Thaddeus Dusek's page

Thanks! Also, my penultimate post seems to have been returned from the nether. Praise the Old Ones! I was kind of losing my mind after days of trying to force myself to rewrite all that from memory. I can barely remember what I had for supper yesterday, not to mention a whole paragraph of text I wrote a week ago.

But yeah, it's done. Whew. Here's some thoughts...

Overall, I had a lot of fun. This sort of collaboration was a long time coming. I really enjoy your writing, especially the more grandiose stylings you adopted for this campaign. Very much in the vein of Poe and Lovecraft's writings, both of which are very near and dear to my heart. The milieu was well chosen and depicted. When we decided to base our game in Golarion, I didn't think it would turn out so well. Unsurprisingly, Ustalav—and Ardis in particular—lend themselves very well to this type of story: ghosts of the past, forgotten history, and creeping urban decay. I think you employed the atmosphere masterfully.

All of the characters were enjoyable as well, and portrayed in a convincing way. The cousins especially: I really felt like everyone had a shared past, which was of course aided by all the flashbacks and such. They were believably flawed in their personalities, as well as their sometimes dysfunctional interactions—so you know, very much like a real family. My favourite parts of the story were definitely the ones that included interacting with them in their homes, before even venturing into the eponymous manor. Special props for tastefully including Thaddeus' crush towards Arline in the story, as well. Made for some good drama, I think.

Out of all the side characters, Konrad was definitely my favourite. His stories really gave me that sense of other things going on in the world unrelated to our story, as well as him working as good a foil for (early) Thaddeus—sort of an alterative version the doctor himself, as I think you pointed out earlier. Honestly, I was kind of hoping he would remain disconnected from the main plot entirely, but he is a fascinating character nonetheless. The pigeon-keeper was also very neat to interact with, giving some sense of the types of situations Thaddeus had to deal with as a sort-of-celebirty, along with some good foreshadowing.

Ailson Kindler's late cameo I might have left out entirely. That felt a bit forced, maybe? Having her be a part of the story was cool, but I might have left her in the background, or have some more substantial exchange with her earlier on. Not a big deal really—working in established canon characters can be tough. People tend to have all kinds of expectations.

We managed to eliminate several red herrings, but Thaddeus had to act/think on his feet more than dissect the mystery. I attribute that to the posting rate.

There was a slight misconnect there between how each of us was approaching the story. Especially towards the end I felt like I would have been amiss playing this like a mystery, when my extremely skeptical character was increasingly being subjected to things beyond their ability to understand—not to mention all the personal turmoil surrounding the his failing memory, and the fact that his loved ones were in danger. Nothing stops you from being rational quite like love. I think things worked out fine on that regard, since our original intent was to lean towards psychological horror. However, it did cause me some issues when I was having the worst of my writer's block.

Another thing that might have contributed to my fluctuating interest (aside from real life stress and other such unpleasantness): At times, I felt like I had very little control over where the story was going. Now, as I've said before, this lack of control is generally fine, considering both the format and the genre. I very much knew the type of story I was getting involved with, and agreed to go along with it. However, there were some moments (especially towards the end with Shiraz's illusions) where my impact on the story seemed merely cosmetic, and I couldn't help but to feel kind of frustrated. I suppose I was less engaged because I kind of felt more like I was another character in someone else's novel, rather than the main character...? Like, things are going to happen a certain way no matter what. This was exacerbated by the fact that I was having a hard time following the mystery.

This has certainly made me think a lot about how I might run a solo campaign myself, and I think that I would lean towards a more sandboxy direction, with less of a preconceived story ready in mind. I feel like a solo campaign should be more about the player's character and their goals, since they are quite explicitly the main character of the story, unlike in a normal roleplaying campaign where you have to share the spotlight with other players.

And don't get me wrong: I still enjoyed the story, and for most of the game, I was fine being "along for the ride," so to speak. There is certainly a need for some restricting factors from the GM, even in a solo campaign. Had you just put me into a sandbox with no direction, I don't think we would have gotten this far. Having those clear story paths toward the end did help a lot, giving the Khadrev House sort of a choose-your-own-adventure feel, while also reducing the "dungeon" (and I use that word only very loosely here) to a sort of verbal map. Honestly, using that method for larger-scale stuff might not be a bad idea, like the investigation before heading into the manor itself. I tend to do that myself, when I run games: give the players a few clear options, with the knowledge that they can still choose to do whatever they want if they can come up with something else. Gets them thinking.

