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File 167357086118.png - (177.43KB , 700x550 , 1.png )
1053691 No. 1053691 ID: 681cb5

[Horror, Non-lewd quest]

“Even if they are in gods eyes innocent, we have no choice in the matter. In the father’s name, as we condemn them to the pyre, we can only pray the flames will purge their sinful bodies of His malevolent corruption! If we let even one of them live… then He will return for His blood… He always return for His blood…” – Father Isaac Thorn
Expand all images
>>
No. 1053692 ID: 681cb5
File 167357087132.png - (55.90KB , 700x550 , 2.png )
1053692

The door creaks open as you enter your new home, the doorway illuminating the room within even with the storm going on outside. Folding up your umbrella and shaking off some of the water from your fur, you make sure there is no mud stuck on your feet before taking a step into the cold hall of antiquity, the stale air and dust signaling that no one has been living here for some time… at least until now.

The two of you have traveled all across the country to get here, a trip that nearly went perfectly, yet by some twist of fortune your good luck turned sour just a short walk from the mansion. A storm blow up out of nowhere, and suddenly the car stalled and got stuck in the mud, forcing you to walk the final stretch through both silt and rain in clothes that clearly weren’t designed for this weather… at least you were wise enough to bring an umbrella.

Looking around, you can see a doorway leading to a room containing paintings and a piano straight ahead, while to your right a door leads into a dark room with what you think is a fireplace, as well as what you assume is a bathroom right before said door. Finally, to your left, a stairwell snakes its way up towards the second floor. Oh, and you spot all the boxes with your stuff stacked in the corner, which means at least the moving company made its way here without delay.
>>
No. 1053693 ID: 681cb5
File 167357088256.png - (70.45KB , 700x550 , 3.png )
1053693

With a loud click the light switch flips down… yet no light emergence to part this endless sea of darkness. Great, there’s still no electricity. Wasn’t the broker supposed to make sure it was working before we arrived? You can’t very well fumble around in the dark, now can you? At least the heating seems to work…

Huh, there a pair of torches sitting on the small counter next to the door. Did the broker leave them here? Your suspicion is confirmed when you spot a note under them that reads “My deepest apologies, but other more important matters kept me from installing the fuses in your new abode. I shall come by the first thing in the ‘morn to rectify this blunder. – Yours truly, Daniel Brerewood”

Standing in the entrance hall of your new house while wet, cold and tired, you can only muse that this isn’t what most people would imagine happening when they suddenly inherited a mansion worth a fortune out of nowhere. Of course, most of them would probably imagine it being a scam, but still… you can only hope that the master bedroom is more inviting, as it’s getting rather late.
>>
No. 1053695 ID: 5d9787

Exploration will have to wait for daylight. For now let's familiarize ourselves with the bedroom and the nearest bathroom, use the light sparingly and sleep early.

Maybe a some reflection on the circumstances that lead to this predicament is in order. Why did we arrived so late? Spending the night in a motel is not an option? Is such distant location compatible with our lifestyle? Who did we inherent this from anyway?
>>
No. 1053698 ID: 2aa5f0

grab flashlight, grab some dry clothes from the boxes, and try and find your bed. It's been a long drive after all.
>>
No. 1053699 ID: befea9

Get rid of all those damp clothes, grab one flashlight and stick the other one up somewhere as a backup.
>>
No. 1053711 ID: 2a82d3

Light up the fireplace in the other room to help dry off those clothes. No electricity likely means no heating either. Even if the place is well insulated, it couldn't hurt to warm up the place.

So where's the other half? Waiting by the car, or right behind you?
>>
No. 1053717 ID: 8c10d7

>>1053693
>The two of you
>ring
So, how long have you been together? You newly weds or something?
There should be fuses on location, so if you have some idea where the box is, perhaps you should get that handled sooner than later. Depending on the location, it could be just as dark now as later.
And give your partner the other torch.
>>
No. 1053730 ID: 681cb5
File 167364796909.png - (76.69KB , 700x550 , 4.png )
1053730

>Exploration will have to wait for daylight.
You’re right. Now is not the time to wander around a dark building with only a torch for a light source. It should get a lot brighter in here when the sun comes up… after all, this place was probably built before electricity even existed, right?
>Maybe some reflecting on the circumstances that lead to this predicament is in order.
Six months ago you were the happiest woman on earth, as you got married to a wonderful man that you love like no other... but then, just a few weeks ago, your husband got a strange phone call. It was a lawyer who claimed to represent the estate of some very distant relative of your husband, a relative who had recently committed suicide, and as the closes living heir, your hubby had inherited the ancestral mansion of a person on a branch so far removed that he had never even heard of them. Then everything happened so fast… a whirlwind of planning and decisions, legal details and travel arrangements, the packing up and shipping away of your entire home, your entire life…

*Sigh* Yet… you’re sure you’ll be happy here… at least… as long as you can be with your husband. He should be here soon, as he only stayed behind at the car until they get it towed… in fact, both of you would have been here sooner if it wasn’t for the rain… or mud… or that thick, milky mist… not to mention the car problems. Taking a deep breath, you calm yourself… now is not the time to worry about that… now is the time to move forward.
>>
No. 1053731 ID: 681cb5
File 167364797951.png - (74.67KB , 700x550 , 5.png )
1053731

>Grab flashlight, grab some dry clothes from the boxes…
Luckily, you’ve prepared for this. Both of you made sure to pack down your pajamas at the top of one of the boxes so that you would be able to quickly change for bed, just in case. It will only take a moment to get out of these damp clothes and into some nice, warm nightwear. You just need to grab one of the torches to make sure you find the stuff first.
>Stick the other one up somewhere as a backup.
The PJ doesn’t have pockets big enough… and besides, you better leave one for your hubby, so he won’t get lost in the dark.

>Try and find your bed. It's been a long drive after all.
The Master Bedroom should be the first door on the second floor… and hopefully the broker actually made the beds before he left. Still, you shouldn’t jump into bed while still wet… and you better wait for your dear husband to get here first as well. Still, there should be a bathtub and a shower up there, and you wouldn’t say no to a hot bath right now.
>Light up the fireplace in the other room to help dry off those clothes.
…nor would you say no to a warm fireplace either.
>There should be fuses on location, so if you have some idea where the box is, perhaps you should get that handled sooner than later.
The fuse box should be down in the basement… wherever that is. Though, if there were extra fuses here, wouldn’t the broker already have changed them?

So… either a hot bath, a warm fire place or fumble your way down into the basement in the dark and cold? One of those options really doesn’t sound that inviting does it?

[If you wish you may name this young Vixen, her beloved Husband as well as decide their shared last name.]
>>
No. 1053732 ID: 87e33c

Okay I have two name suggestion sets I'm torn on!

Male Name: Wife
Female Name: Husband

or

Male Name: Hisstor
Female Name: Yiffany

Also cover up the sideboob this is a sfw quest ;)
>>
No. 1053734 ID: befea9

>Mary-Kil and Humphrey Fawkes
Check the basement first, no fuses means no warm bath. And don't put on the sweater yet, wool could build up static electricity and give you a nasty shock! It's not safe.
>>
No. 1053735 ID: e7c7d3

>>1053732
Last name: Knotts

You know, like the famous actor
>>
No. 1053736 ID: e7c7d3

>>1053731
Watch out for the spooky eyes on your way to the fireplace
>>
No. 1053737 ID: 5d9787

A hot bath usually is not an option without electricity.
Maybe the fireplace and/or the stove are connected in such way they heat the water during use. This method would take a while to get a comfortable temperature.
Did you see one of those black glass box on the roof? There could be a sun heater installed.

The fireplace should be a more viable choice, as long as there is dry wood or gas.

For names I'm thinking:
Wife: Thima
Husband: Epimeteu
Family name: Siskotisi

>Also cover up the sideboob this is a sfw quest ;)
Sideboobs are tasteful nudes.
>>
No. 1053738 ID: 2420bf

>>1053731
There's a pair of eyes staring at you from that dark doorway at the end of the hall!
>>
No. 1053739 ID: 2aa5f0

Wife: Belle

Husband: Chris

Last name: Scion
>>
No. 1053742 ID: e83a31

Belle and Chris Knotts
>>
No. 1053743 ID: 894419

>>1053738
!!!!!!!!!
>>
No. 1053752 ID: 2a82d3

You know what? The bed can wait, until after you use the fireplace to cozy up to your new home. You really need to take any chance you get to relieve stress and recenter yourself while it's the calm before the storm, metaphorically speaking.
>>
No. 1053753 ID: dee951

>>1053752

Also, you'll have the fireplace poker with you, in easy reach. It's a useful tool for. You know. Poking things.
>>
No. 1053760 ID: 5560d0

A nice warm fire sounds amazing right about now.

>Belle and Chris Knotts
Yess
>>
No. 1053768 ID: 49a889

>>1053742
Yee.

>>1053738
Stranger danger!

You do hace a cellphone, right?
>>
No. 1053779 ID: e5709d

>>1053742
Raise.
Kiki and Dismas Knotts
>>
No. 1053794 ID: 15a025

Get cozy up by the fireplace.
>>
No. 1053844 ID: 681cb5
File 167382565552.png - (76.62KB , 700x550 , 6.png )
1053844

Right as you finish putting on your nightwear you spot something in the corner of your eye, a horned creature standing in the dark doorway, staring at you. In a panic, you throw yourself over the dressed to grab the torch, almost dropping it on the floor as you fumble to turn it the right way. As the beam of light moves over the figure, it disappears into the shadows and leaves nothing but a… mounted moose head on the wall. Your body relaxes its muscles, the breath you were holding leaving your lungs as you finally notice that you instinctively picked up the umbrella again to defend yourself with it. Dammit, Belle, get a grip! A real Knott doesn’t jump at shadows and mounted feral elk heads. At least, you hope that’s a feral elk… looks like one, at least. Hmm... would it be rude to keep it up if you ever had any moose friends over?

>Get cozy up by the fireplace.
It’s clear that this room is designed to do just that, as the only furniture in here are several soft looking armchairs and settees surrounding the room, with the big fire place in center stage. Looking around, you find some kindling and matchsticks inside a blue little box on the mantel piece, as well as several old, dry logs of birch that’s perfect to make a fire with.
>>
No. 1053845 ID: 681cb5
File 167382566456.png - (110.46KB , 700x550 , 7.png )
1053845

The soft light of the fire bathe the room in an orange glow, and a pleasant warmth washes over your cold body. Suddenly, this long trip wasn’t that bad, was it? You’re just happy that your daddy thought you how to make a proper fire.

>A hot bath usually is not an option without electricity.
Is the water of this place even heated by electricity? You put your hand on one of the many radiators that dot these rooms, finding that they are indeed hot… that would mean the water is hot as well, right?
>Did you see one of those black glass box on the roof? There could be a sun heater installed.
The only things you saw on the roof were two chimneys and some kind of dome.
>You do have a cellphone, right?
You do indeed have your new, trusty Peacockia! Of course, the only thing you can really do with it right now is to play Snek, as it doesn’t seem to get any signal out here. Hopefully that will change when the weather clears up a bit.
>You have the fireplace poker near you, in easy reach. It's a useful tool for. You know. Poking things.
Or clobbering weird creatures with horns…
>>
No. 1053846 ID: 681cb5
File 167382567134.png - (75.76KB , 700x550 , 8.png )
1053846

While enjoying the soothing flames, you can’t help but let your gaze wander around the room… though it is quickly drawn towards the large painting hanging above the fireplace. Staring back at you is a pair of cold, bloodshot eyes filled with animosity and pure hatred. The portrait depicts an old male hare dressed in archaic Puritan clothes, glaring down on whoever is unlucky enough to be beneath him, his frown showing just how little he thinks of whoever is down here. You shudder, as it feels like those horrid eyes looks straight through you, into your very soul and corrupts it with the madness hidden beneath that gaunt and haggard face. Even after you avert your gaze, you find yourself returning to those bloodshot eyes, as if you’re afraid that leaving him unobserved will let him leap out of the painting and attack you. That painting clearly needs to go.
>>
No. 1053847 ID: 681cb5
File 167382567979.png - (128.00KB , 700x550 , 9.png )
1053847

Chris: “And to think that I’m related to that grumpy old man.”

As you’re ripped from your trance, you can’t help but make a loud yip while jumping a bit into the air. Wait, what!? When did your hubby get here!?

Chris: ”Oh! I’m sorry, dear! I thought you heard me come in.”
>>
No. 1053848 ID: 38349b

Pull the curtain over the painting and chat with the hubs, that or pull the little dongle next to the painting to cover it, and if you still cant cover it that way, just take the dang thing down for now.

It can go up again later when you're not tired and it's not the ass crack of midnight.
>>
No. 1053849 ID: 15c72a

Well, take the painting down while you're thinking about it.
>>
No. 1053850 ID: 5d9787

Are all the walls in this room covered with curtain? That's odd. Also a fire hazard.

>radiators
I forgot that was a thing you guys do.

This book have the same symbol as the entrance rug. Do you want to check what kind of cult old grumpy was involved with?
>>
No. 1053851 ID: dee951

Ya, that painting is totally going to need to get burned to cinders in purifying fire. Well away from you and this house and any brushland or woodland, of course. Even in the unlikely event that it isn't haunted, it's very unsettling, tasteless, and ugly!

Ask your husband if he would be okay with burning this painting? It isn't a very flattering likeness of his relative, after all.
>>
No. 1053864 ID: bbb04b

"Oh, I'm surprised the artist even finished it like that - that can't be a flattering picture of him, right? I just... can't imagine why everyone kept it hung up like that."

Maybe ask to take it down while it's fresh in your mind. A painting on the floor or leaning against a wall will demand more immediate action in the morning, anyway, even if you don't have the energy or layout knowledge to put it all the way away right now.
>>
No. 1053901 ID: 953c9f

>>1053847
God, you two are absolutely adorable together.
So, what’s your story? What do you both do? How did you meet? When did you tie the Knott?
Once you’ve dealt with the painting, it’ll be good to lift your spirits, and fond memories and handholding are both good for that.
>>
No. 1053918 ID: 2a82d3

I wouldn't use the painting as extra kindling just yet. For all you know right now, you might anger the spirit, not exorcize it.

>“And to think that I’m related to that grumpy old man.”
Did he know him well? Obviously not, but it does beg the question about how well he knew his family. If he really is ignorant and innocent of all this, that was more than likely deliberate. A split from the family, perhaps? Don't be too hard on him, but you have a right to be informed about any (hopefully not literal) skeletons in the basement he has.

There's also the question of how the line of inheritance ended up at him. As in, what the heck happened to the people ahead of him.
>>
No. 1053949 ID: 681cb5
File 167390414497.png - (106.08KB , 700x550 , 10.png )
1053949

>So, what’s your story? What do you both do?
You’re Belle Knott, a receptionist for… well, it used to be a university in another city (as well as a newly started company called Pet.com for a year), but next week you’ll be working for the University of Arkham. To be more precise, their facilities right here in the little town of Crowmoor. As for your adorable little hubby he’s Chris Knott, formerly Chris Craven, and he’s trying to become a professor in Psychology. Apparently, they have quite the research department about mental diseases here in Crowmoor… what with them having an asylum and all.
>How did you meet?
Oh well, you know… you were working at the same university and… well… he came up to you and asked if you wanted to share a coffee…
>When did you tie the Knott?
Didn’t you already say that? Six months ago!


Belle: “Ugh, don’t worry about it dear… it’s just… that horrid painting up there.”
Chris: “Oh? …you want me to cover it?”
Belle: “…I want to rip it off the wall and burn it into cinders in purifying fire.”
Chris: “Now now, dear, no need to go that far.” He looks up at the painting as seems to contemplate something before continuing, “Though it seems like it’s been bolted to the wall itself. It won’t be easy to remove it. So let’s just cover it up for now, Belle.”
Belle: “Hmm… and then we can burn it later?”
Chris: “I don’t know… I have to admit it’s not a very flattering painting… but it’s still part of my family history apparently. Let’s see… look, it was made way back in 1876 by an Emerik K, and is depicting someone called… err… I’m not sure how you pronounce this but… Bovel Krakholme, but with two dots over the first O and a ring over the A?”
Belle: “You mean Kråkholme? Wasn’t that one of the former owners of this place?”
Chris: “That’s right! Edward and Julia Kråkholm! So the grumpy old man in the painting is indeed someone I’m related to.”
Belle: “Still say we burn it…”

>This book have the same symbol as the entrance rug. Do you want to check what kind of cult old grumpy was involved with?
You pick up the book next to you and start to flip through it, expecting to find some occult blood rituals or horrifying black speech, but instead all you find is a bunch of old photos of people you don’t recognize. Well, you say photos, but most of the first pages have drawings of people instead.

Chris: “Find anything interesting?” Chris asks as he leans over your shoulder to get a better look.
Belle: “Just some old photos… that’s all.”
Chris: “Hmm… looks like that book span generations. Look, the first entry is way back in the 1600!”
Belle: “And if I’m reading this index correctly, this book has a ton of the families who’s lived in Crowmoor registered.”
Chris: “I guess if we ever need to find someone that used to live here, we know where to look, hun.”
Belle: “So did you know him? I mean, this Bövel or what he was called?”
Chris: “Oh no, I haven’t the faintest idea who he is. You know about my grandfather on my father’s side, right?”
Belle: “The one that…” you’re about to say committed suicide, but stop yourself, “…that left us long before you were even born?”
Chris: “That’s right. And my grandmother never wanted to talk about where he came from either so… well, most of us never really knew where that branch of the family went to… but apparently it went here, to Crownmoor and these… Kråkholme was it?”
Belle: “…and yet you’re the one who is inheriting this place? Wasn’t there anyone else?”
Chris: “Apparently not. As far as I know, the last people who lived here, Edward and his family, they… well, we’ve already talked about that, haven’t we?”

It’s not a pretty story, and one that lacks details, but apparently this Edward fellow went mad and… well, his wife and daughters didn’t make it… and Edward followed a few months later when he committed suicide in the asylum here in Crowmoor.

Belle: “And yet here we are, in the very same house that horrid tale played out.”
Chris: “Don’t worry, I’ll be here to protect you if anything happens.”
Belle: “Oh? Doesn’t it usually end up with me protecting you, little bun?”
Chris: “You’re probably right, love.”

Your hubby stretches out his arms and yawns

Chris: “I’m completely beat after everything that happened today. So if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to take a quick, cold shower before heading to bed… maybe I can meet you there for some snuggles, hmm?”
Belle: “Of course…”

He grabs your hand and squeezes it, before giving you a loving kiss on your cheek. If you want to ask your hubby anything else before going to bed, now is the time.
>>
No. 1053954 ID: 2a82d3

What are his thoughts surrounding kids? Given Edward, he probably have to swear on the Bible not to go crazy if he wants them.

Has you both consummated your marriage yet? (That one's not meant to be expicit, I swear.) Many religious and spiritual institutions (and hopefully spirits) allow annulment of marriages, if there hasn't been sharing of the "blood", so to speak. I doubt that's what either of you want, though.

As creepy as it is, some straight answers under the portrait of the Baron's gaze could be important, one way or another.
>>
No. 1053964 ID: 85c6ae

>>1053691
>[Horror, Non-lewd quest]
>>1053949
>handholding
That's extremely lewd! Why would you lie to us like that, Kaktus?!

Since your husband is a rabbit, if you guys ever plan on having any kids, then you'd better prepare to have a lot of kids! Everyone knows rabbits are good at multiplying!

>If you want to ask your hubby anything else before going to bed, now is the time.
"Wanna fuck?"
>>
No. 1053975 ID: dee951

>>1053691

This place is far too creepy for that. That'd only be reasonable AFTER the place is deep cleaned and it's in the daylight and you've replaced at least some of the furnishings to be more... comfortable.

That said, cuddling and hugging and petting would be quite nice!
>>
No. 1054015 ID: c28082

>>1053847

>“And to think that I’m related to that grumpy old man.”

Well, that certainly explains how you came to be in possession of this place.

Did his family always have a, uh ... eclectic taste in interior decor?

>>1053949

Let's settle for locking it in a crate in the cellar where we'll never have to see it again, and maybe putting up a nice macrame wall-hanging instead.
>>
No. 1054016 ID: 36784c

>>1053949
We should probably put out the fire in the fireplace before we join our husband in bed. Leaving a fire unattended is a good way to burn down the house you just moved into.

>>1054015
>Let's settle for locking it in a crate in the cellar where we'll never have to see it again
We were told that the painting is bolted to the wall, so we can’t do that.
>>
No. 1054232 ID: 681cb5
File 167425507029.png - (66.70KB , 700x550 , 11.png )
1054232

>Have you both consummated your marriage yet?
…you’re not a pair of puritans from the 1600s, so yes?
>What are his thoughts surrounding kids?
The two of you have discussed it at length… and you were considering it right before Chris got that letter. As for now… well, you’ll need to settle in first… find your place and all that… then you can start consider it again.
>Since your husband is a rabbit, if you guys ever plan on having any kids, then you'd better prepare to have a lot of kids! Everyone knows rabbits are good at multiplying!
…ugh, don’t bring that up…
>"Wanna fuck?"
Both of you have been on the road for hours, before being forced to walk through rain and mud to get to a really creepy house… it shouldn’t come as a surprise that neither of you are in the mood!?

>Did his family always have a, uh ... eclectic taste in interior decor?
Chris: “As I said, love, I don’t really know this branch of the family… though you’ve seen how my mother live, haven’t you?”
Belle: “Comfy, homely and warm… a place that always smells of honey and newly baked cookies… a far cry from this mansion.”
Chris: “Of course, mother isn’t related to the folk that used to live here in the first place… they are from my father side, after all.”
Belle: You look up at the painting again, which is still glaring at you with pure hatred, “…if you don’t want to burn that thing, then let’s settle for locking it in a crate somewhere… maybe the cellar or the attic… just somewhere where I’ll never have to see it again. Then we can put up one of your mothers homemade macramé wall-hangings instead.”
Chris: “That would be lovely… but we’ll need to talk to someone and see if we can take that thing down without damaging the wall first. Let’s just cover it up for now and focus on getting settled, alright dear?”
Belle: “…that does sound like a plan, hubby… now, you never told me what happened to the car?”
Chris: “Oh… well…” he sheepishly rubs the back of his head before continuing, “The good news is that we got stuck right outside this really charming little pub, a very rustic place called O’mally’s, and they let me borrow a phone.”
Belle: You look him in the eyes and raises a single eyebrow, “…and the bad news?”
Chris: “Well… heh… see, they don’t have a proper garage here in Crowmoor so… they had to tow it all the way back to Arkham. They said it would take at least a week before they got it fixed…”
Belle: “… … …we’re stuck here a whole week?”
Chris: “Um… not stuck, exactly, but… we’re lucky that we don’t need to leave anytime soon, hun?”
Belle: “Ugh… fine… fine… that’s fine. Let’s just… go to bed so this horrid day can finally end.”
Chris: “Way ahead of you, dear! Tomorrow will be a bright, sunny day, you’ll see!”
Belle: “…of course it will be, hubby… at least when you’re there…”
Chris: “…I love you, Belle…”
Belle: “…and I love you, Chris…”
>>
No. 1054233 ID: 681cb5
File 167425507754.png - (63.43KB , 700x550 , 12.png )
1054233

As your husband leaves for his shower, you stay put a while longer and look into the fire, letting your mind wander as you start to come to terms of what has happened the last few days. This is your home now… you’ll be staying here for the foreseeable future... let’s just hope it’s more inviting in the sunlight.

