0:00

Looking

0:00

to get out of the ads and back to the

0:02

story, fable and folly plus

0:04

is a new way to support the creators you

0:06

love. The podcast you're listening to

0:09

right now and more than fifty others can

0:11

be heard ad free for as little as four dollars

0:13

per month by visiting fable and folly dot

0:15

com slash plus. There

0:17

you can have an easy uninterrupted listening

0:20

experience in your favorite podcast player,

0:22

and to directly support the creators

0:24

you love. Fable and Fali plus

0:26

sign up today at fable and fali

0:29

dot com slash plus.

0:32

Hello,

0:32

Bernad here. We hope you

0:34

enjoyed the exciting climax to our season

0:36

three diaries, and gosh, we can't wait to tell

0:38

you about our next adventure. no rest for

0:41

the wicked I can tell you. But in the meantime,

0:43

we'd like to introduce you to another fabulous

0:46

actual play podcast from the Fable

0:48

and Folly network. the Call of Cthulhu

0:50

Mystery Program. So what

0:52

is an actual play podcast I hear you ask?

0:55

Well, it's a kind of improvised storytelling

0:57

where the characters adventures are determined by

1:00

rolls of the dice. The Call of Cthulhu

1:02

Mystery Program is a lovecraft and

1:04

horror comedy where historical fiction

1:07

and high stakes hilarity meld in an

1:09

unholy amalgam of cinematic

1:11

audio drama and tabletop roleplaying.

1:14

Each series is a standalone adventure complete

1:16

with an original score gosh and

1:18

a cast of wonderful performers who really

1:20

bring their characters to life. and I tell

1:22

you something else. If you're a sound nerd

1:24

like me, you'll really enjoy the incredible

1:27

cinematic sound design that puts you right

1:29

in all the action and the horror and the laughs

1:31

and everything else. wonderful stuff. You can

1:33

listen to the Call of Cthulhu Mystery Program

1:35

anywhere you listen to podcasts. Huge

1:38

thank you to them from Magenta and I for

1:40

supporting our show. and we do hope you enjoy

1:42

it. And now, we present the

1:44

first episode of their new series in

1:47

which five unsuspecting kids

1:49

dared to spend the night in a haunted house.

1:51

Obviously, this is very much magenta's area of

1:54

expertise, so we're very intrigued to see how they

1:56

get on over the course of the season. Don't give us

1:58

a shout if you need any tips kids. If

1:59

you love Stephen King, the goonies,

2:02

or gremlins, then this is the series

2:04

for you. This is episode

2:06

one of

2:07

Night at Howling House.

2:13

Omni verse.

2:21

The hall of the dormitory program

2:24

is far mature audiences only.

2:26

This episode contains violence, harsh

2:28

language, child engagement and abuse,

2:31

bullying,

2:31

colonialist terminology for,

2:34

and mention of violent sports indigenous

2:36

peoples,

2:36

ableist language, and

2:38

alcohol use. Please

2:40

listen at your own discretion.

2:43

If you find our stickying stories

2:45

simply circulating,

2:46

head to quduo mystery dot

2:48

com

2:48

to join our community of bands

2:51

and unlock further secret at

2:53

patreon dot com slash omnibus

2:55

media.

3:08

Do you hear that?

3:12

Then the cruel blackness of night

3:15

and unknowable evil from me on

3:17

time cries out. what

3:20

dark beats unfold on the

3:22

streets of Akerme and which

3:24

and which his souls innocent Torim

3:26

Bjorg will succumb to the battening

3:29

call, the call of

3:31

Cthulhu.

3:36

Expertbow Cleaning Powder brings you

3:39

part one of the call look at the lumistry program

3:41

night at howling House. Tonight's

3:43

Killing Chapter the

3:45

air.

3:46

Are you haunted by the phantom

3:49

of film?

3:49

Do you drag dark corners and dust

3:51

these spaces in golf with poop

3:53

and drive? does a sour scent

3:56

slip into your snot like a sickening

3:58

specter of failing your senses? They

4:01

speak on to those vowels spirit

4:03

than awful apparitions. Help

4:05

is here, simply explain expirals.

4:09

Devil's curse belongs inagainst

4:11

about the root war. Not

4:13

your sanctum Saint Torham, turn

4:15

your hearted mansion

4:16

into a delightful and dazzling domicile,

4:18

and never again fall prey to the

4:20

poltergeist self killed present. urify

4:23

your palate with a patented potency

4:25

and cleansing power

4:26

of expirgo cleaning

4:29

powder. and now our

4:31

primary presentation.

4:42

It's

4:42

bright summer afternoon in Arkansas, Massachusetts,

4:45

and that's a precious thing. A

4:47

new school year and the turning of

4:49

the leaves are right around the corner. There

4:52

isn't a young person in New England that isn't

4:54

making the most of a Saturday like this one,

4:56

especially twelve year old tenderfoot,

4:59

Thomas Northwood, who, true

5:01

to the scout's motto, is always

5:03

prepared. caffeine

5:05

in case she gets thirsty, binoculars

5:08

in case she wants to look at a bird, neck

5:11

or chip ironed, and

5:13

tight tight

5:16

hat. Look

5:18

and sharp

5:18

there woods and

5:21

the knife. better

5:23

keep this tucked away for now.

5:26

Start looking sharp. Dorothy

5:30

picket if there were a merit badge for

5:32

making a fella stomach do cartwheels?

5:34

Oh, you'd have it.

5:39

Okay. and

5:41

takes a deep breath and leaves

5:43

his bedroom with a formal air about

5:45

him. Out the door and

5:47

down the stairs, to face the day

5:49

ahead.

5:52

Wait. Going on fancy dinner. I'm going

5:55

out, Chelsea. Twist out me?

5:57

Nope. Nope. Mask out me. I

5:59

wanna come.

5:59

Oh, well, you can't.

6:02

Tommy, Nemo says you have to take me

6:04

out with you.

6:05

No. Grandma said

6:07

I should take you out with me more often.

6:10

We can go somewhere later. But

6:12

Tommy, Chelsea, I will take

6:14

you out

6:15

later.

6:22

Tommy Northwood or Woods

6:24

is the other kids' column knows he

6:26

should be courteous and kind to his

6:28

little sister. but a mission like this is

6:30

no place for a tag along.

