The House of the Haunted (CA - Tiffany & Ionone)
Quote from Mae on March 17, 2022, 9:00 pmThe events of this role play take place immediately following "Dividing Lines".
In a secluded forest on the northern side of Mount Turbulence, a rail bridge ran the course of the river through the valley. Built over seventy feet above the river on brick legs, the rails were placed in the 19th century for hauling minerals out of the mountain. But the mines had either dried up or were deemed unsafe many years ago, and abandoned. Now the rails ran from Middlecrest through the mountains to Lambridge without stops or deviation.
Yet, far beneath the bridge, an old mountain drain pipe still bled water from the bowels of Mount Turbulance into the river from those forgotten mines.
The events of this role play take place immediately following "Dividing Lines".
In a secluded forest on the northern side of Mount Turbulence, a rail bridge ran the course of the river through the valley. Built over seventy feet above the river on brick legs, the rails were placed in the 19th century for hauling minerals out of the mountain. But the mines had either dried up or were deemed unsafe many years ago, and abandoned. Now the rails ran from Middlecrest through the mountains to Lambridge without stops or deviation.
Yet, far beneath the bridge, an old mountain drain pipe still bled water from the bowels of Mount Turbulance into the river from those forgotten mines.
Quote from Mae on April 6, 2022, 11:44 pmThe cliff sides were blue with the morning sun, while the river ran black in the valleys shadow.
After a time, the rushing and gushing of the pipe was joined by an odd sort of turbulence. A large lump came out of the pipe and was dumped into the river. Another lump followed shortly after.
The cliff sides were blue with the morning sun, while the river ran black in the valleys shadow.
After a time, the rushing and gushing of the pipe was joined by an odd sort of turbulence. A large lump came out of the pipe and was dumped into the river. Another lump followed shortly after.
Quote from Mae on April 9, 2022, 3:14 pmA night spent in the mine was an eternity. Tiffany recovered to some degree on the little island in the water cave. But the looming danger that Douglas had survived the collapse of the elevator shaft prompted her companions not to wait too much longer to find a way out.
Scouring the depths would have been a considerable effort, and getting lost would have been just as bad as running into the hunter. But when the tunnels quieted and the rocks stopped falling, the movement of the water kept going. The water had found a way to go, and the smell of fresh air meant it was not deeper into the mountain. So, the survivors made their way out, and thus arrived in the mountain stream.
It was not easy. By now, the bitter cold water had severed any sense of feeling from the mountaineer's bodies, and the question of survival still hung in the air. Tiffany could not access her alternative form. She had spent too much energy in the mine, and attempting to take it again would cost her life. John was an adept failure at climbing, and swimming, and anything to do with mountains in general. He was out of his element. Prior to stepping into the pipe, Tiffany took some of the rope Ionone used to tie John and ensured that he would not be lost if they came out into rapids. Unfortunately, it also ensured that when John lost his footing that Tiffany was pulled down with him. When Tiffany broke the surface of the river, she clambered to shore and used a boulder to drag John out beside her. Now they both lay panting and shivering on the river bank.
A night spent in the mine was an eternity. Tiffany recovered to some degree on the little island in the water cave. But the looming danger that Douglas had survived the collapse of the elevator shaft prompted her companions not to wait too much longer to find a way out.
Scouring the depths would have been a considerable effort, and getting lost would have been just as bad as running into the hunter. But when the tunnels quieted and the rocks stopped falling, the movement of the water kept going. The water had found a way to go, and the smell of fresh air meant it was not deeper into the mountain. So, the survivors made their way out, and thus arrived in the mountain stream.
It was not easy. By now, the bitter cold water had severed any sense of feeling from the mountaineer's bodies, and the question of survival still hung in the air. Tiffany could not access her alternative form. She had spent too much energy in the mine, and attempting to take it again would cost her life. John was an adept failure at climbing, and swimming, and anything to do with mountains in general. He was out of his element. Prior to stepping into the pipe, Tiffany took some of the rope Ionone used to tie John and ensured that he would not be lost if they came out into rapids. Unfortunately, it also ensured that when John lost his footing that Tiffany was pulled down with him. When Tiffany broke the surface of the river, she clambered to shore and used a boulder to drag John out beside her. Now they both lay panting and shivering on the river bank.