As you’re about to head up, you give the horrid painting a rude gesture, though it only answer with the same hateful glare as always, before putting out the fire in the hearth. You can’t have this place burn down before you’ve even settled in, can you? Sneaking up the stairs, you find that your husband has already claimed the massive king sized bed in the master bedroom, and as his queen you quietly slide in behind him and embraces his tiny body. He purrs in your grip as you hug him, squiring a bit to make it easier for you to get even close before letting himself be completely engulfed by your cuddling.

Belle: “Goodnight, love…” you whisper into his ear, making it twitch.
Chris: “Goodnight, dear…” he whispers back, making you smile…

It doesn’t take long for sleep to come and claim you…
>>
No. 1054234 ID: 681cb5
File 167425508607.png - (85.96KB , 700x550 , 13.png )
1054234

Priest: “How do you plead? Guilty or innocent?” the booming voice of the man in front of you bellows.

Looking around in a panicky confusion, you find yourself surrounded by a mob wielding pitchforks and lit torches, all the while several large bonfires burn around them. The world behind them seems to be on fire, leaving everything beyond them as nothing more than strange shapes and shadows, though they aren’t much better as you can barely make out what they look like. Even the priest standing right in front of you is just a blur, a mix match of black, white and green blending together against the night sky. Trying to move, you realize that you’re tied to a large stock placed on top of a pile of wood. You’re tied to a pyre…

A scream of a young girl confirms your fear, that the bonfires that surround you not only have wooden kindling, but a living one as well. The hateful mob move closer to you, their torches ready to be cast upon your pyre, and there is nothing you can do to escape them, no matter how hard you struggle against your bonds.

Priest: “I shall only ask once more. How do you plead, witch. Guilty or innocent? If you refuse to answer…” the shape of the priest turns to look over his shoulder, and you can see another shadow lifting up a red hot branding iron and smiling, “So what say you, spawn of evil?”
>>
No. 1054254 ID: 2a82d3

I 'no not half 'f what ye speak of, 'ut I swear I be innocent. I be from out o' town. Wheel o' me 'agon broke, an' me 'usband ran 'head fo' some 'elp. Anot'ter 'agon 'topped by an' I 'itched onto it na qu'tion'n it. I 'ust 'anted to git ta town to git me 'usband or git some folks to find him. Hand to God, that be the 'ole truth. I be innocent.

I 'no not what be going on 'ere but if ye ar' men of faith, please... don't 'arm good people over it.
>>
No. 1054258 ID: 15c72a

>>1054234
Be as honest as possible. You don't know where you are or how you got here, you think the witch must have switched places with you!
>>
No. 1054284 ID: e5709d

"...She left me."
>What are you blithering, wen-
"YOU LEFT ME! I loved/ you, and you left me! Why?! Weren't you 'my guiding spirit, now and forever'? Didn't we swear to go to the darkest depths of Hell as one?! Was it all nothing more than a playful FARCE?!"
>So you confess? You willingly hosted a spawn of Satan?!
"...I am guilty. Do it. JUST DO IT! GET IT OVER WITH!"
>In the name of the father, the son, and the holy spirit, I, Pastor Pasterius, do hereby sentence you to-
"K̷̮͠I̸̗͒L̸͍̭̀̈́L̷̨͘ ̸͚̥̀͠M̵̪̈́̈́E̸͉͠ ̶̝̗͂N̸͓̬͂̚Ȏ̴͚̈́W̶̠̬͑̚"
>>
No. 1054287 ID: 9d2b34

>>1054254

THIS.

These people are afraid. Let them know you are a simple, pious soul, like them. Show empathy.
>>
No. 1054288 ID: ccbbb0

rolled 1 = 1

This must be a dream. Play along, plead innocent and

If rolling 1: Tell the priest he is resolute and stalwart.

If rolling 2: Call him a "protestant prostitute" and say the Pope did nothing wrong.
>>
No. 1054328 ID: bbb04b

"Ye'd know quite well it matters not what we plead, so I'll spend mine breath to accuse instead; if anyone here were an agent of the devil come to lead men intae darkness, it's you! The wicked pleasures taken from these acts are writ plain upon your face! It is not too late fer the rest of ye to come to your senses!"
>>
No. 1054330 ID: 681cb5
File 167433985254.png - (60.07KB , 700x550 , 14.png )
1054330

>This must be a dream. Play along.
This can’t be happening! This can’t be real! This has to be a dream! But… but why can’t you wake up!? WAKE UP DAMMIT! WAKE UP BELLE! WAKE UP! Oh god, please… help… Chris… help me…

With a trembling snout, you try your best to play along, to sound like them…
Belle: “I 'no not half 'f what ye speak of, 'ut I swear I be innocent. I be from out o' town. Wheel o' me 'agon broke, an' me 'usband ran 'head fo' some 'elp. Anot'ter 'agon 'topped by an' I 'itched-” but the priest silence you before you can finish.
Tall Priest: “We know who you are, witch, as you were born of the crow right here in the village. Your poisoned tongue will not save you now… nor will His gaze.”
Belle: “P-please, this is a mistake… I’m innocent! I don’t know where I am or how I got here but… the witch! The witch must have switched places with me!”
Tall Priest: “She pleads innocent to the crime of witchcraft!” the priest bellows out, ignoring everything else you said, “And thus she will be tried as the law demands!”
Wide Priest:“Is this all really necessary, brother Corbin?”

The tall priest stops dead in his tracks as a second priest approaches, this one far shorter and wider than the lanky form of the first priest.

Tall Priest: “You know the law, Father Thorn. We must prove this hag guilty before we can free her from this mortal coil.”
Wide Priest: “And what if you find her innocent?”
Tall Priest: “We won’t, you know that.”
Wide Priest: “But what if she truly is innocent?”
Tall Priest: “…”
Belle: “T-that’s right… listen to your resolute and stalwart friend… I’m innocent…”
Tall Priest: “So you wish to simply release this thing and let the corruption spread?”
Wide Priest: “No, I am sad to say that wouldn’t be possible.”
Belle: “What…?”
Wide Priest: “Even if they are in God’s eyes innocent, we have no choice in the matter. In the Father’s name, as we condemn them to the pyre, we can only pray the flames will purge their sinful bodies of His malevolent corruption! If we let even one of them live… then He will return for His blood… He always returns for His blood…”

Father Thorn looks over at you, clearly considering something, before stepping forwards towards your pyre.

Wide Priest: “But in the Father’s, the Son’s and the Holy Spirit name, may your sins be forgiven and your soul laid to rest.” As he speaks, he makes the gesture of the cross over your chest, “Let my blessing at least protect you from His wickedness, child.”
Tall Priest: “Father Thorn?”
Wide Priest: “You may proceed, Corvin. I am truly sorry, my child… but this is the only way.”
Tall Priest: “With testimonies from those witnessing your dark arts, with your fathers sins weighting heavy upon you, I hereby declare you guilty of witchcraft! Your sentence will be death!”
Belle: “The only one guilty of being an agent of the devil is you! The wicked pleasures taken from these acts are written plain upon your face! It is not too late for the rest of you to come to your senses!”
Wide Priest: “Trust me, child, I find no pleasure in this wicked deed.”
Tall Priest: “But I do! You dare accuse me of being in bed with the devil, when you were born from his very loins!? You who has partaken in His dark rituals and brought forth so much pain and suffering? No, the only agent of darkness here is you and your sisters, and I will enjoy watching every last one of you burn, witch. LIGHT THE PYRE!”
>>
No. 1054331 ID: 681cb5
File 167433986403.png - (118.86KB , 700x550 , 15.png )
1054331

The flames quickly consume the pile you’re standing on, and you start to scream as the searing pain engulfs your lower half. Though you’re not able to scream for long, as a thick, black smog rises from the burning wood, filling your lungs with it dark sot and strangling you from within. You cannot breath… and you must scream. The pain is too much, as you can feel your flesh sears of from your bones and the smoke burning away at your lungs, that your consciousness is about to fail you. Sweet oblivion, save me from this hell…
>>
No. 1054332 ID: 681cb5
File 167433987372.png - (31.70KB , 700x550 , 16.png )
1054332

But then you look up into the sky and everything becomes calm. Even as your flesh burn and your lung fill with black smoke, tranquility washes over you as you spot the red star hanging in the sky, ever so slowly growing bigger and bigger. Its existence doesn’t help you with your pain… but simply knowing that you won’t be here when It arrives, to suffer the fate it has in store for you all, lets you accept the coming death…

All that is left for you is to curse your father’s name with your last breath, the crow that has brought this evil upon you… may he burn in hell for eternity for his sins... or worse.

Finally, you are at peace…

>K̷̮͠I̸̗͒L̸͍̭̀̈́L̷̨͘ ̸͚̥̀͠M̵̪̈́̈́E̸͉͠ ̶̝̗͂N̸͓̬͂̚Ȏ̴͚̈́W̶̠̬͑̚
You shall not be granted such mercy.
>>
No. 1054334 ID: 681cb5
File 167433993663.png - (101.94KB , 700x550 , 17.png )
1054334

With a silent scream you catapult up from the bed, tears flowing down your cheeks as you take heavy breaths. Your whole body is shaking, your eyes darting around the room in a panic but unable to find any danger. It was only a dream… yet it felt so real... you should feel the burning flames and your lungs still hurt… yet, it wasn’t real?

Finally able to calm down, you gaze around the master bedroom, unable to find your love anywhere… but the smell of newly toasted bread coming from the slightly ajar bedroom door betrays his location. Taking a deep breath, you look out the window to see the sun rising over a clear blue sky while the songs of birds can be heard on the wind. Today might be a nice day after all… maybe it was just a nightmare?
>>
No. 1054335 ID: 19ea25

A nightmare that may have been triggered by the smell of burnt toast. Nothing to fear, lets head down and get some proper breakfast.
>>
No. 1054336 ID: dee951

Hmmm. That was... ahistorical. That wasn't how any of the Puritan witch trials or ANY of that stuff went. There are records of this stuff, how people pled, what happened, and so on. HANGING was the punishment for witchcraft at this time, both in Europe and in the Americas, not burning! And only TWENTY people were executed in the Salem Witch Trials, by hanging! With, you know. Actual trials! Burning was European, and done centuries earlier.

That's more like... something warping perceptions of historic events, and conflating two separate, albeit slightly similar, events, and making it some warped reflection of both. Or perhaps the modern pop culture misunderstanding?

Your memories of your teenage New Age phase brings to mind the idea of 'subtle realms' that are reflections of the ideas and mythology people have about things, inhabited by Tulpas/Egregores created by the collective unconsciousness, moreso than anything that actually happened. Perhaps that?
>>
No. 1054337 ID: facc9c

>>1054334
Talk to your husband about your nightmare. Let him comfort you and make you feel better.

Then consider looking up the names Father Thorn and Corbin in some of the books in the house. Tbose names seem oddly significant. And maybe look up rumors about a red star.
>>
No. 1054339 ID: 01fe07

Go talk to your husband. Dreams like that are really upsetting and usually require lots of hugs and kisses to feel better.
>>
No. 1054351 ID: 15a025

Perhaps your husband can help calm you from that nightmare.

Hm, if he's made toast maybe that means you've got electricity now as well.
>>
No. 1054356 ID: 15c72a

>>1054334
House is cursed. Go stay in a hotel.
>>
No. 1054368 ID: dee951

>>1054356

This. Even if it's not cursed, the creepy environment is giving you a bad stress reaction!
>>
No. 1054507 ID: 681cb5
File 167449402506.png - (102.94KB , 700x550 , 18.png )
1054507

>Hmmm. That was... ahistorical.
Ahistorical? Since when do nightmares need to follow history? Heck, most of the time they don’t even make physical sense!
>*Talk about 'subtle realms' and Tulpas/Egregores created by the collective unconsciousness.*
The what in the what now? Ugh, it’s way too early to think about weird stuff like that… maybe after you’ve had a cup or two of coffee.

>A nightmare that may have been triggered by the smell of burnt toast. Nothing to fear, lets head down and get some proper breakfast.
A calm washes over you when that smell fills your nostrils. Of course that was nothing more than that, a nightmare… which burned to the ground because of the smell of baked bread. That… and the fragrance of black coffee…

You make your way towards the smell, only stopping to quickly clean yourself and get some clothes on, before venturing out through the bedroom door and into the halls of this shadow filled manor. Standing in the corridor on the second floor, you glance around a bit before continuing, noting the layout of your new home. Not counting the door you came from then there is only one other door here, leading to some unknown room, as well as a small storage closet and finally the stairs down to the entrance hall.

Tiptoeing onto the cold stone that adore the first floors foyer, you can hear the faint voice of your husband singing echo through the rooms, originating from the same direction as the smell of bread and old coffee. You throw a glance towards the room with the fire place, noting that the painting is now covered by a white sheet, but even then you decide to take the other way around the mansion. Walking into the room right across the entrance, you find yourself in some sort of gallery, filled with several empty tables against the walls as well as a rather large piano in the middle of it. Of course, the thing that really catches your eye is the six, large paintings hanging in the room, every last one of them covered by some drapery hanging from the ceiling. Your next stop is the dining hall, where an overly large table is suited in the middle of it, surrounded by at least two dozen chairs, angled in such a way that everyone sitting down would be able to look out the grand window which shows of an amazing view of Crowmoor proper. Once again, you peek into the room with the painting; just to be sure it’s still covered, as you pass the door leading to it while making your way to your destination… the kitchen. The delightful smell of roasted coffee beans and newly made bread fills your soul as you watch your cute little hubby dance around the gas oven, pulling out some newly toasted bread from it before noticing that you’re here.

Chris: “Ah, love, I didn’t see you there! And here I was being in a hurry to get this done so I should surprise you with a breakfast in the bed, but maybe this is for the best. Don’t want to get crumbs into our new king sized bed, would we dear? Now, as we still haven’t gotten our electric back I was forced to be a bit creative, so I just boiled some eggs, made some toast in the oven and finally warmed up the leftover coffee we had with us on the trip, the one in the thermos, remember? Oh, and I got you todays paper as well, because I know-”

He finally turns around and looks you in the eye… and immediately notice something is wrong.

Chris: “Belle… are you alright?”
>>
No. 1054508 ID: 681cb5
File 167449403391.png - (87.65KB , 700x550 , 19.png )
1054508

The two of you enjoy your sandwiches and coffee, snuggling together, as you tell him about your nightmare.

Chris: “You do know that they usually didn’t burn witches, right?”
Belle: “Don’t you start with that.”
Chris: “But don’t worry, Belle, it will be fine. It was just a dream, nothing else… and I know the perfect cure for bad dreams!”
Belle: “Oh? And that is?”

He snuggle up against you, kissing the side of your snout as he embraces your body and scratch that perfect spot right above your tail.

Chris: “Lots of hugs and kisses!”
Belle: “Heh, you always knew how to perk me up, hubby.”
Chris: “And you always knew how make me the happiest man alive, love.”
Belle: “Still… maybe we should go and stay in a hotel? Just in case this place is either cursed or haunted? Or both?”
Chris: “Dear, there’s nothing to worry about. You’re just a bit stressed from the move, that’s all. I bet you’ll feel better after you’ve grown accustomed to this place. Not to mention, I’m pretty sure that horror movie about evil preachers burning people alive you saw right before we left didn’t help, Belle.”
Belle: “Maybe you’re right…”
Chris: “Besides, what hotel? I don’t believe this little town even has one, which means we would need to go all the way to Arkham… without a car, I have to remind you.”
Belle: “Huff… I keep forgetting we’re stuck here…”
Chris: “How about this… why don’t we do something after breakfast to get your mind off things, hmm? Maybe we can… I don’t know; explore our new home a bit? I’m certain there should be a library in here somewhere… or we can go down to the town! Visit that pub O’mally’s just down the street? It was a really cute, rustic place with a lot of charm… and very welcoming people as well!”
Belle: “…what happened to the broker, anyway? Has he been by with the fuses yet?”
Chris: “No, haven’t heard a squeak from him. Tried to call him but it just went to voice mail. But that won’t stop us, will it? I’m sure there’s a spare pair of fuses somewhere in this house… or we can just go down and find a shop to buy them in? Worst case we’ll just head over the brokers office and see if he got them or not, right?”
Belle: “Hmm… yeah… maybe…”
Chris: “So a lot of options for today, dear… which one caught your fancy?”
Belle: “…I need to check that book first, love.”
>>
No. 1054509 ID: 681cb5
File 167449404179.png - (94.79KB , 700x550 , 20.png )
1054509

>Then consider looking up the names Father Thorn and Corbin in some of the books in the house. Those names seem oddly significant. And maybe look up rumors about a red star.
Both Corbin and Thorn are easy to find, as they are nearly at the start of the book. Though, seeing as they lived long before cameras, there is instead two simple sketches of them in the book instead. It doesn’t say much about them, other than they are a priest and his assistance who arrived in the new world in the mid-1600s from England, and settled here in Crowmoor when the town was founded by Bövel Kråkholme.

Belle: “Look, that’s them! I recognize them!”
Chris: “Are you sure? Did they really look like that?”
Belle: “Well… no… they were more like shadows but… one was a bird and the other… I guess they should have been a tortoise?”
Chris: “Hmm, maybe you saw them yesterday when you were flipping through the book?”
Belle: “It’s… possible, yeah…”

You also find out that this Isaac Thorn had a family in Crowmoor, as there are several other Thorns through the generations, many of them even being priests themselves. Near the end of the book, right before the pages become completely blank, you find a Polaroid picture of a “Father Elijah Thorn”, who must be the current priest of Crowmoor. “While spending most of his youth in Africa, Elijah Thorn returned to his roots here in Crowmoor in his later years, becoming the reverend of the old St. Emerik church.” Huh, this picture can’t be more than a few years old, so he should still be around, right?

Chris: “Hey, I know that church! The one in the background!”
Belle: “You do?”
Chris: “We drove past it, remember? It is down the hill, just beyond the pub, right as you enter Crowmoor.”

Looking at these pictures, you can’t really see the malice you felt in the dream. Sure, Elijah looks like a grumpy old man, but he doesn’t look evil, does he?

Chris: “So… what’s the plan, dear?”
>>
No. 1054510 ID: 5d9787

Let's buy supplies. Minimum amount of food because we will need to carry without the car. Some extra fuses and whatever safety electrical component the shop owner recommend. Also candles, matches, oil lamp, oil and batteries for the flashlights. One way or another this house will be illuminated.
>>
No. 1054521 ID: 5560d0

It would be a little odd to pop into the church out of nowhere and start asking a bunch of strange questions so I say take it easy and give the pub a visit. You can get accustomed with some of the townsfolk and learn more about the town first. Plus there's bound to be some old stories and legends about the town that the regulars love to tell outsiders. Then you can grab some supplies and those fuses on the way back home.

Also give Chris more smooches!
>>
No. 1054525 ID: 281b3c

Maybe get one of those camping flashlights that you shake for a bit to charge the batteries to give light? And has an omnidirectional 'lantern' mode! Preferably also something that works as a club! If only for the psychological benefit!
>>
No. 1054526 ID: 281b3c

Also, go get some spices and herbs. A huuuge chunk of the spice cabinet supposedly wards off evil: salt, cayenne, thyme, sage, rosemary, dill, garlic, the list goes on and on! Find some spices that have a good chunk of those in the ingredients list, and keep them around and sprinkle them places. Even if it's just placebo (or having alternative smells while you sleep!), it should still help. Rituals are important, yaknow??
>>
No. 1054527 ID: 281b3c

Red Star? Could be Mars, though it's a planet. There's Arcturus, a well known Red Giant, but the fact of what Red Giants were was discovered in the early 20th century...
>>
No. 1054542 ID: 15c72a

>>1054508
>town doesn't have a hotel
What *does* the town have?

Go to the church. You have a lead, follow it.
>>
No. 1054627 ID: 681cb5
File 167460810654.png - (89.31KB , 700x550 , 21.png )
1054627

>Give Chris more smooches!
As you plant a big one right on his lips, you’re pretty sure you feel his bowtie spin in excitement.
>Red Star? Could be Mars, though it's a planet. There's Arcturus, a well known Red Giant, but the fact of what Red Giants were was discovered in the early 20th century...
…well, apparently they didn’t burn witches back then either, so what does your dreams know anyway? Still, might be something to look into…


>What *does* the town have?
Chris: “Um… well… a long beach and a nice looking lighthouse?”
Belle: “This climate isn’t really made for hanging out on a beach facing the Atlantic, hun.”
Chris: “And then there’s the university facilities and asylum…”
Belle: “Joy…”
Chris: “Oh, and they got a large library there too, love!”
Belle: “Now that sounds a bit better. Anything else?”
Chris: “Hmm… I’ve heard that there are several interesting shops located in the northern part of town… and there is an old theater in the south, though it’s only open on the weekends.”
Belle: “…I don’t know what I expected to find in a small town like this, really…”
Chris: “Worst come to worst, it’s only an hour to Arkham, so we can always spend the weekends there, Bluebell.”
Belle: “As long I get to spend them with you, Sunflower.”

>Take it easy and give the pub a visit.
On the way to the pub the two of you make a quick stop at a general store, to pick up some… ‘essentials’. Luckily, the warmth of the sun has dried most of the mud, making it easy for the two of you to walk down to this ‘O’mally’s’.
Chris: “Okay, the fuses I get, but the oil lamp, spices and garlic!?”
Belle: “Better safe than sorry, my sun. I’m sure the smell of fresh species will make me sleep better… and ward of evil…
Chris: “Evil, love?”
Belle: “It’s important to have rituals, dear.”

As you get close to the pub house, you pass an old crow lady begging for money, though seeing as she reeks of alcohol it’s quite clear what she wants to spend it on.

Chris: “She was here yesterday too, though she was digging through the trash instead of begging. Poor girl.”
>>
No. 1054628 ID: 681cb5
File 167460811565.png - (75.90KB , 700x550 , 22.png )
1054628

The mood changes drastically as you enter the pub proper, as you’re met by the sound of chipper music playing on a radio somewhere as well as the sound of laughter from some of the patrons inside. The warm interior of the establishment is rather inviting after coming in from the cold, autumn morning, even if the smell of booze taint the air. The man behind the bar, a rather large and muscular dog, lights up as he sees you, clearly recognizing you.

Perry: “Why, you must be the Knott lass!” he cheerfully exclaim as he wave for you to come inside, “Welcome to O’mally’s! Names Perry O’mally, but you can just call me Perry.”
Belle: “You know who I am?”
Perry: “Why, of course! Your husband came by yesterday and told such amazing things about you, while he waited for his car to get towed. Though I have to admit, lass, while we thought his tall tales was exaggerated, you’re far lovelier than he would ever describe.”
Chris: “I’m right here, you know…” Chris grumbles as he reaches up to the top of the bar counter, having to stand on the tips of his toes to do so.
Perry: “Oh! So you are, young master Knott! My apologies, I didn’t see you there, lad!”
Chris: “Don’t worry, mate, it happens.”
Perry: “Now, what can I offer the two of you? Here to try out my famous breakfast…” he gesture towards the many bottles behind him before continuing, “…or do you rather have some poison to greet the morn, hmm?”

>Plus there's bound to be some old stories and legends about the town that the regulars love to tell outsiders.
Looking around, you can see three groups of people in here, not including the pub owner himself. Near the door there’s a pair of old ladies playing cards, talking about all kind of mundane things, while further in there’s a table full of what you believe is fisherman, laughing merrily as they eat. Finally there’s a group of men on the other side of the pub, wearing leather and drinking already, with the larges member, a wolf, eying you hungrily. Anyone of these three, as well as the bartender, might be talkative if you approach them in right way.

