allthekeys | [Third House: Floor Two]

Second Story

1. Red Hallway:

Up the stairs from the first floor, this hallway is decorated entirely in warm shades of red, from the lavish and plush carpet to the ornate and gold-trimmed wallpaper. There are lights placed intermittently throughout, shining like spotlights through the hall.

2. Herbal Bedroom:

Unlike many of the rooms in this house this one has a very light air to it. The walls are done in pale yellows and natural woods, lined with cupboards and shelves holding all manner of jars and salves. The room smells pleasant, not overly perfumed like some; instead it carries the scent of flowers and very faintly of sandalwood.

The jars contain an assortment of herbs, ranging from mundane to obscure, and someone has left an open bottle of jasmine flowers next to the bed, blanketing the area with a pleasant, subtle scent.

The bed is covered with practical cotton blankets, soft to the touch but obviously meant to be easy to care for, rather than pretty.

A small sitting area has been arranged around a low table with a practical tea set, perfect for entertaining a guest. There are two chairs both easily large enough to curl up in for a nap.

3. The Costumed Room:

On entry, the room almost looks like an elaborate set piece. On one wall is a large, four-post canopy bed with carved posts, silk sheets, and a few fine-woven blankets thrown over a thick comforter. The top of the canopy itself has an elaborately carved wooden castle-piece, visible from the doorway, its upper towers just short of the ceiling. The floor is polished wood, with a large sheepskin rug laying in front of a stone fireplace; candles adorn the mantle, and it would look not out of place in an older castle were it not for the sliding glass cover set into the stones of the fireplace. A medieval European style tapestry hangs next to the bed, depicting a maiden luring a unicorn into a circular fence, with armed knights looking on from the sides.

Beside the fireplace, a tall wooden wardrobe stands next to a similarly fine-crafted wooden armoire. A greek-style stone bust of some unknown god sits on one side of the armoire's counter, blank eyes watching the doorway with a knowing smile. Within the wardrobe hang a number of period-appropriate costumes of both genders; doublets and leather breeches with cloaks lined in colored silk for men, a few full bodice-topped dresses and fur-edged cloaks for women. Closer examination will find some anachronisms – metal eye-hook clasps at the back of a corset here, elastic around a waist there, velcro tucked out of sight on a skirt.

A doorway opposite the bed, on the wall next to the fireplace, opens on a spacious walk-in closet with a dressing mirror and bench; while the doorway itself is banded wood appropriate to the imagery of the room, the interior of the closet seems to be more plain and modern shelves and hanging-rods, a muted, neutral beige drywall visible behind the costumes and props filling it. The costumes range from more of the middle-ages period costumes, including some corsets meant to leave the breasts uncovered, to decidedly non-period in a wide variety – tight-fitting spandex in bright colors mimicking a comic book clearly meant to leave little to the imagination, nurse's outfits with the chest cut a little too low, schoolgirl uniforms with shortened skirts and western-style leather chaps and vests, all well-made and as elaborate as appropriate. The shelves hold a variety of “props”, ranging from lady's fans to sword-belts with blunt-edged weapons. Tucked on a bottom shelf is a doctor's bag with a stethoscope, a mix of minor tools like reflex hammers and a wartenberg wheel; it's noticeably lacking in disinfectants or bandages, but does have a glass bottle with a label proclaiming the finest laudanum. While empty, the faint scent of spices and alcohol and some damp makes it always seem as though this was a recent development.

4. Bell Bathroom:

This bathroom has been designed to be rather opulent. The tub is huge, more than large enough for a few friends to join you. It is sectioned off from the rest of the bathroom, allowing a bit of privacy. There are bathrobes in the linen closet and large fluffy towels, inviting anyone who enters to linger as long as they might reasonably wish.

A separate shower is completely walled in, with the knobs on the outside to allow you to find the perfect temperature without any uncomfortable dips in the cold water. The exterior of the door has a small latch, perhaps to keep the door from swinging open.

