Mansion of Misfortune
A glorious mansion that was converted into an inn by a caring woman who believed that even the poor deserved a safe place to find shelter. She would charge the guests based on a bartering system, one nights stay for one item no matter the items value. This mansion is only visible to travelers under certain circumstances, however, no one is quite sure what the prerequisites for its appearance are. All that is known is that the most common sightings happen just before dusk. The inhabitants of the nearby town Soja refuse to share any insights to travelers, offering only one simple statement to those who dare to ask about it.
In modern-day Eden, when the mansion is visible it is run by a woman by the name of Sola. She offers the same price and sentiments as the woman who first opened the doors of the building to the public, however, every so often a guest will enter only to never be seen leaving the grounds again... No one knows how or why, but Sola greets all who arrive with kindness and open arms regardless. It is said that once upon a time, horrific events occurred on this land, however, no one alive can recount what truly happened to its original owner.
"That place is as cursed as the soils it stands on."
In modern-day Eden, when the mansion is visible it is run by a woman by the name of Sola. She offers the same price and sentiments as the woman who first opened the doors of the building to the public, however, every so often a guest will enter only to never be seen leaving the grounds again... No one knows how or why, but Sola greets all who arrive with kindness and open arms regardless. It is said that once upon a time, horrific events occurred on this land, however, no one alive can recount what truly happened to its original owner.
Purpose / Function
Originally, in 1058 BN the building belonged to a rich family of archeologists, but after a few years the townspeople of Soja stopped hearing from them. A search party was organized, but of the 42 people who set out to find the family, only 13 returned home. After that, no one from Soja would dare step foot on the lands.
In 1824 BN a small family comprised of a single mother and her 8 year old child moved in and renovated the mansion into an inn so that anyone with something to trade could pay to stay a night, no matter their financial or social status.
Now, in 6276 TN the mansion is run by a young woman named Sola, who offers the same deal as the second family who moved in, however, the mansion can apparently only be found by those who truly need it.
In 1824 BN a small family comprised of a single mother and her 8 year old child moved in and renovated the mansion into an inn so that anyone with something to trade could pay to stay a night, no matter their financial or social status.
Now, in 6276 TN the mansion is run by a young woman named Sola, who offers the same deal as the second family who moved in, however, the mansion can apparently only be found by those who truly need it.
Contents & Furnishings
All furniture articles inside the mansion are actually very expensive 10th century BN antiques, placed with care for those who may appreciate it.
Architecture
The exterior walls of the building are made from stone bricks, however the interior is comprised mostly of Direoak wood paneling and flooring. Stone statues made designed in strange shapes decorate the courtyard and porches, though no archeologists of past or present tense can identify their origins.
Defenses
Tall brick walls standing at a 15-foot height surround the grounds on all sides but one. The entrance.
History
Gildi Kiya was a young girl whose mother, Tilda Kiya, liked to find and refurbish old buildings that were no longer in use so the misfortunate could come and live in the safety of lavish shelters. One day, Tilda received a letter with no return sender which described a beautiful mansion southwest of Soja that was depreciating with no one to live in it, so Tilda packed up her daughter and moved them out there. When they arrived the mansion was in a sorry state, but despite the overgrowth and peeling paint the home itself was still largely intact. Tilda put in requests with the locals of Soja for materials to renovate, however, none would come directly to the mansion. When she asked why, the towns people said that when the building did exist, it was filled with misfortune. It was as cursed as the soils it stood on... She shrugged off the superstitious sentiment and decided to haul the equipment and materials herself so she went to work restoring the once magnificent mansion. As she worked, her daughter Gildi wandered the house and eventually she came across a strange door in the basement. When she pressed her ear to its face, a woman cried out to her in desperation.
"Little girl. Hey, little one! Leave before the first night comes."
She gasped and leaped away from the door in terror, running and screaming for her mommy. Tilda dropped what she was doing and ran to Gildi, clutching her safely to her breast.
"What happened, my sleepy little Sola?" Tilda asked as Gildi calmed down in the comfort of her mothers arms. Hearing her nickname caused a subtle smile to stretch across her lips as this namesake was in tribute to the Sola flower. The only flora known to help the restless get a good night sleep. Gildi told her mother of the door, but when they both went to check there was nothing but a wall spanning across the empty basement. Gildi insisted that someone was there and told Tilda she wanted to leave, but Tilda had already sunk a fair amount of gold into restoring the mansion, so instead she simply convinced Gildi that she was tired and needed a better rest. At exactly 3am Gildi awoke in a cold sweat. She glanced around in concern before the sound of incoherent whispers drew her from her room and back down into the basement. The floorboards creaked as she crept toward the door, and a faint light shone through its cracks. As Gildi crept closer the whispers became clear, but this time it was the voice of a man.
