Home Sweet... Home?

Ndreare · Post by **Ndreare** » Sat Jul 18, 2020 3:31 am

One of the advantages of being an astral mage is the ability to get around. As soon as she encountered the place between @Triessa knew not only what it was, but how to use the exits.

The advantages of one of those exits going directly to Chicago meant that she could easily make it from her house to home in no time. So when Triessa arrived at the old farm she used to spend her summers at hoping to see her grandparents and touch base with them she was surprised to find them not there.

She had just talked to them on the phone less than an hour ago, they wanted to tell her something important, they knew she was coming and yet no one was home. Walking around she knew how to get in the back door. It was always open, but then she saw it. The door laying on its side, split nearly in half and the damage to the floor all made it obvious. Hounds had been here, it looks like quite a few of them.

Running in and prepared for any traps left behind @Triessa found her grandfathers remains. Somehow she found four bodies of her grandfather, each with enough of him for there to be no doubt it was a mostly whole body. They had obviously gone down fighting, carrying a sword and covered with multiple hits, each time he was slain he had taken many wounds fighting first. But her grandmother was missing. The door leading down to the basement was torn open, and it was at that moment Triessa realized she had never even known her grandparents had a basement. She could feel the residual wards on the door that must have protected it.

Slowly going down into the basement she sees a large study, several wards and glyphs written on surfaces destroyed and the room itself had been burned out. How it was possible to burn what must have been hundreds, maybe even a thousand books without the whole house catching fire she did not know.

She needed to find her grandmother, she needed to find out who took her, and why would they take her alive? But one thing she did know is, if there where hounds involved she would need help from her friends.

Calling up the others she tells them she needs them to meet here in The Place Between. From there she can get them to her grandparents farmhouse easily.

INSTRUCTIONS

Mel Richter · Post by **Mel Richter** » Mon Jul 20, 2020 1:14 am

Nearly an hour passed from the moment Triessa arrived at her grandparents' farm to when she finally dialed Gravely. It took a surprising amount of time for one's world to disintegrate. From the violence inside the house, to the hollow dread of her missing grandmother, to the inarticulate loss of...of whatever had been down there that had been burned, something just broke inside of her. Everything just jammed, and all she could do was go outside and sit on the ol' sittin' log...as her grandpa used to call it. A flattened and polished stump under a much larger sister tree that had the tire swing dangling from a branch on the other side. Triessa sat on it, feeling an inexorable sense of pressure building up, but absolutely unable to do anything about it.

It took just under half an hour for her breathing to hitch, and the first tear to fall from her eye...and like a tiny hole suddenly blowing out an entire bulkhead in an explosive decompression event, that was all it took. Her next breath was a scream. The one after was also a scream, but sort of choking because she was trying to cry at the same time.

Another half an hour later Triessa's sobs ground to a halt not because the pain had lessened, but because the flesh was too weak to sustain it. Her eyes felt like they were going to fall out of her face, and her face itself felt almost numb in the cheeks and forehead. Her whole body prickled and felt numb, and there was a ringing in her ears. She'd already thrown up into the grass under the swing tree.

Dimly, somehow, a flicker of actual thought managed to push its way through the grief as she sat in the eye of the hurricane. She couldn't call the police for this. She needed help.

When Gravely got the call, the person on the other end sounded like a long-time cigarette addict who had a really bad cold. If she hadn't identified herself as Triessa, he would never have guessed it. He started to ask what was wrong but Triessa interrupted him, saying, "Just...get everyone together in the Place Between. I'll explain...I'll meet you there. I can't talk right now. I can't." And then she hung up.

When Triessa met them in the Place Between, even her sunglasses couldn't hide that she'd been crying. It went way beyond just her eyes being puffy...it seemed like half her face was. Her nose was still shiny. Her cheeks stained bright red.

"I know, most of you don't really know me much," she started off, and her voice was creaky like wagon wheels in an old western. "This isn't...official business, so nobody has to come, but..." Triessa broke off for a second and furiously shook her head, trying to recover. "Anyone who's willing to come help me, it's just a farm my family owns."

No one opted out, and Triessa seemed genuinely grateful at that as she had everyone link hands...then guided them through the strange hallways of the Place Between, navigating them as if they weren't all impossible to tell apart from one another. Finally they came to the distinctive ladder and door that marked one of the entrances, and Triessa climbed up first. One by one, each of the others followed.

From the manhole in the road that it opened into, it was a pretty short walk to Triessa's farm, and she pointed at the house there.

