You explore the remaining of this level and find two new tunnels that lead upwards, one to a higher level and one to a new spire. You choose the spire. After the tunnel has twisted 900°, you come to an open space.

The throne room is a long hall, nearly 100 feet long and carved from Obsidian. Every five feet a pillar rises to the ceiling, 20 feet above the chamber’s floor. These pillars resemble huge malformed bones, twisting in their contorted support of the roof. A group of figures can be seen at the far end of the hall, they appeared to be gathered around a device of some sort, but at this distance it is impossible to make anything out. The only illumination is derived from the machine, and its weird lights cast bizarre shadows along the walls of the hall.

As you enter the Throne room, a low chanting can be heard. It is a strange and alien chorus; the combined voices resonate in a very inharmonious way. As you proceeds down the hall, the chanting becomes louder and louder.

You get close enough to clearly see the figures and the machine. The figures are eleven Serpent People. Ten of these Snake Folk are dressed alike, garbed in smooth, flexible armour covered with runes. These runes are closely related to the runes discovered throughout the fortress.

The eleventh serpent Man is dressed in a flowing red robe, likewise covered with the familiar runes. This Serpent Man is larger than the others and stands closest to the machine. His clawed hand stretched out in front of him. All of the Serpent People seem to be in a sort of trance as they chant even louder. They are unaware of your presence.

Their ceremony is seemingly directed at the machine in the middle of their circle. This device is a mutated version of Professor Rhodes’ original design for the Time Distortion Generator. The central sphere is black and the connected tubes pump alien liquids into it. The main sphere is covered with runes. It is these glyphs that and provide light. All this looks like Rhodes’ own machine, though one important difference exists and can be observed.

The machine is hovering in the air, about five feet off the ground. Below the floating Generator sits what remains of the Miskatonic physicist. He is gaunt and pale. His head has been shaved completely and a circle of stitches runs horizontally across the diameter. An ominous looking tube runs from the hovering machine to the top of Rhodes’ skull. The Professor just sits, smiling and giggling to himself.

At the sight of the strange 'living' serpent beings, Penny gasps. She speaks in a whisper so all her companions can hear. "It is written that Satan appeared to Eve in the Garden of Eden as a serpent. These beings can be nothing but his servants." She pushes down the fear rising within her. "Lo, though I walk through the valley of death, I shall fear no evil..."

Doc whispers to the others, taking out his pistol, "In order to rescue the professor, I believe we will have to do it by killing the serpent creatures around him. Even then we may be too late for the professor. They may have altered him permanently. I believe that the creatures are evil and will not behave civilly towards us. Do we all concur in killing the serpent creatures?"

Natasha whispers as she pulls out her own revolver "Killing them may be a good idea, but there are only four of us, and twelve of them, and we have only two pistols, and who knows what kind of magic or deviltry they may summon?" She then shrugs and whispers, "Nothing to be done about it, if we are to do this thing then I suggest we sneak up really close and fire at near point blank range, and that we kill the big one before we do the others.” Natasha sighs and whispers, "I do not like this, though, is there no other way.”

Doc whispers in reply, "I do not like it either, but I see no other alternative. We could wait for a better opportunity, but then we risk discovery or even more of them showing up. We also do not know what unspeakable things they are up to. Any other suggestions?"

Natasha nods, then she offers the gun butt to Cochroft and whispers, "Doctor Cochroft, I think you may do better with this than .I" She smiles a little and then adds, "I am a woman, this weapon is to protect myself, not to attack the servants of the devil." She also hands him whatever bullets she have. When this is done she whispers, "Gentlemen, Miss Pritchard, here is my plan, I will hold Miss Pritchard and stay in the background ready to flee if you should fail, you do whatever you have to do". She hesitates then she adds, "And if I could borrow a strong knife from either one of you I would appreciate it".

Doc unsheathes his knife and hands it to Natasha.

Natasha takes it, then she hides it in her purse and says "Just in case, good luck", she then grabs Penny and gently moves towards the rear and waits to see what happens.

Penny nods blankly at the plan. The thoughts of death now begin to overwhelm her senses. "What should I do?"

Natasha whispers, "Nothing, just stick close to me, the men will fight and we will watch".

