The Secret of Wickwillow Manor

[Koloss17]

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So let me get this straight-Perses shot the creature out of instinct, the creature didn’t see it as a sign of aggression, then Malsam went and stabbed them. That right? I just want to know how my character is going to react, and if peace is at this point still possible.

Oh, and Whisper+Vivi are out of sight/gone, yeah?

 

Edited February 3, 2023 by Koloss17

[+Sorana]

1 hour ago, Koloss17 said:

Oh, and Whisper+Vivi are out of sight/gone, yeah?

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No, you can see them standing behind an open door in the hallway not too far away. The door is easier to defend than the open hallway so they went for a better position. Please correct me if I'm wrong @Voidus

 

[Voidus]

9 hours ago, Koloss17 said:

So let me get this straight-Perses shot the creature out of instinct, the creature didn’t see it as a sign of aggression, then Malsam went and stabbed them. That right? I just want to know how my character is going to react, and if peace is at this point still possible.

Oh, and Whisper+Vivi are out of sight/gone, yeah?

 

8 hours ago, Sorana said:

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No, you can see them standing behind an open door in the hallway not too far away. The door is easier to defend than the open hallway so they went for a better position. Please correct me if I'm wrong @Voidus

 

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Unclear whether the creature took this as a sign of aggression or not, it was simply mimicking Malsam's words back it seemed. But it didn't leap immediately into combat at least.

And yeah Sorana's summary is accurate here.

 

[Koloss17]

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What’s Cobalt’s reaction to all of this? I think at this point Perses has probably realized that nobody really knows what they’re doing, but Cobalt is probably the most knowledgeable person in the room. 

@Voidus

[Voidus]

The flash of steel caught the creature in its midsection, halting its advance a moment longer and opening up a gash into the same infinitely dark space that seemed to draw the eye into it. But within moments sharpened teeth began to form and a third voice joined the chorus that were all now laughing quietly. The creatures head turns to follow Malsam's motion, eyeless face tracking her unerringly. It pauses, considering the array of individuals that lie before it.

"Bind what follows and stop its pursuit." A crisp, commanding voice called.

Cobalt lay one hand against a vibrant painting that shifted instantly to grey as his Command takes hold on the carpet beneath their feet. The fabric bunched up between the group and the first of the creatures before springing out towards it, twining first around its lower limbs. In response the creature moved with blurring speed, one hand flashing out in a near-perfect imitation of Malsam's slash just moments ago, sharpened nails tearing through fibers and seeking to free it. But as quickly as the fibers tore apart more of them sought to hold the creature in place, trying to cover its entire body.

"More to the side." Cobalt called out, voice accompanied by the ring of his steel saber being drawn. "Don't look at- damn it, too late."

Moving around the partially-cocooned first figure, two other forms began to slide past the obstruction. At first glance the flesh seems almost lifeless and gray but, the very moment it is observed begins to take on a healthy pallor. 

[Koloss17]

Perses needed no other invitation. Grabbing hold of a vase, which in retrospect was probably quite valuable, he drained. Perses assumed it was colorful, as vases generally were. Guessing at the command that Cobalt used, Perses launched a similar cloth. It hit a nearby creature, wrapping in a much less efficient coil. The creature would be able to get out of that one quite easily, but it could at least be delayed. 
 

flaring “bronze”, among his other senses, Perses worked on dodging the creature’s advances. Bullets likely did nothing to them, which is unfortunate, but at the very least, he can avoid being hit.

making his way over to Cobalt, Perses shouted to him; “how do we stop these things? Can the be killed?” Everything can be killed, it just depended on how easy it was to do, and if Cobalt knew how. Keeping careful track of the other guests, who were hopefully heading this way, he followed.

Edited February 16, 2023 by Koloss17
Believe it or not, Cobalt≠Byron

[Ashbringer]

Ooooookay.

Byron snapped his eyes down. If a bullet just made these things more dangerous then glass knives weren't going to do much. Unless you could somehow sever it entirely. But again, knife. Cobalt's blade would do better, though he might be able to take advantage of a toothy wound.