Quote from Indy on April 13, 2022, 3:08 pmA sad, black lump sat panting on the shore-line. Water ran in rivulets down her arm as the lump - indeed a bedraggled woman clad in black clothing - stared down at her palm pressed against the shore and nothing else. She could not muster the energy to seek where her companions had arrived in the river. Exhaustion clung to her heart, making anything besides breathing a struggle.
Surely a kitsune could subsist off darkness alone.
Surely. The thought, half-ironic, prompted her to look upright. Day had broken over the crags of the mountain. Though she would never tell grandfather, her heart gladdened to see the very edges of the mountains illuminated from behind like a river of light. Her cool, damp skin warmed slightly under the warmth of the new sun, though a thin crisp breeze robbed her of most of the warmth.
She stood, scanning the horizon for her companions. At first she saw nothing, and feared John had dragged Tiffany down. Her protests to let the boy fend for himself had fallen to deaf ears, and despite her own injuries, Tiffany had insisted on tethering him to herself with that rope. Yet at last her eyes found what did not belong, and spied the two dark shapes upon the shore. She made her way over to them.
Her shadow fell over them as she said, "We cannot stay here".
A sad, black lump sat panting on the shore-line. Water ran in rivulets down her arm as the lump - indeed a bedraggled woman clad in black clothing - stared down at her palm pressed against the shore and nothing else. She could not muster the energy to seek where her companions had arrived in the river. Exhaustion clung to her heart, making anything besides breathing a struggle.
Surely a kitsune could subsist off darkness alone.
Surely. The thought, half-ironic, prompted her to look upright. Day had broken over the crags of the mountain. Though she would never tell grandfather, her heart gladdened to see the very edges of the mountains illuminated from behind like a river of light. Her cool, damp skin warmed slightly under the warmth of the new sun, though a thin crisp breeze robbed her of most of the warmth.
She stood, scanning the horizon for her companions. At first she saw nothing, and feared John had dragged Tiffany down. Her protests to let the boy fend for himself had fallen to deaf ears, and despite her own injuries, Tiffany had insisted on tethering him to herself with that rope. Yet at last her eyes found what did not belong, and spied the two dark shapes upon the shore. She made her way over to them.
Her shadow fell over them as she said, "We cannot stay here".
Quote from Mae on April 21, 2022, 1:09 amThe shadow of the mountain was cold, but somehow, Ionone's shadow was colder.
Tiffany sat on her knees shivering and holding onto her elbows for warmth. John, sprawled on the rocks like a beached starfish, was less comfortable. At Ionone's prompt, Tiffany untied the rope and stood up. Despite the mud and drenching, her wild curls didn't appear at all tamed.
"S-she's right." Tiffany said, encouraging John through chattering teeth. "Let's get movin' s-s-sugar."
John was shivering violently and still didn't move. Tiffany took compassion on him not for the last time and pulled him off the rocks.
"Look, you'll be a'right, sugar." She said, "We just got to warm you up." And she began rubbing his hands and arms, working her way to his shoulders and down his legs."What are you doing!?" John practically howled when Tiffany discarded his soaked coat into the river.
"It ain't gonna keep you warmer than your skin, sugar." Tiffany replied. "Believe me."
Tiffany continued to rub him down, herself shivering, as she looked to Ionone.
"Where we go'in?" She asked.
The shadow of the mountain was cold, but somehow, Ionone's shadow was colder.
Tiffany sat on her knees shivering and holding onto her elbows for warmth. John, sprawled on the rocks like a beached starfish, was less comfortable. At Ionone's prompt, Tiffany untied the rope and stood up. Despite the mud and drenching, her wild curls didn't appear at all tamed.
"S-she's right." Tiffany said, encouraging John through chattering teeth. "Let's get movin' s-s-sugar."
