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>The story of how Gabriel Newell, a retired hand model from Canton, Mississippi, purchased and repurposed a destitute meat packing factory, clearing it single handedly of its carcass stockpile, before reconstructing it as the home base of one of the most innovative video gaming companies is a well known and well documented one.
>Less well known is the truth behind the infamous ‘Keepsake’ rumors, surrounding the actions of the beloved managing director and notorious playboy.
>Having returned to his mountain chalet at an undisclosed location in the Appalachian range, following his disgrace during 2008’s Electronic Entertainment Expo (see ‘Gabegate – No Alyx cosplayer left untouched’ p.83), Gabe told his valet that he needed ‘Time to rest, and reconnect with the Eternal Howling’, requesting the bodies of 9 black crows, and strict instructions he was not to be disturbed.
>3 days later, Gabe was found missing, the chalet’s kitchen/dining room found awash with blood and feathers, a mural of John Romero having been daubed on every wall in a mixture of the above.
>Soon after, the game ‘Severity’ was cancelled, a pale and wan Romero stumbling onto the stage to announce its discontinuation, notably thinner and weaker than once he was, his trademark hair having been shaven off, notable scarring covering his domed head.
>Gabe returned to work the following week, with disinterest toward prying remarks, a notable addition to his patricianal décor being a slender silver locket around his neck, in the shape of his family crest – a boar rampant on a field of lilies.
>An anonymous source claims that when he thinks himself alone, Gabe can be seen caressing the locket, and running his tongue over the contents, several long interwoven strands of dark hair.
