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The Black Letter
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The Black Letter
The Black Letter
You don’t know where the letter came from. You woke up one morning with a panicked feeling, like you’d just had a nightmare. When you reached to turn on the light, you found a black envelope clutched in your fist.
The envelope was sealed with a wax stamp depicting a dripping candle. You might take a moment to admire it, perhaps you tore around it carefully, or maybe you ripped it down the middle. In the end, the result was only the opening of the envelope. Like so many things, the way that you open an envelope will never matter. The letter inside, however, did matter. At, least to you, and perhaps to me. But does that mean anything either?
You spread the now-wrinkled letter out and flatten the creases. The letter is slightly discolored, embellished with ink drawings of candles of all shapes and sizes. It reads:
Dear Distinguished Acquaintance,
You have been unavoidably invited to a twelve-night ball in the Candelabra Manor. In the height of antique luxury, you will enjoy fully stocked vintage wardrobes, six course nightly banquets, an array of games that will display the full extent of our three hundred and twenty-acre grounds, double bed gothic suites, and a fully stocked armory. You will find a trunk at your door in the morning. You may bring this, and only this, as full as you please with it still closing. Bear in mind that clothing will be provided. It would be reasonable for you to enjoy your stay, but I will not go so far as to say that we “hope” that you will.
Apathetically Yours,
Madame Flambeau
The trunk appears as promised, with a skeleton key lying next to it. Your first thought is to attempt to move the trunk inside, of course, but it stays put in the doorway and refuses to budge. After a moment of deliberation, you decide to pack it where it is. After all, who can pass up a luxury stay in an old, possibly murderous mansion? Finally, when it is as full as you’d like it to be, you start to close it. But then you remember one last little memento that you would like to bring with you. Upon finding the trinket, you find something else much less desirable. A form with the words “Candelabra Manor” and the candle seal emblazoned along the top. But all of the information has been filled out with, as a quick scan reveals, complete and chilling accuracy in midnight blue ink.
You stuff the letter in your pocket decisively and start unpacking the trunk. You’re not going. Oh no, no, no, no you’re not.
But it’s too late.
Form:
Name:
Gender:
CBer or Æ:
Appearance:
Percieved Age:
Skills:
Worst fear(s):
Personality:
On a scale of one to ten, how much of a leader are you?:
On a scale of one to ten, will you crack under pressure?:
How did you open the letter?:
Trunk Packing List:
This is, what I believe to be, the first illustrated Ski Lodge. I hope you enjoy it. You may bring up to two members of your party, CBer or Æ.
submitted by Madame Flambeau, Candelabra Manor
(September 14, 2018 - 3:26 pm)
(September 14, 2018 - 3:26 pm)
MY FRIEND *cradles Jwyn's body, rocking back and forth*
(October 8, 2018 - 3:20 pm)
OMG WOW
(October 8, 2018 - 2:04 pm)
No... Kiwi, no... NO!! *Rushes over to Jwyn and Agent Winter* Hey... Wait a second. Jwyn wasn't reported dead, just missing... SHE COULD STILL BE ALIVE PLOT TWIIIIIIST I doubt it though. That would be awesome though.
(October 8, 2018 - 6:09 pm)
Two hours later, the group sat silently around the tea table. They had searched the whole woods, and Jwyn hadn’t turned up. Secret and S. Clockwork had gone off to survey the cliffs in a last-ditch attempt to find her. Red Tailed Panda coughed uncomfortably.
“Are you okay, RTP?” Spring Flower asked, reaching for the nearly-gone plate of blueberry scones, “you’ve been coughing the whole meal.
“No, I’m fine.” He assured her.
“Wow, I’m stuffed,” Izzy commented, nibbling on a slim apple slice.
“Yeah, me too...” RTP agreed worriedly, “I didn’t think I’d eaten that much, but I’m getting a stomachache…”
The room fell silent again, save for the gentle clinking of silverware against china. Each plate and mug were printed with a dripping candle. Even the crystal water glasses were designed with and intricate half-melted candle.
“They’re kind of overdoing the whole candle thing, huh?” Quill chuckled uncomfortably. Somewhere along the table someone let out a forced “hah”, and silence resumed.