Charles intervenes, “We have the tranquilliser rifle. I don’t know if it will be of any use, but it will be folly not to try it.

Doc replies, "Good idea, Charles, it is less nosy than normal guns. Try using it but be ready to use your other weapons as well. Should I wait until after you have use the tranqs or until we are noticed?"

“Actually I thought one of the girls could use the rifle. The Gun will be more effective to my use”, Doc replies

Natasha whispers "True, maybe you can knock out the ugly one, but there are still eleven of them and only four of us, and I am not very skilled with any weapons", she stops, then she says "Doctors, I will stay in the

rear and watch, there us not much else I can do".

“I don’t think that I either is up to using the rifle just know. Maybe it is better to it be”, Penny says.

“Right then”, Doc agrees.

Penny moves to the rear of the room near the door with Natasha. Thinking that there may be a chance one of the serpent beings could sneak up on them, she keeps her eye to the rear of the party and the door that holds there escape. Her bible in trembling hands, she prepares for the worst.

Natasha whispers, "Trust in God, and if the men should fall we can still flee.”

---

In the short time the investigators have laid their plans the infernal machine has begun to hum and the glyphs have begun glow brighter.

Doc and Charles walk as close up to the Serpent People the feel they can without being noticed. Doc aims for the Serpent Priest. The shot (*44*) is deafening and the boom is resonating in the hall for a couple of seconds. The Serpent in red takes a hit, but Doc didn’t blow his head off, or get a certain kill. The priest goes down. Charles picks the closest standing serpent. Maybe it is the boom, or maybe it is his nerve, but Charles manages to miss (*93*) at his target at point blank range!

The glyphs continue to glow, and brighter.

The Serpents was in deep trance and the shock of the noise and sight of their leader being hit and maybe killed, render them temporary paralysed.

The Serpent Priest is now out of sight and Doc aims his gun at his closest adversary. (*95*) Doc misses.

Charles shoots (*97*) and misses again. Charles begins to Panic.

The glyphs continue to glow, and brighter.

Now the Serpents start to become aware of the danger. Many of them are regaining their composure and are focusing on the humans.

Charles shoots (*12*) and this time he gets a certain kill. A serpent, which had started to move towards Doc, hits the floor.

Charles has panicked and is firing blindly at the crowd of Serpents. How is it possible to miss;-) (*03*) Charles sees that the bullet penetrates a Serpents eye and ruptures his skull. The blood is red. This gives Charles some of his self-reliance back.

The glyphs continue to glow, and brighter.

The time has now come for killing humans now and not only Snakes. The odds against the humans are overwhelming. 9:2. Four of the Serpents attack the humans trying to get in a poisonous bite.

Charles and Doc shoot simultaneously and both hits (*70, 87*) at point blank range. These are not kills but the attackers are stopped in their tracks.

Charles and Doc is both attacked by one Serpent each. Doc barely avoids being bit and the second serpent could not reach Charles.

The professor still sits there giggling, the glyphs continue to glow, and brighter.

Again the humans are attacked and not it seems that they are unable to count their attackers, they are attacked from all directions.

Yet again Doc and Charles are unable to achieve kills (*47, 51*) and this time the Serpent People have the edge. Doc is bitten twice.

(*Doc passes his first Resistance roll against the effect of the Poison*)

With despair, the two women see that their companions are overrun. Next there is a great blaze and the shockwave hits them.

---

Natasha and Penny wake up. It is completely dark, quiet, and the air is filled with dust. Natasha calls out Doc’s and Charles’ names but is greeted with silence. Penny manages to light one of the lamps and she is struck with alarm. Where the time machine once stood, she sees only mutilated bodies. Natasha and Penny find Doc and Charles among the many Serpent bodies and the remains of the professor.

Charles is in best condition. He is unconscious but breathing regularly. Natasha is barely able to find a pulse on Doc. The veins leading from the Serpent bites on Doc, has turned blue.

A quick overview of the situation leads to an interesting observation. There are only 9 Serpent bodies here, dead bodies, and the Serpent in red is not among them.

