A. You receive +2 raffle tickets and +1 Specter Tickets
B. You receive +1 raffle tickets and no Specter Tickets
C. You receive +1 raffle tickets and no Specter Tickets
D. You receive +3 raffle tickets and +2 Specter Tickets
Those who went to search for the teddy bear were, once all were collected, met with a sudden cold wall as they entered the bedroom. Abnormally cold, in fact, colder than the fall air outside. The feeling of hooves can be felt, briefly, on a few members, an evasive feeling for many. Uncertain glances are exchanged, but the sound under the bed distracts most when a pony reaches to grab the teddy bear (Lex).
A clawed hand reaches out -- a Dragon paw -- dragging nails into the ground, nails scraping against the wood. Something glows underneath; an eye, red and angry. A choked gurgling escapes them, claws dragging slowly down the floor before the creature vanishes back under the bed. Anyone who checks will see they’re gone.
With the bear obtained the group begins to descend the stairs, joining the downstairs group.
Those who checked the shoe will see…. A small Dormouse! How cute! (Please send the uncert of your pony to Nym on Basilisk Stew for a small prize!)
Those who checked the floorboard will see…. A small Dormouse! How cute! (Please send the uncert of your pony to Nym on Basilisk Stew for a small prize!)
Bloodless tries to listen to the second locked room. They’ll hear several voices and the sound… clicking? A keyboard, maybe? Is this the control room? Huh! Neat!
Lydia Deetz hums a soft melody, which… seems to soothe the child within. The shrieking sounds silence, although any attempt to lift the door will cause it to begin again. Deep within the sound of humming returns, briefly.
Saga attempts to open the door, which…. She does! It clicks and, with ease, relents under any attempt to open. Inside the room is…. Several ponies! They stand in-front of a plethora of screens, with a switchboard before them. Someone yelps, bringing the attention of the large group. All their eyes land on Saga, with one pony approaching. ”Hey! This isn’t part of the house!” The door slams shut, locking again.
Lex, having been the one to trigger the boogeyman from earlier, finds that nothing remains when they check again.
Reminiscent Dream paces, which provides no clues or answers. Hopefully it settles their heart!
Nememus is met, much like Lydia was, with a soft hum. The child doesn’t offer much more, but the sound of shuffling can be heard as they draw close, perhaps to listen.
Now, with the teddy bear acquired, the trap door is opened by a pony within the group. The child screeches, pausing abruptly once they see the teddy bear. The small Dragon foal reaches out, snatching the teddy bear and holding them close.
“Teddy…” They whisper, stepping aside. “I haven’t… seen him since… the last time we all were alive.” They look up, nodding to the basement before them. “Thank you…. I’ve been so lonely…. All Mama does is cry…. Papa -- he -- he never was the same again after becoming a Vampire… he hurt us. He hurt us and left with my sister. It’s been so lonely….”
While it’s just a story the child actor is convincing in their tears, although they suddenly tilt their head, as if they heard something in their ear. A mic can be seen, nestled cleanly within. “The key to get out is behind me, right in-front of that door.” They add, glancing at Saga briefly. “It’s time you all left.”
The haunted house is complete! If the group made it out they would have discovered that the story changes every 3 hours, revealing more about the family. They could return again, whenever, if they braved the line once more. That was the plan, after all, but as someone approached the back of the basement something different happened.
A door rested against the back wall; black, large, and foreboding. There’s a lion-headed knocked in the middle, which has rusted over the years. As a pony approaches to grab the golden key before it the trap door suddenly slams shut, clicking.
The child actor jerks their head up, eyes widening. “Wha-” The trap door is locked, noted the second someone tries it. Shouting can be heard from the child’s ear mic, but attention is drawn to the door in the back. It groans, creaking as it shudders, cracking open. Behind it is… just a dark abyss, faint blue sparkles glittering faintly.
“FINALLY,” a voice booms. The figure appears before the door, faint and transparent. They look ethereal, almost, and their feet fade into nothingness. They’re floating, in fact, and their short mane floats upwards as they turn to look at your group. The all-white pony cracks a wide grin, faint glowing yellow eyes curving upwards in delight.
“You can see me?! Finally! Quick, help me get the door open -- use your living hooves and help me!”
Of course, this ends as well as you’d expect. Someone shrieks, another tries to touch the pony, and another just faints. The pony who attempts to touch him finds their hoof goes through, causing them to stumble. Panic spreads through the group as the transparent pony moves closer.
“Wait, please, hear me out. I’ve been trapped here sinc-” he’s cut off as the trapdoor slams open, revealing a group of circus members and their leader, Alastor. Alastor glances at the pony, mouth parting briefly before he barks an order at your group.
“Get out! Now!”
Hands and hooves pull at your group, dragging each participant out of the basement. Alastor stays behind, descending into the basement once every member has been forcibly removed.
“Come on, shows over, you need to go.” An employee orders, pushing the group out of the house. “The house is closed -- come back another time.”
Congratulations! You “survived” the house! Although… what was that ending? The house has been closed to the public, with no answers provided. The circus leader also cannot be found, and any attempt to summon him is met with apologetic circus-employees. The circus attempts to go on as usual, with members claiming it was all an act, but something feels…. Off.
Meta players should look out for a Meta update.
Everyone who wishes to be entered into the raffle for the CYOA prize should post their final count of tickets. You will have until the 30th to do so! Specter Tickets should NOT be posted, log those in your Meta profile!
