allthekeys | Night 027

GO TO THREAT DOWN

|| NIGHT 027: GENERAL

The temperature drops rapidly as the clock begins to chime, frost fogging over the windows as the air turns heavy and thick. It doesn't take long for it to become almost unbearable to stand, but when the the final hour rings, darkness overtaking the last remaining rays of light, the air slowly creeps back to its previous levels. The cold is almost a welcome relief in the absence of that momentary deep freeze, snow settling into a light powdery fall. Frost does not melt away from the windows.

For a few minutes after the ice cold leaves their skin guests will find themselves still frozen, completely unable to move. As they stand awaiting their fate the Phantasms begin to appear, rising into rooms as spectral monstrosities to approach all those newest to the house. Anyone who does not have one of the house's tattoos will be approached by these phantoms, powerless to do anything but watch as their forearms are taken and marked with the incomprehensible script of this world. Their work is quick and focused, painless aside from the light sting as the ink is drawn out onto outstretched arms, and once complete they disappear again one by one. Task complete, and the last of the Phantasms vanished away into the shadows, the guests will be free to move again. Or at least most of them will.

Everyone who received invitations in the morning will watch, still locked in place, as their vision goes dark. A headache starts just before they lose consciousness. They soon wake in an unfamiliar place.

Anyone who was with them as they blacked out will not, at first, see anything wrong. Those taken will simply stop what they are doing without any warning, turn and walk away. They quickly disappear around a corner and leave no trace.

Everyone who has been possessed or is at a particular risk of becoming possessed also loses their vision and awareness. When they come to their senses they are leaning on counters or desks, anywhere where they might find a mirror, staring into their own eyes.

A young woman's voice can be heard singing for the first few moments of twilight, her voice drifting across each house as she croons a lullaby in a distorted, backwards language.

As the night begins Lyhn's students feel a pair of delicate hands pass over each of their arms for a moment, fingers resting on their pulses and remaining there to count off the fluttering beats of their hearts. Feeling for the strength of their pulse. The sensation disappears spontaneously, and as it fades they begin to regain control of their abilities -- no longer needing the support of one another to keep them in check. It is difficult, still, but the worst of it has passed. Now they must only control them while they face the dangers of the night.

Ienzo and Ami both feel a sensation of something invisible gripping them, a pressure more in their hearts than on their bodies, gently tugging on them as if to ask for them to follow it. Their unseen visitor does not stay long, but they are left with the weight of knowledge that something is wrong. It fades as the night begins in earnest, though they will not forget the sense of some distant danger.

The Hellhounds with James become somewhat agitated as the night falls, lowering themselves to the floor and growling faintly. Once they settle again, they are content to remain with the man they follow; but remain alert to the scents of blood and injury that foretell death.

Each house is having a problem with the rats tonight. The shadowy creatures dart back and forth, under and through people's feet. At first they seem harmless, if an annoying obstacle in travel, until they are seen with any monsters or ghosts. The rodents are even more intent to harass the monstrous and the undead, purposefully leading danger toward the living guests of the house. They themselves are rarely harmed, succeeding only in drawing the attentions of the creatures to those they might hunt.

From time to time in the night, pale figures will be seen roaming through random halls or rooms, never with any pattern. They are always dressed poorly, and moan softly to themselves as they limp along, their voices nothing but misery. The only thing that seems to bring them any cheer is when they notice something alive near them, be it human or beast. They approach these things with open, pleading arms, before seizing them. Their hands clutch at the bodies, clothes, and skin of those they find, tearing at them as they beg for help. For every moment that they hold on, their grips like vices, they will regain their pallor as their victim loses their energy. They will never quite kill those they latch onto, but returning life to them can be crippling. Any who let them take what they need and to regain their strength will have the people drop to their knees, sobbing into whoever they have taken from, until they finally disappear without a trace. It takes hours to regain what has been lost.

From time to time the Wraiths accompany these pitiful souls, or they are led in congregation by the Eyeless Woman.

The safe rooms tonight are the Student Bedroom, the Husk Bedroom and the Seedy Bar.

The rocking chair in the Nursery continues to rock.

The Ballroom has disappeared. Anyone reaching to open the doors to this room will find the door to be strangely cold, more so than most of the house, and that it sends a slight jolt through their fingers; a sensation that disappears as quickly as it comes. Upon entering, they find the transient Planetarium in the place of the normal magnificent floor space, though it is certainly no less of a wonder of a sight. For a brief moment, house-guests will feel as though their breath has been literally taken away from them, a gasp of air sucked from their lungs as they quickly readjust to the strange air in this vast space. Both the Eastern and Southern doors work, although there is not always a logic to whether they lead to the Parlour or the Oak Hallway.

Some of the stars have frosted over, many of the tiny planets sparkling with white and silver as if every bit of their surface has been trapped in an ice age. Each planet still spins slowly through the air among the bright stars, creating a dazzling light show of silver and gold, beautiful in the death of these many worlds.

