They are always saying, "It makes me shudder!"

[hystaria.livejournal.com]

Who: Anyone and everyone
What: The castle nearby means to teach visitors the meaning of fear.
Where: Unsafe zone
When: Halloween
Warnings: Mentions of dead animals

A youth once sought how to shudder at a castle. A haunted castle now lies just outside of Sirocco, awaiting unsuspecting visitors to claim in the name of fear.

The castle is modest in appearance with next to no decorum. There are numerous rooms and floors, many of which are empty and occupied by cobwebs in the corners. However, there are exceptions. A sea of deceased, cut up black cats and dogs litters the floors of one chamber, throughout the window of which is a pond similarly polluted with carcasses. A knife lies innocently by a woodcarver's bench, its blade coated with dried blood and illuminated by a weak fire in the center of the room.

Another room houses a single bed, neatly made with yellowed sheets and pillows. Again, there is a dimming fire in the center. The bed appears to pose no harm, though sitting or laying on it will cause a reaction. Literally. Physical contact will incite the bed to seemingly come alive and thrash around the room -- it may even leave and travel up and down the stairways in an attempt to buck off whomever's on it.

The next room has the same fire, a chimney, a lathe, nine bones, and two rounded skulls. The chimney smells faintly of corpses. Remnants of shredded bone matter coat the lathe; the skulls sit by the entrance, enticing visitors to play a game of nine-pin bowling with the human bones across the room. Should one play voluntarily or out of necessity (perhaps the door slammed shut and refuses to open until the game is played), the skulls and bones will vanish into thin air. Who knows, winning may or may not yield anemoi.

There are others: another room has a coffin and another bed, this one being inanimate; a blacksmith's forge lies on the other side of a dark passageway, littered with axes and anvils; last but not least, the cellar in the castle hides three chests, which contain anemoi.

Did you shudder?

( ooc: This is a free-for-all log, so make your own threads for wherever, whenever; multiple threads for one room is okay! Feel free to make up your own areas and things based on the story, this is just a starting point. It may be a good idea to label in the subject where the thread is taking place. )

Comments

ENTRANCE

[thekoistiger.livejournal.com]

The man in the somewhat lazy mummy costume looks up at the structure. "Pretty sure this wasn't here before," he comments. "Hey, think this might be a good place to find anemoi? Or at least a cheap scare. After all, it IS Haaaaaaalloween," he says, stretching the word out in a "spooky" way. He grins. "Either way, wouldn't hurt to check the place out."

[a-civil-service.livejournal.com]

Yuri isn't afraid so much as extremely annoyed at having been turned into a raven. It's undignified, to say the least, and he has absolutely no idea how the effect might be reversed, but there must be some way. He hopes. He doesn't want to live the rest of his life as a bird.

While trying to figure out how he's supposed to deal with his current difficulty, he catches sight of the unfamiliar structure. Curious, he flies closer and recognizes the man in the mummy suit.

"Kotetsu."

[thekoistiger.livejournal.com]

For a guy who was just talking about the joys of a good scare, he sure can jump when startled.

"What the -- whosa -- who's there?!" he yelps, looking around, arms flailing in a sort of "I can defend myself" sort of fashion. But all he sees is a bird.

"...Must've been the wind," he mutters.

[a-civil-service.livejournal.com]

If ravens could sigh, Yuri would. Why does he find himself in this foolish situation? Well, he has no choice but to deal with it. He manages to remain relatively calm, for the moment. He flutters up and flies closer to the man.

"Kotetsu. This is Yuri Petrov." His voice might sound like a croak, but the words are distinguishable enough.

[thekoistiger.livejournal.com]

What.

A bird's talking to him. A bird who says it's Yuri. This is... um.

"...this some sort of joke? Come on, you gotta be in the bushes or something," he says, looking around.

[a-civil-service.livejournal.com]

At this, the bird glows blue; he can't help it. "No, I'm not, Kotetsu. I don't make jokes." This is, in fact, true. He's not a man known for his practical jokes.

[thekoistiger.livejournal.com]

...okay, the bird IS Yuri. Well then. But that blue glow... wait a sec.