6:46

First, now now citizens.

6:49

One at a time, please. Let's use

6:51

some decorum. I know you're excited

6:53

to vote.

6:53

Let's see here.

6:56

There she is, the apple of woods eye,

6:59

the meticulous and tough Dorothy

7:01

picket. She's in her front yard using

7:03

an upended fruit crate as a podium.

7:05

presiding over her two little sisters.

7:07

My pie is going to win.

7:09

Nuh-uh. It's important to vote

7:12

for the most qualified pie for the position

7:14

in question. Bingo wishes.

7:16

Before I walk in a view,

7:18

I've got this shaved hunting knife

7:20

with a polished ivory handle. I'm

7:23

gonna fix it to my belt. Okay.

7:25

The votes have been tallied. The

7:27

competition was fierce. It's

7:30

my honor to announce that rhubarb has been

7:32

elected Best Buy in Arkam. Peach,

7:34

cherry, and apple. Better

7:36

luck next time. The people have decided.

7:39

No. There, I vote for cherry.

7:41

I'm sorry, Dot. Sometimes the person you vote

7:43

for doesn't win. Buy vote

7:45

for cherry. Next time we go

7:47

along with sarcasm or no? Maybe next

7:50

time Pfizer up for and you could join Cherry's

7:52

campaign. Millie, which circus

7:54

animal what? Which circus

7:56

animal is the

7:59

president.

7:59

the

8:01

Hi, Dorothy. Oh, hi,

8:03

what's?

8:04

I'm a

8:06

boy scout.

8:07

I know you are a boy scout.

8:10

or plenty boats. I vote

8:12

the election now my cat tester

8:14

to say there. It's out of

8:16

acts. The importance of the nineteenth amendment

8:19

is lost on them, but they were excited.

8:21

thought the least I could do is encourage their sense

8:23

of civic duty. Plus, it helps with their

8:25

reading. Congratulations

8:27

on that, by the way. I've always believed

8:29

that women deserve the same rights as men.

8:31

you're looking very formal.

8:34

Just wearing my standard uniform

8:36

as per regulation. I actually

8:39

wanted to see if you were Okay,

8:41

citizens. Here are your ballots. Now

8:44

be sure to vote someplace private so

8:46

no one else can see. In fact,

8:48

you should go into the house

8:50

to vote. Okay. And remember

8:52

to sound out the letters. Let's

8:55

go over to the apple tree. Wood.

8:57

Dorothy's attention has turned to you

9:00

entirely. She starts

9:02

walking to a tree in a more secluded corner

9:04

of the yard.

9:05

Gosh.

9:06

Okay. I'm following.

9:09

You're so distracted that

9:11

you fail to notice the

9:13

eyes of someone watching It's

9:16

really admirable that you're assisting your sister's

9:18

education like that.

9:19

Women have to look out for each other. You

9:22

should bring Chelsea over some time. The girls

9:24

could play together.

9:24

Sure.

9:27

Is that a first aid merit badge?

9:29

That's the safety first badge, actually.

9:31

And that's why it's got the green cross

9:33

first aid is red. I'm

9:36

still studying for that. But Scoutmaster

9:38

Danvers said that he's never seen a Scout earn

9:40

two badges so quickly and soon

9:43

this sleeve is going to be covered

9:45

in batches. What's the one with the

9:47

drafting dividers? Oh, That's

9:49

craftsmanship. There are several

9:51

focuses to choose from. I got

9:53

mine in wood carving. Actually,

9:57

I wanted to show you this,

9:59

and I un clasp and unshief the knife.

10:02

The light through the leaves catches on the blade.

10:05

It's a beautiful piece, aged

10:07

but clearly well kept. Can

10:09

I touch it?

10:10

If you want,

10:13

but

10:13

Be sure to use the proper handling

10:15

safety. I take it out

10:17

and hold the sheath in my left hand and

10:19

the blade in my right so that she's not

10:22

going to accidentally cut herself. She carefully

10:24

and purposefully takes the knife

10:26

from you woods. That's

10:28

heavier than it looks.

10:30

Well, it's for skidding Wild Game and

10:32

just about anything else you'd need on the trail.

10:36

Dorothy,

10:36

this isn't the appropriate

10:38

night for it, but I was

10:40

thinking that maybe I could

10:42

carve your name on this tree?

10:44

Well,

10:44

maybe I could carve yours.

10:45

There's a sudden rustling in the bushes. It's

10:47

so close you don't have time to react.

10:49

What a lovely seed. Might if I

10:51

cut in, I definitely take the knife

10:54

from dear little Dorothy's hand grabbing

10:56

her wrists, so she let's go easy.

10:58

Standing between the two of you, now

11:00

brandishing that hunting knife is Roger

11:02

Simmons, a lanky fourteen year old

11:04

ruffian, slicked back hair, and

11:06

a menacing smile. the biggest

11:08

bully you know.

11:09

I flash that menacing smile

11:11

and look Woods dead in the eye.

11:14

Nice nice. Give it back, Roger.

11:16

I'm gonna try and grab it from him. World dexterity.

11:19

Eighty three over my sixty five. I failed.

11:22

Nuh-uh.

11:22

I saw that come in

11:24

a mile away and I casually lift the

11:26

knife over my head. Roger. Roger

11:28

Simmons, I will not hesitate to alert the authorities.

11:31

and what? Tell him lover boy here is

11:33

a thief. What? Oh, yeah.

11:36

This knife belongs to Scoutmaster Danvers.

11:39

Isn't that right

11:40

woods? That's my father's knife. He

11:42

gave gave it to me for for my

11:44

birthday just

11:45

before he died. Dorothy's watching your

11:48

face woods. If you want this lie

11:50

to hold, bro, be sneaky for

11:52

me. Sixty one

11:54

out of forty. darn

11:56

it. Oh, your dad's.

11:59

Was your mama fadoodleing

11:59

the scout master? What?

12:02

I know this knife. the

12:04

pride and joy of scout

12:05

bastard Reginald Danvers wears

12:08

it on his

12:08

hip every camping trip. Talks about

12:10

it every chance he gets. his grand pappy

12:12

stabbed in a name with it or something. No,

12:15

Roger. That is my father's knife,

12:17

and I will thank you to return it to me.

