing mutual interests.
  • He succeeds in a Persuade check.
• Eckstein asks if they are with “the group” or against them.
  • Hearing the phrase “the group” triggers Sanity checks for those not adapted to Helplessness.
  • Those who fail lose 1 Sanity and become adapted to Helplessness.
• The team realizes Eckstein might be referring to Delta Green.
  • McCarter infers that Eckstein suspects a secret organization.
• The team admits they are trying to stop the people responsible for Clove’s death.

Eckstein decides to trust them and shares more information.

• He believes Clove was involved in something related to conspiracies like “Pizzagate.”
• He found Clove’s journal at the crime scene but kept it since the sheriff closed the case.
• He hands over the bloodstained journal to the team.
  • The journal has their first names listed alongside “Cornucopia House.”
  • There’s a bloody cat paw print framing their names.
• The team makes Sanity checks upon seeing their names in the journal.
  • Those who fail lose 1 Sanity.

The team asks Eckstein about the sheriff’s behavior.

• They learn that Sheriff Benson is more interested in keeping things quiet, possibly due to the upcoming election.
• Eckstein suspects the sheriff either wants to avoid bad press or is under external pressure.

Eckstein offers additional help.

• He provides a digital copy of the medical examiner’s report on Clove’s death.
  • Steel reviews the report and notes discrepancies.
  • The report claims Clove died of natural causes (cardiac arrest) despite evidence of a struggle and mutilation.
  • There were photos of bloody paw prints and arterial spray, indicating foul play.
• Eckstein gives the team his contact information.
• He expresses interest in joining their cause to combat the “sick people” responsible.

After parting ways with Eckstein, the team debates their next move.

• They consider whether Eckstein poses a risk to their operation.
  • Monroe suggests the guaranteed route of eliminating him.
  • Drummond prefers avoiding unnecessary violence and suggests they might use Eckstein as a resource.
• They discuss potential plans to use Eckstein in future operations where he might be useful or possibly eliminated indirectly.

Steel begins studying Clove’s journal in-depth.

• The journal is severely damaged with blood and torn pages.
• It contains notes from 1996 to 2001, detailing Clove’s investigations.
• Key findings from the journal include:
  • Clove’s work with two agents codenamed Clyde and Cerise, likely referring to Delta Green operatives.
  • Clyde handed her a folder of traumatic evidence before dying in a shootout at a taxi garage.
  • Research on the Skoptsi, a Russian cult worshipping the Magnum Mater.
    • Clove linked the Skoptsi to the Basilica of Our Virgin Mother in Maryland.
  • Interviews with other Delta Green operatives who warned her about a new official group possibly compromised by the enemy.
  • Clove wrestled with the idea of eliminating the children from Cornucopia House but lacked the means to find them.
  • She noted strange graffiti symbols, including a red brain, and attempted to access the GARI database to learn more.

The team members decide to read the journal themselves.

• Steel, Cortez, and Drummond read the journal in full.
  • Each gains 1 point in Unnatural, 5% in Occult, and loses 1 Sanity.
• They discuss the implications of Clove’s findings.
  • They realize Clove had been investigating them and the events of Cornucopia House.
  • The team acknowledges the potential threat of their connections being exposed.

The team considers their next steps.

• They debate whether to confront Sheriff Benson but decide against it to avoid drawing attention.
• They discuss the possible involvement of the Iron Wolves motorcycle gang.
  • Cortez recalls that the John Doe they encountered had a tattoo similar to the gang’s insignia.
  • They consider that the gang might be connected to their investigation.
• The team contacts Eckstein for information on the Iron Wolves.
  • He provides the location of Johnny’s Bar off I-75, known to be frequented by the gang.
• At Johnny’s Bar, they observe members of the Iron Wolves.
  • They notice that the gang’s tattoos differ from the one on the John Doe.
  • The tattoos of the gang are professionally done, while the John Doe’s appeared amateurish.
• They conclude that approaching the gang may not yield useful information and could be dangerous.

The team explores alternative leads.

• Drummond suggests investigating the homeless shelter where Elle Gable stayed.
  • The St. Lawrence Church shelter in Miami.
  • They consider that the John Doe might have also been connected to the shelter.
• Cortez reflects on Clove’s attempt to access the GARI database regarding the graffiti.
  • They contact Butler to gain access to the GARI database.
  • They discover that the graffiti symbols have been reported near the St. Lawrence Church.
• The team decides to head to Miami to follow up on this lead at the church shelter.

The session concludes with the team planning to investigate the St. Lawrence Church shelter in Miami to uncover more about the graffiti and potential connections to their case.