"I, uh...there's been murders. Inside. And...arson, or something. I need you guys' help to find out what happened, and...and..." she shook her head, seemingly fighting for breath for a second. "I'll go in too. In a minute. I just need a minute."

Rolls: Notice 6

Tania · Post by **Tania** » Mon Jul 20, 2020 8:00 am

Tania walks over to Triessa and open her arms, if the other girl needs a shoulder to cry on, hers is available. Later she can try to see if she can find out anything, but the clues should still be here then, Triessa needs help now.

Tania says, "I do not have many friends, but I am loyal to the ones I have, if you need me I am there. One thing you may not know, Bloodhounds have little on Hyenas when it comes to tracking, there is a good chance I will be able to follow whoever did this, if can do it in Morphus."

While she says it to help comfort the other girl, it is still true, she may not be as good as a real animal at tracking yet, she does have the senses for it.

Morri · Post by **Morri** » Fri Jul 24, 2020 6:37 pm

Notice 7

"Erm, hate ta spoil the moment....but where are we?" Morri asked out loud. "Kansas?"

"Sorry, just trying ta get me head round the whole teleportation thing."

As she spoke, Morri took the opportunity to glance round and see whether anything stood out to her.

Kriza · Post by **Kriza** » Sun Jul 26, 2020 10:05 am

Sam takes in the grisly scene , hoping something will jump out at him.

”We’ll help figure this out, @Triessa. And everything I do is sanctioned, so no worries there. You’re not alone right now.”

Peter · Post by **Peter** » Tue Aug 04, 2020 3:28 pm

Notice 9

Hearing the news, Peter heads over immediately. When he sees Treissa he nods grimly, but doesn't go to comfort her. His experience as a trained psychologist informs he m that she needs her space, but he offers to lend an ear if she needs it.

"We will do whatever it takes to find her, no matter where she is."

Kriza · Post by **Kriza** » Tue Aug 04, 2020 4:20 pm

Sam’s hand starts to tremble ever so slightly while looking around. This is sick, man. No one should have to deal with this with their own family.

His mind starts to wander, and he wonders where they will be crashing tonight, even as he tries to keep his head in the grisly game in front of them. Hopefully, it’s somewhere with at least a little bit of privacy.

Alexis · Post by **Alexis** » Thu Aug 06, 2020 5:03 pm

As the rest of the group comforts Triessa, Alex stands off to one side, giving them their space. He idly wonders what it must be like to have a home. Even the foster families that weren't horrible were never home.

His introspection comes to an abrupt halt as the group arrives at the farm. Taking his cue from the others, he watches them move out before following suit. Stopping to stare at the bodies on the floor, he slowly asks to no one in particular,"Her family had quadruplets?'

Notice 1d8!!: [2] = 2
Wild 1d6!!: [1] = 1

Gravely · Post by **Gravely** » Thu Aug 06, 2020 9:03 pm

The last one to exit the manhole cover, Gravely stands up straight and stretches. He then turns around and looks at what @Triessa had been waiting a few minutes to introduce everyone to. Her other grandparents farm house.

Before approaching the farmhouse, Gravely visually checked on Triessa, making sure she had not been injured by being a bystander. She did not favor a leg or hold an arm. She seemed to stand fairly straight though her shoulders were hunched forward. Her looking at the ground instead of into people's faces, meant that she was really struggling with the scene.

"I know you are dealing with some grief and shock. Don't rush things."

"I can get the team focused and teach them how to move through a crime scene."

"We focus on what is evident first and then we will come back to conclusions and theories."

He helps Triessa to a tree stump near the road by the farmhouse. Handing her a couple of bottles of water and a ziploc bag with wet wipes. "Gather yourself together. Freshen up as well. You will be fine without makeup."

Making sure she has her phone, Gravely waves his at her. "Call me before you move. Or if anything comes to mind."

Approaching the rest of the team, he gives for conducting a search through a crime scene.

Satisifed that the team will be able to handle themselves,

Ndreare · Post by **Ndreare** » Thu Aug 13, 2020 8:10 am

As the Cell members begin looking around the crime scene it makes no sense. The old men on the floor are not only identical twins, they are even dressed alike and armed alike. It feels obvious that a spell of some sort summoned the duplicates. However those more familiar with the strengths and weaknesses of magic find themselves wondering how is it possible to bring forth multiple simulacra at the same time. Such a spell would be fairly powerful to do even once. @Peter and @Triessa can both see the aura on them and the bodies are definitely constructs of some sort. How is it they are still here after so long, normally such constructs would cease to exist once destroyed.

