Long Game 102: Re-Awakening at the House on the Hill

[Araris Valerian he/him]

Signups are closed! PMs will go out shortly and then N0 will be posted.

[Araris Valerian he/him]

It was nearly sunset when the small group arrived at the top of the hill where the House stood. As they approached, the front door swung silently inwards, as if to beckon the guests inside. There was a moment of hesitation, in which nobody apparently wanted to be the first to step foot inside. Then Leander shouldered someone aside and crossed the threshold, muttering something about the rest of the party. She immediately blinked against the bright light, which had seemed far dimmer from outside. An ornate chandelier hung from the ceiling in the foyer, illuminating a thick brown rug that covering the floor of a well-decorated room. Portraits lined the walls on either side, complimented by wallpaper of red lines that gave the impression of veins spread throughout the room.

As the last person, Kanem, entered the House, the door swung softly shut again, barely audible. Kanem and the others turned, and a few of the explorers had concerned looks on their faces as the sight of the closed door. Those same people jumped slightly as a voice came from behind them, at the back of the foyer.

"Welcome! It is good to have some guests at the House."

Everyone turned back to face the speaker, a middle-aged man dressed in a sharp suit. In his hands was a intricately carved wooden box, which he held forth to them.

"This may be of some aid in your exploration. But I only have the one, so choose wisely amongst yourselves who should receive it. I will seek out the one that you choose."

Before anyone could question him, the butler stepped through a door and was gone.

Father Rhinehardt called out and moved to the same door, peering behind into a hallway. He turned back to his companions, clutching at a symbol hanging around his neck while gesturing at the doorway.

"He's gone!"

That revelation startled the group into conversation, and they began to discuss what to do. While conversation flowed, each guest of the House began to feel an urge to leave the others and explore. A grand staircase led to what appeared to be an expansive upper floor, while another set of stairs sat in their shadow, heading down into a dark basement. The hallway on the ground floor into which the butler had vanished seemed equally promising.

---

Night 0 has begun, and will end at 11PM Eastern Time on Saturday, September 14th.

This cycle is RP only! This includes PMs with other players.

PMs are open, but must be one-to-one, and must contain both myself and Cadcom

Remember to submit to your GM PM both which floor of the house you are exploring, and who you are voting for to receive the butler's gift (reminder that players cannot self-vote for the gift).

Player List:

Spoiler

1. @The Unknown Order as Keisser, a tardy veteran
2. @Coffeecat as Coffee Cat, an insomniac feline
3. @Aeoryi as Aero Yee, a spook shooter
4. @Lego Mistborn as The Nameless Recluse
5. @Elandera as Leander, a paranormal investigator
6. @Lord Spirit as Kirc, a clueless drunk
7. @Sart as Father Rhinehardt, an ageless priest
8. @Kasimir as Kanem, who's tired
9. @Aeternum as Aven, who's quiet
10. @Just a Silvereye as Junior Junior, the local grump

Detailed N0 Exploration Rules:

Spoiler

• Scenario 1: Standard Eliminator game
  • Weighted more heavily by players exploring the ground floor during N0
  • Elims are more likely to be chosen out of players that explored the basement during N0
  • Items/Roles are more likely to be given to villagers that explored the upstairs during N0
• Scenario 2: Free for All with Smoking Gun
  • Weighted more heavily by players exploring the upstairs during N0
  • The Smoking Gun is more likely to be given to players that explore the ground floor during N0
  • Items/Roles are more likely to be given to players that explore the basement during N0
• Scenario 3: Single Body-hopping Elim
  • Weighed more heavily by players exploring the basement during N0
  • Elim is more likely to be chosen from players that explored the upstairs N0
  • Items/Roles are more likely to be given to players that explored the ground floor N0

Scenario weights are Player Count + 2*Explore Count
For example, in a 3 player game, where 2 players explore the ground floor, 1 player explores the basement, and 0 players explore upstairs, the scenarios would be weighted at Standard Elims - (3+4=7/15 or ~47%), Kandra - (3+2=5/15 or ~33%), Smoking Gun - (3+0=3/15 or 20%). Note that this calculation means the base weight for each scenario is 20%, and the remaining 40% is determined by exploration.

