RP:What Lurks Inside?

Location: Haunted House

Synopsis: Eirik finds the haunted house and wonders if it's always been here. Pilar shows up of her own free will. What they find dwelling within.. Well It's an odd encounter where the two become trapped. Trapped until Morg gives them a way out. What would of happened if they hadn't given him "shinnies?"

What Lurks Inside

Slumped precariously on the narrow ledge, a monstrous house stands. Several stones are missing from its rotten foundation of moss-dappled stones. Staring into one of the gaps, you think you spy glowing eyes blink, or is that the light playing a trick on you? The caved in wooden roof reveals the house's beams like skin sagging and rotting to expose a skeleton. Has the house always been there? It certainly looks like it, but when you try to place it in your memory, something about it seems false and wrong. Your mind tries to tell you that the eerie house has always stood there on the ledge, flanked by fog that enshrouds the Xalious Mountain Range and veils the 300 foot drop beyond the ledge. Did you hear a faint scream echo up from the cliff face below, or was that the wind? Something deep within your gut tells you to stay far away from this place. Venturing inside, the house reeks of rot and dampness; the skittering sound of beasties and rats can be heard all around. When you venture deeper into the house, it feels as if someone is standing right behind you, breathing down on your neck… you turn and…! Nobody is there. Maybe the rumours are true and the mysterious house is haunted. Do you dare linger?

Eirik keeps those frigid silver eyes of his affixed upon the horizon, completely lost in thought. Totally unaware of the building he had now stumbled upon. Despite the eerie noise of the winds beating upon the cliff, which berate his eardrums like screams, the Northman seems far from panicking. In fact, he's quite comfortable being alone. Where did this building come from? He could have sworn he meandered down this way multiple times. It had never been here, or had it? As hard as he tries, Eirik just simply can't remember. You would think that such a rickety old building would stand out in your thoughts. Apparently not. Do I dare go in, he thought for a moment? Without even finishing his thought, something seems to snag his attention. A pair of eyes. Only for the briefest of moments. The Lycan takes a step forward and climbs into the musty ramshackle building. "Hello?" His voice deep and rough like rocks being crushed beneath a weighted boot. Those keen senses of his picked up nothing. Is he really alone?

Pilar was flying back from a trip to Frostmaw when she spotted the house. “Wait... that house wasn't there before, was it?” Her couatl looked down at the building. ~No. No it wasn't.~ Emielle had grown up in these mountains, knew nearly every inch. ~Do you wish to look into it?~ “I... I suppose,” Pilar said, “but only for a few minutes.” Emielle nodded, and the winged serpent flew down, landing before the old house. Pilar dismounted and took a few steps toward it. She heard movement inside (Eirik), and looked to Emielle. “I'll be back in a bit.” ~I'll be waiting.~ Pilar walked up the steps and slowly opened the door.

Eirik is caught up by the strange feeling this house put off. Its aura radiated like the warmth of a fire on a cold night. As if there were some man or woman lurking just beyond each door. Even standing behind him. Every time the Northman turned, nothing catches his attention, save for the puffs of his own breath in the cold air. An eerie sinking feeling begins to set in the pit of his stomach. I don't think I should have come here he nearly mutters to himself. He is ill equipped to deal with some paranormal nightmare. Even -if- he was, that would still be a difficult task. "Damnit," he husks. Just then, the creaking of a door alerts the Lycan to the presence of another mischief maker. Unfortunately for Eirik its no apparition. Instead it is Pilar, a woman whom he had met once before. Though even if he was processing information correctly, he wouldn't place her. The berserker nearly jumps out of his skin, snatching at the handle of his blade. Knuckles white, skin upon his hand nearly tearing. "Good gods!" He visibly reacts and calms. "I thought you might have been something else!" Eiriks hand slips free of his weapon, "I apologize, I don't mean to startle you. Though you did give me a fright."

Pilar couldn't place Eirik, either, so he didn't need to worry about being rude. “Ack!” she yelped in reaction to his yelp. She did stumble back, but calmed as he released his weapon. “I-it's alright. I'm sorry, too. I-I didn't mean to trepass, I just, um... this house wasn't here before.” She apparently thought he lived here. She could smell the lycan on him (as he could surely smell the vampire on her), but besides that, he seemed normal enough. The house, though... it gave her a bad feeling.