"Come now child, for I shall mend. Open up and be my friend." It said in a soothing tone. She heard his words and thought of listening, however, as her fingertips touched the doorknob a wave of numbness shook her to her core. She shrieked and ran back upstairs, only to slam into Tilda who had gone to check on her and found nothing but an empty bed. She went to scold her child, but upon seeing her fear filled face she instead locked the door to the basement and sent Gildi back to rest.
Two months passed and finally Tilda had refurbished the beautiful mansion into the same floorplan as an inn would have. There was a large open floor concept on the main story, and 35 rooms made up luxuriously for guests. She put a sign out on the main road leading past the mansion which offered a nights stay in exchange for a barter deal. One item traded meant one nights stay for any and all who needed a shelter from the cold, dark nights. Her first night open Tilda was able to pack to house to the brim with guests. Weary travellers who had nowhere else to go came and traded simple items like silver coins, trinkets, and even pebbles. Around 8PM as dusk blanketed the mansions grounds, Tilda went around to each room and offered her guests a warm meal, however, of the 35 guests she could only find 22. She figured they were off enjoying backyard patio and laid Gildi to rest before heading to bed herself. By morning, only the same 22 guests came down for breakfast so she checked each of their rooms and found their belongings, but no sign of the guests, causing Tilda to start to worrying for them. She organised a search for them and many of the remaining guests participated, yet though they searched until dusk, none were found. Tilda offered all who aided in the search a free nights stay for their efforts, and hosted a lovely dinner where they all talked about where the missing guests may have gone. Gildi overheard this and began to wonder... That night after her mother tucked her in snug in her sheets, Gildi crept back down to the main floor only to find the door to the basement slightly ajar. She inched her way down the steps cautiously and approached the door as her little hands shook.
"Hey, Mr. Door... Do you know where our guests went? My mommy is worried." She asked "Missing, missing, no more fun. They disappear until all becomes one."
The voice teased, causing Gildi to shiver and hold herself close.
"All becomes one? What does that mean?" She inquired, rubbing her arm in concern. "Do you know where they are?"
"They're under your feet, they're over your head. Soon not even Somnum can put them to bed."
Goosebumps peaked across her body as she looked first at her feet, and then above her, but all that was there was the familiar Direoak wood her mother had replaced the rotting foundations with. Gildi scowled and shook her head.
"If you are just going to play games, i'll tell my mommy on you!" She cried out in a nervous tone. "Secret, secret. Shhh don't tell. She will only begin to think you unwell..." The voice behind the door insisted. This offended Gildi, causing her to cry out for her mother, but after several minutes not so much as a peep occurred from above. As the fear began to swell within her, Gildi bolted up the stairs and into the main room, where the sounds of pleasantries had all but died out. A man screamed from down the hall and Gildi ran to the second story in a panic in search of her mother, but as she reached the hall at the top of the steps she slipped and fell into a puddle of warm liquid. She skidded around for a moment before grabbing a candle from the wall mount only to find that she was covered in blood. This time it was Gildi who screamed as the light stretched far enough from her to reveal one of the guests who had been in the search party, but his face was twisted into an expression of agony and his throat was all but torn to bits.
"Mommy! Mommy!" Gildi cried, but the only response was the echoing scream of the other guests. She fled the scene quickly and hid in her room, locking the door until dawns light graced her from through the window. Finally the house had fallen silent and Gildi crept cautiously from her room just as her mother rounded the corner. She clung to Tilda and wept so hard that her mother began to worry the worst. Tilda checked Gildis temperature and found that it was running high, so despite the childs cries she sent her straight to bed. As they passed the stairs, Gildi begged Tilda to check for the dead man, but nothing was there. Not even so much as a drop of blood. Tilda began to suspect that her child was having fever dreams and got to work making a meal to help improver her health, however, as she checked each room beforehand she noticed that there were now only 15 guests accounted for. She called everyone down to the dining room to ask about those whose room were empty, but the guests assured her that they had seen and heard nothing. Tilda fed her guests and then brought a bowl of fresh Tekal soup with an extra hint of Sola petals, causing Gildi to sleep the day away. As the thick blanket of darkness crept across her room, Gildi awoke in a fright to the sounds of screaming yet again. She sat up quickly and hugged her knees close to her chest as suddenly the whispers started back up. She strained to hear them better, but they were too distorted for her to make them out, so despite her fears Gildi snuck quietly from her room and into the halls once more. Before heading downstairs, she stopped at her mothers door and crept into her room only to find that Tilda was sound asleep. No matter how much Gildi cried and shook her, Tilda remained asleep. Gildi walked back into the hall in time to see a half rotten man who she recognized as a guest from the first night bite into the throat of a young woman. She screamed out as he chewed at her neck until the only sound that could be heard was the staggered gurgling of the woman drowning in her own blood. The man stopped biting her and allowed her body to fall to the floor before turning to face Gildi with a blood covered grin. She froze in terror as the man leaned in close, his putrid breath causing her to gag and cover her mouth. The rotten man twitched a few times when suddenly another guest emerged from her room. Upon seeing the dead man walking she let out a blood curdling scream and the man immediately turned to chase her down the hall as she fled for dear life. Gildi began to cry in silence as she tore down the stairs and into the basement to the spooky door.
