Handsome Dog 2015/09/29(Tue)00:32 No. 673640 ID: 586f5c
File 144351192672.png - (180.68KB , 700x500 , 26.png )

Zeke struggles with a bulky looking black thing which beeps and whizzes loudly. He turns it off and places it down nervously. “Sorry,” he says, quietly, flashing Heidi a grimace before checking some other object with a large speaker.

“There’s a fire escape down the hall over there,” Heidi says, nodding to one of the doors to her right. “I’ll go check it out--do you have a torch?”

“Yeah, here,” Zeke hands Heidi a small industrial torch, and opens his mouth to say something but stops.

“What?” Heidi asks.

“Uh, I-Hey, listen like, you don’t--you don’t have to stay, I messed up with this whole lock down thing, you can go if you want,” Zeke says, busying his hands with a small hand held camera and tripod.

Heidi considers this, and sighs. “It wasn’t your fault--don’t worry about it. I’ll sus out the fire escape and come back and I’ll do what I came down here to do. I have to come back anyway and return your torch.”

Handsome Dog 2015/09/29(Tue)00:32 No. 673641 ID: 586f5c
File 144351197283.png - (132.46KB , 700x500 , 27.png )

“Oh--Great, thanks! Do you want to take one of these with you? I don’t really know how this whole psychic medium business really works and you might not need them but...” Zeke is saying, setting the tripod down and placing three objects on the table in front of his laptop. He points to each in turn, and explains them:

“So this is the Ovilus III, it has a built in word bank and spirits can manipulate it to make words. This is the Spirit Box--” He pauses seeing Heidi’s expression, and laughs weakly, “--Dumb name, I know, anyway it scans radio stations at random, like 4 stations a second, and ghosts can talk through the white noise and finally uh, just a… plain old voice recorder. Nothing special about it, you just ask a question and then listen back and see if you caught any voices. You probably don’t need or want any of them but I thought I’d offer anyway.”

take the ovilus! it sounds cool and it'll take the least direct attention, i think. might as well!

Take the Ovilus - it's weird and nifty! Or the Spirit Box because it's so fantastically cheesy!

Wow aside from the voice recorder how much would these things even cost?? Expensive hobbies are killer

>>673660
i thought this too and then i looked them up and like, its actually not as expensive as you think, the ovilus is like, $300 US and the spirit box can be as little as $70 which is honestly hilarious

The first one sounds most fun, but before you take off to scout around, ask Zeke where you can cop that sick tee

Take the voice recorder. Since you can actually spot the ghosts without any of that pseudo-equipment, taping them would be the most useful thing to do.

i second this. steal his shirt. he's probably just gonna take it off to taunt the ghosts into talking to him after they've all run off anyway.
oh. and take the ovilus iii. let's see how it works! if you can see the ghosts themselves, you can learn how they use it. if it works at all.

Handsome Dog 2015/09/29(Tue)21:19 No. 673854 ID: 586f5c
File 144358678308.png - (177.17KB , 700x500 , 28.png )

Heidi shrugs, and takes the Ovilus III--its smaller than the chunky S P I R I T B O X and she doesn’t feel completely embarrassed carrying it. She stuffs it into her pocket, along with the floor plan, and heads off towards the hall.

It’s dark and narrow, many old buildings like this are. Heidi flicks the torch on, sweeping the hall before inspecting the ovilus. It’s quiet now, but the lights are flashing.

Handsome Dog 2015/09/29(Tue)21:20 No. 673855 ID: 586f5c
File 144358680659.png - (156.98KB , 700x500 , 29.png )

Heidi turns a corner and spots a door with a dim glowing exit sign above it. She lets out a low sigh of relief, before opening the door, and finding the fire escape. A sign above the door reads “THIS DOOR IS ALARMED” and Heidi says under her breath with a smirk, “alarmed of what?” But no one is around to hear her original joke.

Well that sucks.

Right, just set up the equipment here so that you have a quick and reliable signal flare in case some of the locals get murderous.

i thought it was funny heidi.

anyway. we'll have to figure out a way to disengage the alarm before we leave because zeke is nice enough that we don't want to leave him here while the security system screams at him all night. better go let him know What's Up

>>673855
Well, so you can get out if you want to, but it'll bring the cops or the fire department and generally ruin ghost-guy's night. You're kind of stuck here unless you have the heart to kick that particular puppy.