12:19

a thief and a liar woods.

12:21

I'll admit took balls to pitch something

12:24

like this. Was it just too impress

12:25

little Dorothy here? I

12:29

Is

12:29

it true, Tommy? You know, they kicked

12:31

me out, so I can't quite remember the oath.

12:34

What's the first thing that a scout is?

12:36

trustworthy. What's that? A scout

12:39

is trustworthy, loyal, helpful,

12:43

friendly, courteous, kind,

12:45

obedient your full breathy, brave,

12:47

clean, and reverent. Dorothy,

12:50

I did take it. It's just that I

12:52

didn't mean to I was

12:54

gonna give it right back.

12:55

And then now it's all

12:57

an eye. Dorothy doesn't need to say a word.

13:00

The

13:00

look on her face says everything.

13:02

She turns from you and walks

13:04

back into the house.

13:06

I'm

13:06

sorry.

13:10

Tell me the boat's, please. In the house,

13:12

girls. Rose. We'll

13:14

tally them in the house. Roger

13:16

you. Rat. Give

13:19

me back that knife or I swear.

13:21

I'll give you back the knife woods

13:24

on one condition.

13:26

What?

13:26

Tonight, at dusk, you

13:29

are going to meet me. out in

13:31

front of the old barnacle house.

13:33

Howling house? Why? Oh,

13:36

it's a surprise woods. but

13:38

don't worry. Nothing a big,

13:40

brave, boy scout can't handle. You

13:44

do this. Don't you get your knife back?

13:46

I point the blade at him for emphasis.

13:48

And how can I trust

13:50

you?

13:50

Why haven't you heard of otter

13:52

among thieves? I tuck the knife in

13:55

my belt under my jacket and slink

13:57

away into the shrubbery. Be

13:59

the night wood. Scout.

14:00

trustworthy,

14:02

loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous,

14:05

kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty,

14:07

brave, clean, and reverend. down his

14:09

trustworthy, royal,

14:51

Today

14:51

isn't getting any longer, so

14:53

I'm meeting up with my protege, Joey

14:56

Davenport, a troublemaker in

14:58

the making. a bright young man with an

15:00

incredible

15:01

future in the illicit arts. You're

15:03

strolling along West Washington Street?

15:05

It's a quiet enough neighborhood and you're minding

15:08

your own business on way to Joey. but

15:10

there's a model t with the top down

15:12

coming down the other side of the road. You

15:15

don't think much of it, but

15:17

then Gotcha.

15:20

He is sharply in Utah with

15:22

your older brother, Ace. Step

15:25

brother.

15:28

What

15:29

do you want, ace? Shit.

15:35

Where have you been?

15:38

Mother's been worrying herself sick over

15:40

you. Please.

15:43

She's been sick since the crowds blue

15:45

Nikki to paces.

15:46

Faster. Eight

15:48

backhands you across your face. I

15:51

take and I smile.

15:54

He hits you hard enough to break the skin on your

15:56

inner lip and a sour taste runs

15:58

across your tongue.

15:59

I ain't even that bitches son.

16:01

What's it matter if I come or go?

16:04

Slaps you again. After

16:07

all she's done for you. It feels

16:09

like your insides are quivering. I

16:11

guess that makes you a son of a bitch.

16:13

Get in the car.

16:16

I stare him down.

16:19

getting a damn car. Roger,

16:21

Ace is gonna pick you up and throw you in the

16:23

back of that car. I rolled a Dodge. Fifty

16:27

one over fifty.

16:29

Yeah. He's much bigger than this.

16:31

And in an instant, he's got you by the front

16:33

of your shirt and the seat of your pants. No. I don't.

16:35

And he hurls out the racketality.

16:46

You aren't flying

16:47

the coupe again. You

16:48

hear me?

16:50

It's

16:51

locked out for you in my life. And

16:53

the Wilburham Academy Monday morning.

16:55

We're sunsetting, no more Stephen,

16:58

no more disappearing, no

17:00

more being a spoiled brat delinquent.

17:04

And I'll make a decent man out of you.

17:06

Oh, like you. Big strong

17:08

war hero and nothing better to do

17:10

than slap

17:11

around a kid.

17:14

Maybe

17:14

those headmasters will lock some sense into

17:17

that block of yours.

17:18

Lord knows I've got better things to do Chase

17:20

you down some mother does not fit.

17:23

Well then, I think you'll all

17:25

be happier with me gone when he

17:27

slows down at the next intersection. I

17:30

am out there.

17:31

Bold gym class to leap safely out

17:33

of the back of the model t.

17:35

That's a forty six out of my fifty

17:37

five.

17:38

You definitely vault out of the back, hit

17:40

the street running.

17:41

Toodles, partners. God,

17:43

German. I'm

17:45

headed towards Ali's side yards, woods, whatever

17:47

it takes. How many disappear? Ace slams

17:49

on the brakes and parks the car to give Chase

17:51

Roger. But you're facts. You round

17:53

the corner of a house and skid through a ventil

17:55

and use a nearby ticket. you're gone.

17:58

Roger.

17:59

You

18:02

faster.

18:25

The

18:25

afternoon light is faded closer

18:27

and closer to dusk, and the appointment

18:29

at Howlett House. On the

18:31

outskirts of Arkum, not too far

18:33

away, is a Ramshako farm,

18:36

and an eleven year old boy shaking with

18:38

terror, and a chicken farm.

18:43

Sorry, mother. I promise I'll be

18:45

a good

18:45

boy.

18:47

god. They just I can't Stay

18:50

away. I have a home.

18:53

Please hang and What is this? I should be

18:55

strong and Please. I'm

19:07

so sorry, father. I'm so sorry. He

19:09

came from me and No.

19:13

You're

19:16

a little coward. I am a little coward.

19:18

Whatever you want me to be daddy. I will

19:20

be that. The wire piece chicken

19:22

poops clean. weren't you short minded

19:24

or dead in the damn ground. With

19:26

his father, that'll be great. Hold

19:30

on. take the lord's name in vain.

19:32

No, sir. I took him nowhere.

19:34

He's in me. He goes around. Go father.

19:36

You are in a fitting vessel. you

19:38

know what you are. Yes.