"Stop it! Make them stop it!" She sobbed, pounding her hands across the doors face. "What did you do to my Mommy? Why is she still sleeping?"
"You should have listened to the girl, now soon you will see. They will stay trapped in here forever with me." The door replied with a laugh. Gildi fell silent and stared at it in shock.
"No... No! Me and my mommy are leaving! You cannot keep us here!" She cried aloud as the door chuckled in response. "You wish to leave, you wish to live... But remember child, the dead do not forgive."
It hissed, causing Gildi to take a nervous step back. She contemplated this statement and wondered why the dead would be angry with her, until the epiphany slowly sunk into her panic ridden mind.
"They don't want to be left behind..." She whispered, then dropping to her knees on the cold hardwood floor so she could begin her prayers. Soft whispers escaped from her lips as she wished the dead their freedom while also hoping for her own escape with her mother, however, the door heard her pleas and let out a sigh.
"You pray too loud, now hush your fears. No gods can listen to you from here."
On that note, Gildi stopped her prayers and stared at the door in concern. No gods could hear her here? But how could that be possible? Her mommy told her The Deorum Pantheon could hear all prayers, even if they only answered them on occasion...
"No, you are a liar! I am not going to listen to you anymore! I am getting my mommy and I am leaving with her, even if I have to drag her out all by myself!" She shouted. "You can go, but she will stay. Until my price has in full been paid."
The door hissed, causing tears to well up in the young girls eyes.
"Price? You have already taken so much! No, you can have nothing more from us!" She screamed out, turning on her heel to head back upstairs. She ran all the way back up to Tildas room past three dead men attacking a small family. She stopped to try and help, but the dead were ruthless. They tore the small child from his mothers arms and tossed him down the stairs behind Gildi, causing the mother to scream and run to catch him, but the moment she screamed all three dead men swarmed the woman and began tearing at her flesh. The man called out for her as a half rotted woman broke through the wall at his back and dragged him inside it. Gildi covered her mouth and watched in terror as they were all murdered by men and women that had no right to be walking in the world of the living. It wasn't until one of the dead men walked right past her that Gildi realized how to safely travel the halls. Silence. They only attacked those who made sound. She ran to her mothers room as quietly as she could and did her best to lift Tilda from her bed, but for some reason she was as heavy as a bag of stones. Gildi cried there at her side for around twenty minutes before she noticed the small scroll at her mothers bedside table. She ran over to it and dipped the quill in the inkwell, leaving her mommy a message and placing each of Tildas shoes as paperweight to hold the scroll open in case her mother did awaken. Once she was done, she ran back down to the basement, however, as she rounded the corner at the bottom of the steps the door began to speak once again. "I'll make you listen to her bones breaking. First she will die, and then awaken."
Gildi froze in place before looking up slowly at the door. Echoes of terror travelled down the mansions halls, as the screams of Tildas remaining guests shook Gildi down to the bone.
"Then... What is your price?" She asked, her tone was timid as could be. The doors handle began to jiggle in an aggressive manner. Gildi gasped and rose her shoulders as the familiar prickles of fear welled up in her chest like thousands of needles stabbing into her and popping off like fireworks. "So then... If I open the door my mommy can leave? Her and her guests?" She asked quietly. "Yes... They all can leave. I'll let them go. If you surrender your body and soul..." The door chimed happily as Gildi took a deep breath and reached for the doorknob.
