| William Byke's Top Hat | |
|---|---|
| |
|
Origin |
Lionel Barrymore in "Under the Gaslight" |
|
Type |
Top Hat |
|
Effects |
Wearer will believe that they are William Byke from "Under the Gaslight" |
|
Downsides |
User will also see those around them as characters from the play |
|
Activation |
Close Proximity |
|
Collected by |
Warehouse 13 Agents |
|
Section |
|
|
Aisle |
Podium 26 |
|
Date of Collection |
August 5th, 1915 |
| [Source] | |
Origin[]
Lionel Barrymore starred as the villain in the lost silent film "Under the Gaslight". This film was important as Barrymore's character, William Byke, became the template of vaudeville villains and cartoons like Snidely Whiplash. He is famous for the clichés of the villain wearing a black top hat, having a thin mustache, and tying female protagonists to train tracks.
Usage[]
The hat has a proximity effect. Men around it will want to try it on. When the user does he will be convinced that he is the character William Byke. He will not know the difference between "Under the Gaslight" and reality. He will also see others as characters from the play. He will follow his role in the play and attempt to tie a woman to the railroad tracks.
Collection[]
The hat was collected in the early days of Warehouse 13. The hat was located after a string of attempted murders by William Byke impersonators.
Storage and Handling[]
Stored in the Dark Vault in a one foot neutralizer field.
Neutralizer gloves are mandatory. ONLY FEMALE AGENTS ARE ALLOWED TO HANDLE THE ARTIFACT DIRECTLY DUE TO THE EFFECTS; however, female agents have reported urges to tie people of either gender down to railroad tracks. The effect is not overwhelming, but Warehouse records reveal one agent did act on the urge. It is highly advised to only allow female agents who have gone through artifact effect resistance and passed with a higher than average score to handle this artifact. Store in a neutralizer box when transferring or moving.