(Redux) Case Files #1 - Ellery

[WILDLY OUT OF DATE -- ACCURATE TO THREAD 3 or 4, LARGELY IRRELEVANT AS OF THREAD 13. PRESERVED FOR HISTORICAL INTEREST.]


The case: Your... acquaintance, Madrigal, is concerned about the behavior of your other acquaintance Ellery. From the way she tells it, you're the only one who's been able to hold a conversation with him in weeks, if not months. She wants you to figure out what's up.
Further questioning has revealed what she actually wants to know: the reason why he broke up with her.

[Ibid. - Same post as previous.]


-CURRENT LEADS-

Do something:
I. Find someone to decipher the coded papers for you.
II. Figure out who "C" is (if it's relevant? Even if it isn't, the way Ellery responded makes this "personal business" for sure).
III. Attempt to determine what the black goop is, and what it could possibly indicate.

Talk to someone:
IV. Report back to Madrigal-- does she know about any of this?
V. Richard's the only "person" you're aware of that's knowledgeable about this whole manse thing. You'll have to go to him to ask what's normal and what isn't, or else find a better source.


-INTRO-

I. When you lied horribly about algae, Ellery seemed very concerned that a "company" asked you to do it. Does he have some issues with a company? [http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/3789381/#p3789752]

II. Madrigal says Ellery's been acting more distant lately. But he didn't seem all that off (more than normal) on your expedition. Was that an anomaly, or is she overblowing it? [http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/3789381/#p3813027]

III. Ellery seems to think your "condition" with Richard is the same thing as what he used to have. Keyword used: it's gone now, apparently, and he doesn't seem to like the results. What exactly was the nature of his condition? (Can you ask someone who might know?) When exactly did this take place, and does it coincide with anything? Is it even related? [http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/3789381/#p3817381]
i. Richard seems to think it's a "fractured psyche," and that an attempt to somehow fix it may have caused or aided in the isolation Madrigal claimed to be worried about. You still need precise detail on the condition, the cure, and the dates involved.
ii. Depending on how this condition was treated

IV. Ellery pulled up an armchair that definitely doesn't exist. You don't know that much about architecture (as it's called), but this seems like a difficult undertaking... though he barely seemed to notice he was doing it. (You should ask someone who might know how difficult this actually is.) [http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/3789381/#p3816092]
i. It's the same kind of armchair as in the TOWER: SITTING ROOM. [http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/3847410/#p3848756]
ii. And as he pulls up in the TOWER: BLANK ROOM. What does it all mean?[http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/3847410/#p3872444]
iii. You didn't get an explanation for why they're the same (does it matter?) but evidently this is bizarre. [https://boards.4channel.org/qst/thread/3985031#p3985601]



-ELLERY'S TENT-

I. There's papers all over the tent, but you can't read any of them: they appear to be written in code, or something like that. What kind of code is it? Can you find someone who can crack it? Why write all his papers in code, anyways? [You have samples of this.] [http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/3847410/#p3847410]

II. Except... not all of them are in code. You discovered (and have samples of) papers written in normal, if scribbly, writing underneath a stack of coded ones. When and why did Ellery switch? [http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/3847410/#p3847580]
i. One of the papers you found is a letter that reads "Dear C… I'd be happy to enter a partnership… please contact me…" (and other things, probably, that you didn't pay attention to). Who is C? What partnership? Is this related? (You know several Cs, and know of a handful of others, but none immediately stick out to you.) [Ibid.]
1. Ellery is extraordinarily cagey about who "C" is. [http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/3847410/#p3872836]
ii. The other is a drawing of an outstretched arm with cryptic labels. You're pretty sure Ellery drew it, but why? What does he study? [#p3847580]
1. Is this connected to the notes and research materials inside the manse? See THE TOWER: SITTING ROOM, LAB.



-THE BEACH-

I. The beach appears to be made of crushed black crystal that grows coarser as it approaches the water. Is there significance to this? [You have a sample.] [http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/3847410/#p3848749]
i. You don't know about significance, but it exactly matches the black crystal you made inside. Is there black crystal washing up from the ocean, then? Why? [http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/3847410/#p3858162]

II. Richard claims that, based on the construction of the tower, Ellery must have spent a significant amount of time and effort to get it to function. How much time does he spend here, exactly? Is it the cause of his (supposed) growing isolation-- and if so, why is it growing, then? And why does he spend so much time to begin with? [http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/3847410/#p3848749]
i. Ellery certainly seems tediously knowledgeable about the inner workings of a manse, which supports this hypothesis. But where did he learn all this? See BLANK ROOM V.