[Inventory:]
Torch
Fuses
Old Photo album
Oil lamp
Spice blend
Garlic
>>
No. 1054629 ID: 15c72a

>>1054627
Old crow lady? Might be a coincidence, but your dream mentioned a crow who did something terrible. You should give her money on the way out, and see if she knows anything about the Old Blood.

>>1054628
Ask him about why he has a red-eyed crow on his sign.
>>
No. 1054672 ID: 08de23

In such a small town, people tend to know everyone's business, right? Ask the barkeep about the crow lady, sympathetically. Maybe she went mad or something, leading her to the bottle...?
>>
No. 1054678 ID: 3b7261

I wanna hear about the wolf with the vanity contacts and the getup who is eyeing me like he wants to do something illegal to me. Should I be concerned?
>>
No. 1054680 ID: 5560d0

Thank the barkeep and compliment the pub, it's certainly very charming and lively, very inviting. Casually bring up that there seems to be a certain wolf that seems to have an eye on you, should you be concerned?

Explain that you want to get to know the town better and ask about the pub and the town in general, any fun history that he can tell you about?

>Food and drink
Damn you just ate. Does a morning drink tickle your fancy?
>>
No. 1054687 ID: 681cb5
File 167469297605.png - (77.52KB , 700x550 , 23.png )
1054687

As the smell of frying bacon whiffs past you, followed by the aroma of fresh citrus, you regret having breakfast back at the mansion… though if you ate here you might not have been able to hug your hubby, so it might just even out in the end.

Belle: “We have to decline, as we just had breakfast before we came here.”
Perry: “Then maybe a morning drink will tickle you fancy, lass? First glass on the house!”
Belle: “…a glass of something sweet wouldn’t hurt. Something non-alcoholic.”
Perry: “I know just the thing, Mrs. Knott…”

Perry turns around and grabs a bottle from the shelf behind him, before bending down a bit to pick up a newly cleaned glass hidden behind the counter. With a quick, experienced motion he uncorks the bottle, fills the glass with the green, yellowish liquid and without missing a beat slides it over to you.

Perry: “Here we go, a glass of our finest pear cider. Oh, and we got todays newspaper available for all ‘paying’ customers, if you haven’t read it already.” He says while gesturing towards a pile of papers near the door.
Belle: “Thank you, Perry...” you take a sip from the glass, enjoying the sweet, fruity taste, before looking around the pub again, “This place is certainly very charming and lively.”
Perry: “Ha!” Perry tries to hide his goofy smile before continuing, “You should have seen this place before I took over. Let just say I had a lot of cleaning up to do.”
Belle: After taking another sip from the glass, you ask, “Speaking of the old owner… that old sign outside, with the red eyed raven? What is that about?”
Perry: The dog doesn’t answer at first, instead pulling out his own glass and filling it with the same cider he gave you, “Ah, yes, that old thing. Been meaning to get rid of it but… it got its charm you know? This place used to be called ‘The crow nest’ before I took over, not unlike a lot of other things in this town. They have a bit of a crow theme going on, you know.” he takes a quick sip before adding, “And the eyes are supposed to be brown, but wear and tear has made it look a lot more menacing, lass.”
Belle: “This town has a crow theme?”
Perry: “It is called Crowmoor, you know… as in ‘Crow’ and ‘moor’.” Throwing a glance out of the window, he pauses for a second, “It goes way back to the founder of this place, the old blood… their name means something like ‘Crow Islet’ in their old tongue, though seeing as this place wasn’t an islet it became a moor instead… not that it is a moor either nowadays.”
Belle: “The old blood? You mean the… um… Kråkholme or what they were called?”
Perry: “That’s right. They were some noble from some weird, godforsaken country in the old world before they came here… well, I guess they still are, seeing how young Master Chris is a relative of theirs. So cheers to that!” he belloves as he rises his glass and take a large gulp.
Belle: After taking a sip as well, you ask, “So you know their history?”
Perry: “Not really… I know that the last of their line went bloody mad and killed his family, before committing suicide in the asylum in town. Quite a messy affair, I’ve been told… he was completely convinced he had saved them or some such. Kept rambling about the devil and some star as well. Poor sod.”


You take a moment to just enjoy the quiet and relax a bit, sipping from your cider. Throwing a glance around the room you can still see the wolf staring at you while the old ladies seem to be… reading tarot cards? Finally, you notices Chris has joined the sailors in some kind of dice game, having a merry time with those strangers... you were wondering where he had disappeared too. He always had a knack for befriended pretty much anyone. Turning your head a bit to look out the window, you can see the raven hobo going through a trashcan on the other side of the street, clearly desperate to find either food or a drink.

Belle: “We saw this raven outside, begging for money. Do you know anything about her? She seems like she needs help…”
Perry: “Oh, so you’ve seen our resident old mad bird. Ignore her, she’s harmless… mostly just talks about nonsense, so don’t go believing anything she might say.”
Belle: “But surely she has some kind of history?”
Perry: He lifts up his glass and turns it a bit in the sunlight, “I have to admit, I’m not the person to ask about that… though I know she used to be a respected… what was it?” With one swift quaff, he finishes his drink, “Doctor, I think? That all I know, lass, sorry.”

The raven fishes up an old bottle from one of the cans, suckling on it as if she was a new born babe that had just found a bottle of warm milk. With a sigh you look back over the interior of the pub, watching as your hubby seemingly wins a round much to his delight, before locking eyes with the wolf that is still staring at you from across the room.

Belle: “…and the wolf? The one that has been staring at me since I came here, who is he? Should I be concerned?”
Perry: “Hmm?” Perry looks over at the wolf, who gives him a wide smile, before looking back at you, “Ah, you mean that rascal Miller? While I’ve never seen him do anything to bad, there are rumors that he is up to less than legal escapades. So I wouldn’t recommend trying to befriend him, no.”
Belle: “Less than legal? Really?”
Perry: O’mally leans in and whispers, “You didn’t hear this from me, but there are rumors floating around that he and his friends are smuggling something through the port here.” The dog gives you a quick nod as he pulls away from you again.

Belle: You finish your glass and push it towards Perry… “So… this place got any funny stories? I mean, the town?”
Perry: “Funny? Hmm…” he picks up both glasses and places them in front of him, before pulling out a rag, “I’m not sure we have a lot of funny stories, no…”
Belle: “Then how about just stories, then?”
Perry: Cleaning one of the glasses for a bit, he lift it up in the light to inspect it while answering, “Well… you already know about the murder-suicide... and then there’s all the missing children as well, at least according to the paper…”
Belle: “All are these stories this gruesome?”
Perry: “There is the rumors that this place used to belong to some obscure tribe of natives before Kråkholme came here… there’s even an archeologist lass on the other side of town that wants to do a dig here, but so far she hasn’t been able to get the necessary approvals.”
Belle: “Archeology you say?”
Perry: “Supposedly there’s a lot of old treasure to find if you know where to look.” The Dog puts both the bottle and the glasses away, before starting to scrub the bar itself with the rug, “Now, was there anything else I can help you with, lass?”
>>
No. 1054709 ID: 15c72a

>>1054687
Go ask the wolf why he's staring.
>>
No. 1054712 ID: dee951

>>1054709

The guy just recommended NOT trying to befriend the wolf, oof!!!
>>
No. 1054724 ID: 15c72a

>>1054712
What part of that implied making friends?
>>
No. 1054749 ID: a9af05

>>1054687
>Kept rambling about the devil and some star as well. Poor sod.
It can't be a coincidence that your nightmare also involved a star. Perhaps its related to why the previous guy went crazy? Hopefully this doesn't mean you'll also go crazy!
>>
No. 1054751 ID: 75f1f5

>>1054749

Ask flat out if it was a red star. A reference to Mars, perhaps?
>>
No. 1054962 ID: 15a025

Smugglers huh? Are they any, shady areas in town we might wanna avoid?
>>
No. 1055022 ID: 681cb5
File 167512134693.png - (61.66KB , 700x550 , 24.png )
1055022

>It can't be a coincidence that your nightmare also involved a star.
Belle: “This star he mentioned…” you ask gently, “Was it per any chance red? Possibly Mars?”
Perry: “Can’t really say, lass. Only heard rumors of what he said.” The dog lifts up the rug he’s using and spits in it, before returning to polishing the counter. “I do believe the late Edwards were rather interested in astrology, though… seeing how his house has an observatory built into it. Well, yours house now, Mrs. Knott.”
Belle: “…it does?”
Perry: “Indeed it has. Haven’t you seen the large dome on top of the house? In fact, haven’t you made yourself at home there yet?”
Belle: “We haven’t really had the time to explore yet, no.”
Perry: “Then I suggest you do so, lass. It wouldn’t do to sleep in a home you didn’t know, would it?”
>Smugglers huh? Are there any shady areas in town we might wanna avoid?
Perry: “Well, if you’re afraid of smugglers, then stay away from the dock after dark. Oh, and keep away from the woods, lass, there have been sightings of a rather large and aggressive bear in there.”


>Go ask the wolf why he's staring.
You’ve had it with the wolf’s constant staring and you’re rather inclined to give him a piece of your mind over it. Leaving O’mally behind you, you confidently stride towards the wolf and his two buddies, only stopping right next to the table they are sitting at with crossed arms. Taking a moment to compose yourself, you give each of the three men around the table a glance, noting that the Wolf, Horse and bird all have empty glasses in front of them while a more than half empty bottle of bourbon stands in the center of the table.
Belle: “So, are you staring at me because the only other lady you’ve ever seen is your own mom, or do you genially believe your dark stranger shtick is actually appealing?”
Miller: “Why, the cat got fangs. No need to be so forwards tots, if you wanted my name you should just ask. It’s Miller, by the way. Richard Miller. You better not forget it, tots.”
Belle: “Then, Mr. Miller, I have to kindly ask you to stop staring before I actually get a bit cross with you.”
Miller: “Stop staring? That’s a bit rich coming from you, tots.”
Belle: “And I’ll have you know I’m already happily married.”
Miller: “Married? What does… oh! I see… there seems to have been a bit of a misunderstanding here. Let me clear that up for you.”
>>
No. 1055023 ID: 681cb5
File 167512135542.png - (102.62KB , 700x550 , 25.png )
1055023

Richard Miller suddenly flies of his chair, almost pouncing right on top of you as he stops barely a snout lengths away from you. Towering over you, he snarls,
Miller: “I don’t care if you’re married or if you’re a pig, a reporter, writer or what the fuck you are, tots.”
Belle: As he momentarily stops to take a breath, you quickly interject, “I’m a receptionist, wolf boy.”
His face twists into an angry snarl as he grabs your sweater and pull you even closer, his red rimmed eyes glaring with pure malice as he growls,
Miller: “I DON’T GIVE A FUCK! What I do care about is little shits like you who can’t keep their snouts out of other people’s business and has to go around asking questions!”
Chris: “HEY! That’s my wife, you- MMFF!”
Chris tries his best to come to your aid, but Miller’s two friends hold him back. Meanwhile, the wolf’s fetid breath fills your nostrils, his deranged visage being more akin to that of a feral beast than the supposed civilized person he should be.
Miller: “So let me give you some advice. Keep your fucking snout out of my business and leave this shit hole, capiche?”
Before even giving you a chance to answer he pulls you right up to his face,
Miller: “Nobody FUCKS. WITH. RICHARD MILLER.”
>>
No. 1055024 ID: 681cb5
File 167512136667.png - (106.70KB , 700x550 , 26.png )
1055024

Then, just as quickly as he became the mad beast, he returns to his normal self and let go of you.
Miller: “We’re done here. Boys, let’s go… we have business to attend to.”
His two friends quickly clear out from the bar, closely followed by Richard himself, who doesn’t even pick up the bottle on the way out. Even as O’mally speaks up he doesn’t break his stride.
Perry: “Was that really necessary, Miller.” The dog growls, but the wolf just snarls back.
Miller: “Fuck off, old man.”
Perry: “At least finish that bottle of bourbon you bought!”
Miller: “That shit tasted like piss water, so fuck no.”

As the door slams shuts behind him, you can notice that the mood of the bar has changed significantly. The sailors are no longer laughing and playing dice, instead are quickly packing up their things to leave… while the old ladies have already made themselves scares while Richard was yelling at you. Even Perry, the barkeep, is visibly soured by Miller’s antics, as he somberly puts back the loaded shotgun her was holding under the counter. You didn’t even notice that he pulled that thing out! It is clear that no one here wishes to talk anymore…

…and even worse, you can feel a headache coming on.
>>
No. 1055025 ID: 2a82d3

Well, that just happened. Apologize for ruining the mood. Ask the barkeep if you would be better off looking for a cop or a priest, before you take your leave.

You stood up for yourself, so that's worth something at least.
>>
No. 1055027 ID: 08de23

Well, now you know who not to provoke. Glad you stood up for yourself, but let's not make a habit of confronting everyone who looks at us funny.

Anyway, apologize for causing a scene (even if it wasn't really your fault) and change the topic to something lighter--does the town have any traditions or festivals of note? Anything... supernatural-inspired...?
>>
No. 1055051 ID: 15c72a

What a bizarre reaction.
>>
No. 1055053 ID: ea8a14

Normally, someone would wish for assholes like Richard Miller to just drop dead because the world would be better without him in it. However, you should never wish for death upon someone, no matter who it is.

Instead, you should wish for him to somehow get a bad case of diarrhea and a severe cough! That way he'll shit himself whenever he coughs! It'll be humiliating and he'll never want to show his face in public ever again!

But other than that, maybe ask the bartender if he's seen the Broker, Daniel Brerewood, anywhere in town. He was supposed to show up this morning with some fuses for the new house, but never showed up. Unless we've missed him by coming into town instead of waiting for him.
>>
No. 1055055 ID: 19ea25

What an ass, but it's clear that he's just.. really set off by someone who looks into things. You'd think that'd make him want to avoid such a tussle, but his antics are clear.
>>
No. 1055068 ID: 681cb5
File 167521369478.png - (50.39KB , 700x550 , 27.png )
1055068

>Apologize for ruining the mood.
Perry: “Oh, no need to apologize, lass.” O’mally tells you as he puts away his weapon, “It wasn’t your fault, but Richard’s. What is important is that you’re unharmed.”
Chris: “Are you okay, Bluebell?” your husband asks, clearly rather upset, “They didn’t hurt you, did they?”
Belle: You place your hand on his head to make him relax, “I’m fine, Sunflower, no need to worry about me.”
Chris: “Oh, thank god…” he sigh with relief, “I don’t know what I would do if you got hurt, love.”
Perry: “I do apologies, lass, even though I did warn you I should have done more to stop that before it got out of hand.”
Belle: “So, am I better of looking for a cop or a priest to deal with that wolf?”
Perry: Perry smirks a bit, “Heh… considering that the priest is a bit of a loon too and the closes cops are over at Archam, I would say neither.”

Belle: “By the way, does this town have any traditions it would be good to know about?” You recline a bit over the counter that O’mally is standing behind, “Maybe a festival of some kind?”
Perry: The dog rubs his chin, clearly thinking before answering, “…not anything special, no. Just the usual holidays that everyone has, I believe?”
Belle: “So, nothing supernatural-inspired at all then?” you ask as you let your head lean to the side.
Perry: “Supernatural? Well, we do have some myths and ghost stories local to the town… like how the old lighthouse is haunted or that the thick mist of autumn hides evil spirits that will strangle you. If you’re interested, I’m sure the library has books about it.”

Belle: “Oh, and before I forgot… have you seen our broker? A Daniel Brerewood? He was supposed to meet us yesterday, but he never showed up.”
Perry: Just for a second, some unknown emotion passes by his face before he regain his composure. “Daniel you say? I don’t really know who that is, but I do know there’s a real estate agent office up in the northern part of town, lass.”
Belle: “…you’re sure you don’t know who he is?”
Perry: “Sorry, lass, never met the man.” …you can’t really say why, but he did react oddly to that name.

Perry: “Now, if you two will excuse me, I need to close up shop.”
Chris: “Huh? You’re already closing the pub? But it’s still morning!”
Perry: “Oh, but I’ll open it up later this evening, young master. No point to have it open when all the millworkers are busy and the fishermen are out to sea, see? So I usually just serve breakfast before closing shop until people get off work.”
Chris: “Huh… I guess that makes a bit of sense?”
Perry: “But before you two go…” Perry walks over to the table to wolf was sitting at and grabs the bottle they left, “Here, Ms. Knott, take this.”
Belle: “Eh? What would I want with a half empty bottle of alcohol?”
Perry: “I didn’t mean it like that, lass. I was going to ask you if you should be so kind and throw it away on the way out? The thrash can is just around the corner.”
Belle: “Oh… um… I guess?” you mumble as you grab the half full bottle.
Chris: “Is there anything I can help with, Perry?”
Perry: “Well… if you want to help me move the chairs, Master Chris, then you’re welcome to do so.”
>>
No. 1055070 ID: 681cb5
File 167521377824.png - (87.99KB , 700x550 , 28.png )
1055070

You make your way outside and take a deep breath, just to clear your mind, while leaving Chris and the pub owner alone for a moment. The headache is getting a bit worse, though the clean sea breeze is helping a lot. For a moment, everything is well… but with a sigh you return to the world of Crowmoor.

>What a bizarre reaction…
Bizarre is understating it. For a moment there he became like a feral wolf with rabies, mad in both meanings of the word. Not to mention those eyes… those blood rimmed eyes… they remind you of the painting back at the mansion, that godforsaken thing hanging above the hearth.
>Normally, someone would wish for assholes like Richard Miller to just drop dead because the world would be better without him in it. However, you should never wish for death upon someone, no matter who it is.
Hey, you’ll wish death upon whoever you like, thank you very much! You’re just not going to act on it.
>Well, now you know who not to provoke. Glad you stood up for yourself, but let's not make a habit of confronting everyone who looks at us funny.
Honestly, if it wasn’t because of all that’s been happening since you got here, you wouldn’t have done that… but you just needed to release some stress. You really didn’t believe he would blow up like that in such a public place.

Your train of thought is interrupted as you hear someone rummage through the trash can next to the pub, making a loud ruckus as they ransack the metal bins. Well, standing in the mud listening to some homeless person going through the trash wasn’t really what you were hoping to do today… ugh, and this headache is getting worse… you really hope you have something for that back home…

[Inventory:]
Torch
Fuses
Old Photo album
Oil lamp
Spice blend
Garlic
Half a bottle of cheap liquor.
>>
No. 1055078 ID: 15c72a

>>1055070
Talk to the old homeless crow. Either coin or alcohol should loosen her tongue, get her talking about the history of the town and the manor.
>>
No. 1055083 ID: 2a82d3

The barkeep all but said that he runs the joint. Usually getting what he wants would explain his overt cockiness. You can't exactly be run out of town, either.

Absent the means or will to defend yourself, you could start getting friendly with the other locals, even the sanity or housing deficient, and hope they can get you out of a bind later. Surely the old bird has retained some ability to deliver medical assistance on request, right?

Overlook her dumpster diving for now. (Holding onto items to find a use for them later isn't the worst habit to have. It works in adventure games.)

Could you have been dreaming of the future, a prophesy as expressed through metaphor? "Witch burnt by a mob" isn't far off from "Strong independent woman bombed by the mob". You'd have to check with a fortune teller to be sure. Though, with your luck as of late, her crystal ball might explode or turn bloody red if she tried to read your fortune.
>>
No. 1055100 ID: 681cb5
File 167529879975.png - (95.11KB , 700x550 , 29.png )
1055100

>Could you have been dreaming of the future, a prophesy as expressed through metaphor? "Witch burnt by a mob" isn't far off from "Strong independent woman bombed by the mob".
Hell if you know what that dream actually meant, be it a vision from the future or the past. Hopefully it was just that, a dream and nothing else.
>You'd have to check with a fortune teller to be sure.
And where are you supposed to find one of those? Wait, didn’t Chris mention some interesting shops in the northern part of town?

>The barkeep all but said that he runs the joint. Usually getting what he wants would explain his overt cockiness.
Well, he does own the pub… or did you mean the whole town? That seems a bit… much? Though, there is something about him that doesn’t sit right… something about how he looks at your husband…
>You could start getting friendly with the other locals, even the sanity or housing deficient, and hope they can get you out of a bind later.
…you guess you’re going to live here from now on, so getting to known the locals is a must. Still, a hobo digging through the trash? …though Perry did say she was a doctor once, didn’t he?



>Talk to the old homeless crow. Either coin or alcohol should loosen her tongue.
You step around the corner and approach the pitiful creature there, covered in filthy tatters and reeking of booze and urine. She might have been a successful and healthy woman once, but alcohol and mental illness have dragged her down irretrievably into degenerate squalor. The old bum is muttering something about crawling worms, seemingly oblivious to your approach.
Belle: “Excuse me, ma’am, can I ask you a few questions? About Crowmoor?”
Sophia: “…don’t know any about that…” she mumbles, “Memory’s not what it used to be…” Once again, she barely acknowledges that you’re there while returning to the trashcan “So thirsty… must find a bottle…”
Belle: “Is this what you’re looking for?” you ask while holding up the bottle of cheap liquor.
Sophia: With her eyes burning with greed, the old lady snatches the bottle from you and cradles it against her chest as if it was her baby. “Yes, yes! Thank you, young Vixen. Little old Sophia won’t forget about this.” she hides the bottle beneath her robe before continuing, “So what do you want to know, Ms…?”
Belle: “Mrs. Belle Knott. You used to be a doctor, didn’t you?”
Sophia: “…That I was once... and a very good one at that. But that was before Edward... little Edward and his…” her voice trails off to an inaudible whisper, but you could swear she mouthed the word brother before shuddering. You can outright hear her breathing get quicker as she glances around in a panic for a moment, as if she believes someone was hiding nearby.
Belle: “...well… um… I got this headache, see, and I-”
Sophia: “Lady, just head home, take a ibuprofen pill before you lie down and relax.” She shakes her head at you, “Do you really need a doctor to figure that out?”
Belle: “…probably not, no.”

Belle: “You mentioned Edward… as in, Edward Kråkholme, the one that used to live in the manor up on the hill?”
Sophia: “Oh yes, little Edward…” she looks towards the sea, her eyes filled with melancholy, “Got to him, didn’t they? Worms crawled into his head, told him evil things, didn’t they?” Sophia points towards her head as she continues, “Eating at him until he had to crack it open and get them out, poor boy. Delivered him, I did. Pulled him right out of his mama. Him and his--” She suddenly stops midsentence and says no more.
Belle: “Huh… and the mansion? Is it really haunted by him?”
Sophia: “Edward!?” A raspy but genuine laugh echoes across the street, “Place might have been the devil’s lair once, but no more. No, whole town is accursed...” The crow glances up towards the mansion, clearly visible on the hill above all the other houses, “But the mansion? Might be the safest place here… worms don’t dare to crawl there, would never disturb the old home of their devil…”
Belle: “What was that about the town?”
Sophia: “No, not a town…” there’s a quite whimper before she screams, “NOT A TOWN!” grabbing her head with both hands, she continue to yell like a madwoman, “NOTHING BUT A HIVE OF BURROWING INSECTS! A SWARM OF WORMS!” Her body shakes while she sobs…
Belle: “Wha-”
Sophia: “Would tell you run…” she giggles a bit before continuing, “but it’s already too late… mist have blown in… and the bear prowls… no one leaves, nor does anyone arrive. We are stuck here… with the worms…”
Belle: “Are you… okay?”
Sophia: “They come crawling at night, but they can’t find me…” while mumbling to herself, you can see that she’s caressing something in her hand, as if it would ward off the evil she believes haunts her, "They can’t find my hidey-hole…” It is a key… an old copper key.
Belle: “Okay…”

O’mally was right… she’s clearly completely mad.
>>
No. 1055101 ID: 15c72a

>>1055100
Maybe. Or she's referring to something terrible that's happening here, something she's managed to hide from but doesn't quite understand...
She said something about a bear? We haven't met any bears yet. Ask her about that. And also... how to detect the "worms". Can you see them? When do they come out, only at night? Is it possible to fight them? Run? Hide?