The fixtures are silver, and the counter tops wide and marble; it is a beautiful room, and seems to encourage overindulgence and long soaks in the tub.

A small bell sits on the side of the tub, though it seems to have no purpose.

5. Fairy Tale Bedroom:

At first glance, this room doesn't seem much stranger than any of the others. It's rather plain, a comfortable bed (other than a small bump in the middle) with golden trim and a soft white duvet. There is a bizarrely high window, and it seems only just large enough for a person to fit through if they ever managed to reach such an impossible height. During the day, a few strands of golden hair caught on the scuffed, stone edge of it reflect the light. There is a large double-barrel shotgun in the closet, if someone was anticipating trouble. A pair of glass slippers with dark smudges in the heels and toes occupies the floor of it beside the weapon, along with several pairs of worn dancing shoes. A small, faded red cloak hangs alone. Its edges are tattered and ripped, as it though it has perhaps caught on something while the owner was was out. If you inspect it closely, there seem to be coarse animal hairs clinging to it.

Occasionally a beautiful voice can be heard in the room, a young lady singing, though there is no sign of her otherwise. From time to time, the song turns to tears.

On the dresser stands a glass case, decorated in gold, and protecting a single red rose that slowly wilts. It is attached securely to the wooden surface. The dresser itself has a large, fine mirror -- although if you stare into it too long you might begin to feel you aren't quite as attractive as you thought you once were. A small pad of paper has a note scribbled in pencil:

Mirror, mirror.

Don't be afraid. I'll come back for you, my darling wolf.

If you turn back to leave you might notice long, heavy scratches on the inside of the door -- as if something tried to escape. Disconcertingly enough, the key for the door is currently on the outside.

6. Playboy Bedroom:

Everything about this room suggests a high class lifestyle -- someone with enough status to not need to mask their pleasures, and both the time and money needed to indulge in them. Most of one wall is taken up by a gleaming stone fireplace, ready and waiting to be kindled with little more than a few sparks; a crossed pair of sabers hangs displayed over its mantle. Even with the hearth cold, though, the room remains lit only by gentle firelight, from the perpetually burning wall sconces that ring it. Another wall is dedicated to a number of paintings put on obvious display, mostly of romantic or sensual scenes from Greek and Roman mythology.

However, it's the bed that seems to be the centerpiece of the room, draped with gauzy sheer curtains and easily large enough to comfortably fit three or four people. Wide shelves line the wall beside it, with a small antique nightstand tucked into the corner between them. Their contents are equally on display, and just as artistic. Coils of plaited leather whips, collars and shackles covered with beautiful filigree work and padded with silk, small jeweled jars filled with sweet-smelling oils, long strings of gleaming glass beads... Everything one might want for a night of pleasure seems to be represented here, all within easy reach of the bed, and all the highest quality that money can buy.

A decorative screen stretched out along the remaining wall offers some small semblance of privacy for anyone who wishes to change clothing here -- their silhouette is clearly visible, though few details can be seen, thanks to the screen's mosaic of stained glass. It shields a closet from view, to help retain the atmosphere of the room; it seems just as well stocked for a cozy night in as a glamorous night out on the town, for both women and men. Silky robes and lingerie hang side by side with suits and evening gowns, and even corsets and formal-wear that seem considerably more era-specific.

7. Statuary Bedroom:

This room is full of statues -- small carved figures, varying from wood to stone to modern plastic. There are several that look like famous pieces of art from different worlds, although Greek and Roman styles seem rather popular. The bed frame is even carved from marble, attractive men and women holding the it aloft. At first glance the whole room seems rather innocent, if one ignores the prevalence of naked marble statues. It is only when the candles lighting the room begin to flicker that things go strangely wrong. What were previously stationary statues now seem to be engaged in all manner of debauched behaviour.

