Log:This Spooky Old House: Exploration Edition, Part 8

This Spooky Old House 2020/08/17 Blockbuster Felix Kid Tengu Bran Chalmers Phantom

8

RECAP: So, last time on This Spooky Old House: We Own What? Edition, the intrepid heroes saw most of the ghosts leave the house for Elsewhere through a bright white light in the corner of the ceiling. A few ghosts stuck around: a young girl from the early/mid 19th century, a well dressed matron from the turn of the 20th, a young man dressed in tattered post WWII Army uniform, and a Native American man with a bear and owl spirit with him.

The teens spoke with all of them who'd speak (the young man didn't) and figured out that all of them for various reasons where sticking around.

Phantom tried to find the little girl who proceeded to play hide and seek with him. Successfully I might add.

While that was going on Chalmers stated that there was a hidden safe in the room somewhere and that the team needed to find it. In time, they did with Felix beating out 'shave and a haircut' on a shaving mug with a straight razor. This caused the frozen fountain the frozen pool to respond with two leaden 'two bits' beats and rise up as the water drained away in the pool.

When we left our heroes, the small walk-in safe had been raised up out of the bottom of the now drained pool. It appears to solid block of metal. And now we return to our episode already in progress.

Phantom is still trying to warm up by jumping in place a few times when the safe rises from the frozen fountain. "Whoa."

"Oh...kay," says Felix in a quiet voice. "Shades of RPGs much?"

"Sooo. Now all we got to do is figure out how to open it," Phantom chuckles.

"I suppose melting our way inside isn't an option?" KT says as he walks around the safe looking for some kind of hinge or any sign that it can be opened conventionally before rubbing the pads of newly grown tentacles all over the surface, sniffing and feeling for more detail.

Chalmers walks down some steps revealed by the pool draining. He slowly approaches the safe and holds a hand out towards it. His lips move as he appears to concentrate; After a few seconds, he states, "Well, there's blood magick associated with the safe."

"Melting will proooobably destroy the paperwork inside. So no melting or fire," Phantom suggests. His head turns to Chalmers halfway. "Blood magic? Sounds like that's..umm...your department, Felix?"

"Yeah, right, my department cause I use magick sometimes," mutters Felix acerbically. He then pipes up in a louder voice, "Sure thing, fearless leader! Get right on that!" He trudges down into the pool towards the safe.

"I was just hoping to warm it up a little bit..." KT says as his jaw begins chattering. "This thing is cooooold."

After removing his tentacles from it he stands and examines one side.

"This side smells like blood... and doesn't feel as sturdy as the rest. If any part of this moves.. its this side." He says as he taps the side of the safe facing the bedroom alcove.

Bran scrunches up his nose, "So we can't just like...work the lock and unlock it? What's the deal with the magic involved? If it's just a mechanical lock, I could probably open it."

Phantom smirks at Felix's response. He falls in step with Felix to be by his side as he heads into the pool. He may not be able to help, but he can stand by his friend's side. "You know I'm clueless about this stuff. I'm sure you and Chalmers can figure it out," he says in a calm, friendly manner, not taking Felix's tone personally. "Hmm. I mean, maybe it's a bit of both. Or the blood magic is a trap for anyone who tries to deal with the mechanical part?"

The hazy Chalmers says, "Well, it feels like a protective ward of some sort. Or a protective illusion? I think it's hiding or protecting something..." He shrugs. "If I had all my tools, well, I could tell more. I fear I'm not mageborn so, it takes tools and effort for me. "

"Like a keyhole or lock or something, Chalmers?" asks Felix as he gets close to the safe. He seems to look it over, even adjusting something on the steampunky goggles he wears.

Phantom asks Chalmers, "Uh, do you think your tools are still in this house? And how would you be able to use them?"

Chalmers says, "I have no idea, Phantom. I had none left when...Harrington killed me. And, in truth, I'm not certain I could. My magicks were life based."

