# Session S01 > [!overview] > [campaign:: [[Call of Cthulhu - Dark Carnival|Dark Carnival]]] > [session:: S01] > [next:: [[2024-04-12_S02]]] > [session date:: 2024-04-05] > [campaign date:: 1928-05-19] > [my pc:: [[Dr. Clara Monroe]]] > [dm:: [[kailiblue|Kaili]]] > [player:: [[Leah Ferguson|Leah]], [[Zirsoa]], [[itsarborday|Arbor]]] > [pcs:: [[Dr. Clara Monroe]], [[John Ashford]], [[Edgar Walton]]] > [active npc:: ] > [discussed npc:: ] > [active locations:: ] > [discussed locations:: ] > > --- > > (tldr:: Detective [[John Ashford]] teams up with [[Dr. Clara Monroe]] and [[Edgar Walton]] to investigate the deaths and disappearnces of three young people at the local carnival near Providence, Rhode Island. Edgar, a carnival worker new to the troop, proceeds on his own to get the inside scoop about the Tunnel of Terror, where [[Freddie Pendergast]] was last seen. The detective and Dr. Monroe investigate a closed tent, only to find something lurks beneath the ground, and the carnival workers aren't quite who they seem.) ### Starting notes: Based on the discussions in this chat, as well as what I understand of your backstories, I've gone ahead and put a story together. This can be added to or changed with everyone's input, it's simply just an introduction (also if I messed up on character pronouns *please please please* correct me, seems like this field was accidentally missed on everyone's character sheet.) Providence, Rhode Island. May, 1928. A string of crimes along the Seekonk River has put Detective [[John Ashford]] back into the saddle. Police are certain that the disappearance of [[Lucy Pringle]], the kidnapping of [[Freddie Pendergast]], and the murder of [[Kent Howard]] are all somehow related — but they are desperately searching for any evidence to prove this. All that is certain for now, is that each of these news-breaking instances happened in or around the Blue Star Amusement Arcade. Police Captain [[Henry Winchester]] is certain that John can put the puzzle together, or at the least, solve these three cases individually. Armed with a lit cigarette and a fresh notebook, John books a room at the nearby Maryland Hotel to begin his work. But no tough case can be cracked by a sole Investigator. John reaches out to an old contact, [[Dr. Clara Monroe]], a well-reputed Psychologist at the [[Butler Insane Asylum]], who has been privy to police dealings in the past. Doctor Monroe agrees to assist in the case, her expertise in the field of Psychology and "reading of intention" will help break any kidnapper or serial killer dead in their tracks. Besides, an excuse to escape the white-washed, scream-filled hallways of the Asylum never seems to come often enough. Though there was still a piece missing: an insider. If somehow, all three of these cases are linked, it seems plausible that it is the work of *someone* at the Carnival. In order to delve into the inner workings of the staff, gain access to faculty-only areas, and perhaps sneak around after the closing time, the only option is to recruit a freelancer. Luckily, the duo happens into [[Edgar Walton]], an actor and clown who has recently started at Blue Star. Edgar for a pay cheque straight from the Police Department, and perhaps good boy points with the local authorities, Edgar agrees to assist the good Detective and Psychologist in an investigation. Arriving at the Maryland Hotel at 5pm on May 19th, the Investigators begin to break down all the details they know so far… ## Notes - Scenario is from Curse of Cthonians, but updated - 1920s Standard - The People - GM: Kylie (Kai) - Players - Zirsoa: [[John Ashford]], Detective - Former detective, ex-wife etc. - Me: [[Dr. Clara Monroe]], Psychiatrist - Daughter of a Dr. Munroe who also worked at [[Butler Insane Asylum]] - Arbor: [[Edgar Walton]], Clown - Fairly new to Blue Star - The police are stretched thin with this case, and has reached out to [[John Ashford]] who has brought on [[Dr. Clara Monroe]] and [[Edgar Walton]] - The three cases: - [[Lucy Pringle]]: 1927-07-07 - Young student ([[Kent Howard]]), mathematician and his date, Lucy - A date night at the Blue Star - Got tipsy (pre-[[Prohibition]]), headed to the river - Lucy teased Kent for a kiss and ran off into the forest (if he could catch her) - His testimony in court, felt stalked in forest, was attacked - Tore off his arm - Like a bear but not - Kent stumbled back into the fairgrounds hours later; he was rushed to hospital - Search began for Lucy - No trace ever found - Rumours that Kent had murdered her, but was eventually let off hook - Is a patient at the [[Butler Insane Asylum]] - [[Freddie Pendergast]]: 1927-10-10 - Local 12 year old boy - Weekends - Two best friends: [[Johnny]] & [[Eli]] - Mother: [[Primrose Pendergast]] - Live 5 minutes away - Thought the carnival was safe - He never showed up