After the scenario is selected, the elims/Kandra/Gun are handed out per the specific scenario. For each choice, a coin flip determines whether the player is selected from the Floor Exploration pool, or from the entire player pool. For example, if only Araris explores the Ground Floor during N0 and Scenario 2 is selected, there is a 50% chance Araris receives the Smoking Gun, and a 50% chance that anyone gets it (Araris could also get it from this roll).

Next, if scenario 1 is in place and the gift goes to an elim, they are randomly assigned one of the 3 standard roles/items with equal probability. Then the other two standard roles are assigned to villagers, with coin flips determining whether the players are selected from the Upstairs Pool, or from the entire player pool.

Otherwise, each standard role has an 80% chance to be handed out to a villager (everyone, including the player starting with the Gun, is a villager in Scenario 2), with a coin flip determining whether the selected player(s) are from the corresponding Floor Exploration pool, or from the entire player pool.

 

[Lego Mistborn he/him]

The nameless recluse wanders off into the halls of the house before anyone else can get their bearing. He won't be seen for a long while it seems.

[Kasimir he/him]

Kanem sighed.

A haunted rusting house with a mysterious butler. He was so tired of this drek. It was always a haunted rusting house, wasn't it, sold to you under false pretences of a fun tour, get a glimpse of the Grand Nalthian style back when it was a craze...

And now there was a mysterious butler which most certainly didn't bode well, and the nameless recluse had just wandered off because they were apparently all going to go split up and get themselves killed like one of those horror flicks.

"I'm going to the basement," he said, after rolling a die. Battered old thing that hadn't really brought him luck, but maybe it was going to change. Maybe being on a tour of a haunted house was the bottom of it. Figured he'd make it easier if he said it, maybe some people would come with him. Maybe they'd just be a load of murderers, though. Wouldn't that be his luck. 

He took one last glance at the group. Well, that Father Rhinehardt guy looked pretty spry. And he was a priest, wasn't he? "Maybe you should deal with that haunted box," Kanem suggested. If there was anyone who could exorcise the house, the box, and the butler, Father Rhinehardt had his vote of confidence.

[The Unknown Medallion he/him]

Keisser strolled through the door as everyone started to disperse. He looked around the abandoned house, nodding to himself. "Howdy folks! How're all y’all doing? What's this about a butler?

[Aeternum]

Aven shrugs at Keisser, and quickly follows the nameless recluse into the hallway.

[Sart he/him]

"Should we really be announcing where we are going?" Father Rhinehardt felt like he had been in these sorts of situations before. Things could get... troubling if people blamed each other for what had happened to them. Suspicion would fall based on minute actions, such as running upstairs on downstairs. It might be better to put some distance between themselves.

[Aeoryi she/her]

Aero, upon entering, immediately noticed some strange vandalism on the wall:

Spoiler

It probably meant nothing anyways. All it had meant was that someone probably was here at some point.

Staying on the ground floor was probably the best move there was. Strange things could happen when you weren't level with the entrance, after all. The entire structure could come falling down on you, or you could fall through the entire structure. All very undesirable things, which could definitely make the experience... More complicated.

Best not to split up though. Those who are tight-lipped should not hesitate to speak their thoughts. Surely if the butler returned, his Pandora's Box would be best unopened.

The silence was deafening.

[Lord Spirit he/him]

Kirc looks around the room. Why am I here? Where even is here? Oh right, the weird house that had appeared. Who was that butler? What’s in the box?  Better to leave that to someone who knows what’s going on. 

”I’m going upstairs.” He declares to the group still in the room. That’ll annoy the priest. He takes a few wobbly steps before grabbing the railing for support. He manages to make it to the top and sets off into the unknown hall above. 

