allthekeys | DAY 005

|| Day 005: GENERAL

As dawn arrives on the castle, everyone within it will find themselves falling asleep. They will wake in their own beds, any injuries tended, their clothes mended and cleaned, and small parcels have been left on every trunk. The parcel contains a few small indulgences, a small jar holding hard candies, a few sweet smelling salves, a new pair of thick, woolen socks and a thick, glazed mug that is easily large enough to hold an entire bowl of soup.

Asch will find a small addition to his, a small glass bottle filled with clear liquid, wrapped in a small note. The note reads “Apply Twice a day to both eyes”, though with his fonic sense he will be able to see another note written on the paper. “If you are as clever as you seem, find my brothers.”

Walter will find a small paper bag, filled with a fine smelling black tea. It seems to be of high quality. In the bottom of the bag is a small note, folded many times around a single orange feather strung on a strand of woven silver. The note reads “Continue as you are.” Several pastries have been wrapped in paper and left on the trunk as well.

Rei will wake to find a crown of poppy flowers has been left on her head, a piece of dark crystal woven into the back. Her boots have mud on them that she will not recall having been there before. In addition to the other package, someone has left her a box filled with fragrant candles and soap.

Dist will wake up with a small black crystal on a chain.

Maurice will find a small charm attached to his guitar strap, a couple small pieces of glittering, reflective crystal strung on gilt thread.

It turns out to be quite fortuitous that everyone has awoken in their beds today. It quickly becomes evident that there is no escaping the castle today. The doors will barely budge, and anyone who manages to push them even an inch open will find a horrible, bitter cold seeping in along with the snow. A quick look out any of the windows will confirm what this implies: the snow is meters deep, piling up against the walls in huge drifts, effectively blocking all exits.

It is nearly impossible to leave the castle today. But if the cold coming outside is anything to go by, why would you want to leave?

From time to time banging can be heard on the doors and windows of the castle, no matter how impossible the snow might make this. No one is ever seen doing this, though the frames rattle. A faint smell of flowers is left behind every time.

The crows create a cacophony outside for the first few hours of morning. Something has unsettled the birds.

Everyone--but especially Walter--will find themselves feeling vaguely like there is someone trapped outside in the snow.

Around much of the basement, the chill seems even more unnatural, as fires do not seem to be putting out heat normally besides the massive generator room. Those investigating fireplaces and other such heat sources in those halls may catch glimpses of scales under the fire's fuel.

The dungeons do not seem entirely safe today. There is nothing obvious, though the Steward is sitting in the Torture Chamber, sharpening his axe.

Still, the feeling persists throughout the day and those who have been assigned to take the trays to the basement will feel as though they are constantly being watched by unseen specters that follow their every step. They may at times hear footfalls behind them, or a breath drawn as though someone was about to speak, or a knock against a door when no one is there.

The presence seems to linger just out of sight, a flicker of movement that never resolves itself into form.

Those assigned to the basement will be directed to the Craft rooms. The craftspeople are hard at work in their rooms, and will smile wanly at those who brought them food for the day. The Carpenter will pause in his work, his head tilting slightly, and ask if any of them have seen his grandson.

The puppet on its hook seems even closer to being finished; the long lashes that have been painted on its face are almost too realistic.

The woman in the Tapestry Room is holding her bundle on her lap, and hums softly to herself as she works with the brilliant threads, repairing damage done to her loom at night. The bundle shifts from time to time, seemingly in response to her humming.

The castle itself seems strangely quiet today, the deep snow outside preventing much exploration outdoors, but those who are looking at the chore board will discover that a new chore has been added; cleaning the Second Floor, which is now accessible. Those looking out on the front courtyard from upper floor windows will note spotted trails of blood leading away from the town courtyard that seem to simply end in the snow with little explanation.

