The above information will only be found if the heroes have access to records, either from a computer hook-up to government computers, or from contacts in the government, or some other method of finding very old information. Of course, it won’t come automatically. The right questions must be asked.
The forested region owned by Melias Kramer is a place of power. The origin of this power is beyond the origin of life on earth, lost forever in the mists of time. Within this region there is a +1 to both the Astral and the Space/Time Continuums. Sporadically, this number will rise for a day and then drop back to normal. When this happens, the Forest requires a caretaker to hold the fabric of the continuums together. The last time this happened was 16 years ago. Previously, it hadn’t happened for nearly 15,000 years. The last caretaker died 3000 years ago, leaving the Forest alone. When the continuum began to bend early on October 30, the Forest reached out to the nearest being—the dying form of Melias Kramer. It formed an unbreakable bond between the body and spirit of Melias Kramer, and the body of the Forest. For 24 hours it prepared the mind of Melias Kramer. Then, early in the morning on October 31, Melias stepped out of his coffin in the morgue and walked away. Before the body was discovered missing, a mysterious fire broke out in the morgue. The blaze completely demolished the building, eradicating any traces of coffins or bodies. Using the power received from the Forest, he convinced the government to sell him the region. He was still Melias Kramer, still human. So he wanted his daughter to live with him. Melias was a schoolteacher, licensed to teach, so well able to tutor Andrea as she grew up. By the end of November, Melias had convinced the correct people to send Andrea back to him.
Janice’s parents—Andrea’s grandparents—lived and still live in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Although they will not admit to any of this, Laura and Roger Little do know that Andrea lives with Melias. When they were reluctant to believe or go along with any of it, the Forest pulled Janice’s spirit back, temporarily. Janice visited her parents and told them to do as Melias asked. They did. They still see their daughter once a year—from October 29 to November 3. Melias’ parents lived in Michigan, although they are dead now. Mary Kramer died of natural causes on January 5th, 12 years ago, and Arthur Kramer of the same on March 12th, 3 years ago. They never knew anything about these goings-on, and have never seen their granddaughter. Melias and Janice were planning to visit them for the first time since the wedding on that fateful vacation trip. Flora Little, the aunt, lives in Riverside, California. Aunt Flora’s mind is a little loose, however, and there are times when she truly believes that Andrea does live with her. She sends the monthly money order to Post Office Box 59 in Poplar Hill, West Virginia. P.O. Box 59 is registered to Andrea Kramer. The money cannot be traced by any means. Where does it come from? Hard to find, but: On a contract when he bought the land, the government must provide the money to his daughter.
While Melias Kramer has not been seen by any living being for many years now, Andrea is not quite as reclusive. She has a radio and TV set which she runs off the battery of her Buick. On weekends she goes into town to shop for herself and her father. She has friends in Poplar Hill (the nearest town, about 15 kilometers west of the Forest, population of about 500), and often goes on dates, to movies, or to dances. The nearest large town is White Sulphur Springs, about 20 kilometers southwest of the Forest, population around 3400.
Melias Kramer is beginning to realize that he is changing. His soul is becoming intertwined with body of the Forest. His humanity is slowly draining away. He is becoming a true caretaker of the Forest, an ageless guardian of the power. Soon, he knows, he will have to send Andrea away, probably to her grandparents. For the moment, however, he wants his daughter with him.
Andrea and Melias Kramer live in a small 4-room log cabin on the western edge of the forest, perhaps a kilometer inside the boundary of ownership. There is an outhouse further out from the building. A two-track runs up to the house. All in all, they’ve been living a decent life.
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