- “Please... the pain has gone on for so long... all I wanted was a friend, but now the time for chit chat and marshmallows by the fire has ended, and I hope that soon, so shall my life. I have knocked on death's door for so long, please, let him invite me in for tea.”
- ―Red[src]
| Tom Redwood | |
|---|---|
| Sex: | Male |
| Occupation: | Miner |
| Status: | Deceased |
| Actor: | Mike Hillard |
Tom Redwood, known to the player as Red, is a character who primarily appears in Penumbra: Overture. Philip never sees Red during this time and is only being contacted by him via radio.
Background
Nothing is known about Red's life, other than he was born in 1956/57 and could have possibly been of English or even Danish nationality[1]. In 1970, he worked as a miner for three weeks before being trapped due to a cave-in, making it unable for him to escape in any way possible. According to the Newsclip 1, Tom "disappeared" on December 15th, 1970 (ten days before the article's release) and his mine foreman immediately declared him as dead. Actually alive, Redwood spends the next 30 years purely isolated with little opportunities to keep himself occupied, such as reading variable books.
Events of Penumbra: Overture
The player first hears from Red after being contacted by him through the radio in the Communications Central Room. He instructs Philip on how to reach him, promising answers should Philip finally make contact. However, Red's intentions seem ambiguous at times. He is known to ramble on in odd tangents, accusing Philip of believing Red has lost his mind, soon after apologizing for his outbursts. At one point, he even tricks Philip into going through a spider-infested tunnel, which he claims was a "well deserved punishment."
SPOILER alert!
After much progression, Philip finally arrives at Red's location, only to find that he has locked himself inside a large incinerator. He states that he has wished to die for a long time, but that suicide was "against the rules" and asks Philip to activate the incinerator, killing him. Having no other choices at this point, Philip then turns on the incinerator, granting Red his final wish. The key allowing Philip to progress is found in the ash tray under the incinerator among Red's remains.
=== Spoiler over.
===
When inspecting Red's living area, a noose is found hanging from the ceiling above a chair, a failed attempt to end his own life. There are several crosses and religious symbols, although this is contrasted by the vaguely lewd imagery of females on the walls. A note in his room states that Red was first trapped when he was fourteen, indicating that he was trapped for many years - it also states that he wished to use this time to read his books, but that he may have to read them twice.
Penumbra: Black Plague
In Penumbra: Black Plague, it is discovered that Red came into contact with the Tuurngait. Like Philip, Red was not completely infected, retaining a large portion of his conscience. However, the infection was still enough to prevent wilful suicide, due to Tuurngait's nature of keeping its host bodies alive.
References
Trivia
- The voice actor of Red, Mike Hillard, voiced the nameless protagonist in the Penumbra tech demo.
- According to the timeline and his note, Red was 45 or 44 during the events of Penumbra: Overture, since he was 14 when he was trapped underground in 1970.
Gallery