The damage to the building seems to be something else. The outside is preserved with little evidence of damage other than one door that was kicked in and split in half. The inside however is another matter, a true battle was raged here, the amount of furniture destroyed, much of it even looking like it was done by the firearms the old man is armed with. How is it possible that the inside is so destroyed, windows blown out, bullet holes in everything, furniture sliced clean in half. Yet from the outside, even looking into the window everything looks normal and whole? Perhaps something Triessa could explain...

As @Morri, and @Peter begin looking around using their acute senses they realizes the hounds themselves have very little scent to follow. But whatever it was that came with them did. The strange smell of both a healthy woman, with perfume and obviously young. Combined with a sick undercurrent of the unnatural the trail leads almost all the way to the road about 200’ away where there is evidence that some sort of side battle or conflict occurred. Two additional old men, likewise identical to the ones in the house in every way.

Something that both did not notice before, but feel so evident now is as soon as they step off the property a feeling of relief hits them as if they can breath again. This is when they realize that something on the property is actively inhibiting their supernatural abilities and even their ability to recover or regenerate while on the property. Perhaps that is why a conflict happened here?

As @Gravely gives instructions to the others on some basics of investigation. He is instead focused on putting together and organizing the notes brought forth by the others over finding new clues himself.

The house is really nice, or it would have been if not for the mayhem caused in the place. As @Alexis looks around he realizes this place looks like one of those old midwestern homes you would see on a TV special, complete with a banister railing and strange quadruplets. The distraction of seeing the men on the floor is enough he does not pick up on any other significant pieces of the story however as he looks around.

As @Sam starts looking around he finds himself drawn to the nearly undamaged and apparently unmolested upstairs of the house. Once he goes inside a brief walk takes him to the office off of the master bedroom, where he finds a computer, bumping the computer ends the screensaver revealing it is connected to an external security system. The subtle cameras hidden around the property cannot even be seen while looking right at them. But what can be seen clearly in the video is six dark SUVs pulling up to the property, pulling over on the side of the road as two dozen hounds get out of the vehicles followed by an enchantingly beautiful woman. The hounds then forming up a circle around her as she works some sort of ritual. In the feed the grandfather can even be seen going out to check the mail box at the corner. When he grabs the mail, he looks up and around as if almost noticing something, when his cell phone rings distracting him. As he answers the phone you see him smile as he heads back to the house stopping on the poarch as an older lady Sam had not seen before comes out to talk with him to whoever is one the phone. Both seem completely unaware of the horrific monsters and their vehicles standing only 200’ away at the property line as they smile an converse with someone on the phone. Then when they hang up you can see some small distress on the ladies face as she sadly shakes her head and the man reassures her.

Then the whole tone of the scene accelerates as suddenly the hounds are sprinting towards the man and the woman. Their faces do not show surprise, but instead launch into action. The man pulling something from his shirt suddenly splits as two new old men move with superhuman speed towards the hounds. The man and the woman sprint into the house. It takes the hounds only seconds to kill the two old men that charged them, before they spring forward again. Then smashing into some sort of invisible barrier they attack it with their giant dark weapons until the woman incants and uses spells to disperse the barrier. The rest unfolds inside the building outside of the camera’s view.

The high definition cameras give a clear view of the woman’s face, and the faces of the residents, even the license plates of the sedans. Most strangely of all, there is no evidence the old couple, the attractive lady, or even half of the hounds ever left the home. Instead after about five minutes six of the hounds came out, poured gasoline on the house, lit the gasoline and then drove away. The gasoline burned off the house for only a few minutes before the house started, what can only be described as healing. No signs of the fire damage remaining.

INSTRUCTIONS

Kriza · Post by **Kriza** » Fri Aug 14, 2020 8:49 pm

Sam returns from viewing the security footage, shaking his head a bit. "I've seen some intense things, you guys. This one was right up there."

Sam briefly brings the group up to speed on what he saw on the computer upstairs, including letting @Gravely know about the license plates.

"Anyone have any thoughts? My first impression is that, given the complexity of these duplicates, it is entirely possible @Triessa that your grandfather is still alive somewhere. Maybe they hopped into the Nightlands from here, for some reason, or maybe they teleported somewhere else? Your grandparents weren't hiding a pocket dimension in their basement, were they? I knew a guy in Nashville who liked to do that. Terrible poker player."

, especially after watching the security footage.