First Aid Roll (*6*) Penny examines Doc and her worry grows. It is not the physical wounds that will kill Doc (Remaining HP 3), but the poison that has entered his body. Doc needs antidote, or he'll die.

(*Doc fails his second Resistance roll against the effect of the Poison and looses 1 HP*)

Natasha cares for Charles, but she is unable to help him. Charles has no open wounds on his body that Natasha may tend. After five minutes, though, Charles gains his consciousness by himself. He is not feeling fit for fight, but he can move in a moderate pace.

Natasha quietly tends Cochroft. Then as he comes about she seems to think of something and quickly looks for her revolver, and any loose bullets that Cochroft may have lost. If she finds them she will scoop them up, top up her revolver (if possible), and then grab the other weapon and try to do the same. Looking at Penny and Cochroft she comments "Perhaps Miss Pritchard, Doctor, we should find the missing serpents and kill them, or get out of this terrible place". She seems rather shook up, but still lucid and able to pull herself together. Oh and she will look for any remains of the time machine, especially anything that looks like that shining thing in the original. If she remembers she will comment "Perhaps we should milk some poison from the dead beasts, I think I heard that venom is used in creating the anti-dote".

“Brilliant idea, Countess, that may save Doc’s live. However, if we can’t return to our time, we can’t make the antidote. While you gather the poison, I’ll do a little reconnaissance. Maybe I’ll try the time portals in the airshaft.”

Natasha says, “Take care then, Doc. If you aren’t back in 30 minutes, we’ll come looking for you. If you enter through one of the Time Portals, put an X beside it with the charcoal.” Penny gives Doc a hug before he leaves.

---

A fine layer of dust covers the room and also the tunnel down to the first level. Doc can easily follow the tracks that the fleeing Serpent Men has left behind. Here and there, drops of blood can also be spotted. Reaching the first level, Chares notices that the tracks lead to the next level in the tower and not to the ext of the tower or to the airshaft. This makes Charles a little bewildered, but he decides to check out the first level first.

It is a gigantic shock. Charles is quite sure that this is the correct place. The exit to the tower is no longer there. Though this is not entirely correct. Where the entrance should be, it is pure rock, not obsidian, but simply rock. Charles touches the surface of the rock and burns himself! Doc begins to wonder. It seems like the Rock is bulging into the tower. Charles hurries back to the others.

---

(*Doc passes his third Resistance roll against the effect of the Poison*)

“Countess, Penny, something extraordinary has happened.” Charles tells what he saw, “I think we should follow the tracks of the Serpent People. They are most likely to know the safest route out.”

Charles is too exhausted to carry Doc by himself, so Charles and Natasha are dragging Doc by their shoulders. Penny goes in front trying to spot the tracks from the Serpents.

The tracks are easy to find in the beginning but as the lead upwards in the levels, they get scarcer and more difficult to find. Though, everything suggests that the Serpent People’s destination was the top of the tower, and thus, this is the route Penny takes.

(*Doc passes his fourth Resistance roll against the effect of the Poison*)

Nearing the top Penny detects an awful smell of decay. Penny is certain that she is on the correct path, because she recently found some drops of blood. Penny says, “I think we are close to something.” On the next level, Penny detects the sound of running water and the smell starts to become nauseating.

Penny stops. The roof has collapsed and above it she can see another tunnel, but this tunnel is not like the ones in the tower, but a tunnel in natural rock. Penny climbs the boulders up the other tunnel. In the new tunnel Penny can see it leading further upwards. “This is it. Follow me.” Penny is eager now, and follows the new tunnel upwards. Shortly it ends in a greater tunnel, a sewer!

---

The passage up the sewer is brief but disgusting. Several stretches you have to wade in water, where you can see excrements floating around. Sometimes you can see markings on the wall. They are in English, but you cannot learn where you are or find a date. Eventually you reach the top and moonlight. You have reached the surface through a manhole cover. The street is empty apart from cars parked on the side of the street. From the buildings you surmise that this is a well-off residential area in a city.

(*Doc fails his fifth Resistance roll against the effect of the Poison and looses 1 HP*)

Doc is very weak now and his pulse is barely detectable, and his face is ash grey. Charles goes down the street trying to find a cab, while Penny starts to ring the bell on some of the houses in the streets. The countess stays with Doc.