The other two figures had better ideas, sending ropes to go wrap up the moving foes. Byron sent out a Pulse, letting the barrier of his bubble wash over and back the figures. It wouldn't do much, not at this compression, but it might throw them off balance.

"How do we stop these things? Can they be killed?" Perses asked, briskly moving over to him. Byron momentarily stretched out an arm, then stopped. He couldn't see, but he knew where he was, and even if that was just through Seeking Byron would be glowing like a beacon. As long as his cadmium was still on. Can they be killed... they didn't look like the horrors he'd seen, the ones he'd spent days into years hiding from, hoping that he'd guessed right that they wouldn't care about a frozen corpse.

"No idea. Maybe if they go into small enough pieces. But they'll keep coming. So we need to go."

Byron jumped and dove for the door, extinguishing his cadmium in midair for that fraction of a second, then burning to land and to send another Pulse over the monsters. He could feel them there on the edge, materializing.

He hoped that didn't count as looking at them.

He dropped his bubble anyway, limping the last few steps, even burying a dagger in one wall to stay upright as he swung through the doorframe.

[Koloss17]

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You know, I completely used Byron instead of Cobalt there. Sorry!

 

[Voidus]

Whisper was almost certain that Vivi was a Soother. Not that she much minded if that were indeed the case, if she was an emotional Allomancer then she was incredibly skilled, and Whisper appreciated others who cultivated their skill. But how else could she explain such an agreeable fondness for the girl less than a day after first meeting her? Or perhaps it was just that Whisper appreciated her incredibly practical suggestion to utilize the rest of the group as the distraction they had already made of themselves.

Unfortunately, just as she was about to reply there was a flicker of movement as the Pulser Byron swung into the Doorway, followed a moment later by the straight-backed Steward Cobalt, rapier held up wardingly as he stepped backwards into the room.

"If we knew how to stop or kill them, we would not have hired assistance." The steward mentioned, a little frustratedly. "In through here, the doorway will at least block some from view, with luck they might..."

A sound of ripping fabric broke through whatever he might have been about to say, followed by the thudding of flesh against bare stone as one of the bound creatures gained its freedom and moved to give chase. Cobalt held the rear of the group with Perses, rapier moving in a flash of steel to open more toothy slices along the creatures skin as he tried to back away.

Whisper carefully gauged the cadence of the fight, listening for any sign of swift overwhelm on the part of the creatures. But invulnerable to steel as they may be they did not seem capable of easily passing the defenses arrayed before them. Or perhaps they simply enjoyed toying with their prey, but in either case now that others had caught up with them it would be imprudent to abandon them so easily. Whisper needed more information, more clues as to how the patterns of this house worked. Otherwise even if she and Vivi left there was no way to know if they were moving in the right direction, or running into a trap.

Best to keep as many alive as we can. She observed to herself. More chances someone else springs a trap instead of us. Me. Instead of me.

She gave a slight shake of her head to Vivi, motioning with her hands to wait for the moment. She needed to think, now while they had time surely there was something they could do. Decapitation might work of course, though neither Vivi's rapier nor Whisper's small dagger were well suited to the task. Perhaps if they could simply break everyone's line of sight for long enough...

Line of sight? She thought, turning the phrase over for a moment, feeling a puzzle piece slide into her hand, she just had to work out how to fit it in...

Her eyes shifted to the side of the room, the floor to ceiling mirror, saw herself reflected in its surface. Saw the tiny smile of her lips as the piece fell into place. Wordlessly she looked back to Vivi, catching her gaze and then gesturing to the tall mirror. Too tall for her to easily move herself, but if Vivi grabbed the other side then the two of them may be able to angle it...

[EmulatonStromenkiin]

11 hours ago, Voidus said:

Whisper was almost certain that Vivi was a Soother. Not that she much minded if that were indeed the case, if she was an emotional Allomancer then she was incredibly skilled, and Whisper appreciated others who cultivated their skill. But how else could she explain such an agreeable fondness for the girl less than a day after first meeting her? Or perhaps it was just that Whisper appreciated her incredibly practical suggestion to utilize the rest of the group as the distraction they had already made of themselves.

Unfortunately, just as she was about to reply there was a flicker of movement as the Pulser Byron swung into the Doorway, followed a moment later by the straight-backed Steward Cobalt, rapier held up wardingly as he stepped backwards into the room.