Kriza · Post by **Kriza** » Mon Aug 17, 2020 7:08 am

Sam continues, "It looks to me that the woman in the security footage is a female Night Prince. Would that maybe make her a Night Princess? Anyway, the cameras caught her illusions, which probably means the cameras are very, very well warded. Looks like the Princess and her Hounds performed a ritual so she and her Hounds could come onto the property without being affected by the wards, which is also what's probably making me feel like my soul aches walking around this place. Must be some darn good wards."

He shakes his head. "Some seriously powerful ju-ju going down here to attract the attention of something that high up."

Morri · Post by **Morri** » Tue Aug 18, 2020 3:35 am

Notice 12

Morri continues to search the house, following Gravely's instructions, to see whether she could find more clues. She went from room to room, seeing whether she could spot anything that seemed out of place to her. Though not being her house she didn't want to delve too deeply into personal effects, so she stopped short of going through drawers.

"Oh?" She said as she heard @Sam talking. "Not a Disney Princess then?"

Kriza · Post by **Kriza** » Tue Aug 18, 2020 8:40 am

Morri wrote: ↑Tue Aug 18, 2020 3:35 am
"Oh?" She said as she heard @Sam talking. "Not a Disney Princess then?"

"Ha! A wicked stepmother, maybe."

Morri · Post by **Morri** » Tue Aug 18, 2020 9:22 am

Sam wrote: ↑Tue Aug 18, 2020 8:40 am"Ha! A wicked stepmother, maybe."

"Touché." Conceded Morri. "Certainly a better fit."

"So...wot do we think happened?" Morri asked. "Miss Night the wicked stop-mum rocks up with pets in tow ta attack...or capture?"

Alexis · Post by **Alexis** » Tue Aug 18, 2020 11:53 am

"Duplicates. That makes sense,"Alex mutters to himself as @Sam tells his tale.

"Why would a Night Prince, err... Princess be targeting your grandparents, @Triessa? Could it be because of something this group has done? Or do you think that it's unrelated? What was in the basement?"

After pausing briefly, Alex continues if no one interjects. "I have an idea. I can see the Shadows of the Past of an object. If we can find something with enough resonance I should be able to tell what happened after the Hounds entered the house. However, I'll have to shift. Since you aren't used to my Morphus I didn't want to do it without a heads up."

Having laid out his idea, Alex waits for the groups opinion, looking from individual to individual to gauge their reactions.

Occult 1d4!! or Wild 1d6!! -4 to whichever is higher: [2]+[5] = 7

Kriza · Post by **Kriza** » Tue Aug 18, 2020 1:12 pm

Alexis wrote: ↑Tue Aug 18, 2020 11:53 am Having laid out his idea, Alex waits for the groups opinions, looking from individual to individual to gauge their reactions.

Sam grins at the new guy. "Hey man, you've got an idea, run with it."

Mel Richter · Post by **Mel Richter** » Tue Aug 18, 2020 11:43 pm

"Everybody just...shut up for a second!" Triessa suddenly shouts, putting her hands out, palms away from herself. "I am trying to PROCESS here!"

She took in a deep breath and then managed to pull herself back into the house, into the horrific carnage. Only now, with a bit of distance and with the shock wearing off, Triessa could see what they were talking about. Too many grandpas. Too...similar. Could it be magic? She went over to the least upsetting 'body' and hunkered down beside it to get a better look.

"Okay," the practitioner let out. "I don't know the answers to any questions. I know my parents were into the occult...and...I know they got mixed in with the evil sons of... The ones that somehow put the sun out on Dark Day. But they didn't JOIN them. They were sacrificed or...or banished or something? I don't know, I was just a kid. My grandparents never talked about magic or anything though."

Triessa had to look away from the mess for a minute then. "I thought it was the vampires. Getting back at me. I don't know any reason why the Nightlords would care about them. Even if they did practice, they must have kept it really quiet."

She wove a spell of revealing then, making the hidden mystical world apparent in her eyes. Under the spell her glasses shimmered a strange shade of indigo or purple that the eyes couldn't quite see correctly.

After a moment of that scrutiny Triessa suddenly scrambled to her feet.

"We have to go back to the basement."

Rolls: Occult 15, Detect Arcana 5

Alexis · Post by **Alexis** » Wed Aug 19, 2020 5:07 am

Concerned and confused, Alex follows @Triessa down into the basement.

"What is it? Is this where they went?"

Peter · Post by **Peter** » Wed Aug 19, 2020 9:39 am

"Please, let me go in first. You're too valuable to get ambushed."

