The Curse of Stanyan Manor

Backstory

It’s Christmas time and Nancy Drew has a new assignment. Stanyan Manor has been vacant for the last decade. The matriarch of the manor, centuries ago, was a strange lady, reclusive, quirky, obsessed with cats and mysticism. The home is covered in cat art, and it is said there is a hidden treasure in the home, which, if fallen into the wrong hands, will curse that person to turn into a cat for the rest of their days. The family resided peacefully for a long while, until one year, a horrible and mysterious accident resulting in a death caused the heirs to scatter. The home remains in their name, for now, but has been empty, aside from a stray cat, Major Green Bean, who has taken up a home there.

Hugo Penvyllyn had employed Abby Sideris to manage the property, which she had been doing for the last ten years, opening the home for tours and pushing to have it converted to an event space. But after Hugo’s divorce, and subsequent remarriage to Linda, he wants to return home with his new bride to bring life to the place. Shortly after their arrival, things seem amiss. People think Stanyan Manor is haunted, and report hearing spooky ghost noises wandering the halls.

Worse than that, however, is Linda seems to have fallen ill. What started out as a mysterious and intense craving for fish has morphed into something more sinister. She has started sleeping 18 hours a day. She is affectionate only when she wants food or you don’t pay attention to her, and then suddenly snaps at you. She’s taken to hiding in odd places around the manor. Lately she doesn’t leave the bathtub. Conversation has dwindled to a bare minimum, except for strange catlike noises. And the latest transformation might be the most shocking! her body is covered in...fur?

You

You’re all Nancy Drew. Or you can be Ned if you prefer. His job is just “Nancy’s boyfriend” but he can be a detective too, just this once. Nancy (and Ned) follow Barbie and Ken rules. You have to be Nancy Drew but you can be any Nancy Drew you want.

Rules

  1. If a room door is closed, you can’t enter. If it’s open at any point or you’re told you can explore, please do! There could be clues!
  2. While most of the setting will stay the same, people will be moving about! So just because you didn’t see a clue in a specific area before doesn’t mean that you might not later!
  3. You can phone a friend for hints whenever you want and as many times as you want. Bess and George and Ned’s numbers are available to call.
  4. Ask the stanyan manor suspects—I mean— hosts, questions! They may know things which won’t be automatically revealed around the house. Remember, Nancy isn’t afraid to get confrontational and sassy.
  5. You can open and look through drawers that have a blue sticker on them, but please refrain from opening anything else đź‘» otherwise a scary ghost or a hidden pile of clothes might pop out.
  6. You’re working collaboratively. You’re all Nancy Drew, after all! But don’t be afraid to explore independently. Just make sure to come back and tell the group your discoveries.
  7. Be aware of your fellow Nancy Drews! Make sure everyone has a chance to participate in clue solving, games, accusations, and frivolity!
  8. Any Entities (including ghosts!) can be a suspect. Other than you, Nancy Drew.
  9. You can and should make accusations and confront your suspects at any point during the game. Don’t expect an honest answer about whodunnit until the very end of the event—however, note responses to confrontation... they may be telling.