>"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?

Kaktus 2023/03/12(Sun)16:36 No. 1058365 ID: 681cb5
File 167866421012.png - (115.37KB , 700x550 , 57.png )

>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?

Kaktus 2023/03/12(Sun)16:37 No. 1058366 ID: 681cb5
File 167866422562.png - (148.72KB , 700x550 , 58.png )

>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.

>>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.

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!

Get a high-tech safe, stuff every secret you find in there.

>>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!

Kaktus 2023/03/14(Tue)13:47 No. 1058543 ID: 681cb5
File 167882686103.png - (84.66KB , 700x550 , 59.png )

>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.

Kaktus 2023/03/14(Tue)13:48 No. 1058545 ID: 681cb5
File 167882692493.png - (122.19KB , 700x550 , 60.png )

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

>>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.

Hm, if you blow into the flute, does the box react?

Kaktus 2023/03/18(Sat)12:29 No. 1058966 ID: 681cb5
File 167916774667.png - (83.80KB , 700x550 , 61.png )

>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…”

Kaktus 2023/03/18(Sat)12:29 No. 1058967 ID: 681cb5
File 167916775451.png - (23.76KB , 700x550 , 62.png )

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?

>>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.

Since you're planning to open up this wall, tear off the wallpaper so you have easier access.

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!

Oh! Maybe we need to say the name of that deity from the book. You wouldn't happen to know that, would you?

Kaktus 2023/03/23(Thu)14:32 No. 1059367 ID: 681cb5
File 167960716648.png - (57.36KB , 700x550 , 63.png )

>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.”

Kaktus 2023/03/23(Thu)14:32 No. 1059368 ID: 681cb5
File 167960717651.png - (162.80KB , 1035x550 , 64.png )

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…

>>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.

>>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!

Take a peak in the barrel.

Kaktus 2023/03/26(Sun)14:57 No. 1059573 ID: 681cb5
File 167986786558.png - (65.83KB , 700x550 , 65.png )

>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.

Kaktus 2023/03/26(Sun)14:58 No. 1059574 ID: 681cb5
File 167986788161.png - (111.45KB , 700x550 , 66.png )

>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.

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!!

You have no reason to go down there, not when the door below is about to be opened. Go back to your hubby.

>>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!

>>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?

>>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?

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?!?!

Kaktus 2023/03/31(Fri)12:25 No. 1059988 ID: 681cb5
File 168029071494.png - (73.98KB , 700x550 , 67.png )

>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!
Ugh, so these Kråkholme’s where drug dealers as well? It would explain why that wolf was so darn angry, yet… why would anyone take something that makes you enraged?
>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.
It didn’t affect you until you practically had your snout pressed against the faucet, so surely you won’t need something that complex. Still, better safe than sorry…
>Maybe report the unidentified hazardous substance to the appropriate federal authority? At the very least call the county fire marshal, perhaps?
Eh… maybe after the weekend. That thing has clearly been there for years, so it’s no rush to move it, is there?

>Oh god. If this is a spatial distortion, or light bending distortion, maybe produced by micro scale black holes!
OH GOD! It will consume… wait, no, that doesn’t make sense… if it was a black hole, wouldn’t the whole world be unmade? It’s far more likely it’s just that whoever constructed this tunnel built it… weird.
>Even that crawlspace doesn't make sense- it goes on past the edge of the house, doesn't it?
Hmm, does it? The attic is roughly over the library… and that locked room should be above the bathroom in the master bedroom, which means that the crawlspace has at least the length of the bedroom before it reaches the edge of the house. Still, it’s kind of disturbing how it consumes your light like that… as if it didn’t have an end at all.


>You have no reason to go down there, not when the door below is about to be opened. Go back to your hubby.
Belle: “Chris?” you call out as you tentatively move down the attic stairs, “Did you manage to get the door open yet?”
Chris: “Just about, love.” his voice is almost drowned out by the sound of plaster being broken off, “I think I found the hole where the door handle should be. Just need to get some more plaster off and we’ll be able to see what’s behind it.”
Belle: “Are we even sure we want to open it?” walking up to his side, you stare at the half covered door, “This place… it’s… it’s like its being warped by eldritch energies!” you can’t help but shudder a bit, “I don’t know if I want to investigate anymore.”
Chris: “Bluebell, take it easy.” his paw slips into yours and squeezes it, “There’s nothing to worry about.”
Belle: “…”
Chris: “I know you’ve been stressed out since we got here, Belle.” he gently tells you, before leaning his head against your arm, “But you need to calm down a bit. It is just a house, nothing more.”
Belle: “…and if there’s something we don’t want to see behind that door?”
Chris: “I’m sure there’s nothing dangerous.”

And with that he forces the door open, splattering the plaster all over the floor as the wooden gateway is flung agape. You brace yourself for the terror that waits on the other side… but all you’re met with is the dusty room of a child. While it has seen better days, it is clearly just a normal room, if a spooky one.

Chris: “See?” the rabbit gesture forwards, “There’s nothing to be afraid of! It’s just an old kid’s room!”
Belle: “It’s still super creepy…”
Chris: “And there’s an old kid’s room that isn’t creepy out there?”
Belle: “True…” then the rancid smell of rotten flesh and decay hits you like a wall, “Ugh…”
Chris: “What’s that smell?” Chris asks while holding his nose, “We better find whatever it is and throw it away!”

It’s the very same smell, if stronger, that was contaminating that shaft you just found, the one with the rusty ladder. 

>smell
...You know what that means.
But is it a beast or a hominid?

You need to sell this mansion. It's not a home, it's the capstone of the cemetery.
And stop exploring for now. If this place is covered in experimental drugs, it would explain why your extended family has a history of insanity.

>>1059988
I see three, maybe four marks of the Red Star. Do not go in there. Do not let Chris go in there. If you do go in, do not move the bed and do not dig out that marked brick in the wall.

DO NOT.

Putting that many weird cult religious marks in a child's bedroom... they were VERY MUCH trying to do something to the kid, probably something occult within their belief system. It doesn't seem to be normal-ish brainwashing. Spitball some possible ideas of what horrible occult mystical thing they believed they were doing to that poor kid with your husband, pointing out the eye thingies and brainstorming it.

If Chris won't listen to you, bring him up into the attic and show him the horrible ladder, and tell him about the rage juice in the barrel that needs to be disposed of. Terrible things happened here, and could still happen here if we're not careful. He needs to accept that.

It's the room where the murders took place, isn't it? It was cleaned up, but not well enough to fully remove the stench of death...

I'm noticing a re-occurring mark/symbol. Some sideways diamond with a line mark in it. Is it supposed to be some demonic eye? The barrel with the fowl smelling scent had it, and so does that bed. It's even on that wall.

Shut the door for now until you can learn what you're dealing with here. Or at least until you can get some kind of respirator or breathing protection. If Chris insists, just play it down and say it might be some nasty mold.

If you MUST go in there, try tossing some of your mystical purification spice mix and the salt at the symbols everywhere and in the corners and on the furniture, doing a little dance and clapping and singing a little improv song about purifying energies and grounding the foulness away and bringing rest to restless spirits. If you're going to be superstitious, have fun and some whimsy about it. Evil energies HATE that kind of improvised happy Witchiness! Also, it's fun.

Kaktus 2023/04/02(Sun)15:02 No. 1060357 ID: 681cb5
File 168047293803.png - (105.22KB , 700x550 , 68.png )

>I'm noticing a re-occurring mark/symbol. Some sideways diamond with a line mark in it. Is it supposed to be some demonic eye?
You have no idea what it actually is supposed to be, but it does seem to appear a lot around these parts… often inside a star as well. Does it actually have anything to do with the red star you heard about, or are you just jumping to conclusions?


