selfpreservationist | [RAVEN'S HEART GAME

The first thing you hear is the sound of rain faintly hitting the exterior of the house. The soft pitter-patter is almost soothing, in a way, but it’s quickly followed up by rumbling thunder in the distance. You open your eyes, and for a second all you see is a flash of light--at first it seems like it’s lightning, but then you see something. A vision of a man dressed in rags, hunched over, waves of demonic power rolling over him. He howls, and something terrible starts to grow out of him: the bloody roots of a massive tree. An immense wave of panic hits you, and you can’t move, you can’t speak, you can’t breathe--

And then it’s over. It’s over. You’re fine.

The sound of rain returns. (This time it’s definitely soothing, compared to what you just saw.) You’re standing in the foyer of a mansion, a wide open living room in front of you. The door behind you is faintly ajar, leading outside.

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It’s a little hard to find the cellar at first; there’s a door that leads to what was probably once a kitchen, but has been violently smashed to bits. One wall is covered in half-finished bricks, empty wine bottles scattered about the floor. There are words painted in bloody red ink on the wall, dripping in places as though it were just recently painted. The words read:

“Lo, a shadow of horror is risen
In Eternity! Unknown, unprolific!
Self-clos'd, all-repelling: what Demon
Hath form'd this abominable void
This soul-shudd'ring vacuum?—Some said
“It is Urizen”, But unknown, abstracted
Brooding secret, the dark power hid.”

In the middle of the checkered tile floor is a trapdoor. There doesn’t appear to be any lock on it, or a knocker. There is only the imprint of a hand, one with sharp pointed nails.

Edited 2021-01-23 01:57 (UTC)

[well, first to look where the half finished bricks/broken wine bottles are, since that feels like the closest, without tempting fate on the trap door.]

The wine bottles are scattered around the floor. The bricks look like they're covering up a bare wall, but there's very small writing scribbled on the bare wall. How well do you know your Poe, Jason? Because, well.

[oh he knows his poe. but if there's nothing there, but a poor unfortunate soul who went for a fine cask of wine, he'll move on.

but not first without checking for switches or anything else of interest]

It seems pretty barren in here otherwise. There's not even hinges on the trapdoor to suggest it should open normally, but it isn't budging.

[alright! to the destroyed kitchen.]

There's not much in the kitchen; it seems like it's been destroyed and ruined so much it only functions as a way to the cellar.

[hmm. alright. guess the only thing of interest really is the trap door?

though he does want to look at the hand imprint.

to see if it reminds him of a certain right arm.]

It looks like a normal-sized handprint--save for the way each finger tapers off into a point, like sharp nails.

[hm. probably not the arm? but good to know.

can he open it, or is it locked shut?]

It is locked tightly shut.

[then back upstairs he goes!

to grab an arm, he guesses.]

[and then coming back, arm in hand, just to see if the marks match the way they should]

It looks like it matches perfectly, as a matter of fact.

[well then.

what if he places the arm where it's supposed to go.

what happens]

It fits.

The arm disappears, and you hear a click. The trapdoor creaks open, revealing a staircase into the dark subterra of the house.

Do you head down?

Edited 2021-01-23 22:00 (UTC)

[yes, he definitely heads down]

Further

[Hmmm. There sure is a lot he doesn't like here. Jason did mention Urizen being around somewhere. And that sure is heavy Cask of Amontillado vibes. He sort of wants to see what will happen if he gets in there? But also he doesn't want to be trapped inside, he's not stupid.

He will, however, take a peek inside it, but not standing with his back to the open room in case he can get pushed in. Just, cheating his blocking like he's speaking to someone on stage, you know.]

There are stairs leading down, into darkness. It smells kind of dank.

[Well. Down he goes.]

Down you go

[RAVEN'S HEART GAME - SESSION ONE]

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