westwhere | the house of manouk

the house of manouk | test drive meme

Hello, hello! Our latest event — doubling as a test drive meme and stretching until 12 August — is a one-off incursion in an uncharted time pocket dimension — the House of Manouk.

Anyone can hit up the test drive meme, but you will need an invite from an existing player to apply on 5 August. Have fun!

THE HOUSE OF MANOUK

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THE TERRACE

Old or new, you wake up on a white-stone terrace dominated by a twisting hedge maze that houses great columns, tattered statues, ponds, rivers, gazebos and pergolas — and high looming walls of thickly bound ivy, bloomed roses or thorny vines. Walking the Terrace somehow always brings you deeper into the maze, while a flushed, sunless sky stares down, unblinking.

You experience no thirst, hunger or language barriers here. Old translation & communication pendants can nevertheless be found scattered across the Terrace and Grounds.

New arrivals encounter the sorceress Karsa, who explains you were likely summoned by one of the undead lords who seeks control of Akhuras — and reached, along with the party she leads, a pocket dimension outside of time. Karsa’s associate, the Merchant, instructed to exit the time dimension by finding Ellethian waypoints — typically stone tokens engraved with the carvings of an eye with a sun for a pupil. Karsa may activate them for you to leave this place.

Your mission is to search the House and find the waypoints of Ellethia or of the rival Dawn’s Reach Trade Company without attracting the ire of the local exiled overlord(s).

■ Some of the statues you discover on the Terrace seem crudely carved, gaining the features of your loved ones, the longer you stare at them. Some seek to throttle. Escape them by having someone else stare at them, becoming their new target, or by leading them in a crowd of other statues.

■ Beware getting pricked by thorns: covetous vines can quickly ensnare and pull you into the maze’s green walls, or bind your hand to that of your companion.

■ The maze’s weather often mimics your mood: nice and balmy for contentment, cold for fear, torrential rain for sadness and a heatwave to answer anger. Smile.

■ Every now and then, you hear screams from other parts of the maze. Run, and you might find pairs of steel manacles or rusted chain on bloodied grounds, from where fresh rose bushes quickly rise up. Investigate.

■ Go deeper in the maze, and you find a heap of small stone tablets. Most list names, ages, occupations and include loving remarks, such as the finest husband or she smiled ever bright. Alarmingly, when your companion’s back is turned, you find tablets engraved with your handwriting, saying, don’t turn your back to them, blood reeks strong on them and that’s not their name. There are no waypoint tokens here.

■ Spend enough time in the maze, and you discover an old, red-eyed, white-haired and hunchbacked man with two chainless shackles on his wrists. He ignores you, muttering to himself about how the House must keep moving, moving. The House doesn’t like you. The House is awake. The House should sleep. The old man hits or trips you with his cane, or you might wake to find him hovering very closely over you. Engage him.

■ Now and then, he seems suddenly alert, if not outright fearful, shrieking that he comes and rushing to tinker with pulleys and stone mechanisms hidden within the maze vine walls. The maze’s architecture abruptly changes, with the ground quaking, walls shifting, while old plants wilt and fresh ones rise up within heartbeats. As the House changes, you might spot a long, spiralling staircase at short distance. Go down into…

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THE GROUNDS

The ground level of the House is splintered in dozens of decaying rooms, many locked. There are no windows here, dust thick in every corner, while faint scratches and canine footprints mar the floors — the marks of dozens of great skeletal hounds that haunt the corridors.

The dogs lead, chase or drag you towards a shuttered hall room, where a middle-aged, red-eyed and white-haired man furiously searches through haphazard mounds of tousled tomes. He too wears shackles. His manner is perfunctorily polite, as he calls back his dogs.

”…not from around here, are you? Must have broken time. Hooligan. Well, you’ve travelled centuries to be disappointed. There are no mysteries here, no epiphanies. All the great wells of myth and magic? Some other pigs have drunk them dry. Blame your luck, for bringing you to the shambling hut of — …the fine House of Manouk. Taravast’s greatest necromancer, til his mind turned to slaughter.