>It's the room where the murders took place, isn't it? It was cleaned up, but not well enough to fully remove the stench of death...
Chris: “That can’t be right…” the hare looks around, rubbing his chin, “this room has probably been sealed for years.”
Belle: “But didn’t it happen in the children’s room?” you can’t help but shudder imagining the horror that happened here just a few months ago, ”This is the only kids room in the house.”
Chris: “At the moment, yes.” Chris looks up at you before gesturing down the corridor, “But remember the room right next to this one? The empty one?”
Belle: “Which seems to have been very thoroughly cleaned…” you sigh, ”That does make sense… there’s even a large bleach mark on the floor there…”
Chris: “Still, we better find the source of this smell before it get worse!”
Belle: “Wait!” you grab his shoulder, “Don’t go in there. It might be dangerous!”
Chris: “Dangerous?” he raises an eyebrow, “How?”
Belle: “There might be… um… some nasty mold?” looking around the room for more excuses, you spot a rat plush under the desk, “Or a… err… rat nest behind that bed over there! You better not move it, Chris!”
Chris: “Belle, that’s why we need to find the source of the smell.” the rabbit says while gently moving your hand away, “If we don’t, the mold might spread… or rats… or whatever it might be.”

>If you MUST go in there, try tossing some of your mystical purification spice mix and the salt at the symbols everywhere
Belle: “In the name of Hissus!” you bellow while throwing handful of spices into the air, “May god let… um… your soul rest!” Chris just smirks as he watches you do a little dance, clapping your hands while swinging around some garlic, “BEGONE DEMON! YOU ARE NOT WELCOME HERE!” As that last word leaves your mouth, it feels like a heavy weight is removed from your shoulders while suddenly the world seems just a little bit brighter. Even the air is no longer smothering you… did it work?

Chris: “Well, at least those spices did a good job masking the smell, bluebell.” the voice of your husband brings you out from your trance, “Though I did find the culprit of the horrid stench.”
Belle: Looking over, you can see that he’s moved the bed and grabbed something from an hidden hole behind it, “Chris! I told you not to move the bed!”
Chris: “Sorry, dear.” he sheepishly says, “But that was where the smell was coming from. Look!” the rabbit holds up a few feral rats, all which has clearly been dead for a while, “Daniel did say something about fixing a rat problem here, though seeing how the door was sealed he probably wasn’t able to find these one. He did definitely kill them, though.”
Belle: “Dead rats?” you make a long sigh “That’s it? Dead rats?”
Chris: “And some kind of diary the rodents have been chewing on.” He holds up a pink book, “Will probably be unreadable after all this time. Oh! And there’s another dead rat under the desk!”
Belle: “So that horrid smell… it was just rats…”
Chris: “See, there was nothing to worry about, Belle.”
Belle: “Chris… there is something terribly wrong with this house.” You take a moment to massage your temples, “There something moving up in the attic… and there are some kind of hate drug leaking from a barrel as well… not to mention that horrid ladder…”
Chris: “I’m sure it’s nothing, Belle.” He hands you the old book, freeing his hand to you hold yours, “How about this, give me a minute to throw away these dead rats and we’ll both head up to the attic and look. Does that sound okay to you?”
Belle: “…It does.”

Kaktus 2023/04/02(Sun)15:03 No. 1060359 ID: 681cb5
File 168047301346.png - (61.44KB , 700x550 , 69.png )

It doesn’t take long for him to throw them away, expunging the horrid smell from the house before the two of you make your way up to the attic.

Belle: “Just look.” You tell him, pointing at the hatch, “You’ll see how horrid it is in there.”
Chris: “If you say so…”

The two of you lean into the vertical passage, looking down into the darkness, yet… it feels different. The chute doesn’t seem to be so warped anymore… and you’re pretty sure you can see the bottom now. Of course, the ladder is still just as rusty and old.

Chris: “I mean, I wouldn’t want to climb down that ladder, dear…” he gives you a pat on your shoulder, “But I think the stress is getting to you. It’s just an old shaft.”
Belle: “I… I guess…” did… did you just imagine it? ”But the door! I heard something behind it!”
Chris: He leans close to it, listening, “Hmm… you’re right… it sounds like… a window is open in there, perhaps? It does draw rather cold through the gap under it.” Chris moves slightly and looks into the keyhole, “Something is blocking the keyhole as well… hmmm…”
Belle: “…and the barrel with drugs?”
Chris: He walks up to it and looks at it for a moment, before pulling out handkerchief and scrubbing away some dirt on the barrel, “The Moon and Star wine, picked under the harvest moon?” he points at the now visible plaque, “It’s just an old wine barrel, Belle… but geez, it does indeed smell bad.”
Belle: You lean in a bit to take a whiff… and all you can smell is badly aged wine, “But… I… did… did I imagine it all?”
Chris: “Belle, dear… you’ve had a stressful week, hun. Maybe you’re right; maybe you should take a break from exploring.” Chris moves back towards the locked door and rubs his chin, “Though even then, I want to get that door open, just in case a window is open in there.”

…this… this can’t be right, can it? Was it just your imagination?


[Inventory:]
Strange Flute
Puzzle Box
Torch
Old Photo album
Oil lamp
Rodent eaten Diary
Your Wedding ring

>>1060359
Ah. You were already infected with corruption, and it was causing hallucinations, triggered by literally any unpleasant stimulus. Likely from when the not-bear grabbed you. The spices purged you. This house is supposedly safe, so you should be fine until you go into town next, which will be when the amulet is ready, which will hopefully solve the problem.

It seems whatever's going on here can affect you too. Odd, the curse was only supposed to affect this family. I wonder, is it backwards? The curse affects everyone ELSE? Maybe the townsfolk are the murderers, and the angry expression on the painting was because of him having to deal with their shit. ...maybe it's something stupid, like hallucination-inducing gas leaking out of the ground in town, and some people are resistant to it... and its affects just happened to wear off when you threw the spices around.

Tell Chris you think something was affecting your mind, and the spices fixed it, or it just... wore off.

>door
Ok, I don't think we have the key to the door, so my guess is that the key is stuck in it. Put some paper under the door, then push the blockage out with something thin enough (should be something lying around in here), and see if pulling the paper back results in retrieving the key.

Honey, I'm willing to consider that I imagined it and am just over-stressing is plausible. But I'd ask that you support me as I, for now, need to act as if there might be something weird going on. Being rational, you probably, uh, 'assign a very low probability' that I'm correct, and you're right to do so, honey! Just... as long as it doesn't cost us to much, let me be cautious? And don't assign a ZERO probability that I'm right, okay? And help me to not be, yaknow, paralyzed or TOO cautious. That little ritual I did seemed to help, maybe we could do that some more and in some more rooms as we explore them?

...So, what? Do the spouses of the Kråkholmes go insane first? Eh.

Auction the booze. Even if it's tainted, it's still an expensive artifact.

As for the locked door, leave it. Have someone investigate from the outside, make sure the room isn't cluttered; that falling pile of junk gag kills people irl.

>>1060373
>Auction the booze
Sadly, it is empty. Only vapors remain.

Seems like everything's fine when Chris is around. Perhaps true love protects you from the curse.

Kaktus 2023/04/09(Sun)16:49 No. 1061073 ID: 681cb5
File 168108418854.png - (59.38KB , 700x550 , 70.png )

>It seems whatever's going on here can affect you too. Odd, the curse was only supposed to affect this family.
Ugh, maybe there isn’t a curse and this damn house is just getting on peoples nerves. Or maybe the evil of this place is just so horrid that everyone is affected by it? Bah, it doesn’t matter. As long as you have Chris you’ll be fine…
>Auction the booze. Even if it's tainted, it's still an expensive artifact.
It’s an empty barrel left in disarray by disuse; it’s not going to sell for much if at all.

