Prologue & June 1958 20:46

A mysterious teller of tales begins to weave a part of history that you haven't heard of. Something is off in New York City that Summer evening in 1958, and that cop and her accomplice will get to the bottom of it. 

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Hey, it's Jess Brett, writer, director, and editor of the Cursed Cards Podcast. I want to say thank you for listening to the show. I would also like to give a special thank you to our cast for being a part of this adventure and this episode. Klaus Devden is paid by Lordnery Stopopod. Bree Rose is played by Fantasylover, and the narrator is played by yours truly, just Bret. Assorted voices and background are played by Just Bret and Bright Swords. For the cast that you'd like to hear them answer, email us at askcurscards at gmail.com. We would love to hear from you. And if you'd like to support the show directly, head over to Patreon under Just Bret. That is just Brett with three T's at the end of Brett, where you can see all the other projects I'm working on. Or check me out on Twitch. I'd be delighted to see you. Anyway, I hope you have a good morning, day, night, or whatever else you might be experiencing. And remember, my friends, to grab a cloak. It's cold outside. This podcast is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and instances are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance of actual persons, living or dead, or actual events are entirely coincidental. The opinions expressed are those of the characters not represent any real world figures or organizations. Personal victories and failures fade with every grey hair that grows on this head. And yet, my mind refuses to unsee the tale I'll be sharing tonight. Perhaps you'll believe it, or you'll just laugh at an old man's ramblings. Either way. It does not matter when or where you are, or how many times you see it. The way the moonlight shines off an ocean is breathtaking. The waves, the wind, all of it will change you if you look into it long enough, but perhaps staring into the deep and noble drink will change anyone. If they look hard enough.

SPEAKER_02 2:57

But I'm not alright.

SPEAKER_00 2:59

Klaus smiled, tapping his pipe, getting the last bit of ash and tobacco out of it. Bree rolled her eyes. She had heard him say such things quite a few times.

SPEAKER_02 3:09

And if I ever try to, make sure I'm not on the drink. Bree scoffed.

SPEAKER_01 3:15

I thought you told me that you never drank a day in your life.

SPEAKER_02 3:19

And can you imagine if I ever did last so? That would fit into a step type, wouldn't it?

SPEAKER_00 3:26

He smiled, putting his pipe into his coat pocket. It was much too small to be a tobacco pipe. The bowl would barely fit a few of the cured leaves, but he didn't mind. Micro smokes, he called them.

SPEAKER_02 3:38

He put back on his gloves and said, Don't you have a case or something? Don't get me wrong. I like your company, but I also know your superiors would be less than the dude that you're hanging out with me while working.

SPEAKER_01 3:52

Consider me your babysitter.

SPEAKER_00 3:55

They began to make their way back to her vehicle. It wasn't actually hers, it is one her station had been given as a reward for closing so many cases. That was before Klaus had arrived, of course. He'd only been in New York for about two months. They entered the automobile, the ignition started.

SPEAKER_01 4:13

Can't you sense anything weird going on?

SPEAKER_00 4:16

What do you mean?

SPEAKER_01 4:18

You know.

SPEAKER_00 4:20

She gestures out to the city proper, the night life of the city in full effect. Live jazz could be heard from the clubs that were bustling in the warm summer air.

SPEAKER_01 4:30

You know the weird things that follow you around like the plague.

SPEAKER_02 4:35

The plague? We just got the polio vaccine from modern medicine. Let's not try to bring back that kind of fortune to this beautiful city.

SPEAKER_01 4:47

Don't be a smart ass.

SPEAKER_00 4:49

He shrugged. He then, not as discreetly as he thought, drew his accursed cards from his pocket and began to shuffle. The sound of keys jingling almost like a wind chime as he began this ritual. She had never seen him without that deck. It almost seemed impulsive. She had tried to ask him where he got it, but not surprisingly, he deflected and changed the topic. They seemed to be old. Like from the last century old. He exhaled, drew a single card, and looked up the window.

SPEAKER_02 5:21

Inhale.

SPEAKER_01 5:23

See? That wasn't so hard.

SPEAKER_00 5:26

They drove for a few minutes. He gave her the correct turns. This bustling city seemed to be a labyrinth when it wanted to be. Finally, the car stopped.

SPEAKER_02 5:39

Evening. Two dogs with uh minutes coney sauce and uh extra ones.

SPEAKER_00 5:48

Two minutes conies with extra cries going right up.

SPEAKER_02 5:51

I know! Thank you.

SPEAKER_00 5:53

He takes the two sandwiches and holds them in his hands for all before digging in. After a second bite, you could feel the heat of the officer's case.

SPEAKER_02 6:01

Don't worry. I didn't make sure I got one for you. You're right. Can I have two codes?

SPEAKER_00 6:12

That'll be another 14 cents.

SPEAKER_02 6:14

Not a problem. Thank you.