Ndreare · Post by **Ndreare** » Thu Aug 20, 2020 7:15 am

As the Cell members find their attention drawn to the basement door Triessa speaks of they become aware of something that moments before simply was not there. Heading to the door as they begin to approach something happens...

INSTRUCTIONS

For those that make the roll:

As you walk down the stairs you realize not all of you made it here. The basement is burned out, the obvious sorcerers lab has been deliberately and systematically destroyed. The evidence shows that even thousands of books with unknown knowledge and history where destroyed, as the book shelves have been reduced to metal braces, pins and ash.

The remains of some sort of runes lie in ruins as pieces where simply blown or destroyed. jars and bottles are shattered against the east wall the contents likewise consumed by whatever incredibly hot fire consumed the basement. Yet somehow the basement itself appears as if a newly finished basement other than being covered in soot, without damage or flaws.

How could a fire burn so intense and yet the house be left unscathed is perhaps answered by the video, or perhaps there is something more?

Alexis · Post by **Alexis** » Thu Aug 20, 2020 9:00 am

Alex follows @Triessa down into the basement, trying not to disturb any of the debris on the floor. As he waits for her to elaborate he looks around the ruined room.

Realizing that not everyone made it down, he hollers back up the stairs, "Are you coming or did you find something else?"

Spirit 1d8!!-4: [5]-4 = 1
Wild 1d6!!-4: [10!!]-4 = 6

Morri · Post by **Morri** » Thu Aug 20, 2020 3:32 pm

Spirit 0

Morri went to follow the others down into the basement and...

...found herself in a corridor when she swore a moment ago she was talking about the female Night Prince on the CCTV. What happened she wasn't so sure, though she'd remembered something was said about the house being unusual. Maybe it was that?

Sooner we're out o' this contender fer Creepy House o' the Year the better. She mused to herself, trying to see if she could find Sam again or, failing that, seeing whether the house processed any more clues. They still had to figure out what the purpose of the attack was, did the Night Prince set out to capture Triessa's grandparents?

Morri wondered whether her own parents were in danger, plus her twin sister for that matter.

Notice to hear Alex 5

Mel Richter · Post by **Mel Richter** » Sat Aug 22, 2020 1:29 pm

Triessa moves through the basement, her eyes wide and still red-rimmed from her earlier crying. She reaches out to trail her fingers across the soot-stained wall, scraping black char away to show undamaged paint and stone.

"It's not just them it's the house," she said softly, looking around incredulously. "It's the whole place. How...I've been here before, how did I never see it?!"

Alex's call gets her attention, and Triessa looks back at him curiously. "What's wrong?" Then she realizes he's the only one in there with her and she adds with a frown, "Where is everyone?"

Alexis · Post by **Alexis** » Mon Aug 24, 2020 8:15 am

"I don't know. They were right behind us,"Alex replies, his confusion evident. "Should we go check on them? Do you think they went wherever your grandparents did?"

Alex falls silent, looking expectantly at @Triessa.

Kriza · Post by **Kriza** » Wed Aug 26, 2020 1:16 pm

and raises an eyebrow at @Triessa and @Alexis. "Everything okay down here?"

He takes in the odd scene with a shake of his head. "I'm not going to lie, I'm used to thinking I've seen everything. This I have not seen before, though."

and sniffs, examining the room.

Ndreare · Post by **Ndreare** » Wed Aug 26, 2020 1:43 pm

As the three of them begin looking over the basement, it appears to be little more than a charred wreck. The few remaining pieces of half burned furniture will need gutted and removed, the ashes of whatever was in here will likewise need cleared out. All in all a job like this could take days. So much work, and so little time.

Those up top finish looking around realizing there is little more to find than the evidence already in hand. Perhaps helping to pick up the place a little bit would help...

OOC Comments

Mel Richter · Post by **Mel Richter** » Wed Aug 26, 2020 8:43 pm

Triessa shakes her head and walks to the middle of the basement, kicking a pile of char out of the way as she goes, then fanning the air in front of her to try to dissipate the puff of soot she stirred up.

"Everything is a long way from okay," she replied to Sam through gritted teeth. "But...maybe not as bad as I thought."

The bodies were like the house. Created from astral 'stuff.' So if there weren't any real bodies, then...then maybe her real grandparents were okay. But she couldn't be sure...and she needed to know.

