Gameplay

May 8, 2023 5:45 pm
Arthur Blackwood, an influential New York attorney, has contacted his cousin, Calvin Bradley, in a desperate plea to find evidence that will clear his good name. Eight months ago, Arthur and his wife, Rose, were vacationing at their summer cabin, near Whitehall, Washington County, New York. The cabin, with its peaceful view of Castle Creek, a tributary of the Mettawee River, was built by Arthur’s great-great-greatgrandfather, Milton Blackwood, in 1717. But the relaxing month-long vacation Arthur and Rose were enjoying ended in terror and tragedy. In the early hours of July 19th, 1928, Arthur was found wandering the North Ash Trail by John and Helen Turner. Arthur was disorientated, and his arms and chest were covered in blood. Rose could not be found and Arthur was arrested for the presumed murder of his wife. The murder trial begins on March 18th, 1929.

The New York State Police and the local Washington County Sheriff ’s Department have completed their investigation of the Blackwood cabin. All pertinent evidence was collected, photographed, and cataloged, and will be presented by the prosecution at Arthur’s upcoming trial. Arthur’s defense attorney (and business partner), Joseph Klein, is doing his best to keep Arthur out of the electric chair but with a lack of evidence to the contrary, Klein fears that Arthur will spend the rest of his days behind bars. Arthur’s mental faculties have returned, somewhat, and he’s begun babbling about how Rose was taken by "darkness." Society at large believes Arthur Blackwood to be a cold-blooded killer who should fry for his crime. It is down to you to discover whether Arthur is innocent or guilty.

https://i.imgur.com/ZJPTXOa.png
Today is Saturday, March 2nd, 1929, eight months after Arthur Blackwood was arrested for the murder of his wife. As you enter the law office of Joseph Klein, you look upon a breathtaking view of the New York skyline. Klein bids you welcome and gestures for you to take a seat.

https://i.imgur.com/p3bgF9f.png
May 18, 2023 7:43 am
Sitting on Klein’s desk is a large box with a pair of strange wheels and a row of buttons on its face.

"Thank you for coming,"
Klein says, as he shakes your hands. "As you are aware, Arthur Blackwood is facing the electric chair. I’m trying to negotiate a lifetime prison sentence, but the outlook is bleak."

Klein places a hand on the strange box on his desk. "This is a magnetic voice recorder. I use it to record conversations with defendants, so you can hear their exact statement in their own words. These are brand new and the company that makes them is a client of ours, so we got access to this prototype." Klein presses a button and says, "Arthur has a message for you."
May 18, 2023 7:53 am
As the wheels begin to spin, you hear Arthur’s scratchy voice emanate from the box: "Cousin, please… you must help me. I can’t explain it… I never believed the stories for they were too fantastic to be real, but the Blackwood family line is both blessed and cursed! A genie lives in the cellar of the family cabin but to control it you must find my ring. I dropped it, I think, in the cellar! Please find my ring and prove to the police that the genie exists! Please, I implore you! Find my ring, for it is the only thing that can prove my innocence!"
May 18, 2023 7:55 am
Klein opens a manila folder and shows you a photograph of the cellar beneath the Blackwood cabin. It shows dark earthen walls, lined with shelves, and a white floor of crushed shells and gravel.
A large amount of blood is splashed and splattered across the floor.

"As you can see, there is no such thing as a genie," Klein says. "Poor Arthur has been under incredible stress over the last few years; he eventually snapped and butchered his wife."

Klein then gives you a key to the cabin and a letter granting you access to the property—should the local authorities want to know why you are there. "It’s only because I still love and respect Arthur that I am even entertaining his request to have you search the cellar for anything to clear his name. Good luck."
May 18, 2023 1:05 pm
"Excuse me, counsellor, I have but a few questions of mine own. First, when will I get to interview Mr. Blackwood myself? I must make my own assessment, you see. Second, and this may be a question for which you may wish to answer privately, when you say you "love and respect Arthur", to what form of love do you refer? Agape love as that of a friendship? Platonic love as that of a colleague? Or Eros as that of…? Well, you know"
Dr. Shepard pauses, blushing slightly, and continues,
"As I said, answer as it pleases you, here, now, or let us seek a private room. And then my final query: what was the murder weapon and has the poor woman’s body been recovered? I suppose that is two final questions, sir."
May 18, 2023 4:18 pm
Genie? Hoo boy, this guy's definitely loopy.

Reggie cocks an eyebrow when Shepard asks Klein to define his relationship with Blackwood, but says nothing. He's more interested in the answer to the question about the body.

