Jerry introduces Dawson, and also explains that Perrin has been released from his safe location, with papers signed by "Mr. Black". Hargreaves suggests that this might be "Uncle Blackie", a dark Pharaoh, from ancient times. He might be dangerous...
He's also got Ramsey MacDonald's speaking itinerary; the next one is in Birmingham on the Tuesday night.
Turgood is a little reluctant to leave Oxford, as he's worried that somebody (Rose) might burn his house down. Le'Death checks in the Bodlean catalogues, to see whether they've got an original copy of "the book", but they don't. He looks up the historical records of Mynydd Dinas, and Caradoc's house, but doesn't find anything particularly exciting (other than the fact that the house was partially built from old stone dating back to Roman builds).
Everybody decides to head off to Cardiff, except for Rose, who wants to do more research into the assorted Pitt Rivers items. Hargreaves and Cora offer to stay to assist.
Sallthisthen reports his departure to Inspector Keen first, who requests a report as soon as he returns.
Cora researches body parts used for magic, and finds that the Druids were great fans of this. She decides that it might be possible to find a sympathetic magic spell to counter the oratory spell, using a shriveled tongue.
Nobody at Cardiff station remembers Rebbecca, but many of them weren't on duty at the time she'd have passed through.
O'Neary heads for Cardiff museum.
Sallthisthen and Le'Death visit the Morris house, which is unoccupied (they're probably at church), but the door is unlocked. They go in, and rifle through the belongings in Rebecca's room. They find a small stash of letters, tied up with a pink ribbon. At first glance, they look like letters from Robert. They mention her visits, and also her Parents, and her brother.
Outside, in the Street, Henry spots a group of people who look as though they're returning to the house from church. He alerts Sallthisthen and Le'Death, and goes to intercept the locals. He claims he's trying to set up a miners' benevolent fund, and is canvassing for their opinions.
A middle age couple break out of the crowd, to intercept Sallthisthen, who they recognise as police from his uniform. Le'Death is introduced as a consulting doctor. He informs them of Caradoc's death. They're shocked! Since Rebbecca was possibly the last person to see him alive, the police want to find her to ensure her safety.
Jarvis arrives in Aber Avon, and walks up to the castle, atop the hill. From here, he can see the Caradoc manor house, at the bottom one of the arms of the hill, with smoke coming out of the chimneys. He estimates the estate as being a couple of acres. The grounds are well tended, with an orchard and lawn. The house is clearly a mixture of different ages of building, but it melds in quite a pleasing manner.
Cora describes her findings in excruciating detail to Hargreaves and Rose. Rose manages to locate an old Gypsy "bind tongue" spell, but it involves cutting the tongue from an unwilling victim (who should be alive, but could be recently dead).
Henry picks up rumours of the Morris' son being a bit of a thug.
Jarvis collects his car, and drives up to the Caradoc house, where he's met by a housekeeper. She shows him into a parlour, and goes to get the master. After a few minutes, Huw and Hilary Caradoc enter to greet him (in mourning dress). Jarvis suggest that he might have historic family connections to the area. They invite him to stay, and suggest calling the Port Talbot Arms to have his bags transferred.
Showing him to the Blue room, they explain that lunch will be an informal affair at 12.30.
The researchers in Oxford are interrupted by a knock at the door. It's Reverend Thomas Wenderby. He asks about their interesting investigations. Hargreaves tells him everything! Wenderby suggests an alliance, as the Masons cannot condone a Labour Prime Minister.
He also explains that, if the oratory spell is placed on MacDonald, they've got plans to eliminate him... Rose explains their plans, and Wenderby wishes them good luck.
The Cardiff train arrives in Aber Avon. Le'Death and Turgood go to visit the church. Hayward and O'Neary go for a walk up to the castle, and the dolmen on the top of the hill. Sallthisthen, accompanied this time by Dawson, go to visit the Caradoc house.
Inside, Jarvis explores the house, which he decides has eight bedroom. He fails to find Robert's room, and heads down to lunch. There are two young women and a young man (as well as the elder Caradocs). They are introduced as the Caradoc's niece Gwen, Rebbecca Morris, and her brother Matthew. Lunch is guinea fowl, and they chat about the area and archeology, and such. The family has been there since before Norman times. Jarvis mentions his visits to Oxford, and they explain the Robert was at Jesus (and Rebecca's at Hugh's). Rebecca's not sure whether she will be returning to college. Gwen's completing her studies in the house library. They're expecting MacDonald as a guest that evening.
