CRYPTOPEDIA

For legal reasons, any and all information hence forward is a work of fiction. All events, people, creatures, and locations are  from a table top, collaborative storytelling game called "Monster of the Week" and the creative mind of the Game master; they are NOT real events from a location in upstate New York. NOTHING is being recorded by an editor working for the Mysco® company, found in footage and records related to the COMPLETELY FICTIONAL television series "Cryptopedia". All text herein is not just written because one individual is bad at remembering what happened between sessions

CHAPTER 1: BADGERCONDA 

       A group of individuals related to the Mysco® series "Cryptopedia" en route to a location near Lake Pleasant along what the editor presumes is NY-8 are forced to stop. It is known that this group was heading to the site to film a reality television pilot where the Cryptopedia team searches for evidence of cryptids and/or other undocumented animal/phenomena, in this case, a large bipedal creature colloquially know as Bigfoot.  Police and medical records related to what forced them to stop  are not available.

          However information I have received would suggest that sometime in the late night/early morning a van registered to the Mysco® company was involved in an incident that damaged said van and rendered it immobile. Video files taken from a handheld video recorder operated by an intern known as "TBD" provide little information, the recording is shot from the passenger seat of the second row of the van facing out of the open rear doors: 

        A medium sized  (estimated 29" in length) shape is obscured, covered by what could be a blanket or large jacket. The scene is lit from the red of the van tail lights, appearing to confirm the rough time provided to me. A male dressed in army surplus, or hunting gear is located near the body, attempting to try and further conceal what is under the blanket. Said male is gesticulating to another male, scruffy and  of average build. The other male does not speak. 

       After a time, the more animated male approaches the camera operator. The man begins loudly proclaiming the ability of "Carl Danger" to handle the situation. It quickly becomes evident that this man speaks exclusively in the third person. Carl Danger describes the shrouded mass as a "dog". The Shaggy male approaches Carl danger and leans in closely, nothing audible is heard, but Carl danger quickly changes the thing in the blanket from being the body of a dog to being the upper torso of a male. Carl then marches into the woods, loudly stating that he must "hide the drugs".

       The camera switches off and on several times, it appears that the operator is succumbing to significant stress and has lost track of whether the camera is recording or not. Roughly 20 minutes later a sheriff arrives on the scene. there appears to be a surprisingly brief interrogation, during which time  an ambulance arrives an takes the body away. Several minutes later a tow truck arrives, a decal reads "Jenkins Towing". A brief shot shakily shows the Sheriffs name on a patch, he is Sheriff Bronson. Bronson gets Mr. John Jenkins to agree to tow the Cryptopedia van back to his repair shop and lodge the television crew for the night.

      The camera begins recording, operator addresses the camera directly. He is now in what could be a guest room. The operator is a Young male, later identified as Micki Ulfers, who worked briefly as a PA for the Mysco® company. In the background Carl Danger and the shaggy male appear to be sleeping, the shaggy male is curled up at Carl Dangers feet. Mickey, addressing the camera in hushed tones speaks of a story told by John Jenkins, about his grandfather and a trailer in the woods. The Grandfather was obsessed with something referred to as a "Badgerconda". The camera shuts off.

      Recording abruptly starts, a panicked Micki is concerned about noise from the junk yard across the street from the repair shop. A shaky camera suggests mickey has decided to investigate the sound on his own, his companions still sleeping. The camera weaves through sorted piles of car parts, an odd scratching sound and perhaps hissing may be heard from no particular direction. Eye shine is spotted behind a junked car, the light in Mickis hand causes the creature to violently duck behind a car. Micki remarks upon a horse-sized shape in the dark.The camera falls to the ground, the toungue of a bloody chuck taylor occupies the lower right frame. A large creature, bounds out of frame at great speed.  

       It is at this point the editor wishes you to know. The thing in the video was blurry, mass of fur, and perhaps scales. I can not better describe what was on the file, but a sketch from a journal recovered from the junk yard depicting a chimera is what I saw in the video. 

          The shaggy man and Carl appear in the frame. It becomes obvipus that the creature has bounded off with Micki, and surprisingly, Betty, Jenkins wife. There is what appear to be brief discussion. After a moment, the Shaggy man (at this point it is know he is named "Dave Stone") appears to sniff the air, after which he sprints into the same direction as the creature. The pair run down a road for a short while, then stop. Dave stone points into the woods.

