Part 87: Blackwell Epiphany - Update 14 (Part 1)

Update 14

After discovering a still-intact ghost of a member of the Grace Group, things have finally started looking up a bit. Madeline has given us a totem we can use to transport the ghosts to the safety of Michael's circle, and there is still some hope that they can be saved.

Michael Cooper



Yes, Blackwell?

Seizing the moment, Rosa decides to have a more heart-to-heart conversation with Madeline.

Do you really think Peter Fielding is in danger?
I can assume nothing less. Remember the totem I gave you. Use it as soon as becomes aware.
Do you think Heather's soul is still out there? Like Peter's?
The fact that Peter is an unaware spirit was a stroke of luck. Perhaps we will be lucky again.

Rosa then asks about Madeline herself.



Pardon?
Where'd you come from? Who were you, before... all this?

Madeline takes a moment to settle on her response.

Tell me one thing. Have you ever asked your spirit guide the same question?
Yeah.
Has he ever given you a satisfactory answer?
...
Precisely.

Hahaha, I love it whenever Madeline pulls out her rare dorky smile



Rosa keeps up the personal conversation.

We helped each other.
Even still. If you weren't there... well, I don't know what would have happened.
The hole in the universe caused by the severed link would have consumed you. Your mind would have collapsed under the pressure, leaving you a raving madwoman.
... Right. Um. Well. Thanks.
My pleasure.

Hahaha, I'm liking Madeline more and more here



Next up, Rosa asks a question that we first asked in this thread all the way back in Convergence.

After a fashion. While in the void, I could reach out to the mortal world in dreams. The minds of other Bestowers were the most... receptive.
Huh? If that's true, how come she never mentioned it?
Sadly, the memories of our meetings faded as she woke.

I guess that does match up with what happened in Convergence, where Rosa would forget about Madeline talking to her after waking up. I wonder how many other times Madeline spoke to us?

What did you talk about? You and Auntie, I mean.
You have to understand, she was dreaming when we conversed. Her mind wasn't entirely lucid.
So you can't tell me anything?
Nothing that would make any cognitive sense.

That lines up, as well. Rosa didn't have much to say during those dream sequences besides being bleary-eyed with the alcohol. Sadly, Madeline isn't able to scratch Rosa's itch of wanting to know more about Lauren



She keeps asking questions, though.

They both went insane. They spent years sedated in a hospital. Do you know why?
I do not. I felt their minds when they... went, but that is all I know.
I see.

She then asks a question she's asked herself countless times.

Do you think the same thing will happen to me? What happened to my aunt and grandmother, I mean.
I am sorry. I do not know. But I do believe your chances of safety are high.
You really think so? Why?
I told you. While I was in the void, I could sense their minds. I could sense yours as well.



Really?

I'm... stronger?
Not physically. Or even mentally. But emotionally? Yes. Your grandmother fled the duty. Your aunt performed it with only the greatest reluctance. But you? You have embraced it. Thrived in it.
... Well. It's what I do.

There's that line again. It makes sense, though. Rosa really has embraced the ghostsaving, even seeming to have gotten over the initial teething problems of finding it unrewarding. I guess if anybody is going to get through this process without going insane, it would be someone who sees it as part of who they are, rather than an unwelcome burden.

I guess we should get going.
Of course. Keep us informed of your progress.



Madeline and Michael are now working a fair bit better, and in quite a nice dynamic, they actually have various things to say whenever you pay them a visit. If we leave and return right now, we walk into this conversation.

I am not. You will find out for yourself, one day.
Hey! Good to see you guys again. Madeline here was just telling me the funniest story-
My host. Please.
Right! Right. Sorry.

It's nice to see them getting along Exiting and entering again, we get more:

I am... intrigued, my host. Most in your position would find their faith quite shaken.
Really? For me it's just the opposite.
Your presence here. Everything we saw, as terrifying as it was... I mean, you're dead. And so is Joey here. You're not just figments of my imagination.
It proves that the soul exists. We don't just shut off when we die. There is something at our core. Something precious and sacred that must be protected.
I suppose that is one way of looking at it.
It is the only way of looking at it.



Another visit later, they're still discussing philosophy and faith.

Why wouldn't it?
I have seen and experienced too much to have such... blind faith in such matters.
Perhaps, but you yourself admit that you don't the answers.
Answers to what?
The secrets of the universe. What's really out there? Does God exist? Can you tell me anything? Go on. Take your time.

Madeline is silent.

... You can't think of an answer, can you? In all your years - centuries, even! - you still don't know.
I have to admit, that is correct. I am no closer to answering these questions than you are.
My point exactly!
But by the same token, I have existed for so long that those same questions have ceased to matter.
Huh.



