Session 11 — Mystery 5, Part 2

What Happened

As the story resumes, Cuthbert and Ms March may be in great danger. Having earlier witnessed Cuthbert and his time-travelling colleagues reanimate the recently deceased H.G. Farmswatter, a horrified Ms March suddenly attacked her Australian ally. Convinced that he was to blame for all of the unholy happenings in Hole, Ms March intended to save Alfie from Cuthbert's bad influence once and for all. She successfully shot him, but amidst the ensuing chaos Cuthbert was able to grab her and teleport away. The pair now find themselves in a mystery location that is dark, damp, and musty. Have they unwittingly gone to the mines?

Within the Space of a Few Seconds

Within the space of a few seconds, Ms March was torn off of Cuthbert; hit by a tidal wave; given a very convincing speech by Doctor Webb about teamwork and shared causes; and teleported away by Cuthbert.

Cuthbert is nude, but does have his pocket watch around his neck. This is the only item he has on him. The watch enabled him to teleport.

Cuthbert and Ms March are in complete darkness. Cuthbert steps back so he is not next to Ms March and therefore harder to shoot at. He bumps into a cold damp stone surface.

Cuthbert asks Ms March whether they can speak calmly. He did not intend to take them to this place.

MS MARCH: Where the hell are we and why have you taken me?

As soon as Ms March hears Cuthbert's reply, she intends to find and tackle him. She fails to do so — she did not take into account that echoes would make it more difficult to locate him. Ms March lands in shallow water.

The Hum

Cuthbert and Ms March start to hear a hum which echoes through their brains and calls to them.

Cuthbert fails to resist its call. He remains in charge of his faculties (for now) but takes an ongoing penalty as long as he can hear the sound (−1 ongoing to rolls).

Assume You Know Nothing

Cuthbert explains that he took Ms March away from the springs as a lot of people would have taken action to stop her attacking him.

Cuthbert shares that Jacob was set to return Cuthbert to his original time, but he turned Jacob down as he wants to investigate the mysteries in Hole further. However, if Ms March wants Cuthbert to leave Hole, he will leave.

Cuthbert reiterates that he is not the cause of what is happening in Hole. Whatever is to blame was already there before he arrived.

Ms March has two options: Cuthbert leaves the mines without her, or they go together.

MS MARCH: How do you do it, Cuthbert, and how are you so good at it? Not knowing anything.

Ms March knows nothing. She thought she knew how to keep Auggie safe, but now she knows that she knows nothing — and yet she teaches kids.

Cuthbert believes that everything that you see is true. If you start from the point of knowing (or believing that you know) one thing, then that foundation can crumble if that "fact" turns out to not be true. His philosophy is therefore to assume that you know nothing and go from there. Cuthbert accepts that his worldview is ever-changing.

Cuthbert has never seen a god or devil so cannot comment on whether they exist. He has however seen a wolf with too many fucking knees. Ms March says that listing the various fucked up shit they have seen together is not helping Cuthbert's case.

Ms March reasons that if Alfie is involved with all of this, it cannot be all bad.

The Hum Takes Cuthbert

The intensity of the hum expands in their being. It feels like their heads are growing. The noise is going through their heartbeat.

Cuthbert senses that the hum could answer questions which The Order has been pondering for centuries. Ms March feels that the hum could provide a sense of certainty and structure.

Cuthbert succumbs further to the hum's influence. Ms March fails to resist it but retains control of her faculties.

Cuthbert is pulled in a new direction. His hand goes to a wall. He starts to walk deeper into the cave. He does not know why but he does so. A sound in his chest is pulling him somewhere.

Ms March's matchbox is completely soaked through from the tidal wave. She is rattled that Cuthbert is walking away from her. Ms March attempts to light her wet matchstick using the power of will — she pictures the lit match. This fails to light the match.

Cuthbert keeps walking. The hum, previously discordant and strange, now sounds to Cuthbert like a symphony one would never be able to replicate.

Cuthbert finds a narrow crevice and feels compelled to get into it. He attempts to shimmy a shoulder into the too-narrow gap. However, part of him is aware that the hum sounds wrong. It no longer seems beautiful to him.

