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 Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2016 5:26 pm
Quote: Part One: Chosen are transported through the Hearth to the fireplace in the lake house, which is empty and a bit eerie. This stage is simply RP-based: have your character(s) speak to each other and set up for at least an overnight stay in this strange house. Unexpectedly, they find many signs of recent habitation; if this building is haunted, then it has only started recently. Whenever you feel ready, move to part two.
The hike, at least, had been nothing new for him. In fact, his pack was quite a bit lighter than his usual up-the-hill-run ruck and he had even been confident enough to offer to take some of Misha's gear off of her hands. She had told him once that she didn't run, and he wasn't so sure where hiking factored in there.
Either way, he marveled at the high ceilings and the open kitchen area before crouching to start unpacking. Hauntings tended to happen at night, right? So they were going to stay at least that long. Ghosts didn't seem the type to hold to a schedule, though, so it might be longer. There were worst things than being locked in a haunted house with your best friend, though.
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Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2016 6:04 pm
"Hopefully, no one did," Misha replied in an almost disconcertingly light voice as she drew up at Brian's side. She stood there, holding her own pack, and looked around with interest for long moments. It was pretty, she had to admit. It also appeared to be only very recently vacated. That made her wonder just how bad the haunting had gotten for it to be so freshly emptied. With a shrug, she lowered her pack and crouched beside Brian. "But the trees and mountains and everything was so pretty coming up here," she continued. She plunged her small hands into her pack to find the necessary items for the night. "And the house itself..." She cast him a sideways smile and winked. "Why it would be a perfect little romantic get-away, huh? If not for the spooky stories to tell in the dark stuff going on."
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Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2016 6:13 pm
"Well, that's obviously why I brought you here," Brian said casually, "Ghosts aside, there is where all the magic happens." They might not even have to use the sleeping bags he'd packed just in case. The couch looked plenty comfy enough, and unless it specifically was the cause of the haunting he doubted that it'd be very upsetting. If there was nothing else for Misha, though, he'd gladly take the floor.
He stood and stretched his back, letting out a long, oddly pleased sort of sigh. Physical activity was always nice, and being out in nature with Misha while doing it was especially nice. He'd enjoy it before the walls started bleeding.
"So, what do you say to a look around?" The place looked like the residents had only just left. That wasn't especially reassuring.
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Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2016 8:16 pm
Misha laughed at Brian's response. Quickly, she drew her hands from her pack, dropped the camp-kit she had found to the floor, and brought both hands up to press kisses to her palms. She blew the kisses at him with a saucy wink. While she felt a bit nervous to be out on a mission again and wondered at her sanity in agreeing, she felt better knowing she was with Brian. His presence signaled safety and a warm glow in her stomach. "Look around?" she echoed as she mimicked his stand and stretch. "We probably should. It's better to look around when it's light out. Do you think this place still has electricity?" Misha balanced on her right heel and turned herself in a tight spinning circle. Her grey eyes searched the room, considering the layout. When she returned to face Brian, she grinned. "Oh, and we're out of here at the first sign of a creepy doll. Deal?"
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bobaTJ rolled 1 20-sided dice:
2
Total: 2 (1-20)
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Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2016 10:43 am
Quote: Part Two: You venture out together or separately to see what you can find in the various rooms in this two-story lake house. Roll 1d20 and compare your roll to the list below. Each Chosen rolls 3 times and responds to 3 different prompts before moving on to part three.
She mimed his actions and he shook his head, then furrowed his brow in faux annoyance. "Are you mocking me?" He was only teasing, however.
"Hey, I don't think the Gods would approve of that," he said then, "I promise to protect you from any creepy dolls, even at the risk of my own possession." Quote: 2: The fourth stair to the second floor lets out a startling groan every time you step on it.
"Alright, so maybe I'm a little on-edge," he said with a laugh.
[roll 1/3]
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ShortGreen rolled 1 20-sided dice:
6
Total: 6 (1-20)
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Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2016 11:44 am
Quote: 6: As you walk down a hall, something grabs you by the ankle. It turns out you're just caught on an electrical cord. "A little on edge?" Misha repeated. She giggled and wrinkled her nose at him. "That's not fair. I thought nothing shook you, Brian. Big, strong, brave man." She paused. "Though, yeah, that stair should never ever ever be stepped on again. It sounds like something dying. Slowly. Painfully." She reached out to give his a hand quick squeeze before releasing him and starting down the hallway a few steps ahead of him. "Did they give you any real details about this place or what isAAAHHH!" Flailing in a less than graceful manner as she screeched, Misha stumbled and turned and ran back into Brian's open arms. "Something grabbed my ankle!" Safe with Brian, though, she screwed up her courage to look back down the hallway. An extension cord lay in a tangled heap across their pathway. "... Oh. Well, it felt like something grabbed me." She looked up at Brian with a sheepish grin. "Sorry." [roll 1/3]
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bobaTJ rolled 1 20-sided dice:
6
Total: 6 (1-20)
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Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2016 12:01 pm
Quote: 6: As you walk down a hall, something grabs you by the ankle. It turns out you're just caught on an electrical cord.
"Oh, you want to tease me about being on-edge!" He went down on one knee to tuck the cord away under the table it ran from. It seemed to go to... a lamp? Said lamp was ow pulled firmly against the wall, but the cord was in an odd place. Had the past residents unplugged it on purpose?