SPEAKER_00 6:18

Boss begins to walk in direction and beast follows after him. Far from amused.

SPEAKER_02 6:24

What? Do you not want these?

SPEAKER_00 6:28

She took his snacks, less than impressed with his tactics.

SPEAKER_01 6:32

You're not playing fair.

SPEAKER_02 6:33

Neither of those weird things that I have a tendency to find in the city.

SPEAKER_01 6:38

Does everything you say have to be cryptic?

SPEAKER_02 6:41

No. Besides, it's not smart to deal with anything spooky on an empty stomach.

SPEAKER_01 6:47

You say that, but when we find their handiwork, it's tempting to lose your lunch. Say that again, and I'll show you why I'm not.

SPEAKER_02 6:58

I'm good. I do happen to fancy my ribs and wrists how they are. Thank you very much.

SPEAKER_00 7:04

The detective smiled to herself. Her time during the war as a nurse had taught her many things, including silencing anyone who tried to make her feel lesser. She ate his offerings and enjoyed the drink. It was her favorite, after all.

SPEAKER_02 7:19

We are here. Where's here? Woodlon.

SPEAKER_00 7:24

Also called Little Ireland, this part of the Bronx is primarily home to Irish immigrants. It's a tight fit, but they make it their home. The street these two found themselves on was one of those new housing districts that had been implemented after soldiers returned from the Second World War. Despite being recently developed, it was more packed than sardines in a can. However, that did not stop the crowd surrounding one building. They were praying openly. Which was an odd display outside of the church that was the center of this corner of the Big Apple. The detective and her charge began to approach. Something was off. No one moved for them. It was almost like they were in a trance.

SPEAKER_02 8:08

Hmm. You smell that too, alright?

SPEAKER_01 8:12

The blood? I'm gonna call this in. No!

SPEAKER_00 8:17

She left before he could finish a sentence.

SPEAKER_02 8:20

Well.

SPEAKER_00 8:25

He drew his cards and began to shuffle. The card he had drawn earlier he kept separate. It was the first for this reading. His cards responded to this prayer as one flew from his hands. This unnatural wind caused the card to go further into the housing complex.

SPEAKER_02 8:49

That's not what I had in mind. Well, let's see what's all the hubbub.

SPEAKER_00 8:55

He grabbed the chain of keys as he put his cards away, rubbing them for good luck. He then entered, not interrupting the praying civilians, despite getting a bit closer than people probably would like. They didn't again seem to notice his entrance. They're almost chanting their prayers to their patron saints, or to the Christian god himself. He followed the smell of blood in that other aroma until he found the source.

SPEAKER_02 9:20

Oh.

SPEAKER_00 9:22

That's not good.

SPEAKER_01 9:25

There you are. I called it in and oh.

SPEAKER_00 9:29

The detective was now spotting what the card reader had was witnessing, and she resisted the temptation to open the curse. What was left of the victim was close to, if not worse, than some of the depravity she had seen in those tents ten years ago.

SPEAKER_01 9:43

Shit! Klaus, what are you doing?

SPEAKER_00 9:46

He approached this visceral scene and plucked the road card that had been his guide to this damned place. He was untouched by the crimson that covered the room like water from a fountain. He turned it around and then chuckled.

SPEAKER_01 9:58

And what can be so funny about all this?

SPEAKER_02 10:00

More ironic than funny, Detective. The first card I drew was one of sorrow and heartbreak. Okay, and when you made your call and I tried to see what else the cards were telling me, and this one flew into this very room.

SPEAKER_01 10:18

Really? The card has a mind of its own.

SPEAKER_02 10:23

Trust me, loss. I wish they didn't.

SPEAKER_01 10:26

Can you get to the point, please?

SPEAKER_02 10:28

And then I drew this card.

SPEAKER_00 10:32

He flipped this card. The first thing Detective had noticed was that it was upside down. Two X's were at the bottom, or at the top in this case. The image didn't make much sense to her, but she knew it was one of the major arcana. Powerful cards within the deck proper.

SPEAKER_01 10:48

You've told me that when a card is flipped over, it's typically a bad thing, right?

SPEAKER_02 10:56

Hey! And if it's one of these guys, it's really bad.

SPEAKER_01 11:02

You know, uh I'm starting to miss normal robberies and murderers.

SPEAKER_00 11:21

Hey, it's Jessica, writer, director, and editor of the Cursed Cards Podcast. I wanted to say thank you to Tabletop Audio for the wonderful variety of music that you heard during this podcast. Tabletop Audio has a delightful selection of not only 10-minute long audios that are perfect for any RPG you may be a part of, but also soundboards so that your players and settings can feel crisp and immersive. It is a free service. However, they do ask that you give them a shout out whenever you use them. Which is what I'm doing right now. They also have a Patreon and gift shop if you do want to support them in that way. A special thank you to Tabletop Audio for being the music to our ears.