Eirik couldn't help but wonder why Pilar had entered the home, but then, why did he? Morbid curiosity. Perhaps it's best to not ask such things. Mostly because he wouldn't be able to answer that question either. Instead he took the moment to reap the benefit of another person being present. Which did help to calm the nerves and his were acting up. Imagine that, the big bad Lycan Berserker, afraid of a little haunted house. What was his problem? Big baby. He could smell that vampiric curse, like she could his. But this gave him little pause. Was this her house? "Trespass?" Eirik cracks an odd sort of grin. "I don't live here. Until you said that, I thought you might have." Frigid silver eyes scrutinize her for a moment and then twist from her form. "I don't remember this house being here." Eiriks eyes settle upon a hallway in the distance. "How long has it," His words are cut-off by a fierce bloodcurdling scream from deeper within. "Tell me I'm not crazy, and you heard that too?" But as for any further sign of sound, nothing comes. Not yet at least.

Pilar wouldn't have dared venture further in alone, once she felt that foreboding sensation. But with someone else here, maybe together they could unlock its secrets. When Eirik denied living in the house, Pilar blinked. “Oh. I... No, I've never seen it before either.” Then that shriek pierced the air, and Pilar nearly went into panic mode. “Heard it? I felt it! Oh gods, someone's in trouble, we have to DO something!” Pilar stepped further into the house with the clear intent of finding the source of the scream.

Eirik couldn't peel his gaze from that hallway. He watched, waiting for something to jump out at them. For some creature to appear and spit fire and brimstone. To try and kill them. Hell, to even attempt at cursing them with the fleas of a thousand camels; but nothing came. Whatever it was, it teased the duo. It toyed and tried to manipulate the situation to its own advantage. Even if he was terrified of apparitions, he would at least try to defend himself and her. Pilar was an unfamiliar, but as the obvious warrior he would the one to physically tango with something. The healers further climb into the maddened house practically activates the entire ordeal. The door to the rickety home slams shut behind them. If either were to try to escape, not even the combined might of a vampire and Lycan would get the thing to budge. That same scream turns into a sinister laughter. A mad chuckling from within the very bowels of the home. Where windows once laid wide open, they too, now shut. Like dominoes. Nearly smashing themselves to pieces as they come into contact. Every sound forced Eirik and his sensitive ears to jerk his head in defiance. Just what the hell is happening? He couldn't muster the words to even say anything in response. Soon they are entrenched in darkness. The Iron veil of supernatural dark. That same hallway Eirik had been watching, transformed ever so slightly. Only one door remained within it, practically begging the two to enter. The northman ignores anything Pilar might say and steps the entrance of the home, testing the strength of the knotty old door. "I don't think we are alone," he finally mutters.

Pilar screamed as the door and windows slammed shut. At least her vampire eyes were good in darkness. Still, she summoned a light to her hand to illuminate the room. It made her feel better. Outside, the alarmed Emielle charged forth and slammed into the door. ~Pilar! Pilar, are you hurt?!~ Pilar went to the door as Emielle pounded on it with her tail. “Emielle, can you hear me? I'm fine,” she called. “I'm in here with someone, and there's... something else in here with us.” ~Should I fetch Yozenra?~ the couatl asked. “I don't think there's anything she can do. Go to the Mage's Guild, they might be able to help.” ~Very well. I will be back as soon as I can.” The sound of wingbeats could be heard as Emielle took off. Pilar looked at Eirik, who was assuredly confused by the one-sided conversation. “Um... My friend is going for help. Should... should we wait here, or...” she looked down the corridor. “... should we play its game?”

Eirik couldn't believe what he had gotten himself into. Was the scream he heard earlier just a giant trap. A ploy put into play to trap the two? Is there some intelligent thing that lurks within? His skin was still crawling, prickling from some supernatural cold. Goosebumps shoot up his back. Eyes twist to Pilar, as Brann Forbruker is grasped. He wouldn't pull it free yet, but he would prepare himself. Then that spell she cast which brought light to the room again gave him pause. Though only a moment as he adjusts. Who was she talking too? Her friend? He was certainly confused. However, the immediate concern is the home. The house itself which seemed to want to eat them. The door at the end of the hallway creaks open, and a little red ball rolls out. On one side there is a giant golden star. It's obviously meant as a child's toy. "I think we are at its mercy for now." He steps forward to examine the ball. "Come play," a voice whispers from beyond the hallway. Eirik cringes for a moment. Come play. Yuck. "I hope you have a few more spells up your sleeve." Bare hand reaches up to push the hallway door, hoping she followed behind him. What's beyond that door is another hallway. Filled with medical supplies, shadows darting from one room to another. The sound of glass breaks in the distance and it would seem like they weren't in Kansas anymore. Just where the hell were they?

