|| NIGHT 024: GENERAL
The clock ticks toward night-time.
No matter where guests are in the house they can hear it, creeping up on them like a predator.
Tick, tick, tick...
Hunting them, making their hackles raise, their instincts tell them to run.
Night-time is coming, and it has no mercy.
Each second counts down louder than the last, each movement of the clock's hand reverberating through the guest's head -- a sound they can feel rather than hear, a sound that's in their head.
It announces the hour with a first strike, and the house shakes.
It shakes, tremors building until finally it lurches hard enough to knock guests from their feet. Lurches as if breaking free of something and furniture slides across the floor, glass smashes, and anyone near a window will realise something:
The house is rising from the water, rising above the water.
A last tremor runs through the house and it creaks, old bones settling as it evens out and furniture slides back the other way. Broken glass litters hallways, pictures in The Art Gallery have fallen, statues have smashed.
The Little Girl appears among them, appraising the damage thoughtfully. Any guests nearby are ignored in favour of task, focused as she is.
She holds out a hand and a book appears in it, something that seems to almost amuse her – as close to amusement as she can get. She glances sideways downwards and Don Marks appears, lain out as if he'd been there all along -- as if he'd fallen with the paintings and statues.
"A shame, isn't it?" He looks up at her, but doesn't move. If she expected an answer, she doesn't show it. "All the work you put in and now it's all a mess. Should I fix it, or shall I let them?" Don's eyes land on the book in her hand suddenly, leather-bound and worn from age. Something in his expression flickers, something uncertain. "It isn't for you," she chides, "it's for them. The rest is broken. They should have something to look at, don't you think?" Flicking through the page she eyes the drawings. "You're good, aren't you? Why don't you draw for me? You should. I want you to." She pauses suddenly, eyeing a particular page. Her expression furrows in distaste and she grabs it, ripping it clean from the book and balling it. "Not like that." She sweeps the remnants of a statue from its pedestal with unnatural strength for such a small girl, sets the book there instead.
The book itself is a sketch book, filled with illustrations -- plenty of which will be familiar to the guests. It refuses to be removed from the pedestal, drags itself back with extraordinary force when taken more than two steps away, and despite the ease with which a page was just removed appears immune to damage. The pages hold annotated images of wallcrawlers, chestmouths, hellhounds, all the beasts that roam the halls by night. The illustrations themselves are strange, seem to almost have a life of their own. Glance away and back again and you could almost swear they have moved, taken a step across the page, shifted position, are looking right at you. Sometimes, their expressions seem to twist -- take on an unnatural fury that almost makes you want to step back.
Beside the Little Girl the Doll Queen appears, dress perfectly tidy despite the chaos around them.
"They're coming," a voice says, and Danielle frowns down at the doll for a moment before scowling.
"I don't care," she says, but she picks up the doll regardless -- eyes Don for a moment. "Stay," she says firmly, as if talking to a dog, before vanishing as if she and the Doll Queen were never there.
Glass litters most hallways in varying amounts, making it difficult to tread without making a sound. The Art Gallery is particularly chaotic, Don Marks sat on the ground in resentful obedience. He appears to be shaking, although he'll offer anyone who walks in a slightly nervous smile. Tonight he appears to have managed to keep his sense of self, enough so that anyone who enters and approaches his sketchbook might get a worried frown from him. Nothing more, though, for words seem to stick in his throat -- almost as if he's been silenced. It seems to lure guests towards it with a siren's call, tempting them to flick through its pages. After all, it couldn't hurt could it? It's just a sketch book, and you might learn something.
Within the Seedy Bar the Barkeeper has returned, and is busy sweeping up the mess once more. He seems slightly tired, probably from the cumulative amount of time he's spent sweeping, but still manages to greet any house-guests he recognises by name. Unfortunately, the mess means he's rather focused.
Into the bar walks Estella Bradford. The barkeeper looks up sharply in surprise as she enters, leaning on his broom and watching her as she takes a seat calmly. To anyone sensitive enough to know it who met her before, she both feels and smells wrong too. Or, at least, different.
"Aren't you going to offer me drink?" She says, and although the warm tones of her southern accent are familiar something about them is still wrong. He gives a short, curt nod and sets his broom aside to serve her.
In her lap is The Doll Queen, cradled like she's nothing more than a favourite toy.