The church is medieval: 12th or 13th century they think. Many of the gravestones are Caradoc or Talbot, with the text in English. There's a certain amount of dragon theme in place.
Halfway up the hill, O'Neary gets an uneasy feeling, but can't figure out what's causing it.
A young man approaches Le'Death and Turgood, and welcomes them. He doesn't immediately introduce himself (but has a clearly Welsh accent), but disparages the town somewhat. Finally, his name emerges as Colin Price, and invites them to join him for lunch. He clearly hasn't forgiven the Caradoc's for supporting the English invaders, despite this being over 800 years ago. They decant to a nearby pub, and Price mentions that he's got some friends arriving that evening. They're on a mission to stop MacDonald. Turgood agrees to meet them later, and Le'Death is thinking "Ahah. Distraction!"
On top of the hill, O'Neary mentally reconstructs the castle design, and tries to figure out where the dragon it's supposedly guarding would be. Hayward realises that the hill itself is the right shape to potentially represent a dragon, in which case, the dolmen would be squarely over the centre of the spine.
Sallthisthen arrives at the manor house, and gains an interview with Caradoc. He asks about Rebbecca, and is told that she's in residence. Caradoc says she's in a "bit of a state", and Sallthisthen introduces Dawson as a police psychiatrist. Rebecca's ushered in, and Sallthisthen prepares to take a preliminary statement. She says she meant to contact her parents, but hadn't got around to it.
Under questioning, she says she last saw Robert on the Thursday evening, in his rooms in Jesus. He was dead... She says she discovered the body, but couldn't bear to stay. It was quite late: about 11pm. The room was untidy, but that was normal. The porters allowed her in, since they knew of her engagement to Robert. She says his door was only on the latch (despite it being locked from the inside when Sallthisthen arrived). Sallthisthen raises the question of her overnight bag, and she says that a small valise was normal.
He asks her to come down to the police station and make a formal statement. Caradoc suggests they visit the following morning, and Rebbecca breaks down. Sallthisthen suggests that, in this case, she doesn't leave the house, and Caradoc says he will guarantee her parole.
As they leave, they see Jarvis wandering the grounds, accompanied by a "chunky young man" (actually Matthew). Jarvis suggests that Matthew goes to entertain himself, but Matthew refuses. Instead, they return to the Library.
Hargreaves and Perrin meet at Oxford Station. Hargreaves thought Perrin was simply staying with his aunt. This saves them from watching Rose and Cora prepare their spell. They end with a tongue which is shriveled, brown and quite smelly. Rose secretes in a small lavender bag.
At this point Perrin walks in, all cheer and bonhomie. He suggests they go to Wales, as the game is "a foot".
Sallthisthen telephones Keen, who's at his desk despite it being Sunday afternoon. He explains that he'd like to formally interview Rebbecca, who is staying the the local magistrate's house (for Caradoc is the magistrate, of course). Sallthisthen says it's all a bit strange, and requests some more men, and possibly a ranked officer. He requests a search warrant, and Keen suggests requesting one from the local judge (since the magistrate might be problematic).
There's a discussion in the pub of how to delay MacDonald from arriving at the Caradoc house. While this is happening, Colin Price arrives, with David and Sian Morgan, and their daughter, Frances. The intimate that they're planning a certain amount of violence toward MacDonald, and invite Turgood and Le'Death to join their mob later. Unfortunately, the total mob may only be nine people, including the party... They do warn that there might be some strange goings on, and the dragon under the hill is mentioned. Price goes on to explain that his plan does actually involve waking the dragon.
Price does say only one thing can possibly go wrong: Caradoc being capable of re-imprisoning the dragon, using the ritual originally used to capture it. However, Frances has capabilities. She may have a somewhat different appearance in the evening...
They depart, and a certain amount of wailing and gnashing of teeth happens.
Jarvis is exploring the library, and he hears MacDonald arrives at the front door. Caradoc introduces them to each other. MacDonald recognises his name, and promises to "have your boys out on strike in a couple of weeks time." Banter ensues.
Perrin, Hargreaves, and the two women arrive in Perrin's car. Rose is upset by the tongue twitching in her skirts.
O'Neary goes up to the house to talk to Jarvis. They talk in the parlour, and O'Neary suggests (after much confusion!) that keeping Gwen safe to rebind the dragon if is successfully awoken.