Sigh and double back. Might as well do what you came here to do.

You said you'd look around the place for 30 minutes, and that's still an option.

There's not like, any ground floor windows we can hop out of, right?

Well, I guess, go back and babysit him.

Handsome Dog 2015/09/30(Wed)01:21 No. 673914 ID: 586f5c
File 144360126621.png - (676.92KB , 700x500 , 30.png )

Heidi places her hand on the door but doesn’t push. Well, at least she knows there’s an exit here. She could definitely open it when she needed to, but emergency crews would be crawling over this place in couple of minutes, and Zeke could get intro trouble.

Heidi returns to Zeke, and to tell him what’s happened, but he’s filming himself.

“I’m here at the Old Dunkirk Hotel in Surrey Hills--a place renowned for its bloody past and its violent spirits--” He says. Heidi watches him from the doorway as he continues. “I’ve come here looking for the source of all the mysterious footsteps, bangings and moved objects in one all night lockdown!” He points at the camera, chest puffed out, but shakes his head. He starts to repeat himself, and cuts short with a groan.

Heidi approaches, and tells him the situation.

“Oh, ok, I see. Well, I think, maybe, it’d be ok if I explained what happened. I’m sure people get locked in buildings and stuff by accident a lot,” Zeke says, turning off the camera. Heidi doubts that, but says nothing.

Handsome Dog 2015/09/30(Wed)01:22 No. 673915 ID: 586f5c
File 144360132276.png - (211.50KB , 700x500 , 31.png )

“Right, anyway, I’ll start my ‘sweep’, and work out where to go from there,” Heidi says. She surveys the room, Zeke now fiddling with his laptop. “Where should I start...?” Heidi asks herself in a low voice.

For skies sake, Zeke, charge your bloody camera! Ain't gonna catch zip on that thing if it dies on you.

Maybe have a look at the ballroom? Gotta be some fun stuff in there to peek at. Wonder if the museum does functions in it?

yeah, check the ballroom! plus it's right next to the bar. there's gotta be tons of residual energy there, right? what with all the people dancin and drinkin

Heidi, since you've actually conversed with actual spirits who actually exist. Based on that knowledge, do you think these >>673641 thinks even work? Like, can ghosts actually converse by changing radio stations or EVP or stuff like that?

>>673914
...if the night just started, should that battery be fully charged. Zeke, did you forget to charge that up before going ghost hunting.

>“Where should I start...?”
Try the bar area. That's where everything happened back in the day, right?

Handsome Dog 2015/09/30(Wed)23:00 No. 674114 ID: 586f5c
File 144367920565.png - (206.76KB , 700x500 , 32.png )

Heidi decides to head for the ballroom, where the old bar is.

Handsome Dog 2015/09/30(Wed)23:11 No. 674118 ID: 586f5c
File 144367987622.png - (253.67KB , 700x500 , 33.png )

The ballroom is vast, rich wood floors, scuffed and scratched from being trampled on every day. Glass display cases line the walls, just like in the entrance hall, but now they’re in sections, with signs saying Early Convict History, The Razor Gang Wars and The World Wars.

Up the end of the room Heidi can just see the dark outline of the bar area, with glittering antique bottles lining the wall, and a mannequin dressed as a barman leering down at her.

Handsome Dog 2015/09/30(Wed)23:11 No. 674119 ID: 586f5c
File 144367990231.png - (231.21KB , 700x500 , 34.png )

Heidi turns her attention to her pocket, and pulls out the Ovilus. It’s lights flicker, and the word READY glows faintly on the screen.

She’s never watched any of those stupid ghost hunting shows, really, in fact, she always avoided them because they were always so horrendously embarrassing. She turns the Ovilus over in her hand, and curls her lip.

All she wanted to do was laugh at this guy and maybe figure out why spirits avoided Zeke like a bad smell, and now she’s wondering around in the dark with one of his far too expensive machines and going along with it all.

