Current Map: Death House Floor 1 / Death House Floor 2 / Death House Floor 3 / Death House Attic
Hack moved across the attic hall the boards creaking incredibly loud beneath his feet. Reaching the door and placing a ear to it all he heard was deathly silence. But he did notice a pretty heavy padlock that had been placed on the door from this side. It had been obviously added to the door to either keep something inside, or to keep something out.
Illufaus is under the effects of mage armor.
Illufaus has 8 temporary hitpoints remaining.
In Game Time: 1:47pm
Illufaus walks up and tries the lock.
Nilan shudders What would they keep locked like this?
Who knows? Want me to break it?
"My vote is to check the rest of the doors first. If we open this one and have to flee, we may never learn what's beyond the other doors.
...."Does anyone know how to tell if the attic floor can hold all of our weight; the boards are creaking quite loudly and don't look so sound?"
Current Map: Death House Floor 1 / Death House Floor 2 / Death House Floor 3 / Death House Attic
Illufaus moves over to the padlock and giggles it and it seems to be locked solidly. They would need a key, or they would have to break it.
Illufaus is under the effects of mage armor.
Illufaus has 8 temporary hitpoints remaining.
In Game Time: 1:51pm
Hack continues to the end of the hall and open the north door.
Care to join me, guys?
Perdita Imogen moves to C4 to watch Hack's back.
Illufaus stays where he is, waiting for Hack and the rest to go through.
Current Map: Death House Floor 1 / Death House Floor 2 / Death House Floor 3 / Death House Attic
Hack moved to the end of the hall and opened the northern door....
This web-filled room contains a slender bed, a nightstand, a rocking chair, a wardrobe, and a small iron stove.
It was hard on Hack's human eyes to see much in the room because the light was so far away and caused the room to cast weird shadows especially the darker parts toward the back until Perdita followed up behind Hack looking over his shoulder and assured him all was well in the room.
Illufaus is under the effects of mage armor.
Illufaus has 8 temporary hitpoints remaining.
In Game Time: 1:54pm
"Hack, do you want to check that other door?" Illufaus says, coming closer in case he is needed.
Nilan moves behind Hack, illuminating the room for him.
Hack opens the south door.
Current Map: Death House Floor 1 / Death House Floor 2 / Death House Floor 3 / Death House Attic
Hack turned and opened the southern door.....
This dusty chamber is packed with old furniture (chairs, coat racks, standing mirrors, dress mannequins, and the like), all draped in dusty white sheets.
Illufaus is under the effects of mage armor.
Illufaus has 8 temporary hitpoints remaining.
In Game Time: 1:57pm
"Right. Well, lets see what we can do about this lock." Illufaus begins pouring magic into the padlock, attempting to break it. He does this for about a minute, or until the lock breaks
Total of 58 force damage.
Current Map: Death House Floor 1 / Death House Floor 2 / Death House Floor 3 / Death House Attic
Illufaus begins to pound the lock with blast of his Eldritch magic the invisible force of energy making loud house shaking vibrations as they hit the door and lock, the lock never gave but it finally tore free of the door itself as the wood gave and the door blew open....
This room contains a bricked-up window flanked by two dusty, wood-framed beds sized for children. Closer to the door is a toy chest with windmills painted on its sides and a dollhouse that’s a perfect replica of the dreary edifice in which you stand. These furnishings are draped in cobwebs. Lying in the middle of the floor are two small skeletons wearing tattered but familiar clothing. The smaller of the two cradles a stuffed doll that you also recognize. It was Rose and Thorn.
Illufaus is under the effects of mage armor.
Illufaus has 8 temporary hitpoints remaining.
In Game Time: 1:58pm
Uruk, wordless in his contemplation at his state, finally moves in response to the efforts of Illufaus, following up behind Nilan and waiting....
Hack simply shakes his head in disgust.
I knew those kids were too weird to be real. Let's check the southernmost door.
Hack hefts his axe and moves there, looking over his shoulder and awaiting someone with a source of light.
Nilan gives an strangled cry of mourning and moves quickly to the two small corpses. No one should ever die alone!
Father! These children! Please look after them and deliver unto them a just afterlife. Nilan begins praying over the two skeletons, taking out his prayer book and beginning the Last Rites of Kelemvor.
