Haunted house Free form IC

[Shamash]

The day is dark as a night. Only the lightning bolts illuminate the sky. The dark and strange forest houses the small town of Silberton.

Your destiny as of many other travelers has brought you here for reasons yet unknown. For now you just want protection form the rain.

As you pass thought the city you notice it was decorated for some sort of festival, perhaps a celebration to mark the end of the autumn and the beginning of the winter. As you enter what seem to be the commercial area you take notes on the signboards of the stores. Who knows, that may come in handy later.

You are welcomed inside the town hall by what seems to be the elder.

The man is a tall, thin and very old person, judging by the silver of his hair and beard and the frail color of his blue eyes, his nose on the other hand is very long and crooked. It seems it had been broken at least twice and the lack of teeth seems to suggest a less wise and serene past.

“Welcome to Silberton my friends; it seems that by Secundus blessings you were guided to the safety of our small community"

He says a he arrange what appears to be an improvised conference table.

“I got to say though; we are having a lot of visitors lately. Either some fancy noble looking to hire one of our boys as a mercenary or a merchant after the good quality silver we produce here in our mines.”

His eyes seem to sparkle with pride as he talks about the silver production of the town.

“But I bet none of you are interest in the rumblings of an old man about a small town in the middle of the forest.”

“I’m afraid it seems we have reached an impasse, I can’t allow you to go out in the forest under such weather conditions. People get lost in the forest easily enough at perfect good conditions imagine in such a horrible storm… No that will not do.”

He looks anxious as he try to think in a way out.

“The inn is full and I have only one, very small, extra room here in my house. And today is the last day of the autumn. This night will already be a long night. Any hope of arriving in a Hoffnung outpost is lost by now.”

“Luckily you are not the first group of outsiders who appeared herein our town. We have a very old house in here. It belonged to the noble family that founded the city but have been vacant for some time would you mind join the first group and spending your night there?”

He asks curious to see the reactions of the outsiders before him.

[Lady Moreta]

Ariole grimaced, her mind more on her pony and the goods it carried than the silver-production of a town she hadn't known existed. Still, it was raining and miserable and she really ought to see shelter, for Marri's sake, if not her own. She'd prefer to be on her own and had no problems roughing it to achieve that, but she was fairly certain her pony both wanted and deserved a night in shelter, at least once.

She shifted in her seat, not wanting to be the first to break the silence, and instead closed her eyes and let her mind wander to brush lightly over the emotions and feelings of those in the room.

Ariole is trying to get a feel for just the very basics of what everyone (including the village elder) are feeling... who's nervous about being around others, who's just wanting some place out of the wet and cold, that type of thing

[Raunchel]

Xanthe, the countess of Thaliseth and great beauty has a look of pure disinterest on her face, as though all these sensible and important matters merely pass by her pretty face. She seems to be elsewhere entirely, although it could also be because she never really thinks at all. Not about relevant matters at least. At this moment her mind is filed by pretty butterflies, flying around. Like they should. Finally she speaks: "I expect the finest accommodations this little town has to offer. I am on my way to my estates and have no desire to be held up in any provincial squalor."

[wizuriel]

The rain clings to Gimlock, making the simple rags and smock we wears look ever raggier. He coughs Any shelter would be most appreciated. A roof over my head and walls to block the wind would be most welcome indeed. Though I'm curious how many other visitors have been stopping by recently? If the rain didn't drive me in this direction I wouldn't even know such a town existed.

[Space Lawyer]

Tirad nods in approval of the odd-smelling man's words. "I too require little in way of comforts." He gestures to the bag on the ground next to him. "All I need is right here. Just tell me where this house is."

Ariole won't get a whole lot from Tirad in terms of emotional content. His thoughts are and emotions are rigidly controlled. Right now, he is simply waiting to be directed towards the house.

[DoctorGlock]

Caleb squinted at the mayor suspiciously. Well, one eye did. The other, bugged out and wide as always darted around the room seemingly independent of its counterpart. The mayor was suspicious... well, everyone was. The wide eye swiveled around to regard to old man alongside the narrowed one.

No, he didn't look like he had a spider in his head. He could hear them with his eyes, ticking faintly as they recorded his every move. He was safe from the spiders as long as he wore his tin helm... they couldn't see through that. But they could see through other people's eyes and watch him...

Good thing the mayor didn't have a spider. He might still be with the gubment. The gubment always had people following him. Watching him. Taking notes and listening in the walls...

He was jolted out of his reverie by the rain pattering on his helmet, ringing softly in the daytime twilight.

He glanced around at the other clustered around the elderly mayor. One smelled like nitrates. Good. Honest work there. Sometimes things just needed blowing up. Gubment brain spiders couldn't stand the smell of nitrates anyway. Probably safe. Watch out for notepads. They tried to steal your soul in the pages. No badges though. Not gubment. Probably safe...

Rich girl. Noble? That reeked of authority. That practically was gubment! No spiders there, they didn't need them. Watch that one carefully, might be a shapeshifter like the rest of the Ubel Occupational Government...

The others were quiet. Quiet was nice, not throwing their weight around or telling him what to do...

Caleb simply grunted an affirmative at the mayors words. But he'd certainly check the rooms to make sure no one was listening in...

[Dienekes]

OOC: Sorry about the delay, I thought I posted this already. Short version to get the game going.

Geb nodded and smiled at the old man. "Of course, thank you for your hospitality. I'm sure we will all make do with the house."

[Lady Moreta]

Ariole grimaced and immediately ducked her head to try to hide it. There were some very odd people in this room and their collective noise threatened to start Ariole's head throbbing. Well, some of them anyway. The blonde woman didn't appear to be thinking at all, the large man was so tightly controlled Ariole suspected he was even worse with people than she was; and the dwarf... was crazy, there was no other word to describe him. Ariole shied instinctively away from him. His emotions were nothing but a jumbled mess, and when she tried to go deeper, it felt like she'd slammed into a solid wall. Ariole promptly vowed never to go near him again unless she absolutely had to.

"Thank you for the offer," she said finally. "Is there a stables attached to the house? I have a pony with me who deserves a decent night's rest as well."

[Shamash]

After hearing Xanthe question the old man affirms categorically that she won’t be disappointed.

“I can assure you m’lady that this is one of the finest houses in the region, it was made by the very same noble family that founded the city years ago, the last baron was a very intelligent man, an intellectual and he made many renovations in the house, he even had machines that created artificial light without the use of fire! The man was truly a genius.”

A look of deep sadness covers his face and he seems to look deep in his memories for the face of the old noble.

“Too bad like many others visionaries he end up getting mad, his fear of death turned into an obsession, the walls of the manor are filled with arcane marks, runes, diagrams and glyphs all in order to keep the angel of death at bay, some folk even say a few of them work”

He starts to look at some notes in the table as if looking for something.

“He vanished too years ago, his son found a note saying he went to the death pole to kill death itself, we never saw him again”

The old man goes on.

“His son gave the manor to Lady Uberlan, an exiled noble from the big city, she came here with nothing but rags of her old fancy cloths and the duke took pity of her allowing her to stay in the house, she now transformed the astronomy tower in her house and a place to breed hawks and falcons, her favorite hobby.”

He stops and his eyes zoom out into the wall behide the outsiders.

“The house is keep clean and organized by Lila, the poor thing never said a world or interacted with anyone after the incident, all she does now is to clean and clean and clean”

As he hears Gimlock he seems to snap back in the real world.

