The Gentleman From Hell |S1| Ep. 12

Rusty Quill presents

Good evening, gentlemen and gentle ladies of hell.

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Hey, you driving in in your car?

Working in your studio?

Getting your nails done?

Ooh, love that color.

Yes, you.

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Cape's optional.

Quick, get over here.

Phil's passed out.

I'm all right.

Just a bit woozy, is all.

I'll be fine in a moment.

You sure you're okay?

What happened to her?

She tried to read the symbol on the mausoleum wall, and then she collapsed.

I didn't try anything.

I did read it.

Would you two gentlemen help an old lady to her feet, please?

Easy, easy.

I got you.

Ah, thank you.

I feel much better now.

You sure you don't want to take a breather over in the truck or?

I want to do nothing of the sort.

The last reading was just a little strong, is all.

So much hatred.

What'd you see?

Whitlock, that wretched elder of Isabel.

He...

He executed someone for consorting with the devil.

Ah, but there was...

there was someone else too.

A woman.

Perhaps a mother or sister or even a wife.

She was left behind.

I could practically feel her rage.

She was doing something.

What was it?

Digging.

Yes, she was digging.

And then I heard a man.

His voice deep and venomous.

He called upon the spirits to curse the earth, to separate it from God's creation.

And then...

birds.

Thousands of them.

It was like a storm of wings and screeching.

The symbol does sort of look like it could be a bird's skull.

These parts here, feathers.

A sparrow, I guess.

That was the name of the family that founded the city and built the mansion.

What you thinking?

Family quest?

Very likely, I'd think.

We should have picked up on this a long time ago.

It was on the fucking drawing you made for Christ's sake.

How many times have my drawings turned out to represent nothing more than ordinary things?

Remember the check mark I sketched while zeroing in on Dennis Ackerman?

It ended up being a prominent scratch on the door of his car.

No deeper meaning than that.

Just a clue that led us closer to the truth.

There was no reason we should have interpreted the symbol as anything other than a way to spot the hidden door.

We fuck up, we move on.

Simple as that.

When we get back, we should scour the hell out of the place.

Find everywhere that symbol turns up.

The first thing I'm doing is digging back into that book, The Witching of Isabel.

I'm certain there must be more about that execution.

That's all fine and dandy.

But right now, I want to pry this door open.

Okay.

Here goes.

One,

two.

Well, that was easy enough.

Sure was, but

I suppose some legend tripper could have pried it open long before we came along.

Why don't me and Phil go in?

You stay out here with the crowbar.

Last thing we need is for the door to magically slam shut and trap us inside.

Good idea.

Snap lots of pics while you're in there.

You got it.

Apart from the raised tomb, there's not much of anything in here.

Like we said, could be nothing.

Just kids breaking into shit.

Hold up.

I think I've got something.

Let me take a look.

It's the symbol again.

Are you getting anything from it?

It's difficult for me to pull off multiple readings in a row.

At least not after such a strong vision.

No problem, just keep the light on it.

I want to see if it moves when I push on it.

Careful with that thing.

Who knows?

Could be some kind of booby trap.

Yeah, probably be a good idea if you wait outside, Phil.

I'll do no such thing.

I'll take no fewer risks than either one of you.

We know that, Phil, but if one of us gets injured, then there's two of us left to take care of him, rather than the other way around.

I suppose I can't argue with that.

Perhaps we might use a pole or something to push on it from out here?

Be kind of hard to finangle it around the tomb.

Uh yeah, this thing looks like it just might move.

The rest of the wall is sealed up, but there's a little bit of space all around the stone the symbols carved on.

I'm not seeing any gaps or oddities in the stonework.

Nothing that looks like it could slide apart and fall on me.

I think it's safe to try.

All right, when are we all ready?

Be careful.

You hear me?

Always in.

Okay, here goes.

You guys hear that?

Sure, then.

Probably turned the bolt somewhere.

Maybe it released some kind of hidden compartment.

The only thing that could move would be the tomb itself.

Bingo.

The dais, the caskets set on moves.

I pushed it when we first got in here and it didn't budge.

There's some give to it now.

It's all you, Hercules.

All right, here goes nothing.

Ugh.

Heavy as fuck to slide over, though.

I'm guessing it's supposed to be a two-person operation.

There, that's got it.

Okay, I'm coming in now, like it or not.

Well, would you look it there?

A genuine secret passage, stairs that lead underground.

What the hell are you doing, Mace?

I'm prying this damn door off so I don't have to keep waiting at it like a schmuck.

A bit disrespectful, but a sound idea nonetheless.

Damn.

Now I can finally take a look at all this.

Well, at least we can see all the way to the bottom.

