into the unknownnn

>>1111385
This

Nalthar 2025/07/27(Sun)21:27 No. 1111915 ID: fd169b
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Rather than just jump into the unknown, you opt to have Sorrel take a quick echo peek first. "There's a surface just below us, with large shapes that are probably boxes." she reports after dunking her head in the hole and swiveling around. "There's canyons on either side, past that its a larger room. I can't pick out anything distinct."

With that, you all drop down. Not too far that you couldn't get back up with the chainknife. The high shelf is strewn with dust and crumbled wood. A few lonely coffers are scattered about. The lantern light doesn't carry far into the room, but is enough to show more rows of shelving to either side. Ranks of open boxes line each shelf, the necks of green glass bottles sticking out of the straw inside.

The still air seems to swallow any noise, making it feel like you've stepped into a void. A screech from the pursuing spiders sounds as though it comes from miles away. You can't even tell how far down the floor is.

Check the boxes!

ooo shine light onto the bottles and check their contents

>>1111915
Should probably get somewhere hidden so that your pursuers don't know you're down here.

Time for the bat to scout out the room.

I agree, we should check the bottles. It might be just some booze or something, and if so, we can leave that poison to the humans; but given the master's predilections, it might be some rare chemical that Lisel could recognize and make use of.

>>1111930
Agree with this. You'll want to get somewhere you're shielded from echolocation. Burrowing into the straw should accomplish this, if there's enough of it. If not, maybe you could hide in the coffers.

1/2 Nalthar 2025/08/02(Sat)19:23 No. 1112191 ID: fd169b
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"We ought to get hidden." you say. "Sorrel, would you scout the room? Meet us one shelf down."

"Aye" the bat leaps off and swoops away, vanishing into the dark.

The climb down is easy enough, and you find yourselves between the tight packed boxes. Lisel clambers up, eager to get a look at their contents. She tries to push the straw aside, but it is tightly wound together, clutching to its wards. "Kh'khechil would you assist me please?" the chemist asks. Joining her, the hulking beetle grasps a bottle and tugs until it slides free of its nest. At her sharp intake of breath you climb up as well.

The harsh lantern light hides none of the unpleasant details of the bottle's contents. A rat, flensed and missing most of its organs, floats within. Wires spiderweb out from a bulky contraption that has replaced most of its lower abdomen. It rotates slowly from its rise, facing each of you in turn as if in some accusation.

After a moment Lisel finds her voice "That's... that's enough Kh'khechil. Please put it back."
He lowers the bottle, but loses his grip on the slick glass and it thunks against the box.

2/2 Nalthar 2025/08/02(Sat)19:24 No. 1112194 ID: fd169b
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From the darkness you hear a snort and the rattle of large chains. That sickly glow you've seen from the eyes of the house's revenants is coming from behind the end of the rows of shelves.

Hoarse breaths waft steam around the corner. A hand many times your size grasps the edge of the rack. Fingers that end in blunt nails scrape the wood. "Theeeeeeeives?" the thing rasps.

Awwww fuck. Well, time to see how far the chains go. Get away from it, try to stay quiet and out of sight.

quickly scatter out of sight! quietly!

>>1112198
this

It doesn't know for sure you're there, so it's probably going to scan the shelves looking for anything out of the ordinary. If you haven't moved anything, you just need to stay out of its view and avoid making any more noises. It may move a few boxes around, but probably only the ones close to where the noise came from, so if you can get far enough away you might be able to hide behind them.

Regardless, you're going to need to douse your lamp. That will stand out to it like nothing else.

Nalthar 2025/08/08(Fri)14:22 No. 1112452 ID: fd169b
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Lisel twists a knob, turning her lantern down to a barest hint of light. Quickly you slink down between the boxes, keeping an eye on the hand. The others climb down the other side and out of sight.

The towering figure turns the corner. It is, or was, a deer. A singular eye glows like a baleful moon. From that light you can make out that the other side of its head is shorn off, down to the bone. A thicket of wires emerge from the empty eye socket and wind around away down its back.

It stalks down the row of shelves, the chains dangling from its wrists clanking as it gets closer to your hiding spot. Stopping to look around, a large brass cylinder strapped to its back starts rapidly clicking. There is a snapping sound and sparks fly from the creature's ruined face, accompanied by a shriek.

"Krrrr, that's not you, is it Gregor?" the deer mutters, clutching at its head. "You would never come in here without the chains good and taut." It huffs, a cloud of steam rolling from its jaws. "Then it must be one of the scurriers. I've heard you up above you know. You, er, whatwasit? -mice. Yes, mice. Finally come down to see old... old..." another spark and a wince "old me, eh?"

>>1112452
Sounds like it can make conversation. Do we talk back and risk revealing ourselves? ...it's chained up and it just strongly implied that it is not friends with the master of the house. I wonder if it's possible for us to be allies? That in itself is a path to victory. If we could sabotage its chains, then the next time Gregor comes down, he could be killed.

I guess it's time to be brave. Split from the group and go somewhere a little closer to talk. Ask who they are, what has Gregor done to them?

It seems like the master's devices don't have it under complete control, which is probably why it's chained up. It seems like whenever it receives a directive, that causes it pain; or maybe only when it disobeys a directive. Regardless, if you can sabotage the devices it's fitted with, you can probably spare it a great deal of pain. That should be enough to get it on your side. Hopefully it's as simple as cutting another piece of paper tape.

