The Haunting at Kravis School of Fine Arts

Ah! She's got me! Joe exclaimed as the unexpected hand clawed at his prismatic tie. He wrestled with the supernaturally strong pull of the hand as he weighed the idea of losing either his designer tie or possibly his eternal soul. The length of time he weighed each option was disturbingly lengthy. Eventually, his self preservation win out over his self image and he slipped loose the knot of his tie and stumbled back away from the yawning maw of Alice's bed; the bruising around his neck already flushing a livid mauve. I think too many people have been in that bed, so I'll pass the offer, Hun... Why don't you and J Money do the ghost nasty and leave us alone!

OOC:

Joe -1 Survival

Oct 27, 2023 1:29 am

Professor hisses at the touch of Justin's ghostly fingers and tries to resist his grip, but physical strength was never one of his talents, and his ex-colleague manages to drag Narcissus straight to a gas leak - which might just be a two-edged sword for the ghost. As he coughs and squints from the irritation caused by the gas, Professor blindly searches through his shirt's pockets until his fingers close around his favorite lighter. Apparently, in some cases being a chain smoker can actually save your life.

One flick of a finger, and the gas around him erupts into a blazing inferno, tearing through Justin's incorporeal body and setting flames to everything around - living or not. The moment the ghost is startled, Narcissus harshly pulls away and dives down, just in time to avoid losing half his face to the mayhem of his own creation. As it is, he's only slightly singed and successfully stumbles back towards the others, coughing and wheezing from all the presumably-ethylene he just inhaled.

OOC:

I was tempted to accept the damage and give Professor a dramatic scar, but... I'll block this time.

Last edited October 27, 2023 1:30 am

Oct 27, 2023 5:42 am

Leigh is standing by the door, her camera half-raised as part of feels she should be filming this. Nobody is going to believe them otherwise, right? On the other hand, running while filming seems like a terrible idea. When the professor suddenly causes another explosion, this time just centimeters from his face, however, she wishes she had caught that on film. She grabs him by his jacket sleeve and pulls him towards the door. "We need to keep going, fucked up architecture or not. There has to be a way out." As she pushes open the door to return to the hallway, she adds, "And prof, that was fucking badass."

Oct 27, 2023 10:28 am

"Holy fuck, did you just kill a ghost with fire?! What the hell is going on here?" Ricky spins around in confused frustration as he looks for something to smash the window. He is convinced that the window strategy is the best, nevermind Justin's ghost was in the glass. If he wasn't dead--again--let's see him try that again when there's no glass! He grabs the Professor's camera and throws it through the window!

Oct 30, 2023 3:09 am

Fire licks at your skin as the heat in the room dramatically increases when the gas takes light. The ball of fire catches in a dozen different places, as the pristine furniture of Alice’s dorm starts up in a blaze.

The window gives at that moment, gifting precious oxygen to the gathering flames. Ricky slips the pane up, and begins to crawl out, looking at the distance between him and the ground below. He slips a leg over the edge…

The others feel the heat on the back of their necks, as Glickmann’s tie pays the price for their escape. The trio race down the stairs, sure in the knowledge that the Professor’s pyrotechnics will spread behind them.

Down you go, until you reach the Common Room! The sigils carved into the wooden boards on the floor hum with a gentle red light, mirroring the flame’s engulfing the room above you.

Something dreadful growls at you from the corner of the room; the corner which seems to swallow light! You sense something there… Something waiting to pounce on you as you try to cross the space to the Foyer!

Ricky puts a leg over the windowsill, and sits on the thing. He braces himself, ready to jump.

Three… two… one…

He pushes off. His feet hit the glowing wooden floor of the common room half a second later. The others watch on as they see Ricky Dijkgraf jumping out of the student scoreboard…

OOC:

If only escape were that easy! Sorry, Nezz! Provoke, everyone!

Oct 30, 2023 3:22 am

"Oh shit," Leigh mutters, looking at the dark corner. After seeing what happened to the others in the previous room, she is far from eager to find out what lurks in there. "Why the fuck did nobody think to bring a gun to this place? It should have been obvious that shit like this was going to happen!" It definitely had not been obvious that something like this was going to happen. "Prof, can you work your science magic again?"