Pilar had plenty of spells, but her specialty was illusions, something she feared would not be useful in a house like this. She stayed by Eirik's side, continually illuminating their surroundings. She shone her light into every room they passed. All empty, dilapidated hospital rooms, from the look of things. But she could still hear moans and groans, and felt an oppressive sadness in the air. She wiped her eyes. “This... this place is a place of suffering,” she said.

Eirik found himself nodding in response to Pilars words. He wasn't magically inclined in anyway, but he could feel something terrible in the air. He knew when something wasn't right. "This place is mad." Though the two might only be inches apart, a set of black ethereal arms stretch out from the walls. The appendages try to swipe at Pilar, to pull her into deaths embrace. Just above the arms, which shoot out of the wall, a face melts into view for but a heartbeat of time "Play!" It screamed, before the entirety of it dissipated. It's sinister voice still echoing down the hall. The Northman had already drawn his weapon without hesitation, but found the metallic brand only clanking against the wall. Again, everything falls to silence. "I don't know what's going on here…" Eirik couldn't explain it for the life of him.

Pilar yelped as fingers brushed against her, snagging her dress. She let a burst of flame out from her left hand, which passed through the arms as they vanished, leaving no trace. Her right hand still held the orb of light. Pilar took a step back toward Eirik. “I don't know either...” Pilar said. “Maybe if we give it what it wants...” She cleared her throat and called out, “Hello? What, um... what kind of game did you want to play?”

Eirik follows Pilars lead without word. Waiting for a response. For something to happen. For a good few moments, there is absolutely nothing. Naught but the deafening silence created by this haunted home. Perhaps she was on to something? Perhaps not? He was more afraid of the later. What were they going to do? Just beyond the next door, shuffling can be heard as something squats down in the corner, leaving its rag covered back to face the entrance. "No, no, no. This won't work. This never works." Its grimy fists beat upon the ground in front of it. "You lies. You lies again. You always lies." It's not speaking to anyone in particular, but its voice is very hollow. Broken. As if half there, straining to even break through the veil of reality. "They won't fit. And it hurts. It hurts so bad." Eirik had already begun walking towards the voice calling out. "We need to figure this out fast." The creature pays the two no mind. Though neither have tried talking to it.

Pilar again felt that overwhelming sadness, and tears threatened to spill from her eyes. The creature seemed so miserable. She looked to Eirik. “I think... they need help.” She hoped she wasn't wrong. She took a few steps towards the creature. “H-Hello? Excuse me, are... are you alright? Is there anything we can do?” She reached out slightly with her left hand, but didn't touch the creature yet.

Eirik stops in his tracks to further listen. "Yes." It responds at first. "Yes!" It bellows in anger but still does not turn. "No." It shakes its head suddenly. "The fingers hurt. The nails dig in. I can't. It doesn't work. I need new ones. They always squish into jelly." The creatures' antics come to a stop, sensing Pilar stepping in closer. Its' fists rest upon the ground, still remaining in it's odd squatting position. "Eyes. Eyes nose…. I knows what it needs." Did it just say 'eyes nose what it needs? Eirik couldn't help but translate the creatures words this way. "Be careful," Eirik whispers to Pilar. Just when she gets within a few steps, the squatting creature twists. The only thing to stare back at her are the empty pits of eye sockets. "Stones. Stones. Stones. Glowing stones. Shinnies." Its features twist into a devilish grin. "Shiniest of glowing shinnies. Give me shinnies." Its hand reaches out, covered in coagulated jelly. "Don't mind the jelly. The eyes always squish in my fingers when I put them back in." It starts to laugh but makes no other movements. Eirik can't believe what he is witnessing. "Hurry before Sammy comes back." His voice gets serious. "Sammy always plays. Plays and plays for days and days. At first you breathe, and then you don't. And then the blackness says you won't. Tick tock the clock says. Cuckoo the bird Fred says. Give Morg shinnies and you can find ways. Ways and ways to play outside without Sammy… For days and days."

