The House On the Hill

[Jag]

If you drive down Moddison Avenue till the end, you will reach a cul-de-sac. Sure, the sign you passed about a hundred yards ago warned you of a dead end, but it didn't warn you about what you would find there. Up on a hill there lies a house, which has been on sale for several months without a sign of being bought anytime soon. Its more likely that it will be foreclosed and demolished with the way things are going, but for some reason it is still standing there untouched. There are many rumors and stories concerning this house, many claiming that it is cursed or haunted by a malevolent presence. The last owners moved out about nine months ago, and each family that inhabited the place before them never lasted for more than a few months. Thus, it isn't much of a surprise that real estate agents are having trouble selling the place, with most actually having given up all hope on the matter.

Teenagers in the area used to break into the house when no one was living there, drawn by the ghost stories and other tales that they had heard around the neighborhood. Yet, these instances of intrepid kids climbing the fence around the property to indulge in a little ghost-hunting have become pretty rare as of late. Perhaps there is something inside the house that is keeping people away. Maybe some of the stories are true, or maybe the place just smells really bad. Could a ghost be trapped within its walls? Or could it be something much darker, something that just lies beyond human comprehension?

There is only one way to find out...

House

[Wolven Pryde]

Fear.

It's something every Autumn Courtier is accustomed to dealing with. Mastering their own, reveling in it, inflicting it on others, or in Warren Locke's case... all of the above. Fear is also a very potent source of power. And as much of it that circled around all talks of this place, it is certainly worth a look around.

Baby steps.

The Witchtooth walks down the street with as much of a casual stroll in his step as he can fake. Taking a deep breathe of autumn air, he glances here and there for signs of activity. Dressed as nondescript as he can manage for a man of his stature - worn leather boots, faded corduroy slacks, a dark shirt and peacoat - Locke considers whether or not his curiosity and exploration will be more or less fortunate if he happens upon regular folk.

Dark thoughts of terrifying the bejesus out of teenagers seeking thrill or romance pulls a rare smile across the Ogre's features.

Dark thoughts of finding something truly terrifying lurking within the old building pulls the smile a little wider.

Locke (plus a shirt :P)

[Yumyumcrow]

The feeling swept down upon him like a crashing wave, as swift and fatal as a skilled assassin. Sorrow. Exquisite sorrow that left him momentarily gasping. Was that a tear, welling in his eye?

The sorrow came upon Malcolm Green as he waited, patiently, in a line at the newsagent. All he had wanted was recharge for his cell. Unlike the other customers in the shop at that time, Green was perfect happy to wait for the scrawny young attendant - after all, he had learned patience during his Durance. And then he saw them...

...Two children badgering their exhausted parents with Halloween outfits and masks. One - a boy who would be no older than his son, was grappling with a big cardboard skeleton. In that instant, Green's world shrank and the Assassin Sorrow struck with all his might. I should be doing that. I should be preparing for the holiday with my son, and with Joanne... Not here, buying a cell phone for who knows what!

He felt as though his heart would burst. He had to flee; he had to get away! In an uncharacteristic burst of fury, he leveraged his height to jostle his way to the front of the line, tersely asked for his recharge. He left like an abjured demon and did not wait for his change. Got to get away. Got to hide. Calm boy...

For a long time he stalked the streets of Sacramento: a ponderous giant traversing the city with uncaring, stony eyes, completely wrapped up in his own thoughts. Smaller folk had the choice of being trampled or making way. Green saw them not.

When he at last broke free of his brooding reverie, he found himself in a cul-de-sac. With no more pavement to follow, he looked about him and saw the forlorn house. Something about its aspect got to him. It radiated... something... With a grunt he tugged the cheap tourist guide form his pocket and found the house listed there. Curiously, the page was marked with a small post-it! note that Green did not recall placing there.

Curiosity peaked and desperate to do anything to flee from his black thoughts, he turned his heavy feet toward the house on the hill.

[Jag]

All three of you are standing around the house...so free to notice/interact with each other. Since no one has hardened their Masks, you can all instantly tell that the others are Lost as well. And while we are at it, please roll Perception

[Yumyumcrow]

  1 sux on Perception

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2012-10-30 22:59:02		Green rolls perception rolls 4 to Wits 2 + Composure 2 (10 Again)		8, 1, 4, 5		1 success

As he drew near he noticed the Blightbent. He had to stop and make a double-take; never in his Durance or his escape had he ever seen anything like this with her particular fusion of metal, flesh and steaming pipe. For a moment, he wasn't even sure she was Lost. He was more curious than cautious as he approached: between the general ambiance of the house, her appearance and her obviously stocked backpack, he figured she must be here for the same reason as him.

"Uh... Hi," he said at last - a deep and gravelly rumble despite his best efforts. "I... uh... take it you've done ghost hunting before? It is the season, and all..." His voice trailed off as he made an attempt at a smile, then thought better of it. Shit... she probably thinks I'm some bruiser or something, come to scare her off...

[Wolven Pryde]

  See no evil!

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2012-10-31 01:19:06		Warren Locke rolls 4 to perception; Wits + Comp (10 Again)		5, 1, 5, 3		failure

Bollocks.

Locke should have known there was a chance other Lost might appear on the same night he had chosen to investigate this place. As a matter of fact, if he were not the person he was, and having very few contacts in the city, he may have organized some sort of party.

And yet, the resources fell in place anyway.

What is amusing, as the massive ogre stands near the entrance to the building's driveway, 'admiring the view', is that he had apparently went unnoticed. Watching the two Elementals from his hooded gaze, one fiery red eyebrow nearly raises. A more animated individual might look behind themselves comically, or down, in order to check for a sudden case of invisibility.

Locke merely stares at the two of them.

"This place seems to have developed quite the reputation." The Witchtooth's voice is hard as iron, but not cold. The warmth of his accent makes the iron pliable. Hot. But just as powerful.

He could be speaking to himself. He could be saying hello. Or he could just be testing to see whether or not he had fallen into some nexus in reality where he could see out, but others could not see in.

Locke is unaccustomed to being disregarded.

OOC

That's not intended to sound butthurt, lol. But the only reason Locke hasn't spoken to or noticed anyone yet is because I posted first :P

[Yumyumcrow]

"Hey yourself," Green said by way of greeting to the Lurkglider and the giant. He continued to stare up at the house; and to size up the other giant by the gate. For a moment, Green felt a brief pang of jealousy - How had that guy kept so still and so quiet?

"They call me Green," he added after a pause. "Place feels kinda odd. Umm... Maybe we should... uh... get moving before someone notices us?" He resisted the urge to check out the rest of the street. And he really wanted to do something, anything to escape his own tumultuous emotions right now.