Surely it is only a trick of the light, something warping of your mind from exhaustion? Look again, and they're as still as they were when you came in. Stay here long, though, and the feeling that it might not be grows.

The mattress on the bed is large and comfortable, and the room, despite it’s rather mobile occupants, seems like a comfortable place to stay. The large armoire filled with comfortable clothes in a variety of styles, including several heavy aprons, gloves and masks suited for a dirty job. The large closet seems to function almost like a small work shop, with a variety of statues scattered about the table in varying states of repair and restoration. The tools needed for such a delicate process are neatly stored in a drawer under the table, paints and very fine wire brushes, glue and other sundry objects easily located by any who need them.

Those who remain for long without bothering the statues will find that they feel welcome in the room, as though the statues remember and regard them fondly. Anyone who harms the statues will find themselves being followed through the house by one of the creatures, though their purpose for following remains unknown.

8. Candy Store:

This room is much larger on the inside than seems possible from the outside, and seems to be a retro-styled candy shop. Aisles of clear plastic bins take up the majority of the floor space, filled with every sort of candy imaginable, from any culture one could think to name. The walls are lined with refrigerated (and freezing) glass displays full of more perishable delicacies, keeping them attractively displayed and perfectly fresh. A few shopping carts litter the aisles, and scoops and bags are readily found to help yourself -- none of the displays are locked, though they easily could be.

One entire wall is taken up by a glass counter displaying dozens of flavors of ice cream and related frozen treats, with space behind it for an employee to stand and serve people. A large scale sits on the counter to weigh bags of candy, and beside it, a massive vintage cash register sits, large and heavy enough to need at least two people to have any hope of moving it. It too is unlocked, and full of money both foreign and familiar; one drawer is nearly overflowing with bills, and a glint of tarnished silver can be seen beneath them -- to reveal an ornate antique key, should it be emptied.

The shop as a whole is bright and colorful, and more than a little enticing; even the hardest of hearts would have difficulty not feeling at least a little of the gleeful, childish anticipation and excitement of the proverbial kid in a candy store. Visiting here too often tends to bring out a houseguest's inner child -- not just their inherent wonder, curiosity, happiness, and enthusiasm, but also the less desirable traits of childhood as well: pettiness, petulance, impatience, fits of temper, self-centered arrogance and cruelty... The Id is very much in effect here, putting all basic needs and desires at the forefront of the mind.

The sweets also occasionally bring about oddities of their own -- while it's impossible to predict what candy will cause them, or what will happen because of it, houseguests indulging their sweet tooth may find themselves subjected to various effects. While these effects are free to be chosen by players at any time, they should be run through for mod approval to be used.

9. Stalker Room:

This room seems normal at first glance; it's well designed with a small kitchen in the corner, complete with a mini-fridge. In fact it seems more like a studio apartment than a true bedroom, even including a small, cramped bathroom -- the shower just wide enough for the resident to stand perfectly straight, with little room to manoeuvre. Screens have been set up to give the room some spacing. The window is covered with a heavy dark curtain, blocking out any light from entering. The door has locks, an oddity in the house. There are six of them, ranging from tumblers to chains, offering an added layer of protection for anything trying to come.

Within the closet, someone has stocked perhaps all the necessities of survival. There is a trunk containing clothing, shoes, and an overnight bag filled with toiletries and a vast amount of unidentifiable money. There is even enough food to last the better part of a week in there without needing to resupply-- barely any of it pleasant, all unmarked tins of non-perishable, processed food, but surely enough to allow for hiding away. Resting on top of a safe at the back is a fire axe. The safe is solidly locked.

A journal stashed under the bed tells the increasingly frightened tale of a girl being stalked, one who is simply at the end of her rope.

More alarming, perhaps, is the fate of any person who stays the night in this room. Even after they leave, things start happening. Photos appear, of times when they know they were alone. Roses left for them in locked rooms, love notes on their pillow while they sleep. Someone seems to be stalking them.