She closed her eyes and listened. In her mind's eye she pictured the basement not as it was...a burned out wreck...but as it had been. Of course Triessa didn't know what it looked like before, but impressions in the air and in the floor and the walls seeped in, making a faint impression in her mind's eye that she carefully teased into an image. Then she walked through it, and let the trauma in the ash and soot move that image forward in time...

Rolls: Psionics 16, 4 ISP spent

Ndreare · Post by **Ndreare** » Thu Aug 27, 2020 8:29 am

Feeling around most of the objects, even the charred metal bits and remains of bookshelves have nothing of significance for Triessa, but as her hand touches the desk there is enough residual for her to pull images. Her natural affinity for this place amplifies the images she does receive.

While most of the impressions are comfortable images of her Grandmother working at the desk, going back for decades. Passionate moments thrown in here and there, that Triessa quickly moves past, and some hurtful moments even one where an injured man is thrown on the desk as a hasty ritual is performed to preserve his life.

All of these impressions though are of little concerns for Triessa as what she is really looking for is the fate of her family. Then it all comes into view...

Rushing into the room Agatha and Harold looked around. The urgency to destroy everything in the room was so powerful. They could not let the servants of the Dark gain access to this information, it is better to be lost, than revealed. Both of them began concentrating filling the room with fire, lancing out, such that even the walls themselves caught fire. When the door at the top of the stairs burst open Harold looks up.

No words where needed, the two of them had worked together long enough and known each other well enough that the plan was instantly agreed to, Harold drew a large sword from his amulet, the action looking strange and disjointed, yet somehow natural to him as the sword came out flaming with bright white fire.

Lifting his arm a wall of energy suddenly formed blocking the stairs, slowing the hounds as they sliced through it. But he was now ready and waiting on the other side, his whole body glowing in the same white fire as formed on his blade. He danced with the hounds holding them back, until more arrived, forcing him back, each cut they scored taking some of his strength. But each hound he felled simply replaced, of disappearing as his effort was wasted on illusion.

The attractive lady from the videos appeared at the top of the stairs, hands gesturing as fast as possible as she started quenching flames. A Sorceress battle taking place between Agatha and the Princess mirroring the one between Harold and the hounds.

Until finally one of the Hounds was able to knock Harold back down to the ground, his flaming aura flickering away as his sword disappeared into wisps of light. The swing of an oversized axe lands on Agatha next nearly severing her leg, her cry of pain obvious as she again releases the last of her flames, this time focused on the Princess. The screams from the Night Princess are the beginning as the restraining power previously stopping the flames from consuming everyone and everything is gone and they explode out.

It is only in the briefest of moment as Triessa watches the scene several more times that she sees Harrold's hand reach out and the barest flicker of white flame mixed in with the consuming red and blue before everything goes.

Triessa is unsure, it looks as if they were consumed in the fires, but there are no bones and that wisp of white, reaching out to Agatha before dying away must have meant something more. A tickle of hope comes to her... they must be alive, that must have been him doing something to save them.

.

Mel Richter · Post by **Mel Richter** » Tue Sep 01, 2020 11:10 pm

A gasp escaped Triessa as the vision ripped through her, requiring all of her concentration to control and direct. The intensity of it made it feel almost as if the ectroplasm of the house itself was shaping images of past events all around her. The faint shred of hope she'd been sheltering flickered. In the end, they'd died after all...and for what? To destroy some books? Couldn't they just have set the fire and fled?

She could feel tears starting to rise again, when she caught something in the last moments. Just a little thing...but in that vision she'd seen the extent of her grandfather's powers in the astral. Maybe that little thing wasn't so little?

And how wild was it that he was an astral psychic?! Triessa had known about her grandmother's practice...she was who had taught her parents after all...but this... They'd never told her about Harold, or what he and the house really were. He'd made them bleed for every step, and then granny Aggie had incinerated the monsters, and herself and Harold.

A snap. What did it mean? A flash of white in the red.

The bodies of those clones are still here. The HOUSE is still here. Does a domain outlive it's creator? Who's will was holding this thing together?

Triessa looked up at the others in the basement with her. "I...the Hounds attacked. They had one of those illusionists with them. My grandparents destroyed their own library to make sure the Hounds didn't get a hold of any of it. But...in the process it looked like... It looked like they burned everything. The books, the Hounds, and themselves too. But...there was something."

She shook her head.

"I think they're still alive somehow. It's not...an accident. They must have always known this could happen. They'd have had a plan. The library isn't just a library. It...it must have a way out."

The young sorceress set her jaw stubbornly. "We need everyone down here. I'm going to take us through."