Phantom focuses on using a little clairvoyance on the safe. "Hmmm." He steps around the safe to the right side, reaches a hand up an places a finger against a part. "There's a keyhole right here."

It quite weird. Phantom's mind tells him there's a keyhole, his sense of touch feels cool uninterrupted metal.

"So, Chalmers is better than me as this detecting stuff. All I can feel is the magick, not what kind it is," murmurs Felix after a moment.

He then looks over at Phantom's words and then looks to Bran. "How good are you at blind lockpicking then, Bran?"

"Sounds like a job for Scooby-Doo," cheers Blockbuster. She looks over at Kid Tengu with a ridiculously big smile on her face.

Bran shrugs, "I haven't tried yet.But I can give it a shot. Is the...magic...an issue?" He looks tentative.

KT stretches a limb toward the safe again, focusing on one side for a few moment- rubbing his hands just above the surface without touching it.

Chalmers says, "There are no traps of a magickal nature, no, Bran." He glances over at Phantom. "And as Phantom is fondling it, I'm guessing no physical traps either." His tone is bit perhaps disapproving at the last.

"I know where I'e smelled this before..." KT looks at Blockbuster and shifts into a non-trademark infringing amalgamation of KTs current form & Scooby. "Right aray Raggy." He says before bouncing to ceiling and clamoring back for the straight razor.

"I knew it!" he can be heard in the other room. "They smell the same." He returns holding the straightrazor in his hand.

"Awww. I wanted to see you turn your hand into a lockpick and pick the lock," pouts Blockbuster.

Bran nods. "Alright...I'll give it a try. As long as I can feel it, I should be fine. I think." He pulls a couple of small tools out of a pocket and goes to take a 'look' at the lock to see if he can open it.

Phantom chuckles. "KT seemed find fondling it," he says, though his finger is getting cold. He pulls his hand away and rubs them together.

"You guys really didn't pay attention during health class, did you?" mutters Blockbuster to herself.

Bran keeps working on the lock. "This is going to take a bit. It's difficult to even feel what I'm doing and how the lock is built. The magic seems to dampen touch as well as make visual inspection impossible. Just be patient with me. I Think I can get it."

"How about a tail?" KT asks Blockbuster from the ceiling as his tail snakes around and the tip turns into a key that would make any Acme enthusiast proud.

He skitters along the roof and settles in above the safe watching Bran work.

"Hey that's handy." He says. "So the same guy's blood is on this thing and on the safe. I don't know how blood magic works... unless its like that movie Bludborne... but I can't tell where Hollywood myth begins and real world mystery ends..." He admits.

"So, the blood on the safe and on the straight razor are the same, KT?" asks Felix. He then looks over at Blockbuster and cocks his head. "Blood pathogens wise, BB, or asking permission before fondling?" His tone is slightly teasing.

"What?" Phantom asks Blockbuster innocently. His head turns to Bran. "I might be able to mentally guide you, but...you said that might hurt."

"Ick. Both," replies Blockbuster to Felix. She makes a sour face and adds, "Not to mention, like, fondling strange boxes."

Bran nods. "Yeah, don't do that, Phantom. Not unless it's really dire." He fiddles with the lock picks some more. You know...that he just happened to have on him. Because.

Phantom doesn't even question Bran about the lockpicks. He just nods as Bran's advice not to try at the moment.

"Can I have the straight razor, KT?" asks Felix right as Bran feels a decisive click from the lock followed by the lock turning freely.

The side of the safe facing the bedroom alcove slides in slightly then down into the floor of the pool.

Blockbuster's light reveals the interior of the safe. Against one wall are two small filing cabinet. On the shelves that make up the back of the safe are a number of loosely scattered pieces of jewelry and watches, ranging form gold chains to wedding bands to a gold pocketwatch like the ghostly one on Chalmers. And to the left, is small bookcase stuffed with a variety of books, tomes and even a few scrolls.

Bran steps back and puts his tools away back in his pocket. "Weird mechanism. I don't think I've seen one like it. Technically, I think I still haven't."

