The Crack’d and Crook’d Manse 02: ‘101 Occult Uses for Salt’

*“In which the investigators rack their brains to think of every possible use for sodium chloride…”*

## 101 Occult Uses for Salt

### 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 02

Picking up at the cliffhanger from the previous episode, we rejoin the investigators at the library where Dr. Bergmann has created a bit of chaos. As he and Rose make a hasty exit, they run into Sebastian, then directly into Sheriff Whitford. The Sheriff grills the investigators about what they are up to, not only regarding the commotion at the library but in going to the Fitzgerald manse, in which he seems to take special interest. After a quick lunch at the sandwich shop, they take Sebastian’s car over to the manse but are stopped by an imposing gate across the long drive. After getting through the padlock, they spend some time admiring — or rather, examining — the lush, jungle-like growth on the grounds prior to turning their attention to the house itself.

## Synopsis (Spoiler Warning)

### Intro

> Mr. Cornthwaite! The men have found something!
>
> Unknown

The episode opens with a brief flashback, presumably to Cornthwaite’s time in South America, then moves on to a recap, highlighting the important plot points so far with selected clips from the previous episode and taking the story right up to the cliffhanger moment of Dr. Bergmann firing his gun.

### Scene 1: The Library

Hearing the books clatter off the shelf, quickly followed by two gunshots, Rose involuntarily stamps her cane in rhythm and readies herself for an attack that does not come. We hear some suggestion of her backstory, a dark past and some troubled teenage years. After a pause, Dr. Bergmann slumps out of the stacks, dazed. He takes some vodka before attempting to psychoanalyze his “episode” (a failed roll). They leave quickly, telling Susie the librarian that the Dodge Brothers will cover damages and insisting the gun only has blanks. Out of sight, Rose steals a small book as a stress response. They run into Sebastian on the way out. Dr. Bergman tries to explain himself, but the other two are bewildered.

### Scene 2: Confrontation

Sheriff Whitford intersects the trio just outside the library, questioning them about the commotion. Dr. Bergmann confesses to be the cause of the fuss and offers to make “*reparations*” for the damage, and they try to redirect the conversation toward the missing man. Whitford is convinced that Cornthwaite planned his exit carefully and that searching the mansion is of no use, and is firm that the investigators should back off from what the law covers. He drops another clue: the staff at the estate disappeared, one by one, over the few weeks prior to Arthur Cornthwaite’s disappearance. All out-of-towners, none of them have been seen since they apparently left the staff rolls. Whitford alludes to his history with the house, calling it “unfinished business” — this is referring to his role in discovering and investigating the Curwen murders. Before letting them leave, he asks whether they have alibis for the prior night; a neighbor lost a horse. Whitford leaves, thankfully not having arrested Dr. Bergman for shooting up the library. They exchange information over lunch and try again to roll Occult on the order for a truckload of salt. A success gives them several options, including warding evil, detecting witches, repelling demons, and sanctifying or warding spaces. At the mention of demons, Sebastian nervously fingers his rosary, which Dr. Bergmann notices and starts to analyze. It does not go over well with Sebastian. They decide to skip talking to the neighbor and go directly to the house.

### Scene 3: The Fitzgerald Manse & Grounds

About 10 miles outside the town, the house and grounds are a drive away — not a problem with Sebastian’s car. At the walled edge of the property, a tall iron gate is padlocked shut, a surprise since the Dodge Brothers did not mention that additional obstacle. Everything feels damp. The trees are surprisingly lush. Dr. Bergmann considers shooting the padlock, but the other two intervene first. Rose deftly unlocks it with a couple of long hairpins. They decide to drive and keep the car in sight — and Dr. Bergmann upright — and from the driveway they can see how overgrown the grounds really are. Dr. Bergmann sees a sinister shed. Everything is gloomy, glowering, and wet in a threatening way. After Sebastian pulls the car around to face away from the house, Rose reconsiders her Botany by climbing a very wet tree, and realizes that the thriving plant life here is much more tropical than it should be. The mansion itself feels off — crooked, perhaps, somehow. Silence, where silence should not be, consumes Dr. Bergmann for a moment.

## Important NPCs

* Arthur Cornthwaite (unknown)
* Susan “Susie” Arwell (living)
* Sheriff Whitford (living)

## Places

* Gamwell Public Library
* Fitzgerald Manse & Grounds

## Quotes

DANANN: ”Scientology roll, please.”
DOM: “No, you need to pay £500 to do a Scientology roll.”

WHITFORD (DOM): His dogs didn’t hear anything.
SEBASTIAN (DANANN): At least you asked ‘em.
’RUFUS’ (DOM): I’m not gonna talk, sheriff, until I get another cigarette.
WHITFORD (DOM): Smoke all the cigarettes ya want, Rufus. You’re not goin’ anywhere ‘til ya start barkin’. Why’d you kill the horse, Rufus? WHY’D YOU KILL THE HORSE?
RUFUS (DOM): I didn’t kill no horse, I’m a good boy!

ROSE (JOSEPH): “I just want a coffee. I don’t want a sandwich. I wouldn’t want to be confused with any of my other characters.”

ROSE (JOSEPH): ”…my inspiration, the world beyond those lovely flowers—shit I failed.” *(breaking character abruptly in the middle of waxing poetic)*

DANANN: ”Badger?! Nooo!”

## Trivia

* This is the only episode to be released at the same time as another (The Brothers Dodge).
* One of the many mentioned occult uses of salt is in the Abramelin operation, a ritual that reappears in the scenario Saturnine Chalice.
* Rose mentions her past performance life as “*La Daemon*” after mention of demons and angels.
* Cthudonym of the episode: “Keeper of the Gamwell Murder Record”
* Rose’s comment “I wasn’t always what I am,” might be an allusion to Shakespeare (Othello/Twelfth Night) or it could just be Joseph sounding Shakespearean.