Belle: “Sunflower…” your voice stammers if only so slightly, “I am willing to consider that I just imagined it but…”
Chris: “Say no more, Bluebell.” your husband interrupts you with a warm smile, “If doing that little dance with the spices made you feel calmer, then go ahead!” he looks you in the eyes before continuing, “You know I trust you, don’t you?”
Belle: “Thank you…”
Chris: “Beside, the worst it does is making the room smell of fresh herbs.” The hare laughs quietly before a wave of concern washes over his face, “Still, are you feeling alright? If you want, you can start on dinner instead while I finish up here. I do believe we still have some of those yummy, crispy lettuce leaves we bought in Arkham.”
Belle: “No, it’s fine…” you tell him while putting your hand on top of his head, “Things feels a lot better when you’re here, Chris…”
Chris: “I’ll always be there when you need me, bluebell.” Chris muses as he holds up his hand with his wedding ring on it, “I promised that 6 months ago, remember?”

Belle: “I got an idea.” You suddenly exclaim, “Can you find me something small and sturdy real quick? Something that will fit in the keyhole?”
Chris: “On it, Belle!”
Belle: “Then it’s just a matter of sliding the newspaper under the door…” you slowly push the Arkham Herald through the gap, expecting something to snatch it at any moment. But it never happens… instead, Chris returns with a rather long metal… um… curtain rod? Possibly? No matter… “And push the key through the keyhole on top of it!” After hearing a small thud from the other side of the door, you pull back the newspaper which now has a key on it, “Voilà!”
Chris: “Wow!” Chris exclaims while making a rather adorable face, “I thought this only worked in the movies, Belle!” the hare’s genuine amazement aimed towards you makes you blush a bit, “I’ve always loved your quick thinking, you know.”
Belle: “Aw chucks, Chris. I love you too.”

Kaktus 2023/04/09(Sun)16:49 No. 1061074 ID: 681cb5
File 168108419846.png - (68.37KB , 700x550 , 71.png )

As the door slowly creaks open, you instinctually grab a hold of a nearby metal pipe, gripping it hard in your hand as you’re ready to strike whatever beast might be lurking behind this wooden gate. Yet, all you’re met with is a rather barren room with a rather large window, which is letting the strong winds from the storm outside sway the light bulb hanging from the ceiling, creating the odd shadows you saw earlier. Other than that there’s just a few rather old children drawings and a pile of straw in here.

Chris: “Look!” your husband exclaims while pointing towards the other side of the room, “The window is open, just like I thought!” he starts bouncing towards it, eager to close it again, “Good thing you manage to get us inside, Bluebell, otherwise who knows how long this would remain open.”

…at least there isn’t some horrible monster locked in the attic.

>>1061074
>door locked from inside
>open window next to a tree
I think someone has been living in this room. They're not here now, but they might come back when you and your husband aren't home. But now that you've got the key, they won't be able to snoop around next time you guys leave the house.

>>1061074
Oh! I know what this is, this is where the old woman is staying, isn't it? Go look at her stuff, but you should leave everything untouched. It doesn't belong to you.

>>1061083

If this is where she's staying, than you can't leave her in, you know... an unheated part of the house without easy access to the bathroom facilities and such!

This is a honking huge house, you can afford to do the right thing and move her into a bedroom.

Come back at night, open the window, and patiently wait for her to return in the dark. Have a little chat with your squatter.

You'll let her live here as a housedoctor. Rent will be paid in making sure the residents stay alive and sane.

Kaktus 2023/04/15(Sat)13:14 No. 1061459 ID: 681cb5
File 168158966738.png - (111.28KB , 700x550 , 72.png )

Belle: “You know…” you ponder out loud as Chris closes the window, “I think someone might have been living in this room. Uninvited.”
Chris: “Really?” he looks over his shoulder at you, “What makes you say that?”
Belle: First you point towards the door where you came in, “The door was locked from the inside, wasn’t it?” before pointing towards the window behind Chris, “And the only other way out is that window that’s facing a tree, which we just found open.”
Chris: “Huh… that’s true…” the rabbit says as he stares out the window, “But who would come here?”
Belle: “It might be that old doctor I talked too…” you rub your shin, “She did mention that she had some kind of hidey-hole.”
Chris: “That old crow you were talking to earlier?” he continues looking out in silence, leaving only the sound of the rain smattering across the roof for several minutes, “I have a hard time imagining her climbing a tree and then jump over to the window, especially at her age.” Your husband leans closer to the window, clearly looking down towards the ground, “Though… maybe she used a ladder instead? Then again, that would be rather suspicious seeing a ladder right next to the front porch.”
Belle: “Maybe you’re right, maybe it wasn’t her.” You sigh while closing your eyes, “The key she had was made of copper and had some kind of engraving on it… while the key to this door was just a simple brass key.”
Chris: “And why should she stay here of all place?” Chris finally turns around and gesture into the room, “The only thing here is an old pile of straw and some ancient children drawings.”
Belle: “And some crayons.”
Chris: “And crayons!” the rabbit drags a finger across the top of the window, leaving it covered in dust, “No, it doesn’t look like anyone has been here for some time… we’re just lucky the open window hasn’t caused any damage to the house, really.”
Belle: “Still… why is there a pile of straw up here? And these drawings?”

Kaktus 2023/04/15(Sat)13:14 No. 1061460 ID: 681cb5
File 168158967652.png - (81.85KB , 700x550 , 73.png )

Looking over the drawings on the wall, you discover a familiar sight. One of them seems to depict the lighthouse down at the sea, though through the eyes of a child with crayons to munch on. There’s also a tree, a crow, a red house with a broken chimney and a huge door and finally a vase with some flowers in it. Of course, there’s also two other pictures that makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up.

The first depicts a happy looking person holding hands with… some kind of purple octopus, with the text ‘Momy’ and ‘Me’ above them respectively.

The second picture though, is the one that really sends a shill down your spine. Somehow, this child has managed to capture the unhinged madness of those red rimmed eyes, those horrid eyes. They are staring right into your soul, searing into it with its pure malice.

Chris: “What did you find?” you didn’t even notice Chris walk up to you, let alone him leaning over your shoulder, “What is that purple thing even supposed to be?” he leans his head to the side, clearly confused, “And is that the painting downstairs? It got the same freaky eyes.”

[Inventory:]
Strange Flute
Puzzle Box
Torch
Old Photo album
Oil lamp
Rodent eaten Diary
Your Wedding ring

Huh. Looks like, if you live in a reality where drugged up evil cultists successfully to make or summon horrible eldritch abominations... those same abominations they summon aren't always evil, just freaky looking. Like one of the morals of that Men In Black movie, that being ugly or freaky looking doesn't necessarily make you evil! Good to know.

>>1061460
It's the "Bear" in the woods. It's a mutant child who lived here once. So... I'm guessing when they touched you by the church, they were playing tag. A harmless game. This is incredibly useful information, both proving you weren't hallucinating and proving that the "Bear" isn't dangerous. I wonder if the children are disappearing because the "Bear" knows something bad is about to happen, and is taking them somewhere safe? Hey, this explains the contradiction we ran into about how many children they had. They hid one of them away, and they survived the slaughter.
Tell Chris about the "Bear" you saw in the woods, and how you think it was this child that was living here. They must have ran away when things went wrong in the mansion.

The drawing has a music box in it. I bet if you found that, and then found the "Bear" again, you could befriend them with it.
The initials are "BP". Odd, shouldn't that be "BK"? For Kråkholme? Or maybe P is their middle initial.

Looks like the mother is holding some kind of music box? Or maybe it's a box that opens up to a certain sound?

