Network - 07 (posted during the week when TDM ghosts are active)

[graveyounglady]

Who: Mercy Graves
Username: mercyme
Warnings: discussion of spiders, rituals, ghosts, blood sacrifice likely to come up
What: Mercy issues a warning to the network about ghosts that have been popping up.

Pray be at peace, my friends, for I bring grave tidings. Wence the month turned over, you may have heard a terrible sound coming from near the north edge of Gloucester. This was the result of a ritual myself, Ms. Katrina, and Ms. Yelena performed to call forth the ghosts of this city's past.

It seems to have worked, aye, but at a cost. The cold creeps into my bones and chills them in ways I have not known save in the deepest snows of winter. The others, too, have lost something. I can only hope that these sacrifices of blood and warmth, vision and taste, have come with some gain.

The ghost who appeared at the grave and spoke to us told us of a house in Dogtown, one with a great fence built to keep the occupants of the Wolfe House in, rather than keeping anyone out. I have see nother shades in the nights, but have not had a chance to speak with them. Has anyone else heard their truths?

May the Light of Pelor Guide You,
Mercy Graves

Comments

un: ebouchard

[hellojon]

I've run into one or two of them. One said something about a hallway, a corridor that twists and turns up, making those who walk down it woozy and feel off-kilter.

You should consider yourself lucky that you only feel cold. Something worse could easily have happened to the three of you.

[graveyounglady]

I know it, sir. But I do not think our efforts foolish if they have provided information such as this. I regret that Ms. Katrina and Ms. Yelena are poorly affected, but I would have done this on my own had they not agreed to assist me.

[And maybe that is foolish and reckless, but this feels like when they were getting closer to the truth of the cloak pins and the abbot's conspiracy.]

We must solve the mystery of Dogtown. And from your description, that corridor may be from the very same house our ghost spoke of. In which case, we may surmise it is that being known as the Spiral that has a heavy hand in matters, yes?

[hellojon]

The Spiral, the Web...it would not surprise me that when we find that house, we'll find traces of other Entities as well.

[graveyounglady]

Dogtown has many horrors, it is true. And this town seems touched by every Entity we have been told of.

The Hunt rules, but I can count them each in turn for things we have faced:

The Buried snowed us in and has held us under a terrible wait, brought about by Ms. Deepthi's involvement. But there have been smaller things. Times when the sands opened beneath our feet and swallowed us.

The Corruption has visited us through our old network and in shops. It creeps at the corners of many places.

The Dark tried to destroy this town with Ms. Katie's escape from imprisonment within ADI.

The Desolation came to us in the form of Fenix Down's circus.

The End came with Ms. Ava and her nightmares.

The Eye watches and has sent us artifacts. There was a tablet at the museum that spoke truth to us. And I cannot count the number of creatures that have stared at us with such keen intensity. Not to mention the cult that we destroyed last wintertide that had made its temple here.

The Extinction came for us in refuse and as fake mermaids bent on destroying us as the people of this place and time have destroyed their own oceans.

The Flesh nearly stole Mr. Kahlil's life along with so many others when he was forced to sell his horrible phone cases. Even now, I sometimes see his vegetable lambs growing around town, things to be stamped out with all due haste.

The Hunt is this very organization itself.

The Lonely has touched our hearts and made it seem like we were so terribly alone more than once. And there was that poor baker man last October whose life was some horrible combination of the Lonely and the End that he suffered.

I have been nearly killed by more than one creature of the Slaughter that stalks Dogtown, waiting for unsuspecting victims.

The Spiral has twisted our minds on too many occasions to count. The photograph we were discussing, sir, but there have been other instances where we could not trust our own senses. I confess, I was compelling to act in wicked ways, to twist others and make them doubt their own minds not so long ago.

The Stranger has made doubles of us before. Things to be killed.

The Vast is what Mr. Steel was a part of, trying to widen minds to terrifying lengths and setting enormous signal creatures upon us that had to be felled.