Don't bring up the brother she's avoiding talking about, it'll drive her off no doubt.
>>
No. 1055124 ID: 2a82d3

At least she's lucid enough to give sound advice. Remember to pickup some medicine for the headache from the store later, or from a specialty shop if that's better. Don't stay out after dark, to avoid what you will assume to be gang violence. As for why they stay away from the mansion, don't think about it.

Good thing fitting things to a schedule is, like, half your job. You should be able tour the shops up north, drop by the realtor's, and still have time to spare to get home before dark. Maybe you'll bump into Father Elijah sometime. I'm surprised he wasn't at the pub.

They might even have a sports store here. Encourage your hubby to join the local football or baseball club as a way to keep himself in healthy physical shape. Perhaps you could buy a nice sturdy baseball bat for him, perfect for whacking stuff. Ok, admit you didn't like the look the wolf gave him, you're worried the wolf would fight him over you, and this is your way of getting him ready for it or at least making him look tough. As a professional bookworm, he needs the exercise anyway.
>>
No. 1055230 ID: 15a025

I wouldn't blow her off as completely mad or off her rocker here. She certainly has an interesting way with words though.

Just for the heck of it, ask if she knows anything about a red star?
>>
No. 1055269 ID: e5709d

Snatch the key from her.
"Stop it. You're supposed to be a doctor. Instead, you're hiding in a filthy hole every night only to mingle and cackle among the ruins of this wretched hive. You're spreading more disease, more insects. You need help. You said the mansion is the safest place in this bug-infested hellhole? Then why not come live with us. Get your mind back together, and develop a cure to exterminate this internal infestation."
>>
No. 1055293 ID: 681cb5
File 167563696633.png - (92.71KB , 700x550 , 30.png )
1055293

>Maybe. Or she's referring to something terrible that's happening here, something she's managed to hide from but doesn't quite understand...
If that’s the case then you hope she’s mad… because whatever it is she’s describing isn’t something you want to deal with.
>At least she's lucid enough to give sound advice. Remember to pick up some medicine for the headache from the store later.
You’re pretty sure you already have some of that medication back with your things, in the mansion. Just need to dig it up from the pile of all the other stuff.


>Snatch the key from her.
You reach out toward the key in her hand, but-
Sophia: “MINE!” the old crow hisses, clasping her hands against her chest as if you were about to fight her over it. “It is mine and I won’t let it go!”
Belle: “Take it easy, Sophia…” you tell her in a calm voice, holding your hands up in front of you, “I’m not here for the key…” She squint her eyes at you, clearly suspicious, but she doesn’t say anything. Instead, you continue, “You’re supposed to be a doctor, you know? But here you are, a sad drunk hiding in some filthy hole every night, doing nothing but mingle and cackle among the ruins of this wretched hive.”
Sophia: “But the worms!” She spits, “Will find me if I don’t hide! Will crawl beneath my skin and eat from my succulent flesh!” She jumps around, scratching at her arms in a panic as if there were actual worms beneath her feathers.
Belle: “And hiding in a hole won’t change that.” you tell her as you grab her shoulders, trying to calm her down, “You need help. You said the mansion is the safest…” you trail off, realizing you were about to invite a mad hobo you just me a few minutes ago into your home, though luckily you caught yourself. “Get help, Sophia. Get your mind back together… and maybe develop a… um… cure for this infernal infestation of… worms?”
Sophia: “There is no cure…” she mumbles, her fetid breath forcing you to take a step back “There is no hope… the worms will crawl… like they always have… just as he will return for his blood. He always does.”


>She said something about a bear? We haven't met any bears yet. Ask her about that.
Sophia: “…he is… it is out there, in the woods…” she fall silent and raises her hands, simply staring at them as they shake, while a few tears stream down her face, “Punishing if for our sins…”
Belle: “Wait, are we talking about a person that’s a bear or an actual feral animal bear?”
Sophia: “Not a person, not an animal… that thing… it’s… IT’S A FESTERING ABOMINATION!” you’re about to say something, but she cuts you off, “No more. Don’t want to talk about it. No more… please…”
>How do you detect the "worms". Can you see them? When do they come out, only at night? Is it possible to fight them? Run? Hide?
Sophia: “Are everywhere, wearing the skin of us people… walking around us… but at night, when they are alone…” she glances around, as if checking if anyone is watching, “Their real form will be birthed from their host, letting it crawl out of the carcass as it hunt anew…”
Belle: “…and how do you deal with them?”
Sophia: “…run… hide… do not let them catch you…”
Belle: “So run or hide… right… I really hope I’m not going to have to visit that Asylum after listening to all this…”
Sophia: “Not the Asylum! It crawls! IT CRAWLS!”
Belle: “Okay…”
>Just for the heck of it, ask if she knows anything about a red star?
Sophia: “Star? Dragomir talked about a red star… and Edward, the inbred freak, was raving about as the worms gnawed on his brain!”
Belle: “So… what is this star?”
Sophia: “When the red star passes… he will return…”
Belle: “Who?”
>>
No. 1055294 ID: 681cb5
File 167563697441.png - (57.14KB , 700x550 , 31.png )
1055294

Sophia: “THE DEVIL!!!” the old raven suddenly shrieks, pointing behind you, “THE DEVIL IS HERE!!!” In her panic she loses her balance and falls backwards, landing in the mud with a wet splash, though even then she tries to crawl backwards, away from you. It is clear whatever she just saw scared the last of her wits out from her, as her whole body is shaking and she’s clearly trying to scream, even though her voice completely fails her.

You turn around, following the direction she’s pointing at…
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No. 1055295 ID: 681cb5
File 167563698360.png - (89.79KB , 700x550 , 32.png )
1055295

…and you find yourself looking straight at Perry O’mally, the pub owner, who seems rather cross. Even before anyone can say a word, you hear Sophia scramble to her feet and run off down an alley, disappearing from your sight.

Perry: “I told you not to talk to that mad hag, lass.” the hound growls, “She isn’t well... and while she isn’t dangerous, she will make all kind of wild accusations. Not the first time she called me the devil, and won’t be the last.”

Perry put his hand over his eyes and takes a deep breath, visibly calming himself down…

Perry: “Either way, I will be closing my shop for now, so you’ll have to come back this evening if you want anything else, young master Knott. Do have a pleasant evening.” He is about to close the door before he remembers that you’re even there, sheepishly saying, “Oh, and may your lovely wife have one as well.”
Chris: “Goodbye, Mr. O’mally!”

And with that he shuts the door and locks it, followed by a sign appearing in the window saying that he’ll be open at 4pm again… and apparently tonight special will be blood sausages and bacon. How swell…

>Encourage your hubby to join the local football or baseball club as a way to keep himself in healthy physical shape.
You both know that he’s neither the athletic type nor a sport person. Neither of you are. And you like it that way. Besides, the two of you run thrice a week… as well as do some climbing ever so often.
>Ok, admit you didn't like the look the wolf gave him, you're worried the wolf would fight him over you, and this is your way of getting him ready for it or at least making him look tough.
No matter how much either of you train; you won’t be able to handle that stupid wolf. No, your strength is your intelligence and creativity, not fisticuffs.
>Good thing fitting things to a schedule is, like, half your job. You should be able tour the shops up north, drop by the realtor's, and still have time to spare to get home before dark.
It should be possible… but it wouldn’t leave a lot of time to explore the mansion while there’s still light out… though to be honest, right now you just want to take a pill and relax so this damn headache will go away.

Chris: “So how did it go, hun?” Chris asks as he walks over to you, “She didn’t unsettle you or anything, did she?”
Belle: “No, it’s fine…” you answer while scratching him behind his ear, “She just said some things that I’ll need to… consider.”
Chris: “Then what’s the plan? What do you want to do now?” your hubby hugs you from the side before continuing, “Do you want to keep exploring the town or… do you want to go back to the mansion? We have a lot of stuff to unpack and… well, we better go through all the room, just to make sure there aren’t any more creepy paintings, right?”
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No. 1055306 ID: 15c72a

She probably calls him the devil because he won't give her any booze. The worm and bear stuff seems like the only useful things in her ravings, though the "he will always return for his blood" popped up again. Gonna have to poke at that again somewhere... maybe at the church.

How late is it? We absolutely have to be back at the manor before dark. If there's time, we can stop at the church and ask about those priests we saw.
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No. 1055309 ID: dee951

You and your husband like classic sci-fi, right? You've totally playfully come up with sign and countersign ritual as a way of defending against your standard sci-fi 'Who Goes There?' or 'The Thing' or 'Body Snatchers' scenario, right? At least the versions where the horrible alien or interdimensional parasitic worms don't have full access to the brain's memories immediately, that is! Let your husband know that this place is freaking you out enough that you're initiating the Who Goes There protocols. No unnecessary separations, and provide sign and countersign when meeting up after necessary ones, or whenever anything seems particularly off. Rituals are important!
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No. 1055318 ID: 2a82d3

Is your husband getting along well with the barkeep? Even if you don't put any stock in the old bird's opinion of the irishman, since you've only been attracting the nutters around here, you should have more than enough interest in whatever they discussed in there.

Devil, devil's lair... This is a shot in the dark but... you don't think Perry had an interest in your house, do you? Planning to buy the lot but being thwarted by an unknown-until-now inheritor would explain his awkward reaction to mentioning your broker.

Really, renovations should be your end-goal for the house. If you don't want to be run out by the end of the week, you first gotta find a way to deal with the demons, ghosts, bio-exorcists, or whatever.
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No. 1055341 ID: e5709d

Was she pointing at us?

Expect the house to flicker for the first few months you're here. Buy some emergency supplies - tent, solar generator, rations, a bunch of flashlights, the usual.
Use the rest of your spare cash on duct tape and paper panels. If you can't remove those paintings, you're going to make sure they can't stare at you!
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No. 1055342 ID: 5560d0

Hmmm Dragomir, that's a new name, could be the brother she was reluctant to talk about? You're still carrying around the ol photo album right? Could look the name up.

>Worms
Hopefully the worms are just a metaphor for the darkness hidden within our souls, emerging only at our darkest moments when we are truly alone. Or they could be literal worms let's hope we never find out.

Anyhoo, that mansion of yours should be a top priority, worms or no worms. You need a safe place to bunker down in this crazy town. More emergency supplies and things to spruce up the mansion would be good. Maybe take a quick peek at the shops up north to see if they have anything interesting, then head back and check if replacing those fuses fixes things?
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No. 1055426 ID: 681cb5
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1055426

>How late is it? We absolutely have to be back at the manor before dark.
It is still late morning, so time isn’t of the essence… at least yet.
>Hopefully the worms are just a metaphor for the darkness hidden within our souls, emerging only at our darkest moments when we are truly alone. Or they could be literal worms.
You really hope you don’t have to deal with man sized worms… you have enough problem with normal worms as it is.
>Devil, devil's lair... This is a shot in the dark but... you don't think Perry had an interest in your house, do you? Planning to buy the lot but being thwarted by an unknown-until-now inheritor would explain his awkward reaction to mentioning your broker.
That… sounds actually rather probable. He might have considered renovating it and turning into a bed and breakfast or something. A far more likely explanation than worms eating peoples brains or whatever.
>The worm and bear stuff seems like the only useful things in her ravings, though the "he will always return for his blood" popped up again. Gonna have to poke at that again somewhere.
…that phrase does make your stomach turn… especially since the first time you heard it was from that horrid dream.
>Was she pointing at us?
…no? You’re pretty sure she was pointing over your shoulder, right at Perry… though; you can’t say for sure… maybe she was pointing at you? Or maybe she saw something that wasn’t there at all. She’s clearly not all there, after all.


>Is your husband getting along well with the barkeep?
Chris: “Perry? He seems to be a nice chap, yes, though a bit overly polite if you ask me, Belle.”
Belle: “And what did the two of you talk about?”
Chris: “Oh, this and that… he did mention that they usually have a big Halloween celebration on the main square, so that’s something we can look forwards too at the end of the month.”
Belle: “That sounds nice, yes…”
Chris: “What was that about the devil and that homeless crow? The one you were talking to?”
Belle: “Oh, she was just a bit… let just say, not all there. My guess is that she called Perry the devil because he won’t give her free booze or something.”
Chris: “Heh, that almost sound like what would happen back home…”

>Hmmm Dragomir, that's a new name, could be the brother she was reluctant to talk about? You're still carrying around the ol photo album right? Could look the name up.
Flipping through the pages, you find a Dragomir in the book, though the entry is way too old to be the brother Sophia was talking about. There’s a small snipped of text coupled with an old black and white picture, properly taken sometimes in the 20s or 30s, depicting a rabbit in a suit and tie, whose expression is not that dissimilar from the painting above the hearth. In fact, the eyes… those blood rimmed eyes… his eyes carries the same madness as the painting, burning with single-minded righteousness. You can’t help but shudder when they stare into you.

Dragomir Kråkholme
“Resided in Crowmoor; attended seminary at Arkham College in 1906; ordained in 1912; re-established the Chapel of Contemplation & Church of Our Lord Granter of Secrets in 1920; rebuilt the Crowmoor slaughterhouse in 1922. Died in prison, left behind his daughter Anna Kråkholme and newly born grandson Edward Kråkholme.”

…huh, so he’s not Edwards brother, but grandfather. Though seeing how he attended College in the 1900’s, he definitely dead by now.

Chris: “Geez, he reminds me of my uncle Fred. Though, even his stare wasn’t that… um… harsh.”
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No. 1055427 ID: 681cb5
File 167579707256.png - (120.67KB , 700x550 , 34.png )
1055427

>Buy some emergency supplies - tent, solar generator, rations, a bunch of flashlights, the usual. Use the rest of your spare cash on duct tape and paper panels.
You already own a tent, flashlights and duct tape… and you have enough food for now. But what do you mean a solar generator? Isn’t that the stuff NASA is using? No way you can get something like that.
>If you can't remove those paintings, you're going to make sure they can't stare at you!
Duct taping a sheet over the paintings are now a top priority.

>You and your husband like classic sci-fi, right? You've totally playfully come up with sign and countersign ritual as a way of defending against your standard sci-fi 'Who Goes There?' or 'The Thing' or 'Body Snatchers' scenario, right?
While you are fans of Sci-fi, you sadly don’t have a countersign. At least, not one that was made for that purpose. And what do you mean classic sci-fi? The Thing released just a few years ago, as did the remake of the body snatchers! Though, the original Invasion of the body snatchers was way better…

Belle: “Hey, Chris…”
Chris: “…what is on your mind, Belle?”
Belle: “I have to admit, this place is getting to me. Can we… stay together unless it’s really necessary?”
Chris: “Love, I know this move have been stressful for you… it has been for me too but... we can’t let that dedicate our lives, can we? Belle, I know you’re stronger than that… heck, if anything; I should be the one that would want you around to feel safe. After all, you’re the one that kicks ass and chew bubble gum!”
Belle: You smirk as you look down towards the rabbit, “I do kick ass, yeah.”
Chris: “And Belle…” Chris lifts up his hand and grabs yours, guiding it so that the two of you are pressing your palms together, before softly whispering, “Let these rings make us whole…”
Belle: With a warm smile, you whisper back, “Let these rings show our eternal love for each other…” The very same words the two of you said to each other on your wedding day… the greatest day of your life…

Chris: The rabbit lets his fingers slip between yours and squeezes your hand, “No matter what, these rings will always keep us together, Bluebell, even if where miles away from each other.”
Belle: “…thank you, Sunflower.”
Chris: “…besides, you have a mobile phone. You can just call me if you need anything.”
Belle: “Well… yeah… but… ah, Nevermind.”
Chris: “Which… ah… reminded me of something. I still need to visit the university institute at the center of town and finish up the last of the paperwork. Don’t worry, it won’t take long.”
Belle: “Can’t I come with you?”
Chris: “Sadly, no… unless you want to wait outside for a few hours. But hey, what about this, bluebell, as soon as I’m done we can meet up at the mansion and we can make some lunch together. Deal?”
Belle: “Deal.”
Chris: “…then you just need to let go of my hand, dear, so I can leave…”


>If there's time, we can stop at the church and ask about those priests we saw.
>Anyhoo, that mansion of yours should be a top priority, worms or no worms. You need a safe place to bunker down in this crazy town.
>Maybe take a quick peek at the shops up north to see if they have anything interesting.
Ugh, you need to decide what you want to do… where are you actually going next?

A) Go to the Church and see if you can find the priest. You want to ask him about the dream.
B) Visit the shops in the north. Maybe you can find a fortune teller or someone that sells trinkets that protects against ghosts there.
C) Visit your broker, Daniel Brerewoods, office. He might know more about what’s going on here.
D) Go back to the mansion and install those fuses. That old place might hold secrets yet uncovered.
E) Hug your hubby and refuse to let go.
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No. 1055429 ID: e5709d

>re-established the Chapel of Contemplation & Church of Our Lord Granter of Secrets in 1920
FUCK. CULT.
>rebuilt the Crowmoor slaughterhouse in 1922
MURDER CULT.
>Died in prison
Not good enough! No wonder Sophia went insane! Your in-law fucked with the town, and it's still fucked on the inside!

This is bad. The most logical explanation for the mishaps going on since you arrived at this uncanny town is that the cult is still active. Regardless of whether or not the supernatural exists, you'd be a major target seeing as you co-own the mansion of the original cult leader. You need to prepare, train, and overcome.

Or perhaps this is just a paranoid train of thought running through your head out of sheer boredom... but face it, what else do you have to do? Might as well pretend the town is out to get you. Maybe one day you'll have enough material to write a money-making novel.

Get to the broker. If you're going down this mad drowhole, you need to start with testimony from the logical viewpoints. Your broker has the lowest chance of being affected by... whatever is going on with this town.
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No. 1055447 ID: dee951

Solar generator that NASA...? Body snatchers?

Uh.

Who Goes There - 1938
The Thing From Another World - 1951
The Body Snatchers - 1954
Invasion of the Body Snatchers - 1956
Invasion of the Body Snatchers - 1978
The Thing - 1982
Body Snatchers - 1993
The Invasion - 2007
Who Goes There? - 2009
The Thing - 2011
Frozen Hell - 2019

Say! Who is President and Vice President right now, and would you like any acausal stock market investment or sports betting advice?
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No. 1055448 ID: 15c72a

>>1055426
"The devil is here", she pointed behind you, and your husband was behind you. Your husband is a descendant of the manor's original owner, so... yeah. She saw the "devil" in him, not the barkeep.
Warn him about that. The evil that lurks in this town might try to seduce him, give him a stare like THAT. Tell him to be careful.

>>1055427
A
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No. 1055487 ID: 2a82d3

Do be careful about following up on those dreams and overactive imagination. Regardless of how true they are, suspicious behavior could result in you on the wrong side of the asylum wall. You never know who would want you there, either.

Going the broker might be a good idea. It might also result in more work befitting the other half of your job: Paperwork. joy...

You never celebrated your six month anniversary, did you? If you don't have any gifts for him, you could talk to Father Elijah to give blessings to your union.

>>1055447
Dude, she has a Nokia Brick for a phone. Think '90s to early '00s. NASA did use build solar around the 60s too. Just a fun bit of trivia is all.
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No. 1055505 ID: 5560d0

Ugh, those bloodshot eyes again. Bövel, Miller, and now Dragomir too. Could be a sign of whatever madness plagues this town. Keep a look out for bloodshot eyes in the future and take warning.

>What do
Let's go with C. Would be nice to meet up with a familiar face in this place.
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No. 1055512 ID: 41bfc9

So what weird drugs cause the red eyes that people would've had access to a long time ago in a place like this?? That would still be around? Ugh, weird drug-using cults!
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No. 1055563 ID: 681cb5
File 167589911955.png - (89.45KB , 700x550 , 35.png )
1055563

>Let's go to the broker. Would be nice to meet up with a familiar face in this place.
And it’s the one person you are sure is actually sane in this mad place. Not to mention, you’ll be going in the same way as Chris, so you’ll be able to be with him just a bit longer.
>"The devil is here", she pointed behind you, and your husband was behind you. Your husband is a descendant of the manor's original owner, so... yeah. She saw the "devil" in him, not the barkeep.
...the picture of Dragomir did remind you a bit of Chris… though it’s a given seeing how they are related in some way. In fact, it’s fully possible she though he was Dragomir, which is why she freaked out so much!
>Warn him about that. The evil that lurks in this town might try to seduce him, give him a stare like THAT. Tell him to be careful.
As your hand parts, you lean in and give him a kiss…

Belle: “Just be careful, sunflower.”
Chris: “Don’t worry, bluebell. I’m sure there’s nothing to be afraid of.”
Belle: “Even then, I’d feel a bit better if you promised me not to… become like these Kråkholme, with their evil stare and blood rimmed eyes…”
Chris: He smirks a bit, “I promise you I won’t become a sour old grump, alright.”
Belle: “…and don’t let yourself be seduced by the evil that is Richard and whatever gang he’s in.”
Chris: “I promise that I won’t join a gang or cult or whatever, either… well, maybe if we both join a cult… you know, one of those non-serious, fun ones…”

The two of you walk through the town, discussing all manner of things as you pass the landmarks of your new home. Not far from the pub, in the opposite direction of where the church is, you and Chris passes over an old stone bridge and find yourselves on a large plaza of cobblestone, a mostly empty space if not for the large, strange obelisk in the center of it made out of an oddly colored stone. On the left, a grand structure stands with a marble entrance and green tiled dome, looming over the square with a foreboding presence, which you can only assume is the town hall where the university and library is located. Beyond it there’s a large, gray building, surrounded by a high wall with a thick metal gate which has the sign ‘Crowmoor Asylum’ above it. Meanwhile to your right, the square branch off into a dozen smaller streets, every last one of them slithering into a labyrinth of smaller houses, a complex network of roads which would be impossible to find anything in. That has to be the supposed ‘shopping street’ you’ve heard people talk about. Finally, straight ahead, there is several rows or cheaply made houses, which is dwarfed by the large factory behind them, labeled ‘Crowmoor Paper Mill’. As you’ve arrived at the Town hall, you say your goodbyes to your hubby before making your way into the twisting streets of Crowmoor.


>Say! Who is the President right now?
Huh? Clint Billton, the Mallard, of course! Who else? It’s 1998 after all!
>You never celebrated your six month anniversary, did you?
The two of you did right before you traveled here... both with friends and family as a moving away party, but also just the two of you… it was lovely.