Ah. Technically, you're relatives with whatever the hell the kid is.
You need to find that music box. It might act as a sedative or a control rod.
Draw up a pictorial message and tape it to the window. Have whoever's been squatting here to meet you at the front door for apple pie and a chat.

>>1061477

You don't know it's harmless for certain. Even creatures that don't intend harm can still injure or kill a person via accident. This just means that not every weird thing she finds may directly intend her harm.

>>1061460
Look at the way the first picture was drawn. It's all neat and tidy. Then look at the picture of the father. Look at how it's all shaky and scribbled. I'm guessing this kid was also afraid of their father, even the act of drawing him freaked out the kid!

Also, look at the dates. Whoever this kid is, if they're still alive, they ain't a kid anymore. They're an adult!

Kaktus 2023/04/21(Fri)12:16 No. 1061854 ID: 681cb5
File 168210458071.png - (152.32KB , 700x550 , 74.png )

Slight art error in the last update. The initials are supposed to be BK not BP. I don’t know why I wrote P instead of K, but it happened.

Belle: “No, it’s a drawing of Edwards father.” You hold up the ‘dady’ drawing for your hubby to see, before pointing towards the other one, “And this must be his mother, Anna, and his older brother Björn.”
Chris: “Wait, he had a brother? Really?” Chris scratches his shin a bit, his ears twitching slightly, “...did we ever get Edwards fathers name, bluebell? We know who his grandfather was, but his actual father?”
Belle: “I don’t think so, no.”
Chris: “Still, seeing how this drawings were made over 30 years ago, I don’t think we have anything to worry about.” The rabbit puts his hand tenderly on the image of ‘Björn’, “Someone that deformed probably didn’t survive for long, the poor thing.”
Belle: “I don’t know…” you shudder a bit as you recall what happened earlier at the church, “I… I think I saw him. In the woods. He might be the bear the townsfolk have been talking about?”
Chris: “In the woods?” he turns around and look towards the window, “That seem rather unlikely… how would someone like that remain hidden for 30 years? Or even survive for that matter?” Chris stops for a moment and look towards the ceiling, clearly considering something, “Though… I guess his mother Anna should have been taking care of him… until she died 10 years ago.” he then walks up to the window and looks out before continuing, “He would be… what? Almost 40 today? Edward was 37 when he died, and this Björn is supposedly even older.”
Belle: “Either way, I guess there is a relative of yours from these part still alive, eh Sunflower?”
Chris: “Ugh, don’t remind me, Bluebell.

>Hey, this explains the contradiction we ran into about how many children they had. They hid one of them away, and they survived the slaughter.
It does explain the contradiction, but this wasn’t a child that survived Edwards massacre. This is Edwards older brother, the one the former doctor refused to talk about.
>I'm guessing when they touched you by the church, they were playing tag. A harmless game.
You’re not sure about that. Whatever it was you saw out there, Björn or otherwise, was… let just say it gave you the same feeling as those red rimmed eyes, a barely contained madness hidden behind pure malice. Something tells you it would be a really, really bad idea to try and find that thing.
>I wonder if the children are disappearing because the "Bear" knows something bad is about to happen, and is taking them somewhere safe?
Haven’t the kidnappings been happening for years? Where would he even hide them all? …and why?

>Looks like the mother is holding some kind of music box?
Belle: “Hey, Chris…” you turn around to find Christ still staring out the window, “Have we seen a music box anywhere?”
Chris: “Don’t think so, no…” his voice trails off, his tone flat.
Belle: “I get the feeling it might be important.” Walking closer to your hubby, you lean over his shoulder to see what he’s looking at, “Just in case Björn is still alive out there.”
Chris: “That’s nice dear…” the rabbit mumbles, clearly not listening.
Belle: “What are you looking at?” But Christ doesn’t answer, leaving you in near complete silence if it wasn’t for the rain smattering against the roof. He doesn’t even react, as he’s seemingly completely mesmerized by whatever is out there, “Chris?”
Chris: “Huh? Oh, nothing… I’m looking at nothing.” he shakes his head a bit before continuing, “I was just thinking about how we should cut down that tree next summer. It's spoiling the view you know, dear.”

Looking outside, all you can see is rain, the front law and the woods beyond that. What was he even looking at? …and why do you get this feeling of being watched?

Chris: “Welp, I’m starting to get a bit hungy.” Chris suddenly exclaim in his usual jovial tone, “How about I make the dinner tonight, love? You can continue searching for that music box if you want too… or did you want to take a break?” he gives you a warm smile, “I mean, we still have not checked that picture gallery on the first floor nor the cellar… as well as the dining hall, though I’m not sure there’s anything there but a long table and some chairs.”
Belle: “And the crypt.” you say in a rather unsure voice, “We haven’t looked in the crypt.”
Chris: “…I’m not sure why we would, though?” the rabbit looks towards the window, “Especially in this rain.” Before turning around with a small hop, “Either way, I’ll make some dinner. We brought with us some rice noodles and chicken, right?”

Chris starts to leave, humming happily to himself again, as you continue looking out the window. Whatever was out there seems to be gone now… or at least it feels that way.

>>1061854
He saw Björn. Tell him if he's worried about Björn climbing the tree to get back into his old room... yeah, that's a reasonable fear. This is going to be a problem...

Oh. I just realized why Chris seems to be unaffected by the curse. Only one heir at a time is cursed! Björn is the most direct descendant, so he's cursed now that his father is dead. So long as Björn lives, Chris is safe. It remains to be seen if the amulet will work to keep Chris safe after Björn is dead (for whatever reason).

Let's keep looking around. Try the picture gallery.

It might not be that extreme of a physical deformity. They could maybe have abused the child enough so that it saw itself like that, regardless of what it 'really' looked like.

>>1061883
This might be the solution to your problems. He gets immortality, and you get to live your lives without going completely insane. Win-win. Having a murder butler that makes the Frankensteins look like Obies is also a plus.

But this can only work if we find a way to solidify Dragomir's experiments. Preferably without sacrifice.
We might need to reverse engineer the music box. Both the technical and thaumaturgic aspects, potentially one at a time to test effects and synergies.

Also, don't think about Corbin having sex with Björn because that's not a thing hahaha you're thinking about it right now aren't you.

Kaktus 2023/04/26(Wed)08:13 No. 1062140 ID: 681cb5
File 168252200532.png - (72.63KB , 700x550 , 75.png )

>Oh. I just realized why Chris seems to be unaffected by the curse. Only one heir at a time is cursed!
So what… it’s Björn that’s cursed now? And as long as he lives, Chris is safe? Even if that’s true, the curse will eventually return, as Björn won’t live forever… it’s like they said… he will return for his blood. He always returns for his blood.
>This might be the solution to your problems. He gets immortality, and you get to live your lives without going completely insane. Win-win.
Except… he’s not immortal, is he? Everyone else who’s had been taken by the curse are dead, no? Edward… his grandfather… how far back does it even go? All the way to Bövel… or even further than that?
>Having a murder butler that makes the Frankensteins look like Obies is also a plus.
…yeah, no, you’re not going to put some feral man living in the woods into the position of butler.

