TIG LXIX: Meeting at the House of Usher

[Mirandir]

It was a dull, dark and oppressive autumn day, where the rain clouds hung low in the sky but refused to spill their watery contents. It was on this day that a variety of Downers would, once again, be attending a gathering at yet another suspicious location.

It was a house, once again, this time surrounded by a landscape as bleak and depressing as the weather. The few trees that surrounded the structure were long devoid of leaves and would likely never again bear fruit. Where green grass should have stood there was only brown, and spotty patches at best. There were no sounds of birds or life of any kind to be heard, lending to the eerie silence.

"Why do we always get stuck at places like this?" Pitchwife asked, shaking his head.

"Clearly because Werewolf can only be played in super sketchy places!" sally chimed in perkily. The rest of the group turned to glare at her as the massive wooden gate began to move of its own volition. They turned to stare at it, covering their ears from the loud creaking being emitted from the ancient joints.

"Well, that's comforting," Boro murmured. A few nods echoed his sentiment.

The group stood in silence, staring at the now-open passageway. Morsul broke the silence. "Should we...go in?"

A few moments of casting frightened and confused glances around the group later, it was decided that they would indeed venture inside.

----

The inside of the house was just as ominous as the outside. The room they had entered into was vast, but desolate. Sheets covered many of the pieces of furniture, as well as the various forms of sculpture and artwork. Ancient tapestries hung on the walls, faded and fraying. Before anyone could wonder what to do next, the door behind them swung shut with a clang.

"Well this is all very true to form," Fea nodded knowingly, having attended these gatherings on more than one occasion.

"Does anybody else hear that?" Saucie asked nervously, jerking his head in the direction of an adjoining corridor. Those who had been whispering amongst themselves ceased, tilting their heads in the indicated direction.

"Footsteps!" Lari whispered helpfully. She was generally ignored as the cause of the noise presented itself in the form of a man. Crippled by years of disease, his footsteps were really more of a shuffle, his breath labored and uneven. The dim light emitting from a lone gas lamp reflected off his pallid face, illuminating the sharp angles formed by skin stretched too tightly over bone.

[Mirandir]

The man began to speak, in a voice that had not been used in ages.

"Welcome," he said with a slight bow, "to the House of Usher."

Panicked looks were thrown around the group. Many were familiar with the tale, which ended in ruin.

"Upon entering this house," he continued, "All but seven of you were infused with a spirit. Five of you have been infected by evil. You will attempt to kill your fellows when the Night falls, but only four work together. One of the others wants you to win and will help you trick the others during the Day. One of you will be able to protect someone from their fate, but for only two Nights. One is sworn to take down their choice in game if - or rather when - they are killed themselves. Yet one more will be able to have the role of another sent to them in a dream. The final two are paired together, and their survival depends on each other.

Before Night falls, you must pick one person to be killed. Your goal, of course, is to eliminate the evil ones before they eliminate you. If you fail to reach a decision, however, someone will be picked at random and killed.

Your choice must be in by the stroke of Night. If they are any later, they will not count. Abstaining for two or more Nights in a row will result in your death. One free pass will be granted per player for the duration of the game, but you must state that you are choosing to abstain or be penalized.

Good luck to you all."

With another slight bow, their host turned and disappeared back down the corridor from whence he had come, leaving the group standing in stunned silence.
---------------

IT IS NOW NIGHT 1.

[Mirandir]

"Um, so, this probably isn't the best time to bring this up," Mira said with a slight tremor in her voice, "But I really have to go to the bathroom."

Nienna shot her an exasperated look. "Can't it wait?"

"Um no. No it really can't."

"Okay fine," Nienna rolled her eyes, assuming teacher-mode. "Let's go find a bathroom."

With that, the pair headed in the direction of the corridor their host had recently left down. The others decided to discuss their plight.

"So if this works the way the others have," Greenie began slowly, "It's safe to assume that everything our host said was true and we do actually have to follow his rules."

"Meaning we have to kill someone?" Inzil asked.

"Looks that way," Nerwen answered. "Although they usually come back to life after the game is over."

"But who knows if this one is the same as the others," Loslote pointed out. Silence fell again.

"So we have four wolves, a werebear, a Hunter, a Ranger, a Seer, a cobbler, two Lovers, and seven ordos," Brinn counted off.

"So how should we-" Hakon's question was cut off by the sound screaming.

Fea jumped. "That was Mira!" Nobody decided to question how she knew that, as the two had been friends for years.

The group took off running down the corridor, coming to an abrupt halt near what they assumed was the bathroom. Lying on the floor, bleeding from the pores, was Nienna. Or at least, they assumed it was Nienna, since the face was covered in blood and Mira was still standing.

"What happened?" Nog asked, attempting not to panic.

"She was fine and then said she got really dizzy and-ow!" Mira doubled over, grabbing her stomach. When she had recovered enough to look up, the others saw that her face was covered in blood. "Never...got...my...cookies..." With that, she slid down the wall and said no more. She was dead.

A hush fell over the group.

The Dead:
Mira - moddess, death by Red Masque
Nienna - co-moddess, death by Red Masque

The Living:
Boro
Brinn
Fea
Greenie
Hakon
Inzil
Lari
Loslote
McCaber
Morsul
Nerwen
Nog
Pitchwife
Roa
sally
Saucepan Man
wilwa

IT IS NOW DAY 1. DISCUSS.

[Boromir88]

*sits on an unstable wooden chair. Tips back to reach a snuggly looking blanket*

*CRASH, BANG, BIFF*

*is passed out for a long time*

[Mirandir]

Awwww come on guys! 20 minutes into Day 1 and there's only one post to amuse your incredibly bored moddess at work. Not cool guys. Not cool.

[Lariren Shadow]

I'm here.

And for the Moddess: Pineapple.

[Mirandir]

Thank you.

[satansaloser2005]

Bwah?! And the Downs eats another post. Well, I'll type it up again when I get to work, but yeah. I had some lovely explanations for things, too. Meh.


*toddles*

Oooo, and I can't wait to see the narration and find out what happens.