In the Throne Room the sparring session has ended. Both combatants are marked from the long fight, their fine clothes torn to tatters. But both are smiling broadly. As the servants again make their way into the house, they might see the pair bow to each other and sheath their blades. The Jester whistles a little tune, and the crow flies to his shoulder, prancing from one end of the shoulder to the other with little chirps of its own. In its beak, it holds a purloined gemstone.

The pair make their way up the stairs, past the still bloodstained but now empty bottom stair, and vanish into the upstairs. Lady Night cannot be found, but the Jester can be found during the day in the Motley Room, the crow rolling around on the floor and playing with the gem.

Guards will escort anyone on the newly opened Second Floor. Attempts at theft will be severely punished.

The Cook is hard at work in the kitchen, grumbling under its breath as it works, stirring pots and looking occasionally to the door each time it opens, though it does not react to the entry of anyone save Murtagh. This room is full of a rather tense energy, despite the quiet of the rest of the house.

The Steward's Quarters appear to have been vandalized again. Every table is broken and overturned, and all of the room's contents are scattered over the entire floor. Anyone who tries to enter the room will find themselves unable to; something is blocking the entrance, though they can plainly see through it.

In the Women’s Quarters, many of the Grey Maids are tucked into the beds as the houseguests were. Although the women will stir and look at anyone who enters, they seem too exhausted to move around and will remain sleeping unless some effort is made to rouse them.

The Glass Dogs remain indoors with the servants. Now that the castle is blocked off they seem somehow more relaxed, though no less wary of anything not part of their pack. The boy Tyler, caught as he is between pup and child, stays with the group and is willing to act as a tentative intermediary should anyone approach the dogs. He sits with the puppies and tends to the wounds of their guardian--who lets out mournful keening noises now.

Howls can no longer be heard outside.

The malice and shame haven't left the Collector's Library. The books are oddly heavy today, a physical burden to carry. A staircase seems to have appeared, leading to a second level of the library.

"Hush! Hush. You'll wake the baby."

In one corner of the Library, a trio of people dressed in grey have a heated conversation. Their voices are low but intent.

"She's already awake," retorts the second woman, for all intents and purposes the twin of the first. "Can't you hear her crying?"

"She's my baby," hisses the man with them. He holds a cloth bundle in his arms, squeezing it to his chest so tightly that the fabric caves against his chest. "Don't talk about her like that."

The conversation continues on, all three concerned greatly about the fate of the child, for better or for worse. The man occasionally strokes the top of the bundle, but never loosens his grip. The debate is heated but eventually comes full circle, the cycle continuing on all day. The child in the man's arms never makes a sound.

"Hush! Hush. You'll wake the baby..."

Toward the end of night, the door to the Monastery creaks open. The young woman who answers the door creeps out, looking about her as she does. She wears a thick blue cloak over her normal tan ensemble. Using a heavy iron key she locks the doors behind her. Something thunks into place behind the doors.

Briskly, she walks to the castle proper; a woman on a mission though it is impossible to tell what that could be.

She, too, wakes indoors this morning, in the Women's Quarters--something that seems to cause her a great deal of anxiety. She does not attempt the doors, seeming to know the efforts would be pointless. Instead she wanders the castle, seeming to explore. Those sensitive to such things will notice she has a nervous energy about her.

Should anyone manage to get outside and to the abbey tonight, no one will answer the doors. The gate to the Gardens, however, is unlocked and the Shelter proves strangely warm and devoid of snow.

The chores for the day have been assigned:

Dorm 18 - Laundry
Dorm 19 - Kitchen
Dorm 20 - Basement
Dorm 21 - Basement
Dorm 22 - Kitchen
Dorm 23 - First Floor
Dorm 24 - Second Floor
Dorm 25 - First Floor
Dorm 26 - Laundry
Dorm 27 - Second Floor

Alex Marino, Jacob Johnson and Mastermind find their names added to the list as well for special chores distinct from their rooms. They are to bring food trays down to the Basement.

DAY 005

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