Everybody is subjected to a curious ripple, as though the world has been shaken into a different configuration.
O'Neary leaves the house, and Jarvis, in utter confusion. Jarvis warns Caradoc that there may be an impending mob. Caradoc's not very worried until he's told that they're probably up on the hill. At this point, he collects Gwen, and she collects MacDonald. All three of them leave the room.
In the pub, there's a plan for one of the women to pose as the distraught wife of a mason, who's planning to attack MacDonald. So they can warn him to get out of the house. Cora does this, posing as "Mrs. Peters". MacDonald comes to the phone, and she spins her yarn. He does sound worried when he hangs up.
MacDonald meets Jarvis on his way back from the telephone call, and explains that the call was to warn him that the masons are trying to kill him, but that they've got enough in the arsenal to cope. Rebbecca arrives, and hands MacDonald a small parcel, which he unwraps, and eats the contents. The quartet ask Jarvis if he understands Latin, and show him an old piece of parchment. He asks if they're expecting dragons, and they explain that anything could happen in the next 30 minutes. MacDonald says something wonderfully intelligent (albeit Jarvis can't remember what it was).
Perrin and Hargreaves arrive to meet Caradoc and MacDonald. MacDonald gives them a wonderful initial impression. Hargreaves asks Caradoc for a private interview, while Perrin keeps MacDonald nicely flattered. Hargreaves passes on the warning about the town group who are planning to wake the dragon, and Caradoc agrees they can indeed recapture it. The source of his information is Perrin's dreams about "Mr. Black". Caradoc invites them to stay...
Perrin and Hargreaves meet Jarvis, who takes Hargreaves off to one side: he's seen the dragon binding spell, which requires (amongst other things) mistletoe, a bell, and at least five minutes (or preferably an hour and a half).
In town, four masons arrive in a large black car. Rose goes to talk to them, and they already know about the plan with the bind tongue spell. She informs them that Hargreaves is in place to complete it. When she mentions the dragon, they leave! They do explain they're willing to provide transport out of town though.
There's another ripple through reality, which seems to have an epi-centre on the dolmen. Caradoc tells Jarvis it's probably from the dragon being woken. Jarvis telephones to ask Sallthisthen to get the church bells ringing. He promises to try. And Rose can find the mistletoe.
Hargreaves goes in search of Rebecca's room, where he find the remaining items from the Pitt Rivers, and removes them to Perrin's case. He goes to the car tool box, and puts a nail into the fetish, hoping for any luck he can get.
The masons are sent off to ring the church bells (with Dawson), and the Morgans are located in the King's Head. A mob is formed (Le'Death, O'Neary, Sallthisthen, Hayward and Turgood). Le'Death sneaks upstairs, while the others distract the barman. He finds the Morgans room, and knocks on the door. Colin Price opens the door, but behind him, Frances can be seen to be a little on the green and leafy side. Le'Death asks about the tremors, and Price explains it's part of the plan. Le'Death assaults him, and gets punched in return. He notices that Frances seems to be carrying a piece of old stone, so he bellows, and charges toward it.
Frances pushes him away with a spell, and he crashes back into the wall.
Sallthisthen charges up the stairs into the room. He meets the rising Price, and clubs him with a truncheon. Le'Death launches himself at Frances a second time, and collapses to the ground. Sallthisthen attempts to move into the room, but stumbles. Hayward and O'Neary queue up in the doorway. Sallthisthen drops on Price, but without any real effect. O'Neary tries to draw a bead on Mr Morgan, who is clearly spell casting, but decides that there's not enough clear a line. Hayward runs in and grapples with Frances, who does something diabolically painful to him. But (unusually for Phil!) he survives.
Turgood runs up, and throws an empty bottle into the room, narrowly missing O'Neary's head!
Sallthisthen manages to knock Price into unconsciousness. O'Neary fires at Mr. Morgan, but misses. Hayward tries again to grab the stone, but can't wrest it from Frances' grip.
Morgan attempts to enchant O'Neary, but fails.
Turgood grabs an umbrella, and runs into the room. He trips over his own feet. The umbrella gets snagged into a knot of wood, and is stuck.
Sallthisthen attempts to knock the stone out of Frances hand, but it feels like hitting a tree.
Hayward grabs Le'Death's body, and drags it out of the room, while O'Neary puts a bullet into Mr. Morgan. Turgood collapses as a result of another spell from Morgan, and Sallthisthen pulls him out.