She sighs, and turns back to the room.

ok this is the part where you yell ARE ANY SPIRITS PRESENT WITH US NOW!!! MAKE A NOISE .... OR MOVE SOMETHING!!!

Check out the mannequin?

Handsome Dog 2015/10/01(Thu)00:31 No. 674127 ID: 586f5c
File 144368468216.png - (298.12KB , 700x500 , 35.png )

Heidi walks down to the bar to get a closer look at the mannequin.

Handsome Dog 2015/10/01(Thu)00:33 No. 674129 ID: 586f5c
File 144368482918.png - (211.96KB , 700x500 , 36.png )

Heidi shines her light over the mannequin once and leaves in a hurry.

>>674129
cabinets
lots of juicy history of violence
many ghost potentials

Cabinets! Or check out if theres any booze left

So we totally ignore the figure that appeared on the manniquin's right side, that has a hand on its opposite shoulder?

>>674136
I was gonna say that was just its shadow, but it can't be, it has no hat.

And what about all those sparkles in the panel before?

Handsome Dog 2015/10/01(Thu)04:23 No. 674145 ID: 586f5c
File 144369862624.png - (274.52KB , 700x500 , 37.png )

The cabinets and display cases are filled with a variety of objects.

Heidi approaches the first cabinet, with a grand sign saying Early Convict history. It has half an old leather shoe, some simple carpentry tools and an iron ball and chain, all recovered on site during the renovations for the museum. But the finds are scarce, and not very interesting. The Dunkirk was built well after the convicts, but it was constructed on the site of a number of older wood and bark shacks from the early 1800s.

Handsome Dog 2015/10/01(Thu)04:24 No. 674146 ID: 586f5c
File 144369867362.png - (359.61KB , 700x500 , 38.png )

The second display, closest to the bar is filled with mostly personal items, coins, combs, cigarette lighters, and buttons, but there is also a beautiful engraved pocket watch. The plaque above this display says The Razor Gang Wars, and is accompanied by mugshots of gaunt looking men and women and copies of old police reports written in a barely legible scrawl. The torch light glints off several cruel looking straight razors. This display unsettles Heidi, and she runs a hand over her throat. She doesn’t like to imagine what people would do with the razors. The Dunkirk was one of many illegal grog bars that was run by Kate Leigh, a notorious underworld figure.

Handsome Dog 2015/10/01(Thu)04:25 No. 674147 ID: 586f5c
File 144369870507.png - (231.38KB , 700x500 , 39.png )

The third display, The World Wars, is filled with military memorabilia including posters, parts of uniforms, a classic ANZAC slouch hat, and photos of dozens of young men dressed in khaki and posing stiffly. During the war the Dunkirk was a popular place for soldiers to relax. There were live performances during this time, and a number of famous singers came to the ‘kirk to entertain the troops. The pub and hotel fell into disrepair during the 50s, and there were a number of failed attempts to renovate and reopen it until the museum bought the building.

Handsome Dog 2015/10/01(Thu)04:25 No. 674148 ID: 586f5c
File 144369874977.png - (225.47KB , 700x500 , 40.png )

That seems to be it for the displays.

Might be time to figure out how that Ovilus thing works? Press a few buttons maybe? Can always go ask Zeke for help, unless he's gone charging off somewhere.

Those razor gangs sound pretty interesting, and if a bunch of personal items are in the case there must be some energy from them around here...Aww, "My Dearest Nikolai", there's a name to go on, maybe you could call out to him?

time to test out this fancy ghost equipment. the only names we know for sure are some gang members, and you probably don't want to deal with THAT.
maybe start out with a simple "is anyone here?" and hope one of the more benign haunts is around. can you feel ghosts lurking about or do you have to see and hear them?

>>674141
>And what about all those sparkles in the panel before?
Those are ORBS!!!

ooh yea try to contact nikolai or the owner of that pocketwatch

>>674158

orb backwards is bro...... bro...........