Again, I apologise for slowing things down so much. Some of that was definitely just laziness on my part, and that's not really fair to you and all the work you put into the story. I will aim to do better in the future.

1 If Shiraz is some psychic projection or manifestation of the House, we don't know the origin of the psychic charge. Knowing how the occult works, Thaddeus can reasonably posit that the house was built on the graves the mysterious Sarkorans, whose strange magics seem to linger on, though they don't. Alternatively, the house may have the lingering power of a psychic vampire, or have its foundations on a planar gap to the Realm of Dreams. Any explanation might suffice, but Shiraz will not return to haunt Ardis anymore.

I really like the Sarkorian connection, especially in relation to the implied developments in the Worldwound. Or maybe having something to do with the Darklands? Who knows what was below the manor. My first guess early on was something to do with the derro. For some reason, my mind really fixated of the blue jelly, or whatever it was the children were offered when they visited Shiraz... :D

Epilogue

Does Thaddeus choose to set up practice in Ardis, or will he continue on the road, or back to the University?

Thaddeus Dusek never returned to Lepidstadt.

After a while, those at the University started wondering about their colleague's sudden disappearance from academia, but their letters were met with requests of privacy, as well as limiting any correspondence to purely professional matters. The Sovia Arcana took notice as well, but those few reporters that braved the Old Capital found only a maddeningly staid medical doctor, working out of a modest clinic in a shut-down barber shop. Having re-dedicated himself to aiding the destitute, as well as deciding to spend his remaining years in the city of his birth, he had little to say on matters relating to any strange or supernatural phenomena. Much reduced in his bearing, the harrowed healer was quick to denounce any connection to "Doctor Occult" and his past deeds, shooing away those curious few that sought him out. Eventually, the fad passed, allowing him to fade into obscurity.

The ravages of the mind are not so easily expunged, however.

While he might otherwise have remained merely a footnote in the weird histories of Ustalav, in his later years Doctor Dusek was inspired by his childhood favourite, the famed Ailson Kindler, to write down his experiences in the form of a novel. More of a method of self-administered treatment than a serious attempt at literature, his first book was self-published, and copies of it remain rare today. While this seminal work—titled The Misty Manor—was not met with the same praise as Kindler's classics, those in the know about occult matters find his writings similarly grounded in reality, hinting at ancient evils and inconceivable horrors lurking right in our midst...

Oh geez. I have no idea what happened to my last post. It seems to have got reduced to a string of trash code, or something... I suppose I'll have to try and remember what I wrote and repost.

Sorry about that. :(

Thaddeus looks through the file, but finds little there was not expecting to find... save the very last words, which he finds confusing. He mills around absently for a moment, rearranging things in the room without any clear goal for doing so, and then spends some time looking over his paperwork, sitting at the foot of Arline's bed. However, he finds himself distracted by thoughts of conflagration.

The sudden entry of other human beings startles him, causing the doctor jolt up from his seat.

"Good evening," he says warily. "This a rather late hour to be visiting..."

His eyes glance from the old lady to the file and back again, but he does not immediately voice his suspicions.

No, it could not be her...

2. Does Thaddeus suggest he supervises Arline while his cousins arson the house?

Well, now that you mention it...

Thaddeus wrestles with the issue for a moment, unable to look his cousins' in the eye.

"Do what you have to do," he says in a hollow tone. "I will go see to Arline. She should not be alone, not now..."

[How did Thaddeus handle the aftermath of the events?]

Thaddeus does his best to forget what occurred in the manor, moving on in the only way he knows how. He throws himself wholly into his work, starting an earnest search for a space to set up a practice. The doctor begins by establishing whatever connections he can with the medical experts still residing in the old capital, starting with the hospice in which Arline has been admitted to. At the same time, he does his best to keep appraised of her condition, visiting as often as he is able. He offers Malakai whatever assurances he can, but has little to offer when it comes to diseases of the mind. Overall, he spends much of his time on his own.

"I have everything we need," Agatha said two days after the events in the manor, pointing at leather containers that smelled of kerosene and alchemical fire. They were situated in Edric's living room, much to his wife's irritation and his daughter's fascination. Edric dismissed his daughter and returned with a, "And what is this for?"

Maddox gave his twin a blank stare, and said, "The house. We'll do it tonight. Coming?"
Agatha looked as if she was about to add something, but held her tongue and looked hopefully at her brother and cousin.

