Completed Sins of the fathers, burdens of the sons (A Gabriel Knight LP)

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I chose linking for the soundtrack for the infinite loop feature, if you prefer an embedded youtube video I can do, that, they're on youtube anyway.

Ah, never mind then, that is better.

Day 1 : Eyes that spoke of sin.





Chapter 3 Soundtrack






Welcome back faithful readers !
The time has come to have a chat with our friend mosely.





Yeah, yeah. What is it, ya wanker?


As Gabriel sits down, he glances through mosley's window at a policewoman who comes to use the photocopy machine.



Who's THAT?

Franks. What a babe, huh?

Heh, the station has some nice diversions.



Lousy. I hate crime scenes. People are sick fucks, you know that, Knight?

I'm starting to get that impression. You been feeling okay lately? You look like hell.

Me? Ah, you know, I can't sleep at night what with thinkin' about the case and thinkin' about Annie.

I can relate.

Ok, let's talk about the matters at hand.



What can you tell me about Voodoo?

There's Voodoo that goes on in this city, sure! I looked into it a bit at the beginning of this case. But the Voodoo stuff found at the crime scenes is all faked--it doesn't have anything to do with the real stuff. I know. I asked some experts.

Really ? It looked pretty real to me.

It's intimidation tactics, that's all.

What do you know about the Voodoo Murders?

Lots. Can you be more specific?

Let's be specific:



Do you know anything about the killers?

At least 20 people attend the killings. We know this from the variety of footprints found at the scenes.

Footprints! Aren't those as good as fingerprints?

Can be. But we'd have to have a suspect in custody first, and the suspect would have to match one of the few distinct prints we have. Most of the footprints are smudged, trodden over, unreadable.

So you've got no matches so far ?

Nothing. These guys are so casual in their expertise it's maddening--like they know we'll never find 'em."

How many murders have there been so far?

Seven murders have so far been linked to the Voodoo Murders case. The first murder occurred about eight weeks ago. The M.O. is the same in each murder. Lake Pontchartrain was the seventh.

What kind of evidence have you found?

No fingerprints. Found a few fibers, but not many. The weirdest one was leopard fur.

Leopard fur!?

Leopard fur, huh ?

Describe the crime scenes.



There are traces of wax from candles, red and black. Ordinary wax candles, so say the lab reports. Also blood and feathers of chickens, also goat's blood. And plenty of the victim's own, of course.

What's the coroner say?

The victim's heart is always ripped out of the chest and missing. We haven't located a single one of 'em.

Lovely. Any idea what they do with them?

Don't even want to know. Also, the coroner says some of the victims had heart attacks before the incision--literally 'scared to death.'



Any witnesses?

Nope. There's never been a single witness. No one's even heard a disturbance. It's damned weird--like they just don't want people to see, and so nobody sees nothin'.

Know anything about the victims?

The victims are all out-of-towners. We still don't know why.

Ok, enough with the murders. Why don't we ask Mosely about those strange new words we came across ?



Hell, no. Is that French? My mother spoke it, but I always had a hard enough time just speakin' English.

True enough. Have you ever heard of a Schattenjager?

No, hah! Is that anything like a Chuck Yaeger?

I DON'T think there's any relation.

Not much help there. Let's get back to the murders.



It's goin'. Can't seem to make any progress, though. Sluggish damn case. It's weird.

Do you know anything about the patterns around the bodies?

Yeah, weird, huh? All seven victims had those marks around 'em. We've got all the marks on file, but we haven't figured out what--if anything-- they mean.

Can I see the other six patterns?

Uh...sure. People like that kind of stuff, don't they? Might make the book seem more mysterious.

That's for certain.

Go talk to Officer Franks. Tell her I said you could see the file."

We'll certainly do that, but first maybe we should share with Mosely what we found on the lake shore :






Goddammit, you know it's a clue, this is an adventure game !
Bah, anyway, let's ask him a bit about himself.



For the book?

Sure. Why not?

Okay. Whaddya wanna know?

How do you like working on the police force?

Are you kiddin'? You know I love bein' a cop! And New Orleans--it's the best place in the world to be one.