Belle: “Did you see him out there?” you ask your hubby, “Edwards brother, I mean?”
Chris: “Hmm?” he stops in his tracks right as he’s passing the doorframe, “Oh, no, I didn’t see anyone.” The rabbit is about to continue walking, before stopping himself and turning his head to look at you, “Though… it did feel like someone was looking at me… and I at them.”
Belle: “So he is out there…” glancing towards the window, you put your hand over your snout, “Watching us.”
Chris: “Belle, there isn’t some monster out there that’s going to break in here.” Chris says with a rather stern voice while thumping his leg into the floor, “Besides, if it can get through a locked window, it can just smash through one on the ground floor, no?”
Belle: “And that’s supposed to give me piece of mind?”
Chris: “Oh, sorry, bluebell.” He gives you a sheepish grin as he rubs the back of his head, “I didn’t mean it like that.” Taking a deep breath, Chris smiles at you and calmly says, “But if it makes you feel better, if it’s that deformed, it can probably barely walk, let alone climb a tree.”
Belle: “It might not be that extreme.” you glance towards the pictures on the floor, “It might just be how he sees himself.”
Chris: “Well, if he’s just a man, he will probably have a hard time breaking in?”
Belle: “I still want to find that music box… just in case.” your eyes are fixated on the picture of it, “There’s just this feeling that it’s important.”
Chris: “Then check the cellar and the gallery for it.” he gives you a nonchalant wave as he walks away, “I for one am going to make some Pangolin Thai for dinner.” before walking down the staircase, only turning around when only his head is visible to say, “Good luck, Belle!” right as he disappears completely.

>Let's keep looking around. Try the picture gallery.
The gallery is rather calming, actually, as the bright white of the walls and large interior dispel any claustrophobia you might have still been feeling. Of course, hearing your hubby happily hum to himself as he cooks does help as well. Inside the gallery there is an old piano as well as several smaller photos and art pieces, but the main feature are six large painting hanging on the walls, each covered by a white
drape, hiding their appearance to the world.

Kaktus 2023/04/26(Wed)08:13 No. 1062141 ID: 681cb5
File 168252201578.png - (146.18KB , 700x550 , 76.png )

>>1057801
The first picture is called “The old ways” and is signed with the name Emerik K 1876. It seems to depict some kind of ritual in the woods; with a large obelisk being surrounded by worshipping shadows… all the while the sky is being torn apart by red lightning. Wait, in the clouds… it’s hard to see but… is that an eye? It look just like the other red eyes you’ve seen everywhere else in this place… and it almost feels like it’s staring back at you.


Then, as you remove the sheet covering the next painting, the sight of it makes you recoil in fright. You know this scene… you have seen it before. Six pyres set ablaze before an obelisk… an obelisk you saw today on the town square, each one containing a screaming young rabbit girl surrounded by an unruly mob. The congregation is brandishing pitchforks and torches; all the while the priest chants something in the middle of the painting. Yet… there is a difference. The sixth pyre, the one you were tied to in the dream, is empty… there is no one there to be set aflame. The words “The purge of the unworthy” as well as the signature Emerik K 1873 is written at the bottom of the painting.

You shudder as you once again feel watched.

[Inventory:]
Strange Flute
Puzzle Box
Torch
Old Photo album
Oil lamp
Rodent eaten Diary (unread)
Your Wedding ring  

>>1062141
Hey, look in the lower-right corner.
...Did she give birth in the middle of a burning pyre? That might have been enough to unnerve the zealots and convince them to spare her. Imagine if Hissus' barn was set on fire because some psycho thought it would be funny.
... Okay now imagine it with an anime filter.
Write the sigils in your notebook, they might be important later.

>>1062141
Wait, is that a nun carrying away a baby? This seems worth investigating.
Is that first pyre not lit? It's just embers, maybe? A witch failed to burn? Could also inquire into that.

Next painting. Don't look at the eye any further, keep it covered.

>>1062141
Look in the bottom right corner. Looks like someone managed to escape being burned and they’ve got a baby with them.

>>1062292
>Is that first pyre not lit? It's just embers, maybe? A witch failed to burn? Could also inquire into that.
The skeleton above the pyre implies that the witch was burned and is dead. Nothing to inquire about there.

>>1062303
>skeleton
Looks like a white rabbit with its ears back, to me. Also, still has a dress on. Lastly, bonfires aren't hot enough to reduce someone to a skeleton!

Kaktus 2023/04/29(Sat)16:24 No. 1062340 ID: 681cb5
File 168281069008.png - (63.41KB , 700x550 , 77.png )

>Hey, look in the lower-right corner.
Down in the corner, you spot a young rabbit girl, no more than possible 16 or 17 years of age, running through the sea of green paint with a small babe clutched in her hands. Looking closer, you’re amazed at the details in her face, as it almost looks like a photograph even if it’s done with oil paint. It’s a bit jarring compared to the undetailed forest she runs through, as it’s nothing but a murky mix of abstract shapes. Is she the one who’s supposed to be on the last pyre? If it wasn’t for her black raven hair and brown fur, she would be a dead ringer for one of Chris nieces.
>...Did she give birth in the middle of a burning pyre?
That child is clearly at least a few months old. There’s no way she had them while being tied to a stake.

>Is that first pyre not lit? It's just embers, maybe?
Moving your gaze back towards the burning pyres, it becomes clear that the artist obviously went to painstaking lengths to depict the burning in ghastly detail, skin curling away from blackened flesh, hair shriveling, eyes boiling in their sockets and melting across cracked and splitting cheeks... repeated five times over, on the bodies of five thrashing, screaming rabbit girls. It turns your stomach to look at. One of them is nothing but bone and seared flesh even… though you’re unsure if a pyre can even do that?
>Write the sigils in your notebook, they might be important later.
You write them down, just in case you need them later. If anything, you can confirm it is indeed the same sigils that are on the obelisk in the middle of town square.

Kaktus 2023/04/29(Sat)16:24 No. 1062341 ID: 681cb5
File 168281069983.png - (282.09KB , 700x550 , 78.png )

>Next painting. Don't look at the eye any further, keep it covered.
After making sure the paintings are all covered, you move on to the third painting…

It depicts a young rabbit apprentice butcher learns his trade in a slaughterhouse. The older rabbit, one with blood rimmed eyes, holds his cleaver above a severed deer's head, looking expectantly at the boy as though demonstrating the proper technique. The boy, holding a smaller cleaver of his own, looks on attentively. It would be sweet scene, except for the frankly alarming amount of gore. The aprons and faces of both master and apprentice are streaked with blood; blood pools on the chopping block and overspills the gutters; blood drips from the walls and from the skinned carcasses that can be seen hanging in the background. The two butchers stand ankle-deep in a reeking abattoir.

And... there's something wrong with the boy. Most of the rabbit’s body is hidden behind the chopping block, but there are details about the parts you can see that... don't seem to fit quite right. The arm holding the cleaver is slightly misshapen, for example, the fingers deformed in a way that you can't quite make out. And his neck seems just a bit too thick, and his head seems just a bit too large and blocky. His face looks normal enough, except that it seems to have been placed just slightly off-center. It's a very subtly disturbing effect. It’s been named “Passing on the blood” and signed “Emerik K 1881”.

Covering it up again, you face the fourth painting, “The attunement” by Emerik K 1874…

A madhare, clad in a filthy, ragged robe of purple and gold, his thin body covered with dirt and sores, dances wildly on an alter between two massive, metal pillars. His long, brown beard whips about his face in an unseen wind; behind him, a massive obelisk rises into the sky and beyond that, darkness. He seems to be playing some strange sort of wind instrument, like a flute. The rabbit is staring right towards you, his blood rimmed eye filled with madness and malice.

Kaktus 2023/04/29(Sat)16:25 No. 1062342 ID: 681cb5
File 168281070799.png - (34.33KB , 700x550 , 79.png )

Shaking off that horrid gaze, you remove the sheet on the fifth painting… “Successor” by Emerik K 1880.

It depicts a group of old midwives, a rabbit, bird and a horse, who are clustering around a bed-ridden hare who is apparently giving birth. The old women are wizened and grim, with crooked hands and bloodstained aprons. They seem to confer with each other in dark whispers that the younger woman, who is drenched in sweat and obviously in great pain, cannot hear. By the corner of the bed, there is an ominous detail: a bucket full of murky, red water.