(Duncan burned a Luck point to succeed an Act Under Pressure roll.)

Cuthbert still hears the hum but has resisted its temptation. He has regained control of his faculties.

CUTHBERT (yelling to Ms March): Okay, the thing has definitely got into my head. We've got to get out of here.

Cuthbert's memories of the past few moments are hazy. He keeps talking so Ms March can hear and locate him — and then accidentally walks to the crevice again.

A Gunshot to Deafen

Ms March follows Cuthbert's panicked voice. Her hand finds his shoulder.

MS MARCH: Get us out of here.

Ms March fires her gun to temporarily deafen them both so that they stop hearing the hum.

(Nat burned a Luck point to ensure that the wet gun still works.)

The gunshot is loud enough to create a ringing noise loud enough to stop any ongoing effects caused by the hum.

Cuthbert and Ms March hold onto each other as they attempt to teleport. Both of them felt so desperate to escape that Cuthbert called upon the fates to help return them to the hot springs.

(Duncan burned a Luck point to guarantee that they arrive at their intended destination.)

Meanwhile, at the Hot Springs

The following was happening concurrently at the hot springs.

The tidal wave has cleared. Cuthbert and Ms March are nowhere to be seen. Alfie is afraid that he has killed them. Doctor Webb reasons that, as everyone else appears unharmed by Alfie's wave, it is unlikely to have had a different effect on Cuthbert and Ms March.

Jacob holds a sword to Alfie.

Doctor Webb suggests that the initiates would not be sent back in time to protect a man who is dead. They should therefore trust that Cuthbert is alive and used magic to leave. Jacob accepts this logic.

Alfie covers his crotch, as he is naked.

In order to protect the space-time continuum, The Order deliberately tells members very little information.

The 1980s trio were instructed to follow Cuthbert's orders, but he is no longer here. Jacob decides to lead the three on a search mission for their missing leader.

Doctor Webb and Alfie stay behind. They talk about timelines and Cuthbert. Conversation eventually dwindles.

ALFIE: Are you hungry?
DOCTOR WEBB: I could eat.

At this point, Ms March and Cuthbert reappear by the springs. Ms March dries her wet gun with a rag. She wordlessly offers a shot of whiskey to Cuthbert.

Alfie mimes to a deafened Cuthbert that his colleagues are looking for him. Cuthbert teleports to Jacob.

The Search Party

Gina is already bored with the search party.

Cuthbert appears. Jacob puts Cuthbert back in charge. Cuthbert issues a standing order — if he is not around, Darla is now in charge. Darla is alarmed, but also flattered, but also concerned, as this contradicts the Order's hierarchy.

Cuthbert collapses after ordering the gang to help him back to the springs. They carry him there.

What Happened Down There

With all parties reunited, Cuthbert recounts what happened to him and Ms March — omitting the private conversation they had. He tells them about the hum, his body being taken over, and the compulsion to go into the crevice.

Cuthbert mentions that his assignment in Hole is his first ever mission.

Doctor Webb explains their party's previous experience with the Hollowed Ones and the effect they / it had on the Hatchett gang.

Ms March says that the Hollowed Ones killed her husband.

Darla has not heard of the Hollowed Ones, but Jacob might have…

The Parent Trap

Doctor Webb convinces Jacob to share information about the Hollowed Ones — but he will only do so if everyone ('including the angry lady') learns and performs the Order's secret handshake.

MS MARCH: Show me how stupid it is and I'll decide.

The handshake resembles the dance from The Parent Trap (including the hip bump).

Ms March finds Doctor Webb's reminder that she is not obliged to do anything and has free will more annoying than Cuthbert and Alfie overtly telling her to do the handshake. Doctor Webb apologises.

Ms March threatens to remove the tongue of anyone who references that she did the handshake. Alfie later replies 'what handshake' when Ms March subsequently mentions handshakes.

Each of the 1980s initiates will teach one of the Hole gang the handshake while Jacob talks to Cuthbert. Ms March will only comply if Gina is her teacher. Gina teaches Ms March a lowkey version (minus hip bump), out of sight from the others.

Alfie, Ms March, and Doctor Webb are now officially unofficial members of The Order.

