Book Two - Undertows of Disbelief

[Starbeard]

Marius Albertoni

Marius takes in the scenery as they go along their tour. "What do you know about the double murder itself? How it was done, anything about the couple or their history?"

[Mant72]

Dr. Francis Morgan:

Keeping stride with the towering Irishman, Dr. Morgan nervously clutches the valet to his chest and scrutinizes the passersby. Morgan then asks, "Mr. Malone, do you have any information pertaining to the history of 'The Shunned House'?"

[Grognardsw]

"I'm no historian, but from what I've heard the Shunned House got its name back in the colonial days," says Officer Malone. "The original settlers, the Colwens, who built it were of some unorthodox religion that didn't sit well with folks. While religious freedom was part of why many settlers came to the New World, tolerance can still be tested. Dark rumors developed - talk of animals gone missing, weird stuff. When the witch trials flared up Massachusetts way, we got a touch of it down here and the Colwens left. People living there later spoke of ghosts and bad luck. It burnt down, was rebuilt, and passed hands many times over the years. A couple bought it back in 1895 and were found murdered in their bed, all cut up. There was a big hole in the ceiling up into the attic, but other than that nothing. No much was recorded about the couple. The house was vacant for about six month before Konstantin Chertovski purchased it in 1900."

[Starbeard]

Marius Albertoni

"All cut up, huh?" Marius huffs out his nose and sways his jaw from side to side, unsurprised. "Do you know if any body parts were missing from the scene? Head or hands, maybe?"

To the others he adds, "That hole to the attic is a puzzler. I wouldn't mind taking a look up there, but I doubt there'd be much left to see, especially if the place has been renovated."

[DadsAngry]

Dr. Clarke:

"Perhaps we (referring to the Dr. Morgan, himself and Edith) could dig a little deeper into the history of the shunned house. It is of course our area of expertise. The local library, universities, newspaper and historical society might hold more information on the Colwens and the later occupants. With any luck we can trace the origins of the Colwens back to their Massachusetts home and original place of birth."

[Mant72]

Dr. Morgan:

"Excellent idea, my friend. I'm sure we can uncover some information on the house and its former occupants."

[Grognardsw]

Marius Albertoni

"All cut up, huh?" Marius huffs out his nose and sways his jaw from side to side, unsurprised. "Do you know if any body parts were missing from the scene? Head or hands, maybe?"

To the others he adds, "That hole to the attic is a puzzler. I wouldn't mind taking a look up there, but I doubt there'd be much left to see, especially if the place has been renovated."

Detective Malone


answers Marius:"That's a good question. I heard about that grisly detail in the murders in Providence and Boston. I don't recall hearing about that 25 years ago. I'll have to check our records. As to the house, yes it's been renovated and additions of a puzzling sort have been done as I mentioned earlier. Many people have been inside. Chertovski isn't a recluse, rather the opposite. Between his lectures I mentioned earlier, his proselytizing about philosophy and his support of the arts, he can be quite social. With the right finesse you may be able to get invited into the house."

Dr. Clarke and Dr. Morgan confer about checking into the history of the double murder and the house.

Malone continues his walk through Red Hook, proceeding north. The neighborhood is getting marginally better.

"In fact, our walk will bring us soon to a graveyard that Chertovski frequents most every afternoon," continues Malone.

Soon enough the investigators arrive at a Russian Orthodox church,



next to which is a graveyard.

"Now there's an establishment across the street providing coffee that's not what you'd call unspeakable," says Malone. "I fancied we might sit and watch for him while we talk."

- Edith actually didn't go with the others to Red Hook.
- Though I mentioned it way back and at other points along the way, elements of this campaign (including exact quotes or text blocks) come from Alan Moore and, of course, Lovecraft.

[Mant72]

Dr. Francis Morgan:

Even though the more seedier parts of town are being left behind, Dr. Morgan continues to clutch the valet close to his person. He turns to inquire, "Mr. Malone, is there by chance a library or local newspaper where we could possibly conduct research on the 'Shunned House' and its history?"

[SocraticLawyer]

Reginald Wilkins, bookdealer

"That's a good question. I heard about that grisly detail in the murders in Providence and Boston. I don't recall hearing about that 25 years ago. I'll have to check our records. As to the house, yes it's been renovated and additions of a puzzling sort have been done as I mentioned earlier. Many people have been inside. Chertovski isn't a recluse, rather the opposite. Between his lectures I mentioned earlier, his proselytizing about philosophy and his support of the arts, he can be quite social. With the right finesse you may be able to get invited into the house."

Dr. Clarke and Dr. Morgan confer about checking into the history of the double murder and the house.

Malone continues his walk through Red Hook, proceeding north. The neighborhood is getting marginally better.

"In fact, our walk will bring us soon to a graveyard that Chertovski frequents most every afternoon," continues Malone.

Soon enough the investigators arrive at a Russian Orthodox church,



next to which is a graveyard.

"Now there's an establishment across the street providing coffee that's not what you'd call unspeakable," says Malone. "I fancied we might sit and watch for him while we talk."

