Part 77: Blackwell Epiphany - Update 8

Update 8

Last update, Rosa had just finished pocketing the key to Lia's house, and reading through Emil's inbox. Among other things, she learned two important pieces of information from the emails. First of all, Kendra liked to play an online game called Trollgate. Secondly, Lia had installed a parental control program called "Parental Eye" on Kendra's computer to keep watch over her emails. We'll look to take advantage of both of those insights now.

The Wired Abacus



Maybe.
Whatever. Leave me out of it.

Sure enough, Rosa is thinking of that software mentioned in Emil's emails, though she wonders about the morality of it.

Emil and Lia were talking about using a piece of software to spy on Kendra. Can't say I approve.
So? We spy on people all the time.
That's different. We're helping people.
Potayto potahto. Spying's spying.

Fair point from Joey. Still, it makes sense to do it again here. If Lia did install the software on Kendra's computer, we might be able to access her emails and figure out what happened, or at least learn something else about her to help her move on.



Rosa heads out from Emil's office and asks to buy a copy.

Parental Eye? Yeah, we got plenty of those left. They didn't sell very well. I guess people don't like to spy on their children, but me? I don't judge. Anyway, we got a bunch behind the counter. That'll be $14.99.
Do you take debit card?
Sure. Here you go.
Thanks.



Rosa looks at the box.

According to the back of the box, this allows you to monitor another computer for suspicious activity. All you have to do is install it on the computer you want to monitor, and configure it so another computer can read it.

Sounds like it's set up so that only certain computers can access your stuff. We won't be able to use this to spy on just anyone.



There are all sorts of disclaimers and government warnings on the back, too. I don't think this is entirely legal.

Hahaha I guess that's never stopped us before!



Rosa's first thought is to take the software home and try it there. However...

My computer's too outdated for this software.

Gah. Oh well, at least she got to take her earmuffs off for a moment.



Before heading back out, I check Rosa's phone to see she has received this game's token Nishanthi email! Sounds like she's having a good time She's a lot warmer than Rosa is, anyway!

The Wired Abacus



Hm. Seems like a pretty standard installation. Give me a second...

Alright, this plan makes a bit more sense. Lia would have configured Kendra's computer to broadcast only to Emil's computer, so this is the computer to install the software on.

All right. It's ready to go.

Let's fire it up!



However, upon logging on to the email retrieval system, Rosa finds there are no emails in Kendra's inbox. She must keep her inbox clean. That makes things tougher.

It doesn't look like Kendra has any emails on her computer. But if she gets any, I suppose I can use this piece of software to read them.

Guess that's a bit of a dead end, at least for now. Rosa and Joey chat about what to do next.

Did Kendra have any friends? Interests? Hobbies?
Kendra was a fan of an online game called "Trollgate." I wonder what it's like.
Do we really have time to play games?
If it gives us a clue, then yes.

Yes, that was the other lead we got from Emil's emails. Perhaps we'll be able to find her profile on there or something.

I guess there's no point in asking if you know anything about this "Trollgate" game?
What do you think?
Right.

Joey is not impressed, it seems.

"Trollgate." This is what kids play with these days.
Not just kids, either.
Huh. Of course not.



Fortunately, Trollgate is free to download. Rosa eats into her monthly data limit...



...and prepares to fight the galloping hordes of Shenoya!!

Trollgate Theme



Hahahaha, adorable It's not immediately obvious, but yes, this is the song that Kendra was playing on the piano, though it's obviously a lot more epic sounding than her slow piano tinkling.



However, it looks like Trollgate is going through some technical difficulties. I love that the three guilds in Trollgate are "Shenoyan", "Elmaleh" and "Whittikans", very obviously named after voice actress trio Shelly Shenoy, Sarah Elmaleh and Rebecca Whittaker who have been such large parts of the Blackwell cast

We can't play the game, but we can still log into the chat logs.



It would be ideal to log into Kendra's chat log, but we have no idea what her username is. Rosa makes a couple of sensible guesses, but nothing sticks.