Strangely, though, the old women are not the only ones present at the birth. Nearby, in another bed, lies a shriveled, decrepit old rabbit of brown fur. Although seemingly at death's door, he struggles to raise himself, as if to see the birthing over the heads of the hunched midwives. His wasted visage shows an expression of satisfaction or approval, and he is reaching out with one skeletal arm in a manner curiously similar to the famous picture on the Sistine Chapel, of God giving life to His creation Adam. His eyes are rimmed with blood.

As you grab the curtain wrapped around the sixth and last painting, you get a feeling of dread. Something is very, very wrong with this picture and your mind is screaming for you to just walk away, to ensure that you’ll never see it… but you can’t. As you slowly start to pull away the sheet, you read the inscription on the frame. “Three days left”, signed Emerik K 1-30-1886.

It’s a star filled sky, with the moon taking up most of the painting while the mars is hanging behind it. You let out a sigh of relief… it was nothing here after all. Nothing but stars…

Then you spot it. A singular red dot in a sea of dark, its mere presence filling you with terror as it stares back at you. A singular red rimmed eye hanging in the sky, staring down at you with disgust, and it’s getting closer. As you stare, the red dot start to grow bigger and bigger, it’s presence closing in on you as you feel your very mind being devoured by its madness. This world is doomed... it has already seen us.

You blink. It’s just a painting. A painting with a small red dot on it. It hasn’t moved… nor gotten any bigger. It is just a dot of paint, nothing more. Yet, it terrifies you…

>>1062340
>witch burning
Artistic license. Victims of burning at the stake generally fall unconscious from smoke inhalation before the burns get that severe. The first one having been reduced to bones is probably meant to imply they were burned far before the others, which holds some significance probably.

>>1062341
>passing of the blood
That's clearly Bjorn. Huh, does the father have to do a ritual to pass on the curse? Then, what we really have to do is to keep Bjorn away from Chris.

>>1062342
Take all the paintings outside and burn them. Wait shit it's raining right now. Well, you can at least cover them up, take them off the wall, and put them in a pile face-down. I don't suppose there's any paint thinner anywhere?

Tempting to break the flute, now that we know what it's used for.

Maybe it's a coincidence, but why is the little red dot surrounded by a dearth of starlight?

>Art
Someone poured their life into these paintings. Corrupt as they are, they are history and insight; to destroy data for 'creeping you out' is luddite behavior and you're above that.
That said, if you think they glorify cruelty and suffering, you can have someone de-frame and store them for the archives. Data does not need to be glorified. Maybe some hero in the future will have a stronger stomach...

Are you sure you looked at all the painting? Because after the 1st painting you skipped to here >>1062341 to the 3rd and 4th paintings and here >>1062342 you looked at the 5th and 6th paintings. You never looked at the 2nd painting! You might need to go back and check it in case there's anything important on it!

Kaktus 2023/05/02(Tue)16:08 No. 1062569 ID: 681cb5
File 168306888152.png - (181.79KB , 700x550 , 80.png )

>Are you sure you looked at all the painting?
>>1057801 First: The Old ways.
>>1062141 Second: The purge of the unworthy.
>>1062341 Third: Passing on the blood.
>>1062341 Fourth: The attunement.
>>1062342 Fifth: Successor.
>>1062342 Sixth: Three days left.

>Maybe it's a coincidence, but why is the little red dot surrounded by a dearth of starlight?
…it is plunking the stars from the sky, consuming them as if they were nothing but insignificant gnats as it passes by…
>Someone poured their life into these paintings. Corrupt as they are, they are history and insight; to destroy data for 'creeping you out' is luddite behavior and you're above that.
While you would like nothing more than to burn this whole place down, it wouldn’t be the right thing to do. No, these things need to be archived… but that doesn’t mean they need to be left hanging for all to see! You grab one of the frames and try your best to pull it off the wall, but it’s not happening. These things are both huge and well fastened, it seems. In the end, you have to be content with just cover them up for now.


>That's clearly Bjorn. Huh, does the father have to do a ritual to pass on the curse? Then, what we really have to do is to keep Bjorn away from Chris.
No. You’ve had enough. You’re not going to just sit around and wait for whatever that thing is to come for him! No, it is time to take action! Something is threatening your hubby, and you don’t care if it’s just some deranged cult wannabes, some feral misbegotten child in the woods or some red star that curses people, you’re going to find them and show them why you don’t mess with your husband Chris!
>Tempting to break the flute, now that we know what it's used for.
Going by the painting, the damage is already done… and for all you know this thing might be the key to stop whatever is going on. So no, you won’t snap it like a twig. Instead you’re going to find whoever it is that’s behind all this crap and shove the flute so far up their ass that they toot each time they breathe!

Alright, let’s be proactive. You need to figure out what’s going on first and foremost… but how? Let’s start by exploring the last part of the house you haven’t been in yet… the basement.

Kaktus 2023/05/02(Tue)16:08 No. 1062570 ID: 681cb5
File 168306888948.png - (116.80KB , 700x550 , 81.png )

As the ceiling light flickers on, you’re surprised by just how bright and homely this place is. Well, the bars on the window are a bit of a downer, but compared to some of the other rooms in this house this is actual normal. Though, listening to your hubby humming while cooking dinner helps a lot.

Looking around, you can see the fuse box, an old gas boiler that’s currently chugging away, a washing machine and a dryer, an empty board that was probably used to hang tools on and finally… potatoes? Huh…

You don’t know what you were expecting down here, but it wasn’t this.

Kaktus 2023/05/02(Tue)16:08 No. 1062571 ID: 681cb5
File 168306889846.png - (156.20KB , 700x550 , 82.png )

And finally, the wine cellar. An old room that wouldn’t be out of place in fantasy flick, what with its stone architecture from the middle ages. At first you’re surprised that all the wine racks are empty, but then you remember something Chris mentioned before you got here. Edward was found by the police down here, smashing all the bottles and ranting about the blood in their names?

Still, there is a singular wine rack filled to the brim with bottles… all of them labeled The Moon and Star wine, like the barrel up in the attic. At least it doesn’t smell down here like it did up there.

[Inventory:]
Strange Flute
Puzzle Box
Torch
Old Photo album
Oil lamp
Rodent eaten Diary (unread)
Your Wedding ring  

>>1062570
Which keys are missing?

>>1062571
Two things. One, there's a blue thing in the wine rack. Grab it.
Two, one of the kegs has the spigot pointing the wrong way. Might be a false lid. Could check the keg that's standing up, too...?

Ah hell all these kegs are going to have spoiled wine aren't they? Try not to sniff it.

>>1062569
Despite the cosmic threat of that fantasy, you can't help but wonder about the technological potential.
A spacecraft or space-faring life form that can subsist on literal starlight spread across literal light-years? Imagine the intergalactic empires your world could build with that.
>>1062571
Oh, it's just a regular wine cellar. Invest by restocking; add cheese instead of wine and let the alcoholic environment age the fromage gracefully.

Try not to think about how your husband is constantly gaslighting you, cheerful when you're upset, dismissive when you're cheerful, every word he says carefully couched to make you feel less confident of your own judgement and more confident in his.

You're probably just imagining it.

Whats that blue thing in the empty wine rack?