"If we knew how to stop or kill them, we would not have hired assistance." The steward mentioned, a little frustratedly. "In through here, the doorway will at least block some from view, with luck they might..."

A sound of ripping fabric broke through whatever he might have been about to say, followed by the thudding of flesh against bare stone as one of the bound creatures gained its freedom and moved to give chase. Cobalt held the rear of the group with Perses, rapier moving in a flash of steel to open more toothy slices along the creatures skin as he tried to back away.

Whisper carefully gauged the cadence of the fight, listening for any sign of swift overwhelm on the part of the creatures. But invulnerable to steel as they may be they did not seem capable of easily passing the defenses arrayed before them. Or perhaps they simply enjoyed toying with their prey, but in either case now that others had caught up with them it would be imprudent to abandon them so easily. Whisper needed more information, more clues as to how the patterns of this house worked. Otherwise even if she and Vivi left there was no way to know if they were moving in the right direction, or running into a trap.

Best to keep as many alive as we can. She observed to herself. More chances someone else springs a trap instead of us. Me. Instead of me.

She gave a slight shake of her head to Vivi, motioning with her hands to wait for the moment. She needed to think, now while they had time surely there was something they could do. Decapitation might work of course, though neither Vivi's rapier nor Whisper's small dagger were well suited to the task. Perhaps if they could simply break everyone's line of sight for long enough...

Line of sight? She thought, turning the phrase over for a moment, feeling a puzzle piece slide into her hand, she just had to work out how to fit it in...

Her eyes shifted to the side of the room, the floor to ceiling mirror, saw herself reflected in its surface. Saw the tiny smile of her lips as the piece fell into place. Wordlessly she looked back to Vivi, catching her gaze and then gesturing to the tall mirror. Too tall for her to easily move herself, but if Vivi grabbed the other side then the two of them may be able to angle it...

Malsam caught site of the others retreating, and swiftly followed them, keeping a wary eye on the creatures, specifically the one mimicking her. Her chair was gone, along with an emergency reserve of strength hidden in the seat. It was a good thing everything else was on her. She reached the doorway, and saw Willow and Vivi moving a mirror. The plan that she thought they had was a good one, but the creatures were closing in fast, far too fast for comfort. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small orb of lead, plated in pewter. In a flash, she drew out all the strength stored within and threw it at the creature that was mimicking her. It crashed into its shoulder with a sound she knew all too well. The sound of bones breaking, shattering. She smiled grimly. The creature had mimicked her too well. She hurried into the room beyond the door just before Willow and Vivi finished moving the mirror into place.

[+Sorana]

The others finally joined them, hurried through the doorway fighting the monsters. Vivi continued to try to glance somewhere else, but with one of the creatures standing just in front of the doorway, she unwillingly looked at the thing, too. The way its wounds closed up shortly after Cobalt had hit it was - interesting. The thought came unbidden to her mind, stronger than her fear, than her uncertainty what to do and how to survive this. They were interesting. She caught herself taking a step forward to see more detailes and then forced her eyes away, on the ground, near the door, so that she could know when they breached their line of defense. But for now the others held the door, although she wasn't sure if the creatures allowed them to do so, or if they were really able to make a stand.

With a small sigh she considered what had happened, how the monsters had appeared and how they behaved. They had spoken, she had heard the voice when they had run away and the words - she grinned when she noticed that they had been exactly the words Malsam had used. So they imitated. Could they copy their skills, too? Their investiture? They would have to be careful until that one was ruled out. If she were able to catch one and train it to follow her orders, she would have her own personal monster in the closet. Vivi smiled at the picture, unlikely as it was. To run the streets with her own monster, to take jobs, to work with secret people who paid her a ton to break into places, or to extract a person. With a self healing, sound imitating monster she would do amazing.

Vivi focused again on the situation at hand, on the fact that her probably-never-but-maybe monster partner and its friends were trying to rip them to pieces. One thing after the other. If she survived this, she would do well even without a monster by her side. Her eyes darted over to Willow when another thought entered her mind. Not a monster partner, but maybe a partner? A friend? Someone to run by her side? Focus. This too, had to wait.