KT hands the straightrazor off right away. He certainly isn't attached to it.

Phantom chuckles and reaches to offer Bran a light pat on the shoulder. "Awesome job."

Chalmers steps twards the safe entrance. "Well, seems he kept trophies other than our hearts," he mutters darkly as he looks towards the back of the safe.

Blockbuster floats near the edge of the pool while her little light orbs continue to orbit her at irregular radii that cast radiance into the safe.

"Remind me to make a better set for Christmas, Bran," says Felix with a tone of admiration in his voice. "And to ask for lessons."

Bran smirks and says to Felix, "It's partially about tools. And partially about study. Knowing the kinds of locks out there. Something like this...you're sort of making it up as you go along."

The ghost closes his eyes and holds out a hand towards the safe interior for several long second. "No magick, well, other than dimensional, of course. So, no magickal traps and it seems physical ones are beneath the unlamented Harrington. So...shall we move everything out of it?"

Bran heads around to the open side of the cube. "Alright, this is weird."

"Well- if its safe... maybe we can keep it. Convert it into a magic panic room or something." KT suggests.

"This whole day or, like, just the funky safe?" inquires Blockbuster.

"You mean weirder than being on the third floor of a two story house which we reached by going down into the basement weird? Or seeing Blockbuster in a formal pantuit weird?>"

Blockbuster recoils as though she has been slapped by Grond.

"How. Dare. You?!"

Phantom feels the space being bigger in the inside, and it is messing up his sense of perception.

Felix raises his hands. "Hey, just saying it'd be really weird. Especially if it was like charcoal grey or something."

"No more root beer floats for you, Felix! You clearly can't handle your processed sugar," huffs an indignant Blockbuster.

"That's ok I'll make room for his!" KT announces.

Bran shrugs, "I was thinking just the safe was weird. I mean...sure everything else in this house is weird, too."

Felix draws a breath, probably to retort, then just lets it out. He instead says, "Yes, weird..." Then apparently unable to resist, adds, "...as a pantsuit."

Phantom takes a step away from Felix for clearance. He gives Bran a nod of warning to do the same.

KT makes himself comfortable on the ceiling, imagining Blockbuster in a formal pantsuit and drumming the fingers at the end of his tail.

"Well, yes, I think you should keep the safe," says Chalmers as he enters the dafe and looks around. "Since the house is yours by the terms Harrington agreed to, well, I should see if there;'s some way to legally gain ownership of it for you. I'm hoping there's something in the files there that can help. The books seem to be a good basic library of magick, well, a bit dark, but not evil. Oh, Vitus Mortalis' notes on vampiric legends and myths. I must read that." He glances at the shelves in the back. "And, well, a bit late to get these back to anyone likely, but it's good to see my grandfather watch again."

He seems unaware of the tension outside the safe.

"That's mighty strong language for someone that sleeps within glitter distance," harumpfs Blockbuster.

Felix puts both hands on his chest. "I'm just saying it's weird, BB. No judgment." His tone is bland but he does take a step towards the corner of the safe. Maybe to duck behind it.

"You're more a gauzy sundress sort of gal, after all."

Phantom steps into the safe. Carefully. He has a moment of vertigo when stepping into the different dimensionally sized space, his mental senses not exactly perceiving it correctly at first. "Well, maybe some of these things belong to the other spirits who remained? The rest...I guess we figure out what to do with later." Oddly enough, he doesn't help sort through paperwork. He wouldn't be able to read it himself anyway.

Blockbuster harumpfs again, folding her arms across her chest. She takes a seat in the air, crossing one leg over the other as she maintains the light orbs orbiting her person.

Felix murmurs quietly, "Oh, well, that could have gone better. Note to self: get some nice slick soap and a loofa."

He then steps back to where he was and looks into the safe. "What do you mean, own it legally, Chalmers?"

Bran doesn't seem to pick up on the cue from Phantom to keep a wide berth. Instead, he just keeps looking inside the safe.