I was his disciple. Lisanther. Must’ve come from high on, did you? These cursed shackles… he senses everyone in his House through them. If he feels us on his scent, he works his little screws and wheels and moves the House stairs. Impressed? Don’t be. He’s a wreck, who feasts on time echoes of the anguished. That’s him. Paints a picture, doesn’t he? Stay out of his sights, or you’ll wear his chains soon too. Same as me, same as the dog he keeps in the dungeons. Dragged back every time he wanders.

If you want to make yourself useful, help me. I traded fairly with a caravan of the Dawn’s Reach Trade Company. They say they left behind scrolls in these grounds, with the words to free me. They overcharge, but they don’t lie. Help me find them. Break my chains, and I’ll break us out. I can. I swear it. ”

Deeper into the claustrophobic Grounds, you find specters of men and women, chained just like Lisanther — their skin translucent, their gazes lethargic. They feel neither dead nor alive to the magically sensitive. They are either very present in the moment or barely recall their whereabouts. If asked about tokens, they say the Dawn’s Reach Trade Company left scrolls in the Grounds main quarters:

▶ Bathing quarters

At times pristine and delightful, at others blood-marked and torn. The waters abruptly run very hot, cold or silty. The spectre of a wo/man might appear in the tub, staring unblinkingly or murmuring that people do all sorts of wickedness in this bathroom: they have even witnessed stabbings, treasures being hidden beneath tile boards, and even a birthing!

▶ Kitchens

Sprawling and soot-laden, bursting with supplies of stale wheat, eccentric cakes, exotic fruit and spice jars, these kitchens were built for long service. A heavy cauldron bubbles and boils a green broth in a cold fireplace, where ash and stone drown wood. A circle of spectres troubleshoots how to improve the meal — just as the kitchens’ doors slam shut, and they cordially invite you to do the legwork for their recipe. They instruct you to chop, clean and prepare the most unusual ingredients: hair of a dog, salt, moulded thyme, arsenic, one of your finest love stories… they’ll tire of their creation and release you within the hour. Don’t dine, dash.

▶ Sleeping chambers

There’s rest for the wicked in these deserted sleeping quarters, which boast exceptionally well-stuffed cushions and pillows, blankets and ‘reading materials’ — torn pages from books of history and magic. Some speak of the desperate attempts of the rulers of Taravast to flee death. Others talk of using spells, the elements and even mass sacrifice to achieve immortality. Enjoy your rest, only perturbed by occasional distant screams —

…or perhaps by a large, feral white bear that bursts in to briefly chase you, before disappearing. Veteran travellers may recognise him as the creature of Anurr.

Some of the chain-breaking scrolls of the Dawn’s Reach Trade Company can be found in each of the main rooms, along with some of the Company’s talismans, marked as waypoints, which should be brought to Karsa. See what your character finds.

Finish up here, or meander down a final stairwell to —

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THE DUNGEONS

Cold, deteriorating, crumbling — difficult to say if this is a tightly bound knot of underground tunnels, or a torturous weave of lost dungeons. Parts of the floor crumble to reveal abyssal depths below — or suddenly appear beneath your feet, to help your progress. Emptied, creaking bookcases abound. Here and there, you see your reflection in shattered wall-length mirrors, moving differently than you, or just slightly older or younger than you are.

■ Revived skeletons patrol the corridors, scantily armed with base blades, stones and torches. They largely ignore you, only blocking your path if you near a magically-locked stone door in the back of the Dungeons, from where you hear… human pleas.

■ Door engravings instruct to speak out the three truths of each day. Nearby, you find a mound of crumbled stone tablets, along with three golden ones raised on pedestals that read:

▶ with morning, my body is a weapon, sun-seeking, righteousness-bound

▶ by midday, my flesh has bent and battered, a shield of justice for young life to come

▶ come evening, I am blood and bone, a humble house to hope eternal

■ Tip bookcases into the narrow corridors to prevent the skeletal guards from reaching you, as you search diligently through the stone debris beneath the golden pedestals. You might even find Ellethian waypoint tokens: palm-wide, marked with a sun pupil. Take them to Karsa immediately… or open the now unlocked dungeon door as a man calls out.