Penny is lucky. Her sight and smell would outright probably scare most inhabitants of the neighbourhood away, but this soul is a Samaritan and he quickly apprehend the situation, and he has a car. He takes Doc and you to the closest hospital.

Natasha tries not to sully the car, and to get rid of the worst muck of her shoes and dress. The car is as the ones she knew before you jumped in time. Natasha does not know much about cars, and she cannot tell which type and model this car is. The neighbourhood is typical American. The impression is strengthened by the accent of the driver.

---

Doc is immediately taken care of at the hospital. Charles explains that a snake bit Doc and that they were able to catch the snake and collect a sample of the poison. Doc is placed on the intensive care while a sample of the poison is analysed. Doc is given a number of antidotes in case that one of them will have effect. You want to be present in Doc’s room but are banished to the corridor because of your smell.

(*Doc fails his fifth Resistance roll against the effect of the Poison and looses 1 HP*)

Then the nurse calls for more personnel and you fear the worst. 15 minutes later one of the doctors comes out to see you. His look is grave when he speaks to you, “I’m sorry. There was nothing we could do. Your friend expired 10 minutes ago and we cannot revive him. The deceased has grave internal injuries too, but it was the poison that killed him.”

Natasha looks shocked, then she says "Oh dear Lord", after a while she will add "Doctor, this ... this might sound strange, but given the ...", she motions at her dress and says "Mess I got into, is there anywhere I can clean up before I pay my respects to the deceased?” If there is a shower or something nearby she will want to get one, but she will be very careful not to trust anyone with her purse or valuables.

"Of course", the doctor says. "Nurse Nice will show you and the other Lady, where you can wash yourselves and we will provide you with clean clothes. And you, Mister, can come with me."

Natasha nods and looks very tired, and then she says "Thank you doctor". She then goes off to get her shower. When she is done she will change, and then move any of the contents that she can out of her purse, the purse is probably smelly too, but at least the contents are OK.

Undressing himself, Charles notices that he is blue and yellow over most of his body. The warmth from the water, the silence and the solitude is relaxing. The stream of hormones that have pumped through his blood and keeping Charles on the edge all the time, and that have helped keep a distance to all the horror, have now dried inn. The incidents the past 24 hours hit him with full strength in waves, the loss of his dear friend, Doc, is the worst. Trying to suppress the reality and wake up from this dream, he slides down to the floor screaming, "No, Nooooo...."

The Doctor is speaking with the newly arrived Police in the hallway. When he sees Doc state of him and the marks on his body, he has him immediately bedded, drugged and examined.

-----

Penny and the Countess find consolation and support in each other. Together they cry and talk about what has happened for so long that they are interrupted by the nurse, who comes in to check if anything is wrong. The Police want to speak with them. When putting on the shoes, Natasha notices a left behind newspaper under the bench. It is the Chicago Herald {Guys I don't know the names of any Chicago Newspapers) and it is dated, Tuesday, December the second, 1921.

Penny steels herself and enters the hallway ready to give an explanation of the mess this adventure turned out to be. She uses all her charm and authority. She hands the doctor her card and says, "I forgot to introduce myself, rather thoughtless of me Doctor. I know that Dr Slade, the deceased, was bitten by a snake, as for Dr Cochroft he, and Dr Slade were standing the way of a explosion.” She stops and then says "I'm not quite sure what caused it", she then adds "Miss Pritchard fell and knocked her head against the ground, I am not sure but I think she has a concussion, and ... she appeared to have something akin to nightmares afterwards". She seems like she is on the verge of breaking down into tears, and it is not an act, tears will be running.

The Doctor stares at the Police office, “These people have obviously been under great stress and need to rest. You’d better come back later in the day.”

Natasha adds, "This has been a terrible mess officers, I am very, very tired, and I really can not concentrate enough to make a statement just yet". She seems rather shocked too, as if she cannot quite come to grips with what just happened The Police officer nods and leaves.

Natasha is put to bed immediately but Penny is examined and mildly sedated before she too is put to bed in the same room as Natasha.

Please read the Aftermath, or go back to the table of contents.