10. Satin Room:

At first glance, this room appears entirely normal. It's pretty, and it smells clean -- and unlike some of the other rooms the furniture is entirely mundane. There is a bed, a dresser a desk, and a small closet -- as well as a few photos for decoration. The blankets are smooth to the touch, comfortably warm for anyone who wants to nap. Really, the only thing out of the ordinary seems to be a thick leather book on the desk. It seems like a menu of some sort, but opening it reveals pictures of half-naked men and women, artfully taken to leave little to the imagination. A phone next to the book has been installed to allow for orders to be placed, but at some point someone has ripped the wire out of the wall. This does not stop it from occasionally ringing, though there never seems to be anyone on the other end of the line.

If one explores the room more closely it becomes clear that the small photographs neatly spaced out around the walls of the room all contain the same person. In some she doesn't seem to be aware she's being photographed, however as the photo series progresses she begins to notice her photographer. Her hair changes and she ages, but the photos become increasingly more intimate -- and the subject slowly less pleased by the taking of them. In the last photograph she appears to be wearing nothing but a sheet, and her expression is distinctly wary.

Incidentally, a lot of the women shown in the book look quite similar to the photographed lady in an odd way -- although none of them are exactly the same.

11. Scented Bathroom:

Much like the Perfume Bedroom, this bathroom is full of scents with a variety of applicators. Unlike the bedroom, the scent is not nearly so overwhelming. While there are many, it is only the faintest whiff of each that has managed to escape their bottles and containers, marking the room with an exotic swirl of scent that is almost unidentifiable in its palpable but alluring confusion. It ranges from vanilla to cardamom, and some totally alien, yet somehow they do not mix in a way that is anything more than striking and stimulating. The smells are almost pleasant, perfect to put on for a night out. There are bath salts and bubble baths in the closets, allowing the house guests to change the color of their skin completely or simply end up smelling like a bed of roses.

Surely nothing bad could come of this.

12. Birdcage Room:

This room is full of cages, almost like someone’s strange interpretation of an aviary. The cages hang suspended from the ceiling, and are of varying in sizes and height, though each has a switch that can lengthen or shorten the chain they’re on, moving them closer to the floor as the person outside the cage wishes, allowing for easy entry. Many of them seem easily large enough to hold a person comfortably, the perches are padded and the bottoms of the cages are covered in soft silk pillows and satin blankets, very out of place in a bird cage. Incense has been left burning on the chest of drawers near the door, affording the room a spice, nutty scent that effectively covers anything else in the room.

The central most cage is large, and currently sits on the ground, the door hanging open as though inviting someone to step inside. A feathered robe has been left draped upon the pile of pillows, as though the occupant has stepped away for a moment and might return at any time. Thin leather straps are draped over the door, and what looks like a hood for a bird of prey has been left on the floor, though it is surely too large for any bird the house guests have ever seen.

The lever to one of the cages had been broken, leaving it stuck near the ceiling. It seems impossible to bring the cage closer to the ground, though it rocks constantly, as though it’s occupant remains. The soft sound of humming makes itself known over the wind from the open cage. The song is sweet and almost charming, though no one will call back should anyone try to speak to the bird.

A few smaller cage sit against the wall, though they seem too uncomfortable for anyone to stay in for long, as nothing has been done to pad the cold exterior.

One entire wall is bared, and a small bared door leads to an external cage. A sliding glass door can shut the room to the elements.

The exterior cage seems like a giant birdcage, though the giant bird is very fortunately absent. The door opens and closes easily and the wide wooden swing sways back and forth. The bars are open to the outside, though impossible to break, and food and water are readily available, so long as you have a taste for bird seed. The fresh air is almost intoxicating and the sun blindingly bright. Anyone exposed to it for more than a few hours will need to apply sun block or find themselves badly burned. Someone - or something - has created a nest on one of the wide wooden perches. The shredded blankets and stolen pillows are tucked into one of the few sheltered corners, out of the harmful rays of the sun. A few feathers have become tangled in the nest, though if they were from the occupant or from some other creature is impossible to guess.