Pilar swallowed the horrified gasp that threatened to escape when she saw its eyeless face. When it stuck out its hands, covered in what remained of something's eyes, she did flinch away. “Sh-shinies? Eyes? I, um...” Pilar reached into her pocket and pulled out a silver coin. “This is the shiniest thing I have.” She gingerly placed it in the creature's hands, careful not to touch that goop.

The disheveled creature took the coin, placed it in his mouth and bit it. "No no no. This won't do. This won't fit. This won't fit at all. Stones. I says.. Stones my friends." He falls silent and tilts his head sideways. "Sammy will want to play." Eirik steps forward. "Will these work?" Calloused hands give way to two, glowing stones, both of which fit within each hand. "Ahhhh." It calls back. "The doggy can fetch. It's too bad. Too bad sooo sad. Sammy would like to play. But stones are stones, so Sammy can go away." The stones are quickly snatched. The room they were in, dissipates. And the duo find themselves standing within the main room of the building. The doors and windows once again open. "Sammy will be mad. Yes indeed. But I'll keep him company for days and days while you hurry and run. Escapes I says." Eirik looks to Pilar one last time, and waives his arm at the unlocked door. "Let's get out of here, and then figure out what that was all about!"

Pilar nodded, then made for the exit. Assuming it wasn't another trick, she walked down the stairs and away from the house. She allowed her light to go out as she turned and stared up at the building before looking to Eirik. “Are you alright?”

Eirik took slow and steady strides to follow after Pilar. Though as she turns to face him, she might catch the hint of magic. "Play!" Black arms envelope the Lycan and yank him screaming back into the abandoned house. "Sammy says stay!" The door slams shut and the Northman is gone from sight. Though if she is still not off guard, she might catch the working of magic. For Eirik stands next to her responding. "Ya, I'm alright. You?" Just then his own features twist into something nightmarish as if seeing his own variation of a visage. He almost steps towards the door, and instead shakes his head. "I'm definitely not going back in there."

Pilar reached out uselessly as the lycan was pulled back in. Then he was... next to her? She looked between the “lycan” and the house. She COULD just *beep* off and not deal with it... But she wasn't the type to leave a man in danger. She took a few steps toward the house, keeping the other Eirik in sight.

Eirik says, "If you want to meet Sammy, by all means, go in there. I'll go no closer. Morg, got my stones." Please don't go back in there. The real Eirik is right here. The one she had seen yanked into the house, was naught but an illusion, a strong one at that. Sammy was fighting to bring them back in. Eirik remembered Morgs words: Sammy always plays. Plays and plays for days and days. At first you breathe, and then you don't. And then the blackness says you won't. Tick tock the clock says. Cuckoo the bird Fred says. Give Morg shinnies and you can find ways. Ways and ways to play outside without Sammy… For days and days. "Don't make me go back in there after you."

Pilar hesitated. “... How do I know you're really you?”

Eirik says "I'm not sure there is a way to answer that question." The Northman continues to think. Finally, he places Pilar. "We once talked on a bench at the Warriors guild. You showed up for a very unorthodox training day. Hildegarde and Sabrina spared, while we. Well.. Sort of talked. If I was an illusion would I know that meeting from months back?" Even if she didn't remember it, he did. "And if you can't figure it out, we can always just go our separate ways from here. But the only way I will step back into that home, is if you go back in there. I'd much rather head to dragons head inn and get some ale." A gloved hand points to the east.

Pilar looked Eirik over carefully. “I... I think I remember that, now... Yes, I was asked to spar and I refused...” Still, she looked back at the house. “... I need to wait here, for Emielle and whoever she's bringing from the Mage's Guild. Maybe we can do something about this house, stop anyone else from becoming trapped. You... You can go, if you want. I won't go back in, promise.”

Eirik eyes her curiously for a moment. Not sure if she herself might have been the cause for the haunted house today or not. It was always the quiet ones. "You sure?" He waits for any further reply and turns whistling to his two Rosfjorian Dire wolves; Sigrid and Bjorn. The beast pop up in the snow twenty or so yards away, looking as though they had not a single care in the world. Playing while their Alpha was lost in some haunted house. "Let's get out of here." Eirik would wait for any further word or outcry from Pilar before he left the area.

Pilar said nothing, only watched him go. Sure enough, Emielle returned soon after with two mages from the Guild. Pilar gave a report of what happened, and they promised to look into it. Spoilers: they didn't.