Willow gestured towards a large mirror and Vivi frowned, unsure why Willow wanted a mirror. She looked perfectly fine and besides, they were about to be ripped apart, this was hardly the moment to look into a mirror, to judge your eyes or your nose, or whatever it was, that Willow didn't like about her - "You're brilliant." Vivi breathed when she finally understood. Look into a mirror, but of course. The monsters imitated, they had been told not to look, to keep them out of their sight.

She ran over and grabbed the mirror. It was polished to a bright sheen, not a single fingerprint on its surface or on the metal that ran around it. Not caring for whoever would have to clean it later again, Vivi changed her grip, so that she could move it more easily as soon as Willow had run over, too.

Edited February 23, 2023 by Sorana

[Ashbringer]

Byron stood up, leaning back into a wall and slowly shuffling away from the door. He could help set up defenses later. For now, Cobalt and Vivi and Willow needed speed, and that was the opposite of what he did. Maybe after they made a barricade he could put his bubble up on the edge, deflect some energy from those things trying to tear it down. If they did.

... he wasn't burning cadmium. He'd turned it off in midair and never turned it back on. He started burning a little, again making a small weak bubble that just encapsulated him. Must be easier to leave it off when he was running on adrenaline instead of metal.

"If they're like the other things I've seen... they're not too bright," he said, panting slightly while trying to talk in his normal slightly-too-fast tone. "These seem to care more about actual sight than anything. Or acknowledgement. So just don't acknowledge them and try and... try and be as uninteresting as you can. Or... yeah, making them not see us would be good."

He stood back up, looking around at the room they were in. A bedroom, though it looked like someone'd done a thorough search through everything already. And then somehow expanded in one direction. The second was probably just whatever was expanding the house. The first... maybe not.

"Cobalt, does this room look familiar to you?" Byron said, walking over to the wardrobe over to the side. It looked normal enough, all things considered. But it was a hiding place. For them, or for other things, that depended on who got to the room first.

"And what should we do with this thing?"

[Voidus]

Coibalt kept his back to the others, sparing only a momentary glance to see their preparations before shifting his attention to the doorway again and retreating at a measured pace, ready at any moment to lunge forward if he should see one of the creatures. He flinched for a moment at a sudden cracking sound, followed shortly after by Malsam's arrival and a sudden unearthly screech from the corridor beyond.

"One of the guest rooms." He commented in reply to Byron. "But different. Many of the rooms are like that, faintly recognizable but... changed."

Seeing the girl, Vivi struggling with something heavy he spared a moments thought to help her but she was quickly joined by the thief who had introduced herself as Willow. Whether they were attempting to simply use the mirror as a shield or for some other strategy he could not quite tell, because once more the long-fingered hand of one of the creatures grasped the side of the door as it slowly pulled itself into view.

There was an instant, the briefest blink of an eye when a monster could be seen. But quickly after its form matched that of Cobalt's own, but for the same eerie lack of eyes that the other copy had displayed. A flicker of something behind it announced another of the creatures, perhaps the one that had copied Malsam or perhaps another as yet unformed. Best not to look at it and make the situation worse. But how could they possibly defend against something without looking at it? Were they to fight blind? Or would that only hamper them and make them even easier prey?

A sudden tug at his midsection threw him off balance, stumbling backwards only to be dragged another hastened step as a small hand gripped with unnatural strength to his uniform. Willow had taken hold of him and was dragging him back to where she and the other girl had propped the mirror up to face the door.

"That is no shield at all." He remarked, head shaking but moving with the force to avoid upsetting his balance even more. "Those creatures have claws sharp enough to surely pierce..."

A secondary shriek at the doorway drew his attention back to the only defensible point in the room, he poised to move forwards and hold this screaming creature at bay, only to find there was little need.

With a soul-wrenching scream of utter anguish, the creature behind Cobalt's copy had staggered through the doorway. Its hands clutched at its face, elongated claw-like fingers digging deep furrows through the skin and then suddenly plunging knuckle-deep into its empty orbits. Something seemed to have driven it to madness. But as he watched it slowly calmed, neck twisting with unnerving suddenness as it looked to one of the others who had also glanced to the doorway, the creatures skin began to ripple, shifting in colouration once more.