John was shivering violently and still didn't move. Tiffany took compassion on him not for the last time and pulled him off the rocks.
"Look, you'll be a'right, sugar." She said, "We just got to warm you up." And she began rubbing his hands and arms, working her way to his shoulders and down his legs.
"What are you doing!?" John practically howled when Tiffany discarded his soaked coat into the river.
"It ain't gonna keep you warmer than your skin, sugar." Tiffany replied. "Believe me."
Tiffany continued to rub him down, herself shivering, as she looked to Ionone.
"Where we go'in?" She asked.
Quote from Indy on May 21, 2022, 2:52 pmThe sun had only just begun to rise, yet already there was a sense of lost time. It had taken a day's worth of travel to reach the cavern - yet they had then the benefit of their secondary form to lead the way. This was not to mention where they had entered had not been where they had left, and easily they could be tens of miles from where they had begun. So much had been lost within the darkness, and Ionone could not say with confidence where those dark winding ways had spat her out.
In her present condition, she would not dare to take her second-skin again. Perhaps it would be wiser to set shelter, hunt, and rest? Yet a foreboding air hung about the mountains, and though she was certain it did not lurk in a tangible presence nearby, she feared defying it. There was no sanctuary in these mountains, and no pack nearby that could help defend them. They were truly alone and at the mercy of the mountains.
She tilted her eyes upwards to where the sun rose in the sky. She knew at least the direction she looked upon, and could recollect the relation of the road to the entrance of the cavern... yet the land before her was unfamiliar terrain. An impasse.
"If we follow the course of the railroad, we are likely to find a road again.. although the route will be less direct, we are guaranteed to find it eventually," the woman considered, "Yet this would require us to spend a night, or perhaps several, upon the mountains... if your strength can spare it, this is what I would suggest. If not, we will need to take a risk and venture into the wilderness in the hope we find familiar terrain again that may lead us home".
A secondary concern buzzed in her mind, though she did not immediately voice it - If any hunters had survived, they would likely take the railroad as well rather than risk the uncertainty in the terrain.
The sun had only just begun to rise, yet already there was a sense of lost time. It had taken a day's worth of travel to reach the cavern - yet they had then the benefit of their secondary form to lead the way. This was not to mention where they had entered had not been where they had left, and easily they could be tens of miles from where they had begun. So much had been lost within the darkness, and Ionone could not say with confidence where those dark winding ways had spat her out.
In her present condition, she would not dare to take her second-skin again. Perhaps it would be wiser to set shelter, hunt, and rest? Yet a foreboding air hung about the mountains, and though she was certain it did not lurk in a tangible presence nearby, she feared defying it. There was no sanctuary in these mountains, and no pack nearby that could help defend them. They were truly alone and at the mercy of the mountains.
She tilted her eyes upwards to where the sun rose in the sky. She knew at least the direction she looked upon, and could recollect the relation of the road to the entrance of the cavern... yet the land before her was unfamiliar terrain. An impasse.
"If we follow the course of the railroad, we are likely to find a road again.. although the route will be less direct, we are guaranteed to find it eventually," the woman considered, "Yet this would require us to spend a night, or perhaps several, upon the mountains... if your strength can spare it, this is what I would suggest. If not, we will need to take a risk and venture into the wilderness in the hope we find familiar terrain again that may lead us home".
A secondary concern buzzed in her mind, though she did not immediately voice it - If any hunters had survived, they would likely take the railroad as well rather than risk the uncertainty in the terrain.
Quote from Mae on June 27, 2022, 1:11 am"I'm not interested in getting lost out here." Tiffany replied, shivering slightly. The vigor of warming John's limbs was helping her warm up as well. "If the railroad will take us somewhere, then that's the way we're going to go. If the they come out of Lambridge then we'll make a call from there. If not, we'll be back in Middlecrest."
Persistent in her efforts, Tiffany only afforded a glance up at the bridge overhead and the course of the rails across the cliffs high above them. There was no way to reach the railroad from the river.
"So we follow it west, right?" Tiffany said.