What are your plans for the future?

Well, you know, I don't like to count my chickens before they're hatched, but... I don't see why I can't be the Chief of Police of New Orleans someday. I already know the Mayor, and my record is one of the best in the department.

I'm sure it's just a matter of moments, Mostly.

Yeah, yeah. You'll see.

Got any hobbies?

Yeah. Makin' your life miserable!

Hah, let's "insult" the wanker !



Hey, I get my job done! I'm a detective, not Betty Crocker!

Trying for a real estate job with that coat?

No. Are you tryin' out for a janitorial job with that hair?

You know, if you started carrying a lollipop around, you might get more respect as a detective.

Go to hell, Knight.


That was nice. Now, she should have a look at those patterns. We exit Mosely's office and check our surroundings :




It's in a locked cage. They must be concerned about the budget.
Then, our gaze falls on officer Franks.




Let's see if Gabe still has it !



Yes ?

So, what's it like being a policewoman?

The glamour never ceases.

You know, that uniform looks great on you.

Uh-huh. Is that a compliment or are you asking to borrow my dress?

It's a compliment!

Well, you just never know around here. Thanks, but I'm married.

Bummer, no luck for Gabe this time. But the least she could do is perform her police duties and get us some coffee :



Are YOU speaking to ME?

Why, yes.

I'm the police photographer, Sir. You might be able to find someone around here dumb enough to get coffee for you, but it won't be me."

Goddammit, this woman doesn't know her place ! Oh well, let's ask for the file.



What file would that be?

The Voodoo Murders file. Detective Mosely said I could see it.

Really? Well, if he said so.

That was easy. She goes to get the file...



Dat ass

There it is. You can look at it all you want, but don't leave this area with it, okay? And no photocopies either, I'm afraid.

Of course. I understand completely.

The folder is marked with a warning, "Not to leave the Police Station."




All right, we've had a look, but we can't make a copy and that sucks.
Let's leave the file and get back to Mosely.




First things first. We ask for coffee.



Coffee? You want coffee?

Should that surprise you?

Nah, you've always been a caffeine addict. It's just that what we got here hardly qualifies.

So, I'm desperate.

It's your stomach. I'll get you some when we're done talkin'.

That long?

All right! I'll go now!



That leaves us a few moments to mess around with Mostly's office, but there doesn't seem to be anything of importance to do now. We should keep this in mind though.

After a while Mosely comes back with a cup full of caffeine :




Now, the only conversation line we haven't pursued so far is about the photographs :



Really? Great! What'd ya think?

Astonishingly life-like.

Yeah, that's what I thought. Got any more ideas for photos for the book?

We just might have some...



You and me? Together?

Why not? Of course, you'll have to try to tone down your masculinity.

Well...okay. I'll call the police photographer.



Franks, huh ?



We need a picture, please. And make it a good one, eh, sweetheart?

Sure, SWEETHEART.



Was there anything else, Knight?

As a matter of fact...





How about one of me and Officer Franks?

I don't know... What do you say, Franks ?

Er... um...

Just kiddin', Franks. Ya wanna get me fired for sexual harassment, Knight?

Well...

Yeah, ha, ha. Now is there anything else, or can I let this lady go back to her desk?

Time to use the old "hair trick".



Good God, Knight! Make it fast!

Great ! Now we have the file to ourselves and officer Frisk half asleep :evil:




So, we can easily make a copy of the patterns:









Let's finish our photo-session.



:Flash:



Smooth, Mostly.

Yeah, sure.

Ok Mostly my man, I'll let you get back to it.




With a warm feeling of satisfaction for a job well done, we can return to the bookstore.



Really? I forgot you were gone.


Oh snap.
At that point, a customer (?) enters.



Bruno. How nice.

Gee. A customer.

Of yours? HARD-ly.

How's the flower business?

Well<sniff>, better than the used book business, I see.

RARE books.

That explains why I so RAREly see anyone in here. Are you going to sell me that wonderful painting of yours today?


Hey, that painting if from Gabriel's father. Are we gonna sell it to that furious faggot ?