And the Web, I do not know all the subtle ways it weaves, but it sent its bus after us. It has sent the bodies of the dead for us. And it spins its way through my dreams, making me walk where I would not otherwise go.

Some of us have been touched by all of these things and more. I should think many of the good people of Gloucester touched, as well.

[hellojon]

[ Idly, Elias can't help but wonder: what is out there in Dogtown? What's out there, trying to call forth as many of them brought over, touched by the powers? And what will happen when it succeeds? When it finds what it wants? ]

All the reason for you to be careful. Due to that seance, you, Ms. Katrina, and Ms. Yelena all are marked. The End has found you useful. I'd try not to collect marks from all the Entities.

[graveyounglady]

That is my point, though, sir. I think we have all been marked by them. The Web's tattoos upon our skin, the Desolation's brand, the Slaughter and Hunt's old wounds.

What are we to do? There is no way to stop these things.

[hellojon]

My point is that there is a difference between being marked by one and being marked by all of them. It would behoove you to not act recklessly, to try and keep yourself from becoming even more damaged.

[ which is the thing you're supposed to say in these situations, even though every part of his mind is relishing about how fucked up everyone here's gotten. ]

Unless you've already been marked by every Entity, of course—though I know Ms. Katrina hasn't. As for what we're to do? It seems obvious, doesn't it? Find the Wolfe House.

Should you be willing to take that chance and venture into Dogtown, I would happily accompany you.

[graveyounglady]

How does one know if they are marked? Is it only a physical scar or lingering effect? I do not have that for all of them.

But I am confused. You tell me not to act recklessly, then propose an expedition to Dogtown. Should you need my dirk or glaive, I will guard you, sir. But that seems a foolish thing for you. Less you have hidden some skill with weapons from me.

[hellojon]

A seance is acting recklessly. Do you have any idea what you could have pulled from the grave? You're lucky that you managed to summon a ghost with useful information and not something that thought you could be a fitting meal.

An expedition to Dogtown is inevitable. The more we learn, the more everything points us to one location: Wolfe House. We'll go there eventually. Why not find it on our own terms?

[ plus, Elias has that mental compulsion convincing him to stray even further into Dogtown's borders buuuuut he's keeping that to himself at the moment. ]

[graveyounglady]

We do not have such things in my world. I had only what information I could find online.

I only mean to say I am concerned for your safety, sir. Especially after encountering anglerfish-type monsters near the blood river in there. I will guard you, but can you shoot a bow? Or a gun? I would have you armed if we are to make a journey together.

[hellojon]

You needn't worry about me, Miss Graves. I wouldn't suggest our expedition if I felt I couldn't handle myself.

But to answer your question, I can shoot a gun.

[graveyounglady]

Very well. Name a time and entrance, and I shall meet you there with my glaive in hand.

[hellojon]

The entrance near the north, the day after tomorrow. See you then.

[graveyounglady]

We start at dawn.

[To be suitably dramatic... and cold. Mercy makes a mental note to bundle up.]

[text, un: rue]

[ruevealing]

Mercy, my dearest.

Please tell me what you need. How can I assist you? I would keep you wrapped up in my very wings if it would hold that chill at bay for you.

[graveyounglady]

You are a kind, my dearest friend. My only hope is that we might use this sacrifice for something. I gave away the gloves, hats, and scarves I had last winter, for I have known harsh mountain climes all my life and this place is mild by comparison. If I could trouble you to assist me in making more, that would be a great help.

But beyond that, have you seen any of these ghosts? Heard from them, perhaps? The sooner we solve the mystery of Dogtown, the sooner we might rid ourselves of these forces that move against us.

[ruevealing]

You can entrust me with this task, Mercy. I shall have new ones made within the day.

I have seen them in the town, but I could not get them to provide any pertinent information. It was like they were repeating themselves, looped over and over again. I did not know what to make of the words they spoke. Just mentions of the Wolfes being witches. Though

[rue is silent for a moment, before finally another text dings]

I believe one mentioned following the spiderwebs. But I fear they were lying. I have been told to be careful around webs instead and I trust that one's word above most others.

