BOOK8 AUTUMN PREVIEW:
PREMIERING OCT 20th, 2025
Prepare for a very different twist for your favorite Gothic serial! In Book8, coming Monday October 20th, the entire cast - save for 3 familiar faces -- will not be present.
The series will be a 10–12-chapter arch following three characters who are caught in one of the darkest storylines in the series' history. When last we left, in BOOK7, several of our residents' lives came to a very dangerous cliff hanger.
Sebastian kidnapped Evie and Gabriel.
Asha's betrayals have led to her possible exposure and evidential abandonment by Nik who has fallen in love with Danielle.
Rabecca's grasp on her husband Caspian seems to be slipping away thanks to her keeping is true identity a secret. Meanwhile he struggles to keep his sanity with his dark side slowly slipping back.
Aurora's quest for her missing child may lead to uncovering many more secrets and lies.
Jacob's heartache brought on by the return of his supposed dead brother David leads to a rise in his paranoia.
Mary's "twin" sister Verity is revealed to be alive and living as her own person free of Jacqueline's possession.
Jacqueline has seemingly vanished from Welshport leaving her husband Johnathon still locked away at Churchill Green Asylum.
AND SO MUCH MORE!
Which story will be the BOOK8 Stand-alone, and what new characters will we meet along the way!
Get ready for a WILD ride! Keep checking BENIGHT's social spaces for more details leading up to the big BOOK8 premiere!
PAST NEWS
August 10th
TRIAL OF THE YEAR ENDS!
A Surprise Confession & Dropped Charges
By: Baxter Murphy
Three weeks ago the trial that took Welshport by storm ended in a surprise court outburst that even took this jaded journalist by surprise. As Judge Coleman Banning was set to make his final decision on Ms. Mary Goode, Ms. Evangeline Jordan-Lord & Mr. Matthew Winterborn, Ms. Goode’s estranged identical sister, Miss Verity Spencer, entered the courtroom and confessed to having posed as Goode and was the actual witch seen at the caves below the Northshore Cliffs.
Far be it from me to speculate on strange occurrences in this town, but curiosity is mine by nature. As Miss Spencer was set to burn at the stake for her crimes, I had to wonder where the truth lies. Was it indeed Miss Spencer at the caves? Was this yet another clever trick to be taken in by a town that is raw with the reality of real witches living among us?
Perhaps it’s too late to ask these questions. Verity was taken to the pyre and left nothing for us to object to or question when she became consumed by the flames in a rather quick engulfment. An execution of this nature has not seen in this area in over 200 hundred years. There is no other word to describe what I saw that evening but monstrous.
Who have we become? Welshportonians, for all of our old world beliefs and traditions, aren’t typically a people of tolerance and acceptance. Yes — We were born of a people who traveled across months of sea travel to settle on an island where its native inhabitants welcomed us. We took from them by devouring their land and pushing them out and forcing them into hunger, deteriorating health and then death.
So perhaps we are a people desperate for power and growth and a people afraid of the things we do not understand, things we cannot explain and things we dare not accept when they are different and foreign to our eyes and ears. Was Verity Spencer so different than the native Dænian people who once inhabited this island we now call come? Why did we as a collective community decide she was better dead than imprisoned for her crimes?
Our founding families decided to do much of the same to the Dænians. Not by tying them to a pyre devoured by fire but by allowing them to die off because we could not see passed our own insecurities, fears and prejudices.
As a journalist I’ve attempted to put into words the truths of this world and of our community by exposing what I believe have been crimes by those like the accused witches but also (and more important) the wrongs done by the most powerful. Perhaps I have allowed my quest of sussing out the corrupt by undermining myself with a bit of ambition. This has led me to realize perhaps this was a mistake.
While our community deserves to know the truth about those in power and who we see as our leaders I hope to change my tactics at exposing them for the benefit of our people without giving us suffering another ghastly seen as what I saw, what we saw, the night Verity Spencer Goode died tired to a a burning pole.
Let her death be the rebirth of my own ambition and hope for a better understanding of upholding the banner of truth.
November 10th
DOCKSIDE SLAYINGS
Investigators Continue to Search for Clues
By: Baxter Murphy
The heinous crimes that occurred dockside early last week have sent shockwaves through our little port village and island. Investigators continue to search for clues as to what could have done such a thing to two men, a father and son fishing crew, who were set to sail just that morning on an expedition towards Newfoundland
The victims, Carl and Harold Winslow of Welshport, were gutted and horribly disfigured in the attack. Constable Gregory Reigns described the attack as a slaughter. Locals who were present at the scene echoed this sentiment.
The question of what could have done this continues to float around the village, but in my own previous article on this disturbing dastardly murder, points to a who rather than a what.