■ Enter, and you discover an dimly lit dungeon alcove, with animate skeletal heads hanging on each wall. They cackle, Mind your step. Heed them and look for holes in the floor tiles — needle-thin spikes emerge from there periodically.

■ Go deeper, and you discover a large bare stone room, scantly livened by torches bearing green fire. A small hole — barely enough to fit a grown man standing and lying down — has been dug into one of the walls and secured. This inhumane prison’s bars crackle and sizzle with magical electricity. A skeletal hound waits by, with a set of keys fastened to its collar.

■ A white-haired, red-eyed twenty-something young man sprawls haphazardly in the prison: battered, swathed in rags, shackled and wild. He holds out his blood-tipped hand between the bars, but fails to lure the dog close — and calls out to you, instead:

”You must be mad to come to me. The old man sent you? Finally? Good. How wonderful. I’ll spit on you, and I’ll spit on his grave. He left me here to die. And now he’s remembered me? What does he want? …no. It doesn’t matter. Rip the keys off that mutt and get me out of here. ”

You can engage or release him, if you coax the key from the recalcitrant dog. Or leave him be and see Karsa with your waypoint token.

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NOTES:

■ There are multiple waypoint tokens to leave the time dimension: the Dawn’s Reach Trade Company talismans, hidden in the Ground rooms, and the Ellethian tokens, found in the dungeons. Bring whichever one you discover to Karsa.

■ You can optionally solve the mystery of Lisanther, the prisoner, Manouk and the spectres.

■ The House’s layout changes periodically, but characters can find the stairs to travel across the three levels every few hours.

■ Mention in your top level if you play an old timer or a test driving tourist. TDMers can make both logs and network prompts here!

■ QUESTIONS & NPC INBOX!

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Alright.

[ Xiao Xingchen follows in silence. He can easily tell when they start to descend into the dungeons from how cold and unpleasant it is. He lets out a low gasp as he walks into Xue Yang's arms, having not expected it.

Pits... great. He's clearly not thrilled about having to hold onto Xue Yang, but he grabs a hold of the arm that isn't injured. Even with his sharp senses, he hadn't sensed the pit at all. Not until Xue Yang had stopped and he'd felt something off in front of them. But he can't rely on that, so he will have to trust Xue Yang for the moment. ]

[ Holding onto his arm works for a while, until the steps are crushed and it turns into more of a slope. He tries to hold his hand after that. ]

This place is huge, I can't see the ceiling.

[ Xue Yang can see glints of lighting here or there but the source is indistinguishable ... it must be from cracks in the roof, somewhere in the gardens. None of that is the creepiest part of all of this, and creepy by Xue Yang's standards says something when he suddenly tenses up. ]

Xiao Xingchen, [ Hushing his voice, he half-whispers, ] There are undead down here. Skeletons.

[ Xiao Xingchen stubbornly holds onto Xue Yang's arm as long as he can, until he forced to take his hand instead.

Being blind has never felt like more of a disability as it does now. He's entirely reliant on Xue Yang here, having no idea what he's going to encounter next in this alien place. It's frightening.

Shuanghua rattles a little on his back, seeming to be reacting to something, so Xiao Xingchen isn't all that surprised when Xue Yang speaks again. That doesn't make him any less tense though, gripping tighter at Xue Yang's hand and slightly trembling. He hates it. ]

What... do we do? [ He murmurs quietly, trying to keep his voice steady. ]

[ His grip on Jiangzai is tight but Bao isn't growling, merely walking along obediently at Xingchen's side to herd him away from difficult places on the path. Xue Yang shivers, hating the cold. ]

They're not doing anything right now, they've got to know we're here.

[ He grows still as the bony stomp-stomp of feet passes nearby, then lets out the breath he held. ]

There's something gold glinting up ahead.