Tilda awoke in a cold sweat as the sounds of her guests in a panic drew her eyes to the door of her bed chamber. She stared in silence, processing what the sounds could possibly be when the mansion suddenly fell silent. She moved her feet over the edge of the bed and felt around for her shoes, but they weren't where she'd left them. After surveying her room she noticed them propped up in a weird fashion on her bedside table. She quickly grabbed for them, but stopped once she noticed the message written out on the scroll.
"Gildi? Sola, baby... Please, are you down here?" She cried out as the sound of a young girl giggling sparked an instinctive response to rush down the steps to be reunited with her little girl. As she rounded the corner she was greeted by an open doorway filled with a glowing darkness. The lands inside the door pulsated like a heartbeat, but took the form of plasma stretching and breaking apart from itself. No matter how hard she tried to focus her eyes to see inside, no color emerged from behind the doorway. All that she viewed was either black, white, or grey. What little of the plasma-like substance reached outside the door remained colorless, as if all life had been reaped from whatever lie beyond its doorframe. Just in front of the door sat Gildi, facing into the strange world on the other side. "Gildi! I am so so sorry! You were right my little Sola, we must leave. Come now." She cried out, but Gildi only laughed, her giggles paired with a low, distorted laughter which made Tildas skin crawl.
"It is too late, mommy. She belongs to me now." The girl replied, standing up to turn and face Tilda. Gildis eyes where pitch black, revealing not even the faintest shimmer of light, this included the reflection of light projected from the torches mounted on the walls. Her veins were also black, making her fair complexion stand out in contrast. Tilda stared on in terror as the girl smiled. "Now leave! Before I get bored and decide to play with you!" The voices taunted. Tildas eyes welled up with tears and she shook her head.
"No... I do not know who you are, but you cannot have my Gildi!" She cried out causing the girl to laugh yet again.
"You have no choice in the matter. She welcomed me in at the promise of your freedom. You better run before you waste her sacrifice!" The voices chanted as her frail little body raised its arms and the dead began to break out through the boards of the ceiling above Tilda. Laughter echoed through the basement as Tilda turned and sprinted back upstairs and through the door without a second thought. She skidded into the kitchen and nearly flew off her feet before rummaging through the cupboards in desperation. Three dead men entered the room and she turned to face them, pursing her lips shut tight as she pulled a vial from the cabinet and drank it down as quickly as she possibly could. She stared in silence at the walking corpses, realizing only now what her daughter had meant. After taking a deep breath, Tilda grabbed the menu scroll, an inkwell, and a quill, before walking in silence past the dead. They paid her no mind as she crept back down the steps and into the basement. Before rounding the corner she placed the scroll on the wall and scribbled a small note which she grasped tightly in her hand as she revealed herself once more to the monster inside her child.
"Hey!" She cried out, causing Gildi to turn around in surprise. "Who are you?"
"I have gone by many names, but I favor only one. Sylas, of Silence. Now, I must ask... Are you a fool?" The voices asked through Gildi, but Tilda only shook her head in response.
"No, I am a mother. You take me! You hear me? Take me instead! My body is stronger and I know you will gain more through me. Take me and let her go..." She pleaded, causing the black eyed girl to debate this offer in her head.
"And you would give yourself willingly?"
"Yes. Now please, get out of her. You may have me." Tilda cried, stretching her arms out wide. The girl then grinned from ear to ear.
"Very well then. Say goodbye, mommy." The voices demanded as Gildi approached, eager to hug Tilda. As her little arms enveloped her mother, Tilda shut her eyes tight and hugged her daughter close.
"Goodbye, little Sola..." She whispered as the dark energy seeped from the child into her. She shook wildly before finally the dark creature took hold. Gildi opened her eyes and began to weep as her mother fell first to her knees, and then to the floor. The darkness fumed out of her and back into the realm of the open doorway. Gildi cried aloud for many minutes, causing a slow but steady stream of dead to filter down the steps and into the basement to join them. As she hugged her cold mother close she noticed the note in Tildas hand and pried it free of her grip. It read,
"Come on! Close!" She sobbed, pressing with all the strength she had. Two rotten hands placed themselves above hers, and she glanced up to see one of the guests pushing along side her. Then two more sets, and then even more hands joined along as the dead clearly wished to aid her in her endeavors. With all of them pushing together the door finally slammed shut and Gildi collapsed to her knees and broke down crying, knowing full well her job was now done... Or was it? She looked back to the dead men and women all around her nervously, but all they did was stare. She glanced from them to Tilda and stood up, brushing the dirt from her gown.