"Behind the mirror and do not watch!" A hoarse voice called, seeming to echo around the room from everywhere and nowhere.

[Koloss17]

Perses, taking a moment to store, cut off his lifesense, and bronzesense. Completely blind to the outside world, aside from his ears, he sat on one of the beds. Burning bronze, he stored it immediately. This won’t give him much, but it was better than nothing. 
 

It was always an awkward experience, storing. He was readying himself for the future, true, but he was also quite vulnerable in the moment. He felt as if he was truly blind again, and it made him scared. 
 

The cold, dark alleys of the outer cities. Huddled for warmth in the bitter cold. Only guessing what was around him as he cried for his lost father. Feeling powerless in a world of potential. It was oh, so cold. So lonely.

 

Perses snapped back into reality. Mansions. Right. 
 

The creatures were at the door, but a mirror was blocking it. What good would that do?

One of the creatures screamed, and Perses almost felt their anguish inside him. He shivered, despite the relatively warm room. 
 

"Behind the mirror and do not watch!"

So they were intelligent. That will make things though. Hmm.

”What’s the plan?” Perses asked, voice feeling quiet in his head. “I don’t think that mirror will hold them for long.”

[EmulatonStromenkiin]

Malsam noticed Perses sitting on the bed. He seemed... vulnerable. He had ways around his blindness, but they replied on Feruchemy. He was probably storing some senses.

”What’s the plan?” Perses asked. “I don’t think that mirror will hold them for long.”

Malsam moved over to the bed, sitting on the other end to give him plenty of room, and to stay with the mirror between her and the doppelgangers.

"I don't think any of us have a good plan," she said carefully. "But the mirror shielding us seems to work. They change based on a sense similar to sight, but them trying to mimic themselves seems to hurt them a great deal. It should at least give us some breathing room."

[Koloss17]

Perses took in what Malsam said, but something seemed odd.

”A sense similar to sight? What do you mean?”

These creatures seemed to shapeshift, but he didn’t actually know what they looked like. Because of course he couldn’t. The crew found a way to hold the creatures off, but it was all based off of sight. They had blocked the door with a mirror, which Perses hadn’t fully understood until the creatures pointed it out. 
 

These unknowable creatures, an enigma to everyone, could only be stopped by utilizing the one thing that Perses didn’t have. Sight.

Feeling useless, a not unfamiliar feeling to Perses, he sat. Waiting for others to fix things.

 

[EmulatonStromenkiin]

On 3/16/2023 at 0:24 PM, Koloss17 said:

Perses took in what Malsam said, but something seemed odd.

”A sense similar to sight? What do you mean?”

These creatures seemed to shapeshift, but he didn’t actually know what they looked like. Because of course he couldn’t. The crew found a way to hold the creatures off, but it was all based off of sight. They had blocked the door with a mirror, which Perses hadn’t fully understood until the creatures pointed it out. 
 

These unknowable creatures, an enigma to everyone, could only be stopped by utilizing the one thing that Perses didn’t have. Sight.

Feeling useless, a not unfamiliar feeling to Perses, he sat. Waiting for others to fix things.

 

"I say similar because they seemed to register you sensing them, but they rely at least partially on seeing with light. I don't know if it is actually sight, but it is close." she looked closer at Perses. He looked the way she often felt, useless. Too fragile, lacking in what was necessary to function in society. She sighed. "I triggered them too, blast it. If I hadn't looked, we would still be searching."

[Ashbringer]

"Well we shouldn't just hope they forget about us. They might, but we shouldn't just hope," Byron said, throwing open the wardrobe. It was empty save for a ruddy jacket. Rusts. At least it was something they could use to hide and not just another place for those things to.

A plan?

Byron didn't usually run on a plan. Or if he did it didn't use multiple people. But that was for stealing bread or metal. For this... they needed a better plan.

"If we need to go up a floor... we could try cutting through the ceiling. Gets us a way out they might not expect, and makes them do more work in getting back up at us," he said, looking frantically around. Cobalt holding the door. Willow and Vivi getting the mirror properly angled. Persus and Malsam trying to think. "Maybe move it above the bed canopy, or go down instead and do it underneath? But then we need..."

