Part 16 - It's A Mad House! A Mad House! - Part 2
The Victorian
Elven Supremacist
- Location
- Canada
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Part 16 - It's A Mad House! A Mad House! - Part 2
As we continue to explore Grout's Mansion of Madness and Murder, we come across one of his "patients" moving one of the sconces about, laughing all the while:
The sconces are actually switches, and in order to open the way forward we must pull them in a certain sequence. A clue to the correct sequence is found on a nearby table:
That said, it's much easier to just solve the puzzle by trial and error, as there are only three switches.
We can also listen to some more of Grout's audio diaries:
Grout: Another unfortunate casualty to tide of time: insane asylums. I lament their loss not only as brokerage houses for the breadth and depth of human psychosis, but also I shall mourn the disappearance of that peculiar environment present only in an insane asylum. That palpable atmosphere of blistered brains and churning bowels, the odiferous melange of freely flowing bodily humours, that gently rolling cacophony of distant sobs and screams, the muttered cursing of perceived enemies and the blissful gurgling of the lobotomized like a new-born babe discovering the sky. I shall still find test subjects as surely as I find bloody sustenance in the night, but this climate, I fear, will never be replicated.
Whichever member of the development staff wrote these did an amazing job, I must say.
As hard it as it might be to believe, Grout's views on psychiatry aren't too far removed from the actual practice back in the day. Keep in mind there was a time when insane asylums used to charge people money to come and gawk at the patients.
Grout: Often I reflect with great regret on the missed opportunity that was my infector. Had I been conscious after the attack, I could have stopped the orderlies from locking her in a roaming pen. What I would give for just one interview, a few simple questions of the plague ridden woman who met her end that dawn. Of course there is no guarantee she would have been any more helpful than my current crop of test subjects. Mewling wretches! Few could be called 'enthusiastic'. Given the nature of the tests, I cannot expect the same fervor from all, but a modicum of cooperation would be appreciated. Animals! The one called 'John' went so far as to gnaw off his arm and escape into the floor boards like some feral rodent. I still hear him scurrying about that night, he must have made an atrocious mess in there.
Grout: My studies proceed at a languid pace. I'm mired in a foul ennui as my wife's illness advances. My subjects grow restless without proper supervision, but I cannot pull myself back from this black depression. How many nights I've wasted now gazing from the tower walk, pondering the frailty of existence.
We can always go to the tower walk he mentions, which provides an impressive vista of Los Angeles:
Grout: After decades of solitary studying into this affliction, I have learned that it is by no means mine alone. Indeed, the city is home to an entire society of similarly afflicted individuals with whom I've only recently made contact. They are an understandably standoffish sort, by and large, but I have been able to confirm with them that the condition is indeed vampirism which apparently comes in a multitude of strains, each with a spectacular set of symptoms such as invisibility and even a sort of lycanthropy. Through numerous official interactions with the governing body of this secret society, I have concluded that their fundamental understanding of the vampiric condition is woefully lacking and mired in suspicion and pseudo-religious dogma that would make a Turk balk for its strictures. Indeed, they seemed impressed with my studies and the eloquence with which I was able to present them, apparently the typical suffer of my particular strain of vampirism is far from the vanguard of the king's English. So impressed where they that they even offered me an office in their government, a rather high office by the sound of things. I believe I shall accept. If nothing else, it should provide a lofty vantage point from which to observe the breadth of epidemiology of the afflictions so that I may move more expeditiously toward a cure.
Again, take note of his rather antiquated diction - "Make a Turk balk for it's strictures." Using the word "Turk" to mean "Muslim" is something that went out of style with the Ottoman Empire.
Grout: I have accepted the role of 'primogen' for clan 'Malkavian', the dreadfully winsome label applied to the particular strain of vampirism I suffer. So named for some supposed vampire father figure of old, more poppycock grown from a backwood culture that seems interminably drawn to childrens' tales and the fiction of Victorian romance when it should concern itself with the science behind their suffering. No matter, for I have taken this office for no greater reason than to advance my research. I must make mention however that even among my would-be peers in this governing body of vampires the level of paranoia and superstition is frightening! Their intelligence is not the question, no, indeed, as they courted me for this appointment, I had to suspect that their overtures were hand-tailored to what must be my obvious infatuation with reason, for the devil would do well to have such honey-tongued tempters. Even so I could not help to notice the dressing of language the vampire leaders chose for their siren song. Whether it is born of habit, from addressing their unwashed ill educated subjects, or from their own deep-seated beliefs, their linguistic flourishes belie a faith in superstition over the providence of empirical reason that must be an all-pervasive theme in this society of darkest night. Damn it all now, I'm doing it, too!
Eventually we come across another switch puzzle, where we must activate the switches in certain ordered hinted at on a scrap of paper:
Let's see, disjointed ramblings about "Order" and "Chaos," an overly-elaborate manner of speaking, a belief in outdated scientific principles...shit, we're dealing with vampire Jordan Peterson, aren't we? As if that's what we need at this point in our (un)life.
As we go deeper into Grout's mansion, we enter into his laboratories, where he evidently creates his test subjects:
Grout: As I expand my dealings with the vampire government, I have encountered a disturbing new symptom of this affliction. Frequently, in conversation, I will hear voices emanating from other vampires, voices that are not their own, but which seem to have insight into their lives beyond what I could gather from simple conversation. These voices seem to echo from deep within my fellow vampires, and I cannot be certain if this symptom belongs to my strain of vampirsm or theirs, for the voices are various and inconsistent. I dare not mention this symptom to my vampiric peers, for they have proven themselves true predators to whom I could be loath to reveal any sign of weakness. Indeed, these voices have counselled me against confessing their presence, and until I can confirm their source, I will listen. The information the voices have given me ranges from curious to frightening. The latter case is especially true of one powerful vampire whose name I shall not commit to recording in the interests of self preservation.