In its splendour it may be possible to overlook at first what is causing this iridescent display. The Frozen Woman leans against one of the railings, leaving the melt cold and brittle, with her fingers outstretched to the trapped galaxy. Every time a piece of space touches her it freezes over. She is silent as she watches, mouthing words inaudibly. When she notices that someone has joined her, however, she smiles and goes to them, her touch more deadly to skin than to stars.

The Student Bedroom is warmer than the rest of the house tonight, if not by much. The room is safe, but anyone who stays here will find themselves with the uncomfortable notion that there is something wrong with the mirrors.

The Red Bedroom remains oddly cold, unpleasant though not impossible to stay in for the night. It seems a sort of void, strangely empty. Staying there too long fills the visitor with unrest, unease, and finally a willingness to simply lay their lives aside. The longer they stay there, the more frequently something, never seen and only heard, comes pawing and sniffing at the door.

The bed especially feels chilled, the blankets cast aside and untended. A black gauze-like sheet rests over the pillow. Underneath it, the usual rose is gone.

The Art Enthusiast returns tonight, passive after his absence. He is drawn to any who are artistic in nature, no matter the form, seeking them out and offering to point them away from danger. He is especially drawn toward children, tonight, lingering over them as if he wishes to keep watch. He wanders the houses, blocked only by safe rooms, but he returns from time to time to the Gallery. He orients himself toward the stairs there, trying to look up them but daring not step on them. He never stays for long, and will disappear immediately if he notices anyone else in the room.

The sound of construction in the attic has died completely, replaced instead by the faintest air of music. It is impossible to identify.

The blood stain on the floor of the Wallpapered Parlour remains, and it may not be immediately obvious that there is anything wrong with it at all. The blood seeps through the floor, pooling in grains of wood if it were fresh. The languid flow stops when it covers half of the floor, almost impossible to avoid. It is still somehow sticky, in spite of the age and depth of the stain.

The Hellhounds scattered about the house are attracted to this spot tonight, the smell of blood drawing them near periodically. While they will set off from the room at the first scent of injury elsewhere, the stench of the room eventually draws them back. They are more aggressive while in this room, more willing to attack with little excuse or reason. Fortunately for those they hunt, this blood lust leaves them quickly once they are out of the room and their lack of interest turns them back.

Unless, of course, they draw blood before they come to their senses.

The crows remain in the Open Hallway, though they seem far less inclined to attack tonight. They will become agitated if someone invades their space for long, and lash out then, but until then they merely watch and wait.

The Chapel is full tonight. The benches are overflowing with ghosts, more than normally attend that ethereal services held there, many looking completely out of place. The Wax Family, minus the little girl, sit at the furthest point back in the room, crowded into a corner. Everyone's heads are bowed, their eyes closed, their mouths whispering soundlessly.

The real sight, however, is in the dead centre of the rows and columns of pews. A dark void of shadow has consumed the floor here, deadly and cold. The Shadow Man kneels in the centre of this pit, chanting under his breath. Between words, he smiles.

Any who choose to pass too near to him will quickly regret approaching the vacuum he has created. If they manage to overcome the crushing gravity of it, its master will be sure to finish the job.

The air is hot in the Sitting Room, sparking with energy that is, for a moment, a reprieve from the cold of the night. The source, however, is dangerous. The Electric Ghost sits on one of the benches, the fabric charge from the current still seeping through them. Their head is bowed and their shoulders slumped, their chin brought down to rest against their chest. At first it looks as dead as they are, limp and unmoving. Between these breaks of silence, however, their muscles spasm and jerk as they are charged by the energy coursing through them. They only move in these moments, screaming out in agony as the pain rocks them, their head lolling backwards as their mouth froths. In these moments, they jerk forward, ready to seize anyone who has stepped close to them, dragging them with them as they fall back to the grave.

The bird in the Bird Cage Room has gone missing. The cages swing slowly from side to side, as if resettling from some great wind that moved them. On the floor there is a small satin sash, rich in colour and sparkling. In the hands of Markus or Mukuro its very presence seems to disincline the crows from attacking, though it does not give them pause for long.

The horses in the Stables are growing restless.

In the Hot Springs, the pools bubble and steam with heat, the water hissing as it hits the cold air. The snow that has fallen here, too, melts and leaves behind hot bubbles, frothing with the haze of rapidly boiling water. The source of all of this is quickly evident, the Burning Man crouched in the middle of the room, huddled as if he seeks to keep warm in the late autumn air. The heavy mist in the air protects the guests from his sight at first, but the cover does not last long -- and any noise is not masked by the roiling of the water. He is quick to leap to his feet and seize upon them, insisting that he will help them as he forces them down. If caught by him, it quickly becomes a question only of which will kill them faster: the burns or the drowning.