Thaddeus silent for a long time. He removes his spectacles and rubs his eyes, weary from sleepless nights spend poring over his papers.

"I understand how you feel," he says in a resigned tone. "And two days ago I might have agreed with you. However, I am no longer so certain that this is a wise avenue of action. To seek to destroy something is to give it credence, and that is just what we swore to avoid. As long as we keep to our oaths, there should be nothing to fear. So why should we prod and poke where ought to keep our distance? Mayhaps we might go to our graves looking over our shoulders, but at least we can take comfort in knowing we made it through, together..."

The doctor sighs deeply. "I am a hematopathologist, not an arsonist. Nor am I an exorcist or a Pharasmin inquisitor, for that matter. I am sorry, but I cannot go back."

1. Take Arline to a hospital (hospitalize her stressful breakdown)

Thaddeus stumbles out of the doorway, nearly falling over from exhaustion. There is a fleeting thought in his mind, a twinge of his previous desire to see the house in cinders. However, mere steps away from the threshold, he has a hard time mustering an ounce of that conviction. It is not as if the horrors he had witnessed had never happened—they just felt hazy, unreal like a half-remembered dream.

He wanted nothing more than to leave that place behind, forever.

"Let's get her to the nearest hospital," the doctor says to his cousins. "Or even a temple."

Casting one last look at the house, Thaddeus takes Arline's shoulder and turns towards the gate. "There is nothing for us here..."

Thaddeus nods to his cousins, tears stinging his eyes. The doctor could not remember the last time he had cried, but the sheer exhaustion of the past few days had been too much for him—too much for anyone. He imagined himself away from this place. He pictured himself in some quiet place, helping people in need. That is what he had promised to do, before he had become so enamoured with delving into the unknowable. Perhaps he had finally found what he had been looking for all those years: the part of himself that he had left behind in Ardis, screaming to be liberated. Now, he would be free to look to the future.

"I swear," he says without hesitance. "I swear I will longer meddle in the affairs best left buried. Some things are not meant to be known by mortal minds..."

First of all, I choose option 4... that is, 4 more sunrods. Not as dramatic, but I'd rather keep the other options in my back pocket for now.

Thaddeus plops down his bag and digs out more sunrods, distributing them amongst his cousins. His hands still tremble slightly as he does, but he has managed to regain his senses—for the moment, at least.

"Light them one at a time," he instructs them. "But make sure that at least one is lit at all times."

2. Draw out Uncle Alistair's Parables of Erastil, and gather the cousins to swear to never to acknowledge or recognize Shiraz.

Having secured at least a temporary light source, Thaddeus produces the Parables of Erastil and holds it out to the others. He has a somewhat sheepish look on his face, harkening back to his childhood awkwardness.

"I still cannot believe I am doing this," he sighs. "But this is not about faith, but recognising the truth. Swear to Erastil, swear to your father, swear to your families—whatever you hold closest to your heart. Renounce the Khadrev House, renounce Shiraz, and renounce any memory of this place and its inhabitants. Swear that you will never again give life to the horrors you have witnessed here tonight."

There. Once again, I'm really sorry for taking so long. I think I have a pretty good idea about where I'm going now, so I should be able to keep up.

Thaddeus backs away from whatever horror lurks in the darkness of the cellar, slamming the door shut behind him. He takes a few shaky steps back towards the others, before stumbling and falling to his knees. The crowbard clatters to the floor, forgotten. For a moment, all he can hear is the rush of blood in his ears. Through his sudden lethargy, he feels a sharp pain in his hand, as it instinctively clutches around the ankh in his pocket. Why was that there again? He had... taken it. Yes, from his inn room on a whim, amused by the by the coincidental nature of finding such a thing on his journey. He had been thinking about that fop, Keldoff, and the ritual pipe he had received from him as a gift—a trap in disguise, truly, leading to more manufactured scandal. Curious, how many things had to have occurred for him to have it now...

Thaddeus had never believed in any higher purpose: gods were real, undoubtedly, but none save Pharasma could claim any true dominion over the fates of mortals. Nor did he believe so now. Whether or not the ankh was a genuine artefact did not matter—it could not save him now. Yet, there was a legacy behind it—a legacy now lost to time, with only a scarce scattering of people to remember the old ways. Yes, it came from somewhere, and now resided with him. There was no reason for it, save for the cause. But it was real, and whatever surrounded him now was not a part of that arrangement. It was wrong. Moreover, it was false.

