T - Harps, Lucca, Callypso, Lauryn

[Lauryn de Vampyre]

Bristol watched with some pride as the rest of the group agreed to his idea of the very thin masks. He knew they wouldn't be of much use, but maybe it would give them that split second they would need in a life or death situation. He allowed Felix and Iso to take to the steps before himself and secretly smiled when Dr. Price suggested her daughter stay at the rear.

"Perhaps, Dr. Price," he said as they climbed higher on the steps, "It would be wise if Kendra were in the middle? I'd hate to think of someone sneaking up behind us and..." He let the last bit of the thought trail off. Allowing the young woman to step ahead of him, Bristol took the rear position. His swiveling eyes, especially the ones on his flank, could come in quite handy in this type of situation. "I'll use my extra eyes to keep a better look out, if you don't mind," he suggested, looking at Kendra as he said the last bit.

It didn't hurt that he also wanted Kendra as far away from danger as possible.

As they all mounted the stairs and piled into the windowless room, Bristol marveled at what was in the center. It appeared to be a giant glass tube right in the middle, running from top to bottom. Why on earth would someone install something like that? And then he saw the things floating inside of it as he got closer.

"The missing windows and doors!" he all but shouted, remembering not to be too loud at the last moment. So this was part of the spell that sealed up the house then! Creeping closer to it, Bristol ran one of his sharp talons along the glass, tapping it repeatedly in different places. There didn't seem to be any weakness in any one part of the contraption.

"I must admit, this is highly impressive!" he said in awe, looking about the rest of the room. It was then he noticed the doors. One was plain and like the others, but.... "Oh, goodness!" he exclaimed, running over to the ornate one. It was so fancifully decorated; it must be of some importance to the Master of the House!

Trying the handle with his taloned paws, he grunted in disappointment and glanced back towards the others, "Locked."

Scampering over to the rather normal-looking door, he found this one to be unlocked. But as he opened it and stepped inside, Bristol frowned. Something.... wasn't quite right here.

Calling out to the hallway, "Dr. Price, could you come here for a moment please?" The Chameleon Mix couldn't pinpoint exactly what it was that made him nervous, and that alone made the nervousness worse.

[Lucca]

When Felix finally made it to the top of the stairs, his legs wiggled and his paws were aching. He managed to stumble out of the way for Bristol, who had taken the rear of the group, but there wasn't anything he could do about the oncoming collapse of his body against the wall. He panted a bit, grinning even so, when a flash of light from the middle of the hall caught his eye. Turning his horned head in that direction just as Bristol exclaimed, he stared in awe at what appeared to be a glass tube with odd shapes floating in it. Odd shapes that, as the Chameleon mix had just indicated, resembled nothing more than windows and doors.

"Dude, that's pretty intense," he mumbled, forgetting about how tired he was from those stairs as he moved over to put his paws up on the surface of the tube. Curious golden eyes watched the path of a ghostly window shape as it swirled around, ears perked. "Have you guys ever seen anything like this?" He certainly hadn't. At least...not while sober.

He turned his head to see Bristol was already trying the doors. Well, he certainly liked to rush about, didn't he? "What do you see?" he called, not about to walk all the way across the hall if this new room was as the same as the ones on the other floor.

[Harpsdesire]

Bristol was… disagreeing with her mother? That made two people in one day, a true anomaly. Kendra wasn't sure what to think. It was almost like he was feeling protective of her! Well that was… rather a new thing for a girl with so little life experience. (She didn't know, couldn't have known that Bristol came into being full grown as oddly as she, and on nearly the same day.) It was true that his extra eyes would make him an excellent rear guard. She appreciated his logic as much as his concern.

"Hm. No, I've never seen anything like that." Kendra said, not bothering to clarify that she hadn't seen a great many things, actually, and regarding the tube with it's swirling contents from a cautious distance. The fresh air scent did seem to be coming from the little window-ghosts, and there was no actual usable portal to the outdoors in sight. There were two doors, anyhow, one which Bristol had proven swiftly to be locked, and the other… as she went towards it, Kendra wrinkled her nose. Something wasn't right about that door… or whatever was behind it.