“Oh, where are my manners, my name is Gamberlig by the way. I’m not used to introduce myself
often… And I tend to blab a lot forgive me”

“Regarding the question... You got me; they are many, far too much for a small city like this. As I said most are nobles who heard an old war hero was training the boys of our village in the art of war and decided to use them as mercenaries. We also have merchants attracted by the silver we produce here, it is of excellent quality they say, and others simply come to see Mr. Coltia works. Mabel even transformed her house in an inn, to accommodate so many people, too bad all rooms are occupied right now because we have many visitors that came here to see our festival. The rain had other plans…Oh well we will always have the next year.”

As most of the group seems to agree he get a very satisfied look in his face, he seems to think you are all traveling together.

“I’m afraid not my dear, but you can use the town stables, they are just across the river, next to the roses field. I will notify Lady Uberlan that she has to prepare seven more rooms for seven new visitors. You will have to forgive her she does not really like outsiders, while your rooms are being prepared for the long night feel free to spend the final hours of the autumn in the Bright Sun tavern or shop in one of our stores. If you have no money or no desire to do so the way to the mansion is north. We also have a holy light church if you want to pray or make a donation.”

You are now free to exit the town hall and explore the city. The heavy rain is still falling so you may wish to go straight to the mansion.
http://img04.deviantart.net/2a5b/i/2015/161/3/5/real_town_map_by_shaamash-d8wrkxq.jpg


Map Captions
http://img13.deviantart.net/ca6f/i/2015/161/a/8/real_town_map_1_by_shaamash-d8wrlea.jpg
According to what you saw:
01- The town hall, a very big two-story house.
02- It seems this old house has being reformed and now serves as a church of the holy light.
03- The way to the Silber manor.
04- This small house has long sword and an axe crossing in the signboard. It may be where the nobles hire mercenaries.
05-This large house, decorated with violet roses has the drawing of an alchemical flask in the signboard; it seems to be an alchemy store.
06-This medium sized house has many clay pots around the entrance.
07- This big house seems to be an orphanage administrated by a holy light convent near town. It seems that abandoned children from villages, cities and towns all over the forest region end up here.
08- The sign says “Bright Sun tavern” music, voices, laughs and a lot of noisy inside seems to be compensating the lack of a festival celebration this year.
09- This large house seems to be the inn. Kind of outplace in such a remote town like this.
10- The signboard in this small house says, Blacksmith, the symbol off a flaming sword indicates the blacksmith knows the art of enchanting, very few human smiths know how to do it. To think such a skilled artificer would live in a small town like this.
11-The town square, decorated with tulips and with a fountain in the middle.
12- A crazy woman is arguing with a man dressed in black here. She seems to have opened up a stand in the middle of the rain.
13- The residential area, where the people of the town live.
14- The stables.
15- A large field of roses, they are blue colored something that seems to indicate they are artificial, perhaps created by the use of alchemy
16- A sigh in the town indicates that is the direction to the silver mines and the town cemetery.
17- A small house very far from the town.
18- The way to the holy light convent and the asylum.
19- The way back to the forest.


Ariole mostly gets feelings of boredom and frustration from the group, they all seem tired because of the trip and frustrated for the change of plans and the unfortunate delay.

The elder emits sings of sincere happiness to see so many different people. He also seem to have strong lustful thoughts regarding Xanthe and even some directed to you, all that mixed with some melancholic memories of the days he was a strong and handsome young man and the things he would try to do if he could. At the same time he seems to realize he is much wiser and important now.

Tirad seems to be trained and his emotions are rigid controlled, he seems emotionless to you.

You can't read Caleb's mind. It feels as if you hited your face in a brick wall.

[Dienekes]

Thank you, Gamberlig," Geb said with a friendly smile. "I hope the rest of the townsfolk are as helpful as you have been. What a merry place this would be."

Geb gave a small bow to the man as he walked off toward the church. Make an appearance at the church, give a donation for a safe journey, then head down to the tavern. That's the plan. Maybe see if there are any young ladies even friendlier than old Gamby.

[Space Lawyer]

Tirad stands from the wall where he had been leaning. "I will go directly to this mansion. I have little interest in your silver and ware heroes. Do any of the rest of you wish to go?" He picks up the bag and slings it over his shoulder, waiting for a response.

[DoctorGlock]

'I nae came here t' work,' Caleb grumbled. 'Keep y' silver, I'll take me room and be gone with mornin's light,' he said, tossing an overladen pack across his broad, albeit stumpy, shoulders.

[Lady Moreta]

Ariole jerked back in apparent surprise, her eyes scrunching closed. What the hell? she felt like she'd just run headfirst into a brick wall. And she knew what that felt like, having done it once before as a child. What was that? Who was that? Carefully, she skimmed lightly over the people in the room, looking for that brick wall. Most of the people were just wet and miserable, something Ariole could relate to. Gambol- Gamby- their host was... Ewww... Ariole cringed back from his mind, he was thinking... very happy thoughts about Xanthe (and about herself, to her great astonishment; Ariole did not consider herself to be particularly attractive), and they were a little too loud for her taste. She shied away and immediately found herself slamming into that mental wall again. It is that dwarf fellow she thought, either there's something wrong with me, or there's something wrong with him.

"I need to find the stables" she announced aloud, partly to cover the fact she was staring at the dwarf with a baffled expression, "is anyone else headed that way?"

[Raunchel]

"I wish to retire for the day. All of this is just sooo boring.", Xanthe says, rising and turning around, obviously expecting to be escorted to the mansion. She yawns, perfectly of course, and walks towards the door, expecting someone to open it for her.

[Dienekes]

Geb watched as the girl walked away. Kind of a rude twit, that one. Pretty though, he had to give her that.

Then she just stopped and stared at the door. Which perplexed Geb for a few moments before he realized what was going on.

"You have to use your hands, that's what they're there for."

[Raunchel]

Xanthe looks utterly confused. This has never happened before. Unless it was a secret door she used for romantic liaisons. But never in public. It is mind-boggling. "Where are the servants? I demand this door to be opened."

[Space Lawyer]

Tirad puts his hat on his head and walks off into the rainy night. This little town was grating. Like so many outside of the monastery, they seemed to have little sense of purpose or discipline. Even worse, there were barely any lights! Feeble light spilled from some of the windows, but what few torchposts there were had been soaked by the rain, leaving most of the village in darkness. The monastery would have been lit with every illumination possible, from simple candles to paper lanterns to the newer oil lamps. It was imperative to keep the world lit up during the long nights.

Those who had come to the village this night were certainly an odd bunch. The noblewoman; it was surprising she had survived the trip here. The hunter woman (identified from her calluses and earthy smell) seemed a more sensible sort, but Tirad got a strange feeling from her. She didn't seem like a sorcerer though, so it could very well just be nerves. The small man with the stained fingers was off in some way too. Those odors coming from his pack smelled a bit too much like the fireworks Tirad had seen before for comfort. The dwarf seemed a reliable and dependable sort at least. The warrior, well, Tirad had seen so many of them pass through the monastery begging for either training or healing that this one hardly stood out.

[DoctorGlock]

The dwarf glanced at the woman uneasily. That stare was bothering him. What was she staring at? Did she have a spider? What did she want from him? Don't let her take your helm off! If you see any legs behind her eyes... The familiar weight of his wands slung across his back and in slings across the front of his faded uniform reassured him. No, even if she was gubment, there was just one. Gubments usually hunt in packs, I'll be fine...

The noble lass on the other hand? Heh, she's be another story.

'Aye, talljob,' he says, addressing the monk, 'let's see us our 'generous' accomodations.'

[Lady Moreta]

"Oh for pity's sake!" Ariole exploded imaptiently, reached around the idiot noblewoman and wrenched the door open with probably more force than was necessary. Having been brought up to be indepedent and self-sufficient, Ariole had very little patience with those who weren't. "Happy now?" she demanded rudely, before storming off into the dark.

