We all carry burdens. I left home, trained to be what I am today. He got sick, if I had stayed home and followed in his footsteps, perhaps he would be alive...or at the very least I could have said goodbye. I found a letter from him, he said he was proud of me. Everyday, I do my best to make him proud.
I place my hand on Aerrodin's shoulder, like i said...we all have skeleton's in our closet. This house apparently has a small graveyard full of issues.
Thanks Elijah.
I sit quietly for a second, sure I should say something, then certain I said to much, and finally deciding just to move past it.
Alright. Right. I'm just going to finish getting into this. If anyone's got a few minutes to spare, I'd appreciate the help. But otherwise, I beg you to consider moving elsewhere. I can patch you up, Orpheus, just as soon as I've dealt with this, or sooner if you'd care to come here. As for our path: I mostly want to get somewhere where we can barricade ourselves in, but beyond that, I suspect there is an angry spirit guarding those stairs. I might be up for it now, but I'd rather tackle it at my full strength, if we can go another way for now.
"Don't worry Lord Fancypants." I start helping Aerrodin put on his armor. "Sleeping Beauty and the Maestro both owe you their lives. So don't go beating yourself up."
"Now, I vote we go through the east door there. We opened it and nothing came out to eat our faces off. That's a good start."
Agreed. Besides that, I really don't feel like hauling hundreds of pounds of food and water up those stairs anyway. Elijah, Orpheus, what do you think?
I shouldn't have started a pilgrimage in the spring, I think angrily as the rain seeps through my coat and armor to sodden my clothes underneath. I shiver, more from the certain death ripping out of the sky and lighting up the landscape then from the cold wind. After a short prayer to Iomedae to protect her humble paladin and another to Gozreh promising to visit a shrine in the future if he doesn't strike me dead, I try to take my mind off the rainstorm by thinking of other things...
Even though I put an oil cloth on my bag I probably still will have to dry things out...
The lightning bolt striking nearby jolts me out of my thoughts and illuminates a house. In the deafening ringing from the thunder I run up to the house. The ominous creaking of the porch's floorboards and the foreboding disrepair of the house makes me think twice about using the place as shelter. But, as I turn around, another bolt strikes the tree in front of me and the image of a badly burned child's body flashes before my eyes. I rush for the front door in a panic, almost out of breath from my frantic breathing.
I've never liked lightning storms.
Agreed. Besides that, I really don't feel like hauling hundreds of pounds of food and water up those stairs anyway. Elijah, Orpheus, what do you think?
Orpheus is shaken by the events just past, but quickly agrees, "The better defended we are...The more likely we will actually get out of this place."
Yes well, mayhaps that was overly harsh. Perhaps we should venture into the room that nothing has come from to try to kill us? Are do we wish to progress further into this house? Or brave the storm outside?
I huff out. Unsure of what to do next.
I look to each hallway, then up to the ceiling. I let out a sigh, Well how do we barricade the hallway? Do you want to go trapping down and try to barricade the door or whatever is down that way? Or do we go in the only supposedly safe room in this damned place like Vin said.
I continue working with various intricacies of my armor, silently thankful for Thia's help. I really ought to look into selling this when this is over. Perhaps that blacksmith was right about the chain shirt.
...Well, my vote may well be both. Perhaps, Vinnick, your raven friend may be able to help us. She could flit down the hall, and keep an eye out while we move our stuff through the east door. Then, we could move that bookshelf and some tables in the way. That would prevent anything from coming that way unannounced, and could by us a minute to prepare if the guard dog comes back.
It cannot be any worse than simply being out in the open. Once you're all ready, let's get to work.
Thia and Orpheus begin to haul the water barrel between them to just beside the door....
"Should we open it?" Orpheus says nervously
I finish donning my scale mail, giving Thia a small smile and a quiet [smaller] Thank you. Orpheus' nervously whispers as I'm retrieving my morningstar, having stowed my blanket and having given two brief bursts of energy to the party as I worked. I notice that the supplies are neatly set up to go. I feel half guilty for not helping, and half annoyed at the feeling. It's not like I was twiddling my thumbs. I had to get ready too.