Interventionists and Preservationists

Jacob has not heard the following information directly, as it is above his position, but he has overheard references.

Jacob has heard 'Hollowed Ones' mentioned in relation to zombies. They are tied to something big.

The upper echelons of The Order are split on how to handle the Hollowed Ones, or whatever situation is related to them:

• The Interventionists want to intervene.
• The Preservationists do not.

Alfie is confused by timeline shenanigans. The 1980s team were sent to Hole as they were told that Cuthbert was doing good work.

Cuthbert has not heard of the country Turkey, but does know about the Ottoman Empire. Jacob is not at liberty to share whether he has met Jesus.

Countermeasures

• To combat the effect of the spores, one must be drunk (drinking alcohol) and have your airholes covered.
• To combat the hum in the mines, one may need earplugs and a source of light.

Cuthbert is partially healed through magic and some first aid from Doctor Webb, but now has a crick in his neck from how he's healing.

The party follows a dusty trail to Cactus Grove, a flattened overlook.

Cactus Grove

Cactus Grove contains fifteen cacti. Eight of the cacti are normal sized. Seven are medium sized and have the flower that the team has previously seen before.

The party each drinks a shot of whiskey and covers up their mouth and nose.

Having previously cut up the plants and examined them under a microscope, Doctor Webb now wants to look at the plants' roots.

Cuthbert assists this investigation by first clearing out the sand with his sword. He accidentally cuts himself. The blood drips into the soil. Three tiny cacti move towards Cuthbert and fire spines at him, startling him but causing no harm.

Doctor Webb digs up the cactuses' root system and learns that the cacti is a plant hybrid infestation. Their roots are covered in the red fibre previously seen on the corn.

The plant is attempting to take root and alter the environment.

Did the wolves interact with the spore somehow — ate a rabbit which had eaten the infected corn?

Cuthbert picks out the spines on him as he returns to the cart. The cacti do not interact with him further.

The Silent Village

The party rides further up the mountain. They can see the hot springs and cactus grove below them on lower outlooks.

The village is eerily silent. There is a distinct lack of activity.

Some of the buildings have collapsed or broken in half. Is something undermining the foundations?

The party hears the faint cry of a child. Could this be a false cry from a wolf with too many knees?

The party hears a faint cough. There may be people in some of the buildings.

Get Them Out

A thin toddler covered in snot, dirt, and tears is outside one of the buildings. They are alone.

Cuthbert picks up the child and Ms March gives them one of Dan Randy's pizzellis.

The child says that their mother is sick. Doctor Webb goes into the house.

The building's windows are boarded up. A wheelbarrow and metal equipment is propped against the entrances to the house.

The house has two rooms — the main room and a smaller bedroom. There is a spluttering cough from the latter.

Doctor Webb finds a woman in the bed. She is fairly still but her eyes are wild. She grabs Webb's wrist.

WOMAN (desperate): Get them out.

An outline of a creature appears under the skin of her cheek. It is crawling inside, then emerges from her open mouth and burrows into her neck…

The Mystery

Clues Found

• The hum calls to those who hear it, and offers each of them what they want. Cuthbert sensed it could answer questions the Order has been pondering for centuries; Ms March felt it could provide a sense of certainty and structure
• Hearing the hum imposes an ongoing penalty (−1 ongoing) for as long as it can be heard, and can take control of a listener's body — Cuthbert walked deeper into the cave without knowing why, pulled by "a sound in his chest"
• To someone under its influence, the hum stops being discordant and becomes a symphony one would never be able to replicate. Cuthbert broke free when it started to sound wrong again
• Memories of the period under the hum's influence are hazy
• A loud enough noise breaks the effect — Ms March fired her gun to deafen them both, and the ringing stopped the ongoing effects
• The dark place contains a narrow crevice that Cuthbert felt compelled to climb into, cold damp stone surfaces, and shallow water
• Countermeasures: against the spores, be drunk and have your airholes covered; against the hum in the mines, earplugs and a source of light
• The cacti at Cactus Grove are a plant hybrid infestation — their roots are covered in the red fibre previously seen on Bart's corn
• The plant is attempting to take root and alter the environment
• The grove holds fifteen cacti — eight normal sized, seven medium sized with the flower the team has seen before — plus three tiny ones that reacted to Cuthbert's blood dripping into the soil by firing spines at him
• The mining village is eerily silent, with buildings collapsed or broken in half — is something undermining the foundations? There are still people in some of them
• One house had its windows boarded up and a wheelbarrow and metal equipment propped against the entrances — barricaded from the outside
• A woman inside was fairly still with wild eyes, and told Doctor Webb to "Get them out." A creature's outline moved under the skin of her cheek, emerged from her mouth, and burrowed into her neck
• Jacob has overheard the Hollowed Ones mentioned in relation to zombies; they are tied to something big
• The Order's upper echelons are split — Interventionists want to intervene, Preservationists do not
• The Order deliberately tells its members very little, in order to protect the space-time continuum
• The 1980s team were sent to Hole because they were told Cuthbert was doing good work
• Hole is Cuthbert's first ever mission