"All right girl, let's go find you some shelter for the night." Gathering up the lead-rein of the shaggy pack pony waiting patiently outside, Ariole marched off in the direction of the stables, trying to force her thoughts and mind away from the odd dwarf. Her 'gift' frightened both herself and others, but she'd never come up against someone she couldn't read before and her curiosity was getting the better of her.

[Raunchel]

Xanthe is appalled by what she sees here. Such terrible servants. They ought to be whipped. It simply didn't do to keep doors closed. She had been lucky that she noticed in time, because she was already tired. If she had walked at a faster pace she would have slammed right into it.

When someone finally opens it for her she strides through, her last few servants immediately joinging her as she heads to the mansion.

[Shamash]

As you all walk around the town you notice that many of the windows in the houses and shops are covered with wood planks. A common ritual in the countryside, a type of ward to keep the monsters from the long night at bay.



As Geb arrive in the church of the holy light he finds the place illuminated by many candles and some oil lanterns suspended in the celling by bronze chains.

In the altar a beautiful white marble statue of a woman, her dress have been painted black and she is holding a gem in the most tender way possible. As a mother would hold her own child. The statue seems to represent Prima goddess of starlight and the gem that looks like a diamond seems to represent a star.

You can see a young acolyte organizing the sacred ceremonial objects, an old lady and a nun praying while another nun play the harp.

A tall pale man wearing a black surcoat with the symbol of a white star in his chest is a room to your right, surrounded by piles of books. He gesticulate for you to come closer.




As Ariole Arrives at the stables, a young maiden of sixteen, pale as snow and with long raven hair. She is taking care of a huge black Shire horse.

She looks at you with a smile on her face.

“Welcome to Silberton, what a beautiful girl you have here… What is her name? Are you one of the silver merchants staying at Mabel's inn?”





The rest of the outsiders that went directly to the manor and find a large three-story house with a huge glass dome in the roof that seems to work as a solarium, like the town most of the windows are covered with wood planks.

An old woman wearing an extremely elegant purple dress that is also completely out of place welcomes you all.

“Welcome to Silber manor, I have better things to do so let me make this quickly. There are nine other travelers in the house right now; they will also stay here for the night. In the main hall to the left we have the seven old guest’s rooms and to the right we have the eleven former servant’s rooms. I believe only one of the other travelers already took over a fancy room so there are still six for you to take, I would hurry up to choose a room.

The old guest rooms have a bell system that will notify you when Lila has served the meals, the former servant’s rooms don’t. Lila will cook the meals and keep he house clean during the night. She is mute and retarded so pay no attention to her, try to get along with the other guests and don’t cause trouble. The third floor is out of limits.

Meals are served in the dining room second floor second door to the right. I believe some of the other travelers are eating right now. For entertainment during the long night I have asked Lila to keep the doors of the library, chapel, music room and training room open, any damaged caused to the books, instruments or art pieces will be investigated and the responsible will be forced to pay. Questions?”

She looks at you all with disdain.

[Dienekes]

Ahh, temples to goddess, always have the best view, with such lovely nuns. Pity they're strictly look don't touch.

He gave the nuns a friendly smile, and was about to sit down and say a silent prayer, but the man caught his eye. Having nothing better to do, and a bit curious, Geb walks forward.

"Hello, how may I help ya?" he says, quietly, so as not to disturb the music.

[Lady Moreta]

Ariole smiles warmly at the girl, anyone who can appreciate her shaggy pony is all right by her. "This is Marri," she says, affectionatly scruffing the mare's mane. "I'm not a silver merchant, just a traveller passing through. Your mayor? elder? offered a group of us protection from the elements in an old manor house and suggested I leave my girl here." She tugs the mare forwards with one hand and extends the other to the large Shire. "This is a handsome fellow," Ariole comments, "is he yours?"

[Raunchel]

Xanthe barely seems to notice the woman, having put her under the category of servants. And she has a slight issue with them. Most of the time she doesn't see them at all. Of course, most of them know that they should always stand aside for someone like the countess of Thaliseth. "Show me to my rooms", she speaks haughtily.

[Space Lawyer]

Tirad simply nods then walks inside. He heads to the right, towards the servant's quarters. He had no intention of resting among whatever cloying frippery decorated the rooms of a noble's guests. His cell at the monastery had been a bit larger than normal, to account for his size, but had otherwise been simple and relaxing.

He opens the first door he comes to. The room looked inviting enough; no cobwebs or anything to speak of. A simple wooden bedframe, a chest, and a table were all the furniture. The single large window was boarded shut. Tirad retrieves a candle from his pack and places it in the sconce, lighting it with flint and steel. He take another candle and touches it to the first, placing it in a holder from the table. With the room properly lit, the dark spirits of the long night could be driven away.

He leaves a few belongings in the room, and carries the rest in his bag. None of the others had given him cause to distrust them yet, but they were still strangers who's fingers might be all too sticky. He returns to the entrance before heading up the stairs to the dining room. It would be an admitted pleasure to eat properly cooked food instead of the rations and foraged berries Tirad had been subsisting on.

[wizuriel]

Gimlock watches the other people leave the room. Unsure where to go he figured will wander to the alchemy store. Maybe he can talk shop with the owner.

[Shamash]

The tall pale man seems to be happy with Geb presence. The room is decorated with several tapestries showing the figure of the four gods of light, holy battles against dark demons and saints with their heads involved in holy sunlight, starlight, fire and lighting.

“It is good to see not all our visitors forgot about their duty with the gods. It breaks my heart to see so many lost in that “temple” of hedonistic pleasures and debauchery; here take this gift as token of my appreciation for your action.”

He offers you a prayer wheel made of iron.

“May it easy your burden in the night ahead and in the many nights to come.”

He also offers you a small piece of paper for you to put inside the device.

“I also have other prayers, holy water and rosaries I can give you have, if you a willing to do a small donation to our small temple”

At the manor entrance Lady Uberlan seem deeply offended by Xanthe command.

“First door to the right, go there and claim the room for you before someone else does I'm certainly not going to carry you there, so I'd suggest you get to it. “

She looks really disgusted with the whole thing.

“It must be a new rich or a recently acceded noble… Gods how I hate this types.”

She whispers to herself as she gives her back to the groups and leaves to small her tower.

As Tirad arrive in the dinner room, he seems a large room with a long table. The place has a fireplace and a large panting of a peasant dressed as a king feasting with his friends in a tavern. The quality of the art is good but it seems out of place since their faces and expressions are really disgusting and almost animalistic.

https://artchive.ru/res/media/big/work/9abb/9abb06ae873da983b05fbe1debd8f667.jpg?4a8a.jpg

There are seven strangers sitting in the many chairs around the long table and a little girl, serving them. She look at you, but her eyes seem empty as she was looking though you, she is using a long purple dress and a white ribbon in her hair.

The strangers greet you wishing a good evening, the first is a tall man with larger shoulders in his early forty’s, his face bears many scars and he is not particularly handsome but has bright blue eyes. The other is a young ginger woman that seems to be twenty with long hair and a beautiful face; she seems to be wearing men cloths, pants, longs boots and a brown overcoat. Next to her is another man, this one is very large and strong in his late twenty’s with a long brown beard.

In the other side of the table an extremely beautiful woman with long brown hair and wearing a black and silver dress, she is writing in a piece of paper while waiting for the girl to serve her soup. Next to her are two man that look very similar to each other, one is bald and is wearing simple commoners cloths while the other a grey tunic and a hat with a feather on it, they are both in their late twenty’s. And finally there is a tall, blond woman with long hair wearing a blue surcoat with the symbol of a white lightning bolt in her chest.

The girl pulls a chair for you and starting serving a hot soup in a plate, the others stare you as if waiting for you to introduce yourself.

