Night 033

[allthekeys]

|| THREAT DOWN

|| NIGHT 033: GENERAL As night comes upon the house, the clock begins to chime in the First House, sending the chains into a frenzy as they seek to silence it. The metal screams, the man groans, and the house-guests will find themselves dragged into sleep. They dream of a candle, glowing in a room otherwise completely dark. There is nothing to illuminate it but the flickering light the flame throws. It seems to be caught in a draft, and many times it seems as though it will simply cease to be, but it continues to burn. The smell of hot wax fills their senses. As it drips down the candle something shifts, for the first time awakening them to the awareness that they are not alone. Someone (something?) grabs at them, claws ripping into skin, shredding them in some vital way they cannot explain. The candle flickers, and they wake. They have been moved while they slept, and though the place they have found themselves in is not immediately familiar a bit of exploration will soon reveal that they are in the Third House. During its absence it seems to have changed considerably, some rooms have vanished and other, stranger rooms have taken their place. As each house-guest awakes they will find that a plain, fabric mask of some sort has been left next to them. There is nothing obviously unusual about it, but each will feel the compulsion to put it on. It can be resisted for a time, but as the night goes on they will feel... incomplete, as though something vital is steadily draining away from them. Breathing becomes laboured, their hearts seem to race. Skin will become clammy, but they will not feel warm -- instead a chill settles so deep in their bones that they will be unable to warm themselves. Putting the mask on relieves the symptoms immediately. Those who put on the masks will find that once on, the masks are not exactly what they seem. While at first ruthlessly plain, the moment they are tied in place they begin to change. No two masks are the same. In wild swirls and tangles of fabric, the masks and everything they are wearing will change to reflect their truest self. The person they are beneath the illusions each fastens into place to conceal it rises to the surface and picks a form. The warrior, the poet, the weapon, the scholar, the murderer and the liar are all revealed. The costumes grow in intricacy as the night moves on, reflecting the complexity of each individual who wears them. Their behaviour will reflect the mask, though thankfully they will find themselves in complete control of their powers even if they are not normally. As alarming as the change is, guests will find themselves unable to remove the mask once it is on. The Third House holds many new surprises, and has not shirked its nightly duties. Don Marks sits at the piano in the Sitting Room, playing a waltz. He looks immeasurably sad, his gaze often drifting around the room as though looking for someone, but he never moves from his place at the piano. He will greet those he knows with a sad smile, but he will not speak or move from his place. The couches and chairs have been pushed back against the wall, leaving the seemingly larger space in the center of the room for dancing, should those newly costumed guests wish to indulge. Grey Maids stand silent and looming, trays resting on their hands. A wide variety of Hors d'oeuvre and champagne can be taken from the trays, though asking one of the maids for something will prove mostly futile. They will not respond to any questions, nor seem to register the presence of the guests at all. A man waits for them at the bottom of the stairs. He wears a costume and mask that have been modelled after some sort of bird, brightly colored and ornate, with trailing bits of ribbon and feathers marking every move. There is something odd about his costume, though it may take those who observe him a while to tell just what. Though ornate and clearly designed to catch attention, there is little more to it than that. It is a very simple outfit, for all the flash and flare. The man does not speak, but he moves among the guests as though he belongs there, offering drinks and bowing gracefully over the hands of those who catch his eye. He always seems to be smiling. He does not approach the piano, and after watching his pattern for a little while, the fact that he is avoiding it become obvious. A man lounges gracefully in on one of the couches, a thin gold circlet resting around his brow, though his face is covered by an elegant red mask, seemingly modelled after some sort of dragon. His clothes are mostly white, with deep greens and reds to highlight them. While they appear plain they are clearly of high quality, bound with a sash around his waist the same deep red of his mask. He moves like a dancer, with little of the poise one might expect from someone so grandly dressed. It is only when he speaks that he reveals himself as Calem. In the Gentleman's Club one of the Unnatural Servants is tending bar, its animal face fixed in a smile that unnerves even the most relaxed. It will not speak to those who approach it, but will give them anything they ask for. The Perfume Lady sings on the stage, her eyes closed as she puts her voice to the song, hands clasped at her breasts. Her voice is soft, but compelling, luring those outside the room into the club. She rarely moves, but she seems to know when she is being watched, lips curling into a satisfied smile as the faint pink mist that surrounds her highlights her dark skin. The Sirens dance around her, wings fluttering around their bodies as they move. They laugh and smile at those who pause to watch, and each of those who stop will find it harder to leave the longer they stay. If they remain for more than an hour, one of the women will join them. Voices can be heard from inside the Professional Kitchen though it quiets the moment anyone steps through the door. Four of the Grey Maids occupy the space, finishing the preparation on a variety of dishes, or pouring more champagne into glasses. Their faces are obscured, and they will not speak to any who enter the kitchen. The moment they leave, the soft chatter picks up again, too low to be distinct through the doors. The stalls in the Stables are occupied, though the smallest remains empty. The horses are restless, shifting uneasily in their