The Well Below the Valley, Episode 4: Lost Daughters

A bleak, leafless tree against a sepia-toned sky. Text reads: Space Whales Press presents The Well Below the Valley, an audio drama

Table of Contents

Dramatis Personae
(in order of appearance)

Professor Josef DIETRICH, colleague of the murder victim. Male, mid 40s, German accent. 

Detective Chief Inspector ISKANDAR Meshkia, a man who has held many titles in his life but none more important than “Baba.” Male, late 30s, strong Turkish accent.

Dr. ERNEST Wilde, botanist and puzzle enthusiast. Male, early 30s, Northern English accent.

Eloise “ELLIE” Westmont, a private investigator of many skills. Female, mid 20s, posh English accent.

FREYDÍS Emundrsdóttir, the late professor’s next of kin. Female, late 20s, slight Icelandic accent.

The memory of MUSTAFA Effendi, Iskandar’s childhood friend, now deceased. Male, early 30s, could speak with a Turkish or English accent.

The memory of HALIME, a princess in her father’s eyes, now deceased. Female, about five years old, could speak with a Turkish or English accent.

Mrs. JUDITH Rosenfeld, who was very proud the day she installed a telephone in her building. Female, late 40s, slight Yiddish accent.

EMILIA Niyazova, flapper and velocipedist. Female, early 20s, slight Russian (actually Kazakh) accent.

Constable John TAYLOR, just doing his job. Male, early 20s, London accent.

Constable ANTONY St. John, fencing enthusiast and important alibi. Male, early 30s, London (specifically Estuary) accent.

Chief Superintendent Winston PEMBROKE, Sr., a representative of the system. Male, early 60s, English accent with audible mustache.

Scene 1: Int. Oxford Faculty of History – Day

Continue reading “The Well Below the Valley, Episode 4: Lost Daughters”

The Well Below the Valley, Episode 3: Oxford

A bleak, leafless tree against a sepia-toned sky. Text reads: Space Whales Press presents The Well Below the Valley, an audio drama

Table of Contents

Dramatis Personae
(in order of appearance)

KURT Cross, car owner and actor on his current most steady job. Male, early 30s, New York accent.

Eloise “ELLIE” Westmont, the only actual consulting detective in this cast. Female, mid 20s, posh British accent.

Sebastian MILTON, dealer in rare books. Male, mid 50s, London accent.

Detective Chief Inspector ISKANDAR Meshkia, descendant of a long line of Ottoman cavalry officers. Male, late 30s, strong Turkish accent.

Mrs. Mary HOWARD, concerned mother of a missing son. Female, mid 40s, London accent.

Dr. ERNEST Wilde, field medic turned adjunct botanist. Male, early 30s, Northern English accent.

Professor Josef DIETRICH, Oxford professor of history and a friend of the late Professor Ragnarsson. Male, mid 40s, German accent. 

Professor Frederick HALE, Oxford professor of history and lurker in basements. Male, early 50s, posh British accent.

The voice of Professor Emundr RAGNARSSON, speaking from beyond the grave. Male, late 50s, Icelandic accent.

Scene 1: Ext. South Bank market – Day

Continue reading “The Well Below the Valley, Episode 3: Oxford”

The Well Below the Valley, Episode 2: Flora and Fauna

A bleak, leafless tree against a sepia-toned sky. Text reads: Space Whales Press presents The Well Below the Valley, an audio drama

Table of Contents

Dramatis Personae
(in order of appearance)

Dr. Howard COMPTON, remarkably cheerful coroner. Male, mid 50s, London accent.

Inspector ISKANDAR Meshkia, Scotland Yard detective troubled by poor sleep. Male, late 30s, strong Turkish accent.

Dr. ERNEST Wilde, University of London adjunct botanist. Male, early 30s, Northern English accent. 

Richard PRYCE, grower of rare orchids. Male, early 40s, posh British accent. 

Henry CARLTON, Ernest’s army buddy. Male, early 30s, London accent.

Two or three CULTISTS, all male; accents and age can vary.

Eloise “ELLIE” Westmont, intrepid lady detective. Female, mid 20s, posh British accent. 

KURT Cross, her long-suffering assistant and face of the operation. Male, early 30s, New York accent.

Constable John TAYLOR, cog in the machine. Male, early 20s, London accent.

Chief Superintendent Winston PEMBROKE, Sr., Iskandar’s superior and keeper of a certain sort of peace. Male, early 60s, English accent with audible mustache.

William “WILL” Grey, bartender who regrets several of his life choices. Male, late 20s, London accent. 

NIGEL Blackthorne, a man who has read too many tomes of forbidden knowledge. Male, early 30s, posh British accent.

The memory of HALIME, Iskandar’s young daughter, now deceased. Female, seven years old, could speak with an English or Turkish accent.

Mrs. JUDITH Rosenfeld, Iskandar’s landlady. Female, late 40s, slight Yiddish accent.