19:41

Father, I do. Say it.

19:43

I'm filthy dirt. I am a

19:45

dirt man. am a man made of dirt.

19:47

I am not a boy made of dirt. Not

19:49

a man. You're nothing. And

19:51

you haven't done anything. you

19:54

won't get anything. He'll

19:56

suffer for you. Yes, sir.

20:02

practically

20:02

done already. Damn. Cukes

20:04

aren't even complete. I'm so

20:06

sorry, father. Get

20:07

out about sites. Very well.

20:09

I will partake

20:09

in fun with my friends

20:12

now.

20:12

You

20:14

haven't got any friends. That is

20:16

true. I have no friends. I

20:18

am he who is empty inside to put full

20:20

of the things that insects crawl around, and

20:24

I I will go now.

20:34

It's better out here, dirt, quieter.

20:37

No more catching, scratching chickens

20:39

cluttering up your mind. Mother told me

20:41

to be brave, and I tried, but Well,

20:43

it's okay now. It's okay. Your

20:46

friend, Roger, asked to come out tonight.

20:48

I'm so glad we're friends. He

20:50

saw me light a fire one time. He

20:52

said it

20:52

was good. So I must have

20:54

done something good. But he

20:56

asked see it goes with scary place.

20:59

Yes, he did. But it can't be any

21:01

scarier than those chickens. Right? No.

21:04

No. It can't be. I'm gonna

21:06

bring some things he'll like.

21:09

I go to a spot at the back

21:11

of the house, the screen under

21:14

the house that lifts up. and reach

21:16

around and

21:17

I take out my sling shot

21:20

and my magic box. It's

21:22

an old worn tinderbox. covered

21:24

in crude drawings. Did

21:25

you do these drawings, Turt?

21:27

Yeah. To keep them safe.

21:29

And

21:29

what's inside?

21:30

My matches and my firecrackers. I'm

21:33

not supposed to have them. Oh,

21:35

I won't tell. Thank

21:36

you. You're a good friend.

21:39

Who

21:39

are you going now, Dert?

21:40

put my treasures in my pockets

21:43

and I'm gonna see my friends.

22:22

Meanwhile, back in town, we

22:24

turn our attention to the Davenport household,

22:27

a small well kept apartment, always

22:29

filled with commotion. two parents, three

22:32

kids, and thirteen year old Joey

22:34

right in the middle. Whose

22:35

bicycle is this in the hallway?

22:37

That's fine. It it's

22:39

nice. Right? I didn't wanna get it stolen

22:41

so I brought it inside. Mhmm.

22:44

Joseph Davenport? you

22:46

look me right in the eyes and tell

22:49

me you didn't steal this bike

22:50

because I swear.

22:52

No way. I didn't still a thing about

22:55

that with my own money. And where'd you

22:57

get that money? I know you're not shining shoes

22:59

anymore.

22:59

I heard it fair and square.

23:01

Oh, yeah. you run-in another policy

23:04

racket shaking kids down for protection.

23:06

No, Ma, I'm done with all

23:08

that. I swear, Ma, I swear.

23:10

You taken handouts from that Simmons

23:12

kid. My no. I've been helping

23:14

mister Diamond. Alright? Lord,

23:16

don't tell me my son is working

23:18

at a speakeasy.

23:18

No way I'm just moving

23:20

boxes for him. He had to close the

23:22

bar, ma'am. Uh-huh.

23:25

And just what kind of operation do you think

23:27

he's running now?

23:28

I was supposed to know. I just

23:30

do the job and it pays. Well,

23:32

it's not paying anymore. You don't

23:34

take another sick from that man. You hear me?

23:37

Yes, ma'am. And don't you run any errands

23:39

for him? Not now? Not

23:40

ever. Yes, ma'am. And

23:43

ask for this. No. I

23:45

told you. The bike is stolen.

23:47

I bought it from mister

23:48

Parker. Well, you're not gonna see this bicycle

23:50

until I check with mister Parker and make sure

23:52

my son is being honest with me. What?

23:54

What?

23:55

Not another word.

24:06

You got in trouble. Even

24:09

when I'm not doing anything, I'm in trouble.

24:12

You're always doing something. And you're always

24:14

not minding your own business if I hadn't

24:16

brought the bike in the hall she wouldn't even notice.

24:20

hi

24:21

Joey. Someone's

24:23

throwing pebbles at your window.

24:25

I'm gonna walk over and See what's

24:27

up.

24:28

You open the window and out in the

24:30

alley as your friend, Roger Simmons.

24:33

He's

24:33

straddling a bicycle. Roger.

24:35

Where have you been, man?

24:37

Find another pedal ready to go, so I'd throw it in

24:39

his face anyway.

24:39

God.

24:41

Saddle up, jelly. Mayhem

24:43

awaits.

24:44

Who's Mayhem? Is

24:46

he new? Is that new

24:48

guy?

24:48

Just get your butt down here.

24:51

I throw another pebble at him.

24:52

Alright. Alright.

24:57

Mom is gonna be mad. She finds out

24:59

you're running off with that white boy again.

25:01

Well, you tell mom, and

25:03

that candy supply of yours is gonna

25:05

dry up.

25:06

Still pigeonholing gonna sing if she's got that

25:08

bird

25:08

seed. that a girl. Down

25:12

in the alley, Roger, Joey's

25:14

come out, but

25:15

he doesn't have a bike. Where's that

25:17

new bike of yours? My

25:19

mom didn't believe me that I bought

25:21

it, so she took it. But

25:23

that's not your bike. It

25:24

is now. I pinched it on my way

25:27

here. They'll get the damn bike. Times

25:29

are wasted, and I've put together an evening

25:31

of activities. A kid

25:32

it, Roger. It's locked up, man. Let

25:35

me ride on your handlebars. Hell no.

25:37

Still your own bike. Is it no big deal,

25:39

man? for that time, we booked it after

25:41

we crashed Danny's birthday party. Was

25:44

it a good dad? Did we

25:46

have a good dad? Can

25:47

we get together and have a good tab of the bat?

25:49

If you think for a second, that I'm hauling

25:52

your ass around again? Roger, it's

25:54

getting late. and thanks to ACE.

25:56

You're already behind schedule.