"Help me... Help me lay her to rest. She deserves a good sleep..." She demanded, and with that they heeded her command, then walking to Tildas side so they could carry her back to her bedroom. Gildi followed close behind them, clutching the final words of her mother close as the dead laid her to rest. Once they were done she crawled up onto the bed and tucked her mommy in before curling up beside her. Her mind raced as she thought back to the vial of Sola her mother told her could kill a person in a little under a minute if they were to accidentally overdose, and she wondered at how Tilda could've made it all the way back down to the basement before the effects took place. Nothing but will kept Tilda from her deathbed, and nothing but Gildis will could remove her from her new home.
Here with her new family, Gildi would offer those who truly needed it a final place to rest...
"Little girl. Hey, little one! Leave before the first night comes."
She gasped and leaped away from the door in terror, running and screaming for her mommy. Tilda dropped what she was doing and ran to Gildi, clutching her safely to her breast.
"What happened, my sleepy little Sola?" Tilda asked as Gildi calmed down in the comfort of her mothers arms. Hearing her nickname caused a subtle smile to stretch across her lips as this namesake was in tribute to the Sola flower. The only flora known to help the restless get a good night sleep. Gildi told her mother of the door, but when they both went to check there was nothing but a wall spanning across the empty basement. Gildi insisted that someone was there and told Tilda she wanted to leave, but Tilda had already sunk a fair amount of gold into restoring the mansion, so instead she simply convinced Gildi that she was tired and needed a better rest. At exactly 3am Gildi awoke in a cold sweat. She glanced around in concern before the sound of incoherent whispers drew her from her room and back down into the basement. The floorboards creaked as she crept toward the door, and a faint light shone through its cracks. As Gildi crept closer the whispers became clear, but this time it was the voice of a man.
"Come now child, for I shall mend. Open up and be my friend." It said in a soothing tone. She heard his words and thought of listening, however, as her fingertips touched the doorknob a wave of numbness shook her to her core. She shrieked and ran back upstairs, only to slam into Tilda who had gone to check on her and found nothing but an empty bed. She went to scold her child, but upon seeing her fear filled face she instead locked the door to the basement and sent Gildi back to rest.
Two months passed and finally Tilda had refurbished the beautiful mansion into the same floorplan as an inn would have. There was a large open floor concept on the main story, and 35 rooms made up luxuriously for guests. She put a sign out on the main road leading past the mansion which offered a nights stay in exchange for a barter deal. One item traded meant one nights stay for any and all who needed a shelter from the cold, dark nights. Her first night open Tilda was able to pack to house to the brim with guests. Weary travellers who had nowhere else to go came and traded simple items like silver coins, trinkets, and even pebbles. Around 8PM as dusk blanketed the mansions grounds, Tilda went around to each room and offered her guests a warm meal, however, of the 35 guests she could only find 22. She figured they were off enjoying backyard patio and laid Gildi to rest before heading to bed herself. By morning, only the same 22 guests came down for breakfast so she checked each of their rooms and found their belongings, but no sign of the guests, causing Tilda to start to worrying for them. She organised a search for them and many of the remaining guests participated, yet though they searched until dusk, none were found. Tilda offered all who aided in the search a free nights stay for their efforts, and hosted a lovely dinner where they all talked about where the missing guests may have gone. Gildi overheard this and began to wonder... That night after her mother tucked her in snug in her sheets, Gildi crept back down to the main floor only to find the door to the basement slightly ajar. She inched her way down the steps cautiously and approached the door as her little hands shook.
"Hey, Mr. Door... Do you know where our guests went? My mommy is worried." She asked "Missing, missing, no more fun. They disappear until all becomes one."
The voice teased, causing Gildi to shiver and hold herself close.
"All becomes one? What does that mean?" She inquired, rubbing her arm in concern. "Do you know where they are?"
"They're under your feet, they're over your head. Soon not even Somnum can put them to bed."
Goosebumps peaked across her body as she looked first at her feet, and then above her, but all that was there was the familiar Direoak wood her mother had replaced the rotting foundations with. Gildi scowled and shook her head.
"If you are just going to play games, i'll tell my mommy on you!" She cried out in a nervous tone. "Secret, secret. Shhh don't tell. She will only begin to think you unwell..." The voice behind the door insisted. This offended Gildi, causing her to cry out for her mother, but after several minutes not so much as a peep occurred from above. As the fear began to swell within her, Gildi bolted up the stairs and into the main room, where the sounds of pleasantries had all but died out. A man screamed from down the hall and Gildi ran to the second story in a panic in search of her mother, but as she reached the hall at the top of the steps she slipped and fell into a puddle of warm liquid. She skidded around for a moment before grabbing a candle from the wall mount only to find that she was covered in blood. This time it was Gildi who screamed as the light stretched far enough from her to reveal one of the guests who had been in the search party, but his face was twisted into an expression of agony and his throat was all but torn to bits.