[Callypso]

Nostrils flaring, though they were thankfully covered up at the moment by the makeshift-mask, Iso leveled a steely-eyed gaze on the gentleman. She didn’t appreciate being questioned, certainly not when it came to her daughter’s safety, but there was certainly truth to what the young man had suggested. Kendra would indeed be safer were she walled in by other Cards rather than trailing defenseless at the end of their procession. Though she was irritated, she remembered the effect her anger had had earlier on the foolish Selkie and decided to guard her tongue. Better to accept the help of someone who held some fondness for her daughter than arguing with him.

Very well. Your assets should prove useful in that regard. Though they shall cease to be if I catch you staring at my daughter’s rump, she thought to herself, her ink snapping outwards as though to emphasize the unspoken point.

The group crept quietly up the stairs, though once the reached the landing it seemed as though they were very much alone. Odd, though. There was a distinct air of neglect. The furnishings were exquisite, much like the lower floor, but the style was slightly different. As though this hall had been decorated and then promptly forgotten.

Once her eyes reached the center of the room, however, the décor was promptly forgotten. Her jaw dropped behind her sheet-mask as she stepped forward to get a better look at the strange glass structure. She felt torn, not knowing whether to recoil or gaze in awe at the obviously magical construction. Instead, she chose to approach with caution, and tapped gingerly on the glass as the pale remnants of the manor’s exits swirled within.

This is incredible, muttered the ferret, resting her forepaws on the tube. It felt thick beneath her furred appendages, no doubt to prevent an accident. I’m not sure we’d be able to break it should we try. It feels reinforced.

The doctor turned her head as Bristol checked both doors – more locks, of course. Well, I would like to see if we can’t remedy that. Reaching behind her skull, she pulled an object seemingly out of thin air – the butter knife from before. She had slapped it to her inky backside for safekeeping, however, Bristol’s call distracted her from the plan in mind. Something had crept into his voice that bothered her, though he didn’t seem to be in a panic. Hesitantly, Iso returned the butter knife to it's earlier hiding place.

Stay here until I call you, she murmured to Kendra as she padded over toward the door the bizarre Card had just stepped through. That uncomfortable, prickling feeling from before intensified the moment she crossed the threshold. The ink alongside her back wriggled back and forth, curling and uncurling as Iso’s physical reaction finally registered. Her brows furrowed as she looked at the young man in slight confusion and alarm. It doesn’t feel right in here… her voice was slightly louder than a whisper.

Iso wasn’t sure what was worse – the magical glass tube in the landing, or the fact that she was being unusually intuitive today. Shivering slightly, she took another step into the room. It’s against my better judgment to be in here, though that very fact would seem to suggest there is something in here that is unnatural. We probably ought to find it.

[Nathalia]

Bristol's feeling of unease only increased as the glass tube behind him began to hiss as though a massive amount of wind were blowing through it, some of it seeming to seep from the tube over the group, though none suffered any (visible) ill effects.
As Felix wandered over, both would see the inside of the room appeared to be that of a luxurious study...that had sat untouched for years.
The room was very sparsely furnished, and an odd sound, a bit like someone rustling papers, was only just audible on the fringes of their hearing.
The room contains little more than an ancient desk, weathered wood cracked with age; a shag carpet the color of fine, rich coffee, and a closet door.

All who enter feel distinctly ruffled, as though they are being stared down by something.
The corner of the carpet closest to the carpet is very damp and smells terrible. It has bubbled up a bit at the edges, almost as though the wood beneath it has warped terribly...or there is something growing beneath it.
The closet door hangs open, revealing a number of shelves, all lined with glass containers holding the remains of long-dead plants in small jars and pots.
It looks as though someone once used this place as a tiny, ill-advised greenhouse.
(Everyone in this odd room roll 1 d20 for me as you post next round.)

Kendra, meanwhile, could have sworn she heard an odd moaning noise from the fancy locked door.
Even as she watches it, it slowly swings forward and, soundlessly, opens...
If she approaches it quietly, it will remain open for her; dark and cold.
If she calls to anyone or tries to get others to follow her, it will close at once!

