Conversation · Plaisance

"Yes. I performed the ancient Semenese dispelling rites. This commercial area is doomed no more."

"Of course. I trust my Semenese wards and charms kept you safe while you performed the ancient rites..." She looks at you with sudden admiration.

"I'm afraid that I can only identify the source, but you have to call some other experts to lift the curse."

"Oh, I see..." She looks at her pendant, then back to you. "I guess it's time to visit Boogie Street again."

"I'm sure that I'll find someone who can help me get rid of the doom that still remains in this house... Things are improving, I can feel it." She nods.

"Yes. The system must be cleansed of immigrant labour." (Proceed.)

"Cleansed? What do you..." She looks down at the pendant in her trembling hands, she collects herself.

This is a lot for her to parse.

"She says there is no curse, because there are too many inconsistencies."

"Too many inconsistencies? What kind of talk is that?" The woman scoffs at you with an audible snort.

Good luck persuading her. Some people can rationalize anything.

"As I said, she's a novelty dicemaker. Her business has been up and running for a long time now."

"Yes, because her business consists of the psychic leech that's been feeding the curse!" Red blotches appear on her skin.

"I see that you've fallen for her manipulation, detective. The investigation is over. I just hope that you haven't made anything worse by going in there."

"First, you're one of those inconsistencies."

"I am not doing as well as it looks like I am..." She grasps her pendant. "I only have my Semenese wards to thank for the protection they provide."

"There is another Entity, more malignant, pulling the strings in Martinaise. Perhaps in my travels I will cross paths with it."

"A third order presence, yes..." She lets go of the pendant.

A great, dark relief washes over her.

"I've heard of these tri-actors. In certain occult literature that's too dark to dwell on for too long -- and definitely not in the presence of my daughter." She gestures for you to be silent.

"I understand everything, sir. Thank you for descending into the maelström. I will keep fort up here -- strengthen the wards, do my best. And if you happen upon the Third Entity in your travels..."

"May the Lord be with you." She performs an x-shaped cross on her chest.

"Well, this has been absolutely educational. If we happen on the Third Presence in our travels we will certainly come back to tell you."

Yes, the venture continues. In other waters. Darker waters.

He turns to you. "Should we get out of here -- before the vortex collapses?"

Yes, the venture continues. In other waters. Darker waters.

"I've heard of these tri-actors. In certain occult literature that's too dark to dwell on for too long -- and definitely not in public." She gestures for you to be silent.

(Lie.) "The source is in the taxidermist's shop. He became involved in arts darker than taxidermy and brought the void spirits down upon this place."

"Oh! How horrid. I knew something wasn't right about that place..."

"Tell me: Did you find a way to break the curse?"

"She may be involved, but I don't have a way to question the malignant Entity further."

"I don't understand. If you're not sure it's her, then where is the source of the Doom? How did she explain the curse?" She looks perplexed.

"She's not a sorceress -- or some 'malicious Entity'. She's a businesswoman, like you."

"You have to let me to the cellar. There's something I desperately need from there."

"Who, what? I don't understand what you're talking about. I can't, in good conscience, risk releasing the bane of doom upon all because you need something from the cellar."

"It's not just something from the cellar, I'm doing it for your previous neighbour -- Soona Luukanen-Kilde."

"Oh, you mean that girl with those bizarre machines? Hmpf! I recall her now... her energetic presence was off, very off. She kept rambling something about her memory being lost..."

Her filament memory.

"In fact," she pauses to think, "It's odd how many of these troubles started with her departure. How do I know she's not behind the curse?! We definitely have to contain it now."

"Why are you so uptight about those curtains? I just want to know what's on the other side."

"I already told you, it's just a storage room for employees! I don't understand why it's so important to you..."

"Just let it go, officer! Go buy some god damn books, you're supposed to be... drawn to the books!"

She recites it like it's a poem, or like she's playing a role she's grown tired of.

She's so tense it's a miracle she hasn't snapped in half yet.

"Why are you still talking about books? Are you trying to put a spell on me?"

"A spell! As if!" She snorts. "This place doesn't need any spells or hoo-doo mumbo-jumbo, this place has wonderful energy!" She wavers under your gaze, mouth pressed into a tight-lipped smile... then something breaks:

"Okay... fine! It's because this place is cursed, just like Annette said! They don't call it the Doomed Commercial Area for nothing!"

"Are you happy now, officer? Happy that you've ruined everything?" She closes her eyes and starts mumbling something to her pendant.

"Host of Hosts," she prays, "guard me and my honest business venture from the curse that lurks behind the curtains..."

Take it easy. You've broken her resistance. Pushing her further will gain nothing.

"Is your pendant part of the wards as well?" (Point at her necklace.)

"Oh, this?" She holds the pendant in her palm. Its ochre heart glistens under the lights. "No. It's a special Himean amulet blessed by desert pygmy shamans with a spell of compulsion. It's to compel people to buy books..."

"There are numerous spells cast throughout the store. I had the books anointed with a different inducement spell, for example." She nods. "It's guaranteed to boost sales fifteen percent!"

Desert pygmy shamans...? That sounds like a rather questionable way to describe a group of people.

Doesn't seem like the spell is working... There are no customers around except you.

"Honestly, it seems like this pendant thing is a scam. You could be doing so much more."

"Sir, I am well-educated in the commercial and esoteric arts. I know what to do and what to avoid." She nudges her spectacles.

"Maybe you should try to reconceptualize your business... Martinaise doesn't look like the best place for a bookshop."

She stands silent for a second, before exhaling sharply. "You're right. A bookstore wasn't even my original plan, I actually wanted to sell esoteric paraphernalia to help to balance out this neighbourhood's dark energies."

"I'm not sure that a trinket shop is a better idea for business."