Upon the River: August 18, 1921 [English Eerie] [One-Shot] [In-Line]
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| "Morning Mist Clearing off the Hills" by James Docharty |
Previously...
Carlston Dale has taken a dying Jules Harcourt on a trip to celebrate a life they can no longer have together. On the fifth day, mist drives the group to camp early. In the morning, their canoes are smashed and the weather traps them on the shore.
About Upon the River
August 1921: Carlston Dale takes his dying fiance on a trip down a idyllic river so they can have the honeymoon they never had. Only things go wrong when they wash up upon a riverbank where the rules have changed and things move in the fog that always blocks the horizon.
Content Warnings: Mild tobacco use, mild drinking, some cosmic dread...
Upon the River is played using English Eerie scenario "The Lost River" (heavily inspired by Algernon Blackwood's "The Willows," as will be obvious). No additional oracles or tools are used. It will be played in one-day-per-day style format.
Any errors in geography, history, or language are all mine. I do my best.
This "one-shot" will be played In-Line style.
CARLSTON DALE
5 Spirit :: 4 Resolve
The son of shop owners in Bicester, moved to London after a war injury involving a landmine occurred in the very final days of battle. Became an undertaker and got engaged to Julia "Jules" Harcourt. She has been diagnosed with an incurable heart condition and is not expected to live past the end of year. She refuses to marry Carlston, now, so instead they take a trip with two of his friends—Mary Jones and Geoffrey Rose—as well Mary's friend Ivy Prairie. Meant to be a chaste honeymoon and likely Jules's last outing.
Distinguishing Features: Red hair, deep scars on right arm, walks with a notable limp.
Fears: Silence, Deep Water, and Being Trapped.
Morning Card: Secondary Character Harmed
Jules falls ill.
August 18, 1921. Morning.
This morning, Geoff nursed a hangover and I got to play nursemaid. He had his old smile back and despite us still being stranded—and yes, the fog still there—it felt like things might be ok. This was Cumbria, not the wilds of Cambodia. Both Geoff and Mary have long years of hiking experience. We just needed to consult a map and found the nearest town. Even a hike of several miles would not take more than a day or two and we could be drinking tea and lemon squash before the weekend.
Unfortunately, God is laughing at our poor group. Mary came rushing into my tent and said that Jules was struggling.
Geoff and I, only partially dressed but feeling no time for modesty, rushed over and sure enough Jules was awake but feebly so. Her beautiful face was strained. Sweat was on her brow. Her eyes had trouble focusing. Her temperature was normal but all signs looked like she was feverish.
"I'm sorry, Carl," she said to me and I told it was no problem. I stayed with her while the other three made a breakfast and made Jules a thin broth to eat. I spoon-fed her but only five small sips in she fell back asleep.
Ivy stayed with her while Geoff, Mary, and I went outside to discuss options. The further rain had washed one of the larger canoes away complete. The supplies gathered, and stashed up against the boy's tent, were the worse for wear. We had no exact fear of starvation even if we were trapped her for several days, but some rationing would be required.
The problem is that our medicines were lost when the canoes were initially smashed. Jules had only a small supply of what she needed in her main bag. In a couple of days time, she would be out. If she got any sicker, we had less time than that.
I spent the morning spending time with Jules, who stayed mostly asleep, and helping Geoff and Mary sort and protect what supplies we had.
Silence was all around us so I kept up a constant babble but at least for now, the others do not seem to mind.
In a few more minutes, I will
Afternoon Card: Secondary Character Obstructs (5)
Geoff starts to leave on his own. 1 Resolve spent. Rolled a 8+10. Carlston talks Geoffrey down for now.
August 18, 1921. Evening.
My last entry was cut short and I no longer remember my chain of thoughts. I was in the middle of writing when I heard some shouts outside. At first, I ignored as yet another spat between Geoff and Ivy until I clearly heard Mary use the phrase, "Please, come back!"
I limped outside to see Geoff with a small pack heading into the fog towards the woods. Apparently he had reached a point where he felt he could no longer take it. I ran after him and begged him to stay. I walked with him, falling constantly behind, and sung songs from the war that always cheered us up in the darkest hours. Right as I thought I was losing him, he turned around and came back and hugged me. It tight enough to hurt a little.
He later explained that he was so worried about Jules that he felt it was worth the risk to try and head out blindly to find someone, anyone, to help. Mary chided him, not unlovingly, and Ivy acted impressed.
Deep down, though, I think Geoff was not telling the whole truth. After the war I had the benefit of wearing my injuries upon my literal arm. A veteran walking with a limp was enough to make the war widows wave and wipe tears from their eyes. Geoff looks whole on the surface, by contrast, but I think he took some things he saw much harder than I. We do not care for our soldiers enough when war is finished.
After that we went back to our normal rota of repair, gather, and care. Jules was able to sit up and finish a small bowl of soup for dinner. It is clear that we are on borrowed time and the stress of the last couple of days is impacting her heart.
Mary offered to allow me to stay in the tent with the girls tonight but I felt it was too shocking. Mary seemed almost upset at me after that.
I tell you what, though. If the fog refuses to lift for us to have better visibility and if Jules continues to worsen, next time I might let Geoff go. Surely past this d——d patch, all is well with the world.
At least the strange noises from the previous night are silent. In fact, now that the rain seems to have passed fully, I have heard some birds chatter in the sunset. I am not sure the type but it feels a welcome noise.
DOUG'S COMMENTARY
This is roughly the length I am expecting each post to be. In the previous Upon the River entry I had mentioned that this was clearly inspired by "The Willows," and it is, but I see a few genetic differences which I will highlight.
For now, I am leaving the art alone for this one. Each "Gray Lady" section will have its own art I think. I had mentioned wanting to include some photos of the actual River Eden and there are some excellent ones but since there's the whole "Wait, this isn't the actual River Eden!?" thing starting to brew [spoilers, I know] then it gets weird. Still, Luke Reid's "Fog Over the River Eden" would have been a great choice for those wanting to picture the rough part of the world we are framing this in.
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| "Fog Over the River Eden" by Luke Reid. Shared by a CC-BY 2.0 attribution. |
CREDITS
Upon the River is played using only Scott Malthouse's English Eerie, Second Edition and a regular deck of cards built in the instructed manner. For this playthrough, no other oracles or tables will be used.
The painting at the top which unlike some choices I have used is probably pretty close to what is actually being seen is "Morning Mist Clearing off the Hills" by James Docharty by way of ArtUK and the Aberdeen Art Gallery & Museums.
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