Play@YSDC

Copp’s Hill, Boston 1920, November 24th 9am

It is another cold, overcast morning when the taxi carrying Isadora pulls up in front of 20 Copp’s Hill Terrace. As she steps out, she cannot help but feel a sense of foreboding as she looks at the seemingly ordinary house which has been the focus of their attention over the last few days. She sees Norman waiting for her, hunched up in his greatcoat, puffing on a cigarette. As he stands outlined against the house, she senses a vulnerability in his outwardly confident character.

Norman sees her arrive and moves towards her. He is glad to get moving; he likes the snow and ice, not the miserable New England winters that chill you to the bone.

He threw away his cigarette.

"Good morning, Ms. Carmichael." Owens looked around himself at the damp and chill street, "Well, good to see you, anyways. Shall we find Mr. Dooley, the news stand man?"

"Good to see you too, Mr. Owens. Yes, let's have another chat with the old man," she says, glancing uncomfortably at the House.

They had out to the newsvendor's.

"Good morning, Mr. Dooley!" Isadora greets him when they get there. She buys a Boston Globe "Say, Mr. Dooley, do you happen to remember a weird happening, some 10 years ago, in 1912? There used to be a church somewhere in this area, a queer chapel of sorts..."

A look of astonishment crosses Dooley's　face.　"Lord,　you　two　really　have　a　hankering　for　trouble　don't　you!"　he　exclaims.　“Sure, I know where you mean. The Chapel of Contemplation. It was a great day when the police razed that place. If they hadn’t have done it, us locals would have. Damn! You should have heard the fight! I thought I was back at Gettysburg! But you don’t wanna go messing ‘round there. A bad place.”

He turns away, muttering to himself. “Jeez, first the Corbitt House, now the Chapel!” He shakes his head, sadly.

"We're laying ghosts to rest, Mr. Dooley. Your community needs us to do this. Tell us the church site--save us asking elsewhere."

“Sure I’ll tell you” says the old man. “I just want you to be careful”. He turns and points down the street. “Carry on a little thataways, and you’ll come to a side street, Phipps Place. It’s at the end”.

He turns back to look at them both. “I’ll see you back here in an hour. If you’re not back, I’ll get someone to come alookin for ya. Go on then!”

Isadora and Norman set off, somewhat apprehensively. Shortly they come to Phipps Place and turn into it. This narrow street is quite neglected and most buildings are old and need repairing. Even though it is an overcast day, the oppressive nature of the buildings make the street look even darker. This is a place where no-one would choose to linger.

At the end of the street they can see what must be the ruins of the Chapel. It seems not to have been disturbed since the raid; the brick and stone rubble is overgrown and weathered. The walls, or what’s left of them, still stand, but the fire has gutted the building and the roof has gone.

As they approach the site, Isadora and Norman pass a sagging wall onto which a strange symbol seems to have been freshly painted in white.
Looking at it our heroes begin to feel uneasy and distressed. Norman can feel a strange tingling in his forehead, a feeling like but not quite a headache, and which makes him feel a little nauseous.

Isadora,[b]Isadora[/b] on the other hand, with her attuned senses, can feel a strong power emanating from the symbol and the surroundings. It is a sensation of evil and darkness, not unlike what she had sensed at the house. For her, the feeling is much stronger, as she reacts accordingly.

Isadora pulls her coat tight, but she is still shivering. Not from the cold, but rather the deep, maddening horror.

"Is that... is that a recent painting? That symbol?" she asks Norman, hoping that the explorer would refute.

"It would make sense..." she mumbles to herself audibly. "Most members of the congregation were free to go after the raid. They must be continuing their masters' traditions, this is their holy place..."

Isadora wants to examine the symbol, but she finds that she keeps averting her eyes. Finally she overcomes her dread and looks at the wall again. Has she seen anything comparable before?

OOC:   If applicable, here's an Occult roll.

Tentative Occult 45% roll
[dice]0[/dice]

Isadora is unable to recognise the symbol, it is unlike anything she has witnessed before. She realises though that it is very powerful.

Owens knew that something he didn't like or understand was there at the church.

"Why don't I buy turpentine and a scrubbing brush? Have you a 'good' symbol we could paint instead?"

Norman's proposal sends shivers down Isadora's spine: erasing a symbol and replacing it with another is the occult equivalent of spitting in the face of the French ambassador on a reception. If the makers of the symbol find out, who did this (and they probably would: Norman and Isadora aren't keeping a low profile, half the neighborhood knows what they are up to)... Yet she feels that Norman is right. Such an abomination cannot be left on display!

"Yes. Let's do it," she says, after some hesitation.

"Can you get an apron as well? I don't want to get paint all over my clothes," she adds with a pale smile.

She takes out her notebook and flips to a page where she has a couple of symbols designed by Claude Bragdon, a Theosophist architect and theoretic. "I will try to do this one... Claude says it is a simple cube, transformed into a higher dimension and projected back onto a plane; he says it's good for protection, because bad energy gets trapped during this transformation inside the cube, like in a box..."