Still pretty deep.

I'm guessing the mausoleum was placed on top of an underground crypt.

Could be.

Alright, you guys can stay in God guard now.

I'm gonna head down and scope it out.

I'll stand at the bottom of the stairs with a light.

You can't see it anymore, you turn around.

Walkies might have a problem if there's too much rock.

Looks like the tunnel's mostly Earthen, but I'll head back if we start to break up.

You get out of there immediately if anything happens.

Do you understand?

Yes, ma'am, I understand.

Phil, you stand in that far corner so that no one's got a clean approach to you.

Keep your gun out.

We'll

Okay,

let's do this.

So far it looks pretty much like what I'd imagine an old mining shaft to look like.

Fairly wide and low ceilings, lots of wooden supports, but the ground is solid stone.

No more dirt.

The light ain't hitting the end of the tunnel, so it goes on ways.

Don't take any turns or wander too far.

Can you still see the light?

I went down a little bit of an incline, but I could still see it somewhat.

Then don't go much further.

This thing likes to fuck with our equipment.

I can probably guide you back with my voice if the lights go out, but not if you get too far or start taking turns.

I don't think you're supposed to yell in a mine.

Cave-ins and all that good stuff.

Good point.

Probably a good time to head back.

In a sec, looks like something's just ahead.

Jesus.

Mace, you okay?

Mason, come in!

It's all right.

I'm alright.

So much for not yelling down here.

Anyway, I found something.

Some kind of fucked up statue.

What does it look like?

Don't worry.

You'll get a good look at the thing.

I'm taking lots of pictures.

But for now, I'd say it's about seven feet tall, humanoid.

It's only got its left arm.

It's got wings, but they're upside down.

Definitely supposed to be some kind of monster.

Faces all kinds of inhuman.

Fangs, horns, that sort of thing.

Is there anything loose on it?

Something you could bring back for me to examine?

I didn't want to get that close, but I'll uh check it out.

Thanks sure is an ugly fucker.

Smells funky, too.

What does it smell like?

Well, like rotten eggs.

Sulfur, maybe.

Mason, I want you to get out of there now.

Do you hear me?

Now

what's wrong, Phil?

I'm just gonna grab something off this thing and then head

and then head

and then

head

Mace.

You still there?

Mace?

Mason, it's everything I need.

Whatsoever God's hand hath raised,

that shall I uproot and bear down to the depth,

And for every flower that within perdition doth yield,

shall from my darkness the light perish.

And whosoever partakes of my darkness,

be thy soul forever scraped across the wetted rocks

of hell,

Mason

and a saint.

You

have partaken.

Please don't kill me, don't kill me.

Okay, just gotta get him over to the stairs.

Oh, be careful of his hand.

Is he breathing?

He's breathing just fine, Phil.

He just needs some time to shake it off.

I think the same sort of thing happened to him that zapped you.

Should I come down there?

Do you need my help?

Right now, I need you exactly where you are facing the door.

I've got him.

Everything's gonna be fine.

All right.

Alright.

Come on, big guy.

Wake up.

Yank, can you hear me?

Snap out of it.

What?

What's uh.

Where am I?

Oh, thank God.

You're in the tunnel underneath the mausoleum, remember?

Yeah, I remember.

How the hell did I get here?

You passed out.

When you didn't respond, I ran down here and dragged you back.

How do you feel?

Like I just woke up from a nap.

Jesus!

I was looking for something to take off that freaky statue, and then...

What?

What happened?

I...

I thought...

Take it easy.

It'll come to you.

Just give it a few.

Phil, what spooked you back there?

He said he smelled something like rotten eggs.

Sulfur.

Paranormal events often profit themselves with exactly that odor.

I remember that.

I just walked over to the statue when I smelled it.

Here's your phone.

You dropped it when you passed out.

How about opening it up and showing us the pics?

You were there, you didn't see it?

I was more concerned with getting you and getting the hell out.

Sightseeing wasn't exactly on my mind.

No, no, no, this is all wrong.

What's the matter?

The picture's a goddamn statue in there.

That's the wall, but there's no fucking statue.

Take it easy.

We all know what this place is capable of.

No one is doubting what you saw.

Oh, the fuck!

I was fucking right at the thing.

I walked right up to it.

Yeah, and we've got ghost-powered elevators and vanishing talking hyenas.

What's your point?

None of those things knock me the fuck out.

This thing just...

just took me out like nothing.

These are not ordinary ordinary forces.

While they're not all powerful, we can't pretend to know what they can and can't do either.

Why don't we have this conversation on the way back to the mansion?

I think we're done here for today.

Bye with me.

I can finally put away this bloody gun.