[graveyounglady]

It is certain that we must take care amongst the Spider's trappings. When I was trapped in that tiny version of the city, the Flophouse became suddenly covered in them. It was a truly terrifying thing. All was pitch and webs and the sound was swallowed up. We saw shades of people we loved fighting so bitterly.

I saw you there. Not you, but a figment. Something that screamed in such rage that could not be heard. I do not know what that place was, but it is part of why I did this. I cannot let these things go on.

And we must be wary of the Web's grasp upon us. It keeps trying to drag us toward Dogtown. I fear it may yet succeed with how many of us it has marked.

[ruevealing]

[rue does not even have the words for this.]

You saw me among those shades?

[after all they have experienced in this world, why does that give rue pause?]

I will not let you be taken. I mean, Mercy. No matter what happens, I will keep you safe.

[graveyounglady]

I saw something that was not you. Could not have been you. I have never seen your face twisted in such disgust and anger. I could scarce imagine it ever looking so, save in that place.

But I worry there is little we can do to stop this inevitable march. And so, we must be prepared to take this battle to Dogtown.

[ruevealing]

That place terrifies me.

But I will do whatever I must to help.

[graveyounglady]

There must be some safe path to walk. I think it would be our goal to find that quiet amongst the raging chaos and horror of that place. Mr. Elias believes our goal to be the Wolfe House. He and I will be going in. Should you wish to make a trip, yourself, I would join you, Rue, as your protector.

With Mr. Hob welcome to come along, as well, should he so choose.

[ruevealing]

Trust me, Mercy, my darling. Nothing could keep me from your side for this. Hob and I will be there. We shall see this to the end together.

[graveyounglady]

Thank you, Rue. I am to travel into Dogtown with Mr. Elias the day after tomorrow. Should our efforts prove safe enough, I would travel with two of you another two days on past that. Just a small amount of time for my recuperation and tending to any duties I might need to.

((ooc: on a meta-level, I'm going to ask you or Hob's player to set up the search request! And we can absolutely play the results of the tiles you guys pick out.))

[ruevealing]

[ooc: i can do that! can i pick any tile or is there a section we should be looking at specifically? :)]

[graveyounglady]

[ooc: feel free to pick any! Mercy may suggest on adjacent to Tile I12 now that she and Elias have found a strange fence there.]

[edalyn]

So let me get this straight

you three were doing dangerous, mostly-illegal magic... and you didn't invite me?

[She's mostly joking. Primarily, she's concerned.]

What exactly did you do?

And I have run into one. Said the Wolfe family were witches
[And she knows here, that probably means people who were using entity related powers in some way. But the attitude still grates on her.]

[graveyounglady]

My apologies, Ms. Eda! There was no slight intended. Only you have seemed preoccupied of late with other matters. I did not wish to add to your burdens.

We went to the graveyard with the oldest grave I could find in Gloucester. It is nestled close to Dogtown. I cleaned Ms. Betsy's grave and used a ritual I found online. Mr. Martin showed me how to research with the internet. We made a ring of candles and drew a symbol with salt before I bled into the circle and spoke the invocation.

Ms. Betsy did not seem to think highly of the Wolfe family, either, but they were rich folk. I expect they may not have been the kindly sort.

[edalyn]

Yeah, that's... fair. [She wishes how tired she's been wasn't something people noticed, but it is what it is.]

You found something that worked on the internet? I mean, I guess you did

we can agree on hating them because they're rich, I'll give her that

[graveyounglady]

The internet has taught me many things.

[Too many things. A number of them incredibly contradictory. Some of them probably conspiracies.]

I do not think those with wealth should be hated on principle, but those who have wealth and fail to help the people around them are to be scorned as misers. In any case, Ms. Betsy's account of the Wolfes seems to align with the idea that they may have some sort of magic.

Avatars, perhaps?