for dinner (5pm) - At 6pm, called the friends boys' parents - They lost track of Freddie (separate cart in the Tunnel of Terror) - 6:45 PM, contacted Providence Police Department » taken very seriously, but nothing found - Search continued for 2 months; no sign ever found - John has heard rumours that beat cop made a claim he had seen Freddie 3 weeks after disappearance - Police Captain [[Henry Winchester]] covered it up, saying the beat cop was insane - [[Kent Howard]]: 1928-02-11 - In [[Butler Insane Asylum]], received shock treatment, deemed safe, and returned to society - Lived with friend [[Thomas Gentry]] - He returned to Blue Star to wander - 1927-02-11 2:35 PM - Salt water taffy by the river - 15 minutes later, gun shot - 9mm pistol - For [[Dr. Clara Monroe]] - First few months, he was completely insane - His story didn't match what was said in court - Shadowy monster, always following him - He was considered very dangerous, under care of special doctor from New York (visited every few weeks) » [[Dr. Luke Ptolmey]] - After the shock treatment, the monster talk stopped - It's now 1928-05-19, and we are in a shabby run-down hotel at 4:30 PM - [[Henry Winchester]] thinks all three cases are related and wants them closed - We decide that [[Edgar Walton]] shouldn't be associated with us, and use his status as the inside man, and then [[John Ashford]] and [[Dr. Clara Monroe]] will go separately to investigate. - [[Edgar Walton]] goes first and arrives at the carnival - He changes into his clown uniform - Large line at the Tunnel of Terror (25–30 minute queue) - Ticket taker is [[Todd McGuire]], late 20s, early 30s - Has been running the Tunnel for about 6 months; took over when [[Leroy Robertson]] switched over to the ferris wheel - [[Leroy Robertson]] had weird sightings after the boy went missing… creeped him out - He heads over to talk with [[Leroy Robertson]] - [[John Ashford]] and [[Dr. Clara Monroe]] arrive at the carnival - Won't get busy for at least an hour or two - Fairgrounds are populated by kids and teens - John suggests we introduce ourselves to management - The teen girl reappears with the manager, [[Nathaniel Tucker Wrathby|Mr. Wrathby]] (owner of the property) - His smile fades as John introduces himself and brings up the disappearances and recent murder - John can tell he seems nervous (extreme success) - We take the 10 minutes to trek through the fairgrounds to the small pier at the river where [[Kent Howard]] died. We stop at a bench. He was killed on the bench. - This is the only bench that is mostly blocked from the main fairgound, only visible on the pier - Blocked by a kiosk, hasn't been used in years. Used to be a staff area. - The disappearances have caused folks to stay away - John asks about [[Kent Howard]] returning so frequently, felt bad so gave him a free access for life ticket - [[Kent Howard]] didn't talk much with people, but really enjoyed that bench - He'd watch the river - [[Nathaniel Tucker Wrathby]] has a large key ring with 20+ keys. It's an old lead key, which John takes. - John and Clara head in - Floorboards have been pried up. It's dirt and rotting wood, dank smell - It's very dark inside but there are three small holes that let sunlight in - The bench is visible… and it's very clear they are the three bullet holes… shots fired from within the tent - [[Edgar Walton]] goes and talks with [[Leroy Robertson]] - Remembers putting him on the ride, but doesn't remember taking him off - Suggests [[Edgar Walton]] tries the ride - Not many places he could have hopped out - Staff access door leading to the basement - Mentions that some people have seen the boy since he disappeared… but [[Edgar Walton]] can tell he is holding things back… - Edgar convinces him to talk… [[Leroy Robertson]] says part of the shut down process requires someone to go through the ride just to make sure it's fine. Just before the last turn, that's where the staff access door is. Leroy rode it a few days after Freddie went missing, and the door was open and lights on downstairs… and thought he saw something or someone standing in the doorway » hunched over and skinny. Thinks it pointed a finger at him… - Leroy looks past him and he hears someone walking up behind him… - We jump back to [[John Ashford]] and [[Dr. Clara Monroe]] - He didn't let the cops into the tent, but his wife sometimes has the key - John looks around for casings and such… but by pure luck, his foot sinks into the ground almost to his knee » uncovered a small hole in the centre of the kiosk - The hole goes deep… something is reflective below - [[Nathaniel Tucker Wrathby]] gets down on his hands to look - Some buildings have basements, like the Tunnel of Terror - He says he can get people to help… then stalls and is worried about the gas line etc. - John tries to persuade him… and