OOC:   HoneyDog, it's up to you what result does this bring... Maybe it's just a random scribble, maybe something else. Isadora should know better by now not to meddle with unknown forces!!

Owens goes to get the supplies from the hardware store.

Isadora goes with him. "I don't want to be left alone in that alleyway!! "

On the way back to the hardware store they pass Mr. Dooley. "Back already?" he asks, then notices the strained expressions on Isadora and Norman’s faces. “Any trouble”?

"I though the municipality would have cleared the rubble..." Isadora says, although it's probably clear to Mr. Dooely, that it's not the ruins that upset her. "Looks like a bad place indeed. What were they up to in there? You said that if not the police, the locals would have raided it."

Dooley’s face darkens. “You probably know about the missing children. Locals knew that the Chapel was responsible”. He crosses himself.

"Were any of the locals part of the congregation?"

He looks incensed at the suggestion. "Folk around here are good Christians. They look out for each other. Everyone kept well away from that place. And you should too!”

Isadora wants to inform Dooley, that a prominent local person, Corbitt himself was a member of, or at least close to the Church. But then she thinks that it's better not to reveal their deep interest in this cult business. Mr. Dooley will sleep better tonight, at least.

"Thank you, Mr. Dooley! Take care!"

If Norman has no other questions, Isadora is ready to move on.

"Let's go back some other way, if possible, after the shop. I don't want Mr. Dooley to have a heart attack," she says to Norman on the way.

After buying their brushes, turpentine and paint, Isadora and Norman take a route back to the Chapel which avoids the worried eye of Mr. Dooley.

As they arrive at the spot where the occult symbol was painted, they are surprised and disconcerted to see that it has disappeared!

However, the unpleasant sensations in their foreheads have returned. Looking around, it is possible to see another of the same symbols painted on the wall inside the remains of the chapel.

Isadora just stands there for a minute, in shock, shifting her gaze from the empty wall to the symbol inside the ruins and back again. She steps closer to the now empty wall, and examines it - hoping to find some traces of paint there...

"You... you are an explorer, right?" she says abruptly, turning to Norman. "You know your way in the wilderness, you know how to hunt, track animals?."

She points at the symbol inside the Church.

"Maybe somebody went in there and painted the symbol while we were gone? Can you trace their steps, in the rubble?" she says, grasping for any possible rational explanation. This is getting a bit too much.

"Most likely not," was his reply. "I don't understand what has happened." He paused, as if thinking but just dumbfounded. "Paint our symbol, then let's go to the house."

Isadora simply nods, puts on the apron they've purchased, and sets out to paint her chosen symbol on the now empty wall. She tries to make it approximately the same size.

The symbol finished, Isadora and Norman survey their handiwork. They decide to leave before anyone comes back, and make their way back to the Corbitt House. On the way　they　pass　Mr.　Dooley,　who　regards　their　painting　equipment　with　raised　eyebrows.　He decides not to say anything however, but they can feel his eyes on them as they reach the house.
It feels somewhat different now, more familiar, but this is a familiarity born of contempt. The house seems to be beckoning to them, daring them to enter.

Norman takes the key from his pocket and opens the door. They are confronted by the same dingy interior, but at least the electricity is working now should they need it. The hallway stretches out before them, with doors on either side, and they can vaguely see the stairs at the end.

They pause at the doorway…

OOC:   Is there a plan of the house?

Owens leant the crowbar and shovel against the wall.

"Right, shall we do it?" he asked without waiting for a reply. He opened the first door on his righthand side.

Norman charges into the house with the bravery fir for a pioneer and explorer... Isadora has nothing else left, but to follow him.

OOC:   It’s a good idea for you to make your own map as you go. We’ll call this room Room 4 on the first floor.

This room is obviously the living room, musty from lack of use. It is furnished conventionally in the style of the era, with a couch and two comfy-looking stuffed chairs. There is a radio and a bookshelf, and with books and various knick-knacks. There are many Catholic artifacts; crucifixes, images of the virgin and the like.

OOC:   You can roll Idea

OOC:   We should have gotten a plan from Jordan... too late now, I guess.

Idea 70%
[dice]0[/dice]

If Norman steps inside, Isadora follows, and examines the Catholic artifacts. She presumes they belong to the latest family who lived here.

Isadora notices that there are probably far too many artifacts than would be normal. Obviously the Macario’s were seeking protection.

Just as she also notices a connecting door which is obviously for the next room, they are both startled by loud thumping noises from somewhere above them!

Isadora starts creating a simple map in her favorite notebook... ...but she is interrupted by the sound coming from above!!

"What was that?"

Does it sounds like footsteps? Or some sort of an animal?

Isadora remembers how one of the rooms on the upper floor was especially feared...

Isadora can feel unpleasant psychic emanations – but they seem to be coming from above.

The loud thumping continues…

Idea [dice]0[/dice]

OOC:   Nice map!