Cemented into the floor of the cage are iron loops, dotted throughout the cage. One holds a heavy chain that seems to barely be able to reach the nest and the food and water. The cuff is small despite the weight of the chain, better suited for a small animal, or perhaps a human.

A chest of drawers against the wall is full of feathered boas, as well as other feathered items, including a rather fetching feathered robe, nearly identical to one that has been left in the cage. More of the leather hoods are stuffed into a drawer, and a few leather straps that look like they might once have been intended for a hunting bird, but have now been stretched too large, are stuffed into a drawer with silk stockings.

A ring of keys sits on the dresser, with keys to open every one of the cages and the chain. The bowls of food and water are kept constantly full, as though the master of this aviary takes good care of his invisible birds.

13. Hedonist Room:

Stepping into this room is like stepping into a whole new world. The deep-pile carpet is unbelievably soft and thick, the light is soft and welcoming, and the decor beautiful -- as a matter of fact, it never quite seems to stay the same from one visit to the next, as though the very room itself wants to embrace its visitors and suit their tastes, drawing them in with the promise of peace and pleasure. Perhaps the most interesting thing here, aside from its shifting features, is what actually does remain consistent from one visit to the next: the absolute highest quality surroundings money and master craftsmanship can provide, and a bewildering variety thereof.

Silken sheets, satin blankets, down-filled pillows, warm fur wraps, brocade-patterned pillows, buttery smooth hardwoods, finely wrought ornaments, intricately detailed and textured paintings... Everything about this room seems to incline itself to pleasure, luxury, and novelty, offering a wide spread of things to see and touch and feel. An impressive selection of music can nearly always be found somewhere in the room, and there are more than a few shelves dedicated to delicacies from countless cultures; an exotic spread of perfumes, oils, and incenses can be found to sweeten the air, as well. One of the only things that seems to always be there and unchanged, in fact, is a stately portrait of Aristippus of Cyrene, hanging in a place of honor directly across from the doorway.

As mutable as the room is, it almost seems to be a wish come true, and certainly encourages all who occupy it more than briefly to enjoy its charms. The more often one comes to it, or the longer they stay, a guest may find themselves more and more inclined to sensuality -- to seeking out pleasure and creature comforts, to indulgence, to let go of their self-control in body, spirit, and mind. Why should anyone think to deny themselves, after all, when the world offers so much that is so fulfilling? Suspicion and aloofness are pointless and isolating and painful, distance and coldness are self-defeating, and hostility and guardedness do nothing but take away from the beauty and wonder of the world around you, even as it shuts you off from receiving it yourself. Embrace the entirety of life and experience as it comes to you, and open yourself to everything it offers -- there's no need to suffer at all, when true goodness and virtue means to unashamedly seek and spread pleasure in all its forms.

14. The Carved Parlour:

Everything in this room has been created from soft cork, with a gentle and careful precision. Each and every detail has had remarkable attention paid to it, some almost fanciful and hyperbolic, like the maker has found some kind of exotic beauty in the scene. The contents and furniture are perfectly matched to one another, with each item decorated by bold but pretty designs carved into the edges, all smooth lines and eye-catching shapes. From the curved chairs to the surprisingly comfortable couches-- even the tea set is made of the same delicate bark.

The drawer on the end table is either solidly locked or merely for decorative purposes.

One wall is entirely made of glass, giving it the eerie likeness of a display.

