Well I am back from a 2000 klm round trip cross country drive to deal with the death of my aunt.

It was not lost on me that this whole thing has all the elements of a CoC adventure.

One brother descended into madness on the day of the funeral and drank himself unconscious. Totally missing it.
Feuding siblings AT the funeral. Crazy old ladies showing up to reveal bloody skeletons in the closet (Allready knew of one. The man with the ruined face.(dont mess with the bartender. She WILL fuck you up... ow... ))
The deceased family member's descent into madness and paranoia over the years.
The utter state of decay the little house had degraded to in the years since I lived there.
Her cat flipping out and violently defending the house and especially her room where she died from anyone.
And the weird legacy she left behind.

The whole drive out was overcast and grey. Not a bad thing really. But it sure matched the situation! The ride out was pretty smooth really. We made a little rest stop at the university my driver studied at and we got to eat at the cafeteria. This wouldn't be a Lovecraftian tale without a university in there somewhere. So we arrive around evening and right out the gate people are acting weird. Not the reception was expecting. But picked up the keys as the locks had been changed due to a break in attempt the day after she died. Got a room at the Inn there. Only one of the lights worked. But otherwise was clean. Whole town looks a little more run down. And its still a postage stamp. No really. You can bike from one side to the other in no time.

So get in and on the table are... teeth... her dentures. But still creepy! The place is dimly lit. Some lights don't work. Which made it even more eerie. Exploring by flashlight. My old room still has my bed in the corner. Some of my gaming posters stacked in a corner. (One being the infamous Werewolf: The Apocalypse PC/Playstation game poster no less. Coming Soon in 1999! ) Due to the aforementioned squabbling between my sisters there is a-lot of stuff covered and marked off I can't touch. But sitting on a shelf is my old Native American painted deer skull. I'll try and get a photo of it later.
Before her death she had been packing things. Some with my name on them. The mystery boxes.

Lastly ventured up into the attic. Itty-bitty little steps (surely designed by Esher. :eek:) But the attic itself was weirdly clean. Little dust and not a single cobweb or bug.

Totally missed venturing into the basement. But only thing down there was a natural artisan spring. (Which people local coveted for some reason. ia!-ia!)

And that night the person who drove me out gets a call. Her sister just died.

So in the morning pack up what little I can. Alot of it packed away in a closet by my aunt. This including a big steamer trunk. The metal sort you can fit a body in. Like this.

Thing was hell to drag out of the closet too! Couldn't take it with me so my sister will handle it for now.

So. Get home and open the mystery boxes. And here is where things get weird again and a few blasts from the past. There is a jumble of stuff in each. Some of it mine from way the hell back. Why did she have this stuff? School papers from what looks like 1st grade? Then theres the newspaper clippings. All from around the same general era of 1983. Deaths of people mostly. And a few oddities like my mom being busted in a drug sting I never heard of??? another noted as having a picture of my sister in it. But theres no such picture??? Whats the meaning of it?

In another was more newspaper clippings. And some newspapers.
The first announcing that America was going to War with Japan.
Another announcing the death of someone named Dillinger.
And the last.
The explosion of an airship called Hindenburg...
Also one of my grandfathers old Railway Journal: Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way periodicals. (Sounds esoteric!)
And this weird semi-transparent green comb that glows/lights up when the light hits it right. Reads "RECRUIT MEMBERS FOR SONS OF HERMANN" on it... (obviously a cult!)
There was also a collection of recipe clippings. Some dating back to at least the 20s. Some so old they were referring to China as Cathay? (Lovecraft would have approved of these recipes I'm sure.)

In another box is odd things like the photo of a man I don't think I have ever met. A note by me apologizing for beating up my brother. That is NOT in my handwriting WTF?? And the creepiest thing of all. A note I'd left for her telling her I was going to work. My first job! But on the back was written this strange passage she wrote over and over, each with slight variations over the course of a few days. What is this? Why? I don't understand!

Thus ends the tale. And sadly the mystery can never be solved.

I love your Aunt already.

Which reminds me that I need to start up my own time capsule of mysteries for remaining family members. :cool:

I'm oddly on the other side of a mystery... regarding my sister who died 20 years ago.
A roommate of hers from just before she died has since become a local writer of some stature.
He recently wrote an article about my sister and how she had influenced him (she was a writer as well). His article also focused on the night she moved out of their apartment and a slew of mysterious elements surrounding that departure... odd things left behind, a bizarre note from her that wasn't in her handwriting, and a particular photograph... all of which has haunted him for years, especially since my sister died in a one-car accident just a few days later.