If you can't free it, though, it's likely going to be in constant pain until either it kills you or you leave. I don't think it wants to hurt you, but you need to act quickly.

Oh, it got a spark when it couldn't remember its name. Or was prevented from remembering...? Might be best not to ask that.

Nalthar 2025/08/13(Wed)22:30 No. 1112679 ID: fd169b
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"Tem'rty, Tem'rty we've got to talk to him." Lisel whispers "He must know something of the master of the house. Who else could have done this to him."

Your instincts scream to stay well out of sight of anything so large, but she is right. You have to take this chance. "Alright, I will try. You two stay back. Be ready to flee if he turns mad." You climb back up to perch on the corner of the box.

"You, want to talk?" you call to the deer, who whips around to fix his singular gaze on you. For a moment he just stares, something clicking away on his back. When the mechanism stills there is a pop and flash from his empty socket, then he blinks and breaks into a wide grin. "Talk? Yeees talk is good."

Chains clattering he shuffles over to you, a hand twice your size grasping the shelf above you to steady him. "Only, you aren't a thief, are you? They told me to stop any thieves that come in. But... I think they meant human thieves, they didn't say aught about mice."

stay cautious.. we mean no harm. ask what exactly has been done to them.

>>1112679
That's right. You're not a thief.
Ask about the deer. Why is he in chains? How much can he act outside of orders?

Ask if we can ride him.

Please tell us all about the master of the house, he is a strange person, and if there is a way to communicate with him. Can he understand you, because you can understand his orders?

No, you're not a thief, you're just looking for a warm place. You came down here following the warm air from the furnace. Is he the one who puts the coal in the furnace? If not, does he know where it is? The upstairs is so dreadfully cold.

Oh, and what's the thing on his back for? Does it help him think? It looks like it's malfunctioning a little, does it hurt when it does that? Maybe you could take a look at it for him.

Nalthar 2025/08/20(Wed)22:32 No. 1113034 ID: fd169b
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"Oh no, not a thief at all." you say "I don't know what sort of depraved soul would have an interest in these unfortunate dead."

The deer blinks "Nooo, not this room. The other one, the... eh, the vau-" A rapid clicking emits from the contraption and another spark flares. "Hngh, right don't talk about that."

"That can't be good" you watch a wisp of smoke snake out from the giant's socket. "Is there any way I could help you?"

Slowly lowering himself to sit on the dusty floor, the deer shakes his head. "Good of you to ask but... no. These wires see, carry orders from the box, tell you what to think. Now that they've come loose it hurts, yet I can think more freely again. Only... they're taking... something... with them. I worry what will be left when they fully fall out."

"If you can, could you tell me about the one who did this to you" you ask.

"That... is part of what I've lost. Just scraps now. Snow. Wolves. Light. Pain. Then being dragged down here. Although, was there... a spider? Hands. Strings. Mice with knives. A nest on the highest floor. Or perhaps... not. It's like trying to remember the whole tree from the last leaves of autumn."

The deer seems friendly enough, but you are worried about that device. If it's still giving orders then what will happen if you ask about getting some coal? You try to think of a way to bring up the subject tactfully.

>>1113034
>loose wires mean more freedom but less "mind"
That explains what we've seen happen when we cut the wires. They just go berserk. So, instead, we should try cutting only *some* of the wires on our zombie opponents from now on?

>coal?
You could beg for some. Or offer to trade something, or offer your services in exchange. Or even just for a favor in the future. None of those things are stealing!

Beg beg beg! Don’t be shy.

Maybe we should try to find this box and try to give it our orders. Use the monsters that live in this home against the puppet masterm

"surely you must get cold in this drafty area, how do you stay warm? does the master of the house not care to provide you, a guard against thieves, even a fireplace with coal?"

Mice with knives; in the Master's employ? Or the same band we've fallen in with?

If the box tells the deer what to think, can the box also tell what the deer's thinking? Is there any risk this conversation could be recorded and revealed to the Master at some point?

>>1113112

All the mice in that memory are on strings, so those were the Master's puppets. He also seems to be remembering a hand on strings, suggesting the Master rigged up a waldo for remote surgery... which honestly makes it seem like he doesn't get around that well. Maybe that's a weakness we could take advantage of.

>>1113035

Cutting the paper made them go berserk. The one time we tried cutting wires there was no visible effect. I suspect that when we cut the paper, they were still fully under the machine's control, but the machine no longer had any program to execute; whereas the damage to the deer's device is weakening its control over him.

Really, as unsavory as this would be, we need to immobilize a ghoul and start systematically tampering with its control device until we figure out what parts do what.

>>1113034

It doesn't sound like the coal is what he's charged with guarding, so hopefully getting him to part with it won't be that hard. We might just be able to tell him that we found a fireplace upstairs but it has no coal; heating the house is what this stuff is for after all.

1/2 Nalthar 2025/08/28(Thu)18:29 No. 1113266 ID: fd169b
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"You remember mice with knives? You mean there are folk working for him?" you ask, appalled at the thought any forest folk could bear to help such a ghoulish enterprise.

"No, no, the puppets. They may look loose and flopsy but when he wields them they are as sure as any hand." the deer kneads at his temple above his good eye. "Too many hands. Too many fingers. Too many hands."

"This box" you interrupt what sounds like the start of a manic chant. "It tells you what to do? It's... not listening to us, is it?"