>MURDER CULT.
OH GOD NO! THAT CAN’T BE TRUE, CAN IT!?
>No wonder Sophia went insane! Your in-law fucked with the town, and it's still fucked on the inside!
...it is clear that Dragomir wasn’t a good man… but to corrupt the whole town?
>Ugh, those bloodshot eyes again. Bövel, Miller, and now Dragomir too. Could be a sign of whatever madness plagues this town. Keep a look out for bloodshot eyes in the future and take warning.
…those eyes… those horrid blood rimmed eyes… every time you close your eyes, you see them there, staring at you… why can’t you get them out of your head!?
>So what weird drugs cause the red eyes that people would've had access to a long time ago in a place like this?? That would still be around? Ugh, weird drug-using cults!
Ugh… hopefully there’s just some mushroom growing here that makes you a bit more aggressive while giving you bloodshot eyes or something… note to self: don’t eat strange mushrooms.

>Or perhaps this is just a paranoid train of thought running through your head out of sheer boredom…
You’re right… you’re probably just freaking out over nothing. This is all nothing but stress from moving here… nothing more. Calm down, Belle, it’s nothing to worry about…
>Suspicious behavior could result in you on the wrong side of the asylum wall. You never know who would want you there, either.
All the more reason not to worry and stay calm… you rather not be put in the mad house.

Luckily, Daniel’s office is not far from the square, which makes finding it rather easy. As you walk up to his door, passing a few crows that flies away as you approach, you notice that the sign on the entrance says that the office is closed… yet you can see that the light is on inside… and hear someone moving around in there through the open window.
Belle: “Mr. Brerewood? Are you in there?” you loudly ask as you knock on the door, “It’s me, Belle Knott. Can we talk?” but you’re met with nothing but silence. Once again, you hear something move in there…

Your attention is pulled away from the office as you hear a lovely tune float through the air, a song played by an experienced fiddler echoing across the empty streets. As the melody fills your ears, you can help but smile, as it feels like it soothes your very soul. For the first time since you got here, you feel… safe.
>>
No. 1055567 ID: dee951

There's nothing wrong with feeling safe! Though if someone put something in the air, be sure to reason your way into not doing anything stupid! Your logic still works, after all.

Let's make a game out of it! Look around for things out of place, be observant, think up escape routes as you walk or other security games! If this area was one of the creepier Half-Life levels, where would the jump-scare come from? Where would you dive behind cover if someone starts shooting? Where would a bunch of enemies come running from? What would be the meticulously programmed environmental hazard that you have to react to in an instant as part of the environmental storytelling?
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No. 1055801 ID: 681cb5
File 167616819081.png - (143.56KB , 700x550 , 36.png )
1055801

>There's nothing wrong with feeling safe! Though if someone put something in the air, be sure to reason your way into not doing anything stupid!
It’s music, not some mind controlling drug. Though then again, you have heard stories about people being controlled by sirens and the like through song, but that’s just myths, right?
>If this area was one of the creepier Half-Life levels, where would the jump-scare come from?
Half-life? What’s that? Did you mean Isotopic Decay made by Faucet? That game won’t be out until next month, so you haven’t played it yet. Hopefully you’ll have the computer up and running with the new windows 98 by then.

Seeing as Daniel refuses to let you in, you decide to see where this lovely music is coming from instead. Maybe he’s just busy right now… or maybe a bird got into his office while he’s away? Either way, unless you want to break into his business then you’ll simply have to wait.

Following your ears, you make your way through the labyrinthine streets, which curve around the small houses with a serpentine suggestion, leaving you completely lost if it wasn’t for the melody that dances between the tall brick and wood structures surrounding you. These paths are convoluted and twisted, a tangled web of dead ends and small allays leading you in circles, making it feel like you’re in another world where space is but a farce. Finally, between a basket wicker and a textile store, you find a small shop where the music originates from, simply called “The Cauldron”.

As you enter, the smell of fresh herbs and old wood hits you, and you find yourself in a world filled with all kinds of knick knacks. The small shop is filled with shelves containing all kinds of weird curios and other oddities. You also find the source of the music, as there is a sharply dressed catfish behind the counter playing the fiddle, so lost in his own song that he doesn’t even notice you enter.
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No. 1055802 ID: 681cb5
File 167616820001.png - (136.73KB , 700x550 , 37.png )
1055802

Belle: “Excuse me?” you ask softly, trying to get his attention. It has the desired effect, as he immediately stops playing and move his focus to you.
Bernard: “Ah, a customer!” he enthusiastically exclaims, “I am terribly sorry, jacinthe des bois, as I was rather caught up with my music.”
Belle: “No need to apologize, sir.”
Bernard: “But where is my manners, la chérie, I have yet to introduce myself. I am Bernard, your humble owner if this little boutique.”

He takes a moment to delicately wrap the fiddle in some clothes before putting it away, clearly caring for it dearly. You managed to only get a quick glance of it, but it seemed to be in excellent condition, if a bit old, with the exception of the initials E Z carved into its side.

Bernard: “Welcome to The Cauldron, Madame, where we sell all kind of trinkets and baubles both magical and benign, where every last item has a story of its own.” he makes a big gesture towards the shelves on the other side of the room, “But don’t take my word for it, Belle, as I am sure you’ll find something magnifique for both you and your l' époux.” Putting his hands on the counter, his hands touching each other by the fingertips, he leans over and asks, “So how can I be of assistance, Ms.Knott?”
>>
No. 1055810 ID: 36784c

>>1055802
>“But don’t take my word for it, Belle, as I am sure you’ll find something magnifique for both you and your l' époux.”
>“So how can I be of assistance, Ms.Knott?”
You never introduced yourself to him, yet he knows your first and last name and even knows that you’re married (although the ring on your finger makes that last one obvious).

The first thing you should do is ask how he knows your name?
>>
No. 1055811 ID: 15a025

Sounds like you might be the talk of the town already. Curious to how he knows you though.

Joke, and ask if he used a magical knickknack and foresaw your arrival.
>>
No. 1055836 ID: 15c72a

>>1055802
>red star on that item in the case
Okay you have to ask about that.
>>
No. 1055840 ID: 2a82d3

Ooo how much for a tarot reading? Seeing as you're waiting for the realor to open, that seems like a good time waster. Ask about the other items on display too.
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No. 1055879 ID: 681cb5
File 167625562818.png - (138.86KB , 700x550 , 38.png )
1055879

>The first thing you should do is ask how he knows your name?
Belle: “You know, Bernard, I never gave you my name…” you tell him with a smirk, “Am I really the talk of the town already or do you have some magical knickknack that foresaw my arrival?”
Bernard: “Why, of course mon ami, what kind of curio shop would I be without a working crystal ball? I simply gazed upon it and witnessed your arrivée séduisant to our little town. I even saw what you will eat for breakfast tomorrow morning.”
Belle: “All that from a little ball, huh?”
Bernard: “Of course I simply jest, ma petite fleur, as I sadly have no such crystal ball. Rumors spread fast in a town like this, non, so of course the word of a fox and rabbit moving into the old mansion is something that will be heard. In fact, I do not believe we have another fox living here, renard ruse, let alone one that is married to a prey. This town was founded by prey, after all, so there still aren’t many predators around.”
Belle: “Ah, so that explains why you recognize me…”
Bernard: “Oh, and I might be a good friend with Mr. Daniel Brerewood, who has gossiped all about you two.”
Belle: “You know Daniel? I tried to meet him earlier, but he wasn’t in his office... well, someone was in his office, but whoever it was didn’t want to let me in.
Bernard: “Why, that is strange indeed, chérie, as he should be in his office right now… and I never heard of him refusing a customer. In fact, now that I think about it, I do not believe I’ve seen the man for a few days as well… étrange.”

>A red star on that item in the case? Okay you have to ask about that.
Bernard: “A red star you say?” Bernard looks a bit confused as he looks down, before his smiles widens, “Ah, no, it is simply the light playing tricks with you, Madame, as this Tarot card clearly depicts a yellow star.” The catfish lifts the card out of the display case, showing that is indeed a yellow star on it, “Which is good, as a red star would be a mauvias presage… an ill omen, as they say.” he points towards the rest of the deck before continuing, “Now this Tarot deck is one of a kind, rumored to have been own by a warlock from the old country and was used to contact vile creatures beyond the veil. Quite the find, yes?”
Belle: “You know about the red star?”
Bernard: “Oh, I’ve heard myths and stories, that’s all.” He glances up towards the roof, clearly thinking, “Some believe the red star people have seen is nothing but a comet, circling our dear little terre bleue. Of course, as most things, its passing was thought to bring maliciousness with it.”
Belle: “Huh… and when does this comet pass?”
Bernard: “Ah, that is the question, isn’t it? For you see, this comet doesn’t exist, at least according to the academics. They have searched and searched but never found it, no matter how hard they look. No, very few people have ever seen it… even less who are still alive. Why, the only one I know is the old librarian, down at the town hall.”
Belle: “Really? Why, thank you for that information, Mr Bernard.”
Bernard: “Do not mention it, bel oiseau.”

>Ask about the other items on display too.
Bernard: “Now this amulet here has an interesting story.” he puts back the deck and move his attention to the necklace, “Once owned by an evil most foul, its purpose was inverted from a tool of suffering into a ward of protection. With the blessing of a priest, it was given to a descendant of said evil, to protect them from its corrupting influence…” he stops and takes a moment to look out the window, a sadness suddenly washing over him, “But the descendant grew proud, questioning his need for it… before giving it away, ensuring his own doom. That pauvre imbécile…” taking a deep breath, the catfish continues his story, “All that is left now is this amulet, which warding powers have been long gone…"
Belle: “It is a strange looking amulet…”
Bernard: “Now, for our next item!” Bernard perks up again as he moves on, “This, Ms.Knott, is one half of a demon egg, once containing a malevolent spirit who now ravages the land!” he gestures widely with his arms, trying to depict said spirit, “Only once both parts of said egg are reunited will this nefarious force be stopped!”
Belle: “That’s clearly just a geode.”
Bernard: “Some may call it that, yes…” the catfish says with a smirk, “But who can say that something foul wasn’t born within it, which was release by the greed of those who coveted the eggs beautiful innards, hmm?”
Belle: “does all your tales contain heinous nefarious things?”
Bernard: “What can I say, tales of evil sells.”

>Ooo how much for a tarot reading?
Bernard: “For you, Madam, I’ll do it for free. Simply give me a moment to shuffle the deck…”
>>
No. 1055880 ID: 681cb5
File 167625564860.png - (133.33KB , 750x750 , 39.png )
1055880

Belle: “So… how does this work? Do I ask a question or…?”
Bernard: “Oh, no, we let the card decide the question. Simply find meaning in their message, mon ami. Now let see who or what will be the focus of this reading.”

He places the first card in the middle of the table, a card depicting a queen sitting on a throne, wielding a sword.

Bernard: “Ah, the Queen of swords. The cards want to focus on someone that is a model of self-sufficiency, a feminine force which is both independent as well as intelligence. I do believe we both know of such a person, hmm?”
Belle: “Are you trying to flirt with me, Mr Bernard?” you tell him in a playful tone, “Should my husband be worried?”
Bernard: “Oh non non non! Your husband can rest easy, Belle, as my taste is far different than his. If anything, you should be worried that I might steal him away from you, oh hon hon! But enough jest, let see what the cards say!”

Placing the next card above the queen, you can see that it has a sun on it, shining down on a stone wall surrounded by sunflowers.

Bernard: “The sun, hmm? A positive influence, one that bring safety and health. Someone that is very dear to you, very important. Someone who makes your soul shine and protect you from the chaos outside the garden walls. Someone who, when all is wrong, make it all good in the end.”
Belle: “…that’s Chris…”
Bernard: “Ah, this reading is about your relation with your husband… or possible something both of you will experience together?” Bernard takes a moment to ponder, “Now let us see what the two of you will face in the present.”

The third card, placed on the right of the queen, shows eight wooden rods above a field of grass.

Bernard: “Oh? The inverted eight of wands? Interesting... you are in denial of something? Something is tempting you to deny that a powerful chain of consequences has been unleashed in your life, something to do with your husband. Now is the time to awaken to the changes around you, now is not the time to assume that everything is fine as it is.” A small frown passes the catfishes lips,”A troubling card… but let us move on. What is in your future, hmm?”

The next card is places under the queen, which illustrates a woman tied up with ropes, surrounded by eight swords.

Bernard: “The eight of swords… the test. Life will provide you with a harsh challenge, one that will require you to rise to the occasion and be confident with your abilities. You will have a tough time ahead of you, Madame, one that you shouldn’t take lightly.” He shakes his head a bit before moving on, “Now… let see how it all ends.”

The final card, placed on the left, portrays a lighthouse being hit by lightning in a storm.

Bernard: “The tower… Disaster will strike. The demons of madness and despair are released from their ancient hiding places and your world will be in peril. But it is not all lost. You are the one to serve as a catalyst for change, bringing down the old order and start anew, though it is not known if it will be for better or worse.”

Belle: “…what does this all mean?”
Bernard: “I cannot say, Madame… it is but you who must find meaning in these cards.”

Bernard: “But know this, , ma petite fleur, if you need assistance than just ask, I am happy to oblige.” He give you a big, genuine smile, “Though take my aid sooner rather than later, as neither of us knows if we will be here tomorrow, non?”
>>
No. 1055882 ID: dee951

*Sigh* Comets aren't red. Comets are blue and green from gases like hydroxide and cyanide. There's a type of cometary emission that's shows red, called 'forbidden oxygen', where the ices are carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, and the atoms make an energy transition between different states of excitement and show red for a bit... but that particular emission is INCREDIBLY short lived *and* those ices themselves also don't survive long at all when exposed to sunlight!
>>
No. 1055883 ID: dee951

That reading was fun. The problem with Tarot readings and the like, is that even if literally everything he said was absolutely and completely true in every single detail... it offers very little advice that is actionable. Still! That was very skillfully done! Thank him for the reading!
>>
No. 1055884 ID: 15c72a

>>1055880
>The demons of madness and despair are released from their ancient hiding places and your world will be in peril.
Hold up, that's very specific. Ask what he knows about these demons. Madness relates to the Moon card, not the Tower, after all.

>protective amulet lacking a blessing
Would getting it blessed again restore its protection? If so, we can do that at the church, to make it work to help Chris.
>geode might imprison an ancient evil
Hmm, is that the only thing that would work? We don't know where the other half is, do we? Granted, if we do find the other half somehow, we might need it.

Ask about prices.
>>
No. 1055889 ID: dee951

>>1055884

Except there's no way to tell if 'demons' means 'malicious supernatural entity', 'mind-altering environmental contaminant', 'general mental health issues due to circumstances', etc. etc.
>>
No. 1055909 ID: 2a82d3

The tarot and amulet are interesting curios to own, assuming you can afford either or both, but dunno about the geode. Maybe come back to it if you find the other half somewhere. Would he know who he sold it to, or did he not have the whole piece in his possession?

Wait a minute... Is it possible this stuff used to belong to the Krakholmes? It is a small town.

If what the catfish said is true, it seems like Father Thorn or his predecessor had given Edward their protection. So it stands to reason to assume they were friends, much like Sophia. Also much like Sophia, it's possible coping with what happened to Edward has made him "eccentric". When you go to St. Emerik, prepare to deal with either crazy or a crisis of faith.

Also, it seems like either Mr. Brerewood is hiding in his office, or there was a breaking and entering in progress. Just a hunch: Call out for Sophia if you're over there again. You can also confirm with Bernard that it's her hidey hole.
>>
No. 1056194 ID: 681cb5
File 167649464636.png - (135.55KB , 700x550 , 40.png )
1056194

>That reading was fun. It was very skillfully done! Thank him for the reading!
Bernard: “My pleasure, chérie. It is always a joy to see what the cards will say. ”
Belle: “…still, the reading was way too vague. If literally everything you said was absolutely and completely true in every single detail... it offers very little advice that is actionable.”
Bernard: “And that is the curse of knowing the future, non? For it to still be your future, you cannot understand it until after it has already become your past, mon ami.”
Belle: “Hmm, I guess that’s one way to see it.”
>Hold up, that's very specific. Ask what he knows about these demons.
Bernard: “Ah, my apologies, jacinthe des bois, but it was only, as they say, a way of words. I did not mean actual demons, but simply the… ah… metaphor of it.”
Belle: “So there won’t be any literal demons spreading madness then?”
Bernard: “Oh, non non non, bel oiseau, it is simply a warning for something dangerous that is yet to come. Any specifics are still as unclear as the mist upon the bay, non?”
Belle: “…besides, madness relates to the moon card.”
Bernard: “That is indeed correct, I see you know something about Tarot yourself, Ms.Knott.”
Belle: “I also know a bit about astrology… and if I remember correctly, comets are blue or green, not red, because… err… some reason? I think it has something to do with what they are made of?”
Bernard: “Yet a few has said that they have seen a red comet, while others deem it impossible for it to exist. Were they simply mad… or is there some truth in it? Maybe it wasn’t a comet they saw? I cannot say, Belle, as I simply hear the rumors and nothing more.”

>Ask about prices.
Bernard: “The Tarot deck, made in early 1600 by a warlock and which is still in pristine quality, I will let go for the low sum of… 250$.”
Belle: “250$ for a deck of cards!?”
Bernard: “Ah, you must understand, these three items in particular has quite the value to them, thanks to their history and quality. Now, for the Geode… 200$”
Belle: “…you wouldn’t know who sold it to you? …or where the other piece is?”
Bernard: “Sadly, no. If I did, then I would have tried to get the other piece to complete the set, non? A full set is worth more after all, renard ruse.”
Belle: “And the amulet?”

He removes the necklace from the glass case, letting it hang limp from his hand as he looks down on it with eyes filled with melancholy. A soft smile of nostalgia spreads across his face while he sighs, his eyes glimmering in the sunlight.

Bernard: “This item has a personal history with me… and I can’t set a real price on it.”
Belle: “I understand if you don’t want to sell it, Bernard.”
Bernard: “…you’re correct. I cannot sell it…”
>>
No. 1056195 ID: 681cb5
File 167649466031.png - (155.44KB , 700x550 , 41.png )
1056195

Bernard: “…but for you, chérie, I will give it away for free.” He leans over and puts the amulet around your neck before you can even say anything, “Here, it is yours. May it make the coming storm just a bit less harsh.”
Belle: “Huh!?” you have to take a second to comprehend what just happened, “T-thank you so much, Bernard, but… are you sure? This beautiful piece seemed to mean so much to you.”
Bernard: “Indeed it does, mon ami, but I believe you will have more use for it than I will ever have. Make sure you keep it close, as it might just save you… or your l' époux.”
Belle: “I… don’t know what to say…”
Bernard: “Than don’t say anything, Ms. Knott.”

>Wait a minute... Is it possible this stuff used to belong to the Krakholmes? It is a small town.
Bernard: “…”
Belle: “…so it did?”
Bernard: “The amulet… it did indeed belong to that family once… though its purpose has been warped and reversed since the old days of Bövel, compared to when Edward wore it.”
Belle: “So you knew him? Edward, I mean?”
Bernard: “…he visited my shop once, yes. A nice young man, I recall, but troubled. Sold me that amulet he did. Une terrible tragédie…”
>Would getting it blessed again restore its protection?
Bernard: “Ah, that I cannot say…”
Belle: “But it was Father Thorn who blessed it, right? The priest here in Crowmoor?”
Bernard: “It’s possible. He would be old enough to have been a priest back when Edward was born… and possible knew his poor mother, Anna.”
Belle: “So it was Anna who asked him to bless the medallion?”
Bernard: “Indeed, chérie, it was Anna. She did love both her children dearly…”

>Also, it seems like either Mr. Brerewood is hiding in his office, or there was a breaking and entering in progress.
Bernard: “Well, if someone is breaking in, then you should call the police, non? Not that they will do anything…”
Belle: “I might have a hunch on whose in there… do you know Sophia?”
Bernard: “I can’t say I do, non.”
Belle: “…the old crow lady? The homeless one?”
Bernard: “Ah, her… though, I can’t see why she would break into Daniel’s office. She’s never done anything ever since she had that nervous breakdown decades ago.”
Belle: “Maybe Daniel lent her the key?”
Bernard: “No, I don’t think so… he shouldn’t stand her… well, not her specifically, but the homeless in general. You know how it is, Mon ami. If it is her in there, then… well, she shouldn’t be.”

You notice that your headache is all gone now; getting a nice walk and some fresh air must have helped. Now, anything else you wish to ask of Mr. Bernard, or is it time to leave?
>>
No. 1056203 ID: 2a82d3

>…he visited my shop once, yes.
How precisely worded. How sensitive is your gaydar? Is it pinging right now? If so, think how scandalous if rumors, about the adultery, got out. It might just be your imagination again. No need to question how the amulet was "sold" to him, just thank him for paying it forward.

So was Edward close to... anyone in town? Sounds like he was fairly well-loved by all who knew him.

>“Indeed, chérie, it was Anna. She did love both her children dearly…”
Silly you, you glossed over Edward, his mother, and twin brother when you read the book last might. Double-check to make sure. You have the mother's name now, Edward himself couldn't have been updated before you got your hands on it, and you didn't even know about or recall the twin brother until today.

... you can find his twin brother in there, right? It's in the book, right? Right?
>>
No. 1056222 ID: 15c72a

>>1056203
The shop owner already said he's gay.

>>1056195
Can you afford the geode? If the story behind it is true, then you'll need it. If it's not, then well, it's still pretty!
>>
No. 1056253 ID: e5709d

...I have a theory.
Let's call Edward's twin brother Eddward for the time being. If he had a secret triplet we'll call him Eddyward!
Let's say, theoretically, that Eddward's birth certificate was somehow erased from the hospital archives. That there was an open secret that Edward had an 'evil twin brother'. Why, then Eddward could act as a body-double for Edward! Any time Edward needed to... 'contribute to the family business', Eddward could step in and act as a concrete alibi. Or perhaps it's the other way around.
This would have its detriments. The wrong Ed could plausibly be starved of psychological help, go mad over a period of decades, and then slaughter the Kråkholms in a fit of either schizophrenia or sheer envy! And then-
Fake their death by murdering for a clone of their corpse.

... Crap. One of the Eds may be alive and homicidal.
>>
No. 1056274 ID: 2a82d3

>>1056222
Oh, I'm not talking about Bernard. I will admit that, given the interference here, some tuning may be needed.

>geode
If she can afford it, she should buy the Tarot deck first. Card or board games are a great ice breaker, especially when you only remember half the rules.

>>1056253
My money's on a twin or triplet being sent/banished away from here in secret. I'm optimistic it was the good one.

Though seriously, I did find out that drawing the Tower card is rarely a good sign for a marriage but let's not get carried away before we have proof.
>>
No. 1056301 ID: 681cb5
File 167658536101.png - (197.29KB , 700x550 , 42.png )
1056301

>How sensitive is your gaydar? Is it pinging right now?
Bernard outright said he would steal your husband away, so yes, he is indeed gay. As for Edward… well, he had a wife and children, so he at least liked women, but you have no idea if he liked men as well.
>Can you afford the geode? If the story behind it is true, then you'll need it.
While you can afford it, you’ll need to find an ATM to get some cash first. Of course, even if you can afford it you shouldn’t buy something like this just on a hunch. At least not without discussing it with Chris first.
>If she can afford it, she should buy the Tarot deck first. Card or board games are a great ice breaker, especially when you only remember half the rules.
If you want an ice breaker than you can buy a normal Tarot deck for less than a tenth of this price.


>So was Edward close to... anyone in town?
Bernard: “I cannot say, mon ami.”Bernard mumbles rather disinterested as he reaches for something behind the counter, “As I said, I only met him once and no more.”
Belle: “So you don’t know anyone Edward might have been close to?”
Bernard: “I would assume he was close to his wife and children.” He picks up the fiddle you saw him play earlier, and starts to tune it, “But other than that… I have no clue, jacinthe des bois.”

