Here is the breakdown of Ben's actions upon the discovering something has happened to Joe.
Knowing that Joe was supposed to be coming up, he'ld have been waiting and keeping an eye/ear open for him. Once he got word of what happened Ben would go into action;
1st he would get the modified AR-15 that Joe left to the town's resident psychic sensitive and annex member Sydney Valentine for an object read as to Joe's condition and possible where abouts.
2nd he gets on the phone to Vincent Del Caine (the newly resinstated drector of Black Badge) and calls in two favors leaving Ben & Vincent squared away in the favor department. Since Joe helped save Ben and in turn help him get his job back, Vincent pulls some strings declaring what occured to be linked to possible suspicious
terrorist acivity that they have been involved in. He would pull the whole " Homeland Security " ruse and take the investigation out of the hands of the local authorites (provided nothing else turns up; there is only so much Vincent can do without loosing his job again
).
3rd - Once Vincent pulls the investigation out of the hands of the local authorites, Ben finds out how Joe is doing (you can fill in the blanks there Joe) and where he might be. Ben would know from the police reports where the RV is. He would also starting running thougough background checks on Joe (again you can tell me what Ben learns via PM). He then grabs the following people to help him;
Ben Holister (himself) (He owes Joe big for all the times he helped him out) and being an LEO would know how to investigate a crime scene.
Merci Gerrik (psi-healer from the annex & & town animal control officer). Ben knows that Joe is hurt already so after this situation can't be in any better shape, so a healer may be needed.
Sydney Valentine; (psychic sensitive, parapsychologist, & resident psychologist). A good investigator in her own right, but her sensitive abilities Ben may be able to make better use of once they reach the RV (& if they discover the truth about the possessing entity).
Finally Randolph Carter - (arcanist & scholar) Carter insists upon coming because Joe helped him get his copy of The Necronomicon back from the ones who kidnapped him last month. Crater also believes (along with Ben), that this might be retaliation from The Society of Shadows. Joe did claim that the woman who was following him in Florida was in Maine at the fight scene, so Carter insists that everyone uses caution and prepares some possible spells that may prove useful.
4th -Once Ben & his Annex team arrive in NY they go right to the police station to varify their USDHS credentials (provided by Vincent Del Caine as pat of the ruse) and collect any & all evidence. It is then they learn about the other "agencies ?" that have already showed prior. Thinking it suspicious Ben calls back home and has deputy Rourke Utah verify the involvement of these other agencies. This is probably when Ben & team meet any other PCs involved in the story.
5th - Once they gain access to the RV Ben has Sydney & Carter do their things and find out what happened to Joe, the guy driving the RV, and where he is now. This is done through Sydney's psychic abilities of Object Read & Remote Viewing. Carter performs a Locate spell followed by a Calling spell.
While this is taking place Ben investigates the crime scene, gathers any missed evidence to try and determine who or what is responsible for the abuction. He has Merci gather supplies with Duke (Ben's K-9 companion).
6th - Once Carter & Sydney determine Joes location and whereabouts, and any possible encounter they may face, they prepare the best they can and go to the location to rescue Joe.
Now before I continue; this would be a great tie to this actually being a (SoS) revenge plot against Joe, or perhaps the possessing entity has been working for the (SoS) all along and now is the time for Joe to be eliminated. Maybe the (SoS) was responisble for the death of Joe's familiy in some way; maybe Joe had dealings with the (SoS) and ever realized it until now. Like I said, this has alot of potential. This also helpd me know what type of minions/thugs to be expecting. If it is the (SoS), other than the entity who would be calling the shots, there might be several low level cult thugs (basically cultists with a liking for knives and small semi-automatic weapons) and a sup/nat enforcer like a Dybbuuk, Tectonic Entity, or Golem under the control of at least one necromancer.
The necromancer would be the one torturing Joe, and enjoying it using every means necassary to get Joe to crack...even a spell she (I believe in equal opportunity antagonists
) would threaten to use to pull the souls of his family from heaven so that she could deliver them to her master...and thats when the Joe would see the " Shadow Mirror" first hand. Picture a 3 foot tall, 2 foot wide mirror with a black iron frame in the design of an Oroborous (two seprents trying to eat each other) with dark red rubies for eyes. The mirror itself is black and bares no reflection.
The necromancer would use it once to speak to " her master " allowing Joe to get a glimpse of a crimson cloaked figure (human?) surrounded by flames. He provides her with the spell that would attack the souls of Joe's family.
It would be about that time Ben & team would arrive; Ben would do some recon and silently take out as many human gaurds as possible using non-lethal tactics (he is still an LEO) and tazer/stun gun. Carter would incapaciate as many as possible using minor spells and Sydney would try to pinpoint Joe's exact location. Meric, who is an expert with animals, along with Duke deals with the dogs (knowing her she make try to take one or more home with her...
)
As for any enforcer, Ben would take care of that with any other fighter type PC's, and Duke while he has Carter, Merci, & Sydney rescue Joe. (Leaving the combat to the fighters).
As for the possessing entity, once it is revealed that is in fact a possessing entity, Merci would rescue Joe, Carter & Sydney would distract the entity still in its human host. Once Joe is free, Meric would sneak up on the entity while it is distracted and use her psi-healing exorcism ability to expel the entity from its hiding place, followed by double cap attack of a psi-sensitive Dispel Spirits from Sydney and a Banishment spell from Carter. I'm pretty sure the entity would have no choice but to flee (and come back to fight another day).
If the girl/host is still alive Merci would do her best using her paramedic skill/and healing touch to help her. If she is already dead, then she focus all of her inner stength and skill on healing Joe.
As for the necromancer, she would have escaped during the fray, or could be capture by Joe when she tries to get away. If she is captured she swallows poison and dies quickly. The spell is still in her other clenched hand...
Well, what do you think? Like, dislike; any input or change you would like to make Im all ears.