Kaktus 2023/05/08(Mon)16:27 No. 1063066 ID: 681cb5
File 168358844141.png - (44.40KB , 700x550 , 83.png )

>Try not to think about how your husband is constantly gas lighting you, cheerful when you're upset, dismissive when you're cheerful, every word he says carefully couched to make you feel less confident of your own judgment and more confident in his.
He has been acting a bit strange ever since he inherited this place… but surely that’s just stress, right? He can’t already be possessed, right? It’s just your imagination… nothing more. He is still your sweet little Chris, and not some murderous ghost from the past. And he will never be, as long as you’re here!
>Despite the cosmic threat of that fantasy, you can't help but wonder about the technological potential. A spacecraft or space-faring life form that can subsist on literal starlight spread across literal light-years? Imagine the intergalactic empires your world could build with that.
Isn’t this how most Sci-fi horror stories start? They usually end with the world being unmade by the scientists’ folly, remember?
>Oh, it's just a regular wine cellar. Invest by restocking; add cheese instead of wine and let the alcoholic environment age the fromage gracefully.
…you know, that’s a great idea. You do like a good, aged cheese… like a delicious brie… or maybe a marquise even, if we can stand the smell?

>Which keys are missing?
Let see… the first key is for the front gate? There’s an iron gate on the road right before you get to the manor, but in such a bad condition that can’t really lock it even with the key in hand.
Then there’s the back gate… which you guess is somewhere on the opposite side of the manor?
The third copper key belongs to the garage, which you know is empty seeing as your car is currently being repaired in Arkham, and finally a key to the small tool shed out in the garden, which you assume contain the garden tools?

As for the two missing keys, one is apparently for the crypt while the other is for… hmm… the M. River S. House? What is that? Still, you can’t help but think that you’ve seen a copper key like this before somewhere rather recently...

Kaktus 2023/05/08(Mon)16:27 No. 1063067 ID: 681cb5
File 168358845822.png - (63.31KB , 700x550 , 84.png )

>One of the kegs has the spigot pointing the wrong way. Might be a false lid. Could check the keg that's standing up, too...?
At first you’re a bit hesitant to approach them, seeing what happened last time you got close to a barrel of wine, but when you spot the marking on them that signify that they once contained whisky you breathe a sigh of relief. They are nothing more than a few empty barrels, probably done in by Edward when he went crazy down here. No false lids or secrets here…

But the wine rack next to it, on the other hand, is rather peculiar. On a closer look they aren’t real bottles, but wooden replicas, and as you try to pull one out you notice that they are built into the rack itself, which would explain why Edward didn’t smash these with the rest. As you’re examining them you can’t help but notice a bit of a pattern on them. Each one has a letter stamped on the wax seal of the bottle, right on the cork. Looking over the whole rack you can only come to the conclusion that each bottle has a unique letter, thus writing out the whole alphabet, from A to Z. What in the world…?


>Whats that blue thing in the empty wine rack?
It's a slim little blue book, no bigger than your hand, bound in imitation leather. Most of the pages has either been torn out or ruined by age, but the words “The Journal of Edward Kråkholme” can still be deciphered on the front of it. Whoever hid this clearly wasn’t expecting someone as tall as you to come down here, seeing as it was right at eyelevel for you. What's left of the journal reads:

“Desperate. Went back to the old twisting lane and found only a blank wall. Without the amulet, how can I resist --

Flute and Lens are still hidden… may he not find them…

Getting worse. People I have never met smile knowingly at me in the street. The police believe I am a child molester, but have brought no charges against me as of yet. Why? Head hurts all the time. I have turned the cellar upside-down... damn it all, where is it?

Dreamed of Father again. Dreamed of Grandfather. Those horrible, red-rimmed eyes...

-- into the safe, finally. 12-53-2. Won't forget THAT soon. Ha! Sigmund’s bloody eyes won’t mock me no more!

CANNOT DISCOVER ENTRANCE IN THE CELLAR!!! Secret eludes me still but I WILL FIND IT!!! The clue is in their names, that pestilential procession of names! If I could only --

The text breaks off as several more pages are missing. The last fragmented entry reads:

-- will fail. There is no recourse left. I know now what I must do. Julia, I am so sorry, please forg–“


You also remember you still have the small book you found in the bricked up children’s room, the one hidden behind the bed. Carefully, you turn the tattered pages, trying to find a title but to no avail. The handwriting is that of a young girl. You idly wonder if this might have been the diary of one of Edward’s daughters, but then you notice part of a date, just visible in the corner of the page: 1949. This must have been written several years before Edward was born. The mice really have been at it though, most of the pages have been chewed away, but the entries that are legible read as follows:

“...Father came again to my bed last night-- --mother doesn't-- tells me I can't-- to be a good daughter. Sometimes it hurts, but Father always tells me I shouldn't cry. Father says a daughter must do her Duty if she wants to get into Heaven. And I do want to get into Heaven...

[This entry dated 1957] ...my poor little Björn. Father calls him an aberration, child of the Devil, but I don't believe-- --locked in the attic. I go to see him whenever Father is away. I sing to him, sometimes, through the keyhole, and slip him sweets through the crack under the door-- --my baby is beautiful-- --can't let him hurt my dear baby Björn-- --to doctor Corbin, and she has a plan-- --I can never-- --the music box, Björn, so that you can always remember my voice. It is the only thing that soothes you…

Nothing else is readable except for one fragmented entry near the very end of the book, the date in the corner reading February 27, 1962:

--dead, but not dead yet-- --will not allow him to do to Edward what he wanted to do to Björn-- --have learned-- --given him the charm against the-- --never take it off, dear Edward-- [a page has been torn away] --fear to sleep-- --mist at the window– --he is here. He has returned for his blood.“


…Hissus Christ, what happened in this horrid place!?

[Inventory:]
Strange Flute
Puzzle Box
Torch
Old Photo album
Oil lamp
Child’s Diary
Edwards’ Diary
Your Wedding ring  

>>1063066
The old woman has one of the missing keys. My bet is the S. House. I guess it's *possible* she's staying in the crypt though... We need to investigate both locations eventually to see which one she's in, so that we can break/pick the lock to the one she's NOT in.
...ugh, the keys are all the same, aside from their teeth. We need to label them so they don't get mixed up! Do you have some markers somewhere? Or colored tape?

>>1063067
>will not allow him to do to Edward what he wanted to do to Björn
"He" being the thing that possesses people, I gather. Sounds like an alternate personality takes over the heirs. Literally a possession. Which means, yeah, it's one at a time, and Chris is probably fine for now, aside from the ambient corruption in the area, which you felt in your very head.

Sounds like Edward planned to kill himself to prevent a full possession? Then Björn got possessed because Edward didn't even know about him due to his alternate personality, I bet. It's very likely Björn killed the rest of his family, though... it's also possible Edward didn't kill himself in time and instead the demon did it during his death throes.

>names
Hmm. Might have to do with the names of the male heirs? If we can find a list of the heirs, then arrange the bottles on the left side of the rack matching the first letter of each name, and in order, that might work?
Might have to get into the crypt to collect the names, and also take into account Björn is the current heir.

Evil space ghost got someone pregnant and is using that connection to try to reach and presumably destroy the world. It's not a "what happened" so much as a what to do about it. For sure, getting the amulet to Chris is top priority. That is... assuming something isn't terribly wrong, and _you_ are somehow the descendent who is prey to the red star, not Chris.

Seems Edward was onto something, a different option other than sacrificing the red one's kin to keep him from returning, but he couldn't figure out certain things, and ran out of time and sanity.

There is apparently already some sort of supernatural influence over everyone, not just the prey, if they were influenced into thinking Edward committed heinous crimes. The amulet might protect against that, letting its bearer find things, where everyone else's perceptions were twisted to lead them to a blank wall instead.

Why did Edward give up his amulet to the gay fish dude? Something seriously wrong with that. Even if the red star is pure hogwash, and Edward simply an ordinary madman, he needed the amulet so desperately he would never have just... given it away. Why did the gay fish dude give it back? Guilt? Hm...