He asks Klein if he can take a closer look at the cellar photograph.
May 18, 2023 6:03 pm
"We have been business partners for a long time and always good friends, no more than that I assure you. I know you psychologist types like to read relations into everything. Primarily your assessment will be on the cabin, as Arthur has requested. If I can get you an interview with him, it will be at the court's whim and out of my hands."

He hands the photo to Reginald,

"No murder weapon was found, but the absence of the body and the presence of blood was enough for the prosecution.."
May 18, 2023 6:33 pm
"Arthur doesn't have it in him to do this," Samuel eyes flick from one face to another, as if daring anyone to disagree. "Besides, I've seen men struggle after their first time killing a person. He wouldn't be confused, he'd be a wreck."

He pauses for the exchange between Joseph and their psychiatrist companion. "He didn't kill anyone, and there will be evidence to prove it. Perhaps not a...genie," he rolls his eyes briefly at the word. "But something. We'll find it."
May 18, 2023 8:29 pm
"Miss Jonson, Arthur would like you to capture this genie on film, if you can. He has faith you can provide evidence of this thing's existence. You will be paid regardless of the outcome, but he insists on your presence here."
May 18, 2023 8:57 pm
Reggie studies the photograph, looking for clues.

After Miss Johnson answers Klein, he asks him, "Did you ever witness Mr. and Mrs. Blackwood arguing?"
OOC:
Based on Reggie's knowledge of the law, does it make sense to him for Blackwood to be prosecuted for his wife's murder despite the absence of a body? In this case, no body was found, but bits of hair and nail were later found and DNA evidence ID'd the victim. Obviously that level of forensic science is not available here. Can they tell that the blood on Blackwood was even human and not animal?
May 18, 2023 9:40 pm
Nothing obvious stands out from the photo.
OOC:
Although obviously not a common situation, it seems like an open-and-shut case, with Arthur babbling about her being 'taken'. It's unlikely the blood could be identified, it would be assumed that Arthur hid the remains somewhere. Reggie would have certainly viewed it the same way as the arresting officers
May 18, 2023 9:50 pm
"I did not, as far as I knew, they were a happy couple. I see no motive here, but like I say, the pressure of work can be enough to break the strongest of men."
May 18, 2023 11:57 pm
"Without going into details—because I'm sure it's all confidential—can you tell me what sort of work Mr. Blackwood has been doing that had him so stressed out?"
May 19, 2023 3:22 am
Dr. Shepard makes a few notes in his pad and nods gratefully to the lawyer. Then, he says,
"I will be most eager to speak with Mr. Blackwood myself and alone. I work best under these conditions and will then provide a sound assessment of his mental status for your defense case. I assure you, my only interest is the one I’ve been secured to pursue. Thank you again for your assistance."
Last edited May 19, 2023 3:23 am
May 19, 2023 7:03 am
"The usual corporate work. Now I appreciate you all have questions, but I have a lot to get on with so I look forward to your report."
May 19, 2023 11:41 am
"We should get moving anyway. The courts aren't usually in much of a hurry, but they won't wait around to hear from us, either." Samuel nods, turning to head for the door.
Last edited May 19, 2023 12:43 pm
May 19, 2023 12:39 pm
Calvin's done his best to transcribe the recorded message in his notebook. He's visibly excited following the mention of a genie.
OOC:
can I roll an occult check to see if I have any knowledge on genies? maybe stories from great grandma Blackwood? I'd also be interested in what I can recall of a family curse. Should that be a separate roll?
He will speak to Mr. Klein as we all begin to head for the door:
Should we all make our way to Whitehall separately then, or do you have a means to travel together? Or maybe some directions to the cabin? We have 16 days to photograph darkness, and I'd hate to be in the wrong spot. Additionally, would you have a photograph of the couple together? Arthur mentioned a ring and I'd love to know what it looks like.
May 19, 2023 2:28 pm
OOC:
Go ahead and make an occult roll, Calvin. Additionally you can make an INT roll to see if you recall anything of a family curse.

Rolls are 1d100 . I may assign a hidden difficulty (hard or extreme)
May 19, 2023 2:58 pm
OOC:
I wanted to ask Klein if he knew of anyone that might have a reason to frame Blackwood for murder. I realize the crux of the story is to get to the cabin cellar, but I would think Reggie would want to take a more pragmatic approach (being skeptical about "genies" or other paranormal nonsense) to see if there were any co-workers who could offer any information.
May 19, 2023 3:06 pm
OOC:
We can safely say that Reggie established that no such enemy exists. Arthur is well-liked by co-workers and opposition counsels alike. Klein has requested you not speak to others in the office though, the more people hearing that the firm has hired investigators to follow a crackpot story about a genie, the more likely it is to get out to the press and at this stage, that won't help Arthur's case.
load next

You do not have permission to post in this thread.