The Ashes of Dr. Frank Kergad

A cliomancer's failed attempt at immortality. Rumors float around the occult underground about a urn full of ashes, that, when ritually smoked, imparts great wisdom, power, or knowledge on the smoker. Rumor has it that Dr. Kergad was an occultist of great power and knowledge- of what, no one knows. Some say he bound a cruel one to his service, contacted a Clergy member, or found the skull of the Comte De St. Germaine. The consensus is that Dr. Kergad was a powerful adept (of what, most are unsure) in the late 1960's who died of a heart attack (or drug overdose, or suicide, or murder...) and had his most trusted friends ritually cremate him, along with a book containing his accumulated knowledge and other ritually required items. Dr. Kergad left instructions that by rolling his ashes up into a cigarette made out of papyrus soaked in Earl Grey tea, some of his wisdom would be granted.

The truth is somewhat different.

Dr. Frank Kergad was a successful cliomancer who was a caretaker at Arlington National Cemetery, earning him copious amounts of significant charges from his day job. As he aged, Dr. Kergad happened upon stories about Das Garten, and got an idea that he could do the same, and achieve a measure of immortality. As he researched more and more, he became obsessed with the idea of sticking around after he died. It took him a few years to prepare, but he eventually discovered a means of ensuring his soul would be bound into whatever was left of his body. "Dr. Kergad" could fill the occult underground with rumors about his magic ashes, and therefore keep a steady supply of gullible adepts fighting over the opportunity to be possessed by "Dr. Kergad.” That is what happens if Dr. Kergad’s ashes are smoked- he immediately tries to take control. However, Dr. Kergad didn't discover the entire ritual and his friends did not perform it correctly, leaving only a spiritual husk bound to the  ashes. With a soul stat of a measly 40, what remains of Dr. Kergad has difficulty even possessing, much less taking control of anyone.  Unless Kergad gets lucky, anyone smoking his ashes gets exactly what a clue-less observer would expect- a lungful of disgusting, toxic smoke. Luckily, Kergad thought ahead, and by spending an extreme amount of significant charges, created a self-replicating "rumor virus" that continues to spread throughout the occult underground. Once the ashes are all gone (the urn is about half-full, at the moment), Kergads’ revenant will be destroyed.

Copyright Nick L., posted on the official UA website on July 19 2002