[ The fact that the dog seems calm does relax Xiao Xingchen a little. He'd seemed so protective over Xue Yang, so if they were in danger surely he'd react. It's not even the presence of undead that scares Xiao Xingchen, but the prospect of having to fight them. He knows it's a fear he's going to have to get over, but that's not going to happen right now.

Regardless, he holds onto Xue Yang's hand while fully aware that it's a little ironic to be drawing any kind of comfort from him. ]

Should we see what it is? [ Well, Xue Yang will be doing the seeing. ]

I'm not coming down here again, we may as well.

[ He huffs and gives the hand in his a companionable squeeze, only realising what he's done after the fact. Clearing his throat, he starts walking towards the broken buildings, reading the inscriptions above after telling Xingchen what they are. ]

'Speak out the three truths of each day'. What does that mean?

[ On they go, Xue Yang eyeballing the skeletons as they move at an almost casual pace so as not to attract attention. ]

[ The squeeze surprises him a little, but he does find it oddly comforting.

He frowns a little as Xue Yang reads out the inscription. ]

I'm not sure. Could be a riddle of some sort?

[ He can feel the presence of the undead all around them, and Shuanghua senses it too, but at least they don't seem to be paying them much mind. ] The skeletons... are they guarding this place?

I think so. They're carrying swords, bats, torches ... Wait, can you hear something? [ It's faint, like, ] A person?

[ Xiao Xingchen quiets down and listens. ] ... Yes. It sounds like someone is pleading... for help? [ They probably can't trust anything in here, but he still feels that old instinct to help if someone is in need. ]

... The gold's up ahead, anyway.

[ Where the voice is coming from. Xue Yang isn't too interested in the person but the weird golden glinting is curious. When he starts leading them toward it, the nearest skeleton stops mid-stride and looks at them, causing him to freeze.

He whispers urgently, ] Xingchen, one of the dead is looking right at us.

Edited 2023-08-06 19:39 (UTC)

[ Hearing that makes Xiao Xingchen tense up all over again. He swallows and forces himself to reach back for Shuanghua, lightly grabbing around the hilt. It's a skeleton. He can hear its bones grinding and rattling as it moves. It's not a fake fierce corpse with a severed tongue, trying to beg for mercy. ]

Whatever is up ahead, perhaps that is what they're guarding. [ He whispers back, not without a tremor in his voice. ]

[ He looks Xingchen over, not missing the tremor in his voice. ]

Why don't you wait here with Bao and I'll go ahead. They aren't going to bother you if you're standing here doing nothing.

[ Xiao Xingchen's hands shake a little, but he hates the idea of just standing around being useless more than he hates the thought of trying to confront the skeletons. ] No. I'll come with you.

Xiao Xingchen, [ speaking as gently as he dares without being insulting, he clarifies, ] you may have to fight.

[ Xiao Xingchen can't help the scowl that comes over his face. The gentle tone, as if he's speaking to a child, comes across plenty insulting - even if that hadn't been Xue Yang's intention. ] I know. I am not stupid.

[ A soft sigh leaves him as he fumbles trying to be mindful of whatever is weighing heavily on Xingchen's heart. Last time Xingchen raised a sword, it didn't go well for anyone ... to say the least. ]

Fine. [ He describes the layout, the stone stairs with holes in them and tall bookcases lining the staircase up to the glinting gold light and pleading voice. ] There are seven skeletons we passed in the last couple of minutes, they'll probably come running. We're going to have to get up those stairs together so you don't fall through any of the crevasses.

[ Xiao Xingchen knows that he's not being entirely reasonable at the moment, but it's difficult to be when you've just been revived and is forced to cooperate with the man who had ruined your life.

He takes a couple of deep breaths and tries to center himself as he listens to Xue Yang's explanation. ]

Alright. [ At least he's reasonable enough to stay behind Xue Yang. He unsheathes Shuanghua and tries to force his hands not to tremble as he holds onto that once-beloved sword. Shuanghua practically sings when unsheathed, and Xiao Xingchen can feel it trying to direct him to where the skeletons are. ]

[ Xue Yang unsheathes Jiangzai and hitches the sheath under his bad arm to carry it there, transferring his bad hand into Xingchen's; his skin is cold and his arm tense, but he needs his right one to wield his sword with any accuracy. ]

Together, on three.