-THE TOWER: GENERAL-

I. Why are there glass mirrors in every room? Where do they lead? Why are they covered up, generally?
i. "I like mirrors," claims Ellery. [http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/3847410/#p3872836]

II. Ellery may or may not have been getting you water, but he definitely isn't now. Where is he? What is he doing?
i. Well, you never found present-Ellery, exactly... but you found past-Ellery, whom with there seems to be no distinguishable difference. Does that mean Ellery went through the mirror and down the stairs before you? Or is there other time-screwery afoot? [Begins http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/3847410/#p3872441]



-THE TOWER: SITTING ROOM-

I. What is Ellery doing here? "He isn't supposed to be here," Richard said, and you're inclined to believe him-- but is it physically impossible, unlikely, or just an inconvenience? (You'll have to ask.) If it's the former, how is he here? And why right now? [http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/3847410/#p3848756]
i. "He couldn't be there," Richard has since clarified. [http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/3898353/#p3927742]
ii. And further: "You're not in the manse when you're asleep: and certainly he was asleep, not vacant." [https://boards.4channel.org/qst/thread/3985031#p3985547]


II. Ellery looks and sounds just a little bit different. It is him, right? Is that normal? (You look the same, you think.) [#p3848756]


III. Ellery was expecting someone else: an "Oscar" who drops in without notice. Who is this? (You've never heard of any Oscar.) [Ibid.]
i. Ellery claims this is "a friend." [http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/3847410/#p3872441]


IV. Ellery took a little bit to identify you, and even then called you "Charlotte". What possible cause would he have to forget *you*? Is he okay? [#p3848756]
i. Is he actually Ellery? [https://boards.4channel.org/qst/thread/3985031#p3985608]

V. As far as you can tell, Ellery saw Richard as you normally do: a snake. Except clearly he's not a snake at the moment. Richard didn't seem to expect this, either. Why would this be the case? [Ibid.]
i. Ellery was a layer or two deeper than you. [https://boards.4channel.org/qst/thread/3985031#p3985601]

VI. You're hard-pressed to find a description for it, but Ellery seemed to move in a bizarrely fluid manner. Is *that* normal? Is it intentional? Is it a side-effect of something? Is it actually happening, or is something wrong with your perception? [Ibid.]
i. This is less pronounced the second time around. Why? [http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/3847410/#p3868434]
ii. Side-effect of V. [https://boards.4channel.org/qst/thread/3985031#p3985601]

VII. There's papers all over this room, too, but none are written in code. In fact, they're all neater than those in the tent... but that doesn't help you, since the contents are nearly indiscernible. What are they, and why are they pinned to the wall? [http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/3847410/#p3849745]
i. The first was dated 8 KITEMAKER (about three months ago) and read "Spoke to Maddie ab. helping w/ shipping. Furthered collab. w/ E. Tested Lfish — inconclusive." Is Maddie Madrigal? Is this "collab" the same as the "partnership" in the letter you found... but who's E, then? What's Lfish? [Ibid.]
1. Ellery claims that "E" is Eloise, a woman at the camp. [http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/3847410/#p3872836]
ii. The second was dated 9 KITEMAKER and read "Wt. to Fen 1st thing — deep. Hir dose Lfish. Success." "Fen" must be Fenpelok, the local wilderness region. "Lfish" is something you take a dose of-- drug? Medicine? Poison? Successful how? [#p3849745]
iii. The third was dated 12 KITEMAKER and read only "Don't do again." Clearly, the 'Lfish' didn't work out. What did it do? What caused the two-day gap in notes? [Ibid.]
iv. Ellery claims these "aren't relevant." [#p3872836]

VIII. You shattered the mirror, left, and came back to discover it had begun to ooze a viscous black liquid. It smells burnt and is tasteless (but numbs the tongue). What is it? Is it bad? Is it dangerous? Are broken mirrors or glass supposed to do that? [You have a sample.] [http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/3847410/#p3851958]
i. Ellery claims to not know what the ooze is, but also says it's recent (about a week old). [#p3872836]



-THE TOWER: TABLE ROOM-

I. It's a huge table-- there's ten seats at it. Does Ellery expect visitors? Who? Do they play cards? (Why aren't you invited?) [http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/3847410/#p3850615]

II. There's a great deal of writing underneath the wallpaper: a correspondence between two people, seemingly, but neither handwriting exactly matches Ellery's. Who are they? When was this? Why are they writing to each other on the walls of a room-- that doesn't actually exist? [http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/3847410/#p3850848]
i. One of the messages mentions a "move". A move from where to where? Did Ellery ever move around? Did this camp? (You'd have to ask someone who's been here for a while.) [Ibid.]
ii. Ellery claims this is "personal." [http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/3847410/#p3872836]

III. Why does the wallpaper go all the way up to the ceiling? Poor decorating? Is it covering something? (The ceiling is bare in the other rooms you've seen.) [#p3850615]



-THE TOWER: LAB-

I. The left half of the room is absolutely littered with... implements. Of some kind. You're not an expert. But clearly research of some kind is being done. On what? For what purpose? [http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/3847410/#p3851958]
i. Among the implements is crystals growing out of test tubes. You're sure most of Richard's lecture went in one ear and out the other, but as far as you can gather: this is bad, because crystals are actually reality crunched into solid shape, and therefore drag everything around them one step "realer". Actually, that's not necessarily bad... except for when you're in a place that isn't real at all, like right here. Why are they being grown? How are they being grown? Has this, like, poisoned Ellery? [http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/3847410/#p3855575]
ii. Ellery claims to not know he was growing crystals. [http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/3847410/#p3872836]