Scene 1: Int. London hospital – Day

Continue reading “The Well Below the Valley, Episode 2: Flora and Fauna”

The Well Below the Valley, Episode 1: The Books of the Dead

Table of Contents

Dramatis Personae
(in order of appearance)

Professor Emundr RAGNARSSON, Oxford professor of archaeology. Male, late 50s, Icelandic accent.

Professor Josef DIETRICH, Ragnarsson’s colleague. Male, mid 40s, German accent.

Frederick MATTHEWS, anxious hotel owner. Male, late 40s, London accent.

Eloise “ELLIE” Westmont, lady detective. Female, mid 20s, posh English accent.

KURT Cross, American expatriate actor and private detective. Male, early 30s, New York accent.

William “WILL” Grey, bartender and owner of the Cross and Coin. Male, late 20s, London accent. 

NIGEL Blackthorne, gentleman occultist. Male, early 30s, posh British accent.

Eli ROSENFELD and James BIRCH, local students and involuntary debate participants. Both male, early 20s, London accents. 

Constable ANTONY St. John, London beat cop. Male, early 30s, London (specifically Estuary) accent.

Inspector ISKANDAR Meshkia, detective for the Metropolitan Police. Male, late 30s, strong Turkish accent.

EMILIA Niyazova, Iskandar’s personal assistant. Female, early 20s, slight Russian (actually Kazakh) accent. 

Chief Superintendent Winston PEMBROKE, Sr., Superintendent at Scotland Yard. Male, early 60s, English accent with audible mustache.

Constable John TAYLOR, Metropolitan Police officer. Male, early 20s, London accent.

ESTRILDA de Westemond, 13th-century witch and stand-in for a number of women lost to history. Female, early 20s, North English accent.

Howard COMPTON, coroner for the Metropolitan Police. Male, mid 50s, London accent.

Scene 1: Int. Oxford University, Faculty of History – Day

Continue reading “The Well Below the Valley, Episode 1: The Books of the Dead”

New Patreon Post/ The Well Below the Valley, Episode 11

In this episode, the stakeout of Milton’s Rare Books goes immediately awry, and our investigators have their first taste of real magic (and it’s not great for them). You can download the annotated PDF on Patreon, and you can check out a free preview below the cut.

The Well Below the Valley is the script for an audio drama based on my module of the same name for the Call of Cthulhu roleplaying game system. If you’re not worried about spoilers, you can check out the module here.

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New Patreon Post/ The Well Below the Valley, Episode 10

In this episode, Iskandar runs into some trouble for his extracurricular investigations, Kurt and Ellie prepare for a road trip, and Ernest walks into a trap. Thanks for being patient while I worked on getting this episode out! If you’re a subscriber, you can download the annotated PDF on Patreon, and if you’re still making up your mind, you can check out the free preview below the cut. Next month will be the conclusion of the murder mystery portion (Chapter One of the module), and we’ll get going on the cosmic horror. 

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New Patreon Post/ The Well Below the Valley, Episode 9

Things are moving forward with or without our intrepid investigators. Iskandar confronts conspiracy theorist and gentleman occultist Nigel Blackthorne, Ernest delivers his findings to Kurt and Ellie, and an arrest is finally made in the case of the death of Professor Ragnarsson. 

This episode’s annotated PDF is downloadable here for Patreon subscribers, and you can see a free preview below the cut. I think we’re one or two more episodes from the end of Chapter One of the module by the same name, which you can read under the Modules tab above (inside the Menu if you’re on mobile) if you’re not concerned about spoilers.

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New Patreon Post/ The Well Below the Valley, Episode 8

We rejoin our investigators as they find themselves at a dead end. Ernest’s research grows more complicated as his specimens break out of containment, the professor’s daughter searches for answers, and Kurt tries out some noir monologues. 

We are coming to the end of Chapter One of the original module. The annotated PDF is downloadable here for Patreon subscribers, but you can see a free preview below the cut. I hope you enjoy this episode and come back next month for an arrest and a revelation!

Continue reading “New Patreon Post/ The Well Below the Valley, Episode 8”

New Patreon Post/ The Well Below the Valley, Episode 6

The latest episode, “The Souls of the Heathens,” is now available on Patreon! Our intrepid investigators continue searching for clues around Oxford, meet the late professor’s next of kin, and solve their first puzzle. There’s a free preview below the cut.

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New Patreon Post/The Well Below the Valley, Episode 5

Leather seats, a modern suspension, and we’re not being shelled. What more could you ask for?

Kurt Cross, on the Ford Model T

Our intrepid investigators pile into a car and drive to Oxford University in the latest episode, now available on Patreon. What happened on Professor Ragnarsson’s ill-fated field expedition, and what did he find there? Only one way to find out! Sign up for Patreon and help me keep writing and providing for my cats for only $3 a month.