Prologue - Death House

With the door easily open Taniwha peers in around the room, hoping his sharp eyes pick up any hidden details within the room. The sadness of the scene had seemed to soak into the walls dragging the light out of area, the cobwebs dampening the furniture. All in All creating a halo highlighting the tender moment between siblings forever embracing.

Though looking the room over every few moments the Tieflings eyes where drawn back to the doll held within Thorn’s arms, feeling himself drawn to it.

Narissa stumbles over her words, "Were... were they locked in here with that padlock... alive, and left." Even in the dim light of the room her stricken look is easy to read.

Abraham doesn't answer. There is no need... the grim scene is self-explanatory. Instead, he simply turns away.

Amalthea grips her shield tightly, looking over the melancholy scene.

She growls, "Aye, all the more reason to take care of what's down there..."

She almost steps forward, but stops mid-step and pulls back, glancing over at Taniwha. She's learned her lesson upstairs about moving forward without double-checking the scene.

Taniwha notices the rotting floorboards, the peeling walls, hears the whispering of the Mist outside. Examining the dollhouse, he realizes that it is an exact replica of the house, with every piece of furniture, every dent in the wall, every scratch in the floor, all painstakingly rendered—although perhaps not by human hands.

With his sharp tiefling vision, Taniwha notices the sparkle of light over the skeletons even before Rose appears, hanging in the air. Her spectral form is now obvious as her little brother floats beside her. She stares at the party before her face lights up with recognition. "You're back! Did you defeat the monster? Can Mother and Father come back now?" She strains to see behind you. "Where are they?"

Sensing his sister's distress, Thorn takes her hand and hugs his doll closer. It seems he is reluctant to let Taniwha even think of holding it.

Narissa stays where she stands, face very blank, and rubs the scars on her left wrist. Her voice doesn’t falter when she speaks to the children. "Your world will be righted as soon as we can manage it. Stay together, you're not alone."

It's not much in the way of comfort to a frightened child, but she doesn’t know what else to say. They can't save their lives, perhaps they may be given peace.

As the Spirits speak Taniwha’s features soften in the safety of his shadows and he lightly takes one step forward, then squats gracefully down with palms showing. "We are about to descend to the basement, but we are hoping you maybe be able to assist us? Is there anything or information that may assist us in facing the monster?"

Rose and Thorn look at Narissa like an angel, the savior they've been longing for. Rose shakes her head at Taniwha's request. "We never went down there. It's . . . scary. I know it's a big monster; it makes big howls."

Amalthea looks at the others, eyes wide, and whispers "Hey, what kind of big monster do you think is down there? It howls and the master had bless and poison protection spells."

Taniwha stands up and steps back out of the room, Thank you Rose and Thorn." He says simply. "I hope we can bring you peace."

"When we have dealt with whatever lies in the basement... we should lay these two to rest properly," Abraham says, his tone low. Looking to the ghosts, he asks directly, "Children... we will bury your remains so that you may find peace. Would you prefer to be wrapped individually or together?"

It was a grim question, one Abraham would never have wanted to ask of children, but in the circumstances it cannot be avoided. They deserve better than being left on the floor of a room, though. He tries to take solace in the thought that allowing them to have a say in the process may afford them some measure of peace... but it doesn't afford him any whatsoever.

Thorn seems not to understand the implications of Abraham's words, but Rose turns pale—even for a ghost. "Are we—" she struggles to find the words "—dead?" She holds her brother as he begins to cry. "Mother locked the door to keep us safe, but then we got hungry and sleepy. We spent a lot of time sleeping— What day is it? Is the bad man gone?"

Rose looks down and sees her skeleton, and the realization hits her fully. "We can't be dead! Mother and Father are still in the basement! Someone needs to help them!" The children panic and fly at Taniwha and Abraham.

"Calm down... we will take care of the basement, but you still need to answer my question. Whatever is happening downstairs, with any luck once we finish you two will be allowed to rest. That's why I need to know what you want first."

Taniwha moves back, eyes widening as the ghost come towards him . . .

He clutches at himself attempting to put at the ghost, his fingers raking at his clothes as he fails to grab the ethereal form. Falling against a wall he hears Abraham’s voice bellowing commands but it sounds muffled and far away, as the a strange mix of childish laughter and screams bounce around in his head. The moment passes and his body relaxes and he can steady his breathing.

The Tiefling looks around the room and everything is familiar to him. Taniwha shakes his head as he realises he is no longer alone in his body.

The party is stunned as Taniwha opens his mouth and Rose's little girl's voice comes out. "We have family crypts in the basement. Father took us down there a few times to pay respects to our grandfather. If we really are. . . ." Her voice wavers with emotion. "If we have to rest now, it will be there. We will be safe there."

Her voice hardens. "But until then, I'm staying right here! This way I'll be able to make sure you do it right. Thorn, stay in our room until it's safe again." Thorn obediently floats over to the dollhouse and starts playing with it, clutching his doll in a free hand.

"Very well. Thorn has his doll. Do you have anything you wish to be entombed with, sweet one?" Abraham asks. "Also, listen well -- the body you have is a skilled warrior. I appreciate your... situation... but you must promise to let him fight without your control or influence should such a turn of events demand it. Do you understand? And do you promise?"

Abraham speaks softly, but firmly. The situation of the children pains his heart in a way few things can... but the warrior in him recognizes the potential for danger.

Taniwha stays sitting against the wall his hands shaking and his mind racing as his lips move and someone else’s voice emitted out. His fire red eyes staring blankly at Abraham as the warrior speaks the sounds starting muffled as if his was just below the water’s surface, slowly coming into focus and sharpness as the angry in his head subsides. Angry he knows not to be his own. Then the internal voice came . . .

After a minute or so Taniwha raises to his feet. "Fine, fine just don’t think you’re in charge." The Tiefling pulls his hood back over his head, "Never thought I was." He then turns from the room and heads down the corridor.

Rose acquiesces to Taniwha, letting him speak for himself. "Tell them I won't mess with your fighting," she says in his head, "and I'll won't take control of your body. I promise. And make sure you bury me with my cape. I've had it since I was a little girl."

You see the tattered cape draped over Rose's skeleton, a lovely black velvet one with a high collar and red silk on the inside. Were it new, it would be prohibitively expensive for all but landed gentry.

In the shadows of his hood Taniwha whispers, "I promise to finish this for you and to bury you with your cape, Rose." After a moment he promises, "I am sorry this happened, you should have lived a full life. I will do everything in my power to live one for you, and carry you with me in my heart."

If anyone asks of his companions ask about what he is whispering, he’ll answer bluntly "Nothing."