"Listening? Hrmm, only to me. If my thoughts start down the wrong path it will stop-"
The device begins its clicking once more, but this time the spark is accompanied by a loud snap. The deer's one eye widens and his lips pull back in a feverish grin "Would stop me! Would stop Me! Hahahahahahahaha! But I think it just lost that ability!" He bites down on the manacle on his wrist and freezes. Slowly he lowers his arm. "Still, need to guard. Not... yet. Not yet." He rubs a hard hooved finger over one of the buckles that strap the device to his back. "Soon" He hisses "Soon."

Climbing back up from where you had hid in the box at this outburst, you glimpse a shadow move on the shelf over the deer's head. Sorrel is there, looking from you to the deer in trepidation. You can only give her a shrug for now, returning to the conversation while you can. "

2/2 Nalthar 2025/08/28(Thu)18:30 No. 1113267 ID: fd169b
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"W-well, ah, as pleasant as talking with you is, I did come down here for a reason. See my friends upstairs, well it's getting very cold. We were hoping to ask for some coal. Maybe offer something in exchange? Perhaps, some service?" You're getting unnerved as the giant leans back towards you bringing his eye very close, that grin still splitting his face.

"The furnace room has coal. I hear it going when the human servant comes in. I... don't think you will have luck asking for any though. The other revenants, they almost never speak. I don't think they older ones can, the ones with the exposed parchment. But even the newer ones with just wires won't answer. When they come to force that burning water down my throat they don't say a word. Even Gregor, when he comes to collect from the vault, he used to tell me to stay back, be silent you filthy beast, but now he doesn't even look at me." The deer's smile is slipping, steam curling around the shards of his nasal cavity as he huffs rapidly. "You- you'll talk to me, yes? Stay and talk?" The box shudders under you as he grips the side and pulls it a little closer.

>>1113267
Yes. For as long as it's safe. Ask where the furnace room is, and gesture to the others to go once they have that information.

Ask the deer if it has hobbies? Does the box allow you to have hobbies?

do you remember anything else about your past before this house?

>>1113268
This. And in the meantime...

Ask the deer what his name is. If the control box lost its ability to stop prohibited thoughts, maybe he can remember it now.

If he can answer that, ask about this Gregor person, and what he comes down here to do. Also ask why he's not talking anymore.

Ask about the burning water he said they make him drink. It sounds like they're still experimenting on him somehow.

He mentioned two types of revenants, one with paper tape and one without. Ask him if he can elaborate on that.

Ask him what he's planning to do "soon". It seems like he might want revenge on his captors; if so, he might make a useful ally.

And, finally -- if he seems completely free-willed now -- ask him what he's guarding and why.

If it seems like he's getting unstable, stop asking questions and talk about yourself instead, like what life was like before you came here.

1/3 Nalthar 2025/09/11(Thu)18:11 No. 1113768 ID: fd169b
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Tentatively, you pat his cheek "I can stay. I would like to hear more about-" you are interrupted by a shuffling coming from between the boxes.

"Tell us about- ngggh, hang on." Lisel squeezes out from the narrow gap "Phew, sorry to interrupt, but I simply must know more about you! May I stand on your shoulder sir?" The bemused deer leans closer and Lisel scampers up. "Oh my, that's quite the contraption! Is it a heavy burden?"

While the chemist peppers the poor deer with questions, you hear a quiet "psst" from above. Looking up you find Sorrel and Kh'khechil clinging to the shelf underside. "Hey, we're going to scout the furnace he mentioned. There's a gap under the door. Just a quick look around and we'll be back." the bat whispers, her voice pitched high to the edge of hearing. You give a slight nod, and the pair creep away.

2/3 Nalthar 2025/09/11(Thu)18:12 No. 1113769 ID: fd169b
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"So you still feel compelled to carry out these orders, even though you know you shouldn't?" Lisel is perched on the brassy shell on the deer's back, examining where the wires are attached. "Yes" he replies "I want to leave but I need to guard the vault. At least until... until... some... thing."

"Fascinating" she raps on the metal and lays her ear against it. "Tell me, do you have any memories preceding the, hem, surgery?" He considers, "Not, well maybe. I remember, the forest, but only a blink of it. Snow and trees, but not where I was, why I was there. Not even who I was." Lisel mutters to herself "Long term memory loss? Degradation of the brain tissue perhaps? How quickly does the process need to be started?"

Lisel climbs back up to his shoulder. "What I would really like to know is just what that glowing liquid is." She pats his cheek "If its not too painful to think about. I can see you've been through a lot."

"Oh its alright, I'm just happy to be talking. To someone who talks back." The deer gently rubs the little mouse's cheek with one large finger while he answers. "It's nasty stuff, that water. Tastes like salt, but too much. I feel like I used to like salt, once. But this stuff is just terrible, and it stings all the way down. Makes my heart hurt. I haven't eaten anything else though, so it must be keeping me alive. Don't know why else Gregor would feed it to me."

"This Gregor, he is a human? Is he dangerous?" you ask. "Yes- well, maybe. He used to be very angry all the time. Now he is just, cold. Like the little servants. He only comes down here once a... week? month? I don't know if its day or night, or whether I sleep or not."

3/3 Nalthar 2025/09/11(Thu)18:13 No. 1113770 ID: fd169b
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You're doing your best not to think about what that must be like, locked in the still darkness for days on end. "It must be hard, down here. How do you bear it?"

The deer gives a long sigh, steam sifting through his teeth. "It is hard, harder as these wires go. Before I didn't think much at all, so it was not so hard. Now... I have nothing to do but think."