Are you ready to drop dead today?

<sniff> Well, REALLY!


And he proceeds to stroll out. Ok, what now ?
I know, let's show Grace the murder photo !



That's disgusting! That's really horrible!

I know. Great, isn't it?

Somebody ought to lock you up.


Grace should definitely broaden her horizons...



But then who'd take care of St. George's?

Or me?

Exactly.


Let's see if she can help with our current investigation...



Doing a family tree, Gabriel?

Very funny. I mean real snakes. You know--scaly, cold-blooded. I would have thought you'd find them empathetic.

Mmmm-hmmm. I know very little about reptiles of any kind and prefer to keep it that way. I think there's a book on snakes around here somewhere, though.

I may do that. You sure you don't know anything more ? I thought Japanese dug that stuff.

My folks are traditional Japanese, but I don't even remember Japan, myself. I was three when we came to the states.

Uh-huh.

I don't know anything more about snakes. I hope you don't think this subject is eroctic. It's not.


But what about hentai tentacle raep ?! Oh well, let's look for that book:



A snake smells by tasting the air with its forked tongue. The smells are passed back to a sense organ in the mouth. Constrictor snakes, however, sense their prey by vibration.

Hmmm. Did you know that medieval legends about dragons and giant worms are actually based on snakes? You know, dragons, devils, sea monsters--they've always been associated with snakes.

Grace, get a life.


It's time we gave Grace some meaningful work to do...

Grace, could you do some research for me ?

Sure, what ?





Could you see what you can find out about a woman named Malia Gedde?

Hmmm. The name Gedde sounds familiar. What's your interest in her?

Oh, just, you know, stuff about the Voodoo Murders. If you can get an address...

Mmmm-hmmm. The murders. Right. I'll see what I can find out.


Grace didn't seem to like that request much.
Whatever. We should wrap it up for the day.



So it is. Good night, Gracie.

Good night, Gabriel. And try not to dream, okay?

Sure thing.








Gabriel won't be able to keep that promise.

Nice. Mosely is quite a funny dude.

WTF? I see some oldfagish quality in this thread....



And the inability to present game's graphics in non-eye-raping way... There can be no mistake here - the Dawg is back!



Much more lively he was during the Golden Age of the Playground:



But it's great to have the old Hound around.



Also: in before abandon...

Bah, the usual whining, graphic-whoring spekkio.

The graphics are the original without any filters. Increased pixelation comes from the fact that I'm using the game's 640x480 mode, where the UI/items/avatars are reworked for higher resolution but the rest of the graphics are just doubled in size.

Great job on this.

Makes me want to go back and play it again. I think you forgot to read the newspaper though. Also, imo the DOS version had superior graphics. The high res objects in the Windows version pop out too much.

I never got a perfect score in this one (though i got closer after some years when i figured out the alternates at the ending)

The Dog is back!!!
Say, last time we saw you, weren't you lost in some kind of dark earth ??

Thanks ! BTW, we're still in day one, I read the newspaper in the first chapter. The CD version can also be played in DOS and it has exactly the same world graphics only scaled unfiltered to x2 (320x240 -> 640x480) The 320x240 mode could look better with upscale filters, but that's debatable.

You've lost some episodes bro! In between I've already abandoned two and finished three LPs.

(notices the derail in the direction of graphics)

Investigating mysteries in French-speaking Louisiana, in areas where voodoo-practicing Haitian servants used to live?

All this sounds awfully familiar, and I mean that in a very very good way.

The game Alone in the Dark.

A portion from H. P. Lovecraft's short story Call of Cthulhu.

And so on.

PS: This game is very serious, very dry, and very slow.

The dream visits Gabriel again.













Whatever's coming, it's getting closer...











Day 2 : A mask I wore as I approached.













Another hard day in St.George's book store is about to begin.



Uhhh !!

So have some. There's a fresh pot on the table.



Hah. Hah.

Did you dream about the fire and the hanged guy and that lion thing last night?

LEOPARD, not lion. Did YOU get anything on Malia Gedde?

Hmmm, Leopard fur was found on the crime scenes...

