Eli Tadcombe

Overview

Eli Tadcombe is the late-50s custodian and night watchman of the Orphean Society. Stoop-shouldered and weathered, he performs mundane maintenance work: cleaning, furnace tending, waste disposal, and locking up. He is paid poorly and prefers not to ask questions about what happens in the building when proper members arrive.

However, Tadcombe is not a complete innocent. He was bribed by Rooke to provide unlocked access to the stairwell leading to the sub-basement, a transaction that sealed Rooke’s fate. Since Rooke’s disappearance, Tadcombe has lived in a state of anxious silence, troubled by vague singing sounds from beneath the floorboards and deeply afraid of his employer.

He is a crucial source of information—but requires careful handling, as he is easily frightened and prone to lying when cornered.

Description

Tadcombe is stoop-shouldered and wiry, perpetually smelling of pipe tobacco, bleach, and coal dust. His fingers are stained with nicotine, and his teeth are yellowed. His eyes dart nervously; he rarely makes direct eye contact. He dresses in worn workman’s clothes and moves with the shuffle of someone accustomed to being overlooked.

In public spaces (especially at the Silver Quay tavern), he affects a casual demeanor—but his tension is always visible just beneath the surface.

Personality & Traits

• Surly and evasive; prefers brief, noncommittal answers
• Easily swayed by coin or flattery; his loyalty is purchasable
• Sharp memory for faces and names, despite claims otherwise
• Knows more than he admits; lies reflexively when pressed
• Deeply superstitious and afraid of supernatural consequences
• Not evil, but morally flexible and self-preserving

Combat Stats (CoC 7e)

Skills

Equipment

• Ring of keys (numerous, including sub-basement access)
• Clay pipe and tobacco pouch
• Worn leather work apron
• Small coin purse

Locations & Appearance Schedule

Tadcombe can be found in three primary locations depending on timing:

1. Weekday Mornings (9am–Noon): Orphean Society courtyard, performing minor maintenance, tending furnace, smoking near ash bins
2. Evenings (6pm–10pm): Silver Quay Tavern, Narrow Street, Limehouse (his preferred drinking spot)
3. Late Night/Overnight: Sugar Loaf Court lodgings, a dingy boarding house near the docks

The Silver Quay Tavern – Confronting Tadcombe

DISGUISED

The Silver Quay leans against the river like a punch-drunk sailor. Inside, it stinks of coal smoke and gin. Cards slap the tables, tankards clink, and a woman near the hearth finishes a song you’d rather not hear from the start. Eli Tadcombe sits at the last stool of the bar, pipe smoldering, mug half-drained. He doesn’t look up, but his fingers pause on the mug as you approach. He’s listening.

“You after the boats, or the books?” he mutters. “Only askin’ so I know whether to lie.”

NOT DISGUISED

The Silver Quay leans against the river like a punch-drunk sailor. Inside, it stinks of coal smoke and gin. Cards slap the tables, tankards clink, and a woman near the hearth finishes a song you’d rather not hear from the start. You draw every eye the moment you enter. Well-groomed, perfumed, unmistakably out of place. Conversations stall. A drunk spills his drink and forgets to care. Even the woman singing goes quiet halfway through a verse. Eli Tadcombe notices you too, though he pretends not. He keeps his eyes on his pipe and his mug, lips tight.

“Here to buy the place, are you?” he mutters when you get close. “Or just slumming for the sport of it?”

He doesn’t shift in his seat. He doesn’t smile. He’s not frightened—but he’s wary. You’re trouble, and everyone knows it.

Keeper Notes – Tadcombe’s Disposition

If questioned, Tadcombe may respond with the following:

“Older gent gave me a crown. Said he left some sheet music downstairs. I unlocked the stair and left him to it.”

“Didn’t hear nothin’. Didn’t want to.”

• He does not know Rooke’s name, only remembers a tall, pale, and stiffly dignified gentleman with grey hair neatly combed, a prominent Roman nose, and a slight limp. He wore a dark frock coat and a signet ring with some kind of crest, and carried a leather folio.
• He didn’t wait after unlocking the door.
• Claims the stair shuts itself, and he left immediately.
• Doesn’t know why the investigators are there unless they reveal too much.
• May become uneasy if they press:
  • “If you’re friends of his, you’re late.”
  • “If you’re not… maybe leave well enough alone.”

Bribes or successful Charm/Intimidate/Psychology rolls may yield:

• He heard singing two nights later, under the floorboards, when the building should have been empty.
• “He never came back up. And I never asked.”

Information He Possesses

If successfully interrogated, bribed, or charmed:

• Rooke’s visit: Description of tall, pale gentleman with grey hair, prominent nose, limp, and signet ring who paid him “a crown” to unlock the stairwell
• Rooke’s disappearance: Didn’t see Rooke return; heard singing beneath the floorboards two nights later when building should have been empty
• Access points: Knows all locked doors, hidden passages, and key locations (valuable for infiltration planning)
• Cultist personnel: Can describe guards, staff, and regular visitors by sight
• Atmospheric disturbances: Heard phantom singing, strange vibrations in the stone, unusual sounds at odd hours
• His guilt: Will eventually admit he “knew something was wrong” but was too frightened to interfere

Roleplaying Hooks

If Approached Directly at Society:

• Assumes investigators are trouble; becomes evasive and unhelpful
• May warn Hume or other cultists if he suspects investigators are dangerous

If Approached at Silver Quay Tavern (Disguised):

• More relaxed and talkative, especially after one or two drinks
• Gossips freely about the building and strange occurrences
• Can be bribed with alcohol or coin for specific information

If Confronted with Evidence of His Role in Rooke’s Capture:

• Becomes defensive and frightened; may deny everything
• If pressed hard, may break down and confess
• Could potentially turn informant if guaranteed protection from the Order

Investigation Value

Tadcombe provides:

1. Confirmation of Rooke’s infiltration plan and his last known location
2. Layout and access information for the sub-basement
3. Atmospheric details about the supernatural phenomena within the building
4. Potential witness testimony about cultist behavior and scheduling
5. A vulnerability: His fear can be exploited to turn him informant

Moral Ambiguity

Tadcombe is neither hero nor villain. He is a poor, frightened man who made a small bargain for money and is now terrified of the consequences. Investigators can:

• Threaten him (risky; may alert the Society)
• Bribe him (effective but expensive)
• Appeal to his conscience (slow but potentially reliable)
• Offer him protection (creates obligation; he becomes a loose thread)

Relationship to Campaign

Tadcombe is a minor NPC but serves crucial functions:

1. Plot catalyst: His cooperation enabled Rooke’s infiltration and subsequent capture
2. Information source: His knowledge of the building and personnel is invaluable
3. Moral complexity: His role challenges simplistic “good vs. evil” framings
4. Future liability: If protected by the Order, he may appear again in later chapters as an asset or informant

Appearances

Relationships

• Knows Nathaniel Rooke — Bribed by Rooke to unlock access to the sub-level stairwell; willfully blind to Rooke's capture
• Employs Dr Erasmus Hume — Works for Hume; deeply frightened of the Society's true nature but needs employment
• Employed at Orphean Society Building — Night custodian; responsible for maintenance and locking up