25:58

What's more? The wind is picking

25:59

up and

26:00

there are clouds on the horizon.

26:03

Get on. But this eight happening

26:05

again. Let's go.

26:09

Come on. Let's go. Come on, Roger.

26:11

Let's go.

26:12

Easy for you to say.

26:16

So what's the plan, Roger? We're

26:18

gonna have us a little party at the old Bartaker

26:20

house and make the night a

26:22

living hell for our two favorite

26:24

saps, dirt and woods.

26:28

to rope them in. Oh,

26:30

I've got something on that goodie to shoes

26:32

boy scout. He's not as clean as

26:34

he makes himself out to

26:35

be. I'm dirt.

26:36

That

26:38

little pushover was excited. There's

26:41

not a single human being asking to

26:43

get his face punched in more than him.

26:46

and it'll kiss my ass while I'm

26:48

doing it. The mechanics of that doesn't

26:50

really work out, boss. Whatever. Just

26:52

get ready because we're gonna have ourselves

26:55

a feast of dormant. Already

26:59

ate. Yeah. Let's mess them up.

27:08

Meanwhile, back at the house of Little

27:10

Tommy Northwood, Okay. Got

27:12

my pocket knife, maybe begun,

27:15

trail mix, canteen, first aid kit,

27:18

and operational

27:20

flashlight. This is a fine mess

27:22

you've gotten yourself into woods, but you're gonna make

27:24

it great. You're gonna make it right.

27:31

Goodbye, grandma. I'm heading out.

27:33

That's

27:33

a fast young man. I

27:35

believe you have a promise to keep. Woods.

27:38

You turn around and there beside the staircase

27:41

is your grandmother looking kindly

27:43

but stern. Next to her is

27:45

your adorable eight year old sister,

27:47

Chelsea, grandma, please.

27:50

It's the last weekend before school starts and

27:52

I'm gonna be with the guys. I

27:53

can't take Chelsea.

27:56

Not tonight. You can and you will,

27:58

young man. Oh,

27:59

Charlie should come too. A real quick

28:02

run to my room to get my stuff worse. Charlie.

28:04

just don't think Chelsea will have a good time, and

28:06

we might be out really late. Then

28:08

don't stay out late. Come back home

28:10

when your sister is tired. If the boys

28:12

get too rowdy, ask them kindly

28:15

to stop. And if they don't, you

28:17

leave. But grandma, no butts,

28:19

Thomas, She needs

28:21

more time outside the house.

28:22

You know how she is.

28:25

Woods, your grandmother sits down in

28:27

the chair next to you. compassionately looks

28:29

you in the eyes. I need

28:31

your help, honey. I'm

28:33

not as young as I used to be, and

28:35

I know you must miss your mother and father

28:38

as much as I do. Just think

28:40

of Chelsea. Think about how much

28:42

she must be

28:42

pruning. I

28:45

she needs her brother.

28:47

She needs someone to watch out for

28:49

her. She's got more energy than

28:51

I can manage. And besides,

28:54

you made a promise.

28:55

Of course. A

28:58

scout is trustworthy, loyal,

29:01

helpful, friendly courteous kind, obedient,

29:03

cheerful thrifty, brave, clean, and

29:06

reverent. Good boy. Charlie

29:09

is excited to go out. He's got to saddle on and everything.

29:11

You're such a handsome horse, Charlie.

29:14

He says, thank you. You

29:17

do have fun. Don't stay out too late.

29:19

Alright.

29:20

Come on, Chelsea. Hold on.

29:22

I need Hagmina. Thank

29:25

you, honey. You and Charlie have

29:27

a great time. You take care of both

29:29

of them now, Tommy. Absolutely. I

29:32

will take care of Charlie, the whole

29:34

and Chelsea, my sister.

29:36

Alright. Come on, Chelsea. I take hold

29:39

of Chelsea, Sam. Goodbye, grandma. I'm

29:41

meme Have fun.

29:46

Okay, Chelsea. Here's the thing. Could you?

29:49

could you just could you just

29:52

not talk the entire time

29:54

that we're out? Could you just be my silent

29:57

sister? Could you just do that for

29:59

once. Is Dorothy gonna be there?

30:02

No. Is Dorothy one of

30:04

the guys?

30:05

No. No. No. She is

30:07

not, and she will not be there.

30:09

but you'd love her. We're

30:12

not talking about her and we're not talking

30:13

about me. We're talking about you and

30:15

how I am kind Lee

30:18

asking you to please be

30:20

quiet tonight because this isn't

30:23

something where someone should have their

30:25

little sister tagging along. Well,

30:27

I think that's

30:27

rude. Well, I'm sorry, but

30:29

that's how it is. And not only

30:31

are you not going to talk but I need

30:34

you to understand that whatever happens tonight,

30:36

you are not going to talk about that

30:38

either. Why? Well,

30:41

we're gonna meet up with this guy, Roger.

30:44

And he's little rough around the edges,

30:46

but he's okay and he makes a lot

30:48

of jokes. And maybe they're a

30:51

little off color. Things

30:53

that little girls, little sisters

30:56

shouldn't hear. Well, if little

30:57

girls wanna hear them? Then I don't

30:59

wanna hear them. Well, that's great. You can turn

31:01

around and go home right now. Take Charlie.

31:04

Nuh-uh.

31:04

Chelsea, please. Please.

31:09

I hold up Charlie in front of my face to make

31:11

him talk. I see the

31:13

knee.

31:14

while the Northwood siblings

31:16

make their way down the quiet dimming lane.

31:19

One of Rogers' esteemed guests has already

31:21

arrived at the farm house.

31:23

Dirt stands in an unlit street

31:26

bathed in Eyrie Magenta Twilight.

31:29

As the sunlight meets the dark purple

31:31

of the stormy night creeping

31:33

in from the east. Hello?

31:37

There's nowhere fly dirt, just

31:39

the whispering of the trees.

31:41

Tell fear secrets.

31:45

the

31:45

Barncker House or howling

31:47

House as it's come to be called, is

31:49

out on Hill Street far

31:51

on the edges of uptown in

31:53

the relative outskirts hurts of arkham. The

31:56

neighborhood is quite old, so

31:58

old that most of the houses

31:59

along this unpaid road or without

32:02

electricity the gas or town water.