Well.... I DID get her address, but you're a little out of your league here, big fella.



Did you get an address?

I GOT the address. I suppose this has nothing to do with the fact that Malia Gedde is incredibly gorgeous. I should have known you wouldn't go for a rich, UGLY socialite.

And that address is....

Hey, far be it from me to postpone your total humiliation. It's 557 W. Ingrahm. That's the Garden district. Estate city.

That's all I wanted to know. And yes, my dear, Malia Gedde is the most dangerous-looking diversion I've EVER seen. Ouch."

<sigh> Men.


Ouch, baby !


Ok, along with a glass of coffee a gentleman should have a look at the newspaper:




The article reiterates that the Voodoo aspect of the crimes is faked. Gabriel shivers. It looked real enough to him!
Elsewhere, there's an article about the history of Jackson Square :

Mandatory horoscope scan :



I feel a dark star rising all right! Grrowl!


And now we're ready to move on folks ! Since Jackson's Square has been used in the past for executions, it should the perfect place for a horror writer to gather his thoughts. Why don't we visit the overlook ? :




The scenery is dominated by St. Luis Cathedral.




In front of it lies Jackson Square, which in fact isn't square , but circular. Gabriel has a look through the binoculars :




There's a hot-dog vendor and a boy that's tap-dancing on on side...




And an artist sketching something on the other side.




Let's have a closer look:



Thanks.

It's really precise.

Well, I'm an architectural student, actually. It's good practice.

Those drawing tools are amazing.

Yeah, they're great for laying lines, angles, circles...anything geometric. It's pretty meticulous, but I prefer it to freehand.

Can you draw anything with those tools?

They're great for ordered, complex forms and patterns, but they won't help me do Monet.


Hey, maybe he could help us sort through those strange markings found at the voodoo murders !



Uh, I'm kind of busy, and I don't normally do requests.

Oh. Okay.


Goddamn artists and their non-request policies !
But soon Karma comes back to bite his sorry ass. A gust of wind sweeps his drawing away :




The piece of paper falls behind the bars that surround the statue , where the artist is unable to reach.



Ooooh! Unbelievable! Rotten luck!

What's going on ?

Life sucks! I just lost two days worth of work."


Well maybe we could get the drawing for him and persuade him to work on those patterns.




Unfortunately, Gabriel can't reach it. Maybe we can find someone smaller to do it...



You dance pretty well, for a kid.

Gimme some money den.

I don't have any.

Then don't block the view, Mister.


Insolent brat !
Oh well, maybe a hot dog would change his tune. The vendor seems to be reading a novel :



Could I get a Lucky Dog, please?

Not now. I'm busy.

What the hell ?

Hello? Are you selling Lucky Dogs or not?

<ignores Gabriel entirely>


This guy refuses to get his head out of the book. Reading is teh hard, asshole !
Hmm, maybe we have something that would interest him...



I have this gift certificate...

I'm busy.

It's good for $20.00 at St. George's Books. Finest book store in New Orleans.

Really? I'll have to check it out sometime.

You could take this gift certificate with you... if you'll give me a Lucky Dog.

A Lucky Dog for a $20.00 gift certificate? Sure! Here you go.


Gabriel is a financial genius.
Let's see if we can bribe the little punk.



Thanks, Mister! Ya got any special requests, lemme know.


All right ! Let's see if he can do any classical stuff:

Can you do the Nutcracker Suite in D Minor?

Say WHAT?


Bah, typical tapamoler, mainly suited for manual labor. We have a job for him alright:

Can you fit through the bars around the statue?

CAN I? Just watch me!

There's something in there I can't quite reach. Come on.



<shrug> Sure thing.



Here ya go.

Thanks, kid.

Yup. See ya.


The plan is going smoothly. Time to make the artist our bitch :



My drawing! How'd you get it?

Oh, it was a bit of a squeeze, but I hate to see you lose your work. I lost my only copy of a manuscript once.

Well, you saved my butt. Let me know if I can ever do the same for you, hey?

What what in the butt, baby ! You can sure do the same for us...



What do you need?