Thaddeus drags himself up, supporting himself against the wall and focusing on his cousins' voices. He stumbles once more, exhausted both in body and mind, but trudges forth with purpose.

"Listen to me," he says to the others with renewed confidence. "None of this is real. You have all seen it: she—it—cannot hurt us if do not allow it. We must not give in to desperation. Come with me!"

The doctor grabs Arline by the hand and rushes towards the study. Perhaps, he thinks to himself, whatever memory was left of Shiraz's mother would give the apparition pause...

Sorry, I'm still putting together a post. I've been having trouble coming up with stuff that doesn't feel contrived, like running straight back in there and waving the book around like a doofus. The thing with the oath and the parables was in my mind, originally, since it was mentioned earlier, but for some reason I assumed we needed to get out of the house before doing it. I just don't want Thaddeus to look like an idiot.

How would we 'disbelieve' the illusions, exactly? I mean, I know how it works in Pathfinder generally, but in this sort of an in-between narrative space it's hard to know how to trigger that mechanic.

Yeah, some out-of-character exhaustion might have leaked into in-character decisions. I definitely have a lot ideas floating around in my head as to what might be going on, on but I'm not sure what to do with that information within the narrative. I was starting to angle towards some sort of heroic sacrifice, which is why I was focusing on getting everyone else out of the building. Clearly that isn't working.

So, go ahead. What should I be doing?

Sorry, but I'm still having a hard time coming up with posts, aside from describing Thaddeus walking from place to place without a clear idea of what he's doing. I know a certain level of helplessness is to be expected, given the genre, but I feel more than a bit lost as to how I could affect the narrative in any meaningful way. :S

Any ideas? It seems to me like we're nearing the end, but I feel like I'm increasingly suffering from writer's block.

Thaddeus produces his crowbar and gets to work on the cellar door, calling out for his cousins to join him. He is single-minded, focusing his inner turmoil into strength.

That is, until he hears the voice.

"It's rude to leave while people are talking."

"Rude?" he growls incredulously, still not entirely sure if he is simply imagining the whole thing. "People will die, and I am supposed to care about manners?"

Thaddeus shakes head defiantly and starts walking towards the cellar.

I was trying to come up with something witty, but there isn't much left to say in this situation.

Thaddeus shakes his head slowly, as frustrated as he is mortified. With such an obvious sign of the supernatural in plain sight, his arsenal seemed distinctly lacking in caliber. At this point it seemed clear that this was a task fit for an inquisitor or a wizard, not a hematopathologist. He sighs heavily, taking stock of the rooms they had already explored. "There must be another way out of here..."

...but where? Is there a cellar or an attic?

Thaddeus lifts himself from the floor, groaning in pain. He takes a moment to feel around, taking a stock of his injuries. Several fractured ribs, possible internal bleeding, and something less obviously identifiable but undoubtedly painful having to do with his hip. The doctor digs out a vial of a reddish liquid, downing it in one gulp. He stands there for a moment, closing his eyes as he feels the alchemical putting his body into overdrive, the rush of blood in his ears drowning out all other sounds. There is a grimace of pain as his wounds knit themselves together. Thaddeus did not like to rely too much on his own tinctures, not only because of the discomfort, but professional pride. This was one of those rare situations where his sense of practicality had to override his principles, however. He had to remain operational.

Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Once he feels the potion has run its course, he turns to look haggardly at Edric. "Do you not see? Of course it was real! She is toying with us, and the perfect way to do that is to make us think its all false. The only reason she has not killed us is because we have proved entertaining. But enough is enough! Pick up Arline. We need to get out of here, now..."

The doctor straightens up, looking around to assess the situation.

4. Use a move-equivalent action to reach to Arline and lower/hold her

Thaddeus looks Shiraz in the eye for just a moment, grimacing as he turns towards Arline. He leaps forwards onto the edge and reaches for her, jamming his makeshift sword into the floorboards for leverage. Even if he was not strong enough to hold her, he hoped he would be able to slow her fall enough for the others to do something.

"Catch her!" he calls to his cousins, hoping to stir them to action.

Okay, sorry again. These forum troubles really haven't helped my posting schedule. I somehow assumed I had missed my chance to influence the situation with Arline as I decided to do something else instead. I'll post something in gameplay ASAP.