Figuring they may have more luck working out Kendra's username at her home, Rosa and Joey pack up and head back to Lia's house.

Kendra Plays Trollgate Theme (alternative)



Arriving at the house, Rosa uses the key from Emil's office to enter.

That did it. It's about time. I'm freezing out here.

I've linked the alternative version of Kendra playing the Trollgate theme here. It's much closer to the actual theme, but doesn't really sound like a kid is playing it. It's a bit too precise and mechnical. It sounds more like one of those automatic pianos. I guess I can see why Gilbert had Regin do a new version, complete with pauses and misplayed notes.



And it's not from the cold.

Upon arriving, Rosa immediately feels a chill go down her spine.

Oh good. You feel it too. I was worried it was just me.
What is it?
I dunno. Nothing nice, that's for sure.

Something is not right about this house. I'm sure if it was just the presence of a ghost child, Joey would be familiar with it. Something bad has happened here.



Rosa decides to go and speak with Kendra herself, though she looks around the room first.

She's really focused on that music. Like she's trying to shut out the world.
A stuffed globe! I used to have one. I stared at it for hours.
I just throw it around the room. It doesn't bounce too well.
That must be Kendra's computer. It's turned off.

Her computer, hey?



It would be easiest if Rosa could just use the computer and access Kendra's information that way, but it appears to be broken. Or maybe the power is out?

Power's been out. Sorry.

Aha. But wait - how long has it been out? The whole time that Kendra has been dead? That sounds a bit ominous.



Joey is really spooked out about this house.

It's freezing. I know that.
Yeah, but it's... not just the cold. It's something else.
Something else? Like what?
Believe me. I wish I knew.
You really feel it? The cold? I thought you couldn't feel things like that.
Some kinds of cold go beyond physical, sweetheart. Whatever happened here is one of them.

This is getting kind of creepy, to be honest.

Kendra Plays Piano (Alternative)



Rosa sucks up her concerns and introduces herself to Kendra.

Uh huh?
I'm looking for your mother. Is she around?
She's here. Somewhere. I need to practice.

Unlike Joey, who is filled with gentle warmth as he speaks to Kendra, Rosa seems kind of uncomfortable and wooden around the kid. She does her best to reach out to her...

I'm sorry about your parents, Kendra.
I grew up without any family at all. I kind of know what it's like.
Yeah. Um. I really should practice now.
*sigh*

...but it doesn't really go very well.



Rosa tries namedropping Joey...

Oh. Cool.
Anyway, I should practice now.
If you're willing to talk to Joey, you can talk to me as well. We're friends.
Um. I'm really need to practice. Sorry.

...but Kendra isn't buying it. She was more open with Joey, that's for sure, though even with him she was obsessed with practicing. Perhaps she can feel the unnatural cold in this house too, and is trying to shut it out with her playing?



Next up, Rosa tries a namedrop of a different kind.

You play?
I... sure do!

Finally, Kendra is interested!

Cool! What faction are you with?
Um... the...

The Whittikans! The Whittikans, Rosa!!

...
Uh huh. I have to practice now.

Ouch. That didn't go so well, either. Poor Rosa.



Joey tags in to help out.

Sorry to bother you again, but I have something I wanna ask you.
Well, okay.
So I hear you're into something called Trollgate?
You play?
Er. No. Not really my thing.
Okaaay.

Unfortunately, he doesn't really make any forward strides either. Joey tries to leave her with some comforting words.

Okay, Kendra. I've gotta go. But I'll be around to check on you, okay?
Check on me? Why? Is something wrong?
No. No. I just... well, you're not alone here. You might not know what that means yet, but you're not.
Okaaay. I'm gonna practice now.
Sure.

We're not getting anywhere here.



Deciding to look around instead, Rosa heads to the basement.

It's just a shelf. There's nothing on it.
A cheap reproduction painting of a sad-eyed woman. Too cheesy for the bathroom, I guess.
A plastic Christmas tree. There's a lot of dust on it. Was it even used last December?

Suddenly, Rosa spies the fusebox.

