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Basement Bonanza Log
The House
The house is much like the rest of the housing around it. Victorian style with some side yards, an outside that's desperately in need of paint, and wild, fancy architecture. Along the side is a fenced yard containing a small kitchen garden, complete with a recently added chicken coop in the back.
The front door leads to a small foyer, whereas the side door by the garden goes straight into the kitchen. In the kitchen, there will be a number of foods available for anyone chipping in to snack on, with options for vegetarians and meat-eaters alike. (No blood, sorry vampires, but if you get peckish you might find someone willing to let you have a bite.) Shinjiro will aggressively shoo away anyone who shows up just to get food without actually contributing. It's for people who help only!!
The interior is weird, as to be expected. They've made it mostly liveable, most of the furniture in the living spaces in new, but there's still Victorian Classics such as too many patterns and portraits of strangers on the wall, and bad wallpaper in surprisingly cozy places. There's even a restroom on the ground floor, complete with fireplace by the tub. People taking a break are welcome to tool around on the ground floor, where things are markedly more normal. Any attempts to go upstairs, where the residents bedrooms are, will be dissuaded.
There's a dog to pet (Koromaru, an incredibly intelligent white shiba inu) or a Petal Wolf (Bela) or, if you want to risk a few fingers, Fie's hyena (Alfin). The hyena occasionally breaks out into mad giggles in other people's voices, occasionally parroting contextless statements in perfect mimicry of the people who live there. Scrounging around somewhere will be Louis's cat, Juniper, and then there's the coop full of chickens outside, a snapping turtle in the pond...
But you people aren't here for the relatively normal living space.
THE BASEMENT.
The air is cooler in the basement, and with that soft scent of wet stone. It's not disgusting or overwhelming, despite how locked up and sealed the area had been, and for who knows how long. More than anything else, it's just dark. They've carried a few magitech lanterns down to the foot of the stairs, at least, in initially scoping it out to try and see what's down there: and even from just stepping off the stairs, it's clear to see that this is some sort of wild magical hoarder situation.
Walls are packed with everything from displays of oddities and curiosities to books and containers of liquids, the labels long since faded and peeled, to even rusted lockboxes, worryingly rectangular and human-lengthed, each with stiff, sturdy locks. In another corner, there's more shelves cluttered and overflowing with wet specimens preserved in jars. Many are completely unidentifiable. Many are absolutely identifiable, and it's unclear which is worse. There's everything from animals to plants to fish to even pieces of monsters or humans/witches alike.
Scattered throughout, there's lumpy sheets covering what can only be assumed to be furniture, as well as household items, baubles, trinkets, books, scrolls, and just general things crammed in any and every nook and cranny that can be found. If there was any sort of organization, it was lost well before the prior owner stopped their collecting.
In one corner, there's an iron spiral staircase that just leads into the ceiling, going nowhere. A few iron Maidens and sarcophagi can be found stored away, some of them haphazardly fallen over.
It's absolute chaos of junk layered on top of junk, pinned down by even more junk. And it's clearly going to take a lot of trips up and down those stone stairs to even begin to unearth some of the wild things stashed away.
Maybe if you're lucky, you'll unearth a friend to help light your way.
The Stuff.
I've gone ahead and written up some examples for people to run wild with-- and for anything else, feel free to either make things up, OR request something in the top thread!
Some of the Major Attractions of the Basement include:
An Iron Maiden. - Unlike many others, there's no spikes visible within. In fact, it looks almost welcoming. There's a faint enchantment to it, gently pulling at the senses of whomever gets too close. It's plush, and soft inside. Doesn't it look warm? The rest of the basement is so musty and damp and cold. Surely taking a rest would be fine.
Once someone steps into it, however, the doors close shut, and the victim is forced to rewatch their most embarrassing memory. When said memory has played out, however, they are released, no worse for the wear, and immune to the Maiden's Seduction for the next several days. Good thing you're the only one who saw that memory..... right??
A helpful (if creepy) teapot. - This teapot has one job, and it will perform it. It will serve you tea. It will not stop until it has served you tea. No, it doesn't even know what tea is. It also doesn't seem to care if you have a container to hold a beverage or not. It. Will. Serve. You. Tea.