The thing is, I know the answers to all his questions... but they're mundane, free of intrigue. When I read his article I thought for a moment that I would write to him and clear things up... but then decided that would rob him of that excellent bit of wondering he's been doing all these years. So I'll just let him keep the mystery.

Quote from: Omega;976287Well I am back from a 2000 klm round trip cross country drive to deal with the death of my aunt.

It was not lost on me that this whole thing has all the elements of a CoC adventure.

One brother descended into madness on the day of the funeral and drank himself unconscious. Totally missing it.
Feuding siblings AT the funeral. Crazy old ladies showing up to reveal bloody skeletons in the closet (Allready knew of one. The man with the ruined face.(dont mess with the bartender. She WILL fuck you up... ow... ))
The deceased family member's descent into madness and paranoia over the years.
The utter state of decay the little house had degraded to in the years since I lived there.
Her cat flipping out and violently defending the house and especially her room where she died from anyone.
And the weird legacy she left behind.

The whole drive out was overcast and grey. Not a bad thing really. But it sure matched the situation! The ride out was pretty smooth really. We made a little rest stop at the university my driver studied at and we got to eat at the cafeteria. This wouldn't be a Lovecraftian tale without a university in there somewhere. So we arrive around evening and right out the gate people are acting weird. Not the reception was expecting. But picked up the keys as the locks had been changed due to a break in attempt the day after she died. Got a room at the Inn there. Only one of the lights worked. But otherwise was clean. Whole town looks a little more run down. And its still a postage stamp. No really. You can bike from one side to the other in no time.

So get in and on the table are... teeth... her dentures. But still creepy! The place is dimly lit. Some lights don't work. Which made it even more eerie. Exploring by flashlight. My old room still has my bed in the corner. Some of my gaming posters stacked in a corner. (One being the infamous Werewolf: The Apocalypse PC/Playstation game poster no less. Coming Soon in 1999! ) Due to the aforementioned squabbling between my sisters there is a-lot of stuff covered and marked off I can't touch. But sitting on a shelf is my old Native American painted deer skull. I'll try and get a photo of it later.
Before her death she had been packing things. Some with my name on them. The mystery boxes.

Lastly ventured up into the attic. Itty-bitty little steps (surely designed by Esher. :eek:) But the attic itself was weirdly clean. Little dust and not a single cobweb or bug.

Totally missed venturing into the basement. But only thing down there was a natural artisan spring. (Which people local coveted for some reason. ia!-ia!)

And that night the person who drove me out gets a call. Her sister just died.

So in the morning pack up what little I can. Alot of it packed away in a closet by my aunt. This including a big steamer trunk. The metal sort you can fit a body in. Like this.

Thing was hell to drag out of the closet too! Couldn't take it with me so my sister will handle it for now.

So. Get home and open the mystery boxes. And here is where things get weird again and a few blasts from the past. There is a jumble of stuff in each. Some of it mine from way the hell back. Why did she have this stuff? School papers from what looks like 1st grade? Then theres the newspaper clippings. All from around the same general era of 1983. Deaths of people mostly. And a few oddities like my mom being busted in a drug sting I never heard of??? another noted as having a picture of my sister in it. But theres no such picture??? Whats the meaning of it?

In another was more newspaper clippings. And some newspapers.
The first announcing that America was going to War with Japan.
Another announcing the death of someone named Dillinger.
And the last.
The explosion of an airship called Hindenburg...
Also one of my grandfathers old Railway Journal: Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way periodicals. (Sounds esoteric!)
And this weird semi-transparent green comb that glows/lights up when the light hits it right. Reads "RECRUIT MEMBERS FOR SONS OF HERMANN" on it... (obviously a cult!)
There was also a collection of recipe clippings. Some dating back to at least the 20s. Some so old they were referring to China as Cathay? (Lovecraft would have approved of these recipes I'm sure.)

In another box is odd things like the photo of a man I don't think I have ever met. A note by me apologizing for beating up my brother. That is NOT in my handwriting WTF?? And the creepiest thing of all. A note I'd left for her telling her I was going to work. My first job! But on the back was written this strange passage she wrote over and over, each with slight variations over the course of a few days. What is this? Why? I don't understand!

Thus ends the tale. And sadly the mystery can never be solved.