Time.

He had an idea.

"Malsam. You're a Pulser too, right?"

@EmulatonStromenkiin (et al)

[Koloss17]

Quote

Oh no

 

[EmulatonStromenkiin]

On 3/28/2023 at 0:56 AM, Ashbringer said:

"Well we shouldn't just hope they forget about us. They might, but we shouldn't just hope," Byron said, throwing open the wardrobe. It was empty save for a ruddy jacket. Rusts. At least it was something they could use to hide and not just another place for those things to.

A plan?

Byron didn't usually run on a plan. Or if he did it didn't use multiple people. But that was for stealing bread or metal. For this... they needed a better plan.

"If we need to go up a floor... we could try cutting through the ceiling. Gets us a way out they might not expect, and makes them do more work in getting back up at us," he said, looking frantically around. Cobalt holding the door. Willow and Vivi getting the mirror properly angled. Persus and Malsam trying to think. "Maybe move it above the bed canopy, or go down instead and do it underneath? But then we need..."

Time.

He had an idea.

"Malsam. You're a Pulser too, right?"

@EmulatonStromenkiin (et al)

Malsam turned slightly towards Byron, her muscles very deflated. 

"Yes, I am a Pulser, but I don't have much practice with Cadmium. I only have about three hours burntime of the metal on me. What is your plan?"

@Ashbringer

[Ashbringer]

5 hours ago, EmulatonStromenkiin said:

Malsam turned slightly towards Byron, her muscles very deflated. 

"Yes, I am a Pulser, but I don't have much practice with Cadmium. I only have about three hours burntime of the metal on me. What is your plan?"

@Ashbringer

Byron ran over, fast as his slight cadmium burn would allow. "It shouldn't need practice, and I've got..." Wait 3 hours burntime from within or without the bubble? And what dilation... okay forget about the dilation. "I've got enough if we need more. But if we stand there and there," he said, pointing at two spots in the room, "we should be able to overlap a cadmium bubble over the door. We'd be slow, but anything trying to get in would be a lot slower. That gives us time to get through the ceiling or floor, or do something else."

He took a glance at that wardrobe again. It was bugging him.

"Getting through might be the harder part. Don't think we've got demolitions. Anyone have a Soulcaster?"

[EmulatonStromenkiin]

16 hours ago, Ashbringer said:

Byron ran over, fast as his slight cadmium burn would allow. "It shouldn't need practice, and I've got..." Wait 3 hours burntime from within or without the bubble? And what dilation... okay forget about the dilation. "I've got enough if we need more. But if we stand there and there," he said, pointing at two spots in the room, "we should be able to overlap a cadmium bubble over the door. We'd be slow, but anything trying to get in would be a lot slower. That gives us time to get through the ceiling or floor, or do something else."

He took a glance at that wardrobe again. It was bugging him.

"Getting through might be the harder part. Don't think we've got demolitions. Anyone have a Soulcaster?"

Malsam considered for a moment. It was a good plan, and she did not have any other ideas. She stopped storing strength and stood up. 

"That sounds like a good idea. Does anyone have any objections?"

[+Sorana]

Vivi continued to hold on to the mirror, it's metal now warm under her fingers. She listened to the discussion, a wave of unease rolling through her at the idea of the speed bubbles combining themselves. That wasn't wise. They had to use the time they had, or they wouldn never find the object in time. But apart from that, she liked the idea of going a way the monsters didn't expect them to go.

"We don't need to break through the ceiling. Or the floor." she offered and without leaving her spot behind the mirror she gestured towards the window and the long curtains hanging next to it. "It's a manor. Maybe we can use it's decorations to climb up or down. Use the curtains as a rope, if nobody has a real one with them. One goes first and take the rope with them, then the others can use it for support."

Her eyes rested on the high windows for a moment. Climbing along the wall of a building sounded like an awful ideal now that she had spoken it aloud. It sounded like something a hero would do. Something her stupid brother would do. So maybe it was something she should skip. Vivi bit down on her lower lip and looked at the floor and the ceiling again. Nobody had spoken up when Byron had asked for a soulcaster. What would they do, use a part of the wooden bed and hack through stone? And that would only work if they managed to break the bed into pieces in the first place.

