Episode 1

The Haunted Old Log
When Matt Dayton agreed to endorse the Lakeside Art Festival as a favor to Alison Park, he immediately regretted his decision. The seemingly simple scenario quickly escalated to an enormous amount of pain in his ass, and this culminated in a call that the Old Log Theatre, where the finale of the festival was to be held, was haunted. It was left to Dayton to make the venue suitable, so he called in some back up and set about ghostbusting.

Dayton joined Clutch Warner and Nick Strummer to await the arrival of Gravedigger, who, uncharacteristically and as an indication of how dangerous he thought the situation may be, had solicited the services of Taren Riggs and Alexander 'Anders' Anderson. The group gathered in the theater lobby, where Gravedigger performed a ritual to divine the names of the ghosts residing there. The spectres where echoes of Lena Dunn, Gregory Salinger, Lisa Acker, and Andre Rellian - which surmised the cast of the upcoming production "Reflection", save one actress (Haley Park).

Gravedigger called the ghosts to attention, and three spirits rushed from the theater itself, wailing at the intrusion. They were fairly easily dispatched, all but one wounded enough to allow Gravedigger to permanently banish them (or, as he would put it, give them final rest). The ghost of Andre Rellian was beaten back into the Nevernever before the ritual could be directed his way. Gravedigger shared that he could sense a more powerful ghost in the theater proper, and that these ghosts seemed to be experiencing real emotion (namely, terror).

As the group opened the door to the theater proper, they got the immediate sense of opening the door to someplace else - and the tableau that greeted them confirmed this suspicion.

On the stage was a transparent, faintly glowing young woman. She was dressed in a ragged gown, her hair covering her face, and she swayed drunkenly back and forth, hovering just centimeters above the stage. A ghost's ghost, she's everything you think of as a ghost - she's Hamlet's father, Jacob Marley, Sadako from the Ring, and not-so-friendly Casper all rolled into one.

She raised her eyes, but not her head - the classic creepy look performed to its clichéd perfection, and stared directly at Gravedigger. He raised a hand, palm out, and said "Peace, Lena Dunn. We come to..."

"SILENCE!" she roared, interrupting the ectomancer. She allowed the eerie echo to fade from the expansive theatre before continuing. "You interrupted our performance! You must show respect for the lost art!" A nearly dismissive wave of her hand propelled a seat into the back of Gravedigger's legs, forcing him to sit down. Ghostly gray ropes appeared around his wrists and forehead, binding them to the seat. He did not struggle, and offered the faintest shake of his head as he closed his eyes, relaxed into the seat, and began to mumur.

"But we have more reverant guests, I see," said the ghost, acknowledging the rest of the group. "And VIPs, nonetheless. It is not uncommon for performers to grant answers to questions about the art. Please, indulge yourselves."

Another wave of her hand turned four seats around invitingly, while the rest of the reamined pointed at Lena's ghost - and as she moved across the stage, they turned every so slightly to follow her. Lights with no apparent source followed her as well, and the room itself smelled of sweat and makeup. There was a slight breeze, and distant laughter and applause was carried on it as it moved through the theater. Upon questioning, her story unfolded thusly:

"We were rehearsing, of course. It was a red show for the producers, and it was brilliant. (The lighting swells as she speaks, and she swells up straight, her voice carrying with an amazing clarity and volume.) Normally photographs bother me, but in this case the flash bulbs jus added to the energy - I've never before felt such energy from such a small audience. At my favorite moment, the end of the play where Sarah's friends drown her when they realize she knows the truth - my death scene. I felt... (she's staring off into nowhere at this point, totally engrossed in reliving the moment. The seats tip forward a bit, as if they themselves are drawn into the performance, and the lights shine with such intensity that her spectral form is nearly washed out - as if her voice is coming from the light itself)... I felt... like I could give in... like I could really do it... like I could act my way to my own death, and it would be beautiful. It was not beautiful. It should have been quiet. I should have had peace. But it was hunting us. It is still hunting us."

"Greg and Lisa were on stage with me at the time, and seemed to be just as into it... there's a real connection when you're acting together, and we all felt it... (she shudders, almost pleasurable at first, but it resolves into a soft sob) ... but they were quick to give in. I think they would have been taken right away except that Andre rushed forward, trying to protect us, I think - maybe he was just upset the scene was interrupted. I'm not sure how, but soon he joined us. It was Haley that stopped the hunter. I don't know how - she's not even a very good actress, forgive me - but she saved us. She chased the hunter away."

Clutch concluded that they would get no more worthwhile information from the specter, and wishing to limit his time in the Nevernever to as little as possible, he tore the chair that held Gravedigger from the floor and made for the exit. The ghost screamed and her demense erupted in malicious motion, nearly thwarting the attempted escapes.