Rolls

Alexis · Post by **Alexis** » Wed Sep 02, 2020 7:59 am

"On it,"Alex replies before quickly jogging up the basement stairs.

Quickly looking through the house, he finds @Morri, @Seraph, and the rest of the party.

"There you are! Come on, we've got to..."Alex's voice trails off halfway through his wave for them to follow him. He turns back, looking confused. "I was coming to get you, but I can't remember what for."

Ndreare · Post by **Ndreare** » Wed Sep 02, 2020 9:11 am

Upon heading upstairs @Alexis quickly finds himself forgetting of the basement and what was asked. Though he recalled Triessa asked him something, she apparently left and he does not recall were to.

OOC: @Alexis may have a benny for remembering the wards as he left. And saving us from a bunch of rewrites.

Seraph · Post by **Seraph** » Wed Sep 02, 2020 11:57 am

Seraph gathers together with the rest of his new acquaintances and follows Triessa to her family's house. He stays nearby in case there is danger, but he is obviously out of his element. Experienced as he is, .

As such, he has no idea where @Alexis is trying to remember. As far as Seraph can tell, as a group, they have explored the house fully. So he asks, "Do you suspect a hidden passageway, Alexis? I haven't noticed such a thing, but it could explain the absence of our allies."

Alexis · Post by **Alexis** » Wed Sep 02, 2020 4:50 pm

"No, that's not it. We have to go meet up with @Triessa so we can find her grandparents."

Morri · Post by **Morri** » Thu Sep 03, 2020 4:18 pm

"Huh." Muttered Morri. "Here I was thinking ye guys had buggered o' fer pizza."

"Did ye find something?"

Seraph · Post by **Seraph** » Thu Sep 03, 2020 9:08 pm

"No, I'm afraid not. I remain vigilant in the event of an attack, but I am little use with arcane matters. I do hope lovely Triessa has the mystical aspect covered," Seraph says then gives @Morri a wry smile, "However, pizza does sound good. I must confess that it's one of my favorite recent culinary creations. Perhaps don't mention pizza to Triessa, I don't think she would appreciate the suggestion at this time."

Gravely · Post by **Gravely** » Fri Sep 04, 2020 5:26 am

Gravely still considers himself to be new to those of the Nightlands and Nightbane even though he had been with the Spook Squad for years prior to the Dark Day. His human senses are processing the details being brought to him from the team members.

When @Sam mentions the vehicles and the license plates, Gravely instinctively grabs his note pad and takes down the details. Pulling his ruggedized Panansonic laptop from his pack, he flips it open and boots up. Not certain, but he may wish that he had a portable milsat to connect to the internet.

Assured that he has the necessary information recorded for following up, Gravely turns on his heels and walks towards the house.

Alexis · Post by **Alexis** » Fri Sep 04, 2020 1:08 pm

Looking askance at @Seraph as he finishes his pizza dissertation, Alex begins to reply to @Morri but notices @Gravely walking up.

"@Triessa found something and needs us all. Did you see her?"he asks the latecomer.

Ndreare · Post by **Ndreare** » Fri Sep 04, 2020 7:04 pm

Strangely @Gravely finds he is unable to get a signal from the satellite...

Ndreare · Post by **Ndreare** » Fri Sep 04, 2020 7:05 pm

After waiting a few minutes, 5, maybe 10 minutes total @Triessa realizes the others never came back down. Something must be happening upstairs!

Mel Richter · Post by **Mel Richter** » Sat Sep 05, 2020 12:16 pm

After prowling around the basement for a few minutes, peering across the veil into the misty recesses of the Astral plane as she did...looking for some hint or clue about where her grandparents might have fled to if they'd managed to bail in time...Triessa finally realized that no one had come back yet from upstairs. It was still just her and Sam.

"Hey guys?" she called up the stairs. "Is everyone okay?"

Triessa looked at Sam worriedly and said, "I'm going to see what's taking them so long. Be right back. Uh, if something's wrong, listen for the blood-curdling screams."

Oh god, I'm subverting a trope, she realized as she started cautiously ascending back into the house proper. I'm going up FROM the basement into certain doom. Frak my life.

"Hello?" the wizardess called, deciding to lean into this. "This isn't funny!"

Alexis · Post by **Alexis** » Sat Sep 05, 2020 12:42 pm

"Oh, never mind. There she is,"Alex tells @Gravely as he sees @Triessa leaving the kitchen.