That’s right, fellow Welshportonians, the Lord family continue to keep silent on the whereabouts of their golden son Sebastian and whether or not he is alive. As for the rumors he died in the fire two years ago in a cottage owned by his Grandmother Mrs. Rebecca Lockwood-Lord-Casador, evidence has yet to surface to support this aside from taking the word of the family, who if we believe, says his body was not salvaged from the scorched cabin home.
And why, friends, should we believe that story over his own wife’s admission that he is the one who saved her from certain suffocation in a premature grave? As stated in the previous article, my source clearly heard Mrs. Evangeline Lord confess this to the family in clear and coherent words.
As unscrupulous and dangerous as my own words might seem here and in my last column which runs in a paper owned by the very family I accuse of hiding something from all of us, I say again Sebastian Lord is alive and is a murderer!
Where then may he be? Why are they hiding him if he is not the ripper of the docks? And why hasn’t our Constable even entertained Sebastian as a possible suspect? The reason for at least the last question is simple: the Lord family tentacles reach even our own law enforcement as Constable Reigns is currently in a relationship with Sebastian’s own mother in law Mrs. Aurora Jordan.
The fix is in — and how many more of our own towns people are we willing to sacrifice until we force the Lords and those they control to finally give up the ghost? Or shall we say give up the creature killing us?
The clock is ticking friends, who’s next?
OCTOBER 30th
THE LORDS: A FAMILY OF SECRETS & SCANDAL
By Baxtery
Over the course of the fall, the prominent family that runs the powerful publishing empire, which includes this paper in its portfolio, has seen a myriad of scandal rock its family tree.
Over a decade ago, David Lord, the great-great grandson of the founder of Lord Publishing, went missing after he was accused of the murder of his wife Sabrina on the beach near the North Shore Cliffs. Rumors swirled David was insane but no one knows for sure.
Following the David & Sabrina saga, Jacob Lord (another of the founder’s great-great grandsons) had a child out of wedlock with a woman who’s reputation seemed low grade in comparison to Jacob’s usual blue blooded paramours. Needless to say the child remains in the custody of the Lords, now 14 years of age.
All of this preamble to the devastating shooting & supposed death of Sebastian Lord at his own wedding. The family then revealed a bizarre tale of a kidnap for ransom that proved Sebastian alive only for him to suddenly, and yet again strangely, die of illness just before his new son’s birth.
And this, dear reader, is only the tip of the strange and odd iceberg of the Lord family. More recently it was revealed through rumors that Albert Lord had a son via an affair — this son now works for the Publishing House.
Keeping it in the family indeed.
Did I mention Rebecca Lord’s admission to the Asylum? Her mind finally cracking under the pressures of her family slow creep into the abyss of darkness, secrets, backstabbing and madness.
The heirs of the Lord dynasty have truly flipped the Tyrimôr mansion upside down and the graves of all their ancestors might be turning just as turbulently if the days go on as they are.
Friends, these are the people we revere on this island. The closest we have to royalty some say. And yet I wonder, have we given the first family of Welshport too much reverence? Too much clout? Too much prestige?
As winter comes — we shall see how this family proceeds. Will they sink further into that deep abyss they’ve become so aligned with? Or will they rise up and free themselves out from under the watchful eye of us their public.
Let the winter tell us. Let the winter separate fact from fiction & rumor from truth.
JULY 19th
POWERFUL STORM HITS WELSHPORT
By Baxter Murphy, Editor
Amid a sudden storm that has hit the upper east coast of the United States there is word of a possible ship lost at sea. The fish trawler, one of several of the local fleet, left the marina early morning and was headed out to an area of the North Atlantic not uncommonly used for deep-sea tuna fishing. Led by local captain Matthew Winterborn the ship carried a crew of 12.
POWERFUL STORM HITS WELSHPORT
By Baxter Murphy, Editor
Amid a sudden storm that has hit the upper east coast of the United States there is word of a possible ship lost at sea. The fish trawler, one of several of the local fleet, left the marina early morning and was headed out to an area of the North Atlantic not uncommonly used for deep-sea tuna fishing. Led by local captain Matthew Winterborn the ship carried a crew of 12.
Mr. Winterborn is a seasoned sailor as much of his crew is too. The trawler reported no signs of bad weather before embarking on their latest haul to sea. The Fishing fleet had no plans of docking the ship in the early morning sail off because weather seemed fine.
Communications have been cut to the ship and it's crew and hopes are that they'll somehow make it back to shore safely just as the island suffers major outages due to the sudden storm that seemed to come out of nowhere. Reports of the storm's possible damage are unknown. Other states around the area have not reported any such storm in their area, which too, has added to the strangeness of the tempest.
Local weather watchers are baffled and were caught off guard by the quickness of the storm's upheaval and forecasts did not predict, not only the storm itself, but also the massive strength of the storm which seems to be swirling over the Frenchman Bay of Maine in just the area above our two small islands.