Handsome Dog 2015/10/01(Thu)18:46 No. 674224 ID: 586f5c
File 144375037704.png - (208.49KB , 700x500 , 41.png )

Heidi looks at the pocket watch one more time.The only information about it is “An engraved Gold Pocket watch found on site, the engraving on the front says ‘My Dearest Nikolai in Polish’.” Heidi makes a note of it, and thinks about playing with the Ovilus and seeing if she can get it to do anything and--

Handsome Dog 2015/10/01(Thu)18:47 No. 674226 ID: 586f5c
File 144375042662.png - (205.69KB , 700x500 , 42.png )

“Good evening."

Handsome Dog 2015/10/01(Thu)18:47 No. 674227 ID: 586f5c
File 144375047031.png - (149.23KB , 700x500 , 43.png )

"I see you decided to go with that troublesome boy after all."

Uh, do you know this spook
"I'll have you know that he's rad as hell. Or at least enthusiastic. Not really troublesome."

"i couldn't handle his constant whining any longer."

Proceed to use your Ovilus gadget on him.

Complement the ghost's hat and proceed to ask for a name.

Wow, bird, rude! At least knock or something.
Going with the strange man was better then the alternative of having the strange over enthusiastic man standing outside the house causing a ruckus. That and he's apparently mildly ghost-repellant which is nifty.

ah yes the second fave appears
make nervous jokes and get them to laugh so you two become best buddies

>>674227

Tell him to go bother Edgar Allen Poe or something.

It was the only thing you could think of to get him to leave you alone.

Wow they're really spooky looking. Are we used to that?? Anyway they shouldn't sneak up on someone!

>>674227
Look, I'm a sap, okay. I couldn't bring myself to kick that particular puppy.

Ask why he is troublesome. Maybe there's a solution to this where everyone can walk away happy.

Nifty bird skull aesthetic. Say, if you want me gone, I'd be happy to. Only reason I haven't already is that taking the fire exit would set off an alarm. If you can jimmy the lock on the front door, or show me how to temporarily disable that fire alarm, or find some other quick, safe, quiet way out of the building, I'll take it.

>>674224
> ‘My Dearest Nikolai in Polish’

There's probably a funny story behind that, involving an engraver who didn't actually know the language they speak in Poland.

Handsome Dog 2015/10/02(Fri)02:17 No. 674343 ID: eed053
File 144377744197.png - (267.56KB , 700x500 , 44.png )

“It was the only thing that was going to make him stop bothering me for a bit--besides, maybe I’m a bit of a sap but I didn’t want to hurt him,” Heidi says turning around. “You damn near gave me a heart attack too sneaking up like that, what’s your problem?”

The Rag and Bone Man isn’t really a friend, but they were they’re the closest thing to one that Heidi has. They’ve always been around, in one form or another, but it wasn’t until Heidi was an adult that she decided to really talk to them. She’s not sure what they are exactly, they’re not a ghost, or a spirit, just something old that’s always been around, and that's always watching.

Handsome Dog 2015/10/02(Fri)02:18 No. 674344 ID: eed053
File 144377748439.png - (251.57KB , 700x500 , 45.png )

“As rude as ever I see, even when I am so kind as to check up on you.”

"yeah yeah beakie." relax a bit "so what's up?"

they missed us how sweet. since they're feeling nice maybe they can help? like if they know something about this place and can speed things up

Good idea- maybe ask Rag if they know anything hanging about the place?

GOD ok another typo in first panel or latest update, it should be "They are the closest thing to*" honestly i shouldnt write updates while i'm rushing to do something else

"Jeez DAD, I can hang out with boys without your supervision." Maybe your bone chaperone has some ghostly connections around here, you could ask them if they know of anyone haunting the building? Y'know, so you can hurry this ghosthunting business up and get outta here.

>>674349

Well, I do appreciate the friendliness. How goes existence on your end of things?

>>674344
Yeah, well, I get grumpy in the middle of the night. And when I'm locked into museums.

Why do I need checking up on, anyways?

Ask him why he wears such a small hat, compared to his gigantic bird head

Handsome Dog 2015/10/02(Fri)17:53 No. 674500 ID: eed053
File 144383358159.png - (224.51KB , 700x500 , 46.png )

“You’d be a grumpy too if you were locked in a museum for an entire night and the only way to out was by setting off the fire alarm. Ah look, I appreciate you coming out here anyway, I’m just annoyed,” Heidi admits. She sweeps the room with her torch again, and turns back to the Rag and Bone Man. “Since you’re here, have you seen anything hanging around this place at all?”