[ 'Three' is almost simultaneous for the two of them and the skeleton nearest as it bolts after them. Xue Yang rushes up the stairs with Xingchen in-hand, guiding him around the gaping maw of the black holes that lead to who-knows-where, hurrying up the broad staircase. ]

[ Xiao Xingchen nods and holds Xue Yang's hand tightly, Shuanghua clutched in his right hand. He follows Xue Yang on cue, shuddering a little as he hears the rattling of bones from the skeleton chasing after him.

The first one seems to soon be joined by a couple more, if the increased noise is any indication. The skeletons are surprisingly fast.

Xiao Xingchen lets out a small yelp as a bony hand grabs him by the hair hard enough to rip out a couple of strands. Xiao Xingchen whirls around and stabs wherever he can reach with Shuanghua - the sword almost moving on its own. The movement causes him to lose his grip on Xue Yang's hand, but he manages to catch himself before he goes tumbling down the stairs. At least he hasn't lost all of his grace. ]

[ The yelp from Xingchen has him glancing around just as their hands break apart and he catches his own balance in time to see Shuanghua batting aside the skeleton's arm. As it rushes back in Xue Yang skids down the mouldy steps to Xingchen's side and kicks the thing in its ribcage, the most dense collection of bones on it, and it goes tumbling down with shattering clarity. ]

Bao!

[ Xue Yang grabs Xingchen's hand to continue up the stairs and the hound leaps past them with a snarl to snag the leg of the next monster, bone clanking on bone as one growls and the other shrieks with unearthly fury. ]

We're almost at the top! Keep running!

[ Xiao Xingchen feels warm and his cheeks are a little flushed from the sudden action. He takes Xue Yang's hand almost without thinking and runs after him up the stairs. He finds himself a little concerned for Bao, but he's a skeleton dog. He'll be fine, probably.

Once they're at the top he turns his head to Xue Yang. ] Where to now?

There are golden tablets! Three of them!

[ He leads Xingchen to one before rushing to the edge of the stairs where he starts toppling bookcases to give them more time, shouting for Bao to return. Xue Yang hurries back and reads the three inscriptions. ]

'With morning, my body is a weapon, sun-seeking, righteousness-bound; by midday, my flesh has bent and battered, a shield of justice for young life to come; come evening, I am blood and bone, a humble house to hope eternal'.

"Seeking life eternal" are all inscribed with different ink.

[ Bao comes running up the stairs when called, a leg bone between his jaws. Xiao Xingchen feels some relief hearing the dog return. He's always liked animals and apparently that extends to skeletal demon dogs.

While Xue Yang reads the inscriptions, Xiao Xingchen tries to make himself useful by searching around the pillars for anything useful. ]

"Seeking life eternal"? Is it some sort of passcode perhaps?

[ He questions as his hands rummage through the debris, until he finds something. He can't see what it is of course, but he's found a waypoint token with a sun on it. He turns to Xue Yang and holds it for him to see. ]

I found this too. Is it something? [ He hopes he didn't just pick up some garbage. ]

Hah! It's also gold with a sun etched into it, it looks important! Maybe that's why they don't want us coming up here? Good work finding it!

[ He re-reads the inscription it commit it to memory but there's no need; the dungeon door behind starts to grind open after the third recitation. Xue Yang looks up to see many more skeletons clambering up the stairs and he tugs at Xingchen. ]

The door's opening, let's get out of here. We can always fight our way back out later!

[ Xiao Xingchen feels relieved that he might've found something useful, and tucks it into his robes for safekeeping until they can figure out what it's for. He perks up when he hears the grinding of something opening, and easily lets Xue Yang pull him along, Bao at his heels.

Once they're through, the door closes behind them. From above them he can hear some very unsettling cackling. ] What is that?

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curtains - 2023-08-07 20:31 (UTC) - Expand

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brightestmoon - 2023-08-07 21:10 (UTC) - Expand

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