"When the winter dark seems endless, my family tell stories to pass the time. Perhaps you'd like to hear one?" The deer sits up so suddenly Lisel nearly tumbles off. "Oh yes! Tell me, do!"

What would be a good story?

Oh shit is the puppet master turning humans into his obedient servants, if we managed to let the outside world find out about that he might get into trouble. As for story, tell us the history of this mansion.

Well, let's see, there's the one about Mrs. Frisby and the rats who escaped from the... no, too close to home. There's the one about the pig named Napoleon who rebelled against the... no, that's *also* too close to home.

Maybe you should just tell him something about the Witch.

Tell us a story of love and betrayal.

"there was a starving town that would do anything for food. their inhabitants were sent on dangerous missions in search of any crumb they could find. slowly, the desperation ate at them..."

Tell the deer the story of perseverance, survival, fear and hunger.

1/2 Nalthar 2025/09/21(Sun)17:22 No. 1114145 ID: fd169b
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You tell the tragedy of Subtlety, the deer maiden who fell in love with a wolf. The big fellow listens raptly as you recount how the shy doe sought the help of the Witch to become a wolf herself and capture the heart of her love, only to find after her long journey that he had taken another deer as his lover, despite the ire of their families. Her despair turned to seething resentment, and she stoked the fires of jealousy and distrust between the forest folk to try and tear the couple apart. The fighting became so bad that it drew the attention of human hunters, and worse, witchfinders. After terrible losses the bigger folk of the forest were forced to retreat into the deep woods, where the Witch made such impenetrable snares and tangles that the hunters could pursue no further.

"Subtlety was brought before the Witch to answer for her crimes. Deer and boar, fox and wolf were all baying for her blood. Subtlety bowed her head, and waited for the judgement she knew she deserved." You lean in to deliver the big finale. "The witch raised her long and spindly hand, and the crowd hushed, anticipating some terrible magic. Yet when that hand fell it was not to slay, but instead to gently pat Subtlety on the head. 'There has been enough blood shed.' the Witch said, her voice but a whisper 'Let her repay it now with her life.' So saying, the Witch placed a small seed on Subtlety's head."

"The seed sank into the wolf's flesh and brought a strange transformation. Subtlety became wiry, skin taut over muscle. Then from the top of her head bark sprang forth, flowing over her until her whole body was covered. Her eyes glowed green with the Witch's power. She had become the first bough wight."

"Subtlety felt the power of the forest flow through her. The others murmured, not sure what to make of this change. The Witch reached out her hand and Subtlety took it, joyously, gazing reverently up at her savior. 'Where you sowed division now you will mend. Go and guard the way. Let none enter the deep wood that mean us harm.' She looked out to the crowd, eyes glowing darkly in her craggy face. 'And she will not go alone. Those of you who were quick to heed her words of hate, to turn on your fellows. Those of you who have the guilt gnawing in your heart, step forth and take up this duty. Make right what terrible wrongs you have committed and you will have earned your penance.' Many did step forward, and took the Witch's mercy. And to this day the bough wights keep the deep wood safe, so there will always be safe arbor for those who love their fellows."

2/2 Nalthar 2025/09/21(Sun)17:22 No. 1114146 ID: fd169b
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"That's not how it goes!" Lisel hops off the deer's shoulder and scurries back up the shelf. "When the hunters come Subtlety and the other trouble makers use tricks and traps to lead the humans away while the rest of the big folk escape into the deep woods. After the humans slaughter them the Witch honors their sacrifice by resurrecting them as bough wights. And she makes Subtlety her apprentice! She's a hero!"

You are a bit miffed, you always thought this was an important story. "What about the message about respecting all forest folk?" the chemist waves that off "That's just common sense. The values of cleverness and self-sacrifice are what make the story great."

The deer is staring at his hand, scratching at his wrist where the manacle is wearing the flesh off. "I'm seem like a wight don't I? Do you think the Witch would help me?"

You and Lisel exchange glances "Well, it was a long time ago. I've never met anyone who's seen her." you say. Lisel runs a hand over her ear "She definitely was real. Just, there aren't any stories of her set in living memory." You look up into that big glowing eye "No one is going to save us. We have to help ourselves."

Out of the corner of your eye a shadow is slinking up the shelving. Looks like scouting is done, the story must have taken longer than you thought. Time is running short to make your way back to the meeting point.

This one kind of makes me wonder if the master of this house knows something about the Witch and is trying to emulate her in his own twisted way.

Anyway, the patrol that was looking for you has probably lost your trail, so it's probably as safe to go back up as it's going to be. You might look around the room to see if there are any other holes in the ceiling that might be closer to the window you go in and out. Getting here involved a long route under the floor and we've seen multiple times that you *will* be found if you spend long enough down there.

Also, definitely ask the deer for his name if Lisel didn't do that already.

Nalthar 2025/09/27(Sat)23:43 No. 1114479 ID: fd169b
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You stand up and dust yourself off "Sir, it's been a pleasure, but we really must leave. We didn't bring food for an extended visit you see."

The deer immediately looks distraught. "Leave? No you- you just got here! You can't- " He lets out an odd keening, trembling hands grasping the sides of the shelf. "Its so still down here. So quiet. You can't leave me here!"

Poor creature is all lonely, pet it on the head and tell it that you will visit him the next day.

>>1114479
Tell him to please calm down, don't topple the shelf. You're not sure what you could do, aside from leave someone here and arrange for supplies to be delivered. You could try to pick the lock on his chains, but if he left this room it would raise an alarm, and he would likely be killed.