O'Neary slams the door behind them, and they retreat back down to the ground floor, where Le'Death is resuscitated.
At the church, the local bell-ringing group is pushed out of the way to allow Dawson and the masons to ring the bell. They block the door to stop the real ringers getting in, as the bells are promptly rung into oblivion.
In the manor house, Hargreaves is perusing the library, looking for the original book containing the oratory spell. Caradoc and Rebbecca are in there, but ignore him, as they're concentrating on a large bundle of papers. Rose delivers her mistletoe to the kitchens.
In the pub, those people awake (with the exception of O'Neary) start throwing bottles of spirits into the fire, and attempt to commit arson on the pub. Turgood does a damn good job: he's good at this.
O'Neary goes around the back of the pub, to cover the escape route, while Sallthisthen "explains" the situation to the arriving police. O'Neary spots the three Morgans leaving, Frances still in tree-mode. He lets them depart in the direction of the hill and the house, and returns to the front.
Caradoc gives the Latin spell to Rose, who seems to be the only person who reads the language. She suggests fetching Hayward, and Hargreaves leaps in the car to do that. On the way, he spots the approaching Frances-tree, and takes evading action.
Le'Death is up, but groggy. He realises the masons don't currently need their car, and steals it. O'Neary takes the passenger seat, while Sallthisthen attempts to help Hayward's injuries. He does, however, find a rifle in the boot, which he passes to Turgood.
Caradoc gives Jarvis a shotgun. Everybody arrives back at the manor house, and Cora attempts to patch Hayward up a little, but she doesn't know what's wrong with him. Sallthisthen explains the Morgan's plan to Caradoc, and he suggests that Frances has been trained up as an avatar of Shub-Niggurath. Most people respond with "huh?" although there's a fairly common recognition of the concept of an Ur-Mother.
Hayward translates the binding spell from Latin into a phonetic pronunciation.
In the church, Dawson opens the tower door, and spots the flames advancing toward the them.
Hargreaves and O'Neary attempt to rig up an automatic bell ringing system, run from a bicycle. Hargreaves manages to arrange this, despite O'Neary making a hash of things.
Hayward starts chanting the spell. Caradoc supplies O'Neary and Turgood with more guns, and they head to the roof to keep watch. Perrin shows a black arrow that he claims will kill Frances. O'Neary ties a rope to a stanchion on the roof, and drops it down the ground on the far side from the hill.
Dawson leads the masons from the church up toward manor house.
Another dragon-ripple spreads from the hill, causing (amongst other things) MacDonald to start losing his cool.
Something massive, but invisible starts approaching the house, and three figures are on foot. Turgood manages to put an armour-piercing into Frances, but O'Neary misses his shot at Mr. Morgan. In retaliation, the approaching beast chomps O'Neary in crap.
Caradoc shouts out a spell, instructing people not to look up the hillside. Dawson arrives at the side of the house, and charges through the orchard. Those still watching the hillside see Mrs Morgan scrabbling at something above her, and she drops like a husk to the ground. Turgood puts a round into Mr. Morgan, who collapses to the ground. He steps to the side, and another section of roof balustrade is eaten away.
The window at the end of the library bursts in. Le'Death falls in the shards of resulting glass. Hayward releases his pent up spell.
Perrin sights his bow on Frances, but decides to go downstairs, as it's safer inside. She's continually growing in size. Dawson runs inside, taking a sword on the way.
As a result of Hayward's action, a strange concoction of dragon-like bits becomes apparent, defying the ability of their minds to make sense. Even as they see it, it dwindles in on itself, and zips back toward the hill. Jarvis spots MacDonald leaving the library, and follows, carrying his shotgun.
Turgood puts another round into Frances. Caradoc dismisses his summoning.
Perrin fires his arrow at Frances, and it spirals into the distance. And then turns and flies straight into Frances, who shrinks into a small black log.
Outside, Jarvis and Cora leap into his car, and chase MacDonald, who is fleeing, terrified, down the drive. They overtake and restrain him. He demands they let him go, and they do so...
Hayward's insane.
O'Neary is dead.
Turgood charges into the library with a rifle. He asks Caradoc where he was born, and at the reply "Here, in this house!" opens fire. The rifle jams, and he starts to flail with the rifle.
Hargreaves and Rose go looking for MacDonald, but fail to find him.