"I could go first, I suppose." her eyes returned to the window. "I've got a good sense of balance." Because you're a dancer you idiot. She could already hear her brother's voice scolding her. You're a dancer, you're not a professional climber. "And I'm lightweight enough that you could probably catch me if I fall."

Unless somebody did have a soulcaster on their body and was able to change the stone above and maybe turn the air into steps. Just like her mother would have done. But her mother wasn't here and she doubted that any of these had her skill, even if they had a soulcaster. Vivi glanced covertetly at Willow, wondered if the other one thought her a complete maniac by now. But she couldn't read her face and so she waited for one of the others to call her crazy.

[EmulatonStromenkiin]

13 hours ago, Sorana said:

Vivi continued to hold on to the mirror, it's metal now warm under her fingers. She listened to the discussion, a wave of unease rolling through her at the idea of the speed bubbles combining themselves. That wasn't wise. They had to use the time they had, or they wouldn never find the object in time. But apart from that, she liked the idea of going a way the monsters didn't expect them to go.

"We don't need to break through the ceiling. Or the floor." she offered and without leaving her spot behind the mirror she gestured towards the window and the long curtains hanging next to it. "It's a manor. Maybe we can use it's decorations to climb up or down. Use the curtains as a rope, if nobody has a real one with them. One goes first and take the rope with them, then the others can use it for support."

Her eyes rested on the high windows for a moment. Climbing along the wall of a building sounded like an awful ideal now that she had spoken it aloud. It sounded like something a hero would do. Something her stupid brother would do. So maybe it was something she should skip. Vivi bit down on her lower lip and looked at the floor and the ceiling again. Nobody had spoken up when Byron had asked for a soulcaster. What would they do, use a part of the wooden bed and hack through stone? And that would only work if they managed to break the bed into pieces in the first place.

"I could go first, I suppose." her eyes returned to the window. "I've got a good sense of balance." Because you're a dancer you idiot. She could already hear her brother's voice scolding her. You're a dancer, you're not a professional climber. "And I'm lightweight enough that you could probably catch me if I fall."

Unless somebody did have a soulcaster on their body and was able to change the stone above and maybe turn the air into steps. Just like her mother would have done. But her mother wasn't here and she doubted that any of these had her skill, even if they had a soulcaster. Vivi glanced covertetly at Willow, wondered if the other one thought her a complete maniac by now. But she couldn't read her face and so she waited for one of the others to call her crazy.

Malsam nodded. "I like that plan better than loosing time to the bubbles, especially without a way through the wall. We need to get up another floor anyway, with our target being on the third."

[Voidus]

Whisper, back to the mirror to help support it, scanned the space with calculating gray eyes. There was nothing new, no more information for her to learn by looking at it a second time, but it helped as she considered the options available to them, trying to shut out the screeches of the creatures on the other side. Trying to optimize a way to escape.

"We don't need to break through the ceiling. Or the floor." Vivi suggested. "It's a manor. Maybe we can use it's decorations to climb up or down. Use the curtains as a rope, if nobody has a real one with them. One goes first and take the rope with them, then the others can use it for support."

A good plan, better than leaving a giant hole that they could be followed through. And one that Vivi and Whisper herself were most likely to be able to complete, the others would have much more difficulty on the small hand and footholds available on the outside. She also approved of the lack of needing to be caught in a time bubble for it.

Cobalt glanced towards the window speculatively, still recovering from the strain of holding the creatures back he takes a moment to recatch his breath before replying.

"The exterior... has not been attempted before. It may work, and possibly expedite things quite a bit. But it would be risky if they could catch some of us while we were still climbing." The Steward mused, before locking his eyes to the young thief Willow. "You are a Radiant? Do you perhaps have a Blade? That would do for creating a vertical passage I think."

Whisper flinched internally at the question, one she had been hoping nobody would think to ask. She gave a slight shake of the head, gesturing emptily with her hand and hoping that it would simply be assumed she was not sufficiently advanced in Oaths.