After another visit, Madeline has decided to broach a difficult topic.

Yeah?
It is... difficult. My last host. She... did not have a good ending.
Madeline. You don't have to say anything. Whatever happened to her, it can't be worse than what lies in store for me if we fail.
Perhaps. Perhaps not.
Tell you what. When the dust settles, and if I'm... still here, you can tell me all about it.
Very well.

I guess it would be difficult to talk about how your last host banished you and then spent years as a murder weapon However, next time we visit, it seems they have managed to discuss it at some level.

Almost a century? Trapped in the void?
Yes.
How did you stop from going insane?



Hahahaha, Madeline has more character than I'd given her credit for

Hummed.
I know a great many songs. I can sing for you, if you'd like.
Maybe later.

Hahaha Finally, at this stage, we reach the generic "you've entered" conversation when we pay further visits.

Hello again.
Yeah, hey. Welcome back.



Joey comments on how much their bond has improved.

Indeed. He has proven to be quite eager to pursue the duty. That is, assuming he survives this ordeal.
We're working on it, Maddy. We're working on it. So. What's your plan for after this is all done?
Convince my host to leave the city, I suppose. There is no need for two Bestowers here.

I guess that answers the question earlier in the thread about Rosa not having run into any other Bestowers in the last four years. I guess most Bestowers fan out to areas not already inhabited by one.

Or perhaps your host can be persuaded to relocate?
What do you think Red? You want to leave New York? Maybe go to Europe?
My apartment is rent-controlled, Joey. What do you think?
There you go.

I have to say, I really like this point of the game. We've reached a natural dividing point between the first part of the game and what comes next, and here in the middle there is plenty of personal and expository dialogue. It's like we get a chance to refuel ourselves with some fun conversation and a few storyline reveals, before we head back out for more ghostsaving

Also, I'm getting a kick out of dorky Madeline



Joey then asks a more serious question.

I do hope so. For my host's sake, at the very least.

He follows it up with an even more serious question.

So we never really talked about the Countess.
I am aware. I have purposely avoided the subject.
Why's that?
She banished me, Mallone. Left me alone in an infinite void of nothing.
I may have forgiven her. I may even understand her motives. But... I can not bear to think of her. Not yet. Please don't ask about her again.

Interesting to see Madeline actually show a small spark of emotion. It's hard to blame her, really. In the past I had kind of assumed that Jocelyn banished her after decades, when she had gone a bit crazy. To have done it after two months is pretty damn harsh.



With Michael in a better mood now, Joey can speak further to him as well.

Yeah. Years ago. We went to Grace Group meetings together. He was... God, you should have seen him. A total mess. He looked like a street bum. I don't think he'd showered in weeks. But that was George. He only put effort into the things he cared about. The Grace Group helped him find what that was.
I heard he became an art dealer.
Yeah. None of us could believe it. George least of all. He always used to say that he would have never discovered his calling on his own. And he would have wasted his entire life not knowing.
*sigh* I used to feel the same way.

Let's ask about Lia, while we're here.

Lia told us she was part of this Grace Group thing.
It was over twenty years ago, but yes. She was a secretary at the time, I think. She was childhood friends with George Ostin and she brought him to the meetings, hoping to help him out. Turns out it helped both of them. She quit her job and joined the police force. She said the Grace Group helped her find her way.
I suppose, until now... it did.



Joey asks about poor little Kendra.

My God. I heard what happened. Madeline told me that her soul passed on peacefully? That she's... where she is supposed to be?
She passed through the light, if that's what you mean.
I see.
You have my thanks for that.

They keep asking questions.

Do you know Emil Haskins? Lia's ex-husband?
Sadly, no. Lia and I lost touch years ago. I didn't know she had even married in the first place until recently.
But... I feel for him.
Do you know there's no word for a parent who loses a child? The prospect is so unthinkable, we can't even name it.

Apparently there is a word, "vilomah", or so my ten seconds of Google research tells me. Although it's obviously not an English word.



Now, yesterday, Michael told us about how he went to visit another Grace Group member, Heather, at her home - and that she was a prostitute. She's dead now, and most likely moved in the last twenty years, but perhaps we'll find something at her old house to help us out?

Heather Goffstein



Or, we could just walk to her old place and find her ghost just kind of floating around. Huh. That was easy.



Rosa sums up the situation nicely.

And you say we never go anywhere interesting.

So, Heather is behind a fence. Or, at least, some ghost is. I'm only guessing it's Heather at this point.

I guess you can't get over that fence, huh?
In this weather? No. This one is all yours.

That's right - and with this snow, Rosa's too busy making footprints anyway!



Whatever.

Wheeeee!