>Silly you, you glossed over Edward, his mother, and twin brother when you read the book last might. Double-check to make sure.
Flipping through the pages, you do indeed find both Edward and Anna Kråkholme, depicted to similar polaroids as the priest, though the page is covered in dots, as if someone left it out in the rain for a while. The photo of Edward is taken on what you guess is his wedding day, as he is standing next to a mouse in white dress, beaming happily at the camera. Meanwhile, the photo of Anna shows a middle aged woman in what you think is the mansion, looking rather sad and… almost broken?
There’s also some text written on the page, stating:
“Edward Kråkholme and Julia Kråkholme. Photo was taken June 12 1985, on our wedding day, the happiest day of my life. May our good fortune last forever, Julia.”
and…
“Anna Kråkholme, faithful widow and beloved mother, you were taken from us too soon. 8-13-1937 to 2-13-1987.”
Someone has also written “Julia, I’m sorry” in the margin.
>... you can find his twin brother in there, right? It's in the book, right? Right?
…you can’t find anything about any brothers to Edward, twin or otherwise. According to this book, Anna only had one child.


>...I have a theory.
So… Edward has a brother, possible a twin one at that, which has been erased from history. But why would they keep it a secret? Was his twin acting as a body-double for Edward? That way, anytime one of them would do something vile, the other could step in and act as an alibi? It feels like you’re jumping to conclusions, but it’s possible. Of course, two people playing the same person doesn’t work out in the long run… the fake one get more and more envious and murders the Kråkholms in anger… before finally offing his own twin to fake his own death! Edward committed “Suicide” in asylum after all, who is to say he wasn’t killed instead? ...Crap. One of the Eds may be alive and homicidal… and you’re living in their home!
>My money's on a twin or triplet being sent/banished away from here in secret. I'm optimistic it was the good one.
Good or bad, whoever killed everyone was clearly mad. Let just hope it really was the Edward that died… and that he actually committed suicide. You rather not have some deranged twin stalking inside the walls of your home…

Bernard has returned to playing his fiddle, making it wail a haunting song of sadness, which reverberates across the empty streets outside. You get the feeling it’s time for you to leave... after all, if you hurry, you might have time to visit somewhere else before meeting up with Chris for lunch!

A) Go to the Church and see if you can find the priest. You want to ask him about the dream.
B) Visit the Library in Town hall. The town’s history is bound to be found there.
C) Visit the Insane Asylum. Edward did commit suicide there, so they might now more about his last days.
D) Visit that odd obelisk in the center of the town square. What’s up with that strange thing?
E) Go back to Daniel Brerewoods office, and figure out who’s in there.
F) Go back to the mansion and install those fuses. That old place might hold secrets yet uncovered.
G) Other?

[Inventory:]
Torch
Fuses
Old Photo album
Oil lamp
Spice blend
Garlic
Strange Amulet
Your Wedding ring
>>
No. 1056449 ID: 15c72a

>>1056301
A.
Can't you ask one more question? Who were Anna's children? Maybe she adopted someone.
>>
No. 1056452 ID: b57fea

>>1056449
Yeah its church time
>>
No. 1056464 ID: 15a025

A. Let's pay a visit to the church.
>>
No. 1056477 ID: 2a82d3

>>1056301
A. You have the amulet; it's only right to seek its blessing now. Though, given he must have went all the way from Africa just to bless it for him, he must be sensitive about its' failure to protect its' owner. Ask about the dream first.

>the page is covered in dots, as if someone left it out in the rain
Interesting spatter, isn't it? It's spread out and randomly distributed all over the page. You'd never get something like that from a spill, or even a pour closeby. At best, the source would have been over a meter above. If the book was on the floor and you poured a watering can on it, you'd only get a result like that if poured from your head or higher.
>Someone has also written “Julia, I’m sorry” in the margin.
This book was with him during his last moments, wasn't it. At least there's no blood on the pages.
>>
No. 1056508 ID: 681cb5
File 167684551610.png - (80.23KB , 700x550 , 43.png )
1056508

>Interesting spatter, isn't it? It's spread out and randomly distributed all over the page. You'd never get something like that from a spill, or even a pour close by. If the book was on the floor and you poured a watering can on it, you'd only get a result like that if poured from your head or higher.
…you mean that someone was crying when looking at these pages? Hmm…
>This book was with him during his last moments, wasn't it? At least there's no blood on the pages.
The book was still at the house, while Edward committed suicide in the Asylum… though, it is clearly written with his handwriting, just as the rest of the page seems to be. The question is… did he write it before or after he murdered his wife, Julia?

>Can't you ask one more question? Who were Anna's children? Maybe she adopted someone.
Bernard: “Oh, non non non, that petite fille innocente only had one child, chérie.”
Belle: “Except you mentioned that she loved both of her children, as in plural.”
Bernard: “Ah, renard ruse! I did indeed let my tongue slip, as Anna did have a second child, before poor Edward. But this child was… as they say… mortinaissance… yes? But do not take my word for it, as I am sure he is buried in the… ah… your family crypt, Ms.Knott. I do believe you know where it is, yes?”
Belle: “Why would I know where the Kråkholme’s have their family crypt?”
Bernard: “…because it’s located right behind your house, jacinthe des bois.”
Belle: “Great, so we have a crypt on our backyard as well! How much more haunted can this place become!”


>Let's pay a visit to the church.
You bid farewell to the strange Catfish shopkeeper, who wishes you all the luck you will need as you leave before returning to playing his fiddle. Somehow, the labyrinthine streets are a lot easier to navigate when leaving his shop, as you almost immediately find yourself back at the plaza, leaving the sad melody emanating from The Cauldron behind. Passing the strange Obelisk, you spot someone investigating it thoroughly, with both tools and books, though you pay her little mind as you continue over the bridge towards the church.

Soon enough you find yourself in front of the decrepit church near the edge of town, an old building that has seen far better days. The once shining white stones have taken a greenish hue over the ages, as they have been overgrown with moss and mildew, and large part of the structure itself is in different levels of disrepair. The wall and gate around it is nothing but ruins, while one of the windows has been smashed and boarded up… heck, even the church bell is cracked and missing a piece. Behind the structure you can see a wild forest… and beyond that, a storm blowing in from the Atlantic sea. You better get home before it arrives. Several crows have made the tower its home, cawing at you as you make your way towards the large twin doors.

Belle: “Father Thorn?” you yell as you bang on the door, “Are you in there?”
>>
No. 1056509 ID: 681cb5
File 167684552373.png - (97.00KB , 1100x550 , 44.png )
1056509

The door creaks as it is slowly dragged open, and you’re about to say something but is cut short by a double barreled shotgun being shoved into your face.

Elijah: “Do not move, heathen, or old Betty here will get another notch.” An old, ragged voice calls out weakly, “The stench of the devil reeks from you, outsider, the putrid smell of decaying crow corpses!” the sound of the shotgun clicking makes you jump, “Are you with them? …or are you just another fool, coming here to bathe in the filth and maggots!?”

As you look up from the gun in your face you lock eyes with who you assume is Father Elijah Thorn, the priest, though he seems far older in person than on that photo you saw earlier. What is now standing in front of you is a turtle in his late 60s, maybe early 70s, who has clearly lived a harsh, unforgiving life. The church itself seem to be in far worse condition as well.

Elijah: “Speak woman!” you growls at you, “Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t slam these holy doors in your face, sinner.”
>>
No. 1056511 ID: 96112b

Without a moment's hesitation, bat the shotgun's muzzle away and tell the minister to drop the act. It's not endearing and it makes priests in general look crazy.
>>
No. 1056513 ID: 15c72a

>>1056509
Tell him you think you're on his side. You want to fight against the "devil", too. You wish to know of the history of this conflict, and are seeking a blessing of protection.
>>
No. 1056517 ID: dee951

>>1056511

Do NOT do a martial arts move if you are not actually trained in the appropriate martial arts, especially if there's a firearm involved!

Instead of escalating to violence, now is the time for deescalation.

"I'm not with the devil or this other group! I'm just a god-fearing young woman who just moved into town with my beloved husband, who wants to meet the neighbors, and fears that this town has some dark secrets that I must carefully navigate to protect the lives and souls of my family! Please put the firearm away!"
>>
No. 1056520 ID: e5709d

"...I was going to ask you if you would bolster my faith and bless my armor for battle. Now I will not. Ever. Good day, sir."
>>
No. 1056521 ID: 96112b

>>1056517
I didn't say martial arts, I said batting it away.
>>
No. 1056522 ID: dee951

>>1056521
THAT IS HOW YOU GET SHOT!
>>
No. 1056523 ID: 2a82d3

>>1056509
Give him a minute until he gets a good look at your broach. Explain how this nice frenchman just gave it to you for free when you asked about it. If he considers Bernard to have good judgment, then it discuss why he would let you have it.

>>1056522
Yep, pretty much. Do not expect him to exercise trigger discipline at this point in time. Even in action movies, you need to wait until there's a distraction. Ya think she's Cackie Jhan?
>>
No. 1056727 ID: 681cb5
File 167702382102.png - (114.15KB , 700x550 , 45.png )
1056727

>Without a moment's hesitation, bat the shotgun's muzzle away and tell the minister to drop the act.
Your first instinct is to grab the gun and rip it away from him, but you manages to catch yourself before you do something dumb. Moving might just make him fire the weapon… not to mention, grabbing the barrel might just cause the thing to go off on its own, even if he doesn’t want to shoot you. No, this isn’t the time to be in fight mode.

>Instead of escalating to violence, now is the time for de-escalation.
Belle: “Please, calm down! I’m not with the devil or… whatever that other group about maggots was!”
Elijah: He lowers the gun a bit, to get a better look at you, “Then who are you, outsider?”
Belle: “I’m just a young woman who just moved into this town with my beloved husband, that’s all! And… I’ve heard that this place has some dark secrets, so I was going to ask you for help… but with you being this rude I’m considering just telling you ‘Good day, sir’ and leave.”
Elijah: He finally pulls the shotgun away and let if fall open, revealing that the clicking sound you heard earlier was him putting on the safety, “The only help I can give you, lady, is to advise you to leave. This town was forsaken by god a long time ago.”
Belle: As he takes a step back you’re finally able to look inside the church, and it is just as a sorry sight as the outside. Though, there are some clear signs that more than just the priest visits this place, even if they are rather few. Your attention is brought back to the Elijah as he coughs, making you give him a sheepish smile, “Well… um… then maybe I can help you with this… err… godforsaken town?”
Elijah: “The only thing you can do is to stay out of it!” He snarls, but then his eyes bulges out from their sockets as he notices the amulet, “That necklace… where did you get it?”

>Explain how this nice Frenchman just gave the broach to you for free when you asked about it.
Elijah: “A Frenchman!?” he scowls, “The Catfish!?”
Belle: “So you do know him? Yes, that’s right, I got it from-”
Elijah: “Do not trust any of the poison he may speak, as he is nothing but a… a… a HOMOSEXUAL!” he put extra emphasis on that last word, uttering it so harshly that his spit flies all over the place, “If I only knew how to find that blasted shop of his, I’d give him such a stern talking to!”
Belle: “…I don’t think his orientation has anything to-”
Elijah: “That man is nothing but a godforsaken charlatan.” he interrupts you, “A worshipper of demons and practitioner of the black arts!” As the turtle howls his insults, he gestures widely with his free arm, “He cannot be trusted! Throw that damn necklace away, as he has surely cursed it with his vile magic!”
Belle: “I gather you’re not a fan of his?”
Elijah: “That horrid monster seduced Edward and made off with that very necklace!” Elijah snarls, “Ensuring that his madness would take him, just like the others.” He looks away and shakes his head, and for the first time the anger leaves his voice, “No, that man is not to be trusted.”

>You wish to know of the history of this conflict, and are seeking a blessing of protection.
Elijah: “This conflict?” the turtle scoffs, “The conflict has already ended, girl. No need to dig in it anymore.”
Belle: “But… just what happened here? Why did Edward kill his wife and children?”
Elijah: “He was mad. That’s all.”
Belle: “…and the witch burnings? In the 1600s?”
Elijah: He gives you a long look before sighing, “…the legends say that the founder of this town, Bövel Kråkholm, made a deal with the devil for power and knowledge of the dark arts. He sold not only his own soul, but the soul of every male heir he would ever have. Thus, each man born from his loins will go mad, even today. Edward was just the last.”
Belle: “You really believe that?”
Elijah: “Of course not!” he suddenly shouts, “It’s just a bunch of drivel! No, it is clear that the Kråkholm family simply suffers from some kind of heritable mental illness, which manifest in each man born in it. Probably from inbreeding, if you ask me.”
Belle: “…and the witches?”
Elijah: “While he was alive, Bövel was a powerful and feared man, who sired six raven-haired daughters. These daughters of his were like him, evil people craving power. But after his death the town turned on them, this coven of crows, and burned them all to ashes.” The turtle looks away from you, as if he can’t look you in the eyes anymore, “Well, almost all of them. My forefather, the priest here at the time, was weak and sentimental… and let one of them, the youngest, escape and continue the Kråkholme line.” Elijah takes a deep breath before looking back at you, “But that line is finally over, as in the end Edward managed to do something right. He finally ended that cursed family once and for all.” He looks down at the floor for a bit in complete silence, before his voice once again starts dripping with anger, “Of course, that doesn’t mean that there’s still madmen in this town who worship Bövel as some kind of dark messiah, but that is all they are, foolish madmen.”
>>
No. 1056730 ID: 15c72a

>>1056727
Hmmm... how far back can you trace the Knott family tree? Could it be that you are distantly related to one of the witches, and thus also a Kråkholme? Or maybe you're only related to them on the mother's side, not the father's... and thus avoided the curse, but have a connection to the family nevertheless.

Tell him even if it's not real, you would like for the necklace to be blessed, for your peace of mind. And if he really thinks the shopkeep cursed it, then that would surely foil his plans, right?

Once you get the blessing, tell him you have something to confess. Then tell him about the dream.
>>
No. 1056841 ID: e5709d

...Great. The town's head priest, who is unlikely to be a member of the cult due to his zealous fervor, is a homophobic terrorist who will likely try to murder your husband for having a bloodline consisting of latent schizophrenics. I bet he's also a racist, what with his specific disdain of crows.

Maybe you should take his advice. Sell the mansion and retire. But first, reflect his hostile rhetoric.

"You know something, Father? Take your own damn advice. You pointed a gun at a civilian (i.e. me), you accuse someone who happens to be a homosexual hobby shop owner of being a Satanist only to rationalize an evil heritage as some kind of mental illness (make up your mind), and most importantly, you refuse to take care of Sophia. She believes the town is cursed, same as you, but either she's afraid of you replacing her seed diet with an unhealthy dose of buckshot pellets, or you simply don't want a madwoman in need to take shelter in the lord's house. You have failed your religion. You hate it here, it makes you cruel, and if you had any sense, you'd hit the road and preach every day until you died of exhaustion. It'd be a miserable life - but screw the whole 'Hesus Wept' spiel; in purely practical terms, it'd be a better situation than the one you're currently wallowing in."
>>
No. 1056851 ID: 36784c

>>1056727
You should probably inform him that your husband inherited that manor because he was distantly related to someone.

Then tell him that if something is going to happen to your husband, you want to know what's going on so that you can save him!
>>
No. 1056852 ID: d57b3f

...Why does this guy think what should be categorized as 'moral failings/vices' type sins like homosexuality (at least in his worldview) are even something that bears notice when there are presumably actual monsters who will eat people (or their souls or minds or whatever) about? Isn't it both, yaknow, smart and actually policy in most Christian churches to not sweat that level of thing when there's a local massive crisis that's doing horrible things to people? Where's his perspective??
>>
No. 1056860 ID: 2a82d3

>>1056727
Has he stepped outside the church, recently or at all? He seems out of touch with rest of the town in a few ways.

>“Do not trust any of the poison he may speak, as he is nothing but a… a… a HOMOSEXUAL!” he put extra emphasis on that last word, uttering it so harshly that his spit flies all over the place,
You don't need to know about Sodom and Gomorrah to know that the church frowns upon ANY sex taken for pleasure, not just homosexuality. (No wonder you're not very religious: your marriage would suuuck.) There are two motives for a priest to zero in on it. For the sake of civility or diplomacy, you're going to take the kinder interpretation. Embrace your inner "male bonding enthusiast" or "amateur literary recreationist", and chalk up his "commitment to religious doctrine" as performative rather than prejudiced. If he's really no bigot in his heart, whether or not he's gay, he'd be more worked up about keeping up appearances to his colleaguesin the church rather than the thought of making friends with the gay man. You can snarkily reassure him about how unlikely any word about his tolerance will reach them, given how romote this town is.

>“If I only knew how to find that blasted shop of his, I’d give him such a stern talking to!”
This kind of sounds like a lover's spat, doesn't it?

>“That horrid monster seduced Edward and made off with that very necklace!” Elijah snarls, “Ensuring that his madness would take him, just like the others.” He looks away and shakes his head, and for the first time the anger leaves his voice, “No, that man is not to be trusted.”
Really? From what you can tell, Bernard is only gulity of selling possibly dubious artifacts, and seemed at least regretful about how things turned out.

Testimony aside, I assumed he seduced Edward to explain why it was sold to him despite being an effective source of protection. What if that's wrong? Consider instead if it was a trade of artifacts. Ed bet his life on whatever it was, but whatever it was didn't pan out given the apparent result. Of course, Eli would blame Bernard for the mess.

I think that holds up well enough on its's own, but what if the priest had recommended Edward to visit the shop in the first place? If he's in the closet, the shopkeeper had to be cagey and weird about the details to avoid outing him. Don't know why yet, but the Vatican wouldn't have approved of what they had to do.

>My forefather, the priest here at the time, was weak and sentimental… and let one of them, the youngest, escape and continue the Kråkholme line.
If that dream was remotely true, you should cast doubt on that. He let an innocent girl die than let the rot continue. Ethics of it aside, that takes conviction that's unlikely to falter at the last step.

Maybe the curse being about genetics is a red herring. Maybe the land itself curses its occupants to take the roles of the demons and witches.

Could your dream have been a message for him? If so, be careful about how he might interpret it.

>“But that line is finally over, as in the end Edward managed to do something right. He finally ended that cursed family once and for all.”
Better break the news to him gently. At minimum, ask him to put the gun down. Ideally, for your protection, you'll have him swear under God to not hurt you or your husband.

>“Of course, that doesn’t mean that there’s still madmen in this town who worship Bövel as some kind of dark messiah, but that is all they are, foolish madmen.”
Better tell him about the star in your (propetic?) dream. If that's a significant event for those cultists, that means it's coming up soon. No good can come crazy folk getting riled up in celebration, magic or no.
>>
No. 1056912 ID: 681cb5
File 167727082632.png - (93.87KB , 700x550 , 46.png )
1056912

>Hmmm... how far back can you trace the Knott family tree? Could it be that you are distantly related to one of the witches, and thus also a Kråkholme?
You’re pretty sure you have no rabbits or hares in your family line… not to mention, Chris’ ancestors are from Sweden while the Knott’s are from the British Isles. So no, you’re not related to them.
>Maybe you should take his advice. Sell the mansion and retire.
That was your first suggestion, but Chris wanted to at least try and live out here. One year, he said, and after that we can discuss moving back home again.
>This kind of sounds like a lover's spat, doesn't it?
…does it? Honestly, he sounds rather angry with Bernard…
>The Vatican wouldn't have approved of what they had to do.
Why would the Vatican care what a protestant priest does?


Belle: “You know something, Father, you’re rather rude.”
Elijah: “Bah! If you want to complain at least come inside.” he mutters as he gesture for you follow him, “You’re letting the cold in, woman. I have a fire going and a kettle on in the back, if you want some tea.”
Belle: “What I want to know is why you pointed a damn gun at me, just like that.”
Elijah: “I thought you were someone else…” he waves in the air, as if he can make your concern disappear, “Someone dangerous. No one really comes here unless they have ill will… or if it’s Sunday, of course.”
Belle: “...but is a shotgun really necessary?”
Elijah: “Look over there…” the turtle says as he points behind you, towards the broken window. You also notice that the area under it has clearly burned rather recently, as if someone lit a pool of oil on fire there. “A gift from them… some kind of bottle with flammable substance delivered through the window.” Elijah shakes his head a bit before continuing, “They got bold after Edward lost that necklace, not only trying to burn the church down, but also leaving rotting carcasses of animals outside it, using its blood to paint profane symbols.”
Belle: “…and you rather go after Bernard than these people? Or even the actual monsters that seems to be lurking here!?”
Elijah: “Monsters? Please, the only monsters around are us!” the turtle angrily spits out, “Just because some hunter saw a big bear in the woods, doesn’t mean it’s the thing kidnapping the children!”
Belle: “Huh? Kidnapped children?”
Elijah: “Haven’t you read todays paper?” Elijah ask, genuine surprised that you don’t know what he’s talking about, “But never mind that. Yes, I want to have these madmen arrested and stand trial, but I do not know who they are… while Bernard… well, I want to make sure he knows what he is doing is wrong, that all.”
Belle: “You are rather intolerant for a priest. I bet you’re racist too… what with your disdain for crows.”
Elijah: “While I admit I thought less of the Zebras and Rhinos in my youth, my travel to their continent changed that.” He stops and looks away in deep thought, “I journeyed there to enlighten them, but in the end they enlighten me…” then, as if something just hit him, Elijah turns to you in confusion, “Wait, why wouldn’t I care for crows?”
Belle: “You called the witches a coven of crows… and your treatment of Sophia.”
Elijah: “Bah! Who do you think keep that woman clothed, fed and warm? I do not have anything against her, even if she’s broken.” He shakes his head and sigh, “She didn’t take the miscarriage of Björn well… and when she figured out who his and Edward father was, she just broke.” The turtle puts his hand over his face and massages his temples for a bit, “And I didn’t mean literal crows! They were rabbits, all of them, and they were called the Coven of Crows because their magic used the feral birds, not the crow people. Now come, let us continue near the fire.”
>>
No. 1056913 ID: 681cb5
File 167727084098.png - (70.18KB , 700x550 , 47.png )
1056913

Entering a large room in the back of the church, you find yourself in a trophy hall, with the walls filled with the heads of exotic and dangerous animals, as well as several guns in all kind of forms and sizes. Elijah hangs his own shotgun on an empty plaque before moving over to the roaring fire in the hearth, feeding it a bit more wood to keep it strong. As he does, you can’t help but notice the massive elephant rifle handing on the mantel piece, its pristine ivory hilt sticking out like a sore thumb compared to the rest of the church.

Belle: “You know, if you hate it here, why don’t you just leave? Screw the whole 'Hissus Wept' spiel; I’m sure you would find yourself in a better situation than you're currently wallowing in.”
Elijah: “I would, yes… but this isn’t about me. There are still people in this town that deserve Hissus love and care, so I simply can’t leave, not yet.”

>You should probably inform him that your husband inherited that manor because he was distantly related to someone.
Belle: “I… do have something to tell you… though I need you to swear under god that you will not hurt me or my husband.”
Elijah: “…I can’t see why I would want to, lady, but as you wish. I swear in the name of Hissus, I mean you no harm.”
Belle: “We inherited the old mansion… and my husband is related to the Kråkholms.”
Elijah: “I already know that. Why would I want to hurt you because of some old house?”
Belle: “You said that the Kråkholme family line was cursed! …or at least had mental problems?”
Elijah: “…do your husband family have mental problems?”
Belle: “I don’t think so?”
Elijah: “Then you shouldn’t worry.” he calmly states while pouring a cup of tea for you, “I have researched the Kråkholme’s, so unless someone had a bastard child, Bövel’s line is dead and the disease with it. You can only inherit the blood if your part of the family line, after all.”