...However, who knows what liquid is actually within it. Feel free to use this skittering, crawling friend for anything. It could be as benign as incessantly following your character like an annoying and needy dog. It could be as horrifying as using force and chitinous claws to make your character ingest something. (Which could be delicious tea. Or could be anything else. Up to you!)
A speaker of secrets. - A jarringly hideous piece of taxidermy, the ravens screech the secrets of whomever touches it. Sometimes they're wrong, though. It's anyone's guess if they're yelling your deepest secrets, or if they're just making things up. Anyway, here's hoping whoever you're with doesn't just think you're using it as an excuse. (Or, if what they speak is true, hopefully people believe your excuse. Good luck carrying this thing all the way up and through the house.)
Vaguely Insulting Dishware. - What it says on the tin. The text seems to shift and change to insult you, specifically, and often times very passive aggressively.
A beautiful, floral chair - Like a flower in full bloom, this is another object that anyone nearby could find themselves magically drawn towards. It even smells soft and sweet- almost like fresh rain and honeysuckle. It's pristine looking, in comparison to all the objects around it, covered with dust and debris, and looks soft and pillowy and inviting. It's wide enough that someone could crawl onto and drape themselves across it.
At which point the petals will pull closed, enveloping them in a sweet cocoon of which they come out.... different. The effects are, as always, up to the player, as is the duration of them. (Transmutation spells are finite, of course, and the effects aren't strong enough to last more than a few days.)
A giant crystal. - It'll take a team to move this humongous chunk of rock-- Or maybe just a duo of dragon or chimera. The first person to touch it, however, will find that it is not only reflective, but it projects. The light hitting it is projected in prisms, and all take a form based on the person who touches it. This could be a warped, twisted reflection showing how one thinks of themself. It could be a projection of deepest fantasies. It could just be whatever you're thinking at the moment. Or maybe it's a mockery. Play around at your hearts content!
Potions of any and all type! - You're not the type to just drink mysterious liquids in someone's basement (Unless you are, in which case, go for it!) but so many of these are cracked and worn. It's entirely possible some of them work on contact or inhalation. The effects can be almost anything, from Alice in Wonderland style shrinking and growing, to floating or glowing or transmuting. Perhaps one is a mood enhancer! Another could be poison. And a third could make the tips of your fingers grow hair. It's a mixed bag.
Cursed jewelry of any and all types - Same thing as the potions, these can be enchanted to have effects as minor as making your hair always look perfect (though there's a smell of cod liver that won't go away--) to as major as clamping in and biting through the skin, drinking your blood to fuel its dark powers. (Said dark powers could be anything from animatronic taxidermy coming alive to mimic your every move, to a spell to charm everyone around you, to the ability to speak with termites.) Again, go wild! And if you have trouble getting that jewelry off, there's gotta be some bolt cutters somewhere around here.... right?
There is MUCH MUCH ELSE that can be found! If you would like to be assigned a random Thing, feel free to give me the general vibe of what you're wanting, and I'll come up with something crazy for you! If you would like more than one thing, THAT IS FINE TOO!
FINAL OOC NOTES
In a list format because i'm lazy:
--NO EFFECT IN THE BASEMENT CAN BE GAMEBREAKING. Mind control, dreamwalking, and memory alteration are no-go.
--The contents of the unenchanted books in the basement are mostly nonsense or boring, but you can absolutely find some sort of burn book with hot deets on (non-plot) NPCs
--Any effect will eventually wear off. The process can be expedited with a witch. It's your choice how skilled that witch needs to be.
--"But susan someone else in a previous thread already took care of the item i was gonna use!" it's magic there can be two of them. or it can teleport itself repeatedly back into the basement. i'm not going to keep track and time isn't real.
--Mark any explicit content, plzkthx.
--Let me know if your character is enough of a jerk to try going to the second floor of the house. because a witch lives here and nearly all of them are mistrustful as hell so you know that's not gonna work out. (I'll let you know exactly how, if your character would try it.)
--If you're gonna die, talk to the mods about it first. if you're gonna kill anyone then double talk to the mods about it first.