stalls. They will not let any of the unmasked come near to them, and those who press the issue can expect to be bitten. They are less nervous about the masked, and will allow them to approach, but they will not allow themselves to be saddled and ridden. Their unease seems compounded by the presence of a child sitting in the corner of one of the stalls. He wears a fox mask, though the mask has been pushed back from his face to rest on top of his head. His arms are wrapped tightly around his knees and his face is otherwise hidden from view. There is blood on his shirt, a deep stain that seems to imply a hidden injury. Something lurks in the waters of the Hot Springs, causing the water to boil. The figure remains indistinct beneath the water, but the consequences of stepping into the liquid are clear. Death will come very quickly to those who dare the waters. The path leading to the Orchard is lined with flowers. The smell is exquisite, though lingering on the path for too long will summon the Wraiths. The creatures seem somewhat indistinct tonight, and will ignore completely those who already wear their masks. Those who do not have their masks will soon be overcome, waking in the Sitting Room with their mask beside them once more. The apple trees in the Orchard are blooming, and the almost intoxicating scent will quickly captivate those who wander here. It hangs almost visibly in the air, and encourages them to go no further. Crows play in the trees, at times making a sound not unlike children laughing. They remain well out of reach, but seem to cackle and watch those who walk beneath the trees. Fog hangs heavy at the far end of the area, almost blocking the path to the Hanging Tree. It seems that something means for them not to go this way. Those who press through will be convinced that someone walked the path with them. Though they never see her, they will be sure that it is a girl. A young girl, humming a soft, silly sounding song and reaching out to capture wisps of mist, weaving it like thread between her hands. She does not speak, but they have the sense that they should turn back, almost as though she has whispered the advice in their ears. She leaves them as they exit the path to the Hanging Tree, vanishing into the fog once more. Those who do not heed her warning are greeted by the imposing shape of the Priest. The area if full of bodies, though most are currently living. Those few who have already left the world skip gaily on the air, bodies left to catch the wind. Those gathered have a strange, gray cast to their skin, lending to an air of unreality that hangs over the area. The Priest leads them to the tree, and without help they will find it utterly impractical to try to escape, even as a hood is dropped over the heads and a noose is tightened around their neck. The almost gentle shove will be the last thing they feel before they wake in the Sitting Room. The Husk Bedroom has changed more than most. Sitting rather innocently in the middle of the blankets is a brightly colored flower, the petals wet with dew, though no moisture has soaked into the bedspread. Those who linger long will hear the soft sound of footsteps behind them, and a gentle male voice asking if everything is all right. Turning around will reveal nothing at all, but at times those in the room can feel the presence of someone else so strongly that they can almost feel breath on the back of their neck. In the Silk Bedroom, Hana and Victoria sit on the bed, the older woman running a brush through the younger girl's hair. Both seem very happy to be in each other's presence, though the intricacy of the masks and costumes they have donned make their expression difficult to see. The older woman wears mostly white and pastels, flowers embroidered into her costume and her face covered by a veil that shows little but her smile. The little girl's dress, soft to the touch, is done up in gentle earth tones, light browns dotted with white spotting. Her mask is not particularly definable, but it is animal in nature, if gentle. They are quite willing to talk with their friends, and both seem rather relaxed with where they have found themselves. In the Herbal Bedroom the smell of crushed plants and newly turned soil overwhelms musty smell of dried herbs. The Lady In White sits at one of the work tables, her fingers working quickly on bundles of newly sprouted herbs. She seems entirely focused on her task. A small wooden bowl spins on the table in front of her, and from time to time she adds something to the mixture. Nothing seems to cause the bowl to spin, but the bowl never halts in its strange revolutions. The press of her power hanging heavily in the air might give the illusion of safety, but it seems to verge on overwhelming those who enter. Those who pause to focus for a moment will notice a soft hum as she moves. A heavy dark robe thrown almost carelessly around her body implies that she is as taken as any in the night; the mask she wears is barely a suggestion of shadow on her face, brightening her eyes and smudging her skin. There is an uncomfortable sensuality about her, a smoothness in the way she moves that is almost feline. She at once draws them in and repulses them, and few will find her presence a comforting one tonight. The effect that the room often causes is well in play; those who enter the room will find themselves uncomfortably aware of the weight of the clothes upon their body, and the touch of their own skin. The masks they wear seem to be the only thing that is entirely comfortable. A heat seems to coil through their bodies, drawing them nearer as their minds warn them they should retreat. The robe is all that she wears. The Lonely Ghost Boy stands in the middle of the Bird Cage Room, a cloak of black feathers draped around his shoulders and a very bird like mask covering his face. The largest crow sits on his shoulder, her feathers fluffed as she stars into the cage. The boy stands near to the cage, but does not enter, speaking softly and at times humming to the occupant, hands outstretched. Something lies prone on the floor of the enclosure, though it is difficult to tell what it is. It seems at once a graceful, white bird, and a twisted, tortured human being wrapped in a white feathered cloak. Neither form remains static for long. The human shape is thin, gender hidden by