[Lucca]

Man, whatever they were seeing it must be weird, considering that neither of them could say anything...concrete about it. Or maybe they were just getting bad vibes from the room? Felix tapped his claws on the glass, thinking. "Should I join you?" he asked with a slight headtilt, but he was already heaving himself back down to all fours and waddling as quickly as he really could over towards the room Iso and Bristol were in. He hadn't quite made it halfway there when a sudden wind swept in from behind him, making him shiver. All his quills clacked against each other and his ears pulled back What was that? He turned and looked back at the tube, which he belatedly realized had made an odd noise like an angry Feline. But the glass was solid...wind shouldn't have some out of it!

"This place is kinda weird," he mumbled, and went back to walking. He finally reached the odd room, and made to walk in--and shivered again, this time because a distinctly odd, uncomfortable feeling was crawling down his spine. He felt like he was being watched, and he caught his breath, quickly looking around the room for any mirrors. If that monster in his reflection was here again to eat him--!

Finding nothing reflective in very close proximity, he shuddered and moved closer to the other two. He turned golden eyes up to look at the remains of plants in the closet. "Someone's been forgetting to water them," he noted, frowning at the sad little things. Then again, this was a very bad place for plants, considering the lack of windows.

((and he rolls a 13))

[Lauryn de Vampyre]

((Pretty sure this will be crap, but I need to get something out.))

Bristol watched and waited as Dr. Price entered the room. He worryingly glanced back at Kendra. He didn't like the thought of her being left all alone out in the hallway. But still, the other door was locked and she could easily run into the room with them if she heard someone coming up the stairs....

Forcing the subject from his mind, he turned his head back to the room at hand. He agreed whole heartily, something just wasn't right. But what? Could it be their unease and desired to leave the room truly meant there was something worth finding? What a wonderful repelling spell that would be!

It was then that he heard the soft whistling noise, like hot tea in a kettle. Turning swiftly behind him he was relieved to see Kendra was still alright. His eyes glanced over to the large tube in the middle of the hallway and he frowned, squinting his eyes at it. Was it just his imagination, or was there a very fine mist leaking out from that thing? Before he had time to really register that he wasn't in fact just seeing something, the smoke ... mist .... whatever had already trailed over the four of them. He saw Felix look back at the glass tube in the middle of the room and knew he had seen it, or at least felt it, as well.

It certainly didn't seem to do anything to them, so Bristol decided it may be best not to mention what he saw yet. Not until they were done investigating the room. Wouldn't he feel like a fool if he mentioned this and it turned out to be nothing! Besides, Felix said nothing as he made his way into the eerie room.

He padded in after the two of them slowly, looking around and immediately made his way over to the glass jars. Craning his neck as far as it would go Bristol leaned back, using his tail for support as he got up on his hind legs to better reach the containers. He managed to grab hold of one and brought it down to show the others. It held.....a plant, of some sort.

"Hey, look at this. Do any of you recognize it?" Bristol knew nothing of flora and had no idea if the plant inside the jar was significant. Felix was right; it looked very close to death it seemed. He almost felt sorry for them all.

((Bristol rolled a 16.))

[Harpsdesire]

Just.... stand in the hall when all this interesting exploring was being done by others? This time Kendra narrowed her eyes a little at her mother-- a sign of irritation without outright insurrection. "Fine."

It was obvious that whatever was in the other room was interesting, and she was missing it all because of her mother. It was like Iso didn't realize that she was very nearly an adult. The teen proceded to stare at the tube of windows in a way not completely unlike sulking. It was making some noise now, and a little wind was sneaking out over the top edge of the glass. That was... slightly interesting for a moment, but when nothing else happened, Kendra started craning her neck to see what Bristol and Iaso were looking at.

They were too far away for her to really see, but as she shifted, she noticed a slow movement off to the side. The other door, the one Bristol had said was locked, slowly drifted open. That was fascinating... was he wrong, or had someone unlocked it? The teen glanced toward her mother, who was looking intently at some small item in the room, ignoring her daughter quite completely. If she called out to let the others know what had happened, she was certain Iaso would come rushing back, further wounding her pride by demanding she stay away from the door, as if she was a helpless child.

Well, this was her chance to take a look around without her mother complaining about it. In her heart, the girl was pretty sure this was a bad idea, but curiosity and rebellion had her in their grasp. Surely it wouldn't hurt, she reasoned, if she just looked in the door... Kendra approached the fanciful portal and did just that.