--Go wild like you graduated from crazy go nuts university
And most importantly:
--FEEL FREE TO ASK ME ANY QUESTIONS! I'm available in the top comments here, though you are welcome to PM me, or shoot me a DM on discord (Soozaphone#3966), or shoot me a private plurk (
masks...... for ×3 sparkle
Mettaton sashays up to Mira as she examines the studded, chained mask. And if the mask in her hands isn't bright and ostentatious enough to distract her completely, Mettaton arrives on the scene with enough sparkle to blind anyone, wearing quite the piece of equipment. Reflecting light in dancing prisms from its diamond facets, its effect may demonstrate itself to her shortly: the jewelry itself forces its wearer to realize how beautiful they are, and how deserving of praise. The longer he goes without praise, the angrier he'll get; Mettaton's rage will only ripen into righteous fury the longer he goes without compliments, which is sure to make this encounter just peachy.
Especially when the robotic Puca snatches up that bedazzled mask from Mira's clutches. He examines it for himself, his golden eye practically sparkling enough to match all of the bling he wears. If he puts it on, things will get ugly for sure. I mean wait no they'll be as glorious as Mettaton.]
Oooooh, what a brilliant mask! I think putting it on my IMPECCABLE face could only enhance its appeal, don't you agree?? It's matches my... everything. [And Mettaton poses, modeling that shoulder jewelry he wears. Tell Him He's Pretty.] Anything that sparkles is complemented by my voluptuous, awe-inspiring physique, I know.
[He pauses for a moment in his self-flattery, then gestures to Mira with the mask he snatched from her fingers.]
Didn't you attend that masquerade last year, Mira-darling? Or... Oh! Did you wear contacts??
[they... they probably don't have contacts in geardagas.]
god i'm blind
Better you than me, I don't think shiny things like that really fit me like it does you it seems.
[Does that count as praise?]
But I do not know what these contacts are; I kept my mask on my head during the masquerade.
[Eorzea doesn't have them either. Fantasy worlds.]
hheheh
Nonetheless, that passes for a compliment. It's beneficial to everyone that the robotic Puca is pretty good at finding compliments where there are none, anyway, but suggesting to him that sparkly accessories suit him better than they suit her is a compliment to Mettaton. After all, he loves shiny things. He nods. His rage meter does not increase.]
Yes. It DOES suit me. I agree.
[He looks so smug, and he holds the corner of the studded mask to his lips in thought, considering Mira. Considering her, considering her glasses, considering her at the masquerade...
The robot slips the mask on, having to lean forward to slip it under the fringe of his hair. It betrays to Mira the fleeting hint of an unfinished face under those dark bangs. But she's already seen Mettaton NEO - it might remind her a little of that! With the mask on, he regards her all over again.]
I can't believe you don't know what contacts are! But then again, you scarcely know what TV is... Such a pitiful state of affairs, really. What do you even DO with your free time??? Read a book? Take a nap? Oh, or maybe you'd go for a roll in the hay... Hahaha...
[He's decided he's correct. It's a good thing he's wearing that mask, because he just did that stupid eyebrow waggle thing people do when they're being suggestive. Why are Puca like this... god.]
no subject
[The fact that she has talked about writing and he himself speaking about it and adding that if it's been good for her, to go after it. Hells, she even uses the journal he gave her as an apology for Litha as a private one for her own thoughts. Needless to say, Mira enjoys reading and writing for very good reasons. It's a freedom for her.]
And what makes you assume I roll in hay? I may have grown up poor but not to do that.
[It goes over her head like usual but wow, what got stuck in his robutt to act like that?]
no subject
But none of these words have anything to do with how beautiful/rich/famous/talented he is, so it does nothing to soothe his poor mood. And the mask, well... Mettaton thinks he knows her answer for her. Which is "she does boring things."]
"Roll in the hay" means to have loose, quick sex, darling. Just so you know... For the future... [He waves a hand, rolling his eye and laughing behind daintily applied fingers to his lip.] My accusation... is that your world must be so deprived! Lacking basic things, like TV.
Anyway! Don't worry about that. I know what you must do in your free time. [The mask he's wearing means he's RIGHT about EVERYTHING.] Instead, let's talk about... me! What do you think of my ensemble, now that I'm completely bedazzled??
