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(( XD Sorry.. I was just making sure it wasn't left out or something. My bad X_X ))

[[ > Fight Ratwel to try and get around him]]

I wobble on the edge of the dark pit, pretty sure that jumping into ANY pit is probably a bad idea. As I turn to flee I find Ratwel's lanky form blocking my way and I am not sure if my luck will hold up through another confrontation with him.

"This has to be a misunderstanding!" My heels dance dangerously along the edge of the blackness. I can't tell how far down it is and the sounds from the pit are not encouraging. It could be 1000 feet with spikes at the bottom!

My fight or flight reflexes kick in once again and I choose to fight. I have managed to scrape by so far! I charge the butler, screaming like a crazy person. Maybe I can catch him off guard!

"I am the housekeeper. It's my duty to know who enters this place. Besides," The man rose slowly from his bench, "It was I who let you in. I confess, I did not expect you to help yourself to the manor, but nevertheless, I would not have you outside, wading through those pests." He must mean the gremlins. So it was him you saw in the doorway? The one who sent the hounds.

"If you'd have waited a moment more, I would have come to accommodate you. As it was, I heard you bashing about in the kitchen and decided you would come this way soon enough. I am Ratwel," He swept a bow at the hips, a move that sent his long, white hair spilling around his shoulders.

"Ratwel!" Sir Rotgud snarls, "RATWEL! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE? WHERE IS MY FAMILY? MY SON?"

To this din, the housekeeper frowns, "Sir Rotgud. With all due respect, sir, you are a sycophant. I had hoped this form would suit your temper far better, but I can see you've still managed to rope innocent bystanders into your depravity." He stares at you and your partner, "My friends, this is none of your concern. I see now why you've come this way, and I imagine Sir Rotgud has had many things to suppose about me. Why don't you allow me to give you a room for the evening? I have nothing against you. Just set Sir Rotgud here." He taps the organ with one long fingernail.

"YOU b*****d!"

> Give up Sir Rotgud and go with Ratwel
> Attack Ratwel
> Try to go your own way




You charge Ratwel! Did you forget about the poker he had?

You gasp - as you run into the butler, something runs through you. Your body seizes up in protest around the iron rod you've impaled yourself on, ironically similar to the way the beast you murdered earlier did.

"Shhh..." Ratwel coaxes you, folding a long arm around you to pull you closer, more firmly onto the poker, into an embrace, "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice..." The iron twists. Your vision blurs.

END ((Proceed to Foyer))















The place is well lit, at least. It’s actually… a little charming, in a sense. You’re in the foyer, clearly. There’s a dead plant on the table ahead of you, and a chandelier above. Long, iron stands are placed strategically around the room so that the candles they bare cast just the right amount of light. A giant staircase leads up to the second floor, just out of sight for now, a red, velvet rug pooling down it like a tongue. There are two doors on either side of that staircase, and one to either side of you. All of them are made of some sort of dark wood.

Turning around, you check the door from which you came in: it’s unlocked. You can leave if you wish.

However, you are advised against doing so by a simple message, scratched into the very wood of the door.

’Don’t go out!
-Ratwel’

> Go through the door directly right of you, alone

> Go through the door to right of the staircase, alone

> Go upstairs, alone

> Go through the door to the left of the staircase, alone

> Go through the door directly left of you, alone

> Leave the manor

((Or request a total reset - does not take up a turn ))

You enter a long, spacious room. Straight ahead, there is a wall lined with long, large, glass windows. The moonlight hasn’t reached this side yet, but you can imagine how glorious it must be when it does. For now, there are candles, set along a large table. It is set for five, though it’s very clear that it could hold a whole party.

The knife sits at the head table, but it is silent.

> Speak to Sir Rotgud
> Pocket Sir Rotgud and: (below)
> Inspect the handprint on the door
> Go through the door with the handprint
> Look out the window
> Go back

The place is well lit, at least. It’s actually… a little charming, in a sense. You’re in the foyer, clearly. There’s a dead plant on the table ahead of you, and a chandelier above. Long, iron stands are placed strategically around the room so that the candles they bare cast just the right amount of light. A giant staircase leads up to the second floor, just out of sight for now, a red, velvet rug pooling down it like a tongue. There are two doors on either side of that staircase, and one to either side of you. All of them are made of some sort of dark wood.

Turning around, you check the door from which you came in: it’s unlocked. You can leave if you wish.

However, you are advised against doing so by a simple message, scratched into the very wood of the door.

’Don’t go out!
-Ratwel’


"It serves you right," Sir Rotgud replies, harshly, from your pocket. "Indeed, it is fitting of a traitor. However... if you are content to help me and my family now, instead of serving yourself, my offer of a reward remains."



> Go through the door directly right of you

> Go through the door to right of the staircase

> Go upstairs

> Go through the door to the left of the staircase

> Go through the door directly left of you

> Leave the manor

You decide to climb the stairs to the second floor. It’s like another world up here, bright from the shine of two chandeliers (one from the entrance, the other ahead). You go ahead to the banister immediately and front of you and look down. There’s some sort of tiled floor down there. You decide you’d rather not jump down, but you can look just fine. You can hear music playing, just softly, somewhere below.

There are four doors. The first one your eye becomes drawn to is rather ornate, wood jutting out in appealing, carved designs. Its handle is silver.

There’s another door, plain but appealing in the sense that it is slightly ajar. You can’t see into the room from here, but you can tell that it’s open by the shaft of light coming from it.

One door is made of black wood, and as you squint a little closer, you can make out what the little marks are on them: they’re stickers. A little black cat, some skulls with bows, moons, and spiders galore. It’s pretty adorable.

The final door is fairly unremarkable. It’s next to the ornate one, and you can tell that it’s locked because there is no longer a door handle on it.

Sir Rotgud is quiet now. It's a little disturbing how quiet he is. After his show with Munches earlier, you're wondering if he'd forgive you. Just how different is your 'betrayal' from his? Munches used the excuse that he didn't know any better, too.


> Go through the ornate door.
> Go through the door with the stickers.
> Go through the door that’s slightly open.
> Go back down the stairs.

You're back in the study. It's odd to see it's just how you left it, save for the fact that the door behind the bookcase is still slightly ajar.

The stationscary beasts creep to meet you at the end of the desk.

What happened?

Reads the scrawl on the paper.

> Show them the knife
> Talk to Sir Rotgud
> Go through the secret passage behind the bookcase
> Go left, through the other door
> Go back

You flash the knife before the creatures, who tense up. The metal jolts a little in your had as the flat of the blade catches them.

"Hyde! Jekyll!"

That seems to rouse a response out of the creatures, who jolt toward you, brushing up against your arm, purring and churring.

"Thank Jack he did not harm you."

> Allow Sir Rotgud to question them
> Ask Sir Rotgud his advice
> Go through the secret passage
> Go through the other door, to the left
> Go back the way you came

Sir Rotgud coos very quiet reassurances to his beasts, and you have to repeat your question before he responds.

"Oh! Do forgive me. Ah. A hole, you say? There was no hole last I knew!" He sounds irritated, "That passage was build as an escape. The left path leads outside, and straight ahead, there should have been a panic room. A HOLE, you say? Preposterous." He seems to be speaking to himself more than you.

"That door over yonder leads to my son's room."

> Allow Sir Rotgud to question them
> Go through the secret passage
> Go through the other door, to the left
> Go back the way you came