Try to arrange for some sort of compromise. You agree, it's bad to just leave him alone now that talking to him has freed more of his mind. Would it be fine if you promised to have someone visit regularly? Even if it's yourself? How often would he want to have company?

...hmm, if you brought a bunch of people here, freed the deer and waited until the master came down... the deer could help you take him down. All the deer would have to do is hold the master still for long enough for your ambush to slash the master's veins and bleed him out. You might even be able to deliver a weapon to the deer!

Thinking about it, the best thing to do is probably for one person to stay behind. Did anyone see anything edible on the shelves? Anything to drink?

Tell him that you understand, you don't like seeing him trapped down here, and you'll help him if you can; but you have other people who are depending on you, and you need to help them too. However, you'll tell everyone you can that he's down here, and this isn't going to be the last time your group comes to the basement. You're not just going to leave him.

>>1114482
I don't think the master comes down here. Only Gregor, one of the servants. We do want to break the deer out, but not right now. Not until we're ready to try to beach the top floor.

Leave one person behind to stay with the deer and the rest can go.

Nalthar 2025/10/04(Sat)12:14 No. 1114745 ID: fd169b
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The box rattles and shakes beneath you. Lisel holds on tight. "Do not lose your faculties friend!" she cries "We shan't abandon you!"

Nimbly scurrying you leap to perch on the deer's hand. His unkempt fur is rough under your palms as you give him reassuring pets. "I promise, as soon as we get some food we'll come back."

The deer stills, the intact side of his face turned away, giving you an unsettling view of his skull. "I can't remember my name." he moans "I can't remember why I'm here. I can't remember what I did yesterday. What good is a promise I won't remember?"

>>1114745
What about a reminder? We could write it down, or leave something behind...

>>1114749
ohh i like that idea. perhaps scratch a symbol or message on nearby wood?

Weill if you can't remember your name I will call you Nerry Derry the dead deer.

If he can't remember any promise, then we're kinda off the hook. If we can just get away safely, we don't have to placate him, and we'll be able to come back later with him none the wiser. If we're able to tell him something that will let us get off of him and away to safety, then we can just bolt, and report the route to the basement and the coal stores.

Listen we are living things but you are not, we feel sympathy for what happened to you but we can't risk our life in order to make you feel less lonely.

Well, you can't stay with him forever. He's going to have to go back to the quiet sometime, and you have places to be. If he would forget your promise then he would forget you too, and be no worse off than when you found him.

I don't like the idea of leaving someone behind; it took all of you to fight the spiders off earlier, and whoever stays behind may well need to return to base on their own.

The best thing to do might be for one of you to stay with him and keep him placated until the others are clear, and then that one person catch up after. Sorrel would have the easiest time with this.

1/3 Nalthar 2025/10/16(Thu)00:27 No. 1115146 ID: fd169b
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You keep stroking the deer's hand, and it seems to calm him. "Well lets make one you will remember then. Show me where you spend your time."

You are carried across the room, following the slack chains on the floor to where they feed through the wall. The deer seats himself where the dust is thinnest, slumping like a dropped puppet. "This is where I stay. They pull the chains taught before they come in so... no reason to go anywhere else, usually."

You motion to the wall, and he brings you closer. Drawing your long knife, you start carving lines into the wood. A rat's face to start, and after a moments thought you add a mouse with goggles. Thinking on what to write you look up at the deer, who is watching with rapt attention. "This would work so much better if I knew your name." you run through some good words in your head until you find one that might work. "How about we call you Ornery? Nerry for short. A good name to live up to."

He's just staring at you, eye burning into you in a way that makes you shrink back. After a minute he answers, voice cracking. "Y-yes that... that would... Nerry. I am... Nerry." His hand trembles under you as he draws in a shaky breath. Catching himself, he holds you steady again where you carved the wall. "Please, continue." he says.

The scratching of your knife seems to fill the air, as Nerry makes no sound while he watches. You add a few lines:
YOU ARE ORNERY
WE WILL RETURN
STAY STRONG FRIEND

"There, a promise you can't forget. Right?" Nerry sets you down and leans close to your message. He traces his finger over his name, whispering to himself "Ornery" He does it again, and then again, until it becomes a chant. You take this chance to slink away, not wanting to chance another mood swing from the hulking fellow.

2/3 Nalthar 2025/10/16(Thu)00:28 No. 1115147 ID: fd169b
File 176059969125.jpg - (515.50KB , 800x600 , cadvere2 55 a lifeline.jpg )

The others are waiting for you on top of the shelving. Lisel has her lantern banked so low you can barely discern them from dark around. Trying to keep quiet, she turns it higher until you can make out the hole you came in from, several body lengths above. You take out your chain knife and carefully hand it to Sorrel, who nods, then turns and dives off the edge. A few seconds later you see her swoop in and alight by the hole. She stabs the knife into the crumbling wood until it bites hard, then slowly unspools the chain.

The three of you waste no time taking the thin silver lifeline out of this tomb.

3/3 Nalthar 2025/10/16(Thu)00:28 No. 1115148 ID: fd169b
File 176059972478.jpg - (511.49KB , 800x600 , cadvere2 56 back under the floor.jpg )

Back in the underfloor it is dark, silent, and cramped. Yet somehow you feel less enclosed than in that musty air below. You give yourself a shake and move on.