Sorry about the delay, but I've been swamped with essays and reports for the end of the study period. I'm also a bit stumped as to how I should proceed, both in and out of character. While interesting, I don't know if any of these theories really help me in making in-character decisions. What are my most immediate options here?

I don't think Thaddeus has any reason to think of this as a trick at this point, at the very least. Skepticism can only get you so far. OOC, my theory has been something of a mix of the other three, with the central question being the true nature of Shiraz. Is she the same girl the Duseks befriended as children? Was she ever a normal human being in the first place? With all the weird things happening in the house even before its decrepitude, it seemed to me like the Khadrevs were either inherently inhuman, or being affected by some external force, maybe the house itself or something altogether more inexplicable.

Also, assuming that Shiraz was still a living person when she first met the Duseks—which is far from certain—it is still unclear what exactly happened to her and her family in between then and the present. If all these events are predicated on some past tragedy infusing the house with malice, was it something that happened long before, or after the Duseks—or maybe both? Some sort of cyclical event, doomed to repeat itself for all eternity? I don't really have much to go on there, aside from the whole 'witch boy' thing. I certainly hadn't thought it might be another manifestation like Shiraz, but it goes well with the idea of a cycle.

Having read Stephen King's It, I can see some intertextual stuff happening with the whole repressed childhood memory setup. It seems that at least Thaddeus himself was unable to remember the Khadrev House incident until he was reminded of it, which seems to lead through Arline to Maddox's visit to Ailson Kindler's little storytelling party. Shiraz's return seems to be predicated on the cousins being cognisant of her existence. Kindler is somehow connected to the manor as well, and Tarkowski was also present at the party. I can't really say what happened there exactly (either from an IC or OOC perspective) but it must have some significance...

Maybe one of them acted as a trigger in some fashion, either by accident or on purpose, breaking whatever selective amnesia had overtaken Maddox? He, in turn, might have 'infected' the others with the memory. I'm somewhat hazy on the timeline in regards to whether or not Arline was aware of Maddox's exeprience, or if her sighting of Shiraz happened independently. If the latter is true, it might be that one person remembering in all it takes to bring Shiraz back. That, of course, brings up the question of why the Duseks forgot her in the first place, and if they might be able to do it again on purpose. That might get rid of her, at least temporarily.

2. Attack the nightmarish beast or Shiraz

Seeing the slightest of chances to drive back whatever it was that they were dealing with, Thaddeus lunges forwards and tries to stab at Shiraz. His form is far from impeccable—it had been years since he was in a real fight, not to mention one involving the supernatural. Most of his attention is occupied by trying to avoid the bear-like beast, causing his desperate strike to resolve less accurately than he might have hoped.

Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12
Damage: 1d6 - 1 ⇒ (5) - 1 = 4

2. Bleed the spiritbane spike and attack the monster or Shiraz, pushing it back (make a DC 15 Reflex save to avoid falling into a shadowed pit in the stairs)

Thaddeus produces a small iron spike, slashing it across his palm. The alchemically treated metal reacts violently with his blood, rapidly expanding into a jagged crystalline blade. The doctor lunges at the monstrosity threatening Arline, doing his best to put himself in between it and her. Blood drips from the wound on his hand, pooling on the floor at his feet and splattering across the walls as he moves the blade.

Reflex: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

Spiritbane Spike Self Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Thaddeus shudders. As he had suspected, all the previous trickery was meant to lull them into a false sense of safety. He realises that he does not have the time to convince his siblings, so instead he grabs a few things from his bag and rushes up the stairs, trusting his fencer's instincts as he makes the the precarious climb. From halfway up, he tosses a tube of silver at Arline. "Circle yourself, quickly!"

Acrobatics (to traverse the stairs): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19
Ranged Attack (to hit Arline's square): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21

To indulge the rules for a bit here, and to remain honest to the fiction: I'm leaving the bag behind so that it won't penalize Thaddeus' speed and Dexterity-based skills, as he would be encumbered otherwise.
The two items he takes with him are abjurant salt and a spiritbane spike, the former of which he tosses up at Arline.

3. Try to see beyond the surface; roll a Sense Motive (vs. Arline and Shiraz) and an Investigation check (Intelligence + class level).

Doing his best to ignore all other distractions, Thaddeus breathes deeply and tries to take in the whole scene.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19
Investigation: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

Thaddeus falls silent, recalling the omens told to him by the girl at the dovecote. Something about being torn apart by wolves, and fire... mastering the fire.