"Oddly enough, courts don't tend to recognize demonic contracts as legally valid, Felix," murmurs Chalmers. "But, in order for him to make such a promise without breaking his Deal, Harrington would've, I think, had to have set up some legal means to gain control of his property, ie the house and furnishings, etc. Once we have the mundane law part settled, we can have you contact the Verminax and remake this sanctum as you wish."

Phantom chuckles. "It'd suck if they did."

Bran frowns, "It's all stuff from the people who were killed. I see the engagement bands for a couple of the brides. Chalmer's pocketwatch. Gold chains matching one of the ganger type ghosts."

Chalmers fades slightly as he murmurs, "I guess out hearts weren't trophies enough for the bastard..." His voice trails off.

Phantom blinks and turns his head to Chalmers. "He's getting what he deserves at last," he tries to give some comfort.

"And don't forget- you helped give it to him." KT adds as he slithers in behind Phantom. "You made the best of a bad situation and now you have the most arid friends. Us."

Bran points out a small leather bag. "I think that's what the Native American ghost had."

Phantom perks up at Bran's comment. "Maybe we can offer that up to the spirit owl I saw. Return it to the spirit?"

Bran shrugs, "Maybe? I don't know? Is it like...a medicine bag, or something?"

The spirit owl, once mentioned, hoots from back in the bedroom alcove. It's still quite invisible to normal sight although if anyone can see such, there is a roughly owl sized cold spot back there.

Chalmers walks over to where the leather bag is but doesn't touch it. Both he and Felix look at it but Chalmers is the one to speak. "Well, maybe? Not really my type of magick. But seems similar to what Joseph Wolf used to wear. He's a shaman I know...knew."

"The bag's not magickal," chimes in Felix. "But maybe the traces of long faded magick? I'm not certain."

"Joseph Wolf? I think he's here, too. Didn't you see him?" Phantom asks.

"Did you?" asks Blockbuster of Phantom.

The ghost smiles slightly. "No, that Native American man was not Joseph Wolf. Joe wishes he was that tall. And Joseph's shamanic dress was Iroquoian, not, well, whatever tribe the ghost here wears."

KT shrugs unhelpfully. "I only see one quarter of what you guys are talking about. Its like I'm the one walking around in the dark and not you all."

Felix

Phantom frowns faintly at Blockbuster's potential jab at his blindness. "So then...if this is Joseph Wolf's medicine bag and not that ghost's, then maybe his spirit moved on?"

Felix murmurs, "I meant it looks similar to Joseph's medicine bag, Phantom. Not that it is. Joseph's didn't feel...old like this one." He looks over at Bran. "I think you are correct, Bran. This /might/ be the Native American ghost's medicine bag."

KT just watches his humans quietly.

Phantom offers, "Maybe we can place it over there?" he points where the spirit owl is. "That's where the owl spirit that accompanied the Native American is. Maybe that'll count as returning it. Felix did say that the Native American said he'd be watching us."

Bran nods. "I think that sounds like a good idea." He reaches in to grab it, "I feel uncomfortable, but I'll do it." He goes to take it over to where the owl spirit was.

Chalmers looks over towards the bedroom alcove then holds out his hand. "Here, give it to me. I'll take it to them," he says as holds out a hand, his gaze not moving from the alcove.

"Ah, yes, that would be better it seems, Bran," Says Chalmers as he lowers his hand.

Felix, unusually, keeps his mouth shut...for now.

Bran shakes his head to Chalmers, "No, it's okay. I can do it." He walks over to the alcove in question to look in it.

"Thanks, Bran," Phantom says in gratitude.

The alcove is dominated by a ornately carved, with various scenes of sexual debauchery, wooden bedframe holding a California kind mattress. Beside the bed is an equestrian statue with the horse on its knees. It matches the near lifesized statue that Blink dropped on Harrington's corpse. There is a really large metal bound chest like out of a pirate movie against the right hand wall as you face the bed and the entrance to another room on the left.

Bran can hear an owl softly hoot as he approaches the bed.