"We saw the furnace." Sorrel says. "Its not going to be easy. We should get to the lounge to tell the others. I'm sick of these tunnels, I say we get above floors and hurry."

>>1115148
Agreed. We also need to report Ornery's existence, and how he could be our means of killing the master. We'll need a means of weakening his shackles in a non-obvious way(maybe we already have that- the acid?), such that when the master comes down they will look secure... until we spring the trap and unleash the deer. In the scuffle we can attack and administer a deadly toxin via needle, or enough hallucinogenic spores to drive them mad... or just keep stabbing, though I doubt raw damage will work-- most likely the master would retreat and tend to their wounds.

Regardless, we really do need to make good on that promise. Even if only for a little while every day. We can't leave him alone down there. Though... I wonder how long he'll stay sane? Now that we know how the wires work, next time we have a chance we can try cutting only *some* of the wires on a puppet. See if they gain that middle-of-the-road form of freedom like the deer has. If it works well, we could recruit one for non-invasive testing and examination, see if we can figure out how the music box works. Or alternatively, simply use them as a source of information on the enemy, like patrol times or whatever.

That drawing for the deer was soo sweet, a brilliant idea to keep us in his mind and with that we gained a new ally. Maybe every day one person should check on deer to see if it didn't go mad. Onwards we need to keep moving if we stop we are as good as dead.

You know... the basement is probably safer than anywhere else inside the house. No puppets. No patrols. Anyone who's down there will have warning when the master's servants are coming, due to Ornery's chains being pulled tight. So long as you can set up a good hiding place, you easily could station someone down there, or maybe even use the room as a sort of staging area or base camp.

And we definitely do need to find a way to liberate Ornery. Even if he loses his mind completely, letting him rampage through the house will make for a useful distraction when we decide to either attack the master or make a break for it.

For now, agree on getting above the floor. The patrols in the underfloor have been getting increasingly aggressive and it actually seems more dangerous than the main floor at this point.

seems like ornery likes his name!

>>1115149
i do agree on trying to use the acid to weaken the length of the chain a bit. not so much they'll break when they pull it taut tho.

time to head upwards and report the findings. retrieving coal is top priority.

1/2 Nalthar 2025/10/27(Mon)16:25 No. 1115607 ID: fd169b
File 176160754390.jpg - (568.08KB , 800x600 , cadvere2 57 findings.jpg )

The party retraces their steps through the underfloors. Sorrel keeps ahead, listening for any approaching patrols. While you walk you ask Lisel what she makes of the deer's condition.

"You saw how the breaking wires sparked?" Lisel says "That's electricity. I've read of experiments where a shock can cause muscle movement in a cadaver. It would seem the other organs are also affected. I would theorize that the master experimented on Nerry because his brain is larger, so he would be able to apply the wires more precisely. It would explain why he can talk while the rats and spiders we've encountered have not."

"So how does this help us?" you ask "If we break the wires they'll be free?"

Lisel ponders. "I don't think it's that simple. The way those revenants we fought acted, it looked like the one whose control mechanism was cut kept trying to attack you, even when Sorrel was closer. Based on that and what Nerry said I would conclude that the wire carries a compulsion, and when the connection is cut the last order given is still in effect. Nerry might be able to resist that, as he clearly still has functioning higher thought, but the others seem to be operating at a more base level. I confess, my understanding of the thought organ is lacking. From what I've read even the humans have only the barest understanding of how it works. What the master has done is simply astounding, if quite evil."

You tap Lisel's acid tank "Regardless, I am not one to break a promise, even in times like these. How much of this would we need to break his chains?" Lisel shakes her head. "More than my thrower can carry, I'm afraid. I'm using carbolic acid, with a little extra kick, but it's much more effective on flesh than iron. Given enough time we might weaken those chains with a continuous application, but given their size, my estimate would be a week." She perks up "I intend to keep our promise as well, and to that end, there's something in the lounge I think might help."

2/2 Nalthar 2025/10/27(Mon)16:26 No. 1115608 ID: fd169b
File 176160758452.jpg - (428.61KB , 800x600 , cadvere2 58 a lone bug.jpg )

With Sorrel guiding you are able to avoid anymore encounters. The site of your previous skirmish bears stains and disturbed dust, but the bodies have been taken away. Things seem quiet until you near the chamber with the hole into the foyer. Sorrel raises a hand to halt you. Something is moving up ahead, something with scratchy bug feet.

Sneaking up to the corner, you chance a peek. In the dim noon light that filters down you can make out a beetle, one of Kh'khechil's comrades. He appears to be alone, and has an oozing crack in his carapace.

>>1115608
Hm, odd. I doubt the puppets have enough intelligence to use bait, so it's probably not like that. Nevertheless, use caution and stay quiet, peek into the room to see if it's clear before approaching and administering any possible first aid while asking what happened. Uh, damn, we don't have any way to translate do we? Nevertheless, our beetle companion should be able to carry the knowledge forwards.
I suppose we can play 20 questions as well. Did the base get attacked? Is there anyone nearby that needs help? Are there any hostiles nearby?

We should have Sorrel sound off here. That will quickly tell us if this is an ambush and what we're up against if so. The only reason we wouldn't do this is if she had y reason to believe there's a ghoul bat somewhere *else* in the underfloor.

If there's nothing chasing the bug or waiting behind him, then have Lisel try to tend his wounds while Kh'khechil talks to him.

>>1115702
agreed. tho maybe the beetles secretly have their own version of sign language going on if we want to avoid making noise?