Nearly, but perhaps Thia and Elijah should lead. I'm not entirely certain you're back to any kind of full strength just yet.
Once again comfortably grasping my holy symbol in my shield hand, I place right hand on the hilt of my morningstar where it hangs looped into my belt. Lum!
I put my ear to the door, trying to hear anything moving behind it. I motion for Elijah to do the same. "Do you hear anything?"
I move over to the door, place my ear against it as well.
Other than the noise of the settling house, and the blowing gale, there is not a whisper coming from the other side of this door.
"Alright, be ready for anything" I caution the rest of the group. Slowly I open the door just enough to peak inside.
I ready my axe and shield.
After pushing on this door, it eventually slides open. This small room is covered in a thick layer of dust, but otherwise is untouched. There are a small number of chairs and tables sitting near the cracked and grimy windows and a few low tables around the room. This was quite obviously a sitting or drawing room. Cobwebs hang from the rafters in streamers billowing slightly from the influx of movement to this long still room. You are all touched with a feeling of loneliness as you enter, the faint puffs of dust that rise up from your steps billow across the floor like a tiny bank of fog. It appears this room has simply been forgotten.
I survey the dusty room, looking for some hint of movement aside from our footfalls in the swirling dust.
I almost prefer the whiplash of the storm outside. At least it didn't feel like climbing into an open crypt... and without a friendly hand holding open the door.
Seized by suspicion, I turn my back to the rest of the room and watch the door, uncertain whether the dread is merely my own, or passed on by something other in the room.
It's so strange that this room hasn't been touched by the storm. You'd expect the dust to be kicked up by some hole in the wall or missing fragment in the window. Perhaps it's warded somehow?
I start pushing one of the table in front of the door. "Be nice if it was warded. We could use some good luck"
The table leaves a long scrape in the thick dust, and as it thumps against the door, you hear a creaking come from just outside the room... and then footsteps.
Luck. That's a foreign concept. I unloop my morningstar, and silently beckon the others to ready themselves. I remain where I am, about fifteen feet into the room.
Kvina rushes the door and it opens without resistance, but a loud creak accompanies your entrance, finding yourself in a large open room which has signs of a very recent disturbance, and a small fire burning sulkily ten feet ahead of you.
Your wet, muddy boots make loudly echoing noises in the empty room. You can smell the tang of recent bloodshed, and the creaking of the house makes a screaming tune...
I stand in front of the door, my axe at the ready. I whisper "Somebody's out there. Be ready for anything."
I take a moment for the my heart beat to settle and the iron bands around my chest to relax before I do any thing but close the door on the storm... As I stare at the floor regaining control and praying that I never have to face a lightning storm again. I look up, taking in the decrepit state of the house and the slowly dying fire. I approach the fire, before realizing how dirty my boots were and taking a moment to remove them. I set them and my bag in front of the fire to dry before I actually examine the room.
Despite the disrepair people had to be here, there's a fire and streaks in the dust everywhere...
After a moment I call out, "Hello, is anyone there? I'm sorry to be intruding but the storm outside is impossible to live in. I hope you can forgive me."
I wait for a response...
I ready my axe and shield.
Great, footsteps. Can we not catch a break. First the giant flies, then the giant wolf. Now there is someone here. Maybe they are the owner, or worse... as I take a gulp...thinking of the word ghost springs to mind. maybe all the talk of haunted was true...I hope not though
I am so deep in thought that I almost don't hear or beleive the sound outside.
Hey, is that a real person? Could it be the owner, or a g..h..ost, should the rumor be true. I whisper to Thia standing next to me.
Let me handle this, I still have a spell or two up my sleeve. I am quite done with this intrusions that cause so many contusions.
I move to the door, preparing to cast color spray then give a nod for them to open the door.
When/if the door is open, I shout. Don't move! Who are you? Are you the owner of this house of horrors?!
Long before the door opens, Kvina would hear the sound of wood scraping on wood as they attempt to move the table behind the door to the east...
At Vinnick's nod, I move forward and throw open the door, then press myself against the wall while trying to see the invader in the dying firelight.