As Gimlock enters the alchemy shop he sees a very handsome young man of fair hair and blue eyes, his looks and his poise are more like of a barbarian from the cold mountains than from a forest villager.

He seems distracted as he notices you he says.

“Oh… I’m sorry, can help you with anything? I’m almost closing the shop since my master went to the forest after some ingredients and still haven’t returned. Are you looking for anything in particular? An ingredient, reagent or potion?”

The girl looks frightened.



“The Silber manor? Oh no missy, please don’t go to place like that, the last duke was insane and his son was monster, I’m sure we can find somewhere else for you to stay. “

[Space Lawyer]

The sumptuous art was really quite offensive. Were it up to Tirad, the ugly piece would have been donated or sold that very night for the benefit of the poor.

He mumbles a greeting, but doesn't bother to introduce himself. He would hopefully be spending only a short time here, and would never see these people again. What did they matter?

[Dienekes]

"I was gonna make a small donation anyway," Geb says with a smile. "We got a bit of a travel ahead of us tomorrow, it's always best to get the blessing of the gods before something like that."

He didn't really expect to need any of this stuff, but he was here anyway. Besides dealing with the native gods looked good. After the song finished he gave a few coins to the church and headed out, but not before thanking the old man.

[Raunchel]

Xanthe glances over the strangers, but not as uninterested as she was in the others. Some of these might even have a hint of taste. And one of them even looks pretty. Which is good, she hates being alone at night, without a woman by her side. She gives the pretty one a smile. "I am Xanthe, countess of Thaliseth. I hope that our meeting here will lead to joyful times. Travelling is such a terribly boring thing to do, but sometimes a lady just has to go somewhere. But at least there now seems to be at long last agreeable company."

[DoctorGlock]

Nay, no fancy room for him. To many things. To many things to hide other things in. A simple room then. Less things that can listen in. Caleb, like the monk, finds himself one of the more spartan quarters and sets himself to tapping at the walls and floors, searching for hidden hollows and secret listening devices. Maybe anything that could hide a hidden gnome with a clipboard. He didn't trust the ones on people's lawns, always watching...

He didn't like the flower pot. It was too blue. Too recent. Yes, obviously disturbed. The plants were a plant! Grinning savagely at the uncovered deception he swiftly pitched the pot out the window.

There. Now the room was clear. Out of the corner of his eye he saw something skittering across the floor. A spider! But a normal spider, not a head spider. He stamped on it anyway, just in case.

Of course, now there was another issue. He was hungry. Food was good. He could start a fire and make beans. But so long as someone else was supplying food, why waste his reserves? But then if he brought all his packs to the dining hall with him people would ask questions. Start taking notes. Thinking dark things. Thought the wrong shade blue.

But if he left his stuff here someone might tamper with it. Hide a gnome or a spider in his belongings. Maybe just steal his food or his gold. They he would have to find the little bugger.

Aha! A solution! Still grinning unpleasantly he drew out one of his wands and sketched a symbol on the door. Now try to open it without disarming it. No one would be stealing his stuff now... in one piece anyway. Of course, if the servants showed up they might end up spread across the opposite wall... That meant questions.

Caleb sighed and quickly disarmed the sigil. He then redrew it on one of the locks keeping his bags shut.

Now he had deniability. Good enough. He'd have to sweep the room again when he got back though. For now he headed to the feasting hall.

(note that caleb is still massively underdressed and heavily armed)

[Space Lawyer]

The massive monk looks up as the dwarf enters the hall. He seemed to be the only one in here that came properly dressed. The wands he carried positively hummed with energy, but that seemed only sensible for a traveler in these dark times. Tirad trusted in his strength and training, but the arcane could often prove a source of overwhelming power.

Tirad scoots over, making space for the the dwarf.

[wizuriel]

Oh I was just looking. Didn't expect to see another alchemist in these parts, let alone one that would operate so openly. You and your master from around here?

Gimlock Looks amongst the bottles, judging the quality of the various concoctions in the store and the supplies.

[DoctorGlock]

A friendly gesture from the taciturn monk. Monks made terrible goobermint agents, what with the whole lack of worldly possessions. Probably not out to get him. Had one them in his old Unit back in the jungles... Seemed genuinely ok, for a talljob. A rather tall talljob at that. Grunting a thanks, Caleb took the offered seat and stared at the food. Yes, make sure anything you take has been sampled by others first. His helm might protect against mind control poisons-- not that it was effective to put them in food, spraying them from airships was more common, you could see the mist trails the chemicals left in the air, with their quick explanations of clouds and wind patterns-- but it could also just be a standard murder poison. Watch them careful now... any of them acting drugged? Antidotes were as bad as poisons in many cases, so if they had pregamed with antidote for the feast it would be showing...

[Lady Moreta]

Ariole frowned, "What do you mean exactly? It's just a house isn't it? Why should it matter what the previous tenants were like?" A little bemused, but well aware that there were plenty of unexplainable things in the world (just look at herself for that matter), Ariole quietly stretched her senses towards the girl, wondering if it would be worth trying to go deeper into her thoughts.

At this stage, just trying to get a better feel for her emotions, specifically surrounding the Silber manor. Depending on that, Ariole may attempt to actually read her thoughts.

[Shamash]

The priest smiles to Geb.

“Here take this”

He offers him a small bottle made of silver.

“Use it when youare in the need the gods light or to protect you from the darkness.”

The priest grabs the coins and locked them in a small golden box.

“Farewell traveler. And don’t forget, the long night has no stars.”

He looks deep intro Geb’s eyes.

“Remember this since it may save your life one day.”


In the dinner room the woman in the black dress stop writing and stares at the new guests.

“Oh my, such a… Peculiar…Group of travelers, may I ask what brings you all to this parts?”


In the alchemist shop the apprentice says.

“Mr.Coltia started working with flowers; people saw how beautiful they were and how positive the transfigurations created by alchemy can be, so they end up not only tolerating his practices but actually fully supporting. Well almost everyone, the town physician believes that alchemical potions are something bad for your heath and the two have been enemies so far.”

The young man looks intrigued.

“Are you also a practitioner of the art?”


At the stables

“That place is bad missy; horrible things were done there… I saw some please come with me we can find you another place to stay.”

You can feel that the girl is uncomfortable by just speaking about the place, you can feel fear and trauma sensations in her mind.

[Raunchel]

Xanthe has an obvious look of disgust on her face, she hates sharing any sort of space with commoners, unless they are pretty common girls of course, but those are far too rare. And she is so lonely. And then the question. Why not something fun? something interesting. Always bussiness. Well, she can do that too. As high-heartedly as one of the most spoiled people in the world can, she answers: "As I said, I am on my way to some of my outlying estates, for some fresh country air. But the country is so utterly and completely dull."

[DoctorGlock]

Inside, Caleb's unpleasant grin was back in full force. That little government twit was in for some unpleasant surprises, should she even survive long enough to make is back home. It would be burned down by the plundering soldiers of the shadow government...

Of course, traveling alone and unable to even open a door, he doubted that would be a problem.

'Through, not to,' Caleb grunts. 'Won't do to be caught in your own beds when the footsoldiers of the Ubelite Occupational Government come through.'

[Space Lawyer]

These people did sure seem to be a curious lot. "To get out of the way of an invading army, much as any sane being would do." The dwarf again shows that he might be the most sensible person in this odd little town by his answer.

[Lady Moreta]

Ariole frowns, country superstitions are one thing, actual 'horrible things' might be something else. She didn't consider herself to be particularly superstitious but the girl's obvious fear was - more than a little disturbing.

"What 'horrible things' do you mean?" she asked.

[Shamash]

"Oh..."

Says the woman in black to Xanthe

"So you are not traveling together? I can see a woman with your tastes for cloths would not be accompanied by such terrible dressed bodyguards."