It's interesting to note that the insanity common to Malkavians did not immediately manifest in Grout, but rather appeared some time after his Embrace. Of course, not all Malkavians experience madness in the same way - some simply display a sociopathic level of detachment from humanity.
Eventually we reach a part of the mansion called the "Malkavian Maze." It was something that was originally planned for the game which never made it into the final product, however, the Unofficial Patch tries to recreate it using some unused assets, and some of which the patch authors made themselves:
Inside the maze, we come across a large rotunda, with sunlight streaming in through a break in the ceiling:
I'm not sure where the sunlight is coming from, since it's clearly night outside. 'Tis a mystery, to be sure.
From what I can tell, this room was created wholesale by the authors of the Unofficial Patch, who were working off a bit of concept art:
I must say they did a rather good job of it, and it's amazing how dedicated people are to making content for a game more than ten years old at this point.
The sunlight damages us, but we must endure it in order to throw a switch to open the way forward, which leads to a room filled with rather creepy-looking mannequins (which shift position when we aren't looking):
We also discover a room that was once home to one of Grout's unfortunate Ghouls:
The text is a bit hard to see, but it reads: Nights, nights gone by. Nights here without the taste of the master's blood. His terrible gaze, the sight of the pale moon in the sky. I'm lost, trapped here by the master, once his most loyal servant, now the victim of his growing mistrust, the fractured surface of his paranoia, hearing the screams beyond these walls. Something has happened, something unnameable, the beginnings of a harrowing madness that I surely will not...
Eventually we return to the mansion proper, where we find the last two audio diaries:
Grout: The voices have increased in frequency and direction of late. They have begun to stay with me long after conversation has ceased and are serving as quite a distraction. I fear others are beginning to notice my preoccupation at the vampire gatherings. I'm thinking again of the particular vampire of whom I spoke previously, who I dare not name for my growing fear. If the voices are to be believed, then my caution is warranted, for they speak of his blackest crimes both past and future. More than once I have seen the suspicion in his eyes and heard the distrust in his voice when speaking with me! The fear must register on my face as it is all I can do in these moments to keep from crying out in chorus with the voices!
Grout: I am no longer safe - I know it! The voices have proven themselves authentic, and I have withdrawn from the vampire society entirely. My absence will no doubt draw attention, but I could no longer hold my fragile composure around the ravenous eyes of my vampire peers, especially not from him! The voices compelled me to make what I fear is a Faustian bargain, but I had to, for their demands are constant and merciless. I have secluded myself within the mansion. I know he will strike out at me. He will go to any length to achieve his ambitions, and he knows that I know! I have taken precautions to protect my beloved wife. A cure will have to wait until our immediate safety is guaranteed. The mansion was constructed with security in mind, but at that time I was not privy to the full range of vampire capabilities! The voices echo in the twisted corridors of my psyche, dark whisperings of a macabre formless menace, the approach of which portends an end, an end to all of this!
At first, it sounds as though he's descending into paranoid schizophrenia, but remember that Malkavians' madness often grants them insight into things they should not be able to know about. It's not entirely clear which vampire he was speaking of, but it seems likely that it was Prince LaCroix.
Inside Grout's inner sanctum we find the lifeless body of his wife, preserved inside a bell jar:
She was afflicted with a terminal illness, and so Grout, Mr. Freeze-style, kept her in suspended animation until he could devise a cure for her condition.
There's only one room left to explore: Grout's inner sanctum. And yet when we finally breach the doors, we find the Malkavian primogen is dead! (Well, dead-er):
We don't have much time to investigate, however, as we hear a loud explosion outside, and when we go to investigate we're confronted with this knobhead:
This is Grünfeld Bach, a vampire hunter who speaks with a thoroughly ridiculous German accent. Seriously, he sounds like someone out of an old World War II film: "I VANT ZIS ALLIED SCHWEINHUND NAILED TO ZEE VALL!"
Well, if he's looking for Grout, I'm afraid he's already snuffed it:
Bach: Grout is dead? A pity it could not be by my hand! No matter - soon your self-made kings and false prophets, and all who bear the mark of the beast, will be washed from the earth, for the coming of the Lord!
...and you are...?
Bach: As you burn, tell them it was Grünfeld Bach who sent your damned soul to that lake of fire! All agents of Satan shall return to whence they came! Let this righteous display serve as a promise to all who serve the archfiend LaCroix! I'm coming for you, LaCroix! By the power of the Lord, I will cleanse your black soul!
Now we have to escape Grout's mansion as it burns, which it bit trickier than it sounds, since his test subjects will still attack us, and now they're on fire! One of their attacks took off about 75% of my health, and since they're on fire their attacks do aggravated damage, which is much harder to heal, either with blood packs or via the Bloodheal discipline.
Eventually, however, we make our escape just in the nick of time:
Well this expedition was a total cock-up: we went to find Alistair Grout, only to learn that he was dead, and we nearly got burned to a crisp by a fanatical vampire hunter. Not only that, it seems that Nines Rodriguez was the one who killed the primogen, though why he would want to do so is another question.
There's a theory that Grout is not actually dead, and that he faked his own death after foreseeing the attack upon his mansion. Evidence to support this theory comes in the form of his body, which has an intact skeleton, when every vampire we've slain thus far has simply burned away to ashes. But whether he's still alive or not is a far less pressing concern than just who was trying to kill him, and why.
Stay tuned for the next episode, where we'll ransack a museum and meet some dinosaurs!
(And in other news, Paradox Interactive is purportedly teasing a new Vampire: The Masquerade game. Personally, I won't believe its happening until I'm sitting at my keyboard, actually playing the game myself).
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