1/2 Nalthar 2025/11/05(Wed)07:03 No. 1116393 ID: fd169b
File 176235499801.jpg - (484.31KB , 800x600 , cadvere2 59 an injured survivor.jpg )

It doesn't sound like anything else is around so you hiss a quick squeak to get the beetle's attention. He trundles over to you, leaving a few drops of ichor behind.

"What happened? Where's your party?" you ask. Lisel has already pulled a length of bandage and is using some kind of adhesive goo to cover the beetle's gash. He tries to pantomime a response, hampered a bit by the ministrations.

"This isn't working. Kh'khechil can you help?" You're a bit jealous of how well Sorrel was able to pronounce his name. Your beetle pulls out the map and hands it with the bit of charcoal to the other.

2/2 Nalthar 2025/11/05(Wed)07:04 No. 1116394 ID: fd169b
File 176235504772.jpg - (612.74KB , 800x600 , cadvere2 60 where it happened.jpg )

The beetle sketches out a scene of himself, one of the mice, and the half-squirrel rat being surrounded by spiders. He then adds a pair of rats holding a net, and crosses off his companions.

"Not dead?" you ask. The beetle shakes his head, a motion that moves his whole body. Considering what's happened to other guests of the house it might be better if they were. Sorrel is clearly thinking the same thing, as she is gripping her spear tight and grinding her teeth.

"How long ago was it?" Lisel inquires. The beetle makes some hand gestures but stops at you're clear incomprehension. He sets the map down on the floor and, dipping a claw into the ichor staining his chest, starts extending the map off the edge of the page. Looks like they were under the dining room when it happened. The beetle starts tapping from one side of a drawn chamber to the other. You don't understand what he means with this, but Lisel pipes up. "Ah! You mean to indicate the time it takes to walk across a room." He nods and executes a series of taps, repeating in one room then moving from one to the next.

"So it was only ten minutes ago?" Lisel rubs her chin "They might not have gone far. Should we go after them?"

...we really should, but we also have critical information to deliver. Can the injured beetle make it back? If so, they can deliver the scouting report while we go on the rescue mission.

>>1116394

We're relatively fighting fit. We've had a brief scrape, but come out from it very well. If this beetle can give us a trail to follow, we're obligated to at least try to liberate our comrades from a fate worse than death, and prevent ourselves from facing them later, when they will be worse than dead.

But be judicious in your adventures, and take no undue risks. If ever you run into unforeseen trouble, or you don't like your odds, abandon the engagement and retreat to safety.

for them to have a net means they were expecting/prepared to ambush them... we should still go for a rescue, but be very cautious of the surroundings.

also as morbid as it is, if we can't rescue them due to lack of ratpower, we can try to find out where they're taken and how they're processed.

>>1116444
This

Someone who knows where the coal is needs to go back to base. They also need to hear about Ornery.

>>1116406

If the injured beetle can make it back to base without an escort, AND if he can memorize the map, this would be the best solution. Otherwise we really have no good choices as to who to send back; we need Sorrel for scouting, Kh'khechil to keep the map updated, Lisel to observe if we end up watching ghouls being created, and of course Temerity to lead. Lisel is probably the best of bad options here.

>>1116444

I also agree with this approach.

Nalthar 2025/11/15(Sat)14:00 No. 1116986 ID: fd169b
File 176324405958.jpg - (604.37KB , 800x600 , cadvere2 61 splitting up.jpg )

You are loathe to stand by when there is a chance they could be saved. Still, they have information that needs to be relayed.

"Someone will have to take the map to the meeting point and tell them what we found. Sorrel what did you see?"

The bat sighs "I would have wanted to convey this in more detail in person, but in short there's a hallway, the furnace room to the southeast, and a room to the north east with a pit. I heard people in both rooms, and strange noises."

From where you are you know its just a straight shot down the hall to get to the lounge. One person should able to avoid the patrols and make it there undetected.
"Well no time to waste. Who's going to the meeting?"

>>1116986
Hmm. Send Sorrel. She's got the most information, and is the least effective in a straight up fight. We know where we're headed, so we don't really need a scout.

As before, if the injured beetle can make it back on his own, and he can relay the information for us, let him do it. He's in no condition to accompany us anyway.

Otherwise, I will change my vote to Sorrel instead of Lisel, since she seems to want to go. I had assumed she would want to be part of the rescue attempt.

>>1117028
This

agreed w/ sending sorrel.

Agreed. Fliers are hardest to trap. Lisel's firepower is worth more than her stealth. If the beetle can still be saved, then letting Sorrel shepherd him might be a good idea.

Sending Sorrel is the best outcome

1/2 Nalthar 2025/11/24(Mon)19:41 No. 1117610 ID: fd169b
File 176404211766.jpg - (598.08KB , 800x600 , cadvere2 62 Sorrel is stressed.jpg )

You hear something patter onto the ground behind you. Looking around you see a few drops of blood on the ground. Sorrel is standing very still, staring ahead. One hand is clutched over her face, her long fingers dragging gouges through her fur. Blood trickles down from the rents.

"Sorrel! Hey stop!" Lisel looks up at your cry and gasps. "Sorrel what are you doing?"
The bat snatches her hand away, blinking at the crimson on her claws. "Ah, no I... sorry I just. The thought of being caught. trapped." she looks from one of you to the other in a panic. "B-but I can't falter here! Can't be useless again. I won't fail you. Like I failed my m-" Sorrel chokes. Tears mix with the blood on her cheeks as she clutches her spear to her like its the only thing holding her up.

