WindStruck and Zene's The Haunting IC

[zingbobco000]

Eyyyyy!! Nice.
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Spoiler: Extra Critical Success Information

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You're quite confident that while Lois might know how to handle herself in a fight... the prospect of this being supernatural is causing her a great deal of stress, which she is then utilizing the "respect" aspect to try and cover over. This is further exemplified by her attempt at faux confusion to create humor within the group, alleviating tension.

Lois nods, "Already prepared..." She pats a backpack at her side. "Plus a little somethin' extra... just in case..." At that point, she wears a mischievous grin and does not really want to discuss anything further.

[zingbobco000]

Whoops, just saw Zene's post... sorry for double posting!
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You walk through town, silverware in hand, backpack in tow, and the extraordinarily large book still somehow being totted around by Yitzhak (I just find this comedic, if that's not the case, let me know). Eventually, you arrive, back at the House on Sheafe St....
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Resume boxed text!
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The brick building is overshadowed by taller, newer office buildings on either side. The house fronts the street. In the rear are overgrown plantings and a half-collapsed arbor. Access to the rear exists on either side of the residence.
Studying the house, the observer is impressed by the way the house seems to withdraw into the shadows cast by the flanking buildings, and how the blank curtained windows hide all understanding of what lies within. As Lois takes the keys out from her backpack ("Arghhh pockets!"), unlocks the many bolts and locks, and opens the door.

Spoiler: I Wonder What Those Images Were For

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Spoiler: Deirdre McCoy

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Spoiler: Yitzhak Laskov

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The hallway is old, dusty, and clearly has been out of use for some time. Paint has peeled from the wall of the hall as old picture frames lie crooked or fallen from their pegs. Several doors line the hallway leading to different portions of the home, but all have clearly not been used in some time. The lights appear to be out, but with a tap from Lois, they all suddenly flicker to life. "Ok? Well then..." She exhales deeply, and with a cry notes. "No ghost is going to scare me!" Several office workers look strangely at her, but nevertheless, they gave little note to the strange house the days prior, why care about it today?

[WindStruck]

"Um.. right, Lois," Deirdre says with a smile, trying to give her some encouragement. "I'm sure that ghost is going to regret crossing paths with you."

Looking sheepishly at Izzy, she asks, "Well, shall we all just stick together? Take a look at the bottom floor first?"

[zingbobco000]

Lois shrugs, "I mean... tha' rooms are right 'ere, we could jus' take a quick peek..."

Spoiler: Successful Idea (Intelligence) Roll (Hard for Deirdre McCoy)

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Also there was that weird attic that wasn't on any of the floor plans...

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There's that "insatiable curiosity" flaw coupled with a lack of patience again.

[Zene]

Idea: (d100)[45]

[Zene]

Izzy gulps, and nods. ”Sticking together sounds great. I’m tempted to check out the mystery attic—that wasn’t on the plans—first. Since we expect the body is in the basement, if this really is a haunting...that’d probably be the worst part.”

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[zingbobco000]

Lois grins impishly, "I don' care much, I jus' wanna check out all tha' rooms!"

[WindStruck]

Deirdre says, "Fine, that's fair enough. Lets just stick together.."

[Zene]

Izzy follows Lois’ lead.

[zingbobco000]

The floorboards creak as you enter the hall. You notice that most of the fallen photos are that of the Marcario family, Gabriela, Vittorio, and the two children. They look so calm... so... happy. Lois then opens the set of double doors. The room contains conventional furnishings: a radio, couch, stuffed chairs and shelves laden with gewgaws. You cannot help but notice the unusual quantities of crosses, images of the Virgin and other Catholic artifacts.

Spoiler: Hard Listen Roll

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You hear something fall, maybe a book? Although you can't exactly pinpoint the sound, almost like it echoed from all around you.

You also notice that the room contains an open passageway into what you can only assume to be a dining room, but neither of you can see much of it at this point. Lois takes a peek inside. And after several confused and worried expressions concerning the state of the room, heads off an opens the next door to the North. This area is filled with boxes and junk, such as rusted water tanks and old bicycles.

Spoiler: Hard Spot Hidden

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One of the deflated old bicycle wheels just came to a stop right as you looked into the room.

Lois looks slightly perturbed by both rooms... but nevertheless, she presses on through the hallway, creaking step by step.
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Anything you both wanted to do, or should we press on?
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Spoiler: Area Map (Both of You)

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[Zene]

Listen: (d100)[56]
Spot Hidden: (d100)[3]

[WindStruck]

Deirdre winces a bit and shakes her head.

Spoiler: Zing

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im going to say Deirdre's ears start to randomly ring for a short while, though not an effect that really lasts long

After peeking in the storage room, she holds onto Izzy's arm, her grip slightly firm with apprehension.