Joey phases through the fence, to the ghost. Let's find out if it really is Heather!

Hey, how'd you get in?
Ah. Hello miss.
Answer my question. How'd you get in?
Oh.

Joey turns back to face the fence.



Is that all right?
Sure. I guess. Just be sure to close it when you leave. I don't want to get in trouble.

Always handy to be able to take advantage of ghost discordance Joey takes a look at the ghost.

Nice looking girl. I suppose that's an asset, in her line of work.

That's assuming she actually is Heather, of course.



Joey decides to confirm it.

Oh, I see. You came from Ray.
Ray?
Of course. You DID come from Ray, right?

No idea who Ray is. Joey can either respond affirmatively:

Sure. Ray. Him and me go way back.
...
Hm. No. I don't think you do.

He can say that he didn't:

No. Sorry. I don't know who Ray is.
Ah. Well. Then I'm sorry.

Or he be all suave and smooth

I don't know any Ray. I came to see you.
Ah. Well. That's sweet. I guess.
But it doesn't matter.

Either way, she follows up with:

If you want a date, you'll need Ray's permission.
A date?
Isn't that why you're here?
No. Not at all. I just wanna talk.
Really?
Really.
Well, I suppose that's all right. But we should stay out here.



Ah. A "classy" prostitute, hey? Joey gets to making small talk.

You live here?
I do. Why?
No reason. Just making conversation. You sure you should be out here?
Why shouldn't I be? It's perfect. It's so nice to finally have a night clear enough to enjoy this place.

Clear enough? It's snowing like crazy.

Clear night. Right. You don't seem terribly surprised that I'm here in your garden.
Hm. It IS a bit strange you appeared out of nowhere. But hey, I'm used to men appearing on my doorstop.



Safe.
Yeah. Just a vibe.
Huh. Thanks, I guess.

Heather is voiced by Shelly Shenoy, who did the voice casting for Epiphany. She does quite a nice job - Heather sounds spirited and carefree.

Can you tell me about the Grace Group, Heather?
Grace Group...?
Yeah. You were a member, right?
Sorry. I don't know what that is.
Come on. Think. You met in the basement of Grace Church.
What, like AA?
I'm not an alcoholic, thank you.

Hmm, that's strange. Peter certainly didn't hesitate to talk about the Grace Group, but Heather is. Did something happen there that lead to her death?



Father Michael? Is he a priest or something?
Yeah. Or something. He was part of the Grace Group.
I don't know him. Sorry.
Are you sure? He seems to know you.
You don't meet many priests in my line of work. Or at least, if you do, they don't usually tell you.

No, that doesn't add up. She invited him, or so Michael told us.

You sure you don't know Father Michael? He was part of the Grace Group. Like you.
I don't know him. And I don't know any Grace Group.
Please stop asking about it.

Come to think of it, Heather's pretty young. She barely looks 20 years old, let alone like someone who attended the Grace Group meetings twenty years earlier. And unlike the others, she doesn't seem to have changed professions, as she clearly thinks she's still a prostitute, which presumably isn't what she was "meant to be". I guess she must have died very shortly after the meetings, before she got a change professions.



I can't really say one way or the other. Sorry. I could get into trouble.

This sounds like Heather is being evasive about Benjiro, but she actually just responds this way whenever we enquire about any man's name. I suppose it's part of the job.

So. Tell me a bit about yourself, Heather.
Can we not, please?
Let's just enjoy the evening, okay? It's nice out here.
Sure. No problem. So tell me about this Ray character.
I... really shouldn't. Ray is really exclusive with the clients we're given. I shouldn't have told you the name.

Although it's nice to confirm that Heather's soul hasn't been torn up, we're at a bit of a dead end here for now. She's around, but she hasn't been able to tell us much of use, and until we can "awaken" her, we can't use the totem to send her to the circle. We'll have to deal with this later.

Well, Heather, I have to get going.
Sure. I'd leave the gate open, but for some reason I don't think that will be a problem for you.



Joey returns to the street and fills Rosa in on Heather.

Interesting.
Not a typical spook. She's not confused. Not really lost. She seems quite happy, really.
This is a bad thing?
No, but she's either hiding something, or... eh, I dunno. We'll crack it. Let's just keep doing what we do.

Rosa is more interested in Joey's personal thoughts about Heather, though

Any thoughts about Heather Goffstein?
Seems nice enough. Sweet.
Sweet.
Sure. You got a problem with sweet?

Hahaha. Rosa then asks about Ray.

So I guess this Ray person is Heather's... boss?
I suppose you could call it that. Yeah. "Ray." So many names, it's hard to keep 'em straight.

I guess Ray is kind of a lead, isn't he?

(continued next post...)