I turn my back for a minute, and the next thing I know, you're drilling holes in the walls.

Just putting the finishing touches on a little surveillance hub.

Hand me that other board.

Here you go.

We decided to relocate the hub right outside our new collective sleeping quarters.

This way we can be on top of things in a gif.

I know we can't do much to stop this thing, but who knows?

Maybe it'll get the cameras rolling and give us some usable footage.

I don't suppose it could hurt.

In other news, I've made some progress for my own.

You found something in the book?

I did at that.

Care to hear?

Pull up a chair.

We're all ears.

The first thing I can tell you is, I'll be glad when I'm done with this awful book once and for all.

The horrible things these people got up to.

What they did to those so-called witches.

Anyway, I'm nearly certain this particular passage gives us the names of the persons who were executed in the vision I received from the symbol.

It says,

Upon the night of the full moon, we chanced upon them gathered about their cauldron black as pitch.

Gathered around their cauldron, black as pitch, unclothed but for the blood of beasts wherewith they had besmeared themselves.

As we drew near, we espied the shadowy form of a man standing behind them, his arms stretched forth unto the darkened heavens, a crown of horns, it seemed, upon his brow.

In the very next moment, as if he melted into the very darkness itself, he was gone from our sight.

That he was the devil himself, few among us did doubt.

For the evil one is known to consort with witches in their wickedness, sealing unholy packs and stealing away their souls.

Thus it came to pass that the children of Hester Sparrow were declared lost unto the devil's grasp.

Their wickedness would be repaid first by the flames kindled by man's own hand, and thereafter forevermore within the fiercest fires stoked by demonic powers.

Abigail, Mercy, Barnabas and Elijah Sparrow were swiftly found guilty of witchcraft and were forthwith delivered unto the flames.

Now that the goodly deed was wrought, and amidst the smolder and smiting of the devil's side, and amidst the smoulder and smiting of the devil's vanquished kin, we did give thanks and praise, singing hosannas even unto Cockro

to celebrate such an act

And with such...

enthusiasm?

I think that gives us the names, alright.

And this Hester Sparrow is a ringer for the old lady you heard in your vision.

I'm curious about this shadow man.

He could very well have been some sort of supernatural manifestation, or he was the man I heard calling out to the spirits.

But either way, I think we have more than enough material to warrant that trip to Portafoy.

I hate to admit it, but I'm actually eager to rejoin the digital age, if only long enough to piece together some of this puzzle.

The new equipment you was is supposed to send over is probably in too.

We could head over in the morning.

On that note, the new bedroom is all set up, and Mace and me already moved all your things in, Phil.

The room's huge, so I spread us out pretty good to give us a little privacy.

There's a big LED light set up in the middle, and I set out the remotes to it on the bedstands.

Just one click, and the whole room will light up like Christmas morning.

So, here's hoping we can all sleep a little sounder.

We should should also post a watch.

Mia and Leon can take turns.

Uh, I was hoping we weren't at that point yet.

We don't get enough sleep as it is.

I think we probably passed that point after Phil got jumped by a hyena.

As someone who has reached a certain age, I require far less sleep than the two of you, and therefore, I am prepared to assume my share of the watch.

And that, my dear fellows, will be the final word on the matter.

Oh,

good lord, Mace.

You almost gave me a heart attack.

Oh, you should let someone know when you decide to brood in front of a darkened window at midnight.

Sorry about that.

Just watching the rain come down.

I thought you'd come to bed.

Nah, can't sleep.

Is it because of what happened earlier?

Do you think those kids

the ones that we...

What's bothering you?

When the hyena, or whatever it was, spoke.

That voice.

Do you think...

Do you think it could have been one of those kids?

Like, their ghost?

No, Mason, I don't.

Wherever those children are, it's nowhere near here.

They were innocent in all that business, and evil has no claim over innocent souls.

You said it yourself.

We can't really know about these sorts of things.

You can't let this get into your head.

That's exactly what it wants.

To make you doubt yourself, even despise who you are.

As your friend, who knows your heart, I'll be damned if I stand by and let a good man like you think anything less of his true worth.

Damned.

Sounds about right.

The Gentleman from Hell is a Maltopia production.

Today's episode was written by Mark Anselone and performed by Stephen Zivik, Sam Stark, Aubrey Akers, and Matt Van Hove.

Sound editing was completed by Stephen Anselone, and script editing was conducted by Walker Kornfeld.

Be sure to rate and review us on iTunes, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at Meltopia.

If you want unique art and animations of Meltopia's stories, visit our YouTube page or click on the link in the show notes.

And for more exclusive content, such as additional lore, stories, and art, be sure to check out our Patreon at www.patreon.com forward slash meltopia

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