[Araris Valerian he/him]

Somewhere deep within the House, a clock chimed. 6 hours until midnight.

[Throw TheLiving Silverware he/him/il/lui]

Junior Junior stood in the hall. On one hand, he was telling himself that he should stay close to other people, in case something attacked. On the other hand... people. Bleh. He didn't feel like having company right now. Not that he ever felt like. He was just fine in his cabin by the wood, not seeing a soul for weeks at a time save for some animals. Maybe he ought to have stayed there tonight, sparing himself that insufferable party of wannabe ghost busters.

The house, though. For as long as he could remember, which was uncomfortably long, it had been a ruin on the top of the hill. And now, it was there again, as if decades of ruin had been just brushed off. Something was up with that, and if he had to trust the people out there to find out... well, the moon would probably fall on Earth before they got anything resembling a beginning of an answer. There was no way he’d let a possibly haunted house so close to him for so long.

Not that all of the people who'd came were that bad. Some of them seemed almost competent. He wouldn't be completely mad, for instance, if that Aven guy ended up getting the butler's gift. A smart guy, who knew when to stay silent. Or maybe that recluse ,who didn't even tell his name before disappearing. But the others… The worst of them might be the one who had described himself as a “paranormal investigator”. Probably just another idiot who pretended he was smarter than anyone else just because he could make fancy drawings and use fancy words. And the priest. An useless lot, all of them. You could come to them with a rabid dog, and they'd still insist that the animal was a creature of the God Beyond just like you, and it was your fault for getting attacked! You just had to give them the same love that He had given to you! Instead of taking down the poor beast like anyone with a peanut’s worth of sense! No, the butler had better give the gift to him. He’d get the whole thing solved in a matter of minutes.

Junior Junior shook up his head. He didn't like the house. It looked too much like another house, one he’d left behind long ago. He’d already spent more time he’d have liked in here. He’d better find out quickly what was happening here. No need to drag it out by daydreaming in the hall. He started heading towards the basement. Important things, the ones people weren’t supposed to find, were always hidden in the basement. Junior Junior put his foot on the first step.

He heard voices. A pleading voice. His own. And felt cold metal against his skin. He froze in place.

No... it was all in his head. It was a different house, a different time, a different place. He’d left that behind him. 

Junior Junior shook his head again, and walked down the stairs, step after step.

[Elandera she/her]

Leander stood at the entrance of the mansion, practically vibrating with excitement. A real mystery. A real paranormal mystery! They took a deep breath, biting their lip to attempt concealing their smile, and stepped inside. It was time to explore.

[Araris Valerian he/him]

The clock strikes midnight, and each toll seems accompanied by a "thump-thump" pulse that is felt throughout the House.

Day 1 will be posted shortly!

[Araris Valerian he/him]

The novelty of exploring the House was wearing off, and the various explorers wandered back through the winding hallways to the foyer. The first to return was Junior Junior, and he froze at the sight awaiting him. The unnamed butler lay on his back, a gaping hole revealing only emptiness where his heart had once been. Trails of blood led from the corpse to the walls, where they seemed to merge with the red-patterned wallpaper.

Junior Junior shook off the horror of the room as best he could, and dashed to the foyer's entrance. But instead of the grand doorway he'd come through at the start of the night, there was just another wall, built of the same sturdy wood and stone construction that formed the rest of the House. And hanging right in the center at eye level was a portrait of the butler as he'd appeared several hours ago.

The others trickled in over the next few minutes, until all nine stood around the body, muttering amongst themselves. Junior turned to face them.

"One of you killed him. You must have, while the rest of us were exploring. And..." He gestured at the portrait hanging where the door had once been.

"We cannot get out!"

---

Day 1 has begun, and will end at 11 PM Eastern Time on Monday September 16.

There will be an execution today!