"Mommy! Mommy!" Gildi cried, but the only response was the echoing scream of the other guests. She fled the scene quickly and hid in her room, locking the door until dawns light graced her from through the window. Finally the house had fallen silent and Gildi crept cautiously from her room just as her mother rounded the corner. She clung to Tilda and wept so hard that her mother began to worry the worst. Tilda checked Gildis temperature and found that it was running high, so despite the childs cries she sent her straight to bed. As they passed the stairs, Gildi begged Tilda to check for the dead man, but nothing was there. Not even so much as a drop of blood. Tilda began to suspect that her child was having fever dreams and got to work making a meal to help improver her health, however, as she checked each room beforehand she noticed that there were now only 15 guests accounted for. She called everyone down to the dining room to ask about those whose room were empty, but the guests assured her that they had seen and heard nothing. Tilda fed her guests and then brought a bowl of fresh Tekal soup with an extra hint of Sola petals, causing Gildi to sleep the day away. As the thick blanket of darkness crept across her room, Gildi awoke in a fright to the sounds of screaming yet again. She sat up quickly and hugged her knees close to her chest as suddenly the whispers started back up. She strained to hear them better, but they were too distorted for her to make them out, so despite her fears Gildi snuck quietly from her room and into the halls once more. Before heading downstairs, she stopped at her mothers door and crept into her room only to find that Tilda was sound asleep. No matter how much Gildi cried and shook her, Tilda remained asleep. Gildi walked back into the hall in time to see a half rotten man who she recognized as a guest from the first night bite into the throat of a young woman. She screamed out as he chewed at her neck until the only sound that could be heard was the staggered gurgling of the woman drowning in her own blood. The man stopped biting her and allowed her body to fall to the floor before turning to face Gildi with a blood covered grin. She froze in terror as the man leaned in close, his putrid breath causing her to gag and cover her mouth. The rotten man twitched a few times when suddenly another guest emerged from her room. Upon seeing the dead man walking she let out a blood curdling scream and the man immediately turned to chase her down the hall as she fled for dear life. Gildi began to cry in silence as she tore down the stairs and into the basement to the spooky door.
"Stop it! Make them stop it!" She sobbed, pounding her hands across the doors face. "What did you do to my Mommy? Why is she still sleeping?"
"You should have listened to the girl, now soon you will see. They will stay trapped in here forever with me." The door replied with a laugh. Gildi fell silent and stared at it in shock.
"No... No! Me and my mommy are leaving! You cannot keep us here!" She cried aloud as the door chuckled in response. "You wish to leave, you wish to live... But remember child, the dead do not forgive."
It hissed, causing Gildi to take a nervous step back. She contemplated this statement and wondered why the dead would be angry with her, until the epiphany slowly sunk into her panic ridden mind.
"They don't want to be left behind..." She whispered, then dropping to her knees on the cold hardwood floor so she could begin her prayers. Soft whispers escaped from her lips as she wished the dead their freedom while also hoping for her own escape with her mother, however, the door heard her pleas and let out a sigh.
"You pray too loud, now hush your fears. No gods can listen to you from here."
On that note, Gildi stopped her prayers and stared at the door in concern. No gods could hear her here? But how could that be possible? Her mommy told her The Deorum Pantheon could hear all prayers, even if they only answered them on occasion...
"No, you are a liar! I am not going to listen to you anymore! I am getting my mommy and I am leaving with her, even if I have to drag her out all by myself!" She shouted. "You can go, but she will stay. Until my price has in full been paid."
The door hissed, causing tears to well up in the young girls eyes.
"Price? You have already taken so much! No, you can have nothing more from us!" She screamed out, turning on her heel to head back upstairs. She ran all the way back up to Tildas room past three dead men attacking a small family. She stopped to try and help, but the dead were ruthless. They tore the small child from his mothers arms and tossed him down the stairs behind Gildi, causing the mother to scream and run to catch him, but the moment she screamed all three dead men swarmed the woman and began tearing at her flesh. The man called out for her as a half rotted woman broke through the wall at his back and dragged him inside it. Gildi covered her mouth and watched in terror as they were all murdered by men and women that had no right to be walking in the world of the living. It wasn't until one of the dead men walked right past her that Gildi realized how to safely travel the halls. Silence. They only attacked those who made sound. She ran to her mothers room as quietly as she could and did her best to lift Tilda from her bed, but for some reason she was as heavy as a bag of stones. Gildi cried there at her side for around twenty minutes before she noticed the small scroll at her mothers bedside table. She ran over to it and dipped the quill in the inkwell, leaving her mommy a message and placing each of Tildas shoes as paperweight to hold the scroll open in case her mother did awaken. Once she was done, she ran back down to the basement, however, as she rounded the corner at the bottom of the steps the door began to speak once again. "I'll make you listen to her bones breaking. First she will die, and then awaken."