The Doll Bathroom is empty of dolls, although standing in it too long still gives the impression you are being watched.
In the Theatre, Backstage area and the Ballroom the faint sound of music can be found. Strings, with a piano accompaniment.
The Dawn Room has been taken over for a meeting once more, although for now the Doll Queen herself is elsewhere. Chairs and tables have been re-arranged so that a contingent of Dolls, Mannequins and Statues can sit together. One of the mannequins from the sewing room sits with its chin in its hand, deep in thought. A fairy statue rests on the table beside a small arrangement of sandwiches, as if debating which one to choose. A statue from the statuary bedroom stands off to one side, watching the proceedings. The dolls themselves are sat neatly in chairs, waiting expectantly, although one is standing upon the table -- hands poised on a teapot as if about to lift it and pour everyone a drink. A stuffed toy sits off to one side, one paw to its mouth as if in mock-surprise.
From within the Closet Room the soft sound of singing can be heard once more, near but so far. It feels like you might reach it if you just walk a little further, just open one more door, just take another few steps. Walk far enough into the deep maze and you find him, The Tinker Man. He raises an eyebrow in surprise, sets down the jointed doll he was working on and holds a hand to draw you closer.
The Library is in chaos from the commotion, shelves fallen at awkward angles, wood cracked in places and books everywhere. It is difficult to navigate, but likely good to hide in because of that.
The lights inside the Student Bedroom refuse to shut off, and seem unnaturally bright. There is a faint dripping sound, unsteady and irregular, that does not appear to have any discernible source.
The staircase that formerly led to the Upside Down Observatory now ends in a tangle of broken glass and twisted metal. Just beyond the new wall, the sound of the wind makes itself known. The air at the end of it seems a little thin, and those who linger for long might find themselves feeling a bit dizzy."
Within the Gardener's Wing the Radio in the Radio room is making odd sounds. It sparks strangely, blasts noise every so often as if attempting to communicate. Destroyed as it is, though, it's difficult to make sense of it or reach whoever might be trying to reach you.
The Dollmaker's Workshop is locked shut, and no amount of lock-picking or throwing weight against it will open it. The sound of someone working can be heard through it.
In the Glassblower's room the glass hummingbird and butterfly appear, as if reset to their place of origin. They flutter around nervously, the fish splashing within its bucket beneath them. The Abstract Sculpture has also returned here, and come to life once more. It unfurls with more confidence this time, pushes itself up on long tentacle-limbs and surveys the room more calmly. Beside it, quite sedately, sits a Doll.
Down in the Basement of the first house a nurse sits in the Waiting room, calmly taking notes. The door to the rooms beyond is firmly locked, and she politely asks guests if they have an appointment. If they don't, she is happy to make one.
Within the disarray of the Wallpapered Parlor, furniture overturned and things scattered, it is apparent the Children have been active. Scrawls of red writing and drawings covered the walls, their contributions far from pleasant. Stick figures hang from beams, lay with blades sticking out of them and mock sprays of blood. The words We all fall down! have been scrawled in large letters, accompanied by Ring-a-round Rose, nobody likes you!
We are funny!
The Blank Library is in about the same state as the other, shelves emptied and toppled, a terrible mess.
Something has changed, though. If one picks up one of the books, previously blank, they'll find writing -- hurried, or angry perhaps. On every page of every book, the same words over and over.
You won't be laughing soon.
Out in the Rose Garden the Lady in White stands with a rose in her hand. She plucks petals from it in a mockery of what Rose herself had been doing, eyes blank and absent. Despite her apparent lack of focus she notices any house-guests who approach her very quickly, eyes tracking them as they come into range.
In the Chapel a Shadow has appeared. Though at first it could easily be mistaken for Shadow Man, a closer look will reveal that it isn’t. Fixed over the creature’s face is a white, featureless mask. It is the only identifying feature, and the creature is otherwise a complete stranger to the house. Though it is clearly not the shadow that everyone has come to fear, it does not make it any less dangerous. It is fast, quickly moving for anyone who enters the Chapel. Those who wish to travel to and from the Third House would do well to be cautious and take the trip at a run, otherwise the creature will catch them. Like the Shadow Man the creature can kill with a touch, but it can also infect. Any injury dealt by the creature will not stop bleeding for the duration of the night, and will continuously draw the hellhounds no matter how often they try to tend it.
