Family Plot
By Dean Boese
Family Plot Nov 12, 2020
Episode 17: Blood Drinking Cryptids and the Giggly Girl
Dean and Krysta discuss some rather less well known blood drinking cryptids including New Orleans' Grunch Road Beast, Spain's Comte Erluch, Croatia's Jure Grando, Brazil's Boraro, from Africa the Adze, the Impundulu and the Walrus like Mamba Mutu and finally from Australia the Yara-Ma-Yha-Who. They give you the latest sightings including the most recent information and discuss which they believe are legends and which they believe might really exist.
They also make a big announcement and Krysta giggles a lot. A lot.
Episode 16: The Death of Col. Thomas H. Swope and that Dang Yellow Fred
Dean and Krysta talk the Death of Kansas City Entrepreneur and Real Estate Legend, Colonel Thomas Hutton Swope, his untimely end, likely by poisoning and the trial of his alleged killer, Doctor Bennett Clark Hyde. They also discuss Dean's predilection for referring to Pikachu as 'Yellow Fred' and they discuss the early days of Kansas City and connections between this case and the graverobbing of the grave of Libby Mavis located in Union Cemetery. Poisoners, Graverobbers and City Founders, Oh My! Featuring promotions for the 2020 Indie Authors Anthology and "A Killer Podcast".
Episode 15: The Old Jackson County Jail and the Curse of Quantrill
In this episode, Dean and Krysta discuss The Old Jackson County Jail, aka the 1859 Jail and Marshall's Home. They discuss the structure's history, it's ties to the raids of Quantrill and the Civil War, 'The Burnt District', it's construction, it's more famous residents including Quantrill and Frank James and most importantly it's haunts. Krysta gives us 5 weird (and occasionally gross) facts about the human body. Krysta also solidifies her friendship with Paige of the Reverie True Crime Podcast AND exposes her father's humorous plot to rename her 'Claire'. All in all, scares are doled out and a good time is had by all.
Episode 14: Haunted Dolls and Dutch Uncles
This week Krysta and Dean get an in studio visit from author Dan B. Fierce, aka Dan Bugbee, Krysta's 'dutch uncle'. They discuss Krysta's phobia of Nutcrackers (which she insists she has grown out of) and Dan's lifelong dislike of Porcelain dolls or dolls that blink. We discuss the Uncanny Valley and then a whole runaway host of haunted, demonic and supernatural toys including one who has growing hair, another that appears to age and many many more.
Episode 13: Tales of Terror, Ghouls and Djinn, Oh My!
Dean and Krysta share tales of terror and general spookiness. Krysta recounts the story of Toast the Ghost and how he acquired his name. Dean tells a personal ghost story and they share several from Readers, reddit, and the Time-Life Enchanted Worlds Books. They share ghost stories and other stories on the way to Halloween. Special thanks go out to Hayley Neill and our other anonymous story donor.
Episode 12: Curses and Foisting Halloween In Its Own Petard
So, Dean and Krysta discuss curses, kinds of curses, famous curses, cursed objects and stories of curses. Loyal listener Bryan Jukes is theoretically victimized by multiple curses while they discuss even ways to curse. Dean tells the story of Snowdrop and the Embowered Sleep of an entire castle and at one point confuses courtesans with courtiers...not a good mistake to make. Several listeners not named Bryan Jukes are mentioned for other reasons and Krysta discusses the creepy baby charm.
Episode 11: Union Cemetery Kansas City and the Ballad of Libby Mavis
Dean and Krysta talk about the historic and haunted Union Cemetery discussing it's history, those who have been laid to rest there and those unquiet spirits that still walk it's grounds. Krysta gives unexpected shoutouts to the Graveyard Tales Podcast and Five Nights at Freddy's. She also expresses her displeasure at those who profited by selling land with unmarked graves to developers. All in all a show that combines local history, true crime and the paranormal...thus satisfying all three of our codas.
Episode 10: The Traveling Dogman and the Beast of Bray Road
Dean and Krysta discuss the fact that this is their first milestone episode, Episode 10 and the story of the Dogman as well as a personal story from Dean and the Beast of Bray Road. While there is some confusion as Dean mixes up his notes and some of the legends, the end of the episode comes down to....well listen and find out. Enjoy!
Episode 9: The Sirens Or Going from Gods to Monsters in 3 Easy Steps
Dean and Krysta discuss the Sirens ancient creatures of Greek Myth. They discuss their origins, the stories told about them and even their considerations in the later world. About the only thing they don't discuss is their ability scores in D&D. (
SIRENS
Medium fey, chaotic evil
Armor Class 13
Hit Points 58 (9d8 + 18)
Speed 30 ft., swim 50 ft.
STR/DEX/CON/INT/WIS/CHA - 12 (+1)16 (+3)14 (+2)12 (+1)14 (+2)14 (+2)
Skills Perception +4
Senses passive Perception 14
Languages Primordial, Common
Challenge 4 (1,100 XP)
Special Traits
- Amphibious. The siren can breathe air and water.
- Innate Spellcasting. The siren’s innate spellcasting ability is Wisdom (spell save DC 14). The siren can innately cast the following spells, requiring no components.