She smirks at her.

"Don't strike you as odd that so many travelers end up in the same place by pure chance?"

She looks at the monk and the dwarf.

"Don't tell me you believe in all this propaganda done by the king the Ubel army would be---"

She is interrupted by the red headed woman.

"We already told you Alice that you should keep your deviant political opinions to yourself!"




At the stables the girl looks horrified.

"I can't say much, but you got to believe me!"

At this moment a voice interrupts you two.

"What is going on here?"

A tall man with long black hair enter the stables, he is wearing a white tunic and a metallic gauntlet. His eyes are closed, he appears to be blind.

"Teresa Your father is waiting for you in your house. He will only come to spend the night with the horses when he knows you are safe at home."

Even with his eyes closed he turn his head to you.

"And who are you supposed to be? The day is almost over, we are closing."

[Raunchel]

"Of course I don't travel with such ruffians!", Xanthe exclaims, "My servants however seem to have lost themselves along the way. Such terrible people, one would almost be tempted to belief that the lower orders don't have the ability to think.", she smiles back at the woman in black, in her most seductive way.

[DoctorGlock]

'It's mutual,' the normally taciturn dwarf grunts. 'Couldn't pay me enough to go looking after rich snot-nosed children that can't find their ass-holes with two hands and a map. Assuming half of 'em could read the thing.'

He eyed the ale suspiciously. Not for poison this time, but because it looked like the kind of piss-beer human brewed. Not real beer at all.

'And,' he snaps at the outspoken dissident, 'everyone be entitled to his own opinion, but nae their own facts. I saw full well the results of their shadow war. Now we all reap what they sowed, and prattling about like a paid shill ain't gonna change them facts..'

[Dienekes]

Long night, no stars. Got it, crazy old man. Geb thought, as he forced a smile and nodded as he accepted the gifts. Why is he so disturbingly weird? Is that normal for these priest types in this land?

Still attempting to be friendly, Geb stashed the items and headed toward the local tavern, hoping that the ale was flowing and the women were already drunk.

[Lady Moreta]

"Ariole Gurningsdotter," Ariole said, a little startled, and looking longingly after the retreating Teresa. She'd probably have been able to get more information out of the girl if this man hadn't shown up. "I'm passing through the town, your mayor, I think? offered myself and a few other travellers a place to stay for the night. In the Silber manor." She added the last quite deliberately, staring hard and concentrating - was this man going to give the same reaction the girl had?

[Space Lawyer]

Breathe in, breathe out. That was all it took to rid his thoughts of the annoyance created by the red-head named Alice and the noble who called herself, what was it, Zint? Not particularly important. Still, the girl's foolishness could not go unanswered. Allowing such ignorance to stand would go against everything his order believed in.

"Perhaps you have not read much history. In war, it matters little who is lying, who is righteous, who is just. All that matters is that there is an invading, conquering army bearing down on the land. There has never been an army that did not pillage to feed itself food and gold. Have you never heard "The Wings of Almaedon" or strains of "Remal's Dirge"? think on those, and you will know what war is truly like. The Ubellians will burn this land to the bedrock, simply because they can."

[Raunchel]

Xanthe hears some boring droning about books, and turns her head to its source. "That seems excessively boring. Wars are boring like that, only good for becoming a widow like me! Unless there are nice romances in there? Are they romantic? I like romances.", as she says that last thing, she glances mischievously at the lady.

[DoctorGlock]

Caleb exchanges a glance with the monk. 'We dwarves be havin' a phrase too. If ye beat your head against a stone, 'tis your head that breaks first. And that there may be the hardest stone I ever did see.' Eyeing the beer with distaste he downs a mugful and grimaces. 'Ye might as well enjoy t' pisswater, we be stuck with it 'till mornin's light.'

[Space Lawyer]

"If the beer is pisswater, then I'm certainly glad I do not partake. My vows are quite strict in regards to pollution of the body." He looks at Xanthe. "I certainly won't be surpised when she gets run out of town." He turns back to the dwarf. Here was one it seemed worthwhile to give his name to."I am Tirad Yera, brother of the Temple of the Hidden Mountain. What name do you go by?"

[Raunchel]

Xanthe has the feeling that people are talking about her, but she can't place it exactly. She likes it when others speak about her, of course she does. She is important after all, and beautiful. And, at least in her own mind, intelligent. "Why would anyone beat their head against a stone? That is really silly, only a peasant would do something like that!"

[DoctorGlock]

'Caleb McKenzie, of nowhere important in particular. Just an old fool who fought in the wrong war.' Grimacing at the pisswater, he draws a hidden flask out of one of his many pockets. 'And I suppose that leaves more pollution for me,' he says as he unstoppers it, a rank and ungodly strong reek filling the air. 'But the past is another country, literally in this case. Now the time to get prospecting somewhere without marauding soldiers. You reckon betting goes against your vows?'

[Space Lawyer]

"I'm quite sure it doesn't. After all, gambling successfully requires clear thought. Not to mention that wagering such things such as unpleasant duties on various competitions was one of the greatest entertainments we had at the monastery." Tirad had once foisted off an entire week of middens duty off an acolyte who had challenged him to a race up the waterfall. "I do not think it is such a gamble to go prospecting in a new land though. There is always wealth to found underfoot, be it gold or wisdom."

[DoctorGlock]

"I'm quite sure it doesn't. After all, gambling successfully requires clear thought. Not to mention that wagering such things such as unpleasant duties on various competitions was one of the greatest entertainments we had at the monastery." Tirad had once foisted off an entire week of middens duty off an acolyte who had challenged him to a race up the waterfall. "I do not think it is such a gamble to go prospecting in a new land though. There is always wealth to found underfoot, be it gold or wisdom."

Caleb let out a low chuckle. 'We made similar bets back in me army days, though 'who takes point' meant the stakes were pretty high. Hell, had I lost that one it'd be me that got his head blown off that one time and not Vance. Nay, not a gamble on new starts, especially when the alternative be certain. I meant on your statement. I reckon she be run outta town meself, so I'd hardly bet against you. The question is how long it takes?'

[wizuriel]

Oh I dabble a little, more of an interest really Gimlock lied, trying to hide how much information he already stupidly divulged.

I should probably be going, before the weather gets any worse. Gimlock will hastily retreat to the manor.

[Space Lawyer]

"These townsfolk seem welcoming, if incredibly strange, and it would be a safe assumption that she has enough wealth with her even now that she could spread enough gold to mollify a great deal of irritation. That being said, I'll give it to the end of the long night. Then they'll place her outside the town's borders and politely ask her to never return." It was a good thing for Xanthe that this wasn't the monastery. There, she would have either been severely punished for such behavior or simply thrown out. "Personally, I cannot wait to leave this place. It isn't the place to found a new monastery."

[DoctorGlock]

['Think she'll last the full night, huh? Money talks, horse-**** walks, after all. I'm thinking a jilted servant shivs here or otherwise makes her life miserable well before the night is over, gold and all. The pride of small folks sometimes outweighs coin.' He thought back and grinned. 'We had a boy like that back in Taigon, some local lordlin's get. Sarge put him t' cleanin latrines for a full month. Still hadn't cured t' kid's bull****. Sent him into the tunnels next. Shut it real fast after that.'

[Shamash]

Alice look at the blonde girl in clerical garments and says.

"Did you hear that? Another monk, as if we didn't have enough of your ilk."

She finish writing in her scroll and take her plate and some grapes with her.

"I will finish my meal in the comfort of my chambers, I also check if our monk plans to starve himself to death in the chapel."

As she heads to the door she give a look of disdain to both Caleb and Tirad.

"I hope we get along and that you enjoy the night."

She stares Xanthe in the eyes.