You move to steady her, her lanky body surprisingly light. Lisel takes her other side, though she isn't tall enough to do more than let the bat lean on her. "You're no failure, Sorrel." the chemist says "You've been most helpful to us."

Patting her on the back in what you hope will seem comforting you add "Go to the meet Sorrel. You need to tell them what you saw. It's important. And you need to see this injured fellow back to safety."

Sorrel takes a few deep breaths and nods. "Right. I'll... go on ahead." She steps away, stance growing a little more sure with each step. The injured beetle follows her. Just at the edge of the lantern light she turns back. "Come back, you three. I'll be waiting." Then she slips into the dark.

2/2 Nalthar 2025/11/24(Mon)19:44 No. 1117613 ID: fd169b
File 176404229020.jpg - (142.30KB , 800x600 , cadvere2 63 corpse gatherers.jpg )

With no time to waste you run down the corridor. The trail of yellow ichor is easy enough to follow as you transition into the dining room underfloors. According to the beetle's map they were ambushed not to far in. You don't see any branching paths on the way.

And indeed, at only the third chamber in, you turn a corner and find the site. Several spider corpses are still on the ground, while their more mobile fellows are clustered around them. It looks like the fallen are being dragged away.

In total, five spiders' eyes still shine in the darkness. They don't seem to have noticed you yet.

>>1117613
We're outnumbered. Can't fight this. Sneak around!

We don't have time for this. If I'm reading the map correctly here we should be able to head further east (?) and try to find a way around. Don't engage the spiders if we can avoid it.

If there truly is no way to go but through, then I would say that this is a good use case for a grenade. Do we think our flashbang would blind them long enough for us to kill at least a few? Or would we be better served by having Lisel wade in and spray acid into their eyes?

Can you all try to climb on the walls in order to avoid getting the attention of the spiders?

avoid engaging as much as possible. it may be tedious to find an alternate route, but stealth must be prioritized. altho.. maybe we should follow from a distance and see if they're going to the same place...

1/2 Nalthar 2025/12/02(Tue)21:19 No. 1118327 ID: fd169b
File 176473918898.jpg - (647.11KB , 800x600 , cadvere2 64 consider sneaking.jpg )

You take a moment to reorient your mental map. You have entered the dining room underfloor at its north west corner. Based on what you remember of the house map your quarry is likely being taken to the south, where the kitchen and dumbwaiter are. The chamber in front of you runs to the south.

"Think you could sneak over them?" you whisper to Lisel.

"Well, yes, but I would have to move slowly." She waggles her arm so the contents of her hidden pockets clink and slosh. "Wouldn't want a bottle to fall on them. If that's how you want to do this, you two should go ahead and I'll catch up."

You consider if the flash bang might help. Perhaps if it were thrown as they start climbing, it would both disorient and distract the spiders. But there's one other option you want to check. "There was another passage behind us, lets quickly see where that goes."

2/2 Nalthar 2025/12/02(Tue)21:20 No. 1118328 ID: fd169b
File 176473921186.jpg - (544.50KB , 800x600 , cadvere2 65 the dining room.jpg )

A hole in the east wall behind you leads to a dead end chamber, or so it seems at first. After a moment your a faint light catches your eye. There is a hole up in the corner leading to the dining room. You scrabble up to take a look.

Thick curtains block all but the thinnest rays of sun in the musty room. The scent of rot hangs thick on the air, no doubt emitted by the fungos you can see distantly glowing on the ceiling and walls. Their work is evident by the squared spiderwebbing of cracks above, which leak warm yellowy light and muffled talk. The combined pinpricks of illumination is enough for you to make out the bulk of a clothed table, its high plateau hosting glinting peaks of silver and crystal. Around it chairs are strewn haphazardly.

The floor is a ragged mix of half-chewed carpet, fallen plaster, and crumbling wood. It appears the rot has gone far enough to provide a number of rough holes, one of which might allow you to get the drop on your allies' captors.

Although, you recall, weren't you warned to stay particularly quiet in this room?

They're probably being taken to the dumbwaiter. Traveling through the dining room should let us get ahead of the kidnappers, which means we can set an ambush. So yeah, despite the risk, I think we should sneak through the dining room. Make sure Lisel's stuff doesn't clink while she walks and we'll be ok. If necessary, the other members of the group can carry loose bottles during the sneak. Or we can leave behind non-essentials.

>>1118338

Agree. Leave behind anything we can afford to and go through the dining room. They're not expecting us to go that way. That said, if we make noise it sounds like the master may hear us personally, so that is something to avoid at all costs.

Don't leave behind anything useful in combat, though. If that means Lisel has to move more slowly, so be it. We're not going to be able to come through this room with ghouls in hot pursuit, so we're almost assuredly going to have to fight our way out once we free the captives.

This is, you are in the belly of the beast. Be quiet, scout out your area, and not just the floor, look at the ceiling. Proceed onward with caution. The whole situation feels like the calm before the storm, and when that happens, be sure to have an umbrella ready.

Retreat. Cut the losses. There is no sense piling risk upon risk in an attempt to play rescuers. Traveling through the most dangerous room of the house in order to engage in battle is not a part of our mission today. It's worth more to return intact yourselves, with the knowledge you've gained and your abilities still at the disposal of everyone in the shed. This passage to the dining room floor may yet prove useful for transit or eavesdropping, but only if you can report on its availability, and be alive to use it in the future.