“Do you... think that there’s a chance that Jwyn is still out there?” Rogue asked carefully.
“I think that it’s possible,” Night Vision, Jwyn’s roommate, said softly, poking at a quiche dejectedly with her fork. RTP coughed.
A maid in a Victorian style simple dress slipped in silently and refilled the water glasses.
Viola? sipped her water nervously. Spring Flower let out a little cough. RTP attempted to take a sip of water, but broke into another coughing fit and sloshed it all over his shirt, plate, and lap.
Spring Flower set down her fork, “Are you quite sure you’re all right?” She asked, her voice sounding very strained. RTP broke into another coughing fit and clutched his chest.
“I- I- think-“ he coughed, “I need to lie down,” he attempted to stand up, but collapsed back into the chair. Spring Flower shot up and rushed over to him,
“Oh my gosh, are you okay?” she whimpered.
The door to the breakfast room swung open and S. Clockwork and Secret burst in with Jwyn draped over their shoulders.
“She’s still alive, but badly exhausted-“
“We found her down on the cliffs-“
“Jwyn had gone to look at the water one last tine when it just-“
“Crumbled! By some miracle she caught on-“
“She was huddled on a ledge twelve feet down-“
“If Secret hadn’t brought the rope-
“If S. Clockwork hadn’t heard her cry for help-“
“I- I- don’t know how much longer she could’ve made it.”
They gently lay Jwyn down on the cushioned window seat. She let out an unbearably weak moan.
“Get her some water!” Joan said, grabbing a glass. “Does anyone know first aid? I know so-“ She was cut off by a strangled wail.
“He- he- he-“ Spring Flower sobbed, holding onto an apparently unconscious Red Tailed Panda’s wrist “he’s not b-b-bre-breathing! No! NO NOO!” She started to attempt CPR, but her technique was inhibited by her breaking sobs. Stardust shoved her out of the way, lowered Red Tailed Panda to the floor, and started doing it properly.
“Ohnoohnoohnnoohnoohno-“ Spring Flower whimpered, flying to the wall jamming the numbers 9-1-1 into the landline phone. “It’s not working, it’s not working WHY ISN’T IT WORKING!?!”
“Mine isn’t working either,” Darkking added, his voice very tight as he repeatedly jabbed at his cell phone.
Stadrdust continued intense CPR compressions with undivided focus until at last-
“I’m sorry. He’s gone.”
(October 9, 2018 - 1:54 pm)
THIS IS SO GOOD
RIP Red-Tailed-Panda.
*sobbbing* this is so freaking GOOD
Viri says famn. Famine? Uh...
(October 9, 2018 - 2:46 pm)
I. Am. A. Terrible. Person!!!!
I failed to notice Jwyn leaving and couldn't keep my cousin from dying?! WAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!
I TOLD you RTP! You could have at least written a will and given me your Appa plushie.
(October 9, 2018 - 3:58 pm)
RTP NOOOOOOOOOO *hugs Spring Flower* I'm sorry
*hugs awkwardly*
(October 9, 2018 - 6:49 pm)
I know CPR? Cool! Sorry I couldn't save you rtp. It's interesting that Jwyn is still alive... for now, at least.
Also AAAAAH YOU DREW ME AAAH WHY AM I SO EXITED AND IMPRESSED EVEN THOUGH YOU LITERALLY JUST DREW MY ARMS AND TORSO ITS STILL SO GOOD AAAH
(October 9, 2018 - 7:40 pm)
*gasp* the ahem was actually RTP coughing and Jwyn's alive WOAH PLOT TWIST!!!
(October 9, 2018 - 7:43 pm)
Wow. I just died. @Spring Flower the Appa plushie is still mine, I will stay with it unto death.
(October 10, 2018 - 7:47 am)
*coughcough* Wha? Why.......? *passes out*
(October 11, 2018 - 1:01 pm)
Aha! I knew she wasn't dead! But also nooo, was he poisoned?! And aaaah, that drawing is so cool, especially Stardust! *bouncing up and down*
(October 12, 2018 - 10:58 am)
(October 14, 2018 - 12:03 am)
(October 15, 2018 - 7:06 pm)
(October 15, 2018 - 7:06 pm)