| Rosemary's Baby Carriage | |
|---|---|
|
Origin |
Unknown, late 1800s |
|
Type |
Baby Carriage/Push Pram |
|
Effects |
Psychological torment |
|
Downsides |
Effects/Mental afflictions |
|
Activation |
Proximity/contact |
|
Collected by |
|
|
Section |
Felix's Office |
|
Date of Collection |
1958 |
| [Source] | |
Origins[]
The precise origins of the artifacts effects are unknown. It appears to be a model from the mid to late 1800s, though it bears no discernable makers marks or labels. It was collected in 1958, where it had been found "stalking" new mothers around a small-town hospital maternity ward. One of the intended victims was the first wife of author Ira Levin.
While no lasting harm came to either Levin or his wife, he did make contact with the artifact. This triggered its primary effect, afflicting him with visions of demons and murders surrounding his wife's upcoming childbirth. His recounts of the nightmares were the impetus for the Warehouse identifying and containing the artifact, where it was later tied to the previous deaths, miscarriages and, in two cases, massacres, of at least eighteen women and children.
It is believed that Ira's experience with the artifact heavily influenced the work of his next novel, Rosemary's Baby. The Warehouse adopted this title for the artifact for ease of categorization.
Effects[]
This artifact displays a variety of effects and behaviors depending on its location and who is nearby. Passively, it displays a very mild self-propulsion ability. This is an inefficient means of movement and serves mostly to push itself into the path of people. It is particularly drawn to pregnant women, or those planning on pregnancy, as well as the husbands or partners of such. It is assumed the goal is to be taken with these people to allow it access to the child when it is born.
Its secondary effects are more dangerous, and are inflicted via physical contact. Those who have touched the carriage will experience vivid nightmares and bouts of sleep paralysis, with the subjects almost always being demonic visions and themes of motherhood or childbirth through a disturbing and frightening lens. This effect is much more potent for expecting women and can inflict major life-threatening stresses on their psyche. Men who are affected have described the visions as horrifying visually, though not panic-inducing even when they felt it should have been.
For men, no further effects have been identified. For women who survive the secondary effects without miscarrying or dying themselves, a third set of effects come into play. The mother will be urged to used the carriage as the main means of cradling the child, using it as bed as well as for transport. Her obsession with the safety of the child will grow to dangerous levels, firmly believing them to be an individual of incredible potential and power. This delusion often results in the mother doting on the child at her own expense, generally experiencing failing health and a lack of self-care. Any perceived actions against the child, including the administering of potentially necessary and vital medical care, will be responded to with extreme hostility and violence.
These effects have been noted only twice to completion and, due to the disastrous influences they have, no further testing is to be attempted. In both cases the mother killed several individuals, including both fathers and several close family members and medical professionals. In both cases the child was unable to be saved and one of mother was institutionalized, where she failed to recover her senses and eventually passed.
It has been observed that a doll placed in the carriage completely pacifies it, nullifying all of its malice. In this state, if any potential threat arrives in proximity the carriage will begin to move itself from the area in an attempt to rescue it's "child". Due to this unexpected positive use it was moved from the Dark Vault where it was previously stored and penned up in Felix Draco's office, where is employed as an early-warning security device.