2 Genius Loci: Visiting Kirby State Hospital

[Zero]

Having given the other two a decent head start, Jimmy stepped out of the rear of the vehicle he and the Wheel had taken to the Kirby hospital. The mobster adjusted the lapel of his suit jacket then made his way around towards the front of the vehicle.

"Alright, let's do what we came here to do. Just follow my lead." he said to Solomon.

[Umbral Dragon]

Just before the arrival of Chin and Wheel, the desk nurse brusquely shows you to the office of asylum superintendent Dr. James Berger.

Dr. Berger is a stern, unfriendly man in his late thirties, dressed in a white lab coat, with an officious-looking clipboard. His office features numerous framed diplomas and certifications, a large desk, several overburdened file cabinets, and a curious painting of St. George and the Dragon.

In this version of the painting the dragon is mauling St. George; his eviscerated horse lies nearby. The painting is particularly detailed and quite gruesome.

There is also a framed Salem News photograph of a younger, happier-looking Dr. Berger shaking hands in front of the hospital’s central administration building with a smiling, bespectacled older man. The caption under the photograph reads: Dr. James Berger takes over Kirby State Asylum from Dr. William Shine.

Outside, there is a fog and mist, covering the sky with a blanket of gray. It is close to the noon hour, yet the natural light is dim inside the asylum and in areas where there are no windows, the green fluorescent lighting only adds to the drab and dour atmosphere.

Dr. Berger is filing away some paperwork when you arrive. The dark green tiles in his office, recently waxed gleam in the cold light. He turns to look at you sternly as the file cabinet closes behind him. Through the walls you hear a deep voice singing a blues song even as you speak. He seems to acknowledge it with a slight flicker in his eyes, but he presses forward...

Spoiler:

Had a dream last night
That I was dead
Had a dream last night
That I was dead

Evil spirits
All around my bed

The devil came
And grabbed my hand
The devil came
And grabbed my hand

Took me way down
To that red hot land

Mean blues spirits
Stuck their forks in me
Mean blues spirits
Stuck their forks in me

Made me moan
And groan in misery

Fairies and dragons
Spitting out blue flames
Fairies and dragons
Spitting out blue flames

Showing their teeth
For they was glad I came

Demons with their eyelash
Dripping blood
Demons with their eyelash
Dripping blood

Dragging sinners
To their brimstone flood

"This is hell", I cried
Cried with all my might
"This is hell", I cried
Cried with all my might

Oh, my soul
I can't bear the sight

Started running
'Cause it is my cup
Started running
'Cause it is my cup

Run so fast
Till someone woke me up

"Yes, what is it that you want?" he says in a thick Austrian accent.

[HoneyDog]

Joseph eyes the strange painting but refrains from commenting on it.

“Thank you for seeing us, Dr. Berger” he begins. “As you might be aware from our call, we’re doing a piece for the Chronicle about patient rehabilitation. We’d quite like to see and hear about some of your success stories, and if possible meet some of your patients who are making good progress.”

He pauses to wait for a response.

[Mr. Handy]

"I'm here to conduct a safety inspection," says Carl, who had arrived separately. He wears his uniform to display his authority. "There have been various reports of accidents and unsafe conditions here."

[jp1885]

Coach is content to let the other two do the talking. He looks around the room, supressing a shudder as the song floats through. His gaze settles on the painting.

"Huh, I thought George slayed the dragon..." he muses, realising he's thinking out loud.

[Umbral Dragon]

"You're referring to that painting I presume. It was a gift presented to me by the patients for my caring stewardship of this hospital," he says as if annoyed by the interruption.

[Umbral Dragon]

"As for success stories, I'll have to check the release files. Of late, our current population has been made up of those who pose a grave danger to themselves and others. Thus the need for sedation

[Umbral Dragon]

As far as inspections are concerned, we were not properly informed ahead of time, and I assume you have a warrant to search the premises.

Spoiler:

Law, Medicine, Intimidate, or Persuade roll might help here

[HoneyDog]

Joseph Adler

"Thank you, Doctor" says Joseph. "Would we be able to tour the premises? With an escort, of course."

[Mr. Handy]

"It's a surprise inspection," says Carl. "We find that it's best not to announce these things in advance, or some people might sweep their troubles under the rug before we get there. Not that you'd do that, of course. I don't have a warrant on me. You could refuse, but then I'd just go to the judge and get one, and all you'd accomplish is to waste both my time and yours, and that won't look good. I mean, the only reason you'd refuse is if you had something to hide. You don't have anything to hide, do you?"

OOC,Intimidate (55% skill) to get the doctor to agree to the inspection: [dice]0[/dice]

[Zero]

Jimmy gave Solomon a quick nod and then sauntered towards the main entrance. He didn't intend to follow the others in through the front door, however. He suspected that too many visitors via the main entrance may arouse suspicion. Instead, the mobster kept a watchful eye out for alternate points of entry or any individuals on the grounds acting outside the expected norm.