Bran calls back, "Uh...where is it supposed to go, exactly? I'm not sure."

Bran walks around slowly looking at the various things, trying to figure out where it should go.

Bran feels the soft brush of feathers as a slight weight rests on the lower arm holding the bag.

Phantom calls out, "Umm. Maybe anywhere near there? I'm not exactly sure."

Bran tries to use the feeling of the feathers as a guide as to where to place the bag down.

The medicine bag in Bran's hand move slightly as if something is clawing at it. It lifts slightly as if an invisible beak, given the depression that form on it is closed on it. Then Bran feels the soft touch of feathers again as the bag starts to jerk upward as if something is trying to take it from Bran's grasp

KT has no idea but the looks amused all the same. He moves to follow Bran and watch from a position not obstructed by Bran's back. Luckily no one is standing on the ceiling near Bran.

Phantom keeps alert in case something weird(er) happens.

Bran lets go of the bag, letting the owl take it. "Good enough, I guess?"

The bag moves through the air, seemingly on its own. It circles the room once, then flies up and through the ceiling.

KT naturally stretches on over and prods the ceiling where the bag just passed through it. "Woah." He says with surprise. "Not sure what I was expecting- but it was not that."

Chalmers tilts his head to one side then murmurs, "Yes, it's taken it away, Bran. Thank you!"

Bran comes back over to the others, "I think...we need to return everything to the appropriate spirits?"

"Do you mean the spirits who are gone or the ones who stayed?" asks Felix.

Phantom nods to Bran. "So we got an old soldiery type, the little girl who thinks this is her home, the angry lady..." he starts to count them off. "Maybe we can fin the objects that match them?"

Bran chuckles. 'Every spirit that stuck around...is connected to one of those, I think? Right?"

"Probably," says Chalmers. "It's just a matter of figuring out what belongs to whom."

"Of course, that watch," Chalmers points at the simple cased gold pocketwatch, "is mine. Inherited it from my grandfather."

Bran nods and goes to pick up the watch to offer it to Chalmers. "Do you need this to move on? Do you want to move on?"

"Whether I wish to move on or not, I cannot, Bran. The spell that protected me from Harrington's control, well, it binds me to this realm for 90 years. Those years are not yet up." He does take the pocketwatch for a moment then hands it back. "Perhaps we can put it in one of those watch display cases."

"They still have those, right?" he asks.

Bran nods. "Umm....sure. I think so?" He takes the watch back and puts it back where it was. "I'm sorry."

"I trapped myself, Bran, but thank you," murmurs Chalmers. "It seemed a good precaution at the time."

Phantom shrugs helplessly about the display case question. He has no clue.

Phantom walks over to Bran and holds out a fist for a fistbump. "Thanks for the help, Bro. I know you had no reason to risk things. I appreciate it, and feel better knowing this guy isn't around for the future."

Bran gives a fist bump. "Umm...you're welcome. Yeah, it seems like the world is better off with things sorted out here. Well, more or less."

"Definitely on the more side. Or better than it was before." Phantom takes a deep breath and lets it out, still uneasy about the whole house thing. Then he smiles at one good thing. "Maybe not the best circumstances, but I'm glad you got to meet the rest of my fam. The others have taken a shining to you. Even if that may be hard to tell in some cases."

Bran nods. "I..um...yeah, it was good to get to know people a little more." He shrugs, "I still don't feel comfortable, but you probably picked up on that."

Phantom smiles apologetically. "Yeah, I did. Sorry, man. I figured it was a combination of this place and being thrown together so fast. You wanna talk about it?" he asks, sounding very open, but not pressuring.

Bran shakes his head and shrugs again, looking at the floor, "Your friends tried hard to make me feel welcome. And that's what felt odd. I'm not sure that makes any sense, but it is what it is."

Phantom smiles warmly. "Oh man. That wasn't them trying," he grins in amusement. "They're -really- obnoxious when they try. But I get it. And it's okay," he says in accepting, friendly tones.