Black Goat Season One is a story that spans more than 400 years. The story of an ancient alien power that possesses and corrupts the souls of men. Each episode is a different chapter in time, each it’s own whole and complete story, and yet still just a mysterious piece of a much larger puzzle. Only when all fit together do we see the true shape, the true size of the horror.
The story begins in 1607, in the small coastal English settlement of Fort George, Maine. A humble settler, Ephraim Waite, and his devoutly religious followers break from the colony to pursue a more pious life deep in the untamed woods of Maine. Once settled, Ephraim’s wife finds a large, seemingly bottomless tunnel in the ground. It is surrounded and overgrown with strange alien vegetation. She is drawn to it’s powerful presence, seduced by it. Ephraim learns that the natives in the woods believe it to be a passage to an evil underworld, a supernatural power they refer to as Kamog. The power begins to slowly corrupt the village, both his wife and child die, and soon Ephraim finds himself faced with the ultimate choice, to turn from the darkness and perish or sacrifice his mortal soul for a promise of god like power and immortality. To become Kamog.
With the power to possess minds, and leap from one body to another, Ephraim (Kamog) moves through time, decade after decade, body after body, in pursuit of bringing a powerful ancient God to an earthbound form. The power comes at a price however, only minds that are weakened, vulnerable either by health or emotion, can be taken over. Possession is not always successful, and often Ephraim finds himself trapped for years, forced off his path, and fighting to return with deceit, manipulation and murder his only options.
Throughout his journey, Ephraim often returns to the woods of Maine, where a house has been built directly over the passage where he first became Kamog. The house is called Le Chevre Noir, run by two strange servants who never seem to age. It’s there we get small glimpses of what is through the passage, a dark bridge between worlds, an endless forest of non-euclidean steps and black trees, sleek black creatures known only as the dark young. It’s here Ephraim believes the reward for his mission will be granted, freedom from his human form and immortality to live among the gods.
His travels take him from the fishing towns of Massachusetts, the intellectual universities of New England, the plantations of South Carolina, the battlefields of the Korean War, and even to a mutiny on a slave ship at sea. It’s through these disparate journeys over multiple generations that we begin to understand the greater plan. The plan to keep purifying the Waite bloodline by inbreeding unknowing ancestors, and create a pure woman, strong enough to carry the seed of a god.
By the mid 1980’s Ephraim has claimed the body of Richard Masterson, a powerful real estate tycoon who has the influence, money and bloodline to complete his plan. Finally, the perfect vessel is born, a baby girl, Elita Waite. As Elita grows toward young adulthood, she is haunted by unearthly dreams and visions. Fascinated by her family history, she begins doing research at Miskatonic University in Massachusetts. She learns a great many things, about old Ephraim, the sinister truth of her ancestors, and especially about what really happens at Le Chevre Noir. As her obsession grows to know more about the dark history of Kamog, so does her lust for the power behind it. She may not know the plan, but she knows she is a part of it and her desires allow Ephraim to guide her to the final ritual. It is time for Elita to fulfill her birthright.
The ritual takes place at Le Chèvre Noir, Elita is indeed transformed, and Ephraim has completed his mission. However, he soon learns that a deal with the devil, often goes unhonoured. Suddenly, Kamog is gone from him, only mortal Ephraim remains, this once deeply religious man is now left powerless and alone with only the horror of his memories, 400 years of unforgivable sins. Worse, is the sinking understanding of the impossible terror that he’s created. Elita is pregnant and has escaped into the world. She is becoming more powerful and dangerous by the day. A ferocious mother willing to do anything to protect what is growing inside her.
The clock is ticking, the stage is set for the final showdown. Ephraim now knows what he must do. One final act of redemption. Find Elita and kill her before she gives birth unleashing unspeakable destruction on the world!