Gildi froze in place before looking up slowly at the door. Echoes of terror travelled down the mansions halls, as the screams of Tildas remaining guests shook Gildi down to the bone.
"Then... What is your price?" She asked, her tone was timid as could be. The doors handle began to jiggle in an aggressive manner. Gildi gasped and rose her shoulders as the familiar prickles of fear welled up in her chest like thousands of needles stabbing into her and popping off like fireworks. "So then... If I open the door my mommy can leave? Her and her guests?" She asked quietly. "Yes... They all can leave. I'll let them go. If you surrender your body and soul..." The door chimed happily as Gildi took a deep breath and reached for the doorknob.
Tilda awoke in a cold sweat as the sounds of her guests in a panic drew her eyes to the door of her bed chamber. She stared in silence, processing what the sounds could possibly be when the mansion suddenly fell silent. She moved her feet over the edge of the bed and felt around for her shoes, but they weren't where she'd left them. After surveying her room she noticed them propped up in a weird fashion on her bedside table. She quickly grabbed for them, but stopped once she noticed the message written out on the scroll.
"Mommy, do not make a sound or the bad guys will get you. Silence is our only solace. I am going back to the scary door to pay its price, then we can finally go home. I love you mommy..."Tildas heart sunk into her stomach. What the hell was going on? She thought to herself as she slipped her shoes on and opened the door. Everywhere she looked was painted with blood, the walls, the floors, and even the ceiling. Her hand flew to her mouth in shock as the sounds of excessive chewing drew her attention to the stairway. Just beside the stairwell was a man hunched over, feasting on the flesh of a woman. As she crept closer she lifted her leg and pulled off a shoe to use as a weapon. Her hands shook profusely as she drew near and raised her arm, but a gasp escaped from her lips as she realized that not only was the woman lying twitching on the floor a guest of hers, but so was the dead man. The sound she made had been just loud enough to get his attention. The mans head turned at a 180 degree angle so it was propped backwards and his mouth opened wide, releasing an inhuman roar as his jaw broke apart so that his mouth could open even wider yet. Tilda screamed and smacked him with her shoe, causing his head to spin back around to forward facing. He slumped forward, yet even so Tilda continued to hit him again and again until there was nothing left of his head. Below her feet the floorboards creaked and cracked open, allowing several of her dead guests to reach for her while groaning in desperation. She turned and fled towards the stairs, but one of the dead grabbed ahold of her leg, causing her to trip and fall. She rolled down the steps and a nasty cracking sound was quickly followed by Tildas screams of pain. She looked down at her dominant arm only to see the bone protruding from her forearm. Without thinking, Tilda picked herself up off the ground and made her way to the basement door, inching her way down the steps cautiously after closing the door behind her.
"Gildi? Sola, baby... Please, are you down here?" She cried out as the sound of a young girl giggling sparked an instinctive response to rush down the steps to be reunited with her little girl. As she rounded the corner she was greeted by an open doorway filled with a glowing darkness. The lands inside the door pulsated like a heartbeat, but took the form of plasma stretching and breaking apart from itself. No matter how hard she tried to focus her eyes to see inside, no color emerged from behind the doorway. All that she viewed was either black, white, or grey. What little of the plasma-like substance reached outside the door remained colorless, as if all life had been reaped from whatever lie beyond its doorframe. Just in front of the door sat Gildi, facing into the strange world on the other side. "Gildi! I am so so sorry! You were right my little Sola, we must leave. Come now." She cried out, but Gildi only laughed, her giggles paired with a low, distorted laughter which made Tildas skin crawl.
"It is too late, mommy. She belongs to me now." The girl replied, standing up to turn and face Tilda. Gildis eyes where pitch black, revealing not even the faintest shimmer of light, this included the reflection of light projected from the torches mounted on the walls. Her veins were also black, making her fair complexion stand out in contrast. Tilda stared on in terror as the girl smiled. "Now leave! Before I get bored and decide to play with you!" The voices taunted. Tildas eyes welled up with tears and she shook her head.
