Highway of Blood 03: Thunderstruck

### Players

Dan Wheeler as Quincey J. Lafitte, Dominic Allen as Edward "Ed" Mooney, Joseph Chance as Beverly "Jack" Carstairs

### Podcast Link

https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-n7kvs-1440934

## Synopsis (Spoiler Warning)

The episode begins with Coyote Mike ranting about government agents and outsiders on the radio, while also telling his listeners to look after themselves in the heat and calling out to an assistant called Cecil as he switches onto the next track; the intro plays.

The characters walk into Thunderbird Gifts and notice John Thunder, a weather-beaten middle-aged man with a ponytail of white hair and a twinkle in his eyes tidying the place up; Ed hands him an old leather notebook which once belonged to a Jacob Blackwood and asks about whatever peculiar books the proprietor may have. He disinterestedly claims not to have anything precious on the shelves. Quincey then alters Ed as to the bug-like people who seemed to be following them, and in an attempt to provide him some cover to lock up the shop's door, Beverly intervenes and buys a book, making John retreat to the back room. Beverly looks out of the shop's window and notices a group of men outside, only to then ask John if his place has a back door as Ed explains the bad first impression they just gave the locals; he seems hesitant, asks about the characters' background and insists they should leave as soon as possible. A local friend by the name of Billy is mentioned, after which Quincey notices there are some runes carved above the door he just locked. John's distrust of Doc Brenner becomes evident and he finally lets the trio out through his back door, after which they all make their way back to the garage.

Once they get there, they begin by chatting with Nate and Steve, who already seem to know about their scene at The Last Stop, and soon enough Russ comes to tell them the damage on the van is severe enough he'll have to order in new parts, therefore obligating the characters to stay in town for a few days and causing Ed to have another outburst since he can tell the van's axle was manually hacked through. When accused of sabotage, Russ picks up his shotgun and tells Ed and Beverly someone interfered with their van's axle fare before he touched it, at which point the latter mentions how if they were to go disappearing, the government would then come and investigate the town, which Russ actually seems quite relieved about, since he evidently doesn't like the place much and lives in it only because his son's there with him. He offers to call in at The Last Stop to book the trio some rooms, and as they go back to their van it becomes clear to the characters that the bags they left in the back have been rifled though, without anything being taken. The radio then clicks on with Coyote Mike speaking, and as the characters grab what they need from their bags, a clattering and some laughter echo through the garage...

## Important NPCs

* Coyote Mike
* John Thunder
* Nate & Steve
* Russ Williams

## Places

* Thunderbird Gifts
* Abattoir's gas station

## Quotes

* "I'm also looking for anything by Mr Stephen King! I hear he's written a new novel, written a thing called Carrie, it's about a lady who has trouble with her ablutions." (Dom as Ed)
* "He looks at very big bits of land, our friend here looks at quite small rocks, and I look at tiny tiny little critters." (Dan as Quincey)
* "I'm just nine." (Danann as John)
* "Stand back I'm using my 20 Psychology, you guys...41, I don't understand people, I understand landscapes." (Joseph)
* "This is like a tourist trap without the Mikey Mouse ears!" (Dom as Ed)

## Trivia

* This episode is named after *Thunderstruck* by AC/DC.
* Joseph references The House in the Woods when he mentions Beverly's grandfather having a connection with the Native American people back in Maine.
* This episode's end scene consists of Dom looking up Ed's backstory on his phone and everyone making fun of Danann's name.