Is there any way you can reconstruct the whole pattern from these partials?

Hmmm. The pattern is probably circular... and there's some repetition in the elements... What is this from anyway ?

You'd never believe me.

Okay-dokey. Well, there's...hmmm...I think there's an area missing. If you could get me any more of these...."


Thankfully, we already have the sketch of the last pattern.



I have another one of those patterns.

Really? Let's see.

Yeah, yeah. This is great. I think there's enough overlap now.

So, you can do this ?

I'll give it my best shot. I'll show you what I come up with tomorrow.

Great ! Next stop the Gedde Estate.




Let's see if can get up close and personal with miss Malia...




The man looks intellectual, polished, and impervious. He gazes at Gabriel with a superior eye. Gabriel wonders if he's Malia's secretary, bodyguard, butler, or something more personal.



I'd like to see Malia Gedde, please.

I'm sorry, but unless you have an appointment or official business, I cannot announce you.

I DO have official business.

Really? Please tell me the nature of your business.


And now he's waiting for us to show him proof of our "official" business. Crap. We've got nothing.




And he slams the door in our face. Unfortunately we can't punch him in the face, deja-vu style. We'll have to find another way to get in.




Hmm, maybe in the police station we can find some way to obtain proof of "official business". :twisted:




An electrician is working on the temperature gauge. So Mosely is finally going to have air condition, let's pay him a visit.



Knight. Come on in.


We take a good look at him. Mosely was one of those beefy guys in his youth. Now he's getting lumpy.




As our eyes settle on his badge, a cunning plan is starting to take shape...




We turn the gauge to maximum heat and re-enter his office:



Dang, the air conditioning must be on the blink!

Uh-uh.

Are you hot? Man, I'm hot.


Mosely can't stand it anymore and takes off his coat.






We must get that badge ! We start with insults and coffee :



I'd rather have NO hair than YOUR hair, knight.

How about getting me some coffee?

What am I, your slave?

Hey, I'm working my butt off here!

Yeah, yeah. Fine.




We won't be satisfied until we get our hands on that badge...
When the coast is clear, we make our move.




We barely make it without Mosely catching us on the act...



Nothing. I thought I saw something crawling on it.

Humph. Just drink this.

Thanks. Tons. I mean it.


Time to rub the badge on the butler's snotty face.



Really? How interesting. Wait here. I'll inform Ms. Gedde.


And... we're in. The things Gabriel would do to for love...



Thank you.


Harvard Classics, Homer, Virgil... Maybe Malia WOULDN'T be impressed by a signed copy of one of Gabriel's novels.
While he is admiring the book collection, she enters the room.



What can I do for you detective ?

As they sit down, Gabriel haves a better look at her..




And then he looks one more time at his surroundings...



Those paintings... Beautiful women. They must be relatives.

They are.

His gaze shifts to the statue...

Nice statue. I like it.

Thank you. It's 'The Rebellious Slave' by Michelangelo.

On the table Gabriel glances at another book:



This is quite a place.

Thank you. It's been in the family a long time.

Do you receive all your visitors in this library?

Usually. I feel more comfortable surrounded by things that I love.

So you like books?

My books, my art. Yes.

You know, we have a lot more in common than you might imagine.

I would love to chat about that sometime, Detective, but I'm really pressed at the moment.


We can't beat around the bush much longer.

Mind if I ask you a few questions, Ms. Gedde?

I assume that's what you're here for, Detective.



What can you tell me about Voodoo?

Voodoo? Why would you want to know about that, Detective? It's rather...silly, isn't it?

There's nothing silly about the Voodoo Murders.

But that Voodoo is faked. That's what I've read in the papers.

That's what the papers say all right...

But you're not convinced?

No, frankly, I'm not. The police department isn't known for its... imagination.

Oh? Well, I can see that YOUR imagination is considerable.



The Gedde family came to New Orleans in 1800. We worked very hard to get where we are. On the other hand, we've done a lot for this community.

I can believe that. <You're doing a lot for ME right now>

I'm afraid I don't get out into New Orleans society much. Because of the Gedde money, we have slots in the best country clubs and on the best Mardi Gras courts. But, I must admit, I hate it. I avoid actually making an appearance unless it becomes absolutely necessary.