However troublesome this unhealing injury is, it will not prove as dangerous for them as it could. The dogs do not seem interested in hurting them, instead they quickly attack any uninjured houseguests around them. Those infected by the shadows are entirely capable of breaking a safe room, diminishing the protections until the hounds can enter them.
Perhaps it is better to allow the shadow to kill them.
In the Belltower, beneath the bell, stands an unfamiliar man, cloaked in a rough brown robe. His hands are wrapped around the rope, and he will not step away. As the hours tick by, he rings them, and the sound seems to echo hollowly through the house. With it rides a wave of deep despair, dragging those who hear it into deep, unrelenting apathy.
The Bellringer will not be stopped.
From the Gentleman's lounge the sound of a voice singing echoes. The Perfume Lady stands on the stage, eyes absent as she sings. Her voice is rich, and the fog of scent about her alluring. Stand too long, though, and it becomes increasingly hard to breath. Unfortunately, it's also increasingly hard to leave.
Her voice is so calming, and her gaze so enchanting.
In the Hot Springs a group of sirens sit combing out their hair, legs dangling in the pools. They run handfuls of water over their magnificent wings, stretching them out and luxuriating in being outside. Once they spot a guest their wings flutter as if in excitement, golden eyes locking on as they spread their hands invitingly -- exposing their naked bodies invitingly as they start to sing.
In the Red Hallway the Foul Boy patrols, gaze listless and uninterested. His attention is quickly drawn by any house-guests who come into his territory, however, and can be extremely hard to shake -- especially for more effeminate guests. If his attentions are dismissed or denied his ire is quick to rise.
The glass cases in the Velvet and Silk rooms have shattered once more, but their occupants have vanished -- only smudges of blood on the glass indicating they were ever there, and faint smears as if they've moved or been moved.
Within the Wax Room the statue lays across the floor, as if it too had fallen in the moving of the house. A puddle of blood pools beside him, and the wax feels warm.
In the Stalker Room the sound of sobbing can be heard. The Tormented Girl sits curled on the bed, arms hugging her legs. Beside her the Ghost Kitten mews pitifully, unable to soothe her. The journal is open beside her, pen discarded. Under the words "Be strong, don't let him get you," she's added "I can't, he's here. I can hear him!"
The bedrooms in the basement of the fourth house are a mess, food having been thrown across the room and hit the walls and sheets of the bed. The Horrific Hotel Room has locked itself but screaming and pleading can be heard from the other side, every so often someone hammering on the door to be let out.
The Chamber of purification has been overturned, as if someone was looking for something. Someone has removed the hidden alcohol and set it down on the desk, and on a scrap piece of paper beside it has written the word VICE.
The Unnatural Servants set to work, 3 per house, sweeping and attempting to tidy the mess the house lifting has caused. Any house-guests who stop too near them or in their way will find they stop in turn, slowly raising their eyes to stare at them in silence until they move on.
The safe rooms tonight are The student bedroom and the Blank Library.
|| THREAT DOWN
First House
1. Front Door 2. Entry Way 3. Coat Closet 4. Parlor 5. Formal Dining Room 6. Blue Kitchen 7. Doll Bathroom 8. East Hallway 9. Library 10. Study 11. Dawn Room 12. Closed Closet 13. Nursery 14. Dollhouse Room 15. Dollhouse 16. The Crack In The Wall 17. Maid Hallway 18. Clean Bedroom 19. Dirty Bedroom 20. Closet Room 21. Smoke Room 22. Yellow Bedroom 23. Vanity Room 24. Ivory Bathroom 25. Door to Basement 26. Supply Closet