“Yes and no,” the Rag and Bone Man says. “There are things always coming and going, living and dead by the hundreds each day, and those who pause long enough start to feel the prickle of guilt from trespassing. Visitors, tourists, and spectators are unwelcome and unwanted but allowed to pass through. Stay too long, however and cause too much trouble, and you’ll be unkindly told to leave.”

The Ovilus beeps inside Heidi’s pocket, and whizzes loudly. She fishes it out and catches site of the screen. The constant READY has been replaced with **** and it continues to blare.

“You have been tolerated thus far, but visiting hours are long over.” Rag says, clicking their beak.

Aw shit. Does that mean we're going to get attacked by ghosts? Time to regroup I think.

You're here to infiltrate, not look at some counterfeit artefacts for "cultural growth". You'll leave after you find some intel. As long as the consequences don't involve dying or beyond, this is more about breaking the rules for the loot than it is about destroying the world.

Seriously Rag, lighten up. Hell doesn't pass by here.

Handsome Dog 2015/10/02(Fri)21:36 No. 674531 ID: eed053
File 144384698572.png - (275.59KB , 700x500 , 47.png )

“Look I don’t know what you’re on about, but I’m not here to disturb anything, I’m just having a look around so I can get this night over and done with. Lighten up Rag, Hell doesn’t pass through here,” Heidi explains, looking down at the Ovilus again.

It flashes and whirs, all lights flickering, and then goes silent.

"GO"

Handsome Dog 2015/10/02(Fri)21:39 No. 674536 ID: eed053
File 144384716577.gif - (367.88KB , 700x500 , 48.gif )

The Ovilus reads the text out in a harsh, sudden monotone. It beeps and speaks again.

"GO"

The Rag and Bone Man tilts their skull, weaving their talons together in a thoughtful way. “Curious object. A gift from the troublesome boy? Surely you would not get such a gadget for yourself out of desire.”

“Shut up,” Heidi says, looking down at the Ovilus’ tiny screen.

"ENOUGH"

A pause.

"TIME"

“Perhaps I should leave you now that you have company?” Rag and Bone Man says.

Heidi waves her hand, and shushs them. The Ovilus lights up again.

"SPENT"

Offer to leave in exchange for some intel.

Because seriously, you will alert the police and get a police record if you bash open the fire exit. Whoever is talking to you has to bribe you to go that far.

>>674536
Sounds like someone or something is trying to tell you to leave. Rags might be right.

Hmm. So... if a bunch of ghosts do get mad that you and the doofus aren't leaving, what's the worst they can do?

I think you should get yourself and that guy out of here before something unfavorable happens.

announce to the air that you are leaving now and start walking. will probably leave you alone as long as they think you are leaving.

"you guys know I can see the dead, right? you can talk right to me instead of fidfling with this thing, I mostly just took it to appease that other guy."

if the ghost or whoever wanted to talk to us face to face they probably would! assuming they can tell we're a medium. so that's a fair warning i guess? mmmaybe we should advise zeke to not stay the night

this is getting spoopy. Maybe you should go find Zeke and make sure he's okay? Plus since ghosts hate him, he's probably safer to be near then by yourself.

>>674566
"come on bros lets party"

Shout "Hell no! We won't go!"

... Maybe we should go make sure ZEKE isn't disturbing any spooky ghosts. You can tell them that you don't want to bother them if you like (whether or not they'll accept that- from what Rag says, they don't sound overly patient). However, Zeke can't even control himself around the living.

Handsome Dog 2015/10/04(Sun)22:16 No. 674912 ID: eed053
File 144402220487.png - (218.93KB , 700x500 , 49.png )

Heidi looks around the room, narrowing her eyes. “Hey, alright dude, don’t stress, I’m not trying to bother you or upset you. I’ll take my bird and go, alright?” Heidi calls into the air. She wants to tell it that if she busts down the fire escape door she’ll get a police record, but she doesn’t think it would understand. The ghost probably doesn’t care about her reputation or ability to get a job.