The Velvet Room remains empty of its usual occupant. The blood on the glass is still fresh.

In the Silk Room, Hana has regained her composure. She kneels carefully in front of the shrine, whispering to herself. She is not easily disturbed tonight.

Just as the faintest outline of a person begins to appear on the floor of the Husk Bedroom, prostate on the floor and weeping, the room begins to right itself. It heals itself in reverse, blackened and charred wood consuming it from the inside out, embers glowing in the walls, the curtains lighting up from the sparks and burning away thread by thread. The shape of the person starts to look up as they waver, staring fixedly at the centre of the room, where the almost perfect circle of scorched wood remains, radiating agonizing heat. The form soon coalesces into Lock, kneeling on the floor and staring fixedly at the burnt mark. It has captured his attention completely, and nothing will break his concentration.

At first it may be difficult to tell if the heat is only from the burning of the room or if this place offers safety, but no monster or ghost will be willing to enter this place or to disturb the boy inside.

Giant gouges have been carved into the wall where the door to the Wax Bedroom used to stand. The scores of damaged plaster are sharp and torn; whatever clawed them left them jagged enough to slice into unprotected flesh.

A young man's voice can be heard on the other side of the wall, singing the same lullaby that had been heard at the beginning of the night. He never seems to stop, though from time to time he goes quiet enough that it sounds as if he might.

Wallcrawlers can be found throughout the corridors of the first floor, creeping across the ceilings to find prey to drop upon. Fortunately there is a wide enough space that they are dispersed, not in packs. But the condition of food has struck them tonight, and they are adamant and ravenous hunters.

The Cafeteria remains amply full of food, but it has quickly become inedible in the absence of anyone to tend it. Mold festers on the meats and grains, and the occasional squirming of insects can be seen through the cracks of some food. Very little has been left safe to eat, though even that will be stale. Any guest who focuses past the stench of rot will faintly hear the sound of Latin chanting.

Fortunately all other kitchens have not fallen into decay so quickly. Their attending cooks have disappeared entirely, but the food they had prepared remains spread out on the counters and tables, decadent and inviting, though likely to spoil and become stale quickly.

The Seedy Bar is open tonight with Dave at the counter as normal. He seems somehow distracted, head tilted frequently to the side to listen, and occasionally he catches himself repeating gestures and tasks. He snaps out of it the moment someone speaks to him, however, smiling brightly and offering them the safety of the bar. The walls have almost completely healed, and he pays them no mind.

The ghost boys remain in the Orchard, though they no longer play in the snow. The Boy Twin screams and cries, hands balled into fists as he lays on the ground, and refuses to rise from this position. If anyone tries to touch them, he will begin yelling that you are too loud, and demanding to know where his sister is. Anyone who does not let go of him quickly will find themselves deafened. Touching him for any longer after that can escalate the affects. The unnamed little boy sits next to him, not touching or speaking, but offering comfort by his presence.

The Crawling Boy has moved away from the other two, lurking in the limited shade left of the trees. He is much easier to notice against the frozen landscape, but he will not wait long before he drags himself to whoever lingers near enough, clawing at them and crying about his hunger.

In the Chamber of Purification, Latin prayer comes from inside the walls.

Water leaks out from under the closed door to the Salt Room, spreading across the floor into a shallow puddle in the Hook Hallway and covering a good portion of the floor. The water stings horribly, the salt in the room having dissolved into it making it burn cuts and sores. It is nearly impossible to pass through here in without getting wet, though fortunately the water cannot rise very high, trickling through cracks and down stairs.

Inside the room, the flooding is worse and it is difficult to tell where the leak might be coming from, especially as there are more pressing matters. The Drowned Woman stands in the centre of the room, far calmer than normal, her head tipped upwards and her sagging eyelids closed. There seems almost to be a breeze to stir her dress and hair, though they are too matted to float very far. She relishes the scent and sound of the room, but a guest's movement through the water catches her attention quickly. She looks down to them, her puffy lips splitting open to reveal her disfigured smile. Rotting, bloated hands reach immediately for their throats.

The door to the Smoke House swings slowly open, creaking on its hinges. The sounds of pounding and scraping can still be heard inside, though nothing can be seen. Any who enter and have the door closed behind them will not remember anything from then until the moment they wake up several days later in the Attic of the First House.

The Hoarder's Attic is properly empty again, and the image of the little girl will no longer appear to anyone in the room, no matter where they sit or stand. The Leftovers Cupboard is locked tight.

[ OOC: Comment here if you have any character actions you'd like to note for the sake of plotting with other characters! You can also comment here if you would like to request an NPC that is mentioned on this post or those of any of the individual houses.

There will also be a subthread for ooc questions about the plot, so that we might clarify anything about the mechanics that you'd like! ~~Especially because Rose is not necessarily good at explaining things.~~

There is also an important poll and the activity check currently on the ooc comm! ]

|| 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

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

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

Night 027

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