The wine bottles are clearly involved with Edward's "secret entrance in the cellar" but for the life of me, I can't figure out how they'd be used to open it. They can't be rearranged into a different order, they're built into in each slot. Do some of them sink in when pressed, like some sort of switch? No clue what the "pestilential procession of names" may be.

Kaktus 2023/05/24(Wed)13:08 No. 1064478 ID: 681cb5
File 168495890984.png - (96.38KB , 700x550 , 85.png )

>The old woman has one of the missing keys. My bet is the S. House. I guess it's *possible* she's staying in the crypt though...
That’s where you’ve seen one of these keys before! That old crow had one! Of course! But which key it is you have no idea… if only you knew what they meant with M.River S.House. Either way, you need to find her tomorrow and get it back.

>The wine bottles are clearly involved with Edward's "secret entrance in the cellar" but for the life of me, I can't figure out how they'd be used to open it.
You try to push them, pull them and even twist them but no matter what you do they refuse to budge. These bottles seem to be built into the shelf itself! Then there’s thing Edward wrote down, the “pestilential procession of names"… what does that even mean? Maybe it’s the names of the male heirs? It’s possible… though you probably need to get into the crypt if you want to find all the heirs names.
>Also take into account Björn is the current heir.
This thing was clearly built sometime in the late 1800s, long before Björn was born. His name will probably not be part of this puzzle.

Leaving the basement enigma for later, you return to the serene light of the kitchen, where your cute little hubby is waiting for you with newly cooked dinner. As the two of you eat you get lost in thought, barely following the small talk Chris is partaking in.

>"He" being the thing that possesses people, I gather. Sounds like an alternate personality takes over the heirs. Literally a possession.
There’s definitely something that is driving the Kråkholme’s mad, but what exactly is it? Is it just a disease of the mind that plagues the family… or is there something far more sinister behind this? Is it possible that there’s some ghost from the past, or even a demon, that’s doing this? Possibly connected with the red star? Not to mention, when did it even start? With Edwards grandfather Dragomir or did it begin with Bövel himself? Maybe even before that? What is clear is that whatever it is drove Edward to kill his family before committing suicide in some kind of attempt to stop it. Of course, it seems like he failed.
>It's very likely Björn killed the rest of his family, though.
Is it? If you remember correctly the Arkham polis caught Edward red handed, literally. He was found in the wine cellar, smashing bottle while holding the axe that killed his family, covered in their blood ranting about how he set them free from the blood or some such. Edward then committed suicide in the Asylum a month later, so Björn doesn’t seem to fit in that timeline at all.
>Seems Edward was onto something, a different option other than sacrificing the red one's kin to keep him from returning, but he couldn't figure out certain things, and ran out of time and sanity.
He was clearly trying to stop whatever evil that permeate this forlorn town, but what is this about sacrifices? All you know is that he was in the end consumed by the very deranged mind he tried to escape… though if that was his goal, then why did he give away the amulet? Damn it, if only you had the rest of his dairy… or some other source of knowledge about this creeping dread.

Let us go back to the beginning… Bövel Kråkholme came here from the old country and founded this town, Crowmoor, in the 1600s. While he was alive he was a powerful and feared man, so feared in fact that as soon as he passed away the town burned his daughters at the stake, though apparently they missed one, if the painting is to be believed.

Then, somewhere between the 1600s and 1900s the Kråkholme family line returned, with Dragomir as the new heir. Then, in the 60s, he was arrested and died in prison, leaving his daughter Anna here in Crowmoor. She had Edward about the same time with some unknown father, who grew up right here in this mansion… before going mad and killing himself and his family. But what does that have to do with the red star? When did it all start? You need to find more information, but where would you look? You’ve been in every room of the house but… wait, the observatory! Where is it!? You’ve been in every room of the house, but there’s no door that leads to it! Is there more secrets doors hidden in this place?

Damn it… you need to take a moment and think… what is your next step? Maybe you should just take an early night and see what tomorrow brings?

> what is this about sacrifices?
> He was found in the wine cellar, smashing bottle while holding the axe that killed his family, covered in their blood ranting about how he set them free from the blood or some such.

That is what's about sacrifices. Edward sacrificed his family, thinking he was saving them from the red star. Or was framed for doing so. You weren't thinking about any sacrifice other than simply that. Perhaps the witch burning. That did hurt an awful lot...

> the Kråkholme family line returned, with Dragomir as the new heir

It's reasonable to assume that Dragomir was, or was descended from the rabbit depicted in the painting being spared from the witch burning. No telling whether the painting was accurate or dramatized though, or perhaps even altered to add the fleeing matron and child.

>>It's very likely Björn killed the rest of his family, though.
> Is it?

On the contrary, Björn has shown no inclination towards violence so far. Your brief possible experience with him was... rambunctious at best. And his one remaining eye as blue as the sky matched with the photograph of him as a child. It was in no way rimmed in red like the mad eyes you've seen before. Whatever drug, or... effect is turning people toward irrational violence, he is probably not yet touched by it.

Oh right, concrete plans. Yes. Do recall the old map of the house that had the phrase "Where is the dome?!!" inscribed on it. You've been in the attic, and the observatory dome is clearly on top of the house. Can you see the peaked attic roof from outside the house, and where the dome is in relation to that? Might give you some idea where the entrance to the dome might be. If the blueprints did not have the observatory in them, it may have been constructed after the building was finished. An outside entrance, perhaps?

Kaktus 2023/06/05(Mon)13:56 No. 1065214 ID: 681cb5
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>Edward sacrificed his family, thinking he was saving them from the red star. Or was framed for doing so.
He did indeed murder them in an attempt to spare them from the curse… and to make sure it didn’t continue spreading.
>It's reasonable to assume that Dragomir was descended from the rabbit depicted in the painting being spared from the witch burning.
The witches were after all the daughter of the first Kråkholme, Bövel, which means that the one that escaped should be Dragomir’s ancestor. But the question still stands… why return to a town that burned your own siblings alive?


While Chris is busy setting up the TV in living room you take a moment in an attempt to figure out where the observatory is. Looking from the outside, the dome is right next to the peaked attic roof, meaning that it’s wall to wall with the room you found the children drawing in… but there isn’t a single trace or sign that there’s ever been an entrance there. Continuing your search, you check the ceiling in both your bedroom and the corridor outside it, as the dome should be located right above it, but again the entrance to the observatory eludes you. You even take a quick run around the house in the rain to see if there’s a way in out there, but the only thing you manages to achieve is some wet clothes and muddy paws. Wherever the entrance is, it’s clearly very well hidden.


After about an hour you throw up your hands and give up, instead joining your hubby on the couch watching TV the rest of the evening. Taking a break before continuing your search tomorrow might be just the thing you need…

“That’s another symptom!”
“Of what?”
“Rabies.”
“Oh that’s fatal, you don’t want that!”

Kaktus 2023/06/05(Mon)13:56 No. 1065215 ID: 681cb5
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The rest of the day goes by without any more hiccups, leaving you and your hubby snuggling in the bed while listening to the pitter patter of rain on the windows. Maybe it isn’t so bad here after all… maybe you don’t need to worry about the curse at all? After all, Björn is the one who’s cursed, not Chris… and tomorrow you’ll get the amulet from the priest that will protect him. Things are not too bad… no need to worry, Belle. Just relax… and let sleep embrace you.

Let sleep…

Sleep…

…

zZzZz…

Close the curtains.

No, bad husband! You promised not to join the cult!

Hold him tighter until he makes squeaky noises!

Wake up and check if your husband is in his right frame of mind!

VWOOMWOOMWOOMWOOM

Roll over and continue to sleep.

You're dreaming: you went to sleep with the curtains closed, and they wouldn't lock themselves in open position from the wind.

"Hmpghf. Could you close the curtains dear?"

Make chocolate bnnuyxof