15. Silk Room:

This room is quite attractive and tasteful, decorated largely with expensive silks, and any guests familiar with traditional Japanese culture and architecture would recognise the traits here. The walls seem to be largely paper and bamboo, sliding doors and wide windows to allow plenty of natural light and tatami mats covering the floor. Several elegant examples of calligraphy art and ink brushed paintings adorn the walls, as do ornately embroidered silk fans. A beautifully brocaded decorative screen running nearly through the center of the room offers a bit of structure, and anyone who chooses to live here a bit of privacy as well. In the sheltered half of the room, more personal living effects seem to be kept -- a futon with comfortable pillows and bedding, for example, as well as a a small stool, mat, and cushions for meditation or worship, and a low writing desk with a set of calligraphy pens.

Near these is a small Shinto-oriented personal shrine, hung with battered, obviously hand-carved ofuda, and complete with a mirror, magatama, jeweled knife, incense burners, and offering bowl. Within the drawers of the end table the shrine rests on, other necessary implements can be found -- things like small bags of dry rice, neat stacks of joss paper, and a bell. A scattered few waiting blank prayer plaques look rather like someone has cannibalized and cut apart furniture to make them. Another drawer is filled nearly to the brim with more, written on in all manner of languages, both familiar and alien alike. Those that can be read seem likely to all be from former guests of the house -- prayers to return home, to be able to see family again.

The unsheltered part of the bedroom seems to be meant for display, even entertainment. A decorative display case holds quite a few instruments, ready to use -- a shamisen takes the place of honor, joined by a variety of flutes, drums, and other traditional stringed instruments. Against the opposite wall stands a large, beautifully carved armorer. Opening it reveals rows of beautiful silk kimonos and all their attendant accessories -- wigs, combs, makeup, fans, handkerchiefs, everything one could need to entertain, even a set of fine silver easily grand enough for a formal tea ceremony.

However, it's obvious what the showpiece of this room is meant to be. The large glass display case stands perfectly in the center of the room, backed by the dividing screen and right in line with the doorway; a small plaque at its base simply reads "The Emperor's Pleasure". A life-sized doll stands poised on a pedestal within it, dressed in an outfit so formal it seems she must surely be taken straight from an ancient royal court -- layers upon layers of fancy kimonos are displayed on her, with an elaborately tied obi and painstakingly styled wig, held in place by jade combs and small strings of pearls that perfectly complement the rich jewelry she wears. Her hands are demurely folded before her, and her face is painted with exquisitely done make-up -- but her head is lifted, and her eyes incongruously wide. Her gaze is glassy and unfocused, seemingly staring off into some far-distant time or place; if a guest ventures to examine the display more closely, they may notice, though her stare remains unblinking and her pose utterly fixed, the doll is very clearly breathing.

16. Get Away Cabin:

At first glance, this room appears to be set up for a weekend getaway. There is a bottle of champagne in a bucket of ice, a single red rose set over a nice meal. Candles are placed throughout the room, offering romantic lighting. It is the perfect spot for someone who wants nice evening for two. The room even includes a toilet, hidden away in something that almost resembles a closet. It is rustic and bare, but certainly feasible. More of an outhouse than a washroom, the tap sputters but runs clean, and the plastic bowl of the toilet leads to a pit, too dark to see down. While hardly pleasant, it is enough to allow those who have escaped here to not have to travel, needing no breaks from their private venture.

The sheets on the bed are a rich, silky red, soft to the touch. The blanket covering them is equally sensual. It's only when you slide inside that you might begin to feel that something is wrong. The bed seems wet, sticky. The sheets have tears in them, showing red spots on the white of the mattress and allowing foam to poke though.

Occasionally the sound of a man begging can be heard, or the sobs of a woman. Stashed in the back of a drawer in one of the dressers are several photographs, all with the faces removed from them. Many have been torn beyond all recognition. Others have been burnt. Fragments of love letters fill the trash can. A woman's nightgown, covered in blood and wrapped around a knife, has been tossed in the closet. In the table by the bed is a pair of rings, sized for a man and a woman. The longer someone lingers, the more intense their feelings grow. As though some outward expression is starting to build within them, even the smallest behavior seems somehow extreme. Anyone attempting to sleep in this room will find that it seems to worsen, though perhaps more eerie is the fact that their slumber is soon be woken by the sound of heavy breathing, as though someone lurks in the shadows.

