The Crack’d and Crook’d Manse 05: ‘Denying Gravity’

*“In which blood is spilled, gambles are taken, and the investigators demonstrate that they have not learned from their mistakes.”*

## Denying Gravity

### Players

Joseph Chance as Rose Damien
Danann McAleer as Sebastian Palmer
Dan Wheeler as Dr. Bergmann

### Podcast Link

The Crack’d and Crook’d Manse 05

Reacting to the surprise at the end of the previous episode, the investigators have a tense few moments with the figure at the top of the stairs. All seems well enough, however, and they continue on with their investigation. They find a few clues in the study, but also some additional hazards. Sebastian finds the junk room — but it is very unkind to him.

## Synopsis (Spoiler Warning)

### Intro

The introductory flashback has Arthur Cornthwaite on the phone with the library regarding his generous donation of his South American book collection. We also hear of a missing servant who had gone into the attic. As in other episodes, “previously on” features a collection of clips outlining the story leading up to where this episode begins.

### Scene 1: The Figure

Sheriff Whitford is at the top of the stair, holding his gun, warning the trio of investigators to stop in their tracks. He’s concerned about what’s going on — breaking down the door and smashing the bannister, and is not in a mood for their shenanigans.

> I know it’s you, dumbass.
>
> Sheriff Whitford

The sheriff is concerned that they are there only for stealing and looting the place, but Sebastian persuades him that they truly are there for investigative purposes. Satisfied with their explanations and promises of no more damage to the house, and keen to leave, he brings them sandwiches before getting off the property. He seems to actually care that they are well and perhaps is relieved that they are doing the investigation rather than him.

### Scene 2: The Study

A cozier (and less damp) place than the library, there is an open book on the writing-desk, well thumbed through. It is the same book they learned earlier Cornthwaite borrowed back again from the library, *The Missing People: The Tribe the Jungle Swallowed* by Thomas Pratt. Rose pockets a very fine fountain pen. While Sebastian chats briefly with the sheriff prior to him leaving, Dr. Bergmann racks his brain trying to remember what he knows about Thomas Pratt. It’s not coming to mind so he seeks more chemical help, this time from a little mescaline. Although he remembers the name, finally, recognizing Thomas Pratt as somewhat of a crackpot, he again sees the figure from the library, walking through the grounds in a military uniform and carrying what could be an axe. He leaps up, screaming “PRATT!” from the window, frightening Rose with his outburst. After a moment, Dr. Bergmann remarks to his companions of his concern regarding the man following them (referring to his hallucination of the Civil War soldier). Sebastian is skeptical of his sanity, but Rose is more open to “giving over to the dance,” as she puts it.

> I’m not saying this place is haunted, but holy hell, if there was a place that seems haunted, it is this place.
>
> Rose Damien

Sebastian nervously brings out his rosary at this talk of ghosts and the veil. Bergmann thinks perhaps his efforts at bridging the gap between the seen and unseen have been successful and considers taking more drugs, which his companions are somewhat concerned about. Rose grabs his arm and notes it could have been the pain rather than the drugs — which inspires Dr. Bergmann to stab his hand through with a letter opener instead. Rose puts together a makeshift bandage as Sebastian removes the dagger and pockets the rest of the mescaline. He also decides to take the doctor’s bag away, although isn’t able to grab his Luger. Reassuring his companions he still has use of his hand, he heads back to the window to check whether he can still see the figure, but he cannot. He goes back to the book to read through it instead, leaving the others to do more exploring; Rose insists on staying with Dr. Bergmann, feigning a bit of a swoon into Sebastian’s arms to do so. Dr. Bergmann does well enough while skimming through the book that Rose starts to get bored and looks around the room more closely.

> I’m like a tiger trapped in a tiny study, lookin’ to drink all the water in the tap.
>
> Rose Damien

Rose happens to find a flyer, clipped to extensive notes, about an expedition to South America, during her bored search of the study. She hears Sebastian’s adventures in the next room over.

### Scene 3: The Junk Room

Off by himself, Sebastian finds a room full of junk. The floor appears to be quite moldy and damaged, but he forges ahead to open the drapes and shutters, a move that proves to be an unfortunate decision. He tries to jump but doesn’t make it, and instead falls completely through the floor, breaking his leg on the coal heap below. Rose rushes to his aid and finds the junk room floor caved in across its full length. She tries to gauge whether she can jump across, or if there are any other ways she can help. She wonders briefly if the house is actually haunted; it is, at least, untrustworthy. Drapes that could make a rope tempt Rose to jump across, but it’s too far, so she goes back to get Dr. Bergmann. Sebastian looks around at the coal storage and sees a door out of the room, but as he moves toward it he sees something coming under it — and goes unconscious with the excruciating pain from his leg.

## Important NPCs

* Sheriff Whitford (living)
* John Fitzgerald (deceased)

## Places

* Fitzgerald Manse (study)
* Fitzgerald Manse (junk room & coal storage)

## Quotes

ROSE (JOSEPH): ”Doesn’t he need a warrant? Or have I watched too many talkies?”
SEBASTIAN (DANANN): (*mishearing “warrant”*) “A wand? Like a wizard?”

DOM: ”[Bergmann’s] going on a fucking spirit journey.”

DAN: (*describing the taste of mescaline*) “A bitter, slightly funky kick… I assume.”

JOSEPH: (*freestyle rapping*)

> Oh we find ourselves in a terrible castle
> Not a castle really it’s actually a house
>
>

DANANN: ”Hey kids, finding revision tough? Stab yourself in the hand and take some mescaline.”

## Trivia

* The additional failed Anthropology rolls on the author name make four failed attempts at this check in a row, for a skill Dr. Bergmann ostensibly is very good at.
* The Cthudonym for this episode is “Keeper of the Manse of Mansions & Madness”.
* This is the first episode of the podcast with a critical success (01), which Joseph rolls for Rose’s Spot Hidden in the study.
* In yet another reference to Masks of Nyalarthotep, the flyer Rose finds is advertising Augustus Larkin’s expedition to Peru, and the notes appear to accurately follow his movements through that country. The players react with horror.