The only response to my question being the ominous creaking of the house, I move closer to my gear and draw my longsword. A family heirloom I'd rather not see rusted, I start to tend to it. I, however, keep an ear pricked for whoever started the fire. As the wood on wood sraping starts, I hastily gather my pack and approach the door in question, sword in hand. Heart in throat, I hesitantly knock.
"Hello? I don't mean any harm. I'd just like to talk, and I'm sorry if I've offended you..."
Kvina goes to knock and the door is yanked open, an crazed man jumps out, waving a finger and shouting. You see at least two more figures behind him, one with a sword and another with an axe
I move up next to Vinnick, ready to pounce if I need to. This girl doesn't look like the kind of person who owns a haunted mansion, but after tonight's events I'm not in a trusting mood. "He's a powerful wizard, you better answer him! Who are you?"
Eyes closed, I reach for the door to knock and swing through empty air. Startled, I open them staring at a demented seeming man and qucikly back up. I drop my sword in my fumbles for my sheild. Emblazoned with the Inheritor's crest and her paladin code engraved on the back, the familiar item calms me. Mentally chanting the code over and over, I fell for my sword from my defensive crouched position and finally start to pay attention to the people in front of me.
At the woman's words I realize I completely missed the wizard's words. "I'm just a passing traveler, sheltering from the storm. Who are you? Did you make this fire?" I respond as I finally grab my sword and ready a defense if they decide to attack.
"Fire?" The thought of flames distracts me. "Is there, wait, there isn't a fire still going out there, is there? How big is it...HANG ON" I roar as something important pops into my mind. "How did you get in? Is that front door open?!? Let me see!" I push out the door and into the hallway at top speed. If that damn door's open I'm out of here, storm or no storm!
Thia thunders past the lady and sees that the door is securely shut... and hears a faint clink noise come from the door latch, as if the house is mocking you
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I regard the fire curiously for a moment, wondering how we all managed to walk past it without thinking to put it out.
Suddenly taken aback by Thia's sudden outburst, I hang my head wearily when I hear the click from the door. This place is conspiring against us.
Then I turn my attention back to the swordsman in the door way, slightly irritated. A pleasure ma'am. I'm Aerrodin a peddler of tapestries, this is Vinnick, a professional juggler, Thia over there is a nun, Elijah here is a king of a fey realm, and Orpheus is a minor deity. I'm tired, the Vin's tired, we're mostly all rain-spattered and muddy, yes. But we're not stupid. No 'mere' passing traveller is going to show up in a haunted house during a thunderstorm in full armor. You may not be the owner of this house, but you may be some additional trick this place has up it's sleeve. So perhaps you can offer a better explanation?
Expecting the worst from the heavily scarred woman as she rushes towards me, I prepare to deflect her incoming attack and strike back with mine, completely blindsided when she rushes past me and to the door. With a glance to the open door and the raving supposed wizard , I calm myself and close my eyes. Centered, I reopen them focusing on the lady at the door, looking for the tell tale ripples in reality that denote one steeped in evil. Finding none, I give a sigh of relief and comment, "I don't know why you are so intent to go outside. It's a veritable death trap out there..."
When another man moves into the first doorway and starts speaking in more civilized tones, I listen carefully, giving a snort of laughter at his introduction of everyone. "Fine, a better explanation is in order. My name is Kvina and I am a holy knight of Iomedae, The Inheritor. I truly am just traveling; I am visiting, in order, the sites of my patron's 11 miracles before her ascendance. The fourth site is supposedly near here but I was caught in that deadly lightning storm and sought refuge here... I doubt a minor deity would be traveling with a tapestry salesman without any obvious stock, and that "nun" has a few too many scars... but I do believe Vinnick, if those are your actual names, would be a better juggler than wizard."
I smile half heartedly. Brilliant. A paladin. No escaping them, is there? Yet I notice there's no verdict on the fey king claim. Congrats, Elijah. Those are our names: I am Aerrodin, a healer and physician. We fell into together when we all sought refuge from the storm here, but once we figured out that this place was less than pleasant, the house seemed reluctant to let us go. We're hoping to go about convincing it, once we've had some rest.
