DESCENDING

"DESCENDING" is the fifth episode of *The Mistholme Museum of Mystery, Morbidity, and Mortality*.

Characters:

* The Audio Tour Guide
* Thomas Banks (part of exhibit)
* Mack (part of exhibit)
* Arthur Kellogg (part of exhibit)
* Saunders (part of exhibit)
* Merrick (part of exhibit)

Exhibits:

* The Helena Fortuna
* A Cursed Doubloon
* A Large Empty Glass Case

## The Helena Fortuna

### Summary

The story of the Helena Fortuna is shown through twenty-four diary entries from the perspective of Thomas Banks, a crewmate on the ship. On day three of his trip, another crewmate Mack immediately notes the captain's, Arthur Kellogg's, odd behaviour. His crewmate Mack theorises about why this might be but is brushed aside by Thomas. As the diary entries continue, Thomas makes several notes of the poor conditions of the ship- including bed bugs, food, and the captains worsening behaviour. This is joined in by the first mate, Saunders, who Thomas notes there is "...something about his eyes, too. He looks dead inside." Thomas mentions dreaming constantly about being underwater and tensions on the ship keep rising until one crewmate, Merrick, is thrown overboard for continuously talking about the stars. This happens on day fifty of being out at sea, and every entry after this has no date. Later, another fight breaks out which results in three dead. Mack tries to rally other crewmates into performing a mutiny against a captain, which Thomas tries to remain neutral about. This doesn't save him as, when a fight does break out over the topic, he is knocked unconscious and dragged upon a lifeboat by Mack.

Mack eventually dies on the lifeboat, making the other men roll his body overboard. Shortly after, Thomas and the other men arrive at an unspecified place that is suggested to be underwater. This mirrors Thomas' earlier dreams about being underwater on the ship. Thomas initially hopes the captain also arrived where they were, before dismissing him and instead talking about how he is under 'His' service and loves it. He decides to send his diary back home to bring attention to his location.

## A Cursed Doubloon

### Summary

The Cursed Doubloon is a Spanish coin from the mid-16th century which is potentially alternatural. The story reveals a series of men who have owned the coin. All of the men believed the coin was a source of luck, despite any evidence suggesting otherwise. The ownership of the coin went from the minter, his co-worker, highwaymen, soldier, sailor, sailor's co-worker, pirate, a rich man, his younger brother, his son, his son, family rivals, the police, and then somehow became the museum's property through unstated means.

## EVERYTHING IS FINE

### Summary

The visitor approaches the end of a corridor to see a large empty glass case. Upon seeing this, the Guide announces the case is not supposed to be empty. A siren starts going off in the background. Ordering the visitor to make their way to the nearest exit and not to run. It also instructs them to ignore any noises they hear, not to think about their current situation, and to think of happy things. As the Guide thanks the visitor for coming, it glitches out and tells them to run. The episode ends.