What Happened to Harvey?
Below is an excellent compiling and discussion by HiredMistake on the story and fate of Harvey Blackwood, as uncovered through the flavor text. This was lifted directly from a message board post on the forums...
As for me, I'm wondering about the Harvey Blackwood connection. But first, we must know who Harvey is. Initially, it looked like Harvey was Norman's father.
Hired Muscle - AE11 - Agency
"I work for Harvey Blackwood," he grunted. "Harvey's gone, but I'm his son. You want to work for the Blackwood Agency, you can work for me." Blackwood Office - AE24 - Agency
"Where do I sit?" asked Norman. No one said anything, but all eyes went to the desk left empty since Harvey went missing.
Even UT supported this...
Off-Duty Patrolman - UT4 - Agency
When his shift ended at midnight, Finn gulped down half a sandwich and a shot of whiskey, then headed back onto the street. Harvey's kid had a lead on what happened to his old man. He might not know it yet, but he was going to need Finn's help.
Yet Later on, Norman's father was...Norman.
Norman Blackwood, Sr., The Old Man - FR1 - Agency
"Hello, Norman." Norman looked poleaxed. Finally he managed: "Hi, dad. Where you been keeping yourself?"
But all was not fully revealed...
Strike the Shepherd - FR12 - Agency
The warehouse still smoldered. "We did it," said Norman, eyes glittering. But Harvey scowled. "Nah. The big fella got away."
However, Eldritch gave us a very big piece of the puzzle:
The Man, Unknown Quantity - EE3 - Agency
Apparently he was an old pal of Harvey's, and in fact there was an almost familial easiness about him. But Norman felt little affection for him, or trust.
Execration - EE178 - Yog-Sothoth
We curse by these words Norman Harvey Blackwood, his son Norman Blackwood and the spy O'Donnell, known as Ali el Ghazi.
So Harvey = Norman Sr. (and, possibly, Norman Sr.'s father). But we still don't know why he uses both names interchangably (though he may have used Harvey as his general name, and only Norman within his family, which would explain the Hired Muscle text), or how he met his end. However, we do know Harvey was definately in league with Nyarlathotep, and had introduced him to Norman, Jr. Around this time, it is likely both Normans and Kirby were cursed (perhaps by other agents of Big N).
But there are more pieces of the puzzle:
Nightmare's Grasp - EE139 - Hastur
Harvey woke up and walked down the hallway. Then, waking up, he walked down the hallway. Within the next dream, he woke and, walking down the hall, he made his way finally down the seven hundred steps and into the cavern of flame.
So Norman, Sr. has ventured into the Dreamlands, and apparently escaped. This may have been where he got his information regarding the Isle.
But this came at a high price...
Scouring the Earth - MN11 - Agency
"The Old Man's gone for good now, Norman. You have to come to terms." "Fine. But they'll be my terms."
Gray Dragon Island - NM140 - Neutral
The Old Man gave his life discovering the location of the island. Brady wouldn't forget that, and even so, Norman would never let him.
I'm not sure if this might be Jack "Brass" Brady (which may mean they were entering into an alliance even then, as Armitage was looking for him), but regardless most think Norman Sr. is dead. Who may have been a witness is not clear, but it indicates that Norman Jr. isn't certain (and was likely not present when he met his end).
Now, as I stated previously, Blackwood is still pretty much unknown, but it's said that he died gaining information. Possibly he died as a result of dealing with Nyarlathotep (in the guise of The Man). Possibly Norman was under the guise of El Borak, and died in the company of O'Donnel (look at Execration - Norman is mentioned, along with his son).
So we know a few things:
- Norman Harvey Blackwood, Sr. ("Harvey"), was dealing with one of Nyarlathotep's avatars, and in doing so exposed him to his son, Norman Blackwood, Jr. ("Norman").
- Most people know Norman Sr. as Harvey. Even in the agency, he's predominantly referred to by his second name.
- Harvey "died" gaining information for The Agency, but any witnesses (either during or afterwards) are currently unknown. Norman was likely informed after the fact, but may not believe his father to be dead. He may possibly have informaiton to this effect, but we don't know enough right now.
- Harvey visited the Dreamlands at least once, and possibly with Nyarlathotep's help. This may have led to him being targetted by unknown antagonists, who cursed him, Norman, and O'Donnel. Possibly Harvey died in Egypt with Kirby, under the name "El Borak". It is also possible that his ventures into Other Worlds may be responsible for his lengthy disappearance.
- Norman would seem to be the de facto leader of The Agency now. He seems to be in contact with Prof. Armitage, and certain members of the Syndicate (quite possibly Jack Brady, who he may be working closely with).
- Norman was to some degree unaware of the true nature of his father's Agency, and was likely involved in the local police force. As a result of joining The Agency, he met and dealt with Federal agents, who were connected to his father.
- At the beginning of the story (Arkham Ed), Norman was unaware of his father's whereabouts, and many of The Agency members seemd to assume hhe was dead or gone for good.
- All this assumes that the Harvey introduced in FR was the real deal - it is entirely possible that he may have been someone or something else, used to infiltrate or misguide The Agency. Remember Charlie and the thing that wore his face...
Also note that Armitage came across some of Harvey's notes, either from him directly or due to Norman. He also has been receiving funding from The Agency to some degree (possibly referenced on Mysterious Benefactor, but more directly in Tapping the Shadow Fund).
So, putting the pieces together, we can make one of two assertations about Kick it Upstairs:
- The Old Man is dead, and this depicts him in his "Glory Days", perhaps gaining his final information.
- Harvey is in fact still alive, possibly beknowst to Norman, and is again working on his own (and possibly still with Nyarlathotep).
Either way, it should be fun seeing where this goes next.