Chapter 2: A Dark Secret

Arkham, Massachusetts, 1928. The last dying plea of an old friend and mentor leads to an encounter with a horror beyond description. Unwittingly released into the world nearly fifty years before, it is now time to finally confront the mistakes of the past. But it will come at great cost...

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Chapter 2: A Dark Secret

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Arkham, Massachusetts. February 15th 1pm.
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St. Mary’s Hospital is an austere building located in central Arkham adjacent to Miskatonic University. It serves as a teaching hospital and so is regularly patronized by university staff and their families. On arrival, the information desk in the main lobby directs our heroes to Professor Putnam’s room on the 3rd floor.

Although it is a private room, the six investigators also have to share it with Putnam’s wife and son, so it quickly becomes a little cramped, with no place to sit. Flowers and paintings attempt to cheer the atmosphere, but it is swiftly dispelled by one look at the man laying in bed. Putnam’s illness has caused him to lose a great deal of weight, and his skin is pale and wan. He barely moves, but his eyes remain keen and alert. The sight is a shock to those who know him, and it is painfully obvious that there will be no recovery.

“Thank you all so much for coming” says Putnam in a weak voice. “I truly appreciate it. I’d better make the introductions. I know that some of you already know each other, but it will make things easier.”

He indicates his wife and son. “This is my wife Agnes, my companion for so many wonderful years.” Agnes nods to the investigators silently, a handkerchief pressed to her mouth. She is obviously overcome with grief.

“And this is my son, Bernard”.

Bernard.jpg
Bernard regards everyone with barely disguised hostility. In his early thirties, he is weasel-like in appearance, and those that are familiar with him know him to be selfish and petty, without many endearing qualities. Alice is more than familiar with him – he has attempted to woo her on several occasions, always unsuccessfully. He hasn’t taken her lack of interest in him particularly well. He is very different from his father, and the two were not close. His business interests are dubious, to say the least.

Putnam continues with the introductions. “My dear Isadora! Everybody, Isadora Carmichael is an accomplished artist with whom I have a long association courtesy of the Theosophical Society. You all might be familiar with Henry Glynn; he recently published a successful work of fiction. He is the son of an old colleague and friend of mine, and I am very happy to see him again. Rupert Marlow is a recent graduate of Oxford, possessed of a first-class mind, despite his youth. Ah, my faithful Alice! Alice Stanton, my secretary and one of my finest students. And then we have two outstanding academics: Henri Balzac of the University of Montreal, a specialist in folk botany. And Arthur Vivar, who is rapidly becoming an expert on local pre-history”.

The investigators glance around at each other curiously, eagerly awaiting to hear what purpose has brought them together.

Putnam turns his head to his wife and son. Agnes, Bernard, I must ask you to leave us now. It’s very important that I talk to these people about a matter which must remain between us”. Agnes tearfully assents but Bernard is more stubborn.

“Father, if it concerns your estate then I must insist on being present” he whines. It is easy to see what his prime motivation in life is.

“No!” cries the Professor, his voice much stronger. “Please leave now!” Bernard decides against any more argument, and with an evil glare exits the room.

Now that they are alone, Putnam begins his story. “The reason I have asked you all here is simple. I need you all to finish something that I and my friends began a long time ago”.

He looks around at the group. “Everything I will tell you is true. I know it sounds fantastic, but you know me to be a rational man, not given to fantasy”.

“As several of you are aware, I have long had an interest in spiritual and occult matters. As an undergraduate at Miskatonic reading anthropology, some of my friends and I began to explore the occult – innocently of course. We were interested in local Indian rites at first – it was our research. But we met an older student named Marion Allen who became something of a figurehead to us, and his interests were a bit more, well, esoteric, shall I say? I’ll explain more.”

He pauses, lost in reverie. “Don’t misunderstand – Marion wasn’t a bad person by any means. He was just, well, out of his depth.”

Marion, myself and my four other friends clubbed together and bought an old farmhouse a few miles west of Arkham, nearby the hamlet of Ross’s Corners. Very cheap land back then you know.”

He stops again, the effort of all this talking is taking its toll, but he is determined to finish.

“We used it as a base to conduct our research and experiments. It was very quiet, and a good place to conduct séances and the like. But our last experiment…”

His face contorts. “We brought something into this world, something evil.” He winces in pain, his hand involuntarily reaches for his throat. His voice is getting coarser now. He looks as if he might weep.

“We should have expelled it. We could have! But…” he gasps for breath.

Marion led us in casting a spell which bound the thing to the farmhouse so that it could not leave. But this spell only works as long as the casters live. And now, I am the last. I fear that with my death, the thing will be free”.

Putnam gestures weakly to an innocuous metal box on the nightstand beside the bed.
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“Take the box,” he croaks. “All the aid I can offer you lies within. You must find a way to send that thing back to where it came from. You must see that this is done. Do this for me. Please.”

His breath comes in ragged gasps now. “Take the box!”
OOC,I'll let you guys decide who is closer to the nightstand
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Re: Chapter 2: A Dark Secret

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Image

Alice Stanton listens in wonder as Professor Putnam recounts his tale. She does know him to be rational, and she is sure he sincerely believes what he is saying, even though she finds it hard to believe herself. Still, she is determined to do her part to fulfill his dying request. Stepping over to the nightstand, she reaches for the box to pick it up and open it.
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Re: Chapter 2: A Dark Secret

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The instant Alice’s hand touches the box, the Professor rears up, choked by a sudden spasm. He coughs and groans, and then coughs out a huge gout of blood and tissue, splattering Alice’s chest and arms. He then falls back unconscious.