Outcome

Ongoing — Mystery 5, Part 2. Cuthbert and Ms March escaped the dark place and the hum without identifying either. The party reached the cactus grove and confirmed the cacti share the red fibre found on Bart Fletchley's corn, and that the plant is trying to alter the environment. They then reached the mining village, found it silent and partially collapsed, and the session ended with Doctor Webb watching something move beneath a sick woman's skin.

Key Characters Met

Loose Threads

• What is the hum, and what is making it? It calls to those who hear it, offers each listener what they most want, and can take control of the body. Cuthbert felt it could answer questions the Order has pondered for centuries
• Where were Cuthbert and Ms March? Cold damp stone, shallow water, echoes, a narrow crevice, total darkness — the party's working assumption is the mines, but nothing in the session confirmed it
• What is in the narrow crevice? Cuthbert was compelled towards it twice and tried to force a shoulder in
• "Get them out." What is inside the woman in the mining village, how many are in her, and can Doctor Webb do anything about it?
• Who barricaded the house? The windows were boarded and a wheelbarrow and metal equipment were propped against the entrances — from the outside
• What happened to the mining village? Eerily silent, no activity, buildings collapsed or broken in half. Is something undermining the foundations? There are still people coughing inside some of them
• The mining village child is now with the party, and their mother is in the state Doctor Webb just walked in on
• Ms March says the Hollowed Ones killed her husband. She has not previously said this to the party
• Interventionists vs Preservationists — the Order's upper echelons are split on how to handle the Hollowed Ones or whatever is related to them. Which faction sent Jacob, and which sent the 1983 trio?
• The Hollowed Ones have been overheard mentioned in relation to zombies and are tied to something big — what?
• The cacti are a plant hybrid infestation attempting to alter the environment, with roots wrapped in the same red fibre as Bart Fletchley's corn. Fifteen remain at the grove and were left standing
• Did the wolves interact with the spore somehow — by eating a rabbit which had eaten the infected corn? (raised by the party at the grove)
• Cuthbert turned down Jacob's offer to return him to his original time, and told Ms March he will leave Hole if she wants him to. She has not answered
• Cuthbert has told Ms March things he did not tell the rest of the party — he omitted their private conversation when recounting events. Hole is also his first ever mission, which he volunteered to the group
• Darla is now second in command by Cuthbert's standing order, which contradicts the Order's hierarchy. She is alarmed, flattered, and concerned
• Alfie, Ms March and Doctor Webb are now officially unofficial members of The Order — what does that actually mean?
• Cuthbert collapsed after the search party found him, and is only partially healed — magic plus first aid, and now a crick in his neck
• Ms March can't tell what is real and told Cuthbert she knows nothing — including whether she knew how to keep Auggie safe. She teaches children
• Jacob is not at liberty to share whether he has met Jesus