32:05

Here in the dusk, the

32:07

sinister two story of Victorian is

32:10

silhouetted by the setting sun, and

32:12

the overgrown yard is pooled in

32:14

shadow. Each

32:16

peak in angle of the house as

32:18

spires and shingle feel almost

32:20

reptilian, like

32:22

a predator looming in

32:24

the tall grass.

32:26

Roger? Is

32:28

there a fence? I'd

32:30

like to walk up to the fence and see if

32:32

Roger is here. Oh,

32:34

there is a fence. A rusted

32:36

rod iron fence that runs around

32:38

the perimeter of the yard. There's

32:40

an ornate hinged gate. that

32:42

leads up to the front door, latched

32:44

with a big padlock.

32:46

Roger,

32:47

friend, are you here?

32:51

Looking

32:51

between the bars, you don't see anyone

32:53

dirt, but you can get a better

32:55

look at the house itself. It's

32:57

in a sorry state. Its

32:59

cobalt blue paint is stained

33:02

and peeled. Entire patches

33:04

of it are missing. Although the windows

33:06

have been boarded shut, maybe to protect

33:08

them from vandals. The yard

33:10

itself is filled with sickly looking

33:12

trees. In the other yard, to the neighborhood.

33:15

It's still summer. But here,

33:17

you could mistaken for fall. Where

33:20

are my friends? My best friend

33:22

said you would meet me here. I'm

33:24

good at can I I'm gonna climb the

33:27

fencing, knock on

33:28

the door and be polite. It's

33:30

a tall fence, topped with spikes

33:32

of jagged metal, but the gate is

33:34

flanked by stone pillars. You

33:36

can probably climb your way to the top of one of

33:38

those relatively easily. Give me

33:40

a gym class role. I only have a

33:42

twenty.

33:44

Oh, thank goodness. A twelve.

33:46

You're afraid little hands are just the right size

33:48

to get into the cracks and crannies of

33:50

the rocks. When you lift yourself up on

33:52

top of the pillar beside the gate, From

33:56

there, dirt, you still don't see Roger,

33:59

but you do hear something,

34:02

flapping sounds. Oh, no.

34:04

No. No. No. No. No. No. No chickens. Please.

34:08

Oh god. No chickens. From the house's awnings

34:10

spilling out into the night sky

34:12

Oh, mother. Oh god, please. Our

34:15

first

34:15

one, then two, then

34:17

dozens of bats. Oh,

34:20

thank goodness. friends. It's

34:22

bad swarm, dip, and

34:24

fly, and a flurry all around you.

34:27

Oh, that's pretty much friends

34:29

that I wanna roll

34:31

to be a pal. I

34:34

rolled thirty three out of seventy five, so

34:36

these bats are now my friend, and they're

34:38

with me forever. Oh, they love

34:40

you. Maybe it's your chicken soup

34:42

aroma a luring in the juicy bug

34:45

or maybe it's your goodbye to the bikish

34:47

flu. The bats swarm

34:49

around you briefly in an embrace of lebri

34:51

wing and chirps before going forth

34:54

into the night sky. Oh,

34:56

be my mommy, that's sweet

34:59

paths. And dirt? Mhmm. What?

35:02

You

35:02

hear one of those high pitched chirps next

35:04

to your head. There's a little bat

35:06

attached to your jacket. Sweet.

35:08

gosh.

35:11

Come on. I wanna cut all my little

35:13

back. Maybe I can be your mommy

35:15

too.

35:16

As your tuckingly trapped

35:18

back from your jacket. You see in the distance

35:21

a pair of figures approaching

35:22

down the road. Tommy,

35:24

me until Nemo

35:26

would be this house? Who's that

35:28

weird guy? I look,

35:30

Chelsea, it's fine. It's fine. This

35:32

is where Roger told me to meet him. I didn't

35:35

know that dirt was gonna be here, but it's fine.

35:37

We're gonna be fine. We must, we're not allowed

35:39

to go to this house. We're not even supposed on the

35:41

side of town. Well, Chelsea, if you don't

35:43

like it, you could turn around and go home, you could

35:45

take Charlie, and you could turn around and go

35:47

home right now. go home.

35:50

By myself. Yes. By

35:52

myself.

35:53

Fine. Alright. Come

35:55

with me. Dirt here. He's a great

35:58

guy. Lots of

35:59

bats. I

36:01

put my bat friend in my pocket to

36:04

keep him safe

36:05

Maybe if I collect more, we

36:08

could be a family. Anymore

36:10

bags? Give me bags.

36:12

Come your bags. see. Nice.

36:15

Friends with bats. He's

36:16

calling to bats.

36:19

I don't like bats, Tommy.

36:21

All I have. My skin is a snack.

36:23

Come meet at best. Are you even listening to him?

36:25

I could come on. Hey dirt. Dirt.

36:28

Hey. Oh, hey. You I

36:31

did. Woodsey. Hey,

36:33

dirt. Hello, friends. What

36:35

are you doing? here.

36:36

Oh, I have Look at all these new friends in

36:39

the sky. They're bats that they're gonna be my new

36:41

family. Those are vampire bats. Dirt,

36:43

it is my duty to tell you

36:45

that

36:45

bats carry rabies. I

36:47

mean, that's okay. My grandma had rabies.

36:50

And so Have you been bitten?

36:52

I Have you been bitten? Who

36:54

care? Yeah. No, maybe. Oh, okay.

36:57

Because I have a first aid kit in my

36:59

packet. And

36:59

if you are in need medical assistance, I'm

37:02

here

37:02

to take care of you, Turt. I'm gonna climb

37:04

down the way I came.

37:07

I'm okay, but if you wanna stick me with

37:09

something, if that's your wish. If

37:11

that'll make you happy, do

37:13

that. Honey, I wanna go. Okay. Chelsea,

37:16

you know first, honey. You wanna go and

37:18

me Okay, Josie.

37:19

Tommy, this is not good. What in toddlers?

37:21

What in toddlers?

