Letter From Arthur Darragh

Written by Cormac Darragh

by Dennis Dippary

Purpose

The purpose of Arthur Darragh's letter is to document and confess his knowledge and fears regarding the supernatural forces and family secrets tied to the manor. This document acts as a bridge between the past and present, giving future characters in your story a deeper understanding of the haunting and its origins.
What Prompted its Creation?
Arthur created the letter out of desperation and guilt. Faced with the growing malevolence in the manor and a sense of powerlessness to stop it, he sought to warn his estranged sister Eleanor and potentially seek her help. The disappearance of Maeve, a servant girl, was a breaking point, solidifying his realization that the supernatural forces were not just whispers but active dangers.
What is it Trying to Achieve?
The letter aims to:
1. Warn Eleanor (and ultimately future readers): Arthur hopes to ensure that future generations understand the gravity of the pact and take action to protect themselves.
2. Confess his Guilt: Arthur wrestles with his role in the manor's curse and his failure to stop it. Writing the letter allows him to confront his shame and leave a record of his remorse.
3. Seek Redemption: By documenting the family’s dark legacy, he may believe that acknowledgment is the first step toward undoing the harm

Historical Details

History

The Darragh Pact and Family Curse

The letter references a pact made centuries ago during a famine that threatened the Darragh line. This agreement, forged with a supernatural entity, likely involved offering something sacred in exchange for the preservation of the family’s wealth and status. While it saved the Darraghs from ruin, the pact came with dark consequences—a curse that binds the family to the manor and its malevolent forces. This curse manifests as hauntings, whispers, and inexplicable disappearances, like that of the servant girl Maeve, described in the letter. It has afflicted generations, with Arthur’s discovery of his father’s hidden journals confirming it as a carefully concealed family secret.

Eleanor’s Departure

Eleanor, Arthur’s sister, left the manor, perhaps after experiencing some of the early manifestations of the curse or understanding its true nature. Her departure caused a rift with Arthur, who resented her for abandoning her familial duties. Over time, however, Arthur came to envy her freedom, as he himself became ensnared by the house and its dark forces. The strained yet regretful relationship between the siblings adds emotional depth to the letter.

Maeve’s Disappearance

Maeve’s disappearance, referenced in the letter, was likely a sacrificial act by the house or the curse itself. Arthur, bound by the house's whispers, was too late to intervene. This tragedy underscores the escalating danger and the inability of even the Darraghs to protect themselves or those around them.

Arthur’s Failed Attempts to Break the Curse

Arthur mentions trying rituals, prayers, and burning artifacts treasured by his father. These artifacts could have been tied to the original pact or held symbolic power over the curse. His failure highlights the inexorable grip of the curse and the futility of resisting its power without the right knowledge or allies.

Legacy

Eleanor’s Role in the Family Legacy

If Eleanor heeds Arthur's plea and returns, she may become pivotal in attempting to break the curse or at least prevent its escalation. Her knowledge of the family’s past and her emotional detachment from the manor may give her a unique perspective. Alternatively, if she ignores Arthur’s letter, the curse will likely persist, taking a heavier toll on future generations.

Warnings to Future Generations

Arthur's letter serves as a testament to the curse’s reality and the dangers of ignoring it. Should future descendants uncover this letter, it may provide crucial clues about the manor’s history and the sacrifices required to break the curse. The letter’s ominous tone and vivid descriptions of hauntings may drive future Darraghs to flee the manor or seek external help, breaking the cycle of silence and secrecy.

The Fate of the Manor

The letter symbolizes the manor’s gradual descent into chaos, solidifying its reputation as a haunted, cursed place. Over time, this reputation could spread, isolating the family further and leaving the house to decay under the weight of its supernatural burden.

Arthur’s Failure and Guilt

Arthur’s failure to overcome the house’s malevolence may lead to his eventual madness or death, further perpetuating the cycle of tragedy tied to the Darragh family. His emotional state—reflected in the letter—might haunt Eleanor, influencing her future decisions and compelling her to act either out of guilt or defiance.

Artifacts and Secrets Hidden in the Manor

Arthur’s mention of hidden journals and burned artifacts hints at a wealth of untapped knowledge within the manor. Should someone discover these remnants, they could provide the tools or information necessary to confront and undo the pact. Alternatively, mishandling them might amplify the curse’s power.

The Whispers of the Manor

Arthur alludes to the whispers growing stronger over time. This progression suggests that the curse, if unaddressed, may consume more family members or even spread its influence beyond the house. The letter could be the last cry for help before the house's power fully overtakes its inhabitants.

This letter serves as both a lament of past mistakes and a beacon for future generations—a turning point that offers the Darraghs a chance for redemption, tragedy, or the unraveling of both.

Read the Document

Letter From Arthur Darragh

2 Eadar Mí, 1911
To my dearest Eleanor,
I write these words with a trembling hand and a burdened heart. The weight of our family’s legacy, so interwoven with this manor, has grown intolerable. You were right to leave, though I cursed your name when you did. Now, I envy your freedom, for I am bound to this place—not merely by duty, but by forces I scarcely understand. The rumors you once whispered of shadows moving in locked rooms, of voices that echo in the still of night—they are true. I have seen them myself. More than once, I have awakened to the specter of our great-grandmother, her form translucent, her eyes pools of sorrow. She stands at the window, gazing into the woods as if awaiting someone—or something.
Father forbade us to speak of such matters, but his journals, hidden in the library's false bottom, reveal truths darker than I could have imagined. The pact he spoke of, made centuries ago when famine threatened the Darragh line, chills me to the core. Was it worth it, Eleanor? To preserve our wealth, our status, at such a price?
I fear the curse has not weakened with time but grown stronger. The whispers of the house, once mere nuisances, now feel like commands. And the new servant girl, poor Maeve—her disappearance last month was no accident. I heard her screams, Eleanor. I was too late.
Should you ever find it in your heart to forgive me, return and help me undo this. I have tried rituals, prayers, even burning the artifacts Father treasured so dearly, but nothing can quell the malevolence that grips this house. If I fail, promise me this: protect our descendants. Warn them to flee from this place should the whispers ever call their names.
May God have mercy on my soul.
Your brother,
Arthur Darragh

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Type

Text, Letter

Medium

Paper

Authoring Date

2 Eadar Mí, 1911

Location

Rúndiamhair Shíoraí Manor

Authors

• Arthur Darragh

Signatories (Characters)

• Arthur Darragh