Illufaus goes and investigates the room, trying to find anything.
"Well, let's maybe give them a proper burial; maybe their ghosts will get some rest.
"I wonder if we can find out how they died, what killed them." Perdita Imogen begins to examine the bodies to see if there's any obvious sign of foul play (crushed bones or the like).
Current Map: Death House Floor 1 / Death House Floor 2 / Death House Floor 3 / Death House Attic
Nilan was the first to enter the children's room, arriving at the two skeletal figures on the floor he began to prepare to give them last rights as was the custom to his god.
Perdita then followed the priest into the room and examine the remains for any signs of what caused their deaths, bending low she looked over the remains of the children, not touching the bones to try and learn more. The skeletons showed signs of spinal curvature, rickets and dental defects. There were no outward wounds or scars on the bone structure, it was pretty easy to determine the cause of death..... Starvation.
Illufaus then enters the room and begins to look around, looking at the doll house which was a perfect replica of the house down to the smallest detail. Then the warlock thought he spied something strange and reached out to move a piece of furniture in the house when the hair on everyones neck stood up on end as a ghostly girls voice echoed over the room "Don't touch that. It is ours." the voice is followed by that of a young boys crying.
Suddenly in the children's room next to Nilan two ghostly forms appear above the bones on the floor, one that of Rose and one of her younger brother Thorn....
Illufaus is under the effects of mage armor.
Illufaus has 8 temporary hitpoints remaining.
In Game Time: 2:03pm
Uruk stay in the hallway but winces at the arrival of the spectral forms. Not wantng to provoke the spirits (given that they actualy were talking) the wizard waits...
Dear Children. Nilan says with a start What might we do to calm your rest and return you to the Lord of Death's embrace.
"We're sorry. We meant no offense and did not know it was yours.
"Do you remember talking to us outside the house earlier?"
Current Map: Death House Floor 1 / Death House Floor 2 / Death House Floor 3 / Death House Attic
Rose turned to look at Nilan, her ghostly form translucent in the light, her voice hollow, her words floating "There is no rest for us, only loneliness. We have been trapped here for so very long." she places a spectral hand on Thorn's shoulder "I do not know what you can do to help us rest."
Then turning to Perdita "We are not the ones that greeted you at the gate. They were mere illusions created by this house. To trick you. To trap you as it has us. Our destinies now entertwined I am afraid."
Illufaus is under the effects of mage armor.
Illufaus has 8 temporary hitpoints remaining.
In Game Time: 2:06pm
"Is there any way we can help you? I seem to be slightly ghostly now as well." He shows the children his hands.
"Are you unable to leave the house; you're trapped?
....Can you explain why 'The House' is tricking us, what it wants -- how you know? Maybe if we share with each other what we know, we can help each other, just like we tried to help you when we thought you were in danger. Can you tell us anything about this house: what horrible things happened here, how you know it's intelligent, anything?"
Act 1: Death House
Scene 4: The Attic
Active Maps: Death House Floor 1 / Death House Floor 2 / Death House Floor 3 / Death House Attic
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
As Illufaus responded and showed Rose his hand, the rest of the group watched as Illufaus made his hand go spectral just like a ghost. In return the ghostly girl floated back away from the Warlock. "We don't not wish to be abandoned again. We do not wish to be alone any longer."
As Perdita spoke up Rose looked relieved almost to deal with the woman but still kept her ghostly eye strangely affixed on Illufaus.
"We are unable to leave this room, our spirits are trapped here where we died. The house has lured others here before you, to the basement where they do not return. The monster takes them. The mist outside, the mist inside" she shoots a sharp eye at Illufaus "the mist battles with the house. I don't know exactly how it works but they are in contention with one another. Both are evil I guess but different types of it. The mist plays by rules, boundaries. The house is chaos and does not. The house wants to kill you. But if you die here then your soul stays here. In the house. Trapped by the mist. Oh I get so confused, even after all this time."
Her spectral form shifts as if in anguish trying to put it all together in her mind, and then moves on to a subject she knows better "When we were alive, before we died, our parents locked us in here to protect us from the monster in the basement. But they never came back. We couldn't get out. We starved to death and died right where our bodies lay. We have met others like you on occasion, when the house traps others, but they all always abandon us and never come back just like our parents."