Rolls

Provoke 2 - (1D6+2)

(4) + 2 = 6

Oct 30, 2023 12:06 pm

"Aw, come on! I clearly jumped outside! How did I get back in here? Fuck you ghost! Think you have control of the laws of physics? Well if that's true you can twist yourself up into a pretzel and go fuck yourself!" Ricky stomps on the runes on the floorboards attempting to grind it under his heel.

OOC:

Forgot the +4, total is 5. But hey still the lowest I could have rolled!

Last edited October 30, 2023 12:07 pm

Rolls

Provoke 4 - (1d6)

(1) = 1

Oct 30, 2023 10:45 pm

Professor wheezes and coughs as the run downstairs combined with the inhalation of gas proves to be a little too much for his already weakened by constant nicotine injection lungs. It takes him almost half a minute to even manage a weak acknowledgement to the others, at this point without even questioning Ricky's spontaneous teleportation, satanic sigils or growling darkness in the corner. "I can try... to set furniture on fire, I guess." He does not sound particularly excited about the idea. "But I don't... think it'll catch fast enough." He takes a deep breath and winces. "I do have a flare gun, if any of you wants to risk it?"

Rolls

+Provoke (3) - (1d6+3)

(1) + 3 = 4

Nov 1, 2023 3:15 am

OOC:

A roll from our dear, dear high-rolling Co-Host, when time allows!

witchdoctor

Nov 1, 2023 5:49 am

Well, I guess we do have an arsonist on hand... Joe congratulated the Professor with a nervous chuckle. I don't remember seeing any sprinklers or fire alarms so maybe this place will finally burn in Hell. He reached to adjust his tie and realized it was gone and huffed, lamenting it's loss but not second guessing his narrow escape in losing it. His heart was hammering, his legs weak and shaking... He wondered if he was going to make it out alive or end up amongst the damned like poor Justin. If I die, I'm coming for my Agent first! he chuckled, maybe a bit too hard for anyone's comfort. Gimme that flare gun, Prof. We're not doing anything but dying faster the longer we wait...

Last edited November 1, 2023 10:51 am

Rolls

Provoke - (1d6+3)

(5) + 3 = 8

Nov 1, 2023 6:06 am

Professor hums and rummages in his case, eventually producing a flare gun and hanging it over to Joe. "I hope your aim is as great as your fashion style, Glickmann," he murmurs in a rare almost-compliment before stepping away towards Leigh and Ricky.

witchdoctor

Nov 1, 2023 11:09 am

Joe snatched the gun from the Professor's grip in a quick motion, perhaps before his resolve wavered. You don't have to be a good shot of you're close enough... He looked the flare gun over. Seemed simple enough, labeled as it was. It even had a 'point away from face' sticker right on the barrel. Odd place for it since you had to point it at your face to be able to read it.
He smiled, looked as if he wanted to say something but decided not to spoil the moment or maybe talk himself out of it. I'll hold back whatever's in that void while you all make a break for it. he adjusted his ruffled coat and checked the flare gun in his slightly trembling hand. One last showtime for ol' Joe Glickmann. he sighed heavily, looking over at the shadowed corner. Go on, kid. Make some wonderful pictures. he told Leigh. If you need a recommendation, tell 'em Joe sent ya... Now get outta here. All o' ya. I got a Curtain Call to make. He nodded to the doorway out before turning and striding confidently towards the yawning black maw in the corner.

You want me?! he shouted at the corner, striking a valiantly defiant pose despite quaking inside. C'mon then. It's SHOWTIME! He actually did 'jazz hands' as he spoke.

Nov 1, 2023 11:40 am

Leigh listens to the man's little speech with surprise. As everyone else begins moving towards the door, she remembers the money he gave her earlier. That and his nice handful of words he directed at her make her pause. This is a really terrible idea. But if he's ready to risk himself like this to keep them all safe, it's the least she can do...

She raises her camera and points it at Joe. As she hits record, she says, "Give us a show, Joe!"

Nov 1, 2023 12:28 pm

"Don't be daft, man! We can still all get out of here. Don't be a noble hero when there's still so much to live for. Think of all the boobs left to see!" Ricky's eyes reflexively dart in Leigh's direction as he says his last line. "Besides, safety in numbers!"

Nov 1, 2023 7:23 pm

"I'm inclined to agree with Ricky." Narcissus gives Joe a slightly disapproving - albeit equally as impressed - look. "While this entire situation is unorthodox, it doesn't necessarily warrant heroics. At the very least you can go into it without expecting to not make it out..." He coughs again, grimacing at the lingering feeling in his throat. "...Perhaps this would be enough to get rid of the ghosts anyway."