"I'm sure I will."



The blonde woman seems embarrassed by her colleague behavior.

"You have to forgive Alice we all had a long day."

The small servant girl enter the room again, now bringing a long tray with different kinds of meat. She also carries many keys on her belt.



Gimlock arrives in the entrance hall. A large square room with white marble walls and many candles all around. There also many glass orbs, probably the artificial light machine the elder mentioned.

There are two doors to your right and two doors to your left. A large lit fireplace in front of you and dual staircases leading to the second floor.

Where do you plan to go?



At the stables the man seems to be more worried about everybody getting inside before the night starts than the mansion.

Teresa still kind of frightened gives you a fast wave of hand and goes away.

The man still staring at you with his closed eyes.

"Well if you are one of the elder guests what are you still doing here? Get going! The father of that girl you just saw will soon come here to stay with the animals."

[wizuriel]

Shivering a bit from the cold and his still wet rages, Gimlock heads to the fire on the left to try and warm up.

[Space Lawyer]

Apparently Alice was ignorant of the different monastic orders as she was of history. Still, Tirad would have to visit the chapel at some point. Though his order's beliefs were quite deviant from most other's, they still showed respect to the gods.

[Shamash]

Geb now heads to the tavern, but he sees many clients all drunken exiting the place, a tall and imposing woman is outside, sealing the windows with wooden planks.

It seems the tavern is closing.


At the manor after finishing the meals, the little girl comes to pick up the plates, everyone get up and leave the room.

Where do you three plan to go now?

[Space Lawyer]

Tirad rises and gathers his things. The chapel was his next destination. It seemed likely that he would encounter that thoroughly unpleasant Alice woman, but perhaps such was a test the gods had given him. After all, not all trials came grand forms like invading armies and collapsing states. "I must pay my respects to the gods. They did not see fit to give the Unconquerable Trial yet."

[Shamash]

Going to the first floor Tirad notices a large double door decorated with many small figurines of angels, you assume that is the way to the chapel and enter. The door is unlocked.

You enter a long room, with many candles and candle-holders; there are some wooden church benches and bookshelves around the place.

There is a large painting of a woman and two angels in front of you, as if welcoming all who enter the place. The walls are decorated with many statues of saints with a large one to the south.

http://d3swacfcujrr1g.cloudfront.net/img/uploads/2000/01/002079004019.jpg

In front of the altar to the north, a frail and pale man is praying, he is kneeing and with his eyes closed.

He is wearing long black robes with a hood. In his hands a special type of rosary, it is black and has a silver star in the end with a small glass sphere, inside it a fragment of a saint’s bone. He must be an important monk to carry such relic. He looks sick and weak physically, but his piety seems to be more important to his order.

There is no sigh of the woman from the dinner room she must have gone somewhere else first.

[Raunchel]

Xanthe smiles: "This misfortune however must be continued. Travelling is so disastrous lately. I wish to retire, to a lonely night in this horrid place."

[Space Lawyer]

Pah! These foolish ascetics. They denied themselves the world, and by doing so removed themselves from it, rendering them wholly ineffective at dealing with worldly matters. What was the point of a monk that could not actually do anything in this life? Let the gilt priests say words for gods they had never heard from; a monk's duty was to act.

Tirad walks to the front and kneels beside the other monk, genuflecting.

[Dienekes]

Damn, seems I'm late.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, m'dear," he says to the tall lady. "But I've been traveling all day, could you find it in your heart to keep the tavern open for just one drink more. I have coin." He holds up a silver piece to her, to show he isn't lying. "Just a drop of liquid happiness would mean the world."

[DoctorGlock]

Caleb watched the monk leave. He could keep his gods. Until the government banned them anyway. Next to leave was the rich tit. Caleb could guess where those two were headed. Not that he needed to, given how obvious she had been. He took a last swig of the pisswater. It didn't taste like mind control flouride, it was probably safe.

No gods for him. No romantic dalliances. And while he'd love to pass the time by blowing some old crap up in the back, here that would only attract the authorities, and that was almost as bad as revenooers.

Well, if nothing else he'd go to bed clean. Grumbling Caleb went off in search of a washroom.

[Shamash]

Xanthe arrives in her room.

It is a well decorated room with no windows, there is a large double bed, a fireplace, a bookshelf, a wooden bathtub, a table, a wardrobe and a painting of an art gallery.

http://36.media.tumblr.com/935a587c9f4fd10a804a7e1593b4f433/tumblr_n0ca0nmk6Y1to55gmo4_1280.jpg

The woman smile at Geb.

"Sure, I will fetch soemthign for you. Come inside."

The tavern is big, full of tables and with a small stage.

She goes behind the counter and asks.

"What can I do for you traveler?"




The house seems very big. Where will Caleb start? In the second floor or go back to the first floor?

[Raunchel]

Xanthe waits for her maid to help her undress, the last of the servants who was travelling with her. She simply does not know how to do such things herself, which has on occasion led to awkward situations.

After being undressed Xanthe steps into the bed, she feels tired, but also terribly lonely.

[Dienekes]

Geb gave the tall woman his winning smile. "Since you're being so kind to me, how about something a little more expensive than the grog folk normally drink. You deserve a nice pay for being so sweet to a wary traveler such as myself."

[wizuriel]

Having warmed up a bit by the fire, Gimlock decided to explore the mansion; maybe there is food somewhere around?

[Shamash]

She smiles at Geb.

"For more that I would love to sell you my most expensive products. The merchants that just got out of here already bought all of it. I only have some beer, wine and ale. What will you be having?"

The sound of bells ringing, echoes through out the town.

The woman look up.

"So it begins..."

She looks at Geb in the eyes.

"Are you afraid of the night?"



The sound of bells echoes in the mansion.

The long night has officially begun.



Gimlock noticed the smell of food coming from the second floor. He goes up the double stairs in the main hall.

He now finds himself in a small hall in the second floor, he sees a large double door in front of him, two smaller double doors to his right and two small single doors to his right.

Where do you want to go?


Caleb find a metal basin with water in his room. He hear the bells. The night has began.



At the chapel the monk open his eyes as he hears the bells and say in a deep voice.

"May the gods watch over us."

He get up and leave the room.

[wizuriel]

Hello Gimlock calls out anyone here?

[Dienekes]

"An ale would be most welcome, my lady." Geb says as he takes a seat, and reaches for his coin pouch.

It was then that the girl started acting a bit strange. What was beginning?

"Uh, no. I'd be a pisspour guide if I was."

[Shamash]

One of the double doors to the Gimlock's right open.

A small and young girl dressed in purple and with a ribbon on her hair sings with her hand for you to enter.

It is a large dinner room, there are no windows.The place has a fireplace, a long table and a large panting of a peasant dressed as a king feasting with his friends in a tavern. The quality of the art is good but it seems out of place since their faces and expressions are really disgusting and almost animalistic.

In the long table the girl serves you a plate o soup, bread and some meat.

Next to the fireplace is a man wearing a black robe.You saw him leaving what appears to be the chapel and heading here.

He mumbles something. It may be some sort of holy light prayer.

"Speak not of the dark gods, Draw not the dark gods, Write not the dark gods, Sculpt not the dark gods, Sing not the dark gods, Call not the dark gods' name.

Do none this things and yet the unholy faith will naturally spread. For the human heart is sinful and no matter how bright the holy light is the shadow is our hearts grow larger and stronger.

We are unworthy, we are wicked and only the light can reveal the way to salvation."





The woman laughs.

"The holy light church teach us that the night is evil. I got to say when you live as long as I have lived you learn that the true wicked don't care if the sun is in the sky or not."

She serves you the Ale and leaves the bottle. You start to notice that her facial features and details of the face indicate an elfish heritage.