Moves & Highlights

• Alfie — feared he had killed Cuthbert and Ms March with his tidal wave; had a sword held to him by Jacob; covered his crotch, being naked; talked timelines with Doctor Webb until the conversation ran out and he asked if he was hungry; mimed to a deafened Cuthbert that his colleagues were out searching for him; learned the Order's secret handshake and became an officially unofficial member of The Order; loyally answered 'what handshake' when Ms March later mentioned handshakes; got confused by timeline shenanigans
• Cuthbert — landed in total darkness nude but for his pocket watch, the only thing he had on him and the thing that teleports him; stepped away from Ms March so he'd be harder to shoot; failed to resist the hum and took −1 ongoing; laid out his philosophy that you should assume you know nothing; noted he has never seen a god or devil but has seen a wolf with too many fucking knees; lost control of his body to the hum, walked deeper into the cave and tried to force a shoulder into a narrow crevice (Duncan burned a Luck point on the Act Under Pressure roll); broke free when the hum began to sound wrong; called upon the fates to get them back to the springs (Duncan burned a second Luck point to guarantee the destination); made Darla second in command against the Order's hierarchy; collapsed and had to be carried; recounted the ordeal while omitting the private conversation; revealed Hole is his first ever mission; cut himself with his own sword clearing sand at the grove and got shot with spines by three tiny cacti for it; picked up the mining village toddler
• Doctor Webb — talked Jacob down from the sword by reasoning the initiates would not be sent back in time to protect a dead man; convinced Jacob to share what he knows about the Hollowed Ones, at the price of everyone performing the secret handshake; explained the party's history with the Hollowed Ones and the Hatchett gang; reminded Ms March she has free will and was found more annoying for it, then apologised; partially healed Cuthbert with first aid; dug up the cacti root system and identified a plant hybrid infestation with roots covered in the same red fibre seen on the corn; walked into the boarded-up house alone and found the woman who told him "Get them out."
• Ms March — torn off Cuthbert, hit by a tidal wave, talked round by Doctor Webb and teleported into the dark, all in the space of a few seconds; failed to tackle Cuthbert in the darkness, not accounting for echoes, and landed in shallow water; demanded to know where they were and why he had taken her; asked Cuthbert how he is so good at knowing nothing, and admitted she thought she knew how to keep Auggie safe; found her matchbox soaked through and tried to light a wet match using the power of will; fired her gun to deafen them both and break the hum's hold (Nat burned a Luck point to ensure the wet gun still worked); dried the gun with a rag and wordlessly offered Cuthbert a shot of whiskey; told the party the Hollowed Ones killed her husband; agreed to the handshake only on the condition that Gina taught her, and got the lowkey version out of sight of the others; threatened to remove the tongue of anyone who mentions it; gave the toddler a pizzelli

XP & Advances

• XP gained:
• Advances taken:
• Luck: Cuthbert burned two Luck points (Duncan) — one for the Act Under Pressure roll at the crevice, one to guarantee the teleport destination. Ms March burned one Luck point (Nat) to ensure the wet gun still fired

Notes

Memorable quotes:

MS MARCH: Where the hell are we and why have you taken me?

MS MARCH: How do you do it, Cuthbert, and how are you so good at it? Not knowing anything.

CUTHBERT (yelling to Ms March): Okay, the thing has definitely got into my head. We've got to get out of here.

MS MARCH: Get us out of here.

ALFIE: Are you hungry?
DOCTOR WEBB: I could eat.
(after the timeline conversation ran out)

MS MARCH: Show me how stupid it is and I'll decide.
(on being asked to perform the Order's secret handshake)

WOMAN (desperate): Get them out.

Table talk:

NAT: (asks whether she can attempt to light a match)
KATE: I would say yes but you're wet from a tidal wave.
NAT: Ah, yes.

Other notes:

• Cuthbert has never seen a god or devil so cannot comment on whether they exist — but he has seen a wolf with too many fucking knees. Ms March pointed out that listing the various fucked up shit they have seen together is not helping his case
• Ms March reasons that if Alfie is involved with all of this, it cannot be all bad
• The Order's secret handshake resembles the dance from The Parent Trap, including the hip bump. Gina taught Ms March a lowkey version, minus the hip bump
• Ms March threatened to remove the tongue of anyone who references that she did the handshake
• Cuthbert has not heard of the country Turkey, but does know about the Ottoman Empire
• Jacob is not at liberty to share whether he has met Jesus
• Gina was already bored with the search party
• Cuthbert's pocket watch was the only item on him, and it is what enabled the teleport
• Ms March found Doctor Webb's reminder about her free will more annoying than Cuthbert and Alfie plainly telling her to do the handshake