"This was a mistake," he finally says with a deep sigh. "I had hoped that we could help Shiraz, but it appears that she does not want to be helped. Whatever she is now, she is thoroughly consumed by madness. We need to find Arline and escape this place... and then burn it to the ground. Stay together at all times. No more splitting up, for any reason. Got it?"

Where haven't we checked yet?

The two were quiet upon seeing Thaddeus and Maddox. Edric was about to say something, but Agatha held him back.

She said, "Thaddeus? Maddox? What did father have us promise when Arline told him about the house?"

It takes Thaddeus a moment to realise what is going on. "What? I, uh... no wait, that is smart. Uncle Alistair made us swear that we would never return to this house, as long as he still lived. On this book..."

He produces the copy of Parables handed to him earlier by Agatha. "Now, how do we know you are really who you appear to be?"

Thaddeus circles the piano, huffing from the strain of moving the heavy instrument. "It will, just... try to catch him!"

The doctor scrambles onto the piano, reaching for his cousin in order avert him from danger, perhaps shoving him aside to Maddox's waiting arms. Even the hardwood floor would be better than the spikes and swords...

3. Drag the piano over the blades to absorb his fall. Yes! I always hated that paino!

Thaddeus rushes towards the piano, grabbing it from one side. "Maddox, help me!"

I suppose I should roll Strength?: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (15) - 1 = 14

Thaddeus stops for a moment, his mind racing with possible avenues of action. There was little he could do from the ground level, at least without harming Edric as well. Was there even any sense in playing into these cruel games? She could kill them all if she wished, he thought. The doctor takes a deep breath and produces the journal he found in the study, presenting it to Shiraz while slowly moving towards the blades. He was not quite sure if he was acting out of curiosity, or merely to buy some more time to think. Though he suspected trickery, he was no going to risk his cousin's life to call her bluff.

"Listen," he pleads, his voice thick with desperation. "We came here to help you, but you need to tell me what we need to do. None of this makes any sense. What happened here? What has Ailson Kindler have to do with any of this? Who is... who in the Nine Hells is the witch-boy?!"

Yeah, people can be terrified of metagaming, but mature out-of-character contextualisation can really make everything run more smoothly. Like the GM being clear about the consequences of a failed roll, for example. The players are storytellers as well, and can't really contribute if they are stumbling around in the dark.

Thaddeus shakes his head slowly, his look of surprise solidifying into a scowl. He picks up his pack and hands the lantern back to Maddox, shoving it hard against his chest. "Come on, let's go check the music room. They have to be here somewhere..."

Though not quite as mad with rage as he was rushing up the stairs, the doctor is having trouble being as cautious as he was when they first entered. He half-runs downstairs, heading straight towards where he heard a piano being played earlier with his sword at the ready.

I'm really digging the sets of pre-formulated paths, at least for this specific scenario. Works really well for a solo adventure. Kind of feels like a Choose Your Own Adventure book, with the added bonus of knowing that you can go off script if you think of something the writers did not. Also helps me from getting totally stumped on what to do. :P

3. Thaddeus could try to mix up something to repel the snakes (Alchemy check, and turn 2 alchemical mixtures in current inventory into some snake repellent)

Considering Shiraz's words, the doctor freezes in his tracks and backs away slowly. Diving back into his bag, he grabs two more vials and smashes them on the floor near the serpents, one after another. The first container spills a crumbly yeast-like substance across the boards, while the second bursts open with a violent corrosive sizzle.

"Now!" he calls to Maddox as he rushes in.

Craft (alchemy) to craft an alchemical item: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 10 + 2 = 14

Mixing vermin repellent and a vial of acid, with the intention of creating some sort of a foul-smelling vapour. Probably as awful for everyone else as the snakes, but at least they would be busy slithering away from the irritant while Maddox and Thaddeus run in to grab Agatha. The priority would be to get her out of the room, and then give her the antitoxin immediately after.

Sure does. Sometimes, I like going through and making lists of any tropes pertaining to the characters I'm currently playing. It's kind of fascinating how deeply these narrative structures have become ingrained in our psyches, to the extent that you aren't really conscious about using them in your own creative endeavors.

Thaddeus quickly sets down his bag, rummaging through its contents. With shaky fingers, he produces two vials of antivenom. He chugs one on the spot, clutching one in his hand as he starts advancing on the adders. The doctor makes no sudden movements, barely lifting his feet as he moves. His sword is raised high, ready to stab down at the first sign of serpentine agression.

