IC Scene 1: St. Mary's Hospital

[amarriner]

St. Mary's Hospital
Thursday June 4, 1925

Lily Rakkim stood outside the door to room 315. She'd received a letter from her uncle, Rupert Merriweather, a few days ago asking her to come and visit him in the hospital. She'd known he'd been sick for a while and that he was getting on in years, but since she hadn't actually talked to him in some time it was a strange request. The letter mentioned something about the occult and since that was a marked interest for her (and, of course, since he was family after all), she decided to pay him a visit. She'd brought along a few colleagues who shared that same interest. They were milling around quietly in front of the door waiting for the doctor to come back out and give them the go-ahead to enter.

Nearby the door, but not in the same crowd of people was another woman named Vanessa Burg. She, too, had received a call from Rupert Merriweather. Her note received no mention of the occult, but she had been quite close with Merriweather up until recently and so came as soon as she was able. Like the others she was waiting for the doctor to return and allow entrance to room 315.

[Wrathleader]

Alfred Shipton turns to the woman he does not reconize and says with a tip of his fedora, Good afternoon madam, I could not help but notice that you appear to be waiting on a Mr. Merriweather. My name is Alfred Shipton, and might I ask the pleasure of yours?

[Autumn Storm]

Alice Arcuri was was trying her hardest to ignore the other people in the room with the exception of the professor and Melissa. Which reminds me... she pulled a pad and pen out of her dress and scribbled a quick on it before ripping it out for the maid. [Do you have an idea as to why we've come to the hospital? I do not know the man inside that room, of that I'm certain.] She was accompanying her professor as per his request though she hadn't thought to ask why.

[Glenstorm]

My name is Vanessa Burg. I have known Mr. Merriweather for quite a long time - we did business together before the war. After that venture went under, we became, ah, very close. I have not seen him for many years, so when I heard of his illness I took the first train down to come visit. Alfred Shipton.... I do not believe I have heard your name before, how are you related to Mr. Merriweather?

[Wrathleader]

" M'lady, I am here at the request of Lily Rakkim, a colleague of mine, and she is a relative of mine. She also invited a few other colleagues and a student of mine. We all share certain interests, and apparently a shared interest with Mr. Merriweather." said Alfred.

[YukiKitsune]

I am not sure why we were brought along myself, miss Arcuri. She said after finishing reading the note. Melissa turned to Dr.Shipton If I may Doctor? What is this shared interest we have with Mr. Merriweather? I don't recall ever meeting him and do wonder why it is we were brought along.

[Glenstorm]

Fantastic, Rupert only has one "certain interest", so I guess they're all superstitious nutjobs too. I assume you're referring to his passion for the, ah, less widely accepted branches of science? I hear the nearby Miskatonic University has the worlds largest dedication to their study, it's why Rupert likes this place so much.

[amarriner]

A short man with a white coat and glasses on exits room 315. He has a name tag on his coat that reads: DANFORD. He says to the group in general, Mr. Merriweather is resting, but lucid. Feel free to visit him, but please try not to linger. I fear he is getting rather weak. With that, he starts off down the hall.

[Wrathleader]

Alfred stopped talking and listened to the doctor say that we could enter. Alfred then gestures towards Vanessa Burg and Lily Rakkim and says, Shall we enter m'ladies?"

[Glenstorm]

Vanessa frowned. The doctor's description implied her friend's situation was far worse than was initially described to her. Agitated, she flings open the door and strides into the room - forgetting the proper pleasantries owed Alfred.

[Autumn Storm]

Alice jumped as the door banged against the wall. She hurried after the girl, dragging her maid by the hand and sending an apologetic glance in the doctor's direction.

[amarriner]

As everyone filters into room 315, they see Rupert Merriweather lying in bed looking to be in pretty bad shape. His face is drawn and pale, and he looks very tired. Standing next to them is a aged woman he introduces as Agnes, his wife. She's rather short and is obviously trying to hold back her tears. Next to her is a younger man whom Rupert also introduces as Bertrand, his son. Betrand eyes the newcomers cautiously as if sizing them up. Lily has, of course, met them before and they offer her terse hellos.

Rupert motions for them to sit wherever they're able.He is the only patient in the room so it's a bit bigger than some of the other rooms in the hospital, but there are only two chairs so not everyone is able to sit.

[Wrathleader]

Alfred being the gentleman he is, he offers the two chairs to Lily and Vanessa, seeing as how they know Mr. Merriweather. "Lily, if you and Ms. Burg would take the chairs, seeing how you know Mr. Merriweather." He then pulls the two chairs out for the two ladies and gestures for them to sit.

[Glenstorm]

Vanessa waves off the offer absentmindedly, and leans in slightly towards Mr. Merriweather. How are you Rupert?

[amarriner]

Fine, Vanessa, fine, thank you. After a moments pause, Rupert reconsiders and says with a wry smile, Well actually, I've been better. Agnes, Bertrand, please leave me with these fine people. I need to say my goodbyes. And in some cases my hellos and my goodbyes! With that, Agnes walks slowly out of the room without saying a word, weeping all the way. Bertrand, at first, doesn't move at all, but something in Rupert's look causes him to relent and he, too, heads out of the room. Not before shooting the newcomers an accusing glance.

Once they're gone, Rupert sighs and begins again. I'm an old man. That much is quite obvious, but I don't have a lot of time left on this earth. I've done things I'm proud of, and things I'm not so proud of. I'm going to get right to the heart of the matter as time is short. I'm sorry I don't have time for introductions, but it is good to see some friendly faces here before my end.

When I was a much younger man, I fell in with a group of like-minded fellows in the study of occult and paranormal activities. Our de facto leader was a man named Marion Allen. Our studies grew to such an extent that we ended up purchasing an old farmhouse out in Ross's Corners just outside the city. Here we would perform rituals and seances away from the prying eyes of the urbanites.

Our final experiment was a disaster and in retrospect was something we should never have gotten involved in. We summoned a ... thing ... I ... don't really know how else to describe it. Some cosmic evil "force". We were satisfied that our doings had bound the entity to the farmhouse and that it wouldn't be able to leave, so we abandoned it. None of us were willing to go back and do what needed to be done. The thing still exists out there. Still lives in that old farmhouse. It needs to be dealt with. The spell we used to bind it to the house will cease once the last the summoners dies. I am the last of our group.

Please, I beg you, help me right my wrong. Don't let this thing loose on the world as I did. Go to the house in Ross's Corners, and banish it! Rupert takes a breath and continues. There on the nightstand, take that metal box. Inside is all the data you'll need to do what needs to be done. Take it!