Event || A History of Light and Darkness

[eternitymods]

Who: Brave Explorers and/or Those Poor Souls Being Dragged Along by Friends
When: Oct 15-30th
Where: Thilmit Border Post, inside the Old Heranean Doll Museum
What: The Heroes of Light received a strange letter, and are now being asked to investigate the strange occurrences at the old doll museum.
Warnings/Notes: OOC Post Warnings for Spookiness, Creepy Dolls. Post toplevels for each group. Please post warnings as needed for memory fragments and exploration. For random numbers, use the dice functions on Plurk or Discord.



The Old Heranean Doll Museum is a small building, but somehow the dark, dusty windows and poorly maintained roof give it a menacing feel as you approach. The sign says, "OPEN"...although, as you approached, you think it might have been turned to "CLOSED".

The door creaks as it swings open, though there is no one from the museum to greet you as you enter. A cold breeze blows in behind you, sapping any lingering warmth in the room. The building is dark, and cobwebs are starting to form in the corners of the lobby and on the velvet rope stanchions that guide the flow of traffic in and out. Out of a shadowy corner, a large centipede skitters across the floor and into a crack low on the wall.

At the reception desk, one of the antique dolls sits, unmoving, unblinking. That goes without saying. Its eyes do not follow you as you enter.... The hairs prickling up on the back of your neck are just coincidence, that's all.

There is another doll perched on the wooden brochure display stand near the door. It's strange that the curator leaves the display pieces out where visitors can touch them....

As you enter, you hear something whistling through the air toward you a moment before it makes a impact. A tiny pebble, too small to do any damage other than a brief stinging. During this moment of distraction, the door slams and locks.

When you look at the spots where the dolls were perched a moment ago, there is now just empty space. There is movement in the shadows, and the nearly imperceptible sound of tiny shapes creeping around.

As you move past the lobby into the exhibits, a sign above the entryway declares:

Welcome to the Old Heranean Doll Museum. We hope you enjoy our historic Heroes of Light displays.

Comments

Children’s Corner – Room 1 – Trap (a fun one!)

[princeandscholar]

Once they are safely away from the miasma, and Naomi has healed them of any lingering effects, the Tactician takes a moment to reorient himself.

The dolls in the museum are no longer in their cases. The most likely explanation is the influence of an experienced Puppet Master. Whoever they are, they've lured Heroes of Light here and laid traps for them.

It's all terribly vexing. What a coward, toying with them while staying hidden... or a strategist, trying to wear them down with surprises and fear. But to what end?

Down the carpeted hall, Orcelito pauses when one of the sections looks out of place. Instead of the usual elegant font, there are bright, bold letters over the archway: Children's Fun Corner.

"I thought the museum was rated poorly by the local school children. This doesn't seem boring." The various components of dolls are lined up neatly, and the fabric, paints, and yarn are color-arranged. It’s a little too pristine; no child has been here for some time. There doesn’t appear to be anything out of place, but he diligently directs a flashlight into corners and at the ceiling.

Walking in, the room is surprisingly large – bigger than it looked from the outside. Aren't the tables a bit high for a child's reach? Actually, he doesn’t feel well… Orcelito places one hand on the table leg closest to him, reaching the other up to his head – Oh no.

eeeeee

[poisonwish]

"Yes, well, I don't know what children are into these days but based on the items I saw in Ka'Pandol? Little handmade yarn dolls aren't exactly exciting in comparison..." Quite frankly, the modern toys and technology had been a little overwhelming for Snow White at that time. For children used to such splendors, a simple doll would be... well, simple.

When you could have all the finery in the world, why would you have an apple pie?

Snow White shook his head to clear it, suddenly feeling very sluggish. Where had that thought even come from? No, it was stupid, and he should forget it. Actually... Orcelito was looking a little stiff himself, now that Snow noticed it.

"Hey, are you...?" That table didn't look so big from the entryway. When Snow White saw the doll-like features of his traveling companion, he practically squeaked with shock.

[chatwithdeath]

Well, there went some of her magic along with some antidotes and potions to spare the difference, but they're out of the miasma. Only a slight improvement on their situation since they might as well be in the middle of the museum; and who could say what would come next while they tried to leave.

Walking after the two as they conversed, she eyed the next room with suspicion. But they were already entering the room. Pinching the bridge of her nose - no, they had to go through this room for the next part, she would not complain.

But walking into the room? Being shrunken down to actual spider size? Her eight eyes shot over to Orcelito and Snow White. "... I'll meet you at the other door." And on she moved because nope, she's already done. She did not sign up for another world, and even if she did, she did not sign up to be doll-sized.

Rolled 1, then 15, but a Long Gui won’t fit in the museum, so next is…!

[princeandscholar]

Don't panic.

Once the shock abates, there are a lot of thoughts and emotions playing in his head – none pleasant – as he turns and looks at his... companions. What's left of his previously dexterous hands touch his flaxen-yarn hair. Somehow, he maintains his grip on the flashlight and manages to open his grimoire to something helpfully nasty.

"Is this," there's a growl in his tiny voice - his self-control has limits, "also an ability of puppet masters?" (Though, he doesn’t expect an answer as one teammate flees and the other seems as stumped as him.)

Stay calm. It's likely just a transformative stats effect; they can negate it. He directs the light accusingly at the neighboring room.

Out of place in the exhibit, a large suit of armor is hunched over in the shadowed corner, as though fallen and forgotten. But the light shines through the metal instead of reflecting off it. The ghostly shape stirs, grips its weapon, and braces itself to rise.

From the party’s perspective, the Iron Giant is very, very, very especially giant.

[poisonwish]

Snow's voice is likewise tiny to fit his new small body. "I don't think so. But I don't know what other Job could do it, either."

He took a few tottering doll-steps, looking around the room. Everything was huge. At least the kid's room was pretty open with few obstacles. The door was a wide archway even if it seemed so far away. "Maybe it will just wear off on its own?" It was annoying and inconvenient, sure, but it wasn't the worst thing that could happen.

Except when faced with an Iron Giant. A really giant Iron Giant.

"Is running an option again?" Snow White squeaked. "I vote for running!"