"I found everyone,"Alex tells her,"but where did you go?"

Morri · Post by **Morri** » Sat Sep 05, 2020 6:44 pm

"Oh, there ye are." Morri says when she sees @Triessa. "Ye just kinda....vanished."

"Ye and some o' the others."

Gravely · Post by **Gravely** » Sun Sep 06, 2020 5:42 am

Gravely arrives at the front door to the house just as @Triessa re-appears. Judging by the relief on @Morri, @Seraph, and @Alexis's faces, Gravely guesses that Triessa had just reappeared.

He does find the lack of @Sam and @Peter a bit off putting and alarming.

" Triessa, Where are the others?"

Mel Richter · Post by **Mel Richter** » Sun Sep 06, 2020 8:18 am

Triessa looked suspiciously from one face to another, trying to suss out if this was some kind of joke.

"...in the basement? Where I was a minute ago? I thought you were all coming down, and then just a couple of you did. And NOW I'm wanting to move deeper into the astral plane from here because I think MAYBE my grandparents survived...so..."

She shrugged and shook her head.

"Whatever. If you want to come, follow me. Otherwise...I don't know what there's left to find in here."

Alexis · Post by **Alexis** » Sun Sep 06, 2020 10:05 am

"Uh, what basement?"Alex asks, looking confusedly at @Triessa, preparing to follow her nonetheless. "This house doesn't have one."

Kriza · Post by **Kriza** » Mon Sep 07, 2020 1:20 pm

Sam looks around, more than a bit puzzled to be suddenly by himself.

That's not usually a side effect. Bad batch, maybe?

He waits patiently for @Triessa and the others to return, strumming his fingers on his kevlar while he waits.

Morri · Post by **Morri** » Wed Sep 09, 2020 4:45 pm

Triessa wrote: ↑Sun Sep 06, 2020 8:18 am Triessa looked suspiciously from one face to another, trying to suss out if this was some kind of joke.

"...in the basement? Where I was a minute ago? I thought you were all coming down, and then just a couple of you did. And NOW I'm wanting to move deeper into the astral plane from here because I think MAYBE my grandparents survived...so..."

She shrugged and shook her head.

"Whatever. If you want to come, follow me. Otherwise...I don't know what there's left to find in here."

"Basement? Wot basement?" Asked Morri. "Being legitimately serious here....fer once."

"Given how freaky things seem ta be here, theres probably is a basement but some o' us might not be able ta see it."

Mel Richter · Post by **Mel Richter** » Wed Sep 09, 2020 5:12 pm

"The one that got burned out?" Triessa growled, glancing back at the others. "I literally just told everyone about it a few minutes ago and...ugh you know what? It's not funny. Okay? None of this is a goddamn joke. Just follow me."

She led the way back to the stairs down, then paused and looked back again, waiting for everyone to catch up.

Ndreare · Post by **Ndreare** » Thu Sep 10, 2020 7:55 am

As the Cell members follow @Triessa into the basement they find it strange that they had not noticed the door before. The old wooden door is obvious and easy to identify, without any obstructions.

PLEASE RP FROM HERE AS NEEDED, I will get a new scene up for crossing over after some help from Venatus Vinco.

@Triessa , feel free to spend the power points to take everyone over, no additional cost needed for @Sam (His transition feels natural, like water going down a drain, just waiting for the opening to be made)

Kriza · Post by **Kriza** » Thu Sep 10, 2020 8:25 am

Sam perks up when he sees everyone coming back downstairs.

Ah. Okay. That seems more normal, then.

"Welcome back, gang. Find anything useful while you were all poking around up there?

What now, @Triessa? This is your show."

Morri · Post by **Morri** » Thu Sep 10, 2020 4:11 pm

Uafásach cantalach. Morri mutters under her breath as she and the others follow after Triessa, though she quickly became studified when they came to the door of the basement.

"Was this magicked up or something?" Asked Morri as she gestured to the wooden door. "Totally, and I really do mean this, did not see this!"

"I mean, big old wooden door that wouldn't be out o' place in an old horror film is pretty hard ta miss yet some o' us simply didn't see it."

Gravely · Post by **Gravely** » Thu Sep 10, 2020 8:07 pm

Gravely chuckles to himself.

A few times while he was in college, @Triessa's parents, had sent him on a "trip". Gravely is not surprised to be led through to another location.

"Astral Dimension." Gravely says to himself "This is an Astral Dimension."

" @Triessa your grandparents have more than one dimension or maybe a series of them interconnected?"