It looks like a fusebox. It's in much better shape than the last one I saw. It seems to be in perfect working order. I wonder why all the lights are off.

Okay, something is definitely going on here. We've seen "spiritual activity" causing computers to short out before, but even then the lights stayed on. What on earth is happening here?



Rosa then checks out the kitchen.

It's just a fridge. Humming quietly.

Wait, humming quietly? So the power is still on for that? But not for the lights, or the computers? I don't understand any of this.



On the fridge is a drawing, presumably by Kendra, of "KayKay the Troll!"

It says "KayKay the Troll."
Cute.

I think I've just figured out what Kendra's Trollgate username is.

Trollgate Theme



Let's give this a try...



Bingo! But wait, we don't know her password, either.



Fortunately, the "Forgot password?" option has a security question we happen to know the answer to. That should send her new password to her email, which we can snoop on via Emil's office computer.



On the way back out, Rosa quickly nabs the key to Emil's apartment. We might need that later, and if not, well, at least Rosa can add to her never-ending list of stolen items from her cases!



Sure enough, back at The Wired Abacus, Rosa finds one new email waiting in Kendra's inbox.



"Fabri" is named for either Martinus Fabri or Thomas Fabri (I'm not sure which), both famous composers of their days. Gilbert has the puzzle randomly assign the password to one of several musicians, to help make it harder for people to "cheat" past this area by knowing the password before they're meant to. Awesomely, one of the "famous" musicians that can be assigned as Kendra's password is "Regin", a reference to Epiphany's own composer Thomas Regin

So I've got Kendra's "Trollgate" password.
Good for you. I guess. So I guess you're gonna play that game now?

May as well! Rosa doesn't even bother leaving Emil's office.



After logging in, she has access to Kendra's chat log...



...where she fortunately still has some saved messages, both sent to her account, and from her account. Looks like she spoke to this "Trollmo" often.



One of Kendra's real life friends makes a nuisance of himself/herself. This is all looking pretty non-informative so far.



Hahaha This is all kind of cute.



Now, this is a bit more interesting. Apparently some kind of construction work was occurring in Kendra's basement, but when we were there it looked pretty bare. Given that Kendra most likely sends a lot of messages, and this is one of the most recent, it would have been from very shortly before her death. Very strange.



Another uninformative message here.



Okay, this is definitely not matching up. A big hole in the wall? That just simply wasn't there when we looked. Sounds like Lia had gone off the deep end, too.



Pawpy sounds like a bit of a brat.



The last message from Kendra indicates that the hole is behind the shelf. I guess that could explain why we never saw anything, although I'm frightened to think what we might find in there



Rosa quickly fills Joey in.

We should probably go check it out.

Joey mulls over the new information.

I thought there was something funny about that shelf in the Pierro's basement.
Really?
Well, no. Not really. But it would have saved us a heck of a lot of time.

Haha Looks like it's time for another trip back out to Astoria.



Back in Lia's basement, Joey stares at the shelf.

It looks normal, I'll give it that.

Well, if it's covering up a big hole, Joey's the one to phase through and find it.



However, when Joey tries to approach it, he is sharply repelled.

What the hell was that? Something's stopping me from going behind that shelf.
Something? Like what?
Dunno. Whatever it is, it's designed to keep spooks like me out. Maybe you'll have better luck.

Oh geez, there is some kind of supernatural activity at work here. I don't like this one bit.



Rosa tries next. She grabs the shelf, but it won't budge.

Urf. It's not moving.

However, suddenly...

Lia Pierro



...a panel on the wall opens, revealing a... television monitor?

Hello? Lia? Is that you?
That's Officer Pierro. And you don't get to ask questions. You can't see it, but there's a Bushnell 22mm rifle aimed right at your head. Step into the middle of the room. Now.

Oh Jesus Christ. We've found Lia - she's hiding in the hole in her basement, and has apparently gone to enough expense to have a television communication system installed and everything. But she's not at all happy to see us.