17. Vanity Bathroom:

This bathroom is oddly hot when you walk in, as if someone has only just finished using it. Steam hangs in the air, fogging the mirror and adding humidty that makes it slightly uncomfortable to stay in for too long. The room itself is cramped but neat -- the wall beside the deep, wide bath lined with tealights and glass jars of bathsalts, expensive body creams and skin treatments alongside salon-bought shampoos and conditioners. The toilet on the other side of the room has almost been added as an after thought, and a washbasket beside it has a black silk slip half hanging out. It is the grandiose and elaborate counter space that takes up most of the already crowded room, with a basin more appropriate to washing hair than hands. The surface is evenly split; large, soft towels folded on one side and a wide range of professional products neatly lined up on the other. There appears to be a choice of perfumes and colognes, make up in a somewhat red-themed pallete and only the finest tools of the trade -- from eyelash curlers to a men's razor sharp enough to cut a throat. The perfect range to make yourself look sultry and appealing. A small rail has a selection of expensive, matching underwear and hosiery hung up.

The vaguest semblance of letters have been scrawled onto the mirror, a message written in red lipstick, but it has been smeared away in a trail of condensation. The only thing remaining is a messy, red, illegible smudge. If you stand in front of the mirror long enough you might pick up a trace of musky perfume in the air, like someone wearing it has recently walked past.

18. Velvet Room:

For those who have entered this room before, it now seems strangely empty.

Gone are the hints of allure and mystery, gone also is the glass prison that formerly served as a center piece.

What remains is a large, comfortable bed, covered in warmly scented blankets and sheets.
The bed itself is very sturdy, and has several sturdy loops set into the frame, as though something might be suspended from it.

There is nothing else in the room, or at least it seems as if there is nothing else in the room. Anyone approaching the walls will find that they are actually panels; clicking open at the press of the hand to reveal what they have hidden behind them. The recesses are filled with items, from the simple closets to the more complicated furniture. A leather swing hangs in the center of one of the recesses, perfectly positioned to spread a partner on. A hidden groove in the ceiling even allows the toy to be dragged out into the center of the room.

One across the area stands empty, with nothing but a very plain pad lain on the floor. This panel seems to have an outside latch, permitting it to be locked on the occupant. It is easily long enough for a normal sized person to lay down or curl up in.

In the room right next to it is a strange arrangement of metal pieces, all currently collapsed for easy portability. When set properly, it becomes something that very closely resembles a stockade, but the soft leather of the handcuffs seems to argue against that. A chest rest holds the prisoner comfortably on their hands and knees, and cuffs prevent them from shifting at all. A thick, metal collar completes the look.

In the center of one of the closets is a piece of furniture slightly taller than a person; an upright x-shape of sturdy, varnished and polished wood. At the end of each part of the x, above and below, is a short length of light chain that ends in a padded, lined leather cuff; the buckles on the cuffs are built to allow for adding a small padlock.

One of the panels in the back reveals shelves of lube, drawers full of rope, a wide variety of dildos and other neatly stored items with clear sexual intent. The lowest drawers hold clothes, though nothing provides more than a suggestion of covering.

Another provides row after row of neatly organized drawers holding gags, blindfolds, collars, leashes, and softer cuffs. Some effort has been made at keeping the items separated, and the leather goods have all been very carefully stored to keep them from becoming damaged.

The last holds row upon row of books, each detailing some aspect of bondage, submission, and the proper care each party must take.

19. Gentleman's Bedroom:

The room is warm and inviting, with a large four-poster bed covered with an over abundance of heavy blankets and pillows. The room is outfitted with wood floors and trims, though nothing overly opulent. The light wood makes the room seem fresh and open, and the leaded glass on the windows looking outside fill the room with plenty of light.