Nov 3, 2023 12:12 am

Leigh lines up a wide shot; one that shows a defiant Joe Glickmann standing against the shadow.

He makes his battle cry, as the thing from the corner snarls in response! Justin takes shape amongst the darkness there, and steps towards his Co-Star. The ghost cocks his head, looking at his old coworker and then to the weapon in his hands…

Her attention captured by Joe’s stand against the ghost, Leigh doesn’t get a shot of Alice appearing up through the sigils in the floor, like some summoned entity from beyond. Ricky and the Professor watch on as Alice extends her hand and lifts, like some poltergeist Jedi.

Leigh feels herself lifting away from the floorboards, slowly at first, but then slamming with some force into the student scoreboard. The impact knocks the wind out of her, as the ghost approaches, holding its force-choke. She feels the fire from the room above licking at her through the strange portal Ricky had used. The smell of burning hair fills her nostrils; her hair.

Her camera falls to the ground with the suddenness. Miraculously, it keeps Joe and Justin in frame, though lopsided now. Something to be fixed in post.

Justin steadily approaches the man. You don’t need to be a good shot if you’re close enough! With a few steps remaining, Joe fires the flare into the chest of Justin…

It goes through the spectral figure. Or rather… the ghost contorts its chest cavity to create a black hole for the flare to pass through. It streaks across the room in a brilliant light, into the corner.

The corner which swallows light, and the flare is no different. In a breath, the light fizzles to a nothingness, and along with it so fizzle Joe’s hopes of a heroic self-sacrifice. Justin, the thorn in the side of Mr Joe Glickmann, continues its approach, a cruel smirk on its face now. He puts a tender hand to each side of Joe’s face. You all look on for a moment, wondering what is being communicated in the gesture. Then the ghost yanks and twists terribly.

Not chance for a final quippy remark; a final spark of resistance or spite. A quick twist, a terrible crunching snap, and the body of Joe Glickmann slumps to the floor, his dead body illuminated by the pulsing of infernal light from the sigils.

Nov 3, 2023 5:56 pm

Leigh can't watch Joe's demise, caught up in her own trouble as she is, but luckily, her camera is still pointing right at it, even as the camerawoman is hanging in the air, pressed against the wall, being choked by something she can't see. Or rather, can't see at first. Maybe to gloat as Leigh's life slowly fades from her, Alice slowly begins to materialize. Her hands are wrapped tight around Leigh's throat and one of her feet is standing triumphantly on the dropped camera.
Leigh's eyes wander over the spectral body as her strength begins to fade. Until they reach the ghost's feet and a new fury hits her. She claws at the ghostly hands and somehow manages to get enough leverage to pull them off her throat. With fresh air pushing into her sore lungs, Leigh follows it up with a shove that somehow manages to send the ghost stumbling.
Then she bends down and picks up her camera, still oblivious to the other struggle happening simultaneously not far from her. "Don't fuck with my camera!" she snarls at the ghost, then runs towards the door. "Come on, guys. We need to go!"

OOC:

Blocking the damage

Nov 5, 2023 5:34 am

"Dammit, Joe, why didn't you listen?!" He wanted to say more, but then Leigh is attacked. Tearing his eyes away from Joe's corpse, he sees the camerawoman battle the ghost of Alice and eventually free herself. When she mentions they should all go, Ricky doesn't hesitate. He isn't going to let some spectral spook get the best of him! He hightails it after Leigh.

Nov 5, 2023 11:04 pm

Professor, at an absolute limit of his patience for the supernatural fuckery - sue him for not having a more sophisticated epithet for what's currently happening around them - throws his hands in the air. "You know what, Alice or whoever the fucketh you actually are?!" He glares at the spectral figure which just tried to asphyxiate Leigh and is still floating about, mockingly hovering over Joe's body. "This thrice-damned building is going up in flames even if it kills me! Try haunting a pile of scorched concrete!" Narcissus grabs his case, shows the ghosts a rather inappropriate gesture and dashes after his two colleagues, new plan already formed in his mind. There is nothing quite as damaging to a structural integrity of a building as weakening its supports around the biggest rooms, and the entrance halls seems an ideal target...

Nov 6, 2023 1:18 am