"No... I do not know who you are, but you cannot have my Gildi!" She cried out causing the girl to laugh yet again.
"You have no choice in the matter. She welcomed me in at the promise of your freedom. You better run before you waste her sacrifice!" The voices chanted as her frail little body raised its arms and the dead began to break out through the boards of the ceiling above Tilda. Laughter echoed through the basement as Tilda turned and sprinted back upstairs and through the door without a second thought. She skidded into the kitchen and nearly flew off her feet before rummaging through the cupboards in desperation. Three dead men entered the room and she turned to face them, pursing her lips shut tight as she pulled a vial from the cabinet and drank it down as quickly as she possibly could. She stared in silence at the walking corpses, realizing only now what her daughter had meant. After taking a deep breath, Tilda grabbed the menu scroll, an inkwell, and a quill, before walking in silence past the dead. They paid her no mind as she crept back down the steps and into the basement. Before rounding the corner she placed the scroll on the wall and scribbled a small note which she grasped tightly in her hand as she revealed herself once more to the monster inside her child.
"Hey!" She cried out, causing Gildi to turn around in surprise. "Who are you?"
"I have gone by many names, but I favor only one. Sylas, of Silence. Now, I must ask... Are you a fool?" The voices asked through Gildi, but Tilda only shook her head in response.
"No, I am a mother. You take me! You hear me? Take me instead! My body is stronger and I know you will gain more through me. Take me and let her go..." She pleaded, causing the black eyed girl to debate this offer in her head.
"And you would give yourself willingly?"
"Yes. Now please, get out of her. You may have me." Tilda cried, stretching her arms out wide. The girl then grinned from ear to ear.
"Very well then. Say goodbye, mommy." The voices demanded as Gildi approached, eager to hug Tilda. As her little arms enveloped her mother, Tilda shut her eyes tight and hugged her daughter close.
"Goodbye, little Sola..." She whispered as the dark energy seeped from the child into her. She shook wildly before finally the dark creature took hold. Gildi opened her eyes and began to weep as her mother fell first to her knees, and then to the floor. The darkness fumed out of her and back into the realm of the open doorway. Gildi cried aloud for many minutes, causing a slow but steady stream of dead to filter down the steps and into the basement to join them. As she hugged her cold mother close she noticed the note in Tildas hand and pried it free of her grip. It read,
"My dearest Sola, You were right and Mommy is so sorry to have let you down, but do not fret little one. I drank the Sola serum and soon me and the monster will sleep. Be a good girl and close the door behind us. I love you so much, but mommy needs her rest now."Gildi cried out in despair as she rose to her feet and stumbled towards the door, eager to make it all end here and now. The dead at her back moaned and mumbled, but she could care less. She pressed her little hands against the door and pushed with all her might, but it wouldn't budge.
"Come on! Close!" She sobbed, pressing with all the strength she had. Two rotten hands placed themselves above hers, and she glanced up to see one of the guests pushing along side her. Then two more sets, and then even more hands joined along as the dead clearly wished to aid her in her endeavors. With all of them pushing together the door finally slammed shut and Gildi collapsed to her knees and broke down crying, knowing full well her job was now done... Or was it? She looked back to the dead men and women all around her nervously, but all they did was stare. She glanced from them to Tilda and stood up, brushing the dirt from her gown.
"Help me... Help me lay her to rest. She deserves a good sleep..." She demanded, and with that they heeded her command, then walking to Tildas side so they could carry her back to her bedroom. Gildi followed close behind them, clutching the final words of her mother close as the dead laid her to rest. Once they were done she crawled up onto the bed and tucked her mommy in before curling up beside her. Her mind raced as she thought back to the vial of Sola her mother told her could kill a person in a little under a minute if they were to accidentally overdose, and she wondered at how Tilda could've made it all the way back down to the basement before the effects took place. Nothing but will kept Tilda from her deathbed, and nothing but Gildis will could remove her from her new home.
Here with her new family, Gildi would offer those who truly needed it a final place to rest...
Founding Date
1058 BN
Type
Mansion / Villa
Parent Location
Environmental Effects
Those who enter the mansion describe a distinct scent. Like it's as if something may have died here awhile ago, though the smell is stated as subtle.
I took a bit to absorb this story. It is intense, dark, and sad with a nice bit of development at the end. Here is Lavani's Review: "It is painful the horror Sola had to endure. Conquering evil may not be what you think, but love is powerful and she is a hero and continues to be one."
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