I gesture to each member in turn This is Vinnick, a wizard and scholar, Elijah, a hunter and woodsmen, Thia the warrioress and Orpheus a student of stagecraft.
yes.... well a mere juggler I am not, and I am not in the most pleasant mood.. I say with a sour expression. Ugh, at least she isn't trying to kill us. I think that may be the first thing tonight that hasn't tried to maim me in some way...
I have been called worse as I step from the shadows, axe in hand.
I look to the newcomer, like he said, we wanted out if the blasted storm and got stuck here. I wonder if the storm would have been better, since this place has been less than forgiving. I am hoping you will be a start of good things to come
The grungy and dust covered window is illuminated with a bolt of lightning striking just outside, with the sound of a terrific crack that sets all of your ears ringing.
Orpheus shrieks, because he was standing right next to the window.
I ignore the bard's yelp, feeling rather cross with the situation. Well, I suppose that settles the matter for now. Let's get that fire out, and settle in for the night. Orpheus should rest, and Kvina can take his shift, if you're sticking around. We might as well otherwise keep the same order for the watch, with Elijah up for the first. Sound fair?
The group, save Elijah and Kvina, are feeling the call of nature approaching... making it uncomfortable, to say the least, to think about sleeping.
Elijah starts to feel cross, his watch had been finished, and now Aerrodin is suggesting that they restart, and he has to watch over the clumsy cleric again? As he opens his mouth to say something he stops to wonder if they are his thoughts, or something more...
I look at the new met, axe still in hand. I look at her, trying to figure out if really like us, trying to get out of the storm versus another enemy.
As tensions ease, I lower my axe, and the arm with my buckler attached.
I just finished watch, but if you insist then I shall relent.
I... uhm... what? Uh... thanks for the cover up Elijah, but we both know we just got out of a fight with a death machine of a guard dog because I fumbled my armor after my watch.
I turn back to Kvina, slightly worried. Did I mention the death machine of dire wolf that's trapped in here with us?
I slam into the front door, trying to open it with all might. When I hear the "click" of the latch I growl at the door. "Blasted door, I'm putting my axe through you in the morning!" I hit the door with my fist.
I step back and take a few deep breaths. I can't let this get to me. Once I've calmed down I turn and talk to the group. "I'll take first watch. I'm wide awake anyways. Damned wolf!" I look Kvina up and down, consider her for a moment, then I sigh. "Well, I am glad you showed up. I can't believe we left the damned fire going. We'd have burned the house down around us. Not that I'd cry over it being destroyed, just not while I'm in it."
I take a moment to look at each person individually. Putting on a stern expression I say "I'm gonna go use that 'bathroom corner' we have. I don't want to see anyone peaking!"
I look around, embarrassed at both the implied accusation that any one of us might, and annoyed that she thought a threat was necessary. I don't deign to reply with anything more than a grunt, but merely crossly begin to remove my armor, taking my time as much as I can, eager to make as little noise as possible doing so.
Whoever's got last watch, wake me towards the end of it. I'm going to need about an hour to prepare in the morning before we set out.
You flatter yourself darling.
I remark, but decide it is better to not push it, Then find my sleeping bag again and pull on my nice pointy sleeping cap, something comforting, even though it is a bit limp due to being a tad damp...
I keep a blank face through Aerrodin's actual introduction, puzzled about the bit with the house, and try to hide her smile over Vinnick's grumbling. With the lightning strike and the shriek, I can feel my skin start to crawl as my heart rate quickens and my body tenses. "I... I am going to stick around.... There is no way I am heading back out in this weather. I'd be glad to take a watch then. and no you didn't mention the 'death machine'." I utter in response to Aerrodin.
Surprised how quickly people are adapting, I spend a moment casually getting my sleeping gear out and trying to judge whether any of them had committed or were actively planning heinous acts. I visibly relax when I realize they were actually good, or well behaved people. As I start to carefully unpack and care for my gear, I still can't shake the feeling that something is wrong. Taking a moment to close my eyes and then open them not focused on any one thing, wondering if the house itself might be evil...