Player List:

Spoiler

1. @The Unknown Order as Keisser, a tardy veteran
2. @Coffeecat as Coffee Cat, an insomniac feline
3. @Aeoryi as Aero Yee, a spook shooter
4. @Lego Mistborn as The Nameless Recluse
5. @Elandera as Leander, a paranormal investigator
6. @Lord Spirit as Kirc, a clueless drunk
7. @Sart as Father Rhinehardt, an ageless priest
8. @Kasimir as Kanem, who's tired
9. @Aeternum as Aven, who's quiet
10. @Just a Silvereye as Junior Junior, the local grump

 

[Kasimir he/him]

Sigh seriously? K not gonna RP because I'm short on time.

We need to know what map we're in on. As I RPed, I just RNGed for everything and called it a day because no time. I think in general regardless of which mapgen happened, it doesn't matter wrt Day 1 handling. Everyone, please remember to explore at Night, because we want to find clues and understand the mapgen. @Araris Valerian, what does an explore order look like? Must we pick a location?

Aeo

Have eye on Aet as well, but understand Aet busy so Aeo it is.

[Araris Valerian he/him]

Just submit that you are exploring. You can add flavor to the order if you wish.

[Aeoryi she/her]

Kas, your choice of exploration is suspicious

(That's really all I have to say)

[The Unknown Medallion he/him]

When Keisser returned from the basement, he seemed to have aged ten years. A scraggly beard had sprouted. It was discolored by the same dried blood that flaked the rest of his body. He smiled, the teeth that weren't missing were stained yellow.

"Who would like to die today?"

[Elandera she/her]

Leander rubbed her eyes, clearing the sleep away. How had she fallen asleep? She looked around at her unfamiliar surroundings and realized she was on a four-poster bed. One she remembered seeing while exploring the upper floor. It had looked so inviting. Pristine compared to how she'd expected the old destroyed-yet-miraculously-returned mansion to be.

She brushed herself of and rushed to meet the others, frustrated that she'd missed an entire night of exploring because of a nap.

She'd been so excited, though. Vibrating with anticipation. She hadn't been even close to tired, yet she'd just... passed out?

The house was certainly playing tricks. 

When she found the others standing over the body of the butler, she gasped. Sure, most of it was surprise at finding the body, but there was a hint of something else. Intrigue. A real investigation along with her paranormal one. How exciting...

Right. Body. Actual dead person.

She looked around. Those others she'd arrived with were a strange bunch. One looked... older? Odd. Even more odd was the dried blood.

"Who would like to die today?"

"Uh, no one? I think?" She gestured to the flaking blood, taking a cautious step back. "That's some interesting... makeup? What... what happened?"

[Sart he/him]

1 hour ago, The Unknown Order said:

When Keisser returned from the basement, he seemed to have aged ten years. A scraggly beard had sprouted. It was discolored by the same dried blood that flaked the rest of his body. He smiled, the teeth that weren't missing were stained yellow.

"Who would like to die today?"

"Snap out of it man!" This was clearly the work of some forgotten devil. The Unknown Order "We must not devolve into savagery!"

[Lego Mistborn he/him]

The recluse muttered "it was keisser. Now leave me alone, I know what you want, stay away"

[Aeternum]

I'm probably not going to RP much because I don't really have time to dedicate to this game. Fair warning that I skimmed the rules only once as well, and I'm confused on the whole people get picked from x place thing (did I read correctly that elims/+ are picked after n0?).

Kas having people to push already is weird and I don't understand where it's coming from. Why Aeo?

[Aeoryi she/her]

Kasimir

[The Unknown Medallion he/him]

Hey! I asked who wants to die, I didn't say I want to die.

And I'm tapped out for roleplay.

Not sure about the instant double up, but I'll forgive it cause Lego seems to be going low effort.

[Coffeecat she/her]

I'm gonna be honest I have no idea what is happening yet. 

I know voting someone out is a good idea but... How do we choose? 

I'm in agreement with Aet, why is Kas already pushing someone? Why those specifically.

 

TUO was just RPing, I don't see why Aeo and Lego immediately jumped on them together?? 

 

Anyways sorry I missed the first night ;-;