"I have seen some really weird things around this woods. If you ever have to choose between certain doom or escape through the woods during the long night. Choose death it may be cleaner."

She smiles.

[Dienekes]

"I've realized much the same," Geb said in agreement when the elf girl started talking about evils of night and day. If that was her attempt at small talk she was impressively bad at it.

Then she went on about choosing certain death over moving through the woods. What was this girl on about? It was there that Geb decided not to try to seduce this one, he'd learned long ago, do not go to bed with crazies. Sure they could be fun, but getting rid of them afterwards could get messy.

Geb just nodded in agreement when he felt it was appropriate and drank.

[Shamash]

She goes on with a more casual small talk.

The war, bard songs, food and the like.

After you finish your drink, a man dressedd like a butcher enters and starts talking to her.

She waves with her hand to you and shouts.

"Beware of the night, I hope to see you again."

[wizuriel]

Gimlock is feeling very uneasy about this place, still the food does look good.

As Gimlock goes to sit down.

"What kind of things live in the woods here? I would have thought this would have been a safe area?

Gimlock is going carefully smell the food/wine before trying it.

[Shamash]

You can smell something weird with your food.

It seems to be a combination of alchemical ingredients. Not the poison kind, they are normally used to make sure a person will have a good night of sleep.

You wonder why someone would put a sleep potion in your food. Either the host is really worried about your rest or something weird is going on.

[Dienekes]

"Thank you, I will," Geb said as he finished his drink and left.

Crazy lady, at least she kept the bar open for my last drink though. Geb stretched his shoulders, and then headed for the house he was to spend the night in.

[Shamash]

Xanthe, wakes up. Her room is pure darkness, she can't see a thing. But she can feel that there is someone in the room with her, staring her, watching.

As Geb makes his way to the mansion he starts feeling drowsy, his eyes are heavy. He is about to colapse in the middle of the way. What do you do?

[Raunchel]

Xanthe looks around, presuming that there must be some servant. "Hello?"

[Dienekes]

The hell? I didn't drink that much. Geb thought as he started to wobble. Oh, no the crazy lady. What did she do to me? He attempted to steady himself on a nearby wall, then slumped down so as not to land on anything hard. He needed someone to help him, if the crazy lady found him who knows what she'd do to him.

"Help," he tries to call out. "I think I've been poisoned. Help me."

[wizuriel]

With a sigh Gimlock puts down the food, though he does longingly stare at it and wonder just how strong the potion might be.

I think I will actually take some of this for later he says as he packs a bit of the food into some containers he keeps on him. fatgue from so much travelling has left my stomache in a weird frame of mind, but I'm sure later will be famished. Which way to a room I might rest in?.

He just hopes the lady can't hear his stomach protesting

[Shamash]

"You must leave this place..." Says the voice of a young woman.

"There is nothing for you here. Leave, now! It is too late for your servants. It is too late for your things. Go, leave! NOW!"







Geb's vision starts to fade. All starts to get black. You faint.

You start hearing some kind of music (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2EEhoACb9w), you wake up with a terrible headache.

You are back at the tavern. But the whole place is covered in black paint. You are sitting in a table. In front of you there is a tall men with short blond hair. He is wearing black robes and holding cards.

Next to his chair there is a Raven. The men appears to be talking to the bird and ignoring your presence.

"What do you think? Should I play this card now? No? Well if I don't play it now, I'm not sure if I will ever be able to play it! What do you mean I know nothing? You are a bird!"





The girl looks at Gimlock. Her eyes are lifeless. The monk stops his prayer and says.

"She is mute, so she won't be able to answer your question. The rooms of this place are in the first floor, to the right simple rooms to the left better rooms."

[Raunchel]

Xanthe finds herself in a situation that simply is too complex for her. There is a girl. In her room. While she is in bed. And the girl is not a servant, and also not a lover. That doesn't fit with anything she understands. And to make it worse, this girl, who might or might not be pretty, wants her to do something. To leave. She just doesn't understand it, and takes the solution that to her is the most sensible: "Go away. Can't you see that I'm busy with something important? "

And she turns around, the whole issue flowing from her mind.

[Shamash]

“It is no use... “

“LISEN TO ME!” Fire light up candles and you realize you are not in your room anymore, but in an art gallery identical to the painting in your room.

In front of you is a young and beautiful maiden. She has white hair, not that old and frail white hair of the elders and ancient scholars but shiny as pure silver.

“He is already upon you; whatever you do don’t trust what she says!”

You feel a needle prick in your neck and wakes up.

You are at your bed; it seems all was a dream, you see that woman in dressed in black in front of you. She appears to be talking to the lit fireplace that you don’t recall lighting any fire or ordering someone to do it. She is holding a golden pin dripping off crimson blood.

“I have already used the anchor, but she is still asleep.”

[Raunchel]

Xanthe wonders what all this means, it all is far too confusing to her. And then she is hurt! She hates being hurt! It's a terrible thing, and it is forbidden for a very good reason. The few times that she has been harmed, for instance when that awful Count Fiternian stepped on her toe, there has always been a brave young man willing to take up her cause, and to kill the criminal in a duel.

And if it is a servant, she just has her whipped and sent away. There is no reason at all to ever inflict harm on a lady. And so, she slightly raises her voice: "Stop this at once! I command you! And explain yourself!"

[Shamash]

She looks at you surprised.

"Never mind, she is up now"

She pulls a chair, sit down and look at you.

"Hey I'm glad you are wake, it is me Alice we meet in the dining room."

She seems uncomfortable.

"Look, there is no easy way for to explain this to you... Tell me do you believe in the supernatural? Because, there are some weird things going on in this house. I'm here to protect you. So you have to do what i say. Please stay in this room. Don't leave. You mustn’t leave this room your life depends on this. Also don't sleep. EVER.At least for now"

She put her hands in your shoulders.

"Can you do that? Please trust me!"

[Raunchel]

Xanthe looks up at the girl, she can vaguely recognize her, but she is rather bad with faces. Or anything involving the use of her mind really. "Huh?", she asks, "But I am tired, even if I believe in the supernatural. How else could I lose so many things only to have them show up somewhere around me?"

[Shamash]

"What?"

She looks kind of confused.

"Look I still have to check on some other people so just do as I say. I have to go now"

She open the door of your room, the hallway is completely dark. And she despair as she enter the darkness.

The door close. What would you like to do now?

[Dienekes]

Geb says nothing, in fact he attempts to appear still unconscious as he checks to see if he is in any way tied to the chair and if his weapons have been taken from him.

[Raunchel]

Xanthe remains in her bed, utterly baffled. She has to stay there to be safe. But from what? Supernatural powers? Or her enemies perhaps. She doesn't know, but figures that it is better to stay in bed for now.

But there is a problem, she can't sleep, and she can't leave. She needs something to do.

She sits upright, and starts working on her hair, she is going for something spectacular, something that will take hours, a hundred braids, fused and split into a complex pattern and interspaced with pearls. A plan that she has had for some time now.

[Shamash]

You are not tied to the chair but he did take his time to remove your weapons... And dress you in a nice and fancy white suit.




As Xanthe remains in her bed she stars to hear some kind of weird sound. As she looks to it she notices that the floor is now covered with rattlesnakes.

[Raunchel]

Xanthe does what any moderately sane person would do. She stands up and shrieks. She is afraid of snakes, really, really afraid.

[Shamash]

You hear a laguth. As you look at your mirror you see the is the silhouette of a man, a shadow-like creature with glowing white eyes.

He starts talkig to you with a normal sounding voice.

"She tricked you! How cleaver,oeherphs there is somehopeforher afterall. If you want I can take the snakes away. But formeto do that you will have to promisemeyou will get out of here, leave this place."