succeeds! - He goes to get help - Clara glances down the hole and sees something move… and stops… and sees a humanoid with yellow eyes. - John listens and hears someone crawling… multiple peoples - Clara bends down to look closer - A maleformed man with long limbs… sanity check… 98! (Oh no.) It opens it's mouth but no noise comes out… She sees it so clearly… - We jump back to [[Edgar Walton]] and it's [[Todd McGuire]] who tells him he needs to get out there and work, since he's on the clock » he escorts [[Edgar Walton]] away from the ferris wheel - He gets the impression he doesn't care if he works… but doesn't want him to talk with [[Leroy Robertson]] - He goes looking for [[John Ashford]] and [[Dr. Clara Monroe]], but does a really good job with balloon animals and gets sidetracked - It's about 5:15 PM now, but makes his way to the closed kiosk - Back to the kiosk… - Clara falls backwards, and lets out a scream - Explains what she saw - Edgar is there, and says they think they're in on it - What Clara said she saw is similar to what [[Leroy Robertson]] saw… - We look for somewhere to hide ourselves to watch the kiosks - [[Nathaniel Tucker Wrathby]] returns, flanked by two carnival workers and they stop to talk, but Edgar can't make out what they're saying - [[Todd McGuire]] with a shovel and bag - [[Elsie Crouch|A woman]] with a shovel - [[Nathaniel Tucker Wrathby]] turns and goes, but the other two continue to the kiosk - [[Dr. Clara Monroe]] buys a small back of saltwater taffy, then talks to the other two - Edgar knows [[Todd McGuire]] and [[Elsie Crouch]], who runs the tarot card house - They're in there for several minutes, and eventually [[Elsie Crouch]] comes out to light a cigarette - [[Todd McGuire]] actually is digging - [[John Ashford]] and [[Dr. Clara Monroe]] head to the kiosk, while [[Edgar Walton]] heads back to the fairgrounds to make balloon animals - [[Elsie Crouch]] has a seductive smile to the detective - She reaches into her waistcoat and pulls out a silver pocketwatch with a flower on the back - Her stage name is Madame Dixon - Has been working at the carnival for seven months - Elsie knew [[Lucy Pringle]], went to school together - [[Lucy Pringle]] wasn't very kind… Elsie thought she was a skank - Elsie went to school with both at the Providence State University - Thought Lucy was just toying with Kent - Clara mentions men with glowing eyes… - Elsie mentions "skinwalkers" (indigenous stories) - John watches the two while Clara talks with [[Lucy Pringle]] - The whole time Elsie has been talking, she's been fidgeting with the pocket walk - She tucks it away when she notices John watching it - She kind of flirts with the detective, and then walks inside with no word - [[Todd McGuire]] has been full force digging since he got in… down almost a metre and is super sweaty - Wants to know if they want to help… nope. - John offers him some taffy, and Clara gives him a piece. He takes a blueberry one. - Back to [[Edgar Walton]]! - He looks for [[Nathaniel Tucker Wrathby]]. He's just wandering the fairgrounds. - The sun is starting to set, and more people are entering the fairgrounds - He goes and asks [[Nathaniel Tucker Wrathby]] about the cops, and what they're looking for - …just don't bring attention to it! - Asks if there's anywhere he should steer them away from… - It's a natural cave system under the property and down to the river - The boss leaves… and Edgar goes to the kiosk to lie and say he's there to help - Back in the kiosk… - Clara is inside the kiosk, and John is by the door so he can still keep watch - John asks Elsie about the skinwalkers - They're a separate evolution from us, and have been here for long before the Europeans arrive - They don't like the sun or air so they swell in the hills and caverns - She has a really weird, expectant smile - Clara gets a sense she might expect something below - The native americans warded them off with rituals; there's a tribe local to the area near down - Elder is very knowledgeable - Todd is 2 metres down, and about a quarter of the way down - Asks John if he can grab a smoke. Sure! Pulls out some Lucky Strikes - No lighter, asks John if he minds - John goes to light his cigarette… and Todd punches John right in the gut - Edgar arrives just as this happens - John gets the wind knocked out of him (2 damage) - John goes to knock him over, but doesn't - Clara sees this happen, and sees Elsie going to reach for the shovel - Clara falls and pulls the shovel away - Elsie instead kicks Clara in head, possibly giving her a concussion (3 damage) - Todd yells "you should have kept your nose out of this" - John screams for help to the crowd, while Todd punches him in the face (1 damage) - Clara swings the shovel up and blocks Elsie's next kick - The door swings open and two other carnival staff members enter…