The closet is full of very masculine clothes, and though many are quite serviceable, they are all very fashionable for a Victorian gentleman. Bookshelves full of old classics and blank notebooks enclose a small reading nook with a writing desk, though the quill pens might prove to be a bit of a challenge for anyone unused to them.

There is a small fireplace, which keeps the room generously warm, and gas lamps keep the room well lit.

The bathroom holds a large, freestanding clawfoot tub and a large basin sink that seems far more than one person might need to use.

The room is cozy, if somewhat small, perfect for a bachelor or a younger son. The Wax Doll that formally occupied this area sits at the desk, often consumed with a half finished sketch. He has changed more than the room has, the horrific burns of his face have started to heal into scars and he has changed his clothes into something that would not look out of place in the closet. He opens and closes his left hand constantly, as though the burns pain him, but seems otherwise unbothered by the injuries. He seems entirely aware of those that enter the room, but does not lift his head from his work.

The Wax Daughter can often be found curled in the bed, mostly hidden beneath the blankets.

There is little trace that the room has ever been anything but what it currently is, though a close look at the inside of the closet might reveal a waxy residue near the floorboards.

20. The Husk Bedroom:

Ash lingers in the air of this room, floating moats of something remaining. Energy seems to fill there air, though there is no seeming source of it. The damage has been undone, and the room has revealed itself.

A heavy tapestry hangs near the door, the symbols unknown to those who perceive them, but richly woven into the fabric. The design gives the illusion of roughness, though the fabric is soft to the touch.

Rather than closets, this room presents the guests with standing armoires, though the array of clothes they hold is puzzling in its scope, clothes for a Victorian lady and her escorts hang side by side clothes for a Japanese noble and his wife.

The room gives off a well lived in air, with books left in the window seat as though the reader had left them just a moment ago.

Different sized boots have been shoved under the bed, though again the range of style will confuse and perplex. The bed is decadently large; with space enough for a group to curl languidly and heavy coverings that can easily be drawn to conceal the occupants. The blankets are soft, and the mattress seems to have the exact right amount of give. It never stays made up for long, the sheets untucking themselves and the blankets folding themselves down as though tugged out of place by a messy ghost. Anyone who tries to make the bed will hear the soft sounds of laughter the moment they turn away, and by the time they turn back the bed is in disarray once more.

There is a writing desk in one of the corners, the wood well-worn and scarred from constant use. Several blank sketchbooks have been left stacked in one corner. Charcoals, watercolors, and colored pencils are all neatly stored, though a cup of murky water still holds a brush. It seems as though the artist has only just left his place.

On the floor next to the desk sit stone, cloths and oil. The smell of the oil lingers, as though it is a task only recently left. A close look will reveal metal dust, and a wearing to the floor as though someone has often perched here. The desk provides an excellent view out of one of the rooms many large windows, and light fills the space to make it seem even larger than it already is.

The softness that lingers here makes the room warm and welcoming. A fire has been laid out in the small fireplace, soft rugs break the uniformity of the wooden floors, and a comforting and homey feeling wraps itself around those who enter like a particularly sated cat.

A leather bound sketchbook is hidden under the bed, filled with a series of familiar and unfamiliar faces. All the figures captured on the paper are smiling, each looking at the viewer with fondness. A little girl laughs as she spins in the rain, the same child plays with dolls with a toddler who shares her look. A boy reads a book by firelight. A matronly woman rocks a small baby in her arms, her eyes only for the child, a younger woman watches with a toddler on her lap. A man shoes a horse, seeming oblivious to the artist as he works. Each sketch is very detailed, their subjects carefully realized on the page.

There are several bookshelves in the room, each filled with books, though most are fairy tales. One lays on the side of the, the last page marked and the words circled with charcoal, a smudge of a fingerprint spoiling the page.

“And they all lived happily ever after.”

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[Third House: Floor Two]

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