"Let her go," he says to Shiraz, trying to buy himself a few seconds. "I will play with you, just... stop this."

Thaddeus says nothing, still struggling to believe that what he is seeing might actually be real. He calms himself for just a moment to assess the immediate, material danger.

Knowledge (nature): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14

What kind of snakes are these, and are they venomous?

Thaddeus huffs in frustration, all his feelings of anger and fear mixing into a veritable frenzy. The sudden realisation that he had allowed his family to enter such a place without knowing what he was facing, and had let his curiosity lure him somewhere where all his accrued knowledge amounted to nothing—it was nothing short of excruciating. The doctor kicks over a ceramic pot, spilling dried soil all over the floor.

"Enough is enough!" he growls. "We need to find them, and then we will burn this place to the ground. Come on!"

After making sure he has a vial of holy water at an arms reach, Thaddeus draws his sword cane from its sheath and rushes up the stairs. "Arline! Agatha!"

Dazed as he is, it takes some time for Maddox's words to register. Thaddeus looks at his cousin, and then back at the engraving. "No, they are... right here..."

The doctor trails off, suddenly feeling the icy tendrils of dread snake up from his gut. He shoves the engraving back in between the journal, and the journal into his bag, and rushes back into the foyer.

Thaddeus fixes his spectacles, squinting at the note and picture in turn.

Linguistics: 1d20 + 8 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 8 + 4 = 25
Intelligence: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22

* Use an extract

Thaddeus soon becomes lost in the mystery of the library, barely noticing his cousins' apprehension. Curious about whether or not it will work, Thaddeus hastily produces some components from his bag, and mixes them quickly in a small vial: carbon dust and a simple saline solution commingle with more esoteric reagents, producing a milky liquid with flecks of silver floating languidly through the turbidity.

The doctor instantly downs his concoction, looking back through the books and maps for any previously unrecognisable forms of written communication.

Mixing and drinking an extract of comprehend languages. That'll last for twenty minutes at 250 words per minute, so I will try to save some of that duration for the journal, if need be.

* Library/Study: Shiraz hated coming to this room, but this was where her mother always stayed

Ever a man of learning, Thaddeus feels drawn towards the familiar. Perhaps there was some document that would shed light on the situation...

Remaining aloof, Thaddeus moves to check that the rope in attached securely, making sure that there are no immobile objects that it could be tied to.

"We need to move," he says to Edric and Maddox. "We will go through all the rooms in order, and stay together. I repeat: stay together at all times. Understood? Good."

The doctor picks up his bag and heads to...

What are my options on the first floor? Of course, any rooms that would have had special significance to Shiraz would be the highest priority.

Well, I suppose it was bound to happen sooner or later... :P

Meow...

Thaddeus scoffs at the cat, simultaneously startled and almost annoyed by the mundanity of the occurrence. He makes no move to drive the critter off, however.

It is hardly your fault, is it? We are the ones intruding in your lair...

"It's foolish for all of us to explore at once," suggested Agatha at Thaddeus and his cousins. "If something unexpected happens, I'll be ready to send for help."

The doctor sighs, taking off his glasses and rubbing his eyes tiredly.

"You are entirely free to come or go as you please," he says coolly. "I never asked any of you to come along in the first place, but you insisted. Now that we are here, however, I think that it would be best to stay as a group. What will you do if Shiraz—whatever she is—comes for you directly?"

"Get your rope ready," Thaddeus says to Edric.

The doctor sets down his bag and readies his cane, watchful for more trickery as he unlocks the doors.

Agatha left a two whistles to the men, and (with some hesitation) gave Thaddeus the Erastilian holy book.

"I suppose you might need this," she said carefully. "Since we don't know what we're dealing with--better not take chances, right?"

Thaddeus shakes his head slowly at the offer, but does tuck the book into his bag—mostly for Agatha's peace of mind. "I suppose it won't hurt. Be safe, okay? We will head straight for the front door..."

Assuming there is no immediate oddities or threats, Thaddeus will start heading towards the front of the house.

Sorry about that. I hadn't realised it'd been a whole week. :S

Thaddeus nods at Arline. "Yes, you two should go to the front door and wait there. The rest of us will open it from the inside, and then we will secure it with the rope. I do not think we should split up any more than that, at least until we are all inside and have a reliable way of getting in and out of the building. We must be smart about this..."

The doctor looks to Maddox with the crowbar. "Now, get that window open, if you would."