Night 018

[allthekeys]

|| THREAT DOWN

|| NIGHT 018: GENERAL As the sun sets, the weather remains warm and somewhat humid, barely on the edge of uncomfortably so, turning the dark of the night into the beginnings of a smothering blanket. Those who draw power from darkness will feel the first creeping strains of hunger start to grip them. It starts as a low rumble in their stomachs, and then a desire to eat that is not sated by any available food. It continues to grow as the night carries on. Visible just out of the reach of a lantern's light are slender wisps of animate darkness. They vanish as soon as light hits them, and offer little more than low whispers that seem almost petulant in tone, though their words never become clear. || TOWN As night falls, something moves on the roofs, drifting between them like a wraith. The Huntsman has returned from wherever he has gone, and is stalking those who are out and about in the Town. He will attack groups, and will make the attempt to drag any he wounds away to process them. He is very dangerous and incredibly fast. Better to avoid him than to linger and fight. Treasa returns inside the Monastery and locks the door behind her. She does not emerge for the remainder of the night. The Monastery Garden has been cleaned up from the damage that ravaged it. Although no longer in shambles, it is now pitiful, desolate, and bare. The gate is securely locked, and for once, it would seem as though visitors are not welcome. || GARDENS AND YARD Several packs of Hellhounds are roaming through the Courtyard and along the Road to the town. They seem somewhat more agitated and easily provoked than usual, but for the most part, they will keep to themselves if left alone. Anyone who is injured and bleeding, however, will quickly find themselves prey to the hounds. The scent of fresh blood will drive them to kill, and they will pursue as far and for as long as they can until they succeed. They will not enter the Garden or the Castle. The Garden has grown agitated, branches moving sharply without a breeze, while roots, vines, and smaller plants twist and twitch in the dark. Child characters and those markedly under eighteen can still pass relatively safely, although they may find that the Garden is closing paths as if trying to keep them in a few safer groves. For everyone else, while it is not actively hostile, masses of thorned vines shamble, climb, and dart through the foliage, hard to distinguish until they've come close and paying no heed to anyone that may be caught in their path, capable of causing nasty bleeding gashes in those they pass by. The restless vegetation can be its own threat; while it is not actively hostile either, neither does it seem to pay attention to those in its path, or care if there are incidental injuries. The overgrowth is dense enough to make it difficult to move about without being tripped, hit by flailing branches, whipped with vines or gashed by thorns. || CASTLE At nightfall, the Steward returns to his quarters from somewhere on the Second Floor. He stomps through the halls in something of a rage, and during the brief period of time it takes to reach his destination, he will swing his axe indiscriminately at anyone nearby. Once there, he slams the door shut and remains there all night. Anyone who attempts to enter the room will not be greeted pleasantly. Several more Guards than usual have congregated in the Exotic Zoo and the Servant’s Room and Holding Room behind it. Security measures around the area, it seems, have been increased, and every occupied cage is guarded at all times. The attending Guards talk quietly amongst themselves; eavesdroppers will learn that an animal has escaped from its cage, and they are on the lookout for a small, agile winged primate. Four guards have taken up the responsibility of finding this lost specimen. As they search the castle, a black and white Dalmatian stealthily follows in their tracks. It pads along silently and is quick to flee if noticed—either by any of the servants or the guards themselves. Perhaps as a result of their preoccupation, the Guards on the second floor have become somewhat less attentive than usual to the main staircase to the Third Floor. The tapestry in the Magpie Bedroom is shrieking.

Comments

[allthekeys]

Requests? Ideas? Things you'd like to poke at? Plot stuff here!

[disciplineking]

Hibari, the small one is definitely going to go into the castle and poke at the Magpie bedroom with Paws.

[mostpositively]

I'd certainly love to have Masaki explore the second and third floor! Because she's still getting to know the place and she hasn't really gotten a chance to during the day.

I would be interested in having Rei speak to Tanny in the cottage if she's still there. As for everything else-I'm not sure what else she's up to, considering that she's still recovering from giving birth. Might be interested in having her trying to do something with the wisps of darkness, or the monastery if she has time.