>Tell him even if it's not real, you would like for the necklace to be blessed, for your peace of mind. And if he really thinks the shopkeep cursed it, then that would surely foil his plans, right?
Elijah: “You do realize that I was being facetious when calling him a magician, right?” he grumbles a bit about young people before continuing, “He’s but a charlatan, a trickster and a thief. What he sells are simple parlor tricks, no matter what he says. He steals from people, either by sleight of hand or with that… silver tongue of his. That is why I dislike him… that and his… unnatural ways of ‘love’.”
Belle: “…still, the blessing?”
Elijah: “While I am a man of faith, I don’t believe it will help, as gods protection can’t be summoned by some mere ritual. It didn’t work the first time either, did it? No, I did the blessing simply to appease Anna… and give her hope. At least she died before she saw what Edward became…”

>Tell him about the dream.
Elijah: “A Father Thorn burned you alive?”
Belle: “Which happened in real life, didn’t it? I mean, not me, but those witches…”
Elijah: “Bah, you probably just saw the painting of it, the one that hangs in the mansion.”
Belle: “The only painting I saw was the one of Bövel… and those horrid eyes of his.”
Elijah: “Bövel does indeed spark that reaction in most people… but if you didn’t see the painting, then I’m sure you heard about it from somewhere. It was just a dream, nothing else.”
Belle: “…I saw the red star as well.”
Elijah: He stares into the fire in silence, letting you enjoy the rather bitter tea he gave you, “The red star is a myth, nothing more.”
Belle: “Is it really?”
Elijah: “If the greatest astrologist can’t find it, it doesn’t exist. Just because that old fart in the library says he saw it 38 years ago, doesn’t mean it’s there.”
Belle: “Even then, if this cult believes it’s coming back, they might grow even bolder.”
Elijah: Once again he gets lost in the dancing flames, his expression frozen in concern. You’re sure you can hear him muttering something about ‘return for his blood’ under his breath, but the sounds from the fires makes it hard to be certain. After a long, silent minute he finally states, “Very well… I’ll bless that trinket of yours. Leave it here with me for today and I’ll give it back to you tomorrow, when the sun is as highest.”
>>
No. 1056914 ID: 1e3b78

You'd think language would develop a separate short term for the feral version of an animal and the people who resemble that animal. Sigh. Why does English have to suck so much?
>>
No. 1056939 ID: dee951

...

Is that a scope on a blunderbuss??

Also, aren't some of those feral animals protected species?
>>
No. 1056943 ID: 15c72a

>>1056913
Thank him for believing you, and hand it over.
Let's hope it won't be too late...
>>
No. 1056957 ID: dee951

So what can you tell me about this cult or the criminal element that seems to be infesting this town? Does this town have some kind of drug or local contaminant that causes the weird red eyes? Maybe that's being covered up by rumors of the supernatural?
>>
No. 1056972 ID: 15a025

Thank him, at least for some peace of mind. Hand over the necklace.
>>
No. 1056976 ID: 2a82d3

>>1056912
>Why would the Vatican care what a protestant priest does?
Probably nothing, but it is a worrying sign of how strong his Faith is that his goto item for scaring heathens isn't his Cross. He must have took what happened at the mansion hard. Was he there at the incident? Did he have to visit the Asylum because of it?

Now that I say it, it might not be a good idea to lend your pendant to him at the moment. It's helping you a lot right now. What's he going to do to it? Leave it in the closet until solar apex? Can't you visit him tomorrow instead?
>>
No. 1057006 ID: f2320a

>>1056913
Snake jesus makes alot of sense with a cross and the feral talking snake in eden draws some interesting connectiond
>>
No. 1057010 ID: 1cf7fb

>>1057006
Doesn't modern scholership say that his species was probably something else entirely, like the goat or donkey people native to the region and most likely to make up the relevant tribes?
>>
No. 1057071 ID: 681cb5
File 167754697369.png - (59.03KB , 700x550 , 48.png )
1057071

>Is that a scope on a blunderbuss?
That’s clearly a hunting rifle of some kind…
>Doesn't modern scholarship say that Hissus species was probably something else entirely, like the goat or donkey people native to the region and most likely to make up the relevant tribes?
Nooo? That he was a snake is well known fact… but people do argue what kind of snake he was. After all, the common adder probably wasn’t that common down in the middle east, where they?


>Aren't some of those feral animals protected species?
Elijah: “Indeed they are… but they weren’t back when I was young. I was more of a fool back then… still, removing these won’t change that, will it?”
>So what can you tell me about this cult or the criminal element that seems to be infesting this town?
Elijah: “I do not know how big it is… or who is part of it, but the cult is dangerous. While they haven’t killed someone yet, they have tried their best to destroy both me and my church… and succeeded in burning down some homes of people not sharing their faith.” The turtle pokes the flames a few times with a fire poker before continuing, “I’ve seen them perform profane blood sacrifices with animals they’ve caught, as well as sacrilegious rituals in the deep woods, dancing naked under the stars to appease whatever monstrous sky deity they worship.”
Belle: “…and people like that wolf? Miller I think his name was?”
Elijah: “Dick Miller? He’s just some lowlife thug, nothing more. There are rumors that he’s smuggling something down at the harbor, but seeing how the Arkham’s finest haven’t arrested him yet, it can’t be anything too dangerous. It wouldn’t surprise me if he was part of the cult either; as bullies like him do congregate to such company.”
>Does this town have some kind of drug or local contaminant that causes the weird red eyes?
Elijah: “Those red eyes have been in this town’s history since it was founded, but I cannot say why or how. There was this other lady that was asking about the same thing, who thought there was some kind of mushroom growing nearby that might cause it?”
Belle: “And what lady might that have been?”
Elijah: “I can’t remember her name, but she was some kind of archeologist. I do know for a fact that her father has been trying to get the rights to start several archeological digs around these parts, but the Kråkholme has been rather keen at stopping him.” Elijah looks over at you with a coy little smile, “Though, seeing as you now own the land, she’s come here to do what her father failed to do. You’ll probably find her at the town hall, if you want to speak with her.”

>He must have taken what happened at the mansion hard. Was he there at the incident? Did he have to visit the Asylum because of it?
Elijah: “I did indeed fault myself for what happened to poor Julia and her children…” Elijah shakes his head solemnly, “That I somehow failed Edward and his family. But no, I wasn’t there… no one was… no one but those blood rimmed eyes…”
>What's he going to do to the amulet? Leave it in the closet until solar apex? Can't you visit him tomorrow instead?
Elijah: “The ritual will take all night, at least if I am to recreate it as I did before.”
Belle: “Can you give me some details, maybe?”
Elijah: “I will anoint it in divine snake fat before leaving it soaking in holy water under the watchful eye of Hissus, surrounded by hallowed incense and sacred texts while righteous psalms are sung from a nearby stereo. As I don’t know what made it work last time, I will simply have to try and follow in my old footsteps as best I can.” He sighs loudly, “To be honest, though, I don’t believe it was the amulet that kept him safe and banished those horrid nightmares of his, but simply the fact that he thought he was protected by the amulet. It was just a placebo, nothing else.”

>Hand over the necklace.
Belle: “Thank you for believing in me, Father Elijah…” your voice shakily tells the turtle as you remove the amulet from your neck, “and thank you for at least giving me some peace of mind.”
Elijah: “It is my duty to help those in need, nothing more.” he calmly states as he raises his arm towards you.
Belle: You hesitate for a long moment as the necklace hangs from your hand, before you finally get the courage to drop it into the priests palm, “Here… be careful with it.”
Elijah: “I will, trust me Belle.”
>>
No. 1057072 ID: 681cb5
File 167754698245.png - (82.49KB , 700x550 , 49.png )
1057072

After saying your goodbyes to the rather peculiar priest, you make your way outside into the fresh sea air once again, leaving the stench of death behind you. Passing the portal into the light, it feels like the opposite has happened, that you’ve gone from the warm safety of those old halls into the cold dangers of Crowmoor. Looking up, you can only see the storm clouds gathering… you better hurry if you don’t want to be caught by it.

Your hand shakes a little as you fish up your phone, making it harder than it should be to navigate to your husband’s number. You just need to hear his voice, to know everything will be alright…

>Let's hope it won't be too late...
Walking past the gate to the church grounds, the feeling of nausea hits you as you can’t help but worry that what you just did was wrong… that what you just did forced you onto a path that you don’t want to walk down. Still, you can’t be certain, can you? This might be the right path, the path that allows you to get your happy ending, even as the shadow of this place tries to smother you. Either way, your choice is made, and you have to live with it. This is the path you have chosen… and you can only hope it was the right one.

Yet you can’t shake the feeling that something is wrong… very wrong…
>>
No. 1057073 ID: 681cb5
File 167754699199.gif - (469.13KB , 1200x514 , 50.gif )
1057073

As you look out over the overgrown forest just across the street of the church, you finally realize what’s bothering you… or the lack of something, to be more precise.

There aren’t any birds singing anymore… nor can you hear the seagulls at the harbor. The small sounds of life, the movements in the underbrush and the rustle of the leaves, all of it… gone. Even the town is completely silent. It is as everything and everyone has just… disappeared... and you’re now all alone. Staring into the thicket you get the feeling that the world is frozen, as even the wind has ceased, ensuring that everything is still and quiet. The hairs on your neck stands up as you’re completely consumed by the deafening silence, your heartbeat speeding up as you look around in a panic for anyone, anything that still lives! You need to calm down… call your husband and meet up with him for lunch… breathe, Belle, breathe… there is no-

DID SOMETHING JUST MOVE!?
>>
No. 1057076 ID: 15c72a

The Bear. Except, it's not a bear at all. Too many hands... well, it just left.

Call your husband. Keep an eye on the forest, stay away from the treeline.
>>
No. 1057451 ID: 15a025

>>1057073
Retreating back into the church might be smart. Call your husband once your back inside.
>>
No. 1057453 ID: dee951

>>1057073

Go back into the church, tell the Priest that there is a large animal of some kind lurking in the trees, and you fear for your safety!
>>
No. 1057799 ID: 681cb5
File 167823363358.png - (97.42KB , 700x700 , 51.png )
1057799

>The Bear. Except, it's not a bear at all. Too many hands...
…w-what… what was that thing? It had to have been a bear, right? Those arms had t-to be just a trick of the light… o-or just some branches, right? RIGHT!? It’s… gone… yeah, it was just a bear and it’s… gone…
>Keep an eye on the forest, stay away from the treeline.
You c-can’t keep your eyes off it anymore… you can’t h-help yourself but to scan the forest for any kind of moment... and keeping your e-ears open in c-case of something… anything breaking this god forsaken silence!

>Call your husband.
With shaking hands, you almost drop your phone into the mud as you press the call button for your husband’s profile. The sound of it calling does give you some respite from the deafening quiet that smothers everything around you.

…it is still ringing...

…why isn’t he picking up?
...Chris, pick up… Chris… p-please… just p-

The crack of a broken branch makes you focus on the thicket again, and this time you can see something looking back. A singular eye, blue as the sky, is staring right at you... and you stand there, frozen, as if time itself has stopped…

>Retreating back into the church might be smart.
You run. You run as fast as you can, not daring to look back, even as you slip on the mud and fall to your knees. Behind you, you can hear several trees get ripped from their roots as something massive crashes through them, splashing into the mud and clawing itself through it at an alarming speed. You are certain someone… something is trying to grip your foot as you finally manage to get back on your feet, only missing by a few millimeters as you feel its cold hand brush past you. Practically jumping at the door, you bang on it while screaming your lungs out for help, while whatever that’s behind you giggles in an voice of an innocent child, as if it’s got you right where it wants you. The priest doesn’t come, forcing you to turn around and face the horrible abomination that is chasing you!
>>
No. 1057800 ID: 681cb5
File 167823364331.png - (88.98KB , 700x550 , 52.png )
1057800

And there is nothing there. Nothing. No prints in the mud… no cracked branches or disturbed flora… not even a sound. Just… nothing. Did… did you just imagine it? Surely, that can’t have been real… r-right?

Finally, Chris picks up the phone, sending a wave of relief through your body as you finally hear his voice again…

Chris: “Hi, hun!” you can hear the bunny’s static sounding voice through phone, “Sorry, but I was so engrossed in this book that I missed your call, but-”
Belle: “Chris!” you yell, interrupting him, “Chris, please… I… I need you… I…” the swallow, trying your best keep the tears away, “Can… c-can you meet me at the church, Chris?”
Chris: “Um… of course, bluebell! Is something the matter? You sound… a bit shaken?”
Belle: “Just hurry… I… there was this bear and…”
Chris: “Say no more, I’m on my way!”

The sound of a man talking can be heard in the background of the call, saying something that’s clearly aimed at Chris.

Chris: “Huh? Oh, right the book! Here you go!” once again the unknown man’s voice can be heard, “Right, right, I’ll sign the register that I’ve returned it, don’t worry…” the scribbling of an old pen or equally old paper fills the air before Chris voice returns, “There we go... now, I’ll be right over, Belle.”
Belle: “Don’t hang up… I want to hear your voice, Chris.”
Chris: “Oh, of course! I can talk while I walk… though, is anything on your mind?”
Belle: “I just need someone to talk to… about anything… like… what was that book about?”
Chris: “Oh, nothing important, it was just some book.” he quickly changes the subject, “But I can tell you about the meeting! It went super well!”

You let out a sigh of relief, feeling the adrenaline slowly leave your system as your body finally calm down. Looking over at the forest, you spot a small squirrel climb up one of the trees… and from somewhere deeper in the woods you can hear a bird sing. Even one of the crows returns to the church roof, cawing as it lands in its nest. You just imagined it, right? It was just the stress of this place getting to you, that’s all… … …r-right?
>>
No. 1057801 ID: 681cb5
File 167823365161.png - (149.09KB , 700x550 , 53.png )
1057801

“The old ways” - Emerik K 1876
>>
No. 1057802 ID: 681cb5
File 167823366479.png - (84.27KB , 700x550 , 54.png )
1057802

Chris: “…you know, we can’t snuggle in front of the fire all day, Bluebell.”
Belle: “Watch me, Sunflower.”

The next few hours after that horrid incident at the church passes quickly, as if your very mind is trying to run away from the experience. Your beloved hubby promptly made his way to you, and the two of you ran back to the house as the coming storm started pelting you with its rain. Well home, neither of you waste any time before getting to work, yourself boiling some sausages for lunch while Chris goes down in the basement and fixes the fuses. Luckily, the entrance to the cellar is right in the kitchens, so you can keep an eye on him the whole time. After that… the two of you just relax… listening to the storm outside as you enjoy the heat of the fireplace.

Chris: “I know you’ve had it stressful, dear, but I have stretch my legs at least.”
Belle: “Mmm… but what are we supposed to do? There’s a storm raging outside…”
Chris: “Well, I’m sure there’s a bunch we can do in here!” the rabbit in your grasp scratches himself between his ears, “Like… I don’t know… explore our new home? Or read today’s news? Oh, speaking of reading, there’s supposedly a library somewhere in here, which is bound to have books about the history of Crowmoor, if you’re interested?” he moves his hand downwards a bit until it’s in front of his snout, clearly thinking about something, “Or… we can just start going through our stuff and set up either the TV or the computer?”
Belle: “Hmm… I don’t know…”
Chris: “…I bet an old house like this have a bunch of secret doors and corridors, Belle.”
Belle: “Like in the movies? That’s not very likely, Chris.”
Chris: “Well, I for one is going to check…”

Chris starts to wiggle himself out of your grasp, leaving the warm safety of the blanket behind as he returns to the world of Crowmoor. It seems you have to follow him… even if you rather stay here forever, safe beneath the cloth in front of the raging fire.

…the sound of faraway thunder echoes through the house… and somewhere, a clock chimes three times.

[Inventory:]
Torch
Old Photo album
Oil lamp
Spice blend
Garlic
Your Wedding ring
>>
No. 1057825 ID: 15c72a

>>1057801
There's a red eye in that sky.

>>1057802
Alright, follow him, but discourage him looking into the history too much. Warn him that you are very sure now that there is some kind of family curse and him finding out more about it might make it worse. But he needn't worry, you've got something in the works that will protect him, once it's ready.
Read the day's news. Then start unpacking.

So, what was that book he bought?
>>
No. 1057833 ID: e9ef46

>>1057802
Hold hands. You'll not need to waste time finding each other in the event of a power outage, you can't get separated if there are any secrets within this place, and physical affection of any kind can help with stressful situations. Also, it's just plain cute when you do.
>>
No. 1057901 ID: c28082

>>1057802

Cuddle tiny husband for just a few more moments, then go searching for secret passages. Failing that, the library, since it seems the lights are working again so you needn't read by candlelight.
>>
No. 1058013 ID: 0e67e7

>>1057825

Even if the curse isn't real, some of that history might be very distressing and disturbing to learn about, for both of you. Such things are important to learn only in a more wholesome and uplifting context, to help mitigate those effects, unless the knowledge is urgently needed!

Start tapping everything and everywhere, listening with cups, looking for hollow things that shouldn't be hollow. That will be fun!
>>
No. 1058147 ID: 681cb5
File 167849668844.png - (45.91KB , 700x550 , 55.png )
1058147

Belle: “Come here!” you grab your tiny hubby and pull him closer, forcing him into your embrace.
Chris: “Oh come on, Belle!” he chuckles as he give a token effort to escape, “We can cuddle later.”
Belle: “But we can cuddle now too!” you giggle, refusing to let him out of your grasp.

>So, what was that book he bought?
Chris: “Huh? What book?” he looks genuine confused for a second before exclaiming, “Oh! You mean the one I mentioned on the phone!” Chris shakes his head a bit before continuing, “Actually, I was just at the library, not a book store. Did you know that they had a special archive for really old books!?”
Belle: “…but what book were you reading?”
Chris: “Nothing interesting, just a book about old local myths and legends.” he wave his hand in the air as he speaks, “You know, scary stories, nothing more.”
Belle: “Uh huh…” that’s odd… Chris is usually rather eager to gush about things like this… it’s one of the reason why you fell in love with him, after all. That, and that he loves to listen when you do the same.

While you keep on cuddling your hubby a bit longer, you take the time to visualize the floor plan of the house.
Second Floor:
A: The Master bedroom, where you slept last night.
B: The main corridor.
C: One of those pull down stairs leading to the attic. (Unexplored)
?: There’s also two doors you have no idea what they contain. One of them must be the library!
First Floor:
D: The foyer and front door.
E: The room with that horrid painting and fireplace.
F: A gallery with several large paintings that’s been covered. (Unexplored)
G: The dining hall. (Unexplored)
H: The kitchen, with the stairs to the cellar as well as a door out to the back garden.
I: A storage room with all kinds of junk. It’s not important.
Cellar:
J: The main cellar room, with everything from the fuse box, washing machines, freezers and the boiler.
?: There was a door down there as well, according to Chris. Didn’t this place have a wine cellar, if you remember correctly?
>>
No. 1058148 ID: 681cb5
File 167849669875.png - (176.38KB , 1550x550 , 56.png )
1058148

The two of you decide to go look for the library, while searching for any secret passages that might be on the way. Holding hands, you take turns knocking on most surfaces you walk pass, as well as moving some off the paintings to the side to see if anything is hidden behind them, but in the end you come up empty. Guessing that the library is on the second floor, you start to check behind the doors you’ve yet explored, though only finding a completely empty room behind the first one. It’s rather creepy, actually, as it seems like someone removed the wallpapers in a hurry, only leaving a few pieces of it still stuck on the walls… and there’s this large spot on the floor that’s discolored, as if it’s been cleaned way too hard. You can’t shake the feeling that something horrid happened here…
Going through the second door, you do indeed find the library, which makes both you and your husband stop in awe. This place is huge! Probably even bigger than some of the apartments you’ve lived in! How are you even supposed to find anything in here? Still, the two of you start to explore, taking your time to look over the place. You find out that the door leads to an office, and that there doesn’t seem to be any secret passages in here, at least as far as you can hear. There is a strange humming though, coming from somewhere near the door.

Belle: “You know, Sunflower… maybe we shouldn’t read into your history too much.” You whisper as you give his hand a little squeeze, “It might make the curse worse, you know.”
Chris: “You needn’t worry, Bluebell.” he squeezes you back, “We both know that this curse isn’t real.”
Belle: “Still, I’ve gotten you something that will protect you, but it isn’t ready yet, love.”
Chris: “Belle, while I am grateful, don’t you think you’re a bit to… well, superstitious?”
Belle: “Better safe than sorry.”
Chris: “I guess…”
Belle: “Besides, even if the curse isn’t real, some of that history might be rather distressing to read… or outright disturbing!” you look down at him, and you can see in his eyes that he knows you’re worried, “Maybe we should wait for a better time to explore your past? When things are more… calm?”
Chris: “I understand your concern, hun…” he picks up your other hand and holds both of them in front of him, giving them a final squeeze as he calmly states, “But I really want to know about this part of my family, so please, trust me Belle.”
Belle: “…if this is what you want, Chris.” …where do you even start at trying to find anything in this place?

>Read the day's news.
You made sure to grab today’s paper before coming upstairs, just in case that old priest was right about something important being written in it. Let’s see… Arkham News, Friday the 2nd of October 1998… the front page story is about a Jonathan Greer, 8 years old, that was abducted from his home in Crowmoor. According to this, he’s the latest victim of a series of abductions in the Arkham area that stretches back for years, one every sixth months or so, and the Arkham police believes it’s the work of a single perpetrator. It seems that they’d hoped to prove that Edward Kråkholme was behind these kidnappings, but was never able to find any concrete proof. Though, seeing how the kidnappings continued after his suicide, it seems that any lingering suspicions might have been cleared up. The article is accompanied by a picture of a rather cute possum boy, who you assume is Jonathan Greer. Geez, that’s kind of creepy…
>>
No. 1058150 ID: 273c18

>>1058148
Is that an occult book written in blood sitting on that stand? Maybe you should go look at it before Chris gets a chance. See if it's safe.
>>
No. 1058177 ID: e5709d

One book in particular seems tarnished with red specks. Look at what's inside.
>>
No. 1058285 ID: 15a025

>"You know, scary stories, nothing more."
Maybe it's just he sees you've been pretty spooked here lately, and doesn't want to further spook ya.

As for the books, there's a pretty demonic looking one on that pedestal. What's that one all about?
>>
No. 1058365 ID: 681cb5
File 167866421012.png - (115.37KB , 700x550 , 57.png )
1058365

>Maybe it's just he sees you've been pretty spooked here lately, and doesn't want to further spook ya.
…that sounds very much like something he would do, isn’t it? He knows you’ve been stressed ever since you got here, so he probably just don’t want make things worse. Still… you get this feeling you really want to know which book he was reading… perhaps there’s a way to figure that out without Chris telling you?

The first thing you spot is a large tome sitting on a stand, seemingly written in blood. As Chris walks further into the room to see what’s left on the tables, you take the time to go and look at it before he sees it, just in case it isn’t safe.

As you start to turn the old, crumpling pages you notice that it’s written in red ink and not blood, which is a relief, followed by how ancient this old tome seems to be. The words “The Compleat Manual of Wardes and Seales” adores the front, with the name “Inconnu Écrivain” right under it, which you assume is the author.