Spot Hidden (50%),[dice]0[/dice]

OOC:   Nope. Guess Jimmy can just stand around and look menacing.

[Borderline]

Picking up on his queue I take a look around as well.

spot hidden 45,[dice]0[/dice]

[jp1885]

Somewhat riled by the doctor's brusque response, Coach is happy for Carl to put the pressure on him. With Berger thus distracted, he takes a keener look around the office.

Spot Hidden 60% (if allowed),[dice]0[/dice]

But sees nothing out of the ordinary.

[Umbral Dragon]

Chin and Wheel look for alternate entrances, but they find that the Asylum is more like a prison.

They may return before arousing too much attention or they may continue investigating, using any skills they may have to avoid detection.

[jp1885]

Seeing nothing of interest in the office, Coach begins to feel a little jittery. Berger's manner, the unsettling painting and the haunting song all serve to put his nerves on edge.

While the other two negotiate with the doc, he slopes out of the room to speak to the desk nurse - his curiosity getting the better of him. Jerking his thumb back to Berger's office, he smiles wryly.

"Hi friend - management eh? I thought I'd talk to someone who does the real work around here. Say, what happened to your ear? Looks nasty."

Subtlety is not one of his strong points.

[Umbral Dragon]

Dr. Berger Looks at the Texas Ranger and decides it's best to comply for now. He interrupts the conversation with the orderly and requests that two orderlies be summoned to escort the group around the asylum. He asks you to wait in the foyer as he has much work to be done.

[Mr. Handy]

"Thank you, Doctor," says Carl. He steps outside to wait in the foyer.

[Umbral Dragon]

After a few moments, two Two surly, taciturn orderlies escort the investigators through the H wing and deeper into the Asylum.

Spoiler:

Psychology Roll

Progressing through the wards, the severity of the patients’ conditions correspondingly increases. As the investigators finally reach J Ward, their senses are assailed: shrieks, sobs, and giddy laughter echo down corridors; the stench of urine and feces is barely masked by strong cleansing agents. Doors become metal. A shocking number of patients lack fingers, hands, or even limbs. One figure behind a metal door stares out at the investigators with raw, weeping empty eye sockets. Even among the less-afflicted, long scars and gouges pockmark their flesh.

Spoiler:

Sanity 0/1D2

Coach

Spoiler:

In a bathtub of fetid water,
something reptilian and much too large for such a small space slithers and submerges out of sight. It is only a moment’s glimpse, and examination of the tub reveals the absurdity of the vision—yet the surface of the pool ripples as if something did disturb the water. The water itself has an odd blue-grey
tint that defies explanation Sanity 0/1.

Joseph

Spoiler:

You pass a patient who is scrawling with chalk upon the wall tiles. The image is that of an obscene creature, a dragon-like toad with a multitude of eyes. A short time later, you pass another patient drawing an eerily similar creature on a sketchpad. Still later, you spot an orderly wiping bloody smears off of a door. The smears appear to be a drawing suggesting the same creature. Sanity 0/1D2.

Carl

Spoiler:

A hulking patient ambushes you from seemingly nowhere, slamming you up against a wall. He grips you by the shoulders with vise-like hands, angrily screaming,
“What do you know? What do you know?”
Orderlies quickly intervene, roughly hauling the patient out of sight. There are no apologies or explanations offered by the sullen staff.

You notice a patient banging on the door of one of the cells. You recognize Croswell, though he's been in better shape...

[Mr. Handy]

"What happened to these patients?" demands Carl, a little disturbed. "How did they sustain these injuries?". He can practically see through his escorts.

OOC,Psychology roll (45% skill) about the orderlies: [dice]0[/dice] Sanity roll (current level 55) for seeing the eyeless patient: [dice]1[/dice] Sanity loss: [dice]2[/dice]

[jp1885]

"Holy crow! What happened to these poor people? Ranger Norris, you gotta get this place shut down!"

Dice rolls,Psychology 10% [dice]0[/dice]Sanity 70% [dice]1[/dice]SAN loss [dice]3[/dice]Sanity 69% [dice]2[/dice]

Coach is deeply troubled by what he sees. He practically jumps out of his skin at the sight of the eyeless inmate, while the injuries and scars on the others make his skin crawl.

Assailed by such unpleasantness, the strange vision he briefly sees in a bathtub seems almost mundane by comparison.

"Huh, I could've sworn I just saw some kind of lizard in that bathtub - this place is definitely getting to me." He peers at the tub. "That water looks weird though - almost like oil. Say, didn't the lake outside look like that? Makes sense I guess; that's where they get the water from."

When the investigators happen upon Croswell's cell, he abruptly abandons his musings.