[With his mood increasingly spoiling, Mettaton wants to steer the conversation to be all about him, forever. He could talk about himself and hear about himself for eons. He doesn't do it nearly as much as he used to, especially back when he was so close to getting that new body of his, when his career had taken off and even branched out... It's so natural to slip into pure conceit.]
no subject
We need not the TV to entertain us; we have other means and they satisfy just as well.
[Like playing outside, riding chocobos, swimming, theater, a lot of fun things. She can't help but raise an eyebrow because before, he would find those kind of things charming. So what's changed?]
...sparkly.
[She would add 'very blind inducing' but she's holding her tongue. Was he usually this vain? Again, something doesn't feel right.]
no subject
Yes... sparkly. I'm sparkly, so it's only right that my attire should match. [But that comment doesn't sate his need for unending compliments. Sparkly? Diamonds are sparkly, of course! His golden gaze takes on a shade of ire as he stares her down, impatience burning in him.] Don't you think it flatters me?? Brings out my radiance...?
[ANYTHING? Mettaton thrives on compliments, but there would never be enough of them. This is a path to righteous fury rooted in conceit, and nothing more. Not that Mettaton understands that. The effect of his cursed jewelry goes unnoticed on him.]
no subject
[She can't help but feel like something is extremely wrong. Mettaton is certainly a glutton for attention and praise and sometimes he can be a bit vain but there's always some sort of goodness or playfulness to it. For some reason, this...lacks it. Lacks his heart it feels like.]
You know you do not need me to tell you that you look nice, you already know that.
[Natural beauty, not the constantly shoving sparkles in every opening kind.]
no subject
[Finally, something to feed the bottomless pit of his vanity. But the "I guess" fails to satisfy, only that she says that she, by standard, thinks he looks nice. His ears lean back in contentment, but they lean even more toward discontentment.
With the mask as a compounding element, however, Mettaton continues to make assumptions about how Mira feels about him, rolling his wrist and staring at his claws with a particularly arrogant air.]
I know you find me among the most dazzling and handsome men you've ever met... But it never hurts to hear. Even I like compliments. You're dying to give them to me. But you should know. I'm always amenable to flattery... Don't be shy! Even though I know I'm GORGEOUS.
[jesus mettaton. He continues to examine his nails, posing himself as though imagining that he's being viewed from all angles. That part, at least, isn't unusual for him.]
I forgive you for not drowning me in words of adoration, darling. You ARE pretty oblivious, at times... You must not have known that I'd be so receptive! Of course.
[And this is fact. So says that silver-studded mask. Mira thinks... Mettaton is the most dazzling star in the sky. A treat for the eye. More delicious than a slice of apple pie. More things that rhyme.]
no subject
Folding her arms and simply staring him down, Mira does not answer him. If she didn't think something was wrong before, the sirens are going off big time. If this was their first meeting of course she would get a bad impression. But this is not the kind robot she's known.]
Who says I am? Besides, you do not need me to praise you, not when you ask for it. It should come naturally instead of forced. Means a lot more too.
no subject
Nonetheless, he is convinced that she finds him to be absolutely beautiful. He shakes his head, clicks his tongue, assured of his assumption — which ends up sparing Mira any of his fury! Who knew that the mask and the jewelry would work together like this? He frames himself with his fingers, like he's a pretty picture.]
Oh. I DO need you to praise me. Because I deserve it. [Fact, once more. His hands return to his sides, and they slide down sensually over his whole body, from his chest, to his waist, to his silver-furred hips, down his thighs...] There's nothing forced about paying me the respect I deserve, is there, sweetheart? Of course not. And, as I said. I'm receptive. Oh so receptive...
no subject
[Ok, enough is enough and Mira is going to put a stop to this bullshit. Sure he's asked for praise but that's when he usually does something, not because he wants it. And while Fray's own thoughts of being a vain idiot are true, this has been cranked up beyond 11.]
I'm pondering how much is you speaking and how much are those items on you are.
[The urge to rip them off is getting stronger. Even if she has to shock him again, Mira will do it because a good friend doesn't let friends be bewitched by shitty items.]
no subject
Mira's wrong about whether he decides or his audience does. They're one in the same, after all. He clicks his tongue again.]
Praising me comes as second nature. Audience or not, everyone ought to be singing their praises to my beauty! I speak from the heart, of course. But thank you for thinking of me