[roll 2/3]
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ShortGreen rolled 1 6-sided dice:
1
Total: 1 (1-6)
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Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2016 12:18 pm
Quote: 1: A scratching sound startles you; it's just a branch against the window. "I can tease you all I want to. If this was a horror movie, I'd be screaming already and running around half-naked. I have every right to be jumpy." Misha stuck her tongue out at him and took the opportunity while he was down on one knee to give him a nudge, her hip to his shoulder. It was just enough to notice but not enough to unbalance him; she had serious control in those hips. "You're the hero, Handsome." Misha watched him coil the cord and then lifted her head to peer around the hallway. Reaching up, she tugged on the end of her ponytail as she licked her lips. Without them speaking, things were quiet. Almost too quiet. A sudden scraping sound had her catch her breath and she stepped closer to Brian. "What..." Before she could finish, she spotted movement that coincided with the noise. A branch was rubbing against the window at the end of the hall. "Ugh, and we're going to sleep here?" she muttered. "I hope there's enough room in your sleeping bag for two." [roll 2/3]
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bobaTJ rolled 1 20-sided dice:
19
Total: 19 (1-20)
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Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2016 12:34 pm
Quote: 19: Something whispers in your ear, "Come to the water...come to the water..." When you turn, it goes silent.
"Come to the water...come to the water..."
His eyes widened and his breath caught in his throat. Okay, that wasn't a groaning stair or an electrical cord. That was a voice. It was a real, honest-to-goodness voice. After a moment of frozen fear, Brian turned his head sharply to the side. He was met with just a wall, and the voice was gone. He was still gaping a bit.
This was a different sort of fear than he was used to.
[roll 3/3]
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ShortGreen rolled 1 20-sided dice:
9
Total: 9 (1-20)
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Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2016 12:44 pm
"Brian?" When he stayed on his knee and simply stared at the wall after his abrupt turn, Misha chewed her bottom lip with worry. This felt different than an electrical cord or a groaning staircase. The set of Brian's jaw signaled tension that had been previously absent and the stillness of his body put her own body on high alert. Ever so carefully, Misha settled her hand on his shoulder. "Brian, are you okay? What's wrong?" grasshopper pie will use the roll in a bit
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Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2016 1:38 pm
The sudden appearance of a hand made him startle a little. Even logic couldn't fight back against the fact that this might well be the ghost. Of course it wasn't. it was just Misha. The air left him when he recognized his friend.
"I, uh--" He wanted to tell her that it was nothing. He wanted to say they were fine and he had just heard something like a branch or a breeze or a house-creak. That wouldn't be fair to her. As much as he wanted to protect Misha, she was a Chosen too. She was here to do a job, not to be coddled. "I just heard someone saying to come to the lake."
He had seen enough horror movies to know that that wasn't anywhere near where he wanted to be either. The hairs on his arms were prickled and he rubbed them as he stood. A haunting. An actual haunting...
"Did you hear it?" Probably not, from her reaction.
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Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2016 3:32 pm
Quote: 9: The television comes on of its own accord. She bit back her immediate response of "hear what" since she knew that not only would it sound stupid but it would not help Brian's nerves. Misha tightened her hold on his shoulder. "I didn't hear it, no," she admitted quietly. "I'm betting that 'come to the lake' is code for 'let me drown you' so I'm not going to let you go anywhere near it." Misha crouched in front of him and brought her hands up to frame his face, warm palms against his cheeks. She searched his expression, a furrow between her eyebrows. Her thumb swiped his lower lip to bring his attention fully onto her. She tried for a wry smile. "Do you want to explore more or should we go back downstairs and make camp?" "And there was an eight car pile-up on the highway this morning, resulting in the death of 4 people." Gulping, Misha's eyes widened and she moved forward until she was within what she deemed Brian's personal bubble of protection. "That... That is the goddamn TV," she hissed.
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Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2016 3:44 pm
Brian's eyes moved up and focused on Misha.
"Yeah, I don't think I'll be taking its advice..." His voice was breathy and unsettled. Then there was another voice, this one male and booming. He stood quickly and put himself between Misha and the stairs.
The TV. Right. They had better go... turn that off.
He held his hand out for Misha, wondering if they'd get any sort of signal out here, and if someone drowned here whether it would be in the news. Noe he was honestly considering the possibility of ghosts, although his brain reminded him that his own assumptions were often half-cocked. They'd have to know more before they decided anything.
"Come on." No way was he leaving her side.
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Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2016 4:22 pm
She rose and took his hand, tangling their fingers together firmly. "Lead on, gallant knight," she answered in an attempt at lightness. The house was starting to get to her and she felt reactive creepy-crawlies over her skin and tension gathering in her shoulders. "And we'll unplug that TV unless you feel like watching something tonight, okay?" As they went down the stairs, she counted and, when he was five from the bottom, she pulled back on his hand. She remembered that step. "Skip that one," she ordered. "I don't want to see if it makes the same noise again."
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Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2016 4:34 pm
Quote: Part Three: Despite your experiences and potential fears, the quest requires you to spend the night in this house, and so you settle down to sleep. When you finally drift off, you find yourself in a strange dream:
It starts off as a mangled memory of a beloved summer vacation. A lazy day with something sinister behind it. Everyday actions are colored with an edge of something uncomfortable and unfamiliar, and a dull ache takes you over. Something is calling you to the lake, and so you follow the feeling, or a sound, or a voice. It seductively invites you to dive in to the waters, and you cannot fight it.
Cold water jars you awake. You find yourself at least ankle-deep in the lake behind the lake house, where an ethereal woman with hair the color of moonlight watches you with cold eyes.
He wanted to say that he'd rather not unplug it lest it come on after that, but what else could they do? He obediently skipped the fourth stair and passed it over. Would it have made the same sound, or something worse?
"Maybe we should take a rest for a bit." Let the adrenaline wear down.
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