I know about those courts. They're very exclusive.

Yes, especially when it comes to people of MY race. That's why we don't turn down the appointments. It's a rare opportunity to rub their noses in it. But that's not where I spend my time. I have more important things to do with my life.

That's admirable. Many women would love the chance to get caught up in that kind of life.

I'm not ANY kind of woman you might be familiar with.

Yes. I can see that.


Things are sure getting tense...



No, I don't. What DOES it mean, Detective?

That's confidential information, Ma'am.

Time to get more personal.

Tell me about yourself.

I suppose I don't really have a choice. What do you want to know, Detective?



What kinds of things interest you?

I don't have a lot of free time, but I do appreciate the arts. Opera, symphony, ballet, fine art... If you look around, you'll see that we collect African art, for example.

Yes. It's very beautiful.

It IS, Detective. It means a great deal to me.

Do you have a career?



The management of our business affairs and properties leaves me with time for little else.

Poor little rich girl?

Believe it or not, Detective, wealth DOES have its price.

Tell me about your family.

The Geddes? We're a very private family.

How many people are there in your family?

Well, my mother just passed away...

I AM sorry. What about your father ?

I never knew him.

It's hard to believe that any man would leave a woman like you--or like your mother must have been.



I'm sorry. Go on.

There are, of course, other Geddes in the city. I have a large extended family.

I see. Do you have a husband? Boyfriend?

I'm very independent, Detective. The women in my family have always preferred it that way.

So you've never been married?

No, and I never will be.

What else can you tell me about yourself ?



I prefer to keep my private life PRIVATE. I would appreciate it if you would keep my name away from any public association with the police, Detective.

Of course. I've also heard you do a lot of charity work around the city.

Yes, primarily in the prison and reform system. I'm not a professional Sociologist, but it does interest me.


We better start asking some police-type questions or we'll get in trouble.



I wish I could, but I've never seen or heard anything unusual at the lake, and I do spend quite a bit of time out there.


Well... that's that. Nothing left to do but... Flirt with her ! Take that, Bioware !



smooth

Thank you, Detective. That's an...interesting observation, though probably not relevant to your case.

A good detective never knows WHAT might be relevant, Ms. Gedde.

Then you must be truly exceptional at your job.


It seems that our charade wasn't that exceptional, though...



Who, me? Well, I AM on this case, Ms. Gedde.

I saw you at the lake yesterday. I thought you MUST be with the police since you were there, but you don't act like a police officer.

Wel...

Besides, I'm rather certain that the OTHER man said his name was Mosely.

You caught me. I'm not with the police. My name is Gabriel Knight. I'm a writer working with Detective Mosely on a book.

Well, Mr. Knight, now that we've established WHO you are, perhaps you can tell me the real reason you're here?

Well, I AM researching the book, and I thought you might have seen or heard something at the lake...

I don't like liars, Mr. Knight.

Okay, okay. You're right. I really just wanted to see you again. You can be mad at me if you want, but I swear I've never done anything like this before...

Suuure.





Damn.

Malia, wait, if you just give me a chance...

I've wasted enough time. I'll have Robert show you out. -Robert!










Ah, shit.

HO, tapamoler

HO! ... ? Nice job on the update. Bob Ross

Of course, it's a Sierra adventure game, and by Jane Jensen. Maybe I'll do a Space Quest LP someday to show the far end of the spectrum, with deaths and sarcasm coming left and right.

I thought Shadow of the Comet had the right balance - a little less talking than this game and a little more happening.

The first days are more talky, establishing characters, location, myth, history. After a point things will get more tense.

I don't always listen to the soundtracks.

Also :

wHOre! See, I'm creative!

And I do love your LPs Mr Hund.

i'm feeling extreme deja vu, i'd swear i've already seen a GK Lp here.

Huh ? I think Chefe had started one at some point but dropped it after a couple of posts.

possibly SA.

Ghostdog's adventure LPs are the best. Watching this.

Best GK game by best Codex LPer.

->