Looking to John again, she said, "How's that for you, sugar? Can you stand up?"John continued to rattle, but nodded his head and the two got on their feet.
"I'm not interested in getting lost out here." Tiffany replied, shivering slightly. The vigor of warming John's limbs was helping her warm up as well. "If the railroad will take us somewhere, then that's the way we're going to go. If the they come out of Lambridge then we'll make a call from there. If not, we'll be back in Middlecrest."
Persistent in her efforts, Tiffany only afforded a glance up at the bridge overhead and the course of the rails across the cliffs high above them. There was no way to reach the railroad from the river.
"So we follow it west, right?" Tiffany said.
Looking to John again, she said, "How's that for you, sugar? Can you stand up?"
John continued to rattle, but nodded his head and the two got on their feet.
Quote from Indy on July 28, 2022, 9:59 pmIonone did not answer, but looked wearily towards the west. As far as the eye could see, the tracks continued - over and above them in places, suspended by wooden supports against the base of the mountains. So long as they could keep it in their sight lines, it should lead them to civilization. And yet an anxiety lingered they would swiftly loose it in their present condition and in present terrain.
"We move slowly," she affirmed, as though to herself more than any other, "We will not further risk injury in this place. If by late afternoon we do not find an obvious sign of where we are at, and how much further we must go, then we must make shelter and camp for the night".
Her gaze narrowed to Tiffany, "That goes for you as well. You are not to hurt yourself trying to support his weight..."
She gave John an appraising look, then reluctantly came sidelong beside him - ready to support and bear his weight if required, so Tiffany would not need to.
Ionone did not answer, but looked wearily towards the west. As far as the eye could see, the tracks continued - over and above them in places, suspended by wooden supports against the base of the mountains. So long as they could keep it in their sight lines, it should lead them to civilization. And yet an anxiety lingered they would swiftly loose it in their present condition and in present terrain.
"We move slowly," she affirmed, as though to herself more than any other, "We will not further risk injury in this place. If by late afternoon we do not find an obvious sign of where we are at, and how much further we must go, then we must make shelter and camp for the night".
Her gaze narrowed to Tiffany, "That goes for you as well. You are not to hurt yourself trying to support his weight..."
She gave John an appraising look, then reluctantly came sidelong beside him - ready to support and bear his weight if required, so Tiffany would not need to.
Quote from Mae on August 2, 2022, 9:41 pm
The trek through the mountain was rough. Uncut land is seldom a joy to traverse. Tangled thickets of unkempt and gnarled branches barred the way in many place. The rocks and landform was steep and ridged. Gravity and loose soil paid a constant reminder that trees weighing more than five thousand pounds were nothing to the mountain and the river.
There was no straight path. In some places the trees were so dense that the railroad was lost to sight completely. At other times, the travelers would find themselves walking away from the rails in order to climb a height to simply go forward. Sometimes, they had to go back and retrace their steps. Always the rails were unattainable.
The day waned. The strength of the travelers waned as well. It was impossible to know how much ground they covered at such a slow pace, but as the sun cast its fleeting gaze over the ridge, the whole trek through the woods felt like an endless monotony. The taunting rails would soon be lost in the dark, and presently the trees had become so thick that it was useless to look for them anyway. At least the travelers were out of the valley and off the soft sloping mountainside. They had reached level ground.
Now, a decision needed to be made. Even if the travelers could walk on air over the valley in a straight line, the rails were several miles away on the other side. Still, the mountain peaks towered over them. Several miles below, the rushing river could be heard but not seen. Now, the mountains and valley were dark. The pale blue sky directly above the trees was all that remained of daylight. With the looming approach of darkness, John became visibly agitated. His trembling which had subsided in part during the day now increased. He fidgeted more, and lost his footing frequently. Tiffany gave up bearing his weight hours ago.
The trek through the mountain was rough. Uncut land is seldom a joy to traverse. Tangled thickets of unkempt and gnarled branches barred the way in many place. The rocks and landform was steep and ridged. Gravity and loose soil paid a constant reminder that trees weighing more than five thousand pounds were nothing to the mountain and the river.