The heroes are momentarily shocked into silence by this terrible sight.
OOC,Everyone apart from former army surgeon Henri needs to roll for Insanity - you've probably never seen anything so horrible before. Anyone who fails loses one SAN point!
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Re: Chapter 2: A Dark Secret

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OOC,Sanity Roll(60): [dice]0[/dice]
Arthur,shocked by the gruesome scene, turns his gaze away for a moment.
Inmediatly afterwards, he grabs Putnam's wrist, trying to check his pulse.
The smell of blood is sickening for him.
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Re: Chapter 2: A Dark Secret

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Spoiler:
Henry Sanity:65[dice]0[/dice]
Henry turns away in revulsion
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Re: Chapter 2: A Dark Secret

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Isadora Carmichael

Another haunted house, Isadora thinks. Although, she fears, this might be something completely different. Her reverie is interrupted by the violent gory scene! She averts her eyes...

Sanity 65
[dice]0[/dice]
"I feel as if my soul would be torn out of my body," she gasped. "I am being drawn into a whirlpool. What is happening? What does it mean?" - The Secrets of Dr. Taverner
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Re: Chapter 2: A Dark Secret

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Recovering composure Henry makes to dab at Miss Stanton with his handkerchief
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Re: Chapter 2: A Dark Secret

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Image

Alice stays remarkably calm and collected. She rushes over to help Professor Putnam, unconcerned about her own condition. "Thanks, but never mind me," she says, "we have tro help the professor! Quickly, Dr. Balzac! Someone else let the hospital staff know!"
OOC,Sanity roll (current level 65) for seeing [b]Professor Putnam[/b] cough out blood: [dice]0[/dice]
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Re: Chapter 2: A Dark Secret

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Uttering vile oaths in French, Balzac snatches the unlit Gauloises from the corner of his mouth and flicks the cigarette into a corner of the room.

"Pardon me, ladies and gentlemen, I am a doctor." Balzac deftly elbows his way to the Professor's side.
OOC,[b]Balzac[/b] makes a [i]Medicine[/i] roll to try to resuscitate the Prof or at least determine what just happened. Skill of [b]80%[/b]. [dice]0[/dice]
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Re: Chapter 2: A Dark Secret

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Leaving room for Dr Balzac to examine the Professor, Arthur listens Alice's advice, and goes outside the room looking for help.
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Re: Chapter 2: A Dark Secret

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Alice is not a medical professional, but she has some knowledge of first aid and tries to assist Dr. Balzac. However, the professor's condition is beyond her abilities.
OOC,First Aid roll (60% skill) trying to help [b]Professor Putnam[/b]: [dice]0[/dice]
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Re: Chapter 2: A Dark Secret

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Arthur finds some help, and soon the room fills up with doctors and nurses, together with Putnam's wife and son. The investigators are shooed out, and find themselves in the corridor outside, waiting anxiously for news.
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Re: Chapter 2: A Dark Secret

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Isadora Carmichael

Isadora sits in the corridor for a while, covering her eyes with her hand. Then her sadness is overpowered by curiosity. After all, they are here to investigate, so that Professor Putnam can be in peace. She turns to Alice:

"I'm sorry, Miss Stanton... Can I ask you something? Did you, by any chance, experience any... unusual sensations upon touching the box?"
"I feel as if my soul would be torn out of my body," she gasped. "I am being drawn into a whirlpool. What is happening? What does it mean?" - The Secrets of Dr. Taverner
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Re: Chapter 2: A Dark Secret

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Henry Glynn

"Poor chap" says Henry, "He's obviously losing his mind as well as his body with all this hocus pocus. I feel dreadfully sorry for him."
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Re: Chapter 2: A Dark Secret

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Arthur sits on the side of a bench, staring at the floor.
"Professor's condition is evident, as Mr Glynn said. I fear he's taking his final breaths"
Rising his gaze, he looks at his newfound companions
"We should try to fulfill his last wishes, before he passes away. Miss Stanton, could you open the metal box?"
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Re: Chapter 2: A Dark Secret

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"No, Mrs. Carmichael," says Alice, puzzled. "All that happened was that the poor professor coughed up blood on me."
OOC,Was I able to bring the box with me?
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Re: Chapter 2: A Dark Secret

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With the others crowded around her, Alice opens the box. All wait with bated breath, eager to see what it contains.

Firstly, she takes out an old, yellowed envelope. Opening it and taking out the paper inside, it can be seen that it is a deed to house. The address is on Boone Road, near Ross's Corners. There is also a key, which must be for the front door.

The second item is a small sarcophagus-shaped gold box, obviously of ancient design. It is covered with markings.

Lastly, there is a slim, leather-bound journal in plain black.
OOC,Anyone can roll History or Archaeology to identify the origin of the box.
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Re: Chapter 2: A Dark Secret

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Henry Glynn

"I can't say I believe much in spells but we can't let the Professor down. I don't see that we need to drag the ladies into this business though. Dr Balzac, Mr Vivar and I can take care of it.
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Re: Chapter 2: A Dark Secret

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Isadora Carmichael

Isadora takes a look at the little golden box, admires the craftsmanship.

History 20%
[dice]0[/dice]

She raises an eyebrow at Henry Glynn's comment.

"Mr. Glynn, I believe the Professor included us ladies for a reason."
"I feel as if my soul would be torn out of my body," she gasped. "I am being drawn into a whirlpool. What is happening? What does it mean?" - The Secrets of Dr. Taverner
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Re: Chapter 2: A Dark Secret

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Isadora,Isadora identifies the markings as Egyptian hieroglyphs, probably from the Middle Kingdom age.
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