If the television seems like a massive non-sequitur to you, that's because it is. Gilbert's explanation is that he really wanted the player to see Lia's facial expressions during this scene, but that wasn't possible while she was in her hidey-hole. The security screen was the best compromise he could think of. It's a little out there, but let's go with it.

Now I repeat: Who are you?

Thinking quickly, Rosa alludes to her connection with the police. If Lia was a police officer, hopefully that will earn some kudos.

I'm Rosangela Blackwell. I'm with the police.
The police? Show me your badge. Hold it up where I can see it.
Um... I'm not PART of the police, exactly.
I thought so. You're no cop.

That didn't work. Rosa tries the next best option.

I'm here to help you.



That... might actually be the case.

What kind of "help" do you think you can offer?

One more thing to try. George knew who we were, and about "Bestowers". Perhaps Lia does, too?

I'm Rosangela Blackwell. I'm the Bestower.
The Bestower? You're the Bestower? You?
As far as I know.

There is silence for a moment, as Lia considers what Rosa has just said.

Thank God. You have no idea. No idea what it's been like. Hiding in this little panic room. Waiting. Not knowing.
Not knowing what? What exactly is going on?
Wait. You mean... George didn't tell you?

No, he didn't get a chance

No. He... he died before he could tell me anything.
Died? George is dead?
Yes. I'm sorry.



Oh, geez With nothing to be gained from lying, Rosa announces the horrible truth.

... No.

Lia is again silent, until Rosa finally speaks out again.

Lia?
Sorry, I... We were close, towards the end. He was a good person. A bit lost, maybe, but we all were.
He... didn't deserve that.
Hell, none of us do.

"Close towards the end" seems like a strange way to describe someone you spent the last several years dating. Or maybe Lia was single for a long time and they only got together recently, or something? More important than that is the fact that Lia seems to be fully aware of what happened to George. It sounds like she knew in advance that he needed saving, to prevent whatever did happen from happening. How could she know? How did George and her know about "Bestowers" at all, for that matter?

Where are you?
Behind the wall. In a little room. The room has been specially sealed - nothing physical or spiritual can harm us in here. We have enough supplies to last us a few more months, but we probably won't need it. Now that you're here.

Specially sealed against spiritual harm? What the hell? Lia clearly knows something or someone out of the ordinary.

Lia - I need you to tell me what happened.
Of course. George didn't tell you anything. He couldn't have told you. He won't be telling anybody anything ever again.

Poor Lia sounds like she doesn't know whether to be frightened or sad here. Rosa tries to steer her back on track.

Lia. Please?
Yes, I know. It's just... hard to say. I mean, who could I tell? Who would believe me? Emil? Cory? Sam? God, they must be worried sick. There was no time to say goodbye. But at least we're safe in here.

We're not sure who Cory is but we know the other two names. But wait a minute. Did Lia just say "we're" safe in here? Who else is in there with her?



Yes. My little Kendra. I didn't want her to get mixed up in all of this, but I'm going to save her too. If I can.

Oh, my God. No. Rosa is silent for a moment before announcing the truth as gently as she can.

Lia. Kendra is... Kendra is dead. I'm sorry.

Lia is then quiet for a while herself, before responding softly.

... I know that. Of course I know that. But sometimes... I can pretend she's just sleeping.

Oh, no, no, no. How long has Lia been hiding in that bunker with her daughter's body?



This is just awful

But... her spirit is still with me. I can't see her, but I can feel her. Sense her.
It... helps.

I can't even begin to imagine what Lia has been through, here Sadly, she's even wrong about Kendra's spirit being in there with her, as we've already seen.

Lia. Are you sure Kendra's spirit is in there?
Of course. She has to be. I had to bring her here with me. I had to keep her spirit safe.
Safe from... whatever happened to George. To the others. In here. With me. She's safe.

Suddenly, the horrible alternative springs to Lia's mind.

She... IS safe, isn't she?

Unsure of how to respond, Rosa tries telling a white lie.

Of course. She's in there with you. She's safe.



Lia...

Lia suddenly hardens up, her voice gaining resolve.