       Following what could be a game trail, they happen upon a mangled, but still alive Micki. Carl stays with Micki and calls for help. Dave disappears out of frame. Carl try to help mMicki, but sets his arm in the wrong orientation. roughly 20 minutes later medics and police arrive on scene. Micki is carried out of the woods, and the remainder of Cryptopedia are taken to the police station. The camera shuts off...

       The camera turns on. It is focused on a lean man, in his mid 20s. He is Franklin Jenkins. The son of Mr.John Jenkins. During a brief interaction he claims to know where the Chimera is, and a place that could help them kill it. He agrees to give Cryptopedia a ride. They arrive at the repair shop, the team gathers improvised weapons, including a crowbar, a torch and for some reason and air-brush and magnesium shavings from scrap parts. They get back into the car and head towards a forested hillock down a long road.

      Upon arrival, Franklin says that it was his grandfathers old trailer. The door is pried open and inside is what is best described as the research of a conspiratorial mad man.  Maps and new articles plaster the walls. Heaps of books and papers threaten to fall of disheveled tables, and cabinets full of curiosities watch, covered in dust. News clippings connect to maps with sting, and Franklin remarks on one area. five clipping all attach to a map location near by. Carl spots a fire-safe, door ajar, contents partially exposed. Frank states that it sits, the same way it was when his grandfather had his heart attack. 

      Inside a leather bound book, a picture of a woman and shotgun shells are found. Dave stone opens the book. A sepia colored picture falls out. (The editor would like to point out, that this picture, whether Cryptopedia notices or not, Is of Franklin's grandfather standing with the founding members of Mysco®. Why this picture was taken I do not know, but I think that this is something worth looking into.) The book is in some kind of code, the layman cannot make heads or tails of the symbols within. However while perusing its contents one section is decoded. Franklins grandfather seems to have solved the portion regarding the "Badgerconda". A skettch of it gave some physical details.

      The tome mentions that the beast is weak to bright lights, and venomous; as well as the word "BREEDER" underlined. It is then, providential that also in the safe, are five vials of an antivenom. It is decided that the group should head towards the neaby point marked on the map. Cryptopedia... and Frank head into the woods. 

      At the end of a trail, several miles long, sat an overgrown cave. As they approached, a small whimpering is heard. Franklin states that it sounds like Betty. there is brief discussion, then, Franklin moves to a bush beside the cave. Dave Stone and Carl move into position behind two opposite rocks, opposite the caves mouth. Dave throws the car part, tied to a rope in front of the cave. Jerking the rope like a fly, the metal piece make noise. The horse-sized chimera approaches from within, investigating the sounds.

       Dave rushes forward, airbrush filled with magnesium, spraying it through the torches flame. A spray of light and heat sends the beast reeling. Franklin rushes past and Carl Danger begins to shoot. The beast howls and a large snake grabs Dave into its maw. Dave flails with his crowbar while Dave continues to spray the creature. Dave falls to the ground as a large badger tackles Carl. A moment the length of a lifetime passes and the beast lays dead. Carl gets to his feet, Dave quaffs a vial to extinguish the fiery shards of glass in his veins.

      Franklin comes out, quite and carrying his mother. She is given a vial. Franklin however does not seem at ease. He whispers something. The camera is picked up off its resting place and it enters the cave. Eggs, litter the cave floor. Some writhe, some lay still. Progeny of the chimera begin erupting from the eggs, Carl begins gleefully stomping the creatures as they charge (it's kind of fucked up). Dave grabs a lifeless creature and stuffs it into his bag.

      Cave cleansed of the beasts, the group comes to a sober realization. Mickie, he was bitten. He needs the antivenom. Rushing Betty to the local ER and  hunting for Mickies room the group finds the twisted body of the P.A. on a soiled hospital bed. He only had one week left in his un-paid internship. 

      Sheriff Bronson comes into the frame. Interrogating the group, he does not believe them. Dave reaches into his bag. But only a Jelly of bone and fur remains. They agree to take the skeptical Bronson to the scene. Upon arival... nothing no creatures, no blood no bones. Bronson leaves. A concerned Dave Stone appears to sniff the air, his shoulders droop. The Carl and Dave leave the wood.

Credits:

GM, Narrative creator & Main Storyteller: John Dunham

Supporting Storyteller & Guy who types things: Brandon Boyer

Supporting Storyteller: Alyssa Wagner, Allison Boyer