The Rag and Bone man makes a disapproving noise from somewhere within their chest. “What will you do?”

Heidi shrugs. “I’m gonna go find Zeke, see if he’s ok and keep him out of trouble--hopefully whatever it is that makes ghosts avoid him will keep this guy--” She gestures to the Ovilus, “--at bay for a while.”

“There is certainly something… grating about his persona.” The Rag and Bone man replies. “But perhaps that will make spirits and the deceased more inclined to attack him instead of flee?”

“Only one way to find out. Thanks for coming, by the way, I’ll see you around.”

Heidi heads back into the entrance hall, and can hear Zeke talking to himself again. “...This device is called a spirit box, it rapidly scans radio frequencies and allows us to hear electronic voice phenomenon in real time through the white noise.”

Heidi steps into the entrance hall.

Handsome Dog 2015/10/04(Sun)22:17 No. 674913 ID: eed053
File 144402223540.png - (674.72KB , 700x500 , 50.png )

The room is dark, Zeke’s laptop screen casts an eerie blue light around the room while the torch mounted to the camera lights up his body. He’s bending down in front of the light, showing off the chunky “”””””””S P I R I T B O X”””””” from before. He turns it on, and white noise blasts from the speaker, so loud and sudden that it takes Heidi by surprise.

“Is there anyone here?” Zeke calls into the darkness, holding the spirit box out at arms length.

Handsome Dog 2015/10/04(Sun)22:17 No. 674914 ID: eed053
File 144402226714.png - (679.27KB , 700x500 , 51.png )

The white noise grows quiet, and Zeke points to the speaker excitedly. Something comes through over the white noise, low and regular, like waves. It’s ragged and wheezing, and it makes the hairs on the back of Heidi’s neck stand on end.

Zeke frowns down at the box, and covers it with his hand, muffling the sound.

“It’s never done that before,” he says to himself.

>>674914
>“It’s never done that before,” he says to himself.
Does that mean it's working, then?

Try taking out the batteries. If it does that again after a full restart, walk around and see if there's some kind of source or signal bouncer.

you seemed to be having better luck with the ovilus. ask who was effin with the S P I R I T B O X

HAHAHA SAY THIS >>674916

>>674914
so.. laughter?

Maybe it's an EVP? Try rewatching the camera footage to see if there are any messages you didn't hear initially.

Suggestion 2015/11/24(Tue)22:29 No. 685606 ID: 586f5c
File 144843297051.png - (219.41KB , 700x500 , 52.png )

“Does that mean its working?” Heidi says quietly to herself with a smile.

“What?” Zeke asks.

“Never mind--Hey, I don’t want to tell you how to do your job or anything but maybe just take out the batteries and restart it again, or see if it’s something else messing with the signal?” She suggests.

Suggestion 2015/11/24(Tue)22:30 No. 685608 ID: 586f5c
File 144843304229.png - (264.96KB , 700x500 , 53.png )

“No, no, it should be fine, it’s meant to just spew out white noise until it picks up something paranormal, but this is regular, it's picking up something--” Zeke’s face lights up. “Do you think its an EVP?”

“A what?”

“Electronic Voice Phenomenon,” Zeke explains with a sniff. He waves his hand dismissively, “just Paranormal Investigator talk for ghost voices.”

The spirit box continues to sound, rasping and wheezing, and Zeke goes back to trying to decipher whatever message he believes is there. He seems to be struggling with it, changing the frequencies, turning it off and on, and eventually hooking up his headphones to it with a serious frown. His camera is still set up and recording.

The air feels strange. The main hall is spacious, with no big items of furniture in the middle of the floor, but Heidi feels claustrophobic, like she’s being crowded. Her skin pimples beneath her jacket. The Ovilus beeps quietly in Heidi’s pocket, whirring and chirping, just on the edge of forming words.

>>685608
Take it out and see if it says anything then

Sooo...have you personally encountered angry spirits before? Can they harm you?

>>685608
Tell him that you device at least worked. Also apparently there are no ghost residing here, just some who pass through every now and then.

>>685657
This is the relevant question. If we are pissing off ghosts being here, how bad can it get? What are they capable of? I hope you know the rules, there.