Bart Fletchley
Description
A slim, unstable, elderly man with a straggly beard and a straw hat. When the gang first encountered him, he burst through the swinging doors of The Randy Saloon, declared "My family. They're back. They're here.", and collapsed on the floor.
He is disorientated, malnourished, and confused — but sober. No alcohol on his breath. Oddly, his condition visibly improves with a drink; his eyes cleared almost immediately after a glass of whiskey. He does not drink often, nor does he make his own alcohol. (The mechanism is now understood: the spore dust's hallucinogenic effect is counteracted by alcohol.)
His farm is to the south of Hole.
His Family
Bart's wife was Beth Fletchley and his children were Raya (12) and Robert (10). They died three years ago on the family's journey to their new home. His wife subsequently died — possibly of a broken heart — while helping him set up the farm.
He now sees his wife and children standing in his cornfield every day. They disappear when he goes near them. They never speak.
Notes
- The corn at Fletchley Farm "looks funny"
- Alcohol visibly improves Bart's deteriorating condition — mechanism unknown; Doctor Webb is investigating
- Bart's cart is the one his children died in (he mentioned this without elaboration)
- Doctor Webb is attempting to determine whether the apparitions are spirits or zombies
The apparitions of his family were hallucinations caused by the spore dust from the red algae organism — not spirits. His physical deterioration was caused by years of exposure to the same dust. Alcohol counteracted the effect. The organism has been defeated as of Session 4.
Session Appearances
| Session | What Happened |
|---|---|
| Session 3 | Burst into the Randy Saloon and collapsed; revived by the gang; told them his dead family appear daily in his cornfield; drove them south to his farm; left them outside the cornfield in the dark |
| Session 4 | Given the truth by Doctor Webb — the family were illusions, hallucinogenic spore dust; refused to believe Alfie (now thinks Alfie is crazy); retrieved his pitchfork; directed toward the spores by Ms March ("hurry, you might miss them"); ran off to find them; returned tearfully — couldn't find them. Spotted the gang's moonshine. |
| Session 5 | Found the gang at the newly-cleared hot springs; stormed off after Alfie's attempt to convince him to drive them back to Hole went badly (Cuthbert's whispering made Bart suspicious); the gang snuck his wagon away while he slept |
Quotes
"My family. They're back. They're here."
— Session 3, bursting into the Randy Saloon
"You think I'm crazy, don't you?"
— Session 3
"I thought his name was Bort."
— Session 3, when Cuthbert asked if he was related to Bart Coltron
"Alright, I'll rescue them myself."
— Session 4, after Ms March pointed him toward the spores
"I couldn't find them."
— Session 4, returning tearfully
"Is that moonshine?"
— Session 4