Mckenzie

//This is part of the Hangover city, Liverpool, uk setting// =Face of the Ghosts:McKenzie=

McKenzie is a tall wiry man, dressed in a long frock coat, cape and top hat. He carries a fog with him when he is out in the city at night which conceals his movements. His face is thin and there is a red fire behind his eyes should any one get close enough to get a good look. He walks with a purposeful military gait and have a grin that can only be described as wicked.

In life James William McKenzie made and lost fortunes, he backed Stephenson rocket and the early railways. He was considered a pillar of the community and a great philanthropist. However he had a darker side; and addition to gambling that was his undoing. He was linked to a body snatching scheme when a number of bodies were uncovered stored away in barrels in the cellar of his house. Although he could not be legally connected to the crime, the gossip was enough that few wished to deal with him from then on.

Facing ruin he was introduced to a Mr Madison, a visitor from America he hoped to be able to beat in a game of cards. Unfortunately for McKenzie the Madison was the better play and he lost everything. Madison offered him a final ‘all or nothing’ hand. McKenzie complained he had nothing left to offer and Madison asked him for his soul. McKenzie was shocked, but Madison persuaded him that, as an atheist, he had nothing really to loose. McKenzie took up the bet, only to loose that hand as well. Madison took a pice of paper with my soul written in McKenzie’s own hand, and promised “I will not take your soul until you are laid to rest in your grave.” He then vanished in a cloud of brimstone. McKenzie attempted to trick the devil out of his final prize by being buried sat upright in a stone pyramid, with a winning hand of cards in his grasp. The attempt was only partially successful: McKenzie is still here.

At least, that is the way McKenzie tells it there are no other witnesses to collaborate his claim of a card game with the devil. It could just be that McKenzie is merely spinning a good tale.