"I'll go," said Owens. He ran down the hallway to the stairs, climbing up two steps at a time.

When Norman reaches the top of the stairs he is confronted by another dingy corridor. It is largely in darkness as the windows are boarded over. He can see a small room set back a little to his left, which is probably the bathroom. Turning on the light, he can see that all the bedrooms are on the left side of the corridor – there are a total of three doors.

As he pauses to ascertain his surroundings, he hears a loud scratching sound, like someone running something sharp across wood. It seems to be coming from the door to what must be the first bedroom.

Isadora tries to keep up pace with Norman. She definitely doesn't want to be alone. She waits for Norman to act first, though.

Owens grabbed hold of the doorknob, intending to slam open the door.

Norman braces himself and pulls the door open. He is confronted by a sparsely-furnished bedroom, containing only a bedframe and a dresser. It was obviously never used by the Macario family.

There is nothing else here, certainly nothing that could account for the noises they heard. As Norman looks around, he starts to notice a dark liquid appearing on the wall. It begins to spread and run down. He notices drops falling on the bedframe and looks up, seeing the dark pool spreading across the ceiling. To his horrified amazement, he realizes that the liquid is blood.

OOC,Norman needs to roll 1d100 for Sanity!

Isadora,Isadora can feel that the evil presence is very strong in this room.

[dice]0[/dice]

Norman manages to control his emotions, despite the disgust he feels. The sight is now accompanied by a foul smell, like nothing either of them have encountered before.

Now, the scratching noise begins again, this time at the window.

"I'm suffering from some kind of delusion," said Owens to himself. He collected his thoughts, "Ms. Carmichael, I wouldn't come in here"--uaware if she has already.

He went over to the window.

Confronted by the wave of evil in the room, Isadora stops at the threshold - but her gaze is directed towards the inside of the room, peaking over Norman's shoulder.

Does she see or sense the vision or the smells Norman does?

As Norman moves to the window, the bed frame suddenly shifts towards him at great speed, crashing into him and throwing him against the window glass! Unable to support himself, Norman falls through and out of the room.

OOC:   Tabs, roll 2D6 damage on your Hit Points.

"Aaaaargh!"

[dice]0[/dice]

"Norman!!"

Most people's first reaction in such a case would be to run to the window and look down at Norman... But Isadora's instincts, luckily, wouldn't allow her to step into the cursed room. She turns around and runs down the stairs and out to the garden, to the place where Norman fell.

"St-stay calm!" Isadora cries, when she reaches Norman. Although it's hard for her to stay calm... Is Norman conscious? Her head is reeling. She tries to remember everything she knows about First Aid. She vaguely recalls that Norman shouldn't be moved around until an ambulance arrives? But he should somehow also be moved slightly into a correct position?

First Aid 30%
[dice]0[/dice]

OOC:   I took the liberty of rolling to see what effect the First Aid would have: First Aid: 1d3 3 Norman's Hit Points go up to 5

Isadora’s prompt attention enables her to stop the bleeding from a nasty cut on Norman's arm, and he begins regain his whereabouts. His other arm is obviously broken, and he cries out in pain as he tries to move it. Despite this, with Isadora’s help, he manages to stand, although he is very unsteady. He has many cuts, some of which will need stitching, and he also has a nasty bump on the head.

At that moment Mr. Dooley, who had heard the crash of broken glass, arrives. He looks concerned.

“Are you both okay? What happened?”

"The... the house is falling apart, there was an accident," Isadora says to Mr. Dooley. The news vendor is a nice old man, and Isadora doesn't want to trouble him. And, for some weird reason, these uncanny events invoked a feeling of paranoia in her. She is not sure if she can trust anybody or anything in this neighborhood.

"Let's try to get away from the house in case , uh, the wall collapses," she says and tries to walk Norman up to the street.

Is there anything to sit on on the street?

"Stay here," she says to Norman if there is a place for him to sit down.

Isadora will then run to the phone and call the ambulance.

"Taxi will be quicker" says Dooley. He steps out into the street, ready to flag one down. "Massachusetts General is the closest".

Shortly a taxi comes along and stops. Dooley tells the driver the situation and helps Isadora get Norman into the back seat.
A short time later they arrive and Norman is taken for treatment on his injuries. Isadora waits anxiously in the waiting room.

After about ten minutes a doctor comes out and sees Isadora. "Did you arrive with Norman Owens"? he asks.

"I'm afraid not. He has a bad concussion and we want to let him rest. We'll keep him overnight and monitor his condition. Why don't you come back tomorrow?"

Isadora agrees that Norman should probably rest. She thanks the doctor for his help, then notes the visiting hours. Before going home from the hospital, she sits for a good 10 more minutes in the waiting room, in silent contemplation.

Isadora recovers a bit from the shock. She goes to the nearest phone (the hospital maybe has one?) and calls Jordan...

After Jordan hears about the situation from Isadora, he states that he will visit the hospital tomorrow and discuss things with both Isadora and Norman.