2/day: detect thoughts, sleep
- Shapechanger. As an action, the siren can shapechange into a medium female humanoid, or back into its true form. If the siren dies, it reverts to its true form.
Actions
- Multiattack. The siren makes two attacks with her claws.
- Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (2d6 + 1) slashing damage.
- Luring Song. The siren sings a magical melody. Every humanoid and giant within 300 feet of the siren that can hear the song must succeed on a DC 14 Wisdom saving throw or be charmed until the song ends. The siren must take bonus action on its subsequent turns to continue singing. It can stop singing at any time. The song ends if the siren is incapacitated. While charmed by the siren, a target is incapacitated and ignores the songs of other sirens. If the charmed target is more than 5 feet away from the siren, the target must move on its turn towards the siren by the most direct route, trying to get within 5 feet. It doesn’t avoid opportunity attacks, but before moving into damaging terrain, such as lava or a pit, and whenever it takes damage from a source other than the siren, the target can repeat the saving throw. A charmed target can also repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns. If the saving throw is successful, the effect ends on it. A target that successfully saves is immune to this siren’s song for the next 24 hours.
About
Sailors will sometimes hear a beautiful song as they near rocky coastlines. This enchanting song is being sung by the siren. Its true form is part bird, part female humanoid creature. Hundreds of years ago, a jealous witch altered their beautiful form and banished these fey from the land.
Vengeful Vixens. Sirens are out for revenge and seek to lure those near the coast. Sailors have even been known to wreck their ships as they are drawn closer to rocky shores.
Forgotten Fey. Still angry about the curse that altered their form, sirens use their shapechange ability to return to land at times. Once on land, the siren attempts to use all its charms to lure more victims.)
And now you have that too. Enjoy the show!
Episode 8: Spring Heel Jack and A Marquis Paints the Town Red
Dean and Krysta discuss the criminal/urban legend that is Spring Heel (or Spring Heeled) Jack, his crimes, his potential identity and the way crime was fought in the England of the 1830's. Springheel Jack was at the very least rude and an assaulter of women, carriages and British Army sentry boxes. As for who was this dangerous criminal, was it The Mad Marquis...or just an Alien Kangaroo. Listen on, True Believers.
Episode 7: The Fae both Ancient and Modern
Dean and Krysta discuss the Fae, featuring a description of what they are, what types there are and stories both ancient and modern. Research was pulled from multiple websites including ModernFairySightings.com, websites on native myth and folklore and responses from listeners and the talented Jess Walters from Shoes, Boos and Tatoos, an amazing podcast. Furthermore, they discuss movies and books where fae appear as characters AND Krysta brings up Dean's persistent mancrush on Josh Gates. Also, Dean and Krysta announce the addition of Team Bunny to the Patreon account.
TRUE STORY: As we were recording episode 7, Dean felt something brush up against his leg, looking down he saw a small, brown leather cap. We cannot prove the wee folk were paying attention...but something happened.
Episode 6: The Elms Revisited and Lost Roanoke and other Cultures
The Episode begins with a brief revisit to the Ellms Hotel and Spa after Dean's conversation with Hotel Manager John Mormino divulged some new spooktacular tales, then after a brief visit from Tamara Til The Break of Dawn, Dean and Krysta discuss Roanoke, a LOT of Josh Gates, the Marvel Comic 1602, Comedian Dale Hilton and his love of Whitesnake as well as other lost cultures including the Olmecs, the Anasazi, the Mound builders of Cuyahoga Illinois, the Indus Valley people and the Minoans, the Mycenaeans and more!
Episode 5: The Elms Hotel: A Tale of Hauntings and Healing Waters
Dean stumbles his way through the opening but eventually reaches a point where he can discuss the Elms intelligently as he discusses the Elms, it's history, it's hauntings and engages in a discussion of Monty Python's castle that 'burned down, fell over, then sank into the swamp' as well as the stone tape theory. Krysta learns about Al Capone and the Mob and the police attempt to arrest the Missouri Governor for having a cocktail party during Prohibition (which Krysta learns about as well). All this and more!
Episode 4: The Westfield Watcher and the Astonishing Lack of X-Men
Dean and Krysta discuss the TRUE trials and tribulations of the Broaddus family and their encounters with a stalker who refers to himself as The Watcher...and the city of Westfield...with music as always by the enigmatically awesome Bill Behrendt and a special visit from Toast the Ghost! Enjoy! We keep our PG-11 rating but the word 'poos' is used again. Also Krysta revels in the fact that one of her dad's heroes reached out to her, specifically, on Twitter.
Episode 3: The Vaile Mansion and The Lost Souls
The story of the Vaile Mansion in Independence, Missouri...it's history and those that dwelled there...and may continue to dwell there in the afterlife. It's time as an asylum and a home for the aged. Krysta and Dean also discuss their dog, Brownie, Toast the Ghost and more. Like always, it's Pg-11 though the word 'poos' is used.
Episode 2: The Paris Catacombs and the Restaurant of Doom!
Dean and Krysta discuss the famous Catacombs of Paris, their history, their legends, the weird crimes, criminals and famous personages who inhabit the necropolis and Krysta debuts Krysta's facts of the weeks, this week about Toast the Ghost that lives in our house.
Episode 1: Rasputin and the Fake Anastasias