II. Also on the left half are bookshelves. Except you can't get books-- you'd have to memorize them, or else write them yourself. So what's in the shelves? [#p3855575]
i. You ran your hand along the bookshelf and found... more black goop. What? How did it get onto the bookshelf? Is it coming from somewhere you can't see? Does it just spontaneously arise? If so, what besides a broken mirror causes it? [Ibid.]
ii. Going through the books (actually binders) on the shelf revealed they're mostly ruined-- all you can figure is that the folders consist of dated pages (no year, though) interspersed with non-dated pages, which might possibly be diagrams or notes of some kind. What is the purpose of these binders? Is there a connection between the dated notes of the entrance room and the dated binders here? [http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/3847410/#p3860079]
iii. Ellery claims he "likes to keep [the notes] in order." [#p3872836]

III. "Testing" on the black goop revealed that contact with crystals...  turns it into more crystals, except black in color and apparently inert. Why does this happen? Are they actually inert? What does this say about the black goop? [http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/3847410/#p3858162]
i. They exactly match the sand on the beach, too. See BEACH I.



-THE TOWER: ENTRANCE ROOM (AGAIN)-

I. You're back to the start. Kind of. But why aren't things exactly the same? Where's the mirror? Why is the fireplace lit? What's off here? [http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/3847410/#p3864112]

II. Ellery's been leaving you messages in improbable places that indicate he knows where you are and what you're doing. But he wasn't expecting you before, was he? Was he faking it? If not, what's different? How does he know, anyways? Is it a normal manse thing? [Throughout, begins http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/3847410/#p3862953]
i. Richard claims this requires either "precognition or such a casual abuse of power--" [https://boards.4channel.org/qst/thread/3985031#p3985601]



-THE TOWER: LAB (AGAIN)-

I. Why's there blood? [http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/3847410/#p3871594]
i. Ellery claims he cut himself. You didn't look at this closely enough to disbelieve it. [http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/3847410/#p3872841]



-THE TOWER: BLANK ROOM-

I. Hey, he took the door out! And the everything else, too! Is that supposed to be possible? It seems very much like cheating to you. [http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/3847410/#p3872441]
i. And he won't even trap Richard for you for a little while. Prick. But is that regular old stuck-up "morals", or a different hangup? Based on his bizarrely emotional reaction, you're guessing the latter. What happened in the past to cause this reaction? Is it relevant? (Any way you can still talk him into it?) [http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/3847410/#p3874793]

II. Ellery continues to not remember your name. See ENTRANCE ROOM IV. [http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/3847410/#p3872836]

III. He also wasn't expecting Madrigal to be your client, like, at all. Who was he expecting? Why is he expecting someone being sent after him, anyways? [#p3872836]
i. So him and Madrigal are exes. You knew this, kind of, but not for sure. Does Madrigal have an ulterior motive in sending you? (Do you really care?) [http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/3847410/#p3876189]
1. She does, the lying bitch. She *actually* wants to know why he broke up with her. []

IV. You asked a lot of questions. See the relevant clues for the answers.

V. How did Ellery learn all this minutiae about the workings of a manse? You thought this was polite small talk, but he clammed up tight when you asked. He claimed "intuition and experimenting"... but if it's that simple, why be so nervous about it? [http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/3847410/#p3876188]
i. Especially when you thought you saw a glimmer of something deeper-- something blue. Huh? No, you can't explain it either. But it was blue. [Ibid.]


-CONVERSATION WITH MADRIGAL-

1. The only useful thing you got out of Madrigal was her opinion on Ellery's character [http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/3898353/#p3900549]:
"He's— he was a live wire. Always moving, always talking, always *on*. But gods, good luck getting close."
[On getting close] "But it's like trying to catch an eel barehanded, yeah?"
"He cares, though. Cared, I guess, I don't know. Way down. I think he cares a lot."
"He's not a bad person."



-MOUTH OF TOM'S CAVE-

I. Ellery's dead.

II. It's his fault, really. What kind of moron confronts Margo Lindew unarmed? Did he have a death wish? What did he possibly hope to gain from this? Why go alone? Why not try to escape? [http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/3898353/#p3913464]

III. But, God, what was wrong with him?
i. Silver blood? Nobody has silver blood. It's pink, or red, or you don't have any (if you're a Goo). Not *silver.* What the hell is that? [http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/3898353/#p3914210]
1. Richard confirms this is definitely not normal-- not human, even. [https://boards.4channel.org/qst/thread/3985031#p3985604]
ii. What did he mean, "try the head?" Like shooting out his chest wouldn't work? It's one thing if it's just blood loss, but the heart gone ought to have ended things. How durable did he think he was? Why was he *smiling*? [#p3914210]
iii. Why did the second shot sound like breaking glass? [Ibid.]



[BACK TO THE MOUTH OF TOM'S CAVE]

I. There's no blood and no gore, either. Just mirror fragments.

[WIP]