The Ciazarn Bros. Travelling Circus
A travelling circus (sans large animals) that frequents the Atlantic coast, travelling as far south as Virginia and up through Maine. The circus is usually set up in a strip. From the entrance to the far end of the fairgrounds, there are small food tents and games of skill and chance, two tents (the main tent and the freak show), several other attractions like the Hall of Mirrors and the Fun House, a larger food tent, then the rides (a Ferris wheel, a carousel, and other loud flashy attractions). Looking down the circus' main street, behind the right side is Carnytown, where the trailers and tents of the performers and workers reside.
The circus was in Ongunquit, Maine, from Wednesday, August 26, 1936, through Monday, September 7, 1936. It was previously in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The Circus' next stop will be in Biddeford, Maine.
The investigators headed to the circus on September 3, 1936.
Contents
Eerie Things Going On
After The Circus Had Left
In twelve different towns (thirteen, now) that the circus has passed through over the past two years, strange activity has occurred. A few days (up to a week or more) following the departure of the circus, a townsperson has gone mad, either violently or catatonic. In the towns where the catatonia occurs, there have been reports of strange lights in the woods, people vanishing, and vicious animal attacks.
The day that the investigators attended the circus, a double murder occurred in Portsmouth. The murderer was a woman who attended the circus a week before.
While The Circus Is In Town
Over the past three years, in three separate towns (four, now) that the circus has been, there have been reports of wild animals attacking and killing a resident of town. These attacks coincide with the circus being in town. None of these killing have been witnessed. Evidence points the investigators to believe that Alfie, the Fish-Boy, is responsible.
Notable People and Places
On The Strip
Madame Claudia Brazda, fortune teller
Inside the tent with the large red eye, anyone can have their fortune read for a few coins. Claudia Brazda, a woman from an eastern European country, gives readings from a tarot deck. The Inquiry interacted with her in The Ciazarn Bros. Travelling Circus Events. As of the current evening (September 4th), she has read Mariette's and Seamus' fortunes. She did not finish Mariette's reading and was greatly disturbed by the part of the reading that took place. Seamus' reading seemed to be more like she was cold reading him. Strangely, several cards revealed in Mariette's reading came up in Seamus'.
Brazda also read for Tammy Calhoun when the circus was in Portsmouth. She revealed to Seamus that Tammy "did not believe" and laughed and mocked her. Madame Brazda recalls that she did a full reading for Tammy, but cannot recall specifics about the reading; the reading "drained" her. She noticed that Tammy was sad when the woman left her tent. Seamus had heard of something like this in ‘28 or so. Most fortune tellers are full of fakery, but some that are rumored to be in touch with real spirits. Her description seems true to the tales. He thinks it had been a true reading, and she was channeling something.
The gold-plated tin sun on her headdress exactly matches the charm taped to the back of the second document. Her tent is near the small food stalls close to the entrance.
The Main Tent
Feats of physical derring-do are on display here. This tent is on the left side of the strip, across from the freak show tent.
Letty O'Fearna, acrobat
An attractive young woman that Alfie apparently likes. On the first night the investigators were at the circus, she was "goosed" by a townie. She, and her two parents, make up the Flying O'Fearnas.
Vladimir Krotkin, the strongest man on earth
A mountain of a man with a violent temper, mentioned in the second document. Nearly killed a townie with one punch.
The Oriental Contortionists
Possibly brother and sister, both of Asiatic descent, both speak with a Jersey accent.
The Sword Swallower
Reputedly from Thibet. Probably not.
The Freak Show
Sid, the barker outside, entices suckers to spend a dime (no, not a quarter, one thin dime, my friends!) to be entertained for the next fifteen minutes.
Mitch, the roustabout
A former navy man who treats Alfie as younger brother. He doesn't like the sea (something bad happened at sea? ie the Innsmuth event mentioned in The Ciazarn Bros. Travelling Circus Events). Generally good-natured. Friend of Matthieu's.
The Magician
Knows about six tricks, including one where he crushes something valuable from an audience member only to have it miraculously reappear, is the warm up act for the freak show.
Serpenta, the fire-eater
A tall, barely clad woman with a laconic boa constrictor breathes fire for the amusement of many.
The Ethiopian glass-eater
Comes on after Serpenta.
The Fat Lady
Insults the crowd after the glass-eater.
Alfie, the Fish-Boy
Supposedly from "the cursed black lagoon", Alfie is a deformed teenager with a slightly larger brow than normal, oversized eyes, and walks with an obvious limp. During the show, he's covered in oil and fish scales to emphasize his strange appearance. He dons fake fangs (or does he have retractable fangs?) to tear open a fish during his act, spraying the crowd with guts. The investigators believe he is responsible for four killings over the past three years. If true, Alfie would have retractable claws, can run on all fours, and can jump at least 15 feet.
According to Mitch, Alfie stumbled into camp in mid-autumn, 1933, when the circus was packing up from a stay on Alfred Road in Biddeford, Maine. Alfie was kept, locked up in a basement of a farmhouse for years until he made his escape. His captors beat him, whipped him, and kept him in chains "all because he looked different. Those people are the real monsters." Alfie told him he killed three of the family when he made his escape, but nobody at the circus holds that against him after "what those folks did to him".
Alfie has a strange brand on the inside of the right arm, like several circles interlocked. On Saturday the 5th, at least four people -- normal looking, at least -- with similar brands showed up to the circus and kidnapped Alfie; the investigators, along with the help of some of the carnival workers, managed to capture one of the four.
After learning about his story and forming a friendship with Mitch, the Inquiry team had a desire to protect him in The Ciazarn Bros. Travelling Circus Events but with great sorrow he during at The Farm House.
The Ebony Queen from Darkest Africa
Is actually a mannequin and a roustabout in a gorilla suit as part of a Pepper's Ghost Illusion.
Townies
Tammy Calhoun, Portsmouth NH
A school teacher from Portsmouth who attended the circus on August 23, 1936. She went with a group of friends and was dared to go into Madame Brazda's tent. After her fortune was told, she appeared sad and quiet. Her friend Natalie Chambers remarked, "She looked like she just wasn't there, you know? I ran into her a few days later and it looked like her eyes were red and puffy, like she had been crying a lot. She seemed really out of it and asked me not to forget her."
After work on Thursday the 3rd of September, she went home and killed her parents.
Mariette was able to interview Tammy. From her notes:
- Not acting like she is hypnotized. She looks like she has mental break, is fixated on memories of her parents and doing things with them. Focused on physical aspects (e.g. scar on Dad’s arm). With reassurance. Fortune Teller said people will fade away, they went away, did it to “prove her wrong”. Things will fall into nothingness. Must remember it all. It will all be gone. She is remembering her parents. Afraid people won’t remember that. 8 years 2 months and 6 days (Note: this is Friday, November 10, 1944) after she is gone, no-one will remember her. “Prove her wrong.” Card with the tower. All going to fall. Nothing will happen.
Chris Perkins, Ogunquit ME
Acted inappropriately towards Letty O'Fearna and was punched in the face by Vladimir. That evening, he was attacked and killed by "a wolf" at his home near the circus grounds. The "wolf" walked on two legs, waited in a treeline, and charged on four legs towards Chris, leaping from about 15 feet away. Chris' father, Jason, got a shot off at the attacker and scared it off into the woods. The investigators followed the tracks a little ways and noticed that the creature got up on two legs and went in the direction of the circus.