[zingbobco000]

Spoiler: WindStruck

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That sounds fine to me.

[Zene]

Izzy blushes slightly as Deirdre takes his arm, but doesn’t move away.
As he looks into the junk room, he gasps. Izzy then motions to Deirdre, and taps Lois lightly on the shoulder to get her attention. He puts his finger up to his lips in the “shush” position, and walks as quietly as he can into the junk room. Eyes wide, alert for any signs of movement.

[zingbobco000]

Lois looks at you strangely as Yitzhak taps her on the shoulder, "Izzy, what're ya'-..." As the hand of shushing goes up. Creeping into the room you see... nothing. There's nothing here but discarded old junk, rusty metal bits that seem to fall to pieces at a single touch... strange...

Spoiler: Updated Area

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[WindStruck]

In that case, Deirdre lets go of Izzy for now, ultimately staying still but looking around, ahead, and behind them for.. anything. Any sort of danger.

[zingbobco000]

Spoiler: Deirdre McCoy

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The trees shudder in the breeze. There's a momentary movement of the door as the wind grasps at it ever so slightly, at least, hopefully, that's the wind...

[Zene]

”Huh.”

Izzy drops the pretense of stealth. ”That bike tire there was just coming to a stop as I looked in. Like someone had spun it, or bumped it.”

He looks around for any exits or closets, or anywhere a draft could have come from.

[WindStruck]

Some sort of irrational fear of being trapped inside here began to fill Deirdre. As it seemed the wind moved and pushed on the door slightly, she quickly went back over to the front door, exiting the house. She looks around for something fairly big and sturdy that she can put in the door frame to prevent the door from closing on them.

[Zene]

”Deirdre?” Izzy exits the room and looks back as Deirdre hurries out. ”What happened?”He walks over toward the front door.

[WindStruck]

Deirdre turns back to Yitzhak with some worry on her face. She sheepishly says, "The wind seemed to move the door a bit. At least, I hope it was the wind. I just.. want to make sure the door doesn't close on us..."

[zingbobco000]

Deirdre takes... (makes random roll) a rock, and tries to prop the door open with it. Lois looks even more confused, "What the..." Deirdre quickly rushes over and... there's nothing there... the door is fine. Everything is definitely normal. "Well... uh... didja' find anythin' in the junk, Izzy?" Lois turns away from Deirdre towards Yitzhak.
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For the record, I understand the reaction; Lois, on the other hand...
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Spoiler: Updated Area

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[Zene]

Izzy looks relieved. ”Oh. Yes that makes sense. Something to wedge it open.”

He heads back toward the junk room, and looks for anything he could use for defense, like a length of pipe or a wrench. He doesn’t search more than a cursory look; he doesn’t dig through the boxes or anything.

”No,” he calls back in answer to Lois, “Not a thing”

[zingbobco000]

Assuming you mean self defense.
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Yitzhak is indeed able to find some sort of club-like pipe, however at this Lois gives him a look. "You've got no idea how ta' handle somethin' like that do ya'." She sets her backpack down and begins to dig through it, eventually handing you something shiny, metallic, and... pointed. Is that, a gun? "I was hopin' ta' wait a bit... but If ya' want defense... it'll do ya' a world a' good compared to that thing." She shrugs, "'Least while you're a bit away a' course."

[Zene]

”Oh!” Izzy’s eyes go wide, as he holds the pipe like a heavy fly-swatter. ”Well I’ve never used one! Wouldn’t it be better for you to keep it?”

[WindStruck]

(So I hope Lois heard her explanation to Izzy so she's not so weirded out).

"Let's just hope you don't have to use it.. not like it'll work on a ghost or anything, unless you've got silver bullets in that thing," she says with a smirk. "But I mean.. if there's a vagrant, let's not get too crazy unless we really might be in danger?"

[zingbobco000]

Yes, afterwards she understood. Just in the moment it was a bit weird for her to witness.
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She shakes her head, "Never been a good shot. Much better with this..." In an instant she has her switchblade in her other hand. She then puts it away and nods towards Deirdre. "Course, don't mean we should jus' go shootin' randos, but when ya' both were talkin' about cultists, n' the fact that ya barely got any defense on ya'... let's just say my shoppin' trip included a bit more than rope n' a flashlight."

[Zene]

Izzy reluctantly sets down the pipe and takes the gun, acting a bit like it was a vial of unstable nitroglycerin. ”Ok...” he gingerly puts it in his jacket pocket.

”I guess we should keep moving?”

[zingbobco000]

IT SUDDENLY GOES OFF!

Lois then nods towards the door, "We good on that end? House ain't gonna eat us?" She playfully smiles at Deirdre.

[WindStruck]

Deirdre blushes and says with a smile, "Uh.. L-let's hope not?"

She nods and joins closer with the group, ready to move forward.