1. Hallway 2. Student Bedroom 3. Student Closet 4. Mirror Bedroom 5. Journey Bedroom 6. Fairy Bedroom 7. Red Bedroom 8. Mask Bedroom 9. Trophy Room 10. Gallery 11. Observatory 12. Sewing Room 13. Glass Bathroom 14. Perfume Bedroom 15. Library 16. Cherry Hallway 17. Thin Bedroom 18. Dark Bedroom 19. Light Bedroom 20. Loft Bedroom 21. Ink Bedroom 22. Mosaic Bedroom 23. Day Room 24. Narrow Hallway 25. Store Room 26. Open Bathroom 27. Blind Bedroom 28. Door To Floating Hallway 29. Corkscrew Stair
1. Basement 2. Dirt Hallway 3. Waiting Room 4. Doctor's Office 5. Supply Closet 6. Recovery Ward 7-11. Examination Rooms 12. Treatment Room 13. Surgery Room 14. Ward 15. Morgue
1. Main Room 2. Green Room 3. Half Bath 4. Small Kitchen 5. Garden Closet 6. Empty Hall 7. Radio Room 8. Carpenters Room 9. Painter’s Room 10. Shared Bath 11. Glass Blowers Room 12. Tapestry Bedroom 13. Dollmaker's Workshop 14. Pottery Room
Second House
1. Stairwell Room 2. Wallpapered Parlor 3. The Open Door 4. Plain Kitchen 5. Pantry 6. Dining Room 7. Hallway 8. Half Sized Bath 9. The Blank Library 10. ??? Room 11. Open Hall 12. Rose Garden 13. Chapel 14. Priest's Room 15. Priest's Bedroom 16. Hallway 17. Locked Door 18. Rough Kitchen 19. Junior Dormitory 20. Bell Tower 21. Courtyard
1. Straight Hall 2. Public Restroom 3. Glass Half Empty 4. Fake Bedroom 5. Model Bedroom 6. Dusk Room 7. Viewing Bedroom 8. Memory Bedroom 9. Photography Bedroom 10. Dark Room 11. Shelter Bedroom
Third House
1. Wind Tunnel Hallway 2. The Front Door 3. Sitting Room 4. Leather Study 5. Gentlemen's Lounge 6. Diamond Dining Room 7. Professional Kitchen 8. Stable 9. Locked Door 10. Orchard 11. Hanging Tree 12. Hot Springs 13. Locked Door
1. Red Hallway 2. Herbal Bedroom 3. Costumed Room 4. Bell Bathroom 5. Locked Door 6. Playboy Bedroom 7. Statuary Bedroom 8. Candy Store 9. Stalker Room 10. Satin Room 11. Scented Bathroom 12. Birdcage Room 13. Hedonist Room 14. Carved Parlor 15. Silk Room 16. Get Away Cabin 17. Vanity Bathroom 18. Velvet Bedroom 19. Wax Bedroom 20. Husk Bedroom
Fourth House
1. Hanging Hall 2. The Slaughterhouse 3. Meat Freezer 4. Cheese Room 5. Salt Room 6. Preserved Storage 7. Fresh Storage 8. Hallway 9. Distillery 10. Humidor 11. Cramped Stairs 12. Hook Hallway 13. Smoke House 14. Drying Shed 15. Hot House 16. Lift
1. Tea Room 2. Cafeteria 3. Entrance Hall 4. Courtyard 5. Bakery 6. Patisserie 7. Overstuffed Kitchen 8. Ladies' Room 9. Mis-sized Dining Room 10. Men's Room 11. Servant's Kitchen 12. Unidentified Restroom 13. Empty Kitchen 14. Opium Den 15. Seedy Bar
1. Checked Hall 2. Wine Room 3. Green Bedroom 4. Soft Bedroom 5. Carnivore Bedroom 6. Herbivore Bedroom 7. Sweet Bedroom 8. Chamber of Purification 9. Nasty Bathroom 10. Horrific Hotel Room 11. Locked Door
--------------------------------
[ OOC: Once again, feel free to decide how badly hurt characters are, or to roll for it. It is entirely up to player preference! Here is a suggested damage scale, should you wish to roll:
1. Scrapes and bruises.
2. Contusions, cuts, and heavy bruising.
3. Broken Bones, moderate blood loss. Enough to inhibit mobility. Will require help or be very slow.
4. Major breaks, major blood loss, internal bleeding, head injures. Will require assistance to move to safety.
5. Massive blood loss, loss of limb, near death. Will not survive without treatment.
A note on the book:
Don's sketchbook can work as a useful source of information on monsters, but it has a dangerous side-effect. Reading the book can cause it to take charges and provide helpful examples of its depictions for you to see first hand. That is to say: you risk it playing summon roulette. Please leave us a comment or message somewhere if your character interacts with the book so we can cause trouble roll for you, or if you have a specific thing you want summoned let us know! ]
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allthekeys) wrote2013-08-10 12:00 am
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