Man, you must totally write an adventure. Take pictures and you even have free art:).
I'd even make an exception and consider purchasing it;).

Good story Omega.

Quote from: Voros;976348Good story Omega.

I wish it WAS a story and not the real thing.

I'm sorry this story came about as the result of the loss of an aunt. Our adventures are under the requirement to make some sort of sense, reality is under no such requirement.

You've got some wonderful elements here I particularly like the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way - those who mainatin the permanent way also maintain other ways to strange places further away than the rail terminus.

May I ask, what was the strange passage repeated on the back of the note?

Quote from: Omega;976287Well I am back from a 2000 klm round trip cross country drive to deal with the death of my aunt.

Her cat flipping out and violently defending the house and especially her room where she died from anyone.

...

Totally missed venturing into the basement. But only thing down there was a natural artisan spring. (Which people local coveted for some reason. ia!-ia!)

First, I'm sorry for your loss.

Secondly, for my contribution to the thread:
My dad passed away at his workbench. After that, his dog would walk out to the shop every morning and sit under his chair, as she was wont to do. In the afternoon, she would walk back to the house. His dog passed about three weeks after he did.

Less poignantly, a house with an artesian spring / well is valuable. Having a sequestered water source that doesn't require power is rare and very convenient.

Quote from: Altheus;976404I'm sorry this story came about as the result of the loss of an aunt. Our adventures are under the requirement to make some sort of sense, reality is under no such requirement.

You've got some wonderful elements here I particularly like the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way - those who mainatin the permanent way also maintain other ways to strange places further away than the rail terminus.

May I ask, what was the strange passage repeated on the back of the note?

THE DOOR IS OPEN

Seriously though Omega, if you were interested, you've got enough there already to make one helluva web story.  The epistolary nature of the internet via posts, blogs, social media, etc, is perfect for Lovecraft-style fiction, as that Dionaea-House site I linked showed.  I think that guy is getting interest in making video shorts or a movie out of that.

I'm sure with all the CoC and horror-loving maniacs we have here, people would toss in lots of ideas.

Quote from: CRKrueger;976427THE DOOR IS OPEN

Seriously though Omega, if you were interested, you've got enough there already to make one helluva web story.  The epistolary nature of the internet via posts, blogs, social media, etc, is perfect for Lovecraft-style fiction, as that Dionaea-House site I linked showed.  I think that guy is getting interest in making video shorts or a movie out of that.

I'm sure with all the CoC and horror-loving maniacs we have here, people would toss in lots of ideas.

Fun Fact:

The Dionaea House was written by Eric Heisserer, Oscar Nominated writer of ARRIVAL.

The feature adaptation of Dionaea House was set up at WB years ago. He wrote the script and set up the web element and got interest in the script because of it. (An exec called him after tracking him down through the web site and asked (i shit you not) "Is this based on a true story?")

I don't think anything is going to come of the project anymore. But things rise from the dead here in Hollywood.


And Omega: condolences for your loss.

Condolences to you and yours for your loss.

Oh yeah, and you have my condolences as well, Omega!

My apologies, I just forgot it before, because - well, actually, it's not that interesting why I forgot. But it's good that other people didn't, and reminded me!

Quote from: Altheus;976404May I ask, what was the strange passage repeated on the back of the note?

Basically just saying "Good Morning Dear Hope you are feeling better", and then the first mentions taking the car in for work, the second version doesnt mention the car but mentions doing washing, and the third version just asking how was feeling in a different way.

I never even knew she kept it.

Also uncovered today in one of my books thats some sort of weird short story, almost a poem by her called "Drunken Driver" in blue ink. Its washed out in places due to some sort of water damage so again a weirdly Lovecraftian missive with one gruesome passage reading.

QuoteThe bumper struck the little girl,
Taking her life away;
While the little boy, in a gore of blood
In the ditch line there did lay.

The driver staggered from his car
To see what he had done,
His heart sank within him
When he saw his loving son.

Either she wrote this herself, or got it from a book? No clue. And again no way to ever tell why she wrote it down.

Addendum: It is apparently the lyrics of a country western song from the 30s or 50s?
Addendum 2: According to a person local it was written with a fountain pen.

Does the comb literally glow? It doesn't glow in the dark, does it?

Because if it does, and is of a certain age, it might be radioactive.

Does the comb literally glow? It doesn't glow in the dark, does it?

Because if it does, and is of a certain age, it might be radioactive.