There was no straight path. In some places the trees were so dense that the railroad was lost to sight completely. At other times, the travelers would find themselves walking away from the rails in order to climb a height to simply go forward. Sometimes, they had to go back and retrace their steps. Always the rails were unattainable.
The day waned. The strength of the travelers waned as well. It was impossible to know how much ground they covered at such a slow pace, but as the sun cast its fleeting gaze over the ridge, the whole trek through the woods felt like an endless monotony. The taunting rails would soon be lost in the dark, and presently the trees had become so thick that it was useless to look for them anyway. At least the travelers were out of the valley and off the soft sloping mountainside. They had reached level ground.
Now, a decision needed to be made. Even if the travelers could walk on air over the valley in a straight line, the rails were several miles away on the other side. Still, the mountain peaks towered over them. Several miles below, the rushing river could be heard but not seen. Now, the mountains and valley were dark. The pale blue sky directly above the trees was all that remained of daylight. With the looming approach of darkness, John became visibly agitated. His trembling which had subsided in part during the day now increased. He fidgeted more, and lost his footing frequently. Tiffany gave up bearing his weight hours ago.
Quote from Mae on August 4, 2022, 11:02 pmIt was just after dark. The last of the morning light was gone from the sky, and the shadows of the trees in the shadow of the mountain made it pitch black. John stubbled not for the last time, and his shivering had become rather violent.
"Hey... John, sugar...." Tiffany spoke out of the darkness. Her voice was as soft and smooth as ever noted. "Are you doing alright?"
John didn't or couldn't reply immediately. Then, after a long moment, he spoke. "I can't see anything." He said curtly. His voice revealed his vulnerability and misery more than he intended.
Tiffany sympathized. As dark as the world was to her, there was still light in the sky; the governing light of the night which shed through the trees a light imperceptible to John's eyes still illuminated the world to Tiffany. Though her night vision was inferior to other werewolves the light of the moon made it no hardship. Yet, her time in the mine had given Tiffany compassion for John's misery.
"Steady on, sugar, let us guide you." She said. She put a little honey in her voice for him; a sweetness as if she were smiling. It was the same characteristic honey that laced her voice when she dealt with angry werewolves and wicked gangs; for a soft answer always quelled wrath and fear.
John's trembling subsided a little. But he stumbled again. And that was when they found it. John tripped forward out of Ionone's grasp and fell square against brick - a wall, literally poking out of trees that half devoured it. With another glance Tiffany saw a square box in the boughs. It was a window. For secluded deeply in the trees, heavily overgrown by bushes and vines, was a large 19th century house.
It was just after dark. The last of the morning light was gone from the sky, and the shadows of the trees in the shadow of the mountain made it pitch black. John stubbled not for the last time, and his shivering had become rather violent.
"Hey... John, sugar...." Tiffany spoke out of the darkness. Her voice was as soft and smooth as ever noted. "Are you doing alright?"
John didn't or couldn't reply immediately. Then, after a long moment, he spoke. "I can't see anything." He said curtly. His voice revealed his vulnerability and misery more than he intended.
Tiffany sympathized. As dark as the world was to her, there was still light in the sky; the governing light of the night which shed through the trees a light imperceptible to John's eyes still illuminated the world to Tiffany. Though her night vision was inferior to other werewolves the light of the moon made it no hardship. Yet, her time in the mine had given Tiffany compassion for John's misery.
"Steady on, sugar, let us guide you." She said. She put a little honey in her voice for him; a sweetness as if she were smiling. It was the same characteristic honey that laced her voice when she dealt with angry werewolves and wicked gangs; for a soft answer always quelled wrath and fear.
John's trembling subsided a little. But he stumbled again. And that was when they found it. John tripped forward out of Ionone's grasp and fell square against brick - a wall, literally poking out of trees that half devoured it. With another glance Tiffany saw a square box in the boughs. It was a window. For secluded deeply in the trees, heavily overgrown by bushes and vines, was a large 19th century house.