37:22

Children just come down. find

37:25

the bats are gone. It's gonna fine. Off in the

37:27

distance, you hear something. Before

37:30

we take the corner, you are getting

37:32

off and you are walking behind me. I will

37:35

not be seen riding up with you on

37:37

the handlebars. This is it, pal. I

37:39

I don't know about that. We're

37:40

kinda going down a hill. I can't get

37:42

off like this. you best get off because I'm at a

37:44

break. Come

37:47

on. Skip my arm. How are

37:49

we gonna do it? Good. If is your

37:51

stock pal. Very good. Yeah. Do

37:54

it. Yeah. You ask on. Here

37:56

we go. Good. Okay. You can

37:58

bear with doing it, but Chelsea

37:59

is doing it. Chegg.

38:02

Woods Chelsea and dirt, you see a

38:04

panic, Roger and Joey spill to

38:06

view from behind a ramshackle wood fence

38:08

at the bottom of a hill. Rogers attempting

38:11

to brake on a bicycle, and Joey is

38:13

riding on a stand by bars. I

38:15

did my heels in. I played a hook and don't

38:17

do a stop. Sure. You're not ready

38:20

for that, and you go flying off the handlebars.

38:24

Yeah.

38:25

Damn it. And I pose on the bike.

38:27

Trying

38:27

to look cool. Well, well,

38:30

well. their patrol

38:32

is all here. They're already

38:34

here. Oh, Roger.

38:37

What'd you Yeah. Oh,

38:39

look at you. I didn't know that you he was gonna

38:42

be here. Joey

38:43

d is here. Friends.

38:45

I

38:45

brush myself off and I walk over.

38:49

Hey dirt.

38:50

Hey, best pal. I

38:52

step off the bike and let it clatter to the ground,

38:55

pop the collar on my jacket, and

38:56

walk over to my good friend.

38:59

woods. My hand firmly

39:02

clamps on his shoulder.

39:04

Say what? What's

39:06

with the tag along? My grand mother

39:08

said that

39:09

she had to come with me.

39:12

Grandma's boy.

39:15

It's my duty to take care of my sister.

39:17

And I am trustworthy and loyal

39:19

to my family. It's part of the scouts

39:22

code. You know she's gonna rat you out.

39:24

No. She's not

39:24

gonna write me out. really, I'm gonna write me.

39:26

What does it mean? What does it read out me? Chelsea. Mhmm.

39:29

Chelsea,

39:31

pinky sweater. pinky

39:32

swear that you're not gonna tell

39:34

grandma about whatever happens

39:36

here. Tommy, I'm gonna be a pal.

39:38

I'm gonna be a pal to my sister. I

39:42

rolled the ninety two.

39:46

I'm gonna push the roll be

39:50

What's your skill level? Thirty. I'm

39:54

gonna push the roll to be

39:56

a pal to my sister, and

39:59

I'm gonna

39:59

I'm gonna really look, I'm gonna get down. So the first

40:02

time I just get the pinky sweater and now I'm gonna get

40:04

down on her level, and I'm really gonna

40:06

look her in the eye.

40:08

Chelsea. I've

40:10

never asked anything else from you before,

40:12

but

40:13

I need to take care of something with Roger.

40:16

I need you to be a big girl.

40:18

I need you to be a grown up

40:20

and

40:23

Rolled us. Thirty nine, so I failed

40:26

to. With your utter sincerity, I'm gonna

40:28

give you a bonus die. Roll an extra tens

40:31

place. Take the better.

40:33

So nineteen. Chelsea,

40:35

you think maybe you're gonna give him

40:37

the benefit of the doubt. Your brother,

40:39

he's brought you all the way out here

40:41

into this strange situation and he's

40:43

trusting you to be brave. So

40:46

maybe you can impress him. Maybe

40:48

grandma doesn't need to know about this.

40:51

What are you gonna give

40:52

me? I am

40:55

going to give you

40:57

all all of my Halloween candy.

41:00

Deal. Oh, man.

41:02

That is the worst deal ever.

41:04

because I need to Halloween yet.

41:07

You know, the dog was candy and

41:09

again. Oh,

41:11

you shut up. It's my little sister. It's

41:13

my little sister. that's

41:16

my little sick I I have to get something

41:19

from Chelsea, I have to get something from Roger.

41:21

It is extremely important that I get this thing from

41:23

Roger. That'd be a big girl, and we made a deal.

41:25

I trust you, Tommy. Oh, yeah.

41:27

This boy scout here is so good

41:30

and faithful and kind. So trustworthy.

41:32

Never a

41:34

thief. No.

41:36

Never him. Oh, no. No. Tommy's

41:38

not a thief. What are you talking about?

41:41

Of course not. I've been down

41:43

to eye level

41:43

with short stop here. And what's

41:46

your name? He

41:47

he just said it. Chelsea. I

41:49

wasn't paying attention. Now,

41:51

Chelsea, see. I

41:52

had my reservations about you coming along

41:54

for this

41:55

important mission. But you

41:58

know what?

41:59

I'm really glad

41:59

here. This

42:00

is perfect because we need five

42:03

people to go into this house

42:05

and spend the night because when

42:07

school starts on Monday, we're

42:09

all gonna be crowned kings, and

42:11

you're gonna be crowned queen. No

42:13

one's ever conquered howling house

42:15

before, and

42:16

it's gonna be us. It's gonna

42:18

be us, guys. If we all die, it's

42:20

gonna be your fault. We'll be dead. Who

42:22

cares? Cheapers, Roger. This is this

42:25

is insane? can't stay the whole night.

42:27

No. No. No. What's insane?

42:29

What was it like, you know, a true blue

42:32

boy

42:32

scout pinch a knife furnace.

42:34

Oh oh, okay. that would

42:36

be insane. Roger. Alright. That'd

42:38

be crazy. Let's keep this between

42:41

us a gent Coleman's agreement.

42:42

What is he talking about? Nothing. He's hypothetical.

42:45

He's not talking about anything. I'm just I'm just saying

42:47

if he if he's all the scout he thinks he is, then this

42:49

should be no problem for him. Alright,

42:51

Roger. At

42:53

the end of the night, you and me,

42:55

we're gonna have a conversation. we're

42:57

gonna have words after this is over.

42:59

No. They used to be this family that lived in this

43:01

house, and the family had a dad, and his dad

43:03

meant a witch, and the witch put a spell on his dad

43:05

so he chopped the family up. And he stole this family

43:08

for me. That's

43:09

what my neighbor Sophie told me. She wouldn't let

43:11

me play with her horse.