"We will not be abandoned again. We have something that you need and you have something me and Thorn need, so we will work out a deal as my father used to say."
Illufaus is under the effects of mage armor.
Illufaus has 8 temporary hitpoints remaining.
In Game Time: 2:08pm
Hack comes back and listens to the spirit from just outside the room.
How do we get to the monster in the basement?
"Also, do you know a way we can free you from this house?"
Nilan's hand goes to his mouth in horror at the Ghost's words. The idea of a place trapping souls, and of those children slowly starving to death. Nilan's resolve hardens with the realization that this might be why Lord Kelemvor sent him to this foul place.
We will destroy this place, and free the souls trapped here. he vows.
"What do we have that you need? And what do you have that we need?"
Act 1: Death House
Scene 4: The Attic
Active Maps: Death House Floor 1 / Death House Floor 2 / Death House Floor 3 / Death House Attic
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Hack, peaked by the ghostly child's words comes back from across the hall and stands in the doorway and ask the kid ghost, how do they get to the monster. Rose's eyes flick up at Hack and with a devious smile she says "Exactly, my good sir. You all need to find the monster in the basement. That is what the house wants. To kill you. But first it wants to torture you, keep things hidden from you. Well..." she pauses for a second for dramatic effect "I just so happen to know the secret ways to get to the basement that the house is hidding from you."
When Illufaus chimed in about freeing them from the house Rose continued "Another good question, now that you know what we have that you need. We can not leave this room in our ghostly form but we can if we merge with you. We need a host to carry us beyond this portal. It is a shared experience really. You carry us with you and we tell you what you need to go fight the monster in the basement."
At this point Thorn gets highly afraid and upset and begins sobbing uncontrollably "Sister, I don't want to go to the basement. Basement bad. Basement scarry. People scarry."
Rose turns back to the group, "So who will be our two vessels for our trip out of here. If I had my choice I would pick her." pointing to Perdita.
Thorn speaks up and points to the doorway and Hack "I choose him." he says through the sobbing.
Illufaus is under the effects of mage armor.
Illufaus has 8 temporary hitpoints remaining.
In Game Time: 2:12pm
Fine, kid, just don't overstay your welcome.
Nilan makes a sign against evil. So be it. We will travel with the Souls of the dead. It is a sign of the Lord's Favor! We will destroy the Evil that plagues this House. Nilan says, full of religious fervor.
"Me and Hack have already died once." Illufaus points out. "With Perdita and Hack having ghosts, and you being a priest of death, all of us are, as you could say it, 'Souls of the Dead.'"
Act 1: Death House
Scene 4: The Attic
Active Maps: Death House Floor 1 / Death House Floor 2 / Death House Floor 3 / Death House Attic
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
As Hack acknowledge his acceptance of the spirit of Thorn, the ghostly boy quickly flew into and merged within the body of the Ranger, as the hair stood up on the back of everyone's neck as the event transpired in front of them. Hack meanwhile went pale and closed his eyes for a moment before reopening them.
Rose however stood motionless and awaited Perdita to acknowledge that she to was ready for the joining.
A character possessed by Thorn gains the following flaw: “I’m scared of everything, including my own shadow, and weep with despair when things don’t go my way.”
It is up to you to play this out in game to the best of your ability.
Have Fun!
Illufaus is under the effects of mage armor.
Illufaus has 8 temporary hitpoints remaining.
In Game Time: 2:15pm
After visibly becoming consumed by the spirit of the young boy, Thorn, Hack steps up next to Uruk, and he stares at the floor.
Uruk glances at the warrior and his sudden withdrawn sullen mannerism but says nothing. This whole set of circumstances was strange and the wizard had little to say. The half-orc watches Perdita clinically, expecting to see a change in demeanor like Hack...
This is getting claustrophobic... Illufaus thinks. He pushes past the other, moving out of the cramped room.