The name is Officer Pierro. And I ask you once again: Is. She. Safe?
I can't say if she's safe or not, but she's not in there with you.
What? How? How can you know that?
I... well, you know who I am? What I can do? I saw her. Kendra. Her ghost, I mean. She's not in there with you. I'm sorry.

If Lia knows about Bestowers, then presumably she knows that Kendra's ghost sticking around is a bad sign.

You saw her... That means... they wouldn't have done that. They wouldn't dare, would they?
Hold my daughter's soul for ransom? That's... sick!
Her soul is fine. For the moment. She's upstairs in her room.
Oh thank God.



This scene is absolutely gutwrenching

I... can't do this much longer. You must think I'm horrible.
You'll help her, won't you? That's what you do, right?
... Yes. That's what I do.

"It's what I do" / "That's what I do" seems to have become Rosa's catchphrase this game. I guess after several years, she's really embraced the whole medium thing. Cases like this must make it seem really damn hard, though.

I really need you to tell me what happened. I can't help you if you don't tell me.
...
Help Kendra first.
I'm sorry, but she has top priority. I feel bad for George and the others, but this is Kendra. Damn everyone else. Help her. Then I'll tell you everything you need to know.

Rosa tries to get Lia to fill in some of the many blanks we have, but she's not willing to cooperate while Kendra's soul is still at risk.

Why don't you come out? We can work together.
No. You saw what happened to George. I step out of this room, and they get me.
And if Kendra is here when that happens... No. I won't risk it. Once she's... safe, I'll come out.
And damn the consequences.

I don't even want to speculate on who "they" might be. Somehow I don't think this is the "them" from Deception. Gavin's spiritual vampire group fed on positive energy, but there doesn't seem to be anything positive whatsoever from being frightened for your very soul. This all just seems really awful.



Since Lia is willing to leave her bunker, Rosa offers to bring Kendra down to her, but Lia immediately rejects that plan.

God, no! You have to get her spirit away from this house - away from ME - as soon as possible!
I can't put her at risk. She might be dead, but I can't risk... that. Anything but that.

This would all be easier if Lia would give us some information...

Can you give me anything else to go on?
I told you: Help her. Then I'll tell you everything you need to know.

...but given what's at stake, I don't blame her for keeping mum. Given what she's had to deal with lately, she deserves all the understanding Rosa and Joey can afford her.



Things have gone from simply depressing to extremely dark and quite disturbing, here. I guess we know what the next step needs to be. We have to help Kendra to move on, and then hopefully Lia can help fill us in on what has happened.






With things quite bleak at the moment, let's have a bit of a lighter Word of God update today. As I mentioned in the first Word Of God update, Gilbert's favourite ghost of the whole series was Jeremy Sams. Rosa clearly cared about him, and seemed more motivated than usual to figure out what had happened to him. This was transmitted to the player who also felt a greater inclination to do something.

However, the question was raised a couple of times in the Deception LP - did Jeremy actually have a crush on Rosa back when he was alive? It was never really addressed in the game since Gilbert wisely felt that having them say nothing in their final scene together was more powerful than any words could be. Was Rosa someone that Jeremy had thought about in the years since she left the Village Eye? Or was it just a case that he somehow "knew that she could help him", as was also suggested by Joey?

Jeremy did have a crush on Rosa

Gilbert confirms that, yes, Jeremy did have a crush on her from their time working together. This is backed up by Jeremy's dialogue where he remembers that Rosa "spoke to him, sometimes" even though, in Rosa's recollection, they barely spoke at all. It also explains why he has a photo of her lying around, since as a ghost he really couldn't have dug it out of an old memory box or whatever when he "needed" her. He must have had it out from before he died.

However, Gilbert also says that ghosts tending to find mediums (or "Bestowers", I suppose) when they need them is one of the themes of the series. From Alli just happening to turn up at the dog park as Rosa walks by, to the chance encounter with Monique that lead to Frank Lyons, and hell, in some sense, even George Ostin could be placed in this basket.

So I guess the answer to the question is - both! Which is generally the most satisfying answer anyway, I feel.