43:12

No. That's not it. What I heard was

43:14

there was an old goals lady with the

43:16

lantern walking around, weeping

43:18

all the dead.

43:19

No. He sold his family for me. That's what

43:21

Sophie Sophie

43:21

said. not what I heard. That's not what

43:23

I heard. When I was at camp last month,

43:26

my camp counselor told me that a little

43:28

girl died in that house. What do

43:30

you mean a little girl? The Briggs

43:32

girl died and she a

43:34

little girl died Chelsea

43:36

in that house and her ghost

43:38

is still in there crying That's

43:41

why it's called the howlinghouse because of all the

43:43

terrible noises that come out of it. And

43:46

maybe this little girl should go home,

43:48

or you'll be trapped howling in

43:50

there too. alone? Alone.

43:53

In the house,

43:54

howling forever.

43:58

That's not what I mean.

43:59

You

44:00

want me to walk home.

44:03

Hello. It's not that far

44:06

Chelsea. It's still light out.

44:07

And as you say that, a gust of wind kicks

44:09

up dirt along the road. that

44:11

storm that was coming, it's almost

44:13

here. I like my

44:15

finger and test the wind.

44:17

I'm gonna roll nature to

44:21

I wanna see how quickly the the the storm

44:24

will Okay.

44:26

I rolled a thirty three. My skill is eighty.

44:29

Oh, this storm is coming on fast. You've

44:31

only got a few minutes until the rain starts.

44:34

And from the chill wind blowing, it's gonna

44:36

be a doozy. Okay, everyone. There

44:38

was a storm coming in and we need to seek

44:40

appropriate shelter. And if

44:43

we're

44:43

gonna do this, we have to do this now. We

44:51

could we could we could home if we run really

44:53

fast. Tell me, tell me, tell me, what

44:55

was that? Tell

44:56

me, what was that? just a little girl?

44:58

It didn't sound like little

44:59

girl. I clicked on my friend Joey's

45:01

like I mean, I guess he's my friend. Hey. Get

45:03

off me, man. You're cramping my

45:05

stock. are the baby scared

45:07

of a little wind in an old rickety

45:09

house. But, no, no,

45:12

you're not chiming out of this. It's

45:14

six I've put in a ring of keys in my

45:16

jacket and unlocked a big padlock.

45:18

It's plenty of foam in the ground, and

45:20

I pushed the ruff again. These

45:23

Yola. Welcome lady

45:26

and gentleman to the most unforgettable

45:29

night of your lives.

45:30

Welcome

45:32

to Howling House.

46:25

Thanks

46:25

for listening to the call of Cthulhu

46:27

Free Program. This series

46:30

is recorded and produced in Central

46:32

Florida and Nashville, Tennessee, on

46:34

land ruthlessly taken from their indigenous

46:36

people. The Timocua and Seminole

46:39

and Yuki took a saw, Sony, and Cherokee,

46:41

respectively. Accnowledments of

46:44

the first peoples of

46:44

these lands and the lasting repercussions of

46:46

colonization is unleashed we can do.

46:49

Through awareness, we can bump allied

46:51

ships, action, and ultimately eat

46:53

colonization. For links to

46:56

aid indigenous

46:56

efforts and to learn more about the First

46:58

Nation's of the land where you live visit

47:01

katuluma three dot com slash first

47:03

nations. If you enjoy

47:05

our podcast broadcast please

47:07

rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or

47:09

Podcasts, and be

47:11

sure to subscribe to our series via your

47:13

favorite

47:13

podcast player to get all the

47:15

latest episodes. episode

47:18

what? The derm was written and

47:20

performed by Luke Strampp,

47:21

Kath Flackart, Grisler

47:23

Brain, Manda Bruno, Brandon

47:25

Garrison, and Colin Peterson.

47:27

With additional scripting and

47:29

story editing by Kat Blackard, and

47:31

performances by Ebony Ellington, Alicia

47:34

Fox, Sawyer Green, Zachary

47:36

Forteis Top, Abigail

47:38

Denny, Jonathan West

47:40

and Cynthia Beckert, editing

47:41

and mastering it by executive producers

47:44

Colin Peterson and Kat Beckert with

47:46

additional ending by Riccardo Lugo.

47:48

It's produced by John Sebastian Laval

47:51

and Jessica Mudd is associate producer.

47:53

Our original score is composed and performed

47:56

by Ryan McQueen and Mike McQueen of

47:58

Neon Drummond. Oh, for all

47:59

your custom music needs and more,

48:02

neon golden music dot com.

48:04

The call of the delivery program is

48:06

solidly played using chaosium all of

48:08

Kondulu's seven finishes. Night at

48:11

Howling House is based on the dead,

48:13

a scenario by Kevin Roth

48:15

with revisions by Rick Kramer, published

48:17

by Reginald

48:18

Hill Cranks or

48:19

a full episode credits transcript as

48:21

well as character sheets and other supplemental material,

48:24

visit the tool mystery dot com.

48:26

This podcast

48:27

would not be possible without the support

48:29

of listeners like you

48:30

and our incredible team of Patreon

48:33

for who

48:34

Go take for Theodore Lee. Mianna,

48:36

MK eighty six, John Hutchinson,

48:39

John t Red,

48:40

Josh King, and Patrick Webster,

48:43

and our executive Patreon producers,

48:45

Big Bag Battle Man, Marcus Lartman,

48:48

Jamie Sun Malone, and Becky

48:50

Scott Fairley join the team

48:52

at patreon dot com slash omniverse

48:55

media. All characters appearing

48:57

off pictures and any resemble sister

48:59

person living our dad is Yolly coincidental.

49:02

This has been the call of the Dolby

49:04

Street program. Good night.

49:11

Omni verse.

49:16

the fable and falling network where

49:18

fiction producers flourish.

49:21

I have come across a story forgotten

49:24

by history. Our

49:26

extremely true tale takes place

49:28

in New York City in the year eighteen

49:30

ninety six. I overheard them talking

49:32

about project layaway

49:33

project land well, project

49:36

land well cannot

49:38

be

49:38

stopped. And what is

49:40

project land well?

49:45

The land well

49:46

murders. Subscribe on the

49:48

podcatcher of your choice.