Act 1: Death House
Scene 4: The Attic
Active Maps: Death House Floor 1 / Death House Floor 2 / Death House Floor 3 / Death House Attic
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
As Perdita gave an accepting nod to Rose, the ghostly girl entered her and like Hack before, Perdita closed her eyes and shuddered lightly before reopening them again. Moving to the doll house that was a replica of the house Perdita moved a wall aside in the attic and opened a trapdoor on the first floor under one of the stuffed wolves in the den and then spoke in the voice of Rose "There is a hidden wall in the storage room in the attic with a staircase leading down and a trap door on the first floor under one of the stuffed wolves. Both will get you to the basement."
The voice then faded and Perdita regained control of her body.
A character possessed by Rose gains the following flaw: “I like being in charge and get angry when other people tell me what to do.”
It is up to you to play this out in game to the best of your ability.
Have Fun!
The secret door (attic) and the trapdoor (first floor) are now marked on the maps.
Illufaus is under the effects of mage armor.
Illufaus has 8 temporary hitpoints remaining.
In Game Time: 2:18pm
"Lets go." Illufaus says, moving to the door.
Nilan nods to Illufaus and leads the way with his lighted staff.
Children ghosts,.... they are the ones who got us into this haunted house despite their claim that it was 'the House' that imitated them to get us to enter. I do not trust them.
The fact remains, though, that we can't get out of here until we solve this mystery.
....And now Rose wants to join with me. Why am I less suspicious now? ....Okay, that makes sense afterall: Were she malevolent she would likely not be asking our permission to possess us. And she lost her temper a bit when we started to touch her toy house; both are indications of sincerity. ....But the danger if I'm wrong....
No, I must allow her to posses me. Joining with the girl will hopefully give the the opportunity to see in her mind and learn what's going on. It's the only way I can see through the illusions of this House.
Perdita Imogen nods to Rose to allow the ghost in.
....
"Wait, before we go down to the basement, I really feel we should spend more time in that secret library; let's catalog and browse a bit more, try to get more information. There's no harm whatsoever in waiting another hour or so before going to the basement and, on the chance we can learn about the Monster or the house, it could be WELL worth it."
....
....
....
....
EDIT: I forget if you're using Inspiration but if you are, I'm going to add 1d6 to my first roll -- Is Rose in league with the House?
EDIT 2: Also, if I can make any kind of mental contact with Rose, and she seems willing or benevolent, I'll try to use Persuasion like Diplomacy to make friends -- let me know....
Hack glances around furtively with his shoulders stooped, uncharacteristically.
Yes, I agree, let's go to the library - monster later. Uruk, you are coming too right?
It is obvious that Hack is staying close to Uruk.
Act 1: Death House
Scene 4: The Attic
Active Maps: Death House Floor 1 / Death House Floor 2 / Death House Floor 3 / Death House Attic
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Illufaus entered the room with the white sheets covering all the furniture and stored items and quickly found the secret wall panel on the north wall that slid open to reveal...
A narrow spiral staircase made of creaky wood is contained within a 5-foot-wide shaft of mortared stone that starts in the attic and descends as far as you can see. Thick cobwebs fill the shaft and reduce visibility in the staircase to just 5 feet.
Nilan left the children's room and followed Illufaus across the hall into the room with all the sheet covered furniture as he opened the secret passage.
Their is not that kind of mental link to be able to pull information from each others mind. It seemed a harmless enough process except for your urge now to lead and get your way. You can feel her presense there, at the back of your mind somewhere. However the communication is more empathic than anything else. However having been witness to her controlling your entire body and speech for a moment when you first merged together you have the feeling that she is "allowing" you to be in control at the moment. The greatess since of emotion that you get from her is that she does not want to be alone and is highly protective of her brother. But she means you no harm.
Illufaus is under the effects of mage armor.
Illufaus has 8 temporary hitpoints remaining.
In Game Time: 2:22pm
"Illufaus, Nilan, come with Hack, Uruk and me to the library so we can learn more about this place before we go blindly, headlong into the basement with a 'Monster'! Let's not split up again."
Perdita Imogen leads the way downstairs to the library on the second floor.
"Fine." Illufaus walks after her. The ghost seems to have... changed her.
Act 1: Death House
Scene 4: The Attic
Active Maps: Death House Floor 1 / Death House Floor 2 / Death House Floor 3 / Death House Attic
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Illufaus is under the effects of mage armor.
Illufaus has 8 temporary hitpoints remaining.
In Game Time: 2:24pm