the drape of the robe, and eyes wide with panic. The creature's flesh is pale, its hair the color of milk, and its eyes so wide and black they seem too large for its face. One arm remains curled close to its body, bent at an odd angle, its eyes remain fixed and frightened across the room. As a bird, one wing hangs at an odd angle, clearly broken, rendering the poor creature unable to fly. Something lingers in the corner of the room, though the boy appears to ignore it and the creature in the cage seems terrified witless of it. It is difficult to tell the creature is a beast or a man; it stands in shadow and hunches its body inward, creating an illusion of size that it is difficult to confirm. A bull mask hides its features from view, and a carved wooden bat hangs at its side, though the only other thing it wears is a rather simple loincloth. Its body is covered with scars and the beast itself is heavily muscled. It will attack those who enter the room, bellowing like the bull whose mask it wears, beating them down if they hesitate for long. Though it seems unconcerned with the fate of the male victims, it will make an attempt not to kill female characters. Those who do not make it to the boy will find their bodies cast into the cages and locked inside. Though the door that leads to the other houses is not locked, those in the third house will find themselves disinclined to leave. It is little more than a compulsion and something they can easily overcome, but if they fall asleep in one of the other houses, they will wake again in the Sitting Room will no memory of going there. The door leading into the First House is sealed shut by the chains. They are locked heavily over the frame and over the whole wall, creeping up from cracks in the ceiling and floor. The chains are sealed tightly enough that they refuse to budge, allowing for no space to get past them. The entire house is inaccessible tonight. There is a feeling of unrest that settles around the shoulders of the houseguests the moment they enter The Second House. The entire time they remain in this building, they feel a growing sense that this is not good enough. That they should not be there, that they deserve better. Returning to the Third House seems ideal. In the Plain Kitchen, the mother from the Wax Family stands at the stove. She stares down at the surface, where a burner glows red. Her hand is planted firmly on the coils, and the air is filled with the scent of burning plastic and melting wax. Smoke coils away from the surface. She seems to indicate no pain-- but she does not seem to indicate much, even if her shoulders continue to rise and fall as if in laboured breath. The Wax Daughter sits nearby, resting on the door frame that leads into the dining room. She hugs her knees to her chest and watches her mother without comment or reaction. The angry shape of a man sits at the bottom of the Catacomb stairs. The Wax Father remains at the base of them, growling and snarling at any who come close, though he seems incapable of attacking them as he might like. Those who enter the Public Restroom in the second house with another person will find that the door locks solidly behind them. They will find themselves unable to leave until they are completely honest with each other, any secrets they hold that might impact the other will need to be aired. The mirrors at the far end of the bathroom ripple strangely, the figures in them frowning at them, as though disappointed with their resistance. Something moves within one of the stalls, banging on the metal doors, though looking beneath will reveal that each stall is as empty as the last. Entering the Fourth House leaves the guests feeling like there is something missing from them. It is not a metaphorical loss, but a literal gaping emptiness as if they are not quite full as they should be. The urge to cure this becomes strong, but little seems to satisfy this strange craving. It fades quickly once the guest leaves this building. The Seedy Bar is empty of the normal safe feeling, eddies of dust swirling across the floor. The bar seems empty, the lights dim, and the jukebox silent save for the occasional moan that even the most charitable could not call music. Shadows drip from the mirror, coalescing into Rats that scurry around the area, noses twitching as they investigate their surroundings. The Shadow Man sits slumped at the bar, one arm pulled around his head, as though to hide a face that is already unseen. The smell of blood hangs heavy in the air, sharp and inescapably present. A chessboard has been laid out in front of him, the pieces arranged to start the game. Of the Bar Keeper there is no sign. The Eyeless Woman sits rather primly on the railing of the Gazebo, her face turned toward the waters of the lake. Blood has been left to pool inside the area, forming stagnate puddles around her, though nothing seems to have caused the collection of liquid. Dust drifts in strange flurries over the cobblestones, moved by a wind that none of the house-guests can feel. Those who step within the gazebo will die. Walking along the path to the Fifth House, the guests feel strangely lethargic and tired. Just approaching the house becomes an immense effort. Only the Lily Bedroom seems immune to this effect, but the moment it is exited, the exhaustion returns tenfold. [ ooc; The Masquerade has begun! The choice of what your character's mask and costume represents is yours. Feel free share your ideas in the comments or ask for help from your mods and fellow players if you are stuck. ] || THREAT DOWN Second House: 1. Straight Hall 2. Public Restroom 3. Glass Half Empty 4. Fake Bedroom 5. Model Bedroom 6. Locked Door 7. Viewing Bedroom 8. Memory Bedroom 9. Photography Bedroom 10. Dark Room 11. Shelter Bedroom 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. Catacombs 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 Fifth House: 1. Outside Door 2. Plastic Hall 3. Bachelor's Kitchen 4. Garage 5. Abandoned Nursery 6. Boarded Room 7. Rough Hall 8. Old Bedroom 9. Bathroom 10. Pillow Room 11. Empty Bedroom 12. Patio 13. Poet's Room 14. Forgotten Storeroom 15. Mildewed Hallway 16. Broom Cupboard 17. Den 18. Unfinished Stairs 19. Workman's Room 20. Guest Bedroom 21. Lily Bedroom 1. Leaky Basement 2. Ruined Apartment 3. Drained Parlour 4. Decaying Bathroom 5. Jammed Door