"You're a NEXT?" he asks, blinking in surprise. At this point, he's not sure what's more surprising, the fact the guy's got powers or the fact he's small, feathery and looks like should be saying "Nevermore" to him.

[bishonenbunny.livejournal.com]

The other man, who unfortunately isn't wearing any costume, just sighs and crosses his arms.

"I'll have to accompany you, then," he remarks. "Wouldn't want you to die of fright while inside."

[thekoistiger.livejournal.com]

Kotetsu snorts. "Hah, maybe you should be more worried about yourself, Lil' Bunny! Me, I think I can handle anything that comes my way," he brags.

This is somewhat undermined by the sound of settling wood which results in Kotetsu jumping about a mile in the air, and perhaps clinging briefly to Barnaby before remembering himself. "...That just caught me off guard, is all."

[bishonenbunny.livejournal.com]

Barnaby just sighs and grumbles out a "My name isn't Bunny, it's Barnaby!" as he brushes himself off, looking rather annoyed. He can't deny that it startled him a little as well, though.

"If that caught you off-guard, I hate to see what happens to you when we enter."

[hystaria.livejournal.com]

"You may have to carry him at some point."

And in comes Saleh in his usual attire, brushing his fringe to the side as he approaches Kotetsu and Barnaby. He doesn't recognize the latter, but that can be fixed sooner or later.

"Greetings, you two."

[thekoistiger.livejournal.com]

Oh great, what's this tool doing here? "Saleh," he replies sullenly. "Don't tell me you're checking out this place too."

And he WOULD remind him of that last mission they had together, wouldn't he. Jackass.

[bishonenbunny.livejournal.com]

The more trolls to insult Kotetsu people to explore the castle, the better chances they have of getting a hilarious reaction from him finding anemoi. He smiles politely.

"A pleasure to meet you," he greets.

Coffin Room

[stinglikeabat.livejournal.com]

[There was previously a very chatty corpse in the coffin, but it has been negotiated into the bed. Whatever is currently in the coffin is snoring. Loudly.]

Re: Coffin Room

[thekoistiger.livejournal.com]

...This seems disturbingly backwards.

[stinglikeabat.livejournal.com]

[Snnrrrk ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.]

[thekoistiger.livejournal.com]

*Kotetsu decides Sleeping Beauty can wait. That isn't a REAL corpse on the bed, though, is it? ...is it?

He goes to check a pulse.*

[stinglikeabat.livejournal.com]

[Welp, no pulse but OH JESUS IT'S GRABBED HIS HAND.]

Wwwwarrrrrrrrm......

[thekoistiger.livejournal.com]

OH GOD IT'S GOT ME LEGGO

*Insert flailing here! Oh Kotetsu, you are such a brave hero.*

Cursed Raven!Yuri; the room of animal corpses

[a-civil-service.livejournal.com]

[Yuri is the most conflicted raven. His animal instincts are telling him that all this carrion is surely delicious, yet his human mind finds the thought revolting. He flutters up to perch on the windowsill and gives a mournful croak.]

[hystaria.livejournal.com]

[The entrance becomes shadowed by another figure as Saleh enters. The sight of so many carrion doesn't seem to faze him. Actually, it's kind of nice in a morbid way.]

Ah. Look what we have here.

[a-civil-service.livejournal.com]

[Yuri turns his head, recognizing the approaching figure. He attempts to look as dignified as he can in his altered state. Fortunately, ravens have a certain presence, but he'd rather not be in this situation at all.]

Saleh.

[hystaria.livejournal.com]

[He directs his attention at the bird perched on the windowsill. He barely misses a beat -- one name, and given the circumstances as of late, he can tell.]

Hello, raven . . . or should I say, Yuri.

[a-civil-service.livejournal.com]

[He doesn't stir from the windowsill, but he nods. He's still somewhat wary of Saleh.]

Yes, that's correct. I've been unfortunate, it seems, in this--affliction.

[hystaria.livejournal.com]

So you prefer your Huma self. Well, that's to be expected.

[He gestures to the sea of carrion.]

Did I interrupt a feast?