Essentially, it's a textbook on the theory and practice of “magickal” wards and seals, mystic symbols inscribed on doors and containers in order to keep people and spirits out… or in. It's all very deliberately vague and arcane (in addition to being written in medieval French and translated into Middle English, making it nearly impossible to understand, if the forewords is to be trusted).

You are surprised to find that a page in this old and probably quite valuable tome has been folded down, as though to mark the place. The section marked discusses various methods of opening doors that have been sealed with the image of a pagan god or otherworldly beings. Speaking aloud the deity's true name will usually do the trick, apparently.

Huh… you guess this count as occult, though not the kind you were expecting. Seems harmless enough, you guess?
>>
No. 1058366 ID: 681cb5
File 167866422562.png - (148.72KB , 700x550 , 58.png )
1058366

>One book in particular seems tarnished with red specks. Look at what's inside.
From the corner of your eye, you spot a very odd looking book on the shelf right next to the door. It seems to be covered in… rust? Moving closer, you can see that it’s not only rust, but that the book itself is made of metal. You’d guess that, going by the few specks of paint still left on it, that it used to look a lot more like a normal book but the ravages of time hasn’t been kind to it.

Grabbing hold of it, you try your best to pull it out but it appears stuck. Putting more and more strength into it, you can finally feel it move slightly, and with a sickly sounding groan the metal book slides out from its position only for it to stop right before you can pull it out completely. The chirring and scraping continues for a few seconds before you hear one of the wooden panels on the bookshelf move beneath you, revealing a secret compartment with two items inside it.

The first item is some kind of flute carved from bone that is… vibrating? It’s the source of the humming you heard earlier, but as you reach out towards it, it stops. Did you just imagine it moving? As you pull it out to get a better look at it, you can feel that it’s actually made from some sort of metal and not bone, though it’s also strangely warm to your touch…

The second item is a puzzle box carved from fine wood and painted with what used to be vibrant colors, now muted with age. It has all kind of strange symbols and markings on it, which significances you don’t have a single clue about… if they even have one.

Throwing a glance over your shoulder, you can see your hubby going through a small box in the other end of the room, completely oblivious of your find.
>>
No. 1058367 ID: 273c18

>>1058366
Take the items, keep them hidden for now. We can reveal them tomorrow once Chris has the amulet. Probably best not to mess with either of them until we know what they are.

Actually, hmm, I guess you can't hide the box on your person. Might have to simply close the hidden compartment... oh hey, a lockbox. I wonder where the key is.
>>
No. 1058515 ID: bf8710

Show him you found a secret compartment with a puzzle box inside (you may or may not hide the flute). Say it triumphantly, like the discovery lifted your spirits. Secret passages are fun!
>>
No. 1058517 ID: e5709d

Get a high-tech safe, stuff every secret you find in there.
>>
No. 1058527 ID: 67965f

>>1058517

Those are expensive! You have to carefully install them in a sturdy part of a room and everything. Not like gun safes, which can usually be opened with a straw!
>>
No. 1058543 ID: 681cb5
File 167882686103.png - (84.66KB , 700x550 , 59.png )
1058543

>Get a high-tech safe, stuff every secret you find in there.
While finding a good place to store all this is important, how would you even go about getting a safe all the way out here? You don’t have a car at the moment, remember? Or the time to go anywhere…
>oh hey, a lockbox. I wonder where the key is.
Why, it’s right there! You can’t help but sqwee a bit as it’s a perfect fit for the lock, letting you open it up with a big smile on the face… only to find an old dried up inkwell and a cracked fountain pen. Geez, what a letdown…


Should you even show these items to Chris? They might be dangerous… but then again, he’s your husband… it really doesn’t feel good to hide things from him, does it? With a sigh, you slip down the odd flute into your pocket, but before you can do the same with the cube, you hesitate. It’s just a toy cube, right? How dangerous can it be? Not to mention, you really want to show off this kickass secret compartment and it would be a real downer if it was just empty.

Belle: “Hey, Chris, check this out!” you call out, making your rabbit husband turn around excitingly.
Chris: “Huh? What did you find, Bluebell?”
Belle: “Behold! A CUBE!” you bellow, as you hold up the colorful wooden cube for him to see!
Chris: “Dear god…” he mutters in response…
Belle: “There’s more…”
Chris: “No…”
Belle: “It’s a puzzle cube!”
Chris: “That has to be the cubiest cube I’ve ever cubed!”
Belle: “Oh, and I found it in this secret compartment here.” you tell him as you point behind yourself, which makes him even more excited.
Chris: “Wow, now that’s actually interesting! I knew this place had some secrets tucked away! Good find, Belle!” he looks you in the eye and gives you a sly smile, “Or should I say, Tomb Raider Knott, hmm?”
Belle: “Aw, it was nothing, Chris, anyone could have found it…” you wave a bit in the air as if you should chase away his praise, before looking over at the table the rabbit just left, “Speaking of finding, anything interesting in that box?”
Chris: “Just some old newspaper articles… and an old map of the house. Look them over if you want, bluebell.”
Belle: “Why, I just might, Sunflower.”

As you make your way towards the table, Chris reaches up towards the cube and out of pure habit you give it to him.
>>
No. 1058545 ID: 681cb5
File 167882692493.png - (122.19KB , 700x550 , 60.png )
1058545

The first thing your eyes are drawn too is the blueprint of the house, which someone have written “Where is the dome” on. What Dome? Well, at least your mental map was correct, for the most part… though, you can’t help but feel something is off with this map…

Then, looking over the cut out articles, you find that most of them are about missing children. Headlines such as “Have you seen me?” and “Missing: Name and age” seems to keep popping up every sixth months or so, just like todays paper said. There’s also an article about the police finding the bones of a child in the woods just outside Arkham, which has apparently been gnawed on by some large beast. How horrid. Leaving these depressing cutouts, you let your attention wander to some of the other articles.

RESPECTED PHYSICIAN RETIRES UNEXPECTEDLY (Maj 18, 1960)
Dr. Corbin, a respected obstetrician at Arkham Sisters of Mercy Hospital for the last 20 years, announced her retirement yesterday to a stunned Board of Directors. She gave no reason for her unexpected decision. "I am truly stunned," said Bernard Talbot, Chairman of the Board. "No one saw this coming. No one." A source within the hospital who wished to remain anonymous ascribed the doctor's abrupt departure to a nervous breakdown, something that has not been confirmed by any of Dr. Corbin’s colleagues. Dr. Corbin was most well known outside the medical circles for her part of the mysterious miscarriage of Anne Kråkholme son, Björn, a very bloody affair that happened six years ago.

ANTHROPOLOGIST TURNED AWAY IN PROPERTY DISPUTE (Jan 11, 1997)
Prominent anthropologist Dr. Rebis repeated attempts to secure permission to set up an
archeological dig in nearby Crowmoor came to an end yesterday when she lost her suit against the Kråkholme Estate. The case has been pending for over six months.
Last week, Kråkholme's lawyers presented conclusive evidence of prior ownership, and the judge quickly ruled in their favor. Dr. Rebis hoped to discover relics of the little-known Misquat Indian culture, which is believed to have inhabited this area centuries prior to European settlement. Rebis called the decision "a travesty".

CONFLAGRATION CLAIMS SLAUGHTERHOUSE – AGAIN (Jul 7, 1987)
Arkham firefighters worked late into the night yesterday, battling a blaze that brought Crowmoor historic slaughterhouse to the ground despite their best efforts. The slaughterhouse, which provides jobs for roughly one-thirds of the town's population, caught fire yesterday around 4:00 pm. Although there have been rumors of an explosion, the exact cause of the fire remains unknown, though the police suspect foul play. “There is evidence of chemical burns that are inconsistent with the purpose of the building” fire inspector Donald Brown says, “There’s metal fused with metal in there… it’s all messed up!” Interestingly, this is not the first time the Crowmoor Slaughterhouse has burned. The original building was built by Sigmund Kråkholme in the latter part of the 17th century, and historical records indicate that it burned down during the civil war, where some still hold that it was burned down by Union sympathizers. The current slaughterhouse was rebuilt in 1874 by Sigmund's grandson, Rev. Emerik Kråkholme.

Belle: “Any luck with the puzzle cube?” you ask as you turn away from the newspaper clippings.
Chris: “…yeah, no, I have no idea what you’re supposed to do with this thing. It just keeps resetting itself.”
Belle: “Resetting itself?”
Chris: “After either pressing some of these buttons or turning the sides, everything just slide back as it where when you started.” as if it wanted to provide an example, the cube whirrs quietly as it turns back into its original positions, “There’s clearly something inside it, but I have no idea how to get it open…” Chris continues, shaking the cube a bit so that you can hear something moving inside, before handing it over to you, “Welp, tried my best… here.”

So… you found a strange flute and an even stranger cube… but what do you do with them? How do you get the cube open? And what is so important that you not only hide it in a secret compartment, but also inside a puzzle cube? The more you find out about this Crowmoor town, the stranger it gets.

[Inventory:]
Strange Flute
Puzzle Box
Torch
Old Photo album
Oil lamp
Spice blend
Garlic
Your Wedding ring
>>
No. 1058547 ID: 273c18

>>1058545
I would suggest not trying too hard to open the cube.

>>1058545
>what dome?
The yellow dome you can see from outside.
I'd suggest taking the blueprints and walking around inside the house to see if it matches the rooms. Also, that marked off space on the second floor is suspicious. I'd guess it's a secret room with a stairwell to the roof. You can confirm that by looking in the attic-- if there's a stairwell that goes up you should be able to see the walled off structure from inside the attic.
>>
No. 1058647 ID: 495b83

Hm, if you blow into the flute, does the box react?
>>
No. 1058966 ID: 681cb5
File 167916774667.png - (83.80KB , 700x550 , 61.png )
1058966

>The yellow dome you can see from outside.
Oh right, that dome. What was it O’mally said? It’s some kind of observatory? Odd that it isn’t on the map though… maybe it was built after this blueprint was made?
>I'd suggest taking the blueprints and walking around inside the house to see if it matches the rooms.
Belle: “Chris, love…” you reach out and scratch the rabbit behind his ear, ”would you mind checking something for me?”
Chris: “Oh? What is it, bluebell?” Chris happily chirps as he looks up at you excitingly, “Have you found more secrets?”
Belle: “I might have, sunflower…” you give him the map and point towards the door, “can you take this map and check out the corridor outside the library? Something seems off…" leaning in closer to him, you point towards a certain spot on the map, “especially this area, the one that’s marked oddly next to the stairs.”
Chris: “Why, now that is suspicious!” with his heels against each other, he gives you quick salute, “I’ll go check at once! Come check on me in a minute, okay?”
Belle: “Will do, love.”

>Hm, if you blow into the flute, does the box react?
After making sure that your hubby has left the room completely, you put the odd metal bone flute against your lips and blow… but it doesn’t make a sound? Then, when you try covering one of the holes it starts to vibrate, humming quietly. Each hole makes it vibrate slightly different... but you can’t really hear anything from it? Maybe it’s like a dog whistle? Either way, the cube remains inert, no matter how hard you blow.
>I would suggest not trying too hard to open the cube.
Hmm… it’s clear there’s no way you can brute force this thing anyway… so let’s leave it be until you can either find some instructions, someone who knows what this is or come up with a creative way to crack this thing. Putting both the cube and the flute in your pocket, you leave the library to go see how Chris is doing.

Belle: “How did it go?” you ask him, as he stands staring at the wall right outside the library, “Have you found anything yet?”
Chris: “I believe I have, Belle… though, that area next to the stairs…” he gestures towards the other side of the corridor, “The one you wanted me to check, turns out it’s marked like that because there’s nothing there. As in, you can look right down into the foyer on the first floor.”
Belle: “Oh, that’s right… but you’ve found something else?”
Chris: “Well, look here…” he shows you the map and point where the two of you are standing, “Can you see it?”
Belle: “…there’s supposed to be another door right across the one leading to the library…”
Chris: “Yet… there’s just a wall there now…”
>>
No. 1058967 ID: 681cb5
File 167916775451.png - (23.76KB , 700x550 , 62.png )
1058967

You reach out and touch the old wallpaper, letting your hand caress its uneven surface as you slowly pull it downwards… and then, your hand snags on something, pulling off a bit of it and revealing… old plaster? Isn’t this house supposed to have wooden walls?

Chris: “Listen…” Chris says as he knocks on the wall, creating a rather non-descript knock sound, but as he moves over a few feet and knocks again, the sound changes ever so slightly, “Whatever is behind this wallpaper is not the same stuff the rest of the walls are made off.”
Belle: “So… there’s a secret room behind this wall…”
Chris: “But how do we get inside?”
Belle: “…I think I got an idea…”
Chris: “No, Belle, we can’t just use a sledge hammer to knock the wall down.”
Belle: “Aw, come on Chris…”

Maybe he’s right… maybe there’s a better way to get inside this mysterious room?
>>
No. 1058968 ID: 273c18

>>1058967
Well, you can first see if there's any protrusions in the wall. Maybe the plaster IS the door, opened via secret switch, and you only have to cut the paper away where the seam is? Or maybe the seam is so small you can't see it. Also you could check the attic to see if there's an entrance from above.

If the room is actually sealed up and there's no way inside, then... maybe you should leave it that way. There's other places to explore, like the crypt.
>>
No. 1058970 ID: e5709d

Since you're planning to open up this wall, tear off the wallpaper so you have easier access.
>>
No. 1058977 ID: dee951

Tap around the the various walls that bound the entrance to the room, listening for differences in sound. Not all secret doors are powered, like with a tiny little easy to move lever that starts a motor somewhere that moves a huge heavy door or something; sometimes you have to push and pull hard on a heavily weighted door that's just camouflaged or behind things! Try moving the furniture or carpet, and look and listen for discrepancies!
>>
No. 1058997 ID: 15a025

Oh! Maybe we need to say the name of that deity from the book. You wouldn't happen to know that, would you?
>>
No. 1059367 ID: 681cb5
File 167960716648.png - (57.36KB , 700x550 , 63.png )
1059367

>Well, you can first see if there are any protrusions in the wall.
Letting your hands travel over the wallpaper, you can feel that there is a slight unevenness under it, as if it’s being stretched over something that’s sticking slightly out from the wall. Following it with your finger, you realize rather quickly it’s the shape of a doorframe. There’s definitely a door of some kind behind here.
>Since you're planning to open up this wall, tear off the wallpaper so you have easier access.
You start to tear off the paper, finding what you believe is the hidden doorframe underneath it, but Chris stops you before can reveal it completely.
Chris: “Take it easy, Bluebell.” the rabbit put his paw on your arm, ”After all, we don’t want to be forced to put up new wallpaper, do we?”
Belle: “But… there’s definitely something under here, Sunflower.”
Chris: “I didn’t mean we should stop completely. All I’m saying is that I can go get a knife and we can cut it out. No need to damage the wallpaper any more than we need to, right?”
Belle: “That does make sense.” you put the palm of your hand against the wall, pushing slightly on it as if the plaster might move at any moment, “You know… maybe this is the door? There might be a secret switch somewhere close by that open it?”
Chris: “No, I don’t think so… it’s clear whoever made this plaster didn’t want this door to ever open again.” he lean in closer, looking at the seam near the doorframe, “Look, I think there’s a normal door under all this as well…”

Belle: “Hmm, you know, I read this interesting book in the library.” you say as you rub your chin, “What did it say again? If a door has been sealed by the image of a pagan god, said seal might be broken by stating the god’s true name?”
Chris: Chris looks over at you with that darn smug smirk of his, “…do you know any names of pagan gods?”
Belle: “No…”
Chris: He always does that smirk when he knows his right and you’re wrong, “And do you see any pagan gods carved into the plaster?”
Belle: “…no.”
Chris: “Belle, there isn’t anything magical here. It’s just normal plaster, that’s all.” he shakes his head a bit before looking up at you with a smile, “But if we ever do find a massive portal crafted from a single solid block of stone, which has a depiction of some kind of woman with a reindeer skull for a head, then we can make up a silly name for it! Deal?”
Belle: You shake your head as well, returning the same smile as he has, “Deal.”

Belle: “There might be another way in, you know… like maybe in the attic? It’s supposed to be right above these rooms, after all?”
Chris: “Oh, that’s an idea…” the rabbit scratches his head for a second before exclaiming, “How about this? You’ll check in the attic, while I go grab a knife and start removing the wallpaper around the door?”
Belle: “I guess that might work…” you look down at your husband, “But should we really split up?”
Chris: “Don’t worry, I’ll be right here, just down those stairs.”
>>
No. 1059368 ID: 681cb5
File 167960717651.png - (162.80KB , 1035x550 , 64.png )
1059368

As Chris leaves to get that knife, you pull the cord hanging from the ceiling, making the hatch above you fold out into a staircase leading up to the attic. With hesitant steps, you start ascending the ladder up into the darkness and penetrating the almost smothering stale air that is flooding out from the newly created opening. Luckily, as you climb into the room, you find the light switch, making the old ceiling lamps sputter a bit as before they illuminate the room with their luminesce. Of course, the light doesn’t really help any with the dank, musty smell that permeate the room completely.

Looking around, you can see all kind of old, long forgotten knickknacks up here, most seemingly completely worthless and broken. What does catch your eye though is the door on the far wall, straight ahead of the hatch down. Trying to push it open, you find that it’s locked, and glancing around the room you can’t spot a key anywhere. Huh, you wonder where the key might- wait, did something just move in there? You should swear you saw a shadow move under the rather large gap under the door… but surely it was just the lights in here playing a trick on you, right?

Let’s see, the sealed door should be on your left if you’re looking at the door, so somewhere- what was that!? This time you’re certain you heard something move behind that door… but as you strain your ears to listen, all you can hear is Chris humming as he comes up the stairs, on his way back to the hidden door below you. Hopefully, it was just him you heard… and not some horrid abomination hiding right here in the attic…
>>
No. 1059403 ID: 273c18

>>1059368
What's in the box?!?!? Check out that long red one.
What's with that open box on the green block? Is that a snowglobe?

Oh, looks like there's a hatch on the wall behind the mannequin.
>>
No. 1059479 ID: dee951

>>1059403

Also open the other door and remove the lids from things and look under the things that are simple to move or turn over to see what they are! Gotta cover the basics!
>>
No. 1059509 ID: 15a025

Take a peak in the barrel.
>>
No. 1059573 ID: 681cb5
File 167986786558.png - (65.83KB , 700x550 , 65.png )
1059573

>open the other door.
Which other door? There’s only one door here and it’s locked, remember? Or are you talking about the small crawlspace next to it? Shining your torch into the twisted passage, you can’t see anything but darkness further down… as if your light is being consumed by the pure blackness.
>What's in the box?!?!? Check out that long red one.
You take your time going through all the piles of junk as well as open most of the boxes… and the only thing you find is junk. A broken lamp, some old dirty clothes, children toys that are in pieces… and finally, in the red box, there’s a moth eaten carpet. Or is it tablecloth? Drape possibly? Eh, doesn’t matter… it’s useless either way.
>Is that a snowglobe?
…might be one of those glass holders for plants? It’s an ancient dead plant inside it, at least.

Chris: “Found anything yet?” you hear your hubby’s voice ring out from downstairs, “Need any help, Bluebell?”
Belle: “I’m fine, Sunflower, and no, I haven’t yet, not counting all the junk. Just keep cutting out that door, love.” He doesn’t answer, instead you hear him go back to work cutting through the wallpaper, all the while his humming on that cute melody of his. You sigh with relief, as just hearing his voice seemingly dispel the darkness around you and calms your very soul…

>What's with that open box on the green block?
Reaching into the small jewelry box suited on top of the green wooden box, you manage to find an old, golden locket. Huh, is this real gold? Opening it up reveal the ugliest child you’ve ever seen, with scab ridden fur and haunting blue eyes… not to mention that they seem deformed almost… and who cropped this picture!? You can barely see anything but their face! At least the locket might be worth a pretty penny… if it is real gold, that is.

>Take a peak in the barrel.
The barrel is sealed and you can’t see a way to open it up. What you do spot, however, is a small faucet plugged into its side, right under a strange mark. Though, whatever liquid it used to contain, it seems to be empty now, with an exemption of few rust colored stains. Leaning a bit closer for a better look, the rancid smell of whatever the barrel once contained invades your nostrils, burning them as you’re forced to pull back while coughing. What was that stuff!?

But the annoying humming of Chris derails your thoughts before you can find an answer! CAN’T HE SHUT UP FOR ONCE!? GAH!

…it takes you a second to notice, but you’re clenching your fist hard enough for it to hurt… ugh… you’ve been way too stressed since you came here.
>>
No. 1059574 ID: 681cb5
File 167986788161.png - (111.45KB , 700x550 , 66.png )
1059574

>Oh, looks like there's a hatch on the wall behind the mannequin.
Moving aside the junk in the way, you pull the hatch open and are met by a tight vertical passage with an old metal ladder covered in rust running through it. The air feels heavy in there… and the stench of decay and rotting flesh drifts up from somewhere below.

Leaning in a bit, you look down the twisting and turning pipe leading into the deepest, blackest depths. Barely three meters below you there is another hatch, which should be leading to the hidden room, if your internal map of the house is correct. But, as you continue looking into the abyss, it almost feels like it’s warping before your eyes, distorting itself with ill intent as if it’s taunting you to climb down.

…please don’t say that you’ll need to climb down that rusty, rickety ladder into the darkness below.
>>
No. 1059576 ID: 248d15

The substance you smelled in that barrel affected your emotional and physiological state. You've found one of the weird local drugs! One down, probably dozens to go!

That ladder and that room cannot be safe! It's not well lit, that ladder hasn't been maintained. You may need to go down it eventually, but you will get some proper work lighting, some appropriate PPE for the environment, a spotter, AND a modern fire escape ladder, which you will carefully anchor against appropriate structural supports, before going down a ladder you trust!!
>>
No. 1059577 ID: f8083d

You have no reason to go down there, not when the door below is about to be opened. Go back to your hubby.
>>
No. 1059578 ID: dee951

>>1059574

Also, uh, there seems to maybe be some kind of spatial distortion thingy going on. Wait, you've read about this, isn't spaghettification one of the many, many horrible ways to die if you near a black hole? Spatial distortions are no joke!! You do not actually want to be in a place where geometry is breaking if you value your anatomy being, you know, on your insides!
>>
No. 1059584 ID: 273c18

>>1059573
>sniffing the barrel's contents results in sudden irritability
That's a problem. Whatever was in there, it's damaging to your sanity. How can we get rid of the residue without further mental damage? Also, that's the red star. Remember, anything marked with that is very dangerous.

>>1059574
Fuck no. Tell Chris the house is warped with eldritch energies. You don't want to investigate anymore. Even that crawlspace doesn't make sense- it goes on past the edge of the house, doesn't it?
>>
No. 1059585 ID: dee951

>>1059584

You're totally going to need the type of respirator/face mask that will actually protect against whatever sort of chemical or toxic substance that is. Sigh. That miiiight actually be a full on gas mask, ugh! Maybe report the unidentified hazardous substance to the appropriate federal authority? At the very least call the county fire marshal, perhaps? Maybe the local evening news, blow the story open? Something something evil withers in the light of truth?
>>
No. 1059587 ID: dee951

Oh god. If this is a spatial distortion, or light bending distortion, maybe produced by micro scale black holes, are you being dosed with lethal amounts of Hawking radiation right now?!?!


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