"An excellent idea, Mr. Malone," says Reginald. If the other investigators want to research the history of the Shunned House, Reginald will stay with Malone and observe Chertovski.

Reginald tries (and fails) not to think about the last time a member of the cult was associated with a graveyard, and the unspeakable horror that lurked beneath. Reginald also wonders if there is another Gate somewhere close by, perhaps under the graveyard, in the Orthodox church, or even in the Shunned House itself.

Reg asks the policeman, "Mr. Malone, do you know whether Chertovski is hosting any events at the Shunned House within the next few days?"

[Grognardsw]

"Yes there is, Dr. Morgan," answers Detective Malone. "There is the Brooklyn Historical Society and the local library branch." He provides the addresses.

The men settle into the coffee shop across the street from the church and graveyard.

"I'm not sure about events at the Shunned House. There is sometimes a flyer posted in the basement of the first church we saw, that lists upcoming lectures Chertovski is giving in the church. He's not shy about seeing folks in his house."

Coffee and danish is brought to the table, which is against the large windowfront affording a view across the street.

[Mant72]

Dr. Morgan:

After taking a seat at the table, Dr. Morgan secures the valet case between his feet, settles in to enjoy his coffee, and awaits the arrival of Chertovski.

[Grognardsw]

The investigators drink coffee and confer about who will research the Shunned House and old murders.

"The history of Chertovski's house is interesting I suppose, but what he's done to it since then is more so," proffers Detective Malone. "I can't well understand why he added on to it the way he did. What will be the lines of your investi --"

"Well speak of the devil," says Malone, pointing through the window...

"That's Konstantin, making his daily visit to the graveyard."

Chertovski steps through the rod-iron gate surrounding the graveyard and strolls through to about the middle of the 80' x 80' cemetary. He is a distinguished older gentleman in a heavy brown long coat with fur-trimmed collar, gray hat, and walking stick. From the investigators vantage point, he is seeming to pause before a particular gravestone.

[Starbeard]

"Well, I'll be," says Marius. "He looks pretty harmless. Looks like he fancies himself a bit of a Rasputtin', though." He makes a mental note of which gravestone Konstantin Cherkovski appears to be observing, so that he can look it over after the man leaves. In the meantime, he sips his coffee and watches the scene with the leisure of someone comfortable in their anonymity.

[Mant72]

Dr. Morgan:

Dr. Morgan leisurely sips his coffee and inquires, "Detective Malone, to your knowledge, do you know if Chertovski always visits the same gravestone during his strolls through this garden of stone?"

[Grognardsw]

Dr. Morgan:

Dr. Morgan leisurely sips his coffee and inquires, "Detective Malone, to your knowledge, do you know if Chertovski always visits the same gravestone during his strolls through this garden of stone?"

"Well to be honest I don't know much details on the man, just the broad strokes of information picked up through talks with different people," answers Detective Malone. "He hasn't committed a crime that we know of, so we can only do so much. Now you gentlemen may chase down something that we can sink our teeth into, so to speak."

[SocraticLawyer]

Reginald Wilkins, bookdealer
Reginald enjoys his coffee and eats a danish. He also tries to make a mental note of the exact stone that Chertovski inspected.

After Chertovski leaves, Reginald will take a quick trip to the basement of the orthodox church next door, to see if there are any fliers such as Malone mentioned.

[Grognardsw]

The investigators watch Chertovski, trying from a distance to judge which gravestone he is standing in front of (Know. rolls please.)

"The case must be unusual to have private citizens involved," comments Detective Malone. He looks at Dr. Clarke and Dr. Morgan. "Is there a special aspect of this case that requires your academic expertise?"

[DadsAngry]

Dr. Clarke:

David makes a quick glance at Frank not sure how to answer that question without revealing the secret cargo they held. Dr. Clarke says "Oh I'm sorry my mind was elsewhere. I was just thinking of a colleague of mine and hoping that she was safe. Your question now, is there a special aspect of this case that requires our academic expertise? One can say that having expertise like ours is essential to any investigation. Wouldn't you agree Dr. Morgan?" Dr. Clarke throwing the question back to Dr. Morgan to further muddle the question. Keeping it unanswered and lined with double talk. A tactic learned from the many years of dealing with inquires of misappropriated grant money.

[Mant72]

Dr. Morgan:

Frank returns David's furtive look over the rim of his coffee cup and continues with the line of thought that was fed to him, "Well... yes, Detective Malone...my colleague, Dr. Clarke, and I are both professors of archeology, and our recent experiences and studies of ancient cultures have inevitably brought us here to become involved with the case at hand. I'm sure that I speak for Dr. Clarke as well when I say that we are willing to offer our services in any way to assist with resolving this intriguing matter."

Knowledge 65: [1d100] = 21

[Starbeard]

Marius Albertoni

Mr. Albertoni adopts a reticent posture, sinking into his vaguely baggy suit and gazing into his cup of coffee in an attempt to avoid entering into the conversation. Best to leave such uncomfortable dialogs to the others; after all, he thinks, I'm only tagging along.

Know roll (65): [1d100] = 51