You can feel his glowing white eyes are looking at yours.

"Can you do that?"

[Raunchel]

Xanthe is almost struck dumb with fear, but she manages to force some high squeels from her throat, through her frightened tears: "Make them go! I want to leave!"

[Shamash]

The shadow creature in the mirror disappears and with it the snakes.

The door of your room opens and reveals a complete pitch black darkness.

What do you do?

[Raunchel]

Xanthe, the psychically abused noblewoman, carefully steps from her bed, glancing around, and she heads to the door, which she peeks around, trying to be sneaky, even though she does manage to almost stuble over her own legs.

[Shamash]

You see nothing but darkness. After completely crossing the door the door slams and the whole hallway becomes illuminated. You see many nobles wearing masks. The small glass orbs in the walls are radiating artificial light.

One of you servants approaches you.

"You are finally wake m'lady, good to see that you are using one of your best dresses."

You notice the cloths you were wearing transmuted from your sleeping outfit to your best evening gown.

"The lord of the house returned and now is giving a masquerade for his guests; many nobles have come with him. He is waiting for you in the ballroom. Witch ask would you rather use?"

She is holding a bronze mask of a fox and a silver mask of a rabbit.

[Raunchel]

Suddenly everything is clear to Xanthe, she has been having a horrible dream, but now she is awake, and everything makes sense again. Of course there is a ball, and she is ready for it. "I will be the fox tonight."

[Shamash]

The servant girl handed over the bronze fox mask.

And Xanthe walks thougth the mansion she arives in the entrance hall many nobles and well dressed servants are around.

A small orchestra is getting ready to play.

A butler approaches you with two glasses one with red wine and the other with a weird green liquid.

"Do you want something to drink m'lady?" He asks

[Raunchel]

Xanthe of course says nothing and takes one of the glasses without thinking. It just so happens to be the red. She walks into the assembly and looks for what is most important to her. People to be admired by. Preferably pretty ladies.

[Shamash]

It seems that all the nobles are paying attention in you... even more than usual almost ina creepy way.

A young lady with raven hair wearing a silver lynx mask and a black dress is near the entrance of the chapel. She is staring you.

Two young man are about to start dueling for the hearth of a young lady with fair hair wearing a red dress and a crimson peacock mask. She could not pay less attention for them and seems to be bored with this whole celebration this dull facial expressions changes as you enter the room.

What do you want to do?

[Raunchel]

Xanthe feels a weight lifted off her shoulders, she must have finally improved her hair. Although there is a little voice in the back of her head telling her that she is wrong. That it is all wrong. But as usual, that little voice which others might call common sense is pushed away, there are hearts to be won. She looks over the crowd, and can feel her heart beating.

There is only one question in the head of the countess, dark or fair? It is hard for her to think about such matters, she follows her heart, her instincts. In her experience there are few of her taste, and to meet two at once who might be is a rarity. She can't decide, her mind is not made for thinking.

Xanthe follows her feet and finds herself near the raven lady, even though there is the suggestion of a thought, to take her to the fair and perhaps to accompany them both. She smiles her sweetest smile. "This truly is a wonderful place tonight, to be graced by so many of good standing. Alas, I am merely travelling and unfamiliar with them, would you do me the kindness to be introduced to me, Xanthe of Thaliseth, widow and countess.

[Shamash]

The lady takes your hand a kiss it. A not very common gesture for a lady to do.

"I’m honored to finally meet you. It is refreshing to see a real noble around his part. The duke is a good man but far too many merchants who bought their way to nobility are present in this place. My condolences. Was it recent loss? Let us not worry about sad things today after this is a party. I'm Sara by the way. How about a little of music? The orchestra is not ready yet but I think this there is a music room somewhere around."

You notice she talks quite a lot you have problems keep up with all she is saying. She grabs you by the hand and drags you around to the opposite door.

You two enter a very large room divided in two sections. One has a big map of the world as a fresco in the wall and the other has bright pink walls and is full of musical instruments and weird boxes in a table.

There is a large double door made of glass that takes you to the library.

Sara start examining one of the metal boxes and end up opening it, a delicate music stats to play (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyknBTm_YyM), it must be one of those mechanical music boxes you heard about... But this song... It looks familiar to you, it is a music you heard when you were a child. It is a music about death and how death strike both noble and peasants alike. It was banned by the king a long time ago but you never completely forgot how terrifying that idea was... That memento mori haunted you for many years.

A butler interrupts you and informs that the duke wants to see you in the ballroom upstairs.

[Raunchel]

Xanthe smiles at the kissing touch. It might be a little scandalous, but therebis nothing wrong with a little of that. Just not too much.

"The count is unimportant now, we are here, he is not. Let us find the music. It is so enjoyable to be accompanied by the sounds."

She speaks fast, which is a common problem for Xanthe, although she mostly misses what the boring noblemen have to say, never the words of a pretty lady. She is alone now, and feels tempted to embrace her new hopefully special friend. She wonders what her lips will taste like.

But then the music starts, and Xanthe starts to feel terrible. Dhe hates that music, even though she can never quite remember its name. But the mere sound is enough to cause tears to start to form.

The butler saves her. "Oh, of course. Do show me the way."

[Shamash]

As you enter the ballroom you notice it is also illuminated with those artificial light glass orbs. An orchestra is playing and many couples of nobles are dancing wearing elaborated masks and dresses.

The duke is a young and handsome man drinking that weird green liquid in a glass and wearing a plain white mask.

As you enter the room he raises his glass and the music stop.

"Ah! At least, my special guest has arrived."

All the nobles stop dancing and look at you... But soon you notice that they are actually looking at the doors you just came in.

As you turn around you see a grotesque creature. It is a huge and obese albino larval monstrosity.

This disgusting maggot creature is wearing rags and a horrible makeup on its face as you look closer you notice the rags are actually a mockery of your own dress.

Two small tentacles like arms emerge from it and hold in front of the deformed "face" a rusty fox mask.

The duke goes on.

"The noble has arrived."

"To all my special guests meet Xanthe." He points with his hand to the creature.

[Raunchel]

At last, the reception she deserves. People look, as they should, and the duke honours her. He should of course, she is a peeress, and not one of the lesser ones. She is Thaliseth, and far more importantly, she is prettierthan anyone here. And she knows it.

But no, they're not looking, she looks behind het in surprise. The surprise soon turns into pure shock, her eyes become as wide as plates and all the colour drains from her pretty face. It is so hideous, so monstrous. It is wrong, very wrong.

She can't move, not even her unstoppable tongue makes the slightest motion. Her breathing stops, but she sees and she hears as she collapses onto the ground, fainting.

[Shamash]

You start hearing some kind of music, you wake up with a terrible headache.

You are in the same ballroom, but the whole place is covered in white paint. You are sitting in a throne. In front of you there is a tall men with short blonde hair. He is wearing white robes and has a raven in his shoulder. The man appears to be talking to the bird and ignoring your presence.

"This is terrible. How can I trust someone who just.. just do that? The power may be good but how can I trust in it? It will be gone in a blink of an eye at this rate."

What do you want to do?

[Raunchel]

I blink once, the scene remains. I repeat it, and everything stays as I just saw it. I feel strange, still dizzy and cold. Afraid even. I just can't force the memory to leave. Such monstrosity. I blink again, and adjust my position. I know how to be enthroned, I am Thaliseth, and in my fief all listen to my wisdom. The only problem is that it is really boring, so I've been there only once.

I hear the stranger speak, and don't get it. I know the words, but what do they mean? Thinking about it makes my head hurt, like thinking tends to do, even more so than the pain that I already suffer. I blink again, and ask: "With your pardon, may I ask what was done?", as my head tilts downwards, to see myself, afraid of seeing the monster in my mind.