More to report as the storm continues to batter both Welshport and Goode Islands.
APRIL 26th
NEW CHARACTERS COMING
As The Welshport Globe's Editor BAXTER MURPHY takes a break from his duties, we're happy to announce THREE new Characters coming to town in BOOK4! Coming soon:
NEW CHARACTERS COMING
As The Welshport Globe's Editor BAXTER MURPHY takes a break from his duties, we're happy to announce THREE new Characters coming to town in BOOK4! Coming soon:
MORGAN THORNE, JACQUELINE GRAY and Ft. DONAVON RYAN.
These three will be interictal parts to three very different plot points. COME BACK SOON TO FIND OUT more about our new Welshportonians!
January 5
LORD HEIR DEAD---AGAIN!
By Baxter Murphy, Editor
The curious case of the many lives of Sebastian Lord continues to perplex this reporter on a daily basis. Recently, his wife (now widow) the very English Evangeline Jordan-Lord was seen at the Village Hall in the records room filing for Sebastian's death certificate. Odd? We'd say so too. The Lords, full discloser own this paper, have said that his kidnapping a year ago and switch with some sort of look-alike who was shot and killed at the wedding was a rouse to trick the family into ransom.
LORD HEIR DEAD---AGAIN!
By Baxter Murphy, Editor
The curious case of the many lives of Sebastian Lord continues to perplex this reporter on a daily basis. Recently, his wife (now widow) the very English Evangeline Jordan-Lord was seen at the Village Hall in the records room filing for Sebastian's death certificate. Odd? We'd say so too. The Lords, full discloser own this paper, have said that his kidnapping a year ago and switch with some sort of look-alike who was shot and killed at the wedding was a rouse to trick the family into ransom.
That crime, never solved. Also the rather quick acquittal of Rebecca Lord of her own son's shooting. That crime also never solved.
It's now then we turn to when the REAL Sebastian supposedly returned, and now his widow files for his alleged death due to illness.
Illness?
No funeral. No church ceremony.
Odd again, wouldn't you agree? Considering Rebecca Lord is attached to her rosery beads for dear life.
Welshport Village is no stranger to the bizarre and strange. We've lived with it as citizens all our lives. Our ancestors had their own issues with the unexplained over the 200 years since this village's inception. But has it all just reached a very strange point of no return?
The question I ask in this column, here in now dear reader is this: What in the world is REALLY going on with the Lord family and their quickly vanishing heirs.
Keep your eyes here, the curious cases are sure to beguile us into the near future.
DECEMBER 12
REBECCA LORD ARRESTED!
REBECCA LORD ARRESTED!
BY: BAXTER MURPHY, EDITOR
In Yet another strange turn of events, in the shooting at Village Park earlier this fall of former Constable Christian Evans and Jacob Lord, our sources here at the Welshport Globe have heard that Jacob's own mother has been arrested and taken into custody for the shooting. Our sources also say that Jacob himself, who had since the shooting lost parts of his memory, regained something of that night and pointed to his mother as the guilty one.
The Lords are a family that are no strangers to infighting over the years, but this seems extreme even for them. In other words, as I've stated in this column before, there must be other factors at play in this bizarre family dispute.
Mrs. Lord was taken into custody under the cover of darkness, possibly a privilege to her as to keep away the prying eyes of eager Welshportonians. She is currently inside the Town Jail awaiting formal charges from the district attorney who has yet to arrive from the mainland to asses the case. If there even is one.
Yet again, dear readers, we wonder here if what we're seeing is truly justice being served or perhaps are the arms of our legal system being abused to work out some wealthy family's constant battle for who leads it.
NOVEMBER 30
LORD FAMILY SPOTTED IN VILLAGE
LORD FAMILY SPOTTED IN VILLAGE
BY: BAXTER MURPHY, Editor
Rebecca Lord, her granddaughter-in-law Evangeline and their personal maid were spotted in The Village this afternoon on a walk-about entering shops and visiting local stores on a shopping outage. The family has been besieged by what some would call bad luck as Rebecca's son is convalescing from an assassination attack just one month ago, which occurred a year after the bizarre and alleged kidnapping of heir Sebastian Lord where an imposter was placed in his stead at his wedding and killed too; leading many to believe the real Sebastian had died.
Rebecca Lord, her granddaughter-in-law Evangeline and their personal maid were spotted in The Village this afternoon on a walk-about entering shops and visiting local stores on a shopping outage. The family has been besieged by what some would call bad luck as Rebecca's son is convalescing from an assassination attack just one month ago, which occurred a year after the bizarre and alleged kidnapping of heir Sebastian Lord where an imposter was placed in his stead at his wedding and killed too; leading many to believe the real Sebastian had died.
It is no wonder the family is shadowed in suspicion of the occult and curses. How can anyone begin to piece together the oddities that surround this family? Usurpers? Assassination attempts? Stints in the Insane Asylum on the mainland? YES! That happened too, to the supposedly-dead Sebastian's young bride Evangeline.
So, I wonder, as I sit here at my desk in The Village watching the women of the family walk around as if nothing has happened, if they even are aware of what we villagers think of them. Perhaps there is an idea of their lore outside the walls of their secluded mansion in the Tirymor Forest, and perhaps, to them, it is par for the course, a simple side-effect of being the richest and most influential family on the island, and in full-disclosure my own employer.
Beware, dear subscriber and reader of this, THE WELSHPORT GLOBE, we will be watching this family for more because in this journalist's opinion there is much more to what is really happening at Tirymor than what meets the eye. If history is any source of proof, then we already know as citizens ourselves of this island, that the truth is just as good as any fable. Truth will be uncovered soon. I can guarantee that.
NOVEMBER 21,2022
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| Baxter Murphy |
NOVEMBER 1, 2022
BOOK 3 FALL PREVIEW
How will the rest of BOOK3 play out?
How will the rest of BOOK3 play out?
- Look out for Eliza and Rebecca coming face-to-face once more as the two old friends continue to be at odds over their past history.
- THE HUNTER, who's name is revealed in B3/Ch2, sets his sights on a particular member of the Lord Family
- Jacob's recovery and the subsequent investigation into his shooting goes off the rails when GREGORY REIGNS lets his past interfere.
- ASHA HOFFMAN's connection to Dr. Andrew Kim goes deeper than employer/employee
- Nik discoverers more than he bargained for in the Tirymor House Library
- Evie begins to see a darker side of Sebastian that threatens more than just their relationship, but the very lives of the people she loves.
PLUS MUCH MORE!
NEW CHAPTERS EVERY MONDAY THROUGH FALL 2022 and WINTER 2023!
NEW CHAPTERS EVERY MONDAY THROUGH FALL 2022 and WINTER 2023!
OCTOBER 24, 2022
BOOK3 PREIERE CHAPTER HAS BEEN PUBLISHED!!! Click HERE and follow along as the Chapter Library has been updated with the new CHAPTER 1 button now open!
BOOK3/CHAPTER1 Synopsis:
Constable Gregory Reigns pores over the crime scene where Jacob Lord and Christian Evans were shot searching for any evidence; Filipe Braga has a terrible nightmare while Celeste makes a crucial decision about her family's dark secret; The Lord family learns of Jacob's fate; Sebastian and Evie reunite in a romantic setting; The shooter is revealed in a shocking twist!
BOOK3 PREIERE CHAPTER HAS BEEN PUBLISHED!!! Click HERE and follow along as the Chapter Library has been updated with the new CHAPTER 1 button now open!
BOOK3/CHAPTER1 Synopsis:
Constable Gregory Reigns pores over the crime scene where Jacob Lord and Christian Evans were shot searching for any evidence; Filipe Braga has a terrible nightmare while Celeste makes a crucial decision about her family's dark secret; The Lord family learns of Jacob's fate; Sebastian and Evie reunite in a romantic setting; The shooter is revealed in a shocking twist!
OCTOBER 10, 2022
Chapter Log has been updated with Chapter count! COME BACK OCT 24th to begin BOOK 3!
Chapter Log has been updated with Chapter count! COME BACK OCT 24th to begin BOOK 3!
Click HERE to visit the CHAPTERS section and catch up today!
OCTOBER 3, 2022
Book 3 of "TO BENIGHT & BEGUILE" will be published beginning MONDAY OCTOBER 24TH. Leading up to this day, the writer John-Phillip Bettencourt will be posting every day a rewind of previous chapters beginning with Book 1. Follow along at the official twitter page Linked here: TWITTER
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| Click HERE for Home Page |
READER'S NOTICE
“To Benight & Beguile” is a Gothic Web-Serial written by John-Phillip Bettencourt based on original characters and stories. These stories are original by the writer and have no formal connection to any television series or any other material. Any similarities are purely coincidental. This project and the stories herein are meant for entertainment purposes only. No monetary gain has been acquired. Images of actors portrayed as characters are used for aesthetic and inspirational purposes only. I do not claim rights to own any of the photos nor do the actors in the images have any dealings with the story or the writer. © 2021-2024
“To Benight & Beguile” is a Gothic Web-Serial written by John-Phillip Bettencourt based on original characters and stories. These stories are original by the writer and have no formal connection to any television series or any other material. Any similarities are purely coincidental. This project and the stories herein are meant for entertainment purposes only. No monetary gain has been acquired. Images of actors portrayed as characters are used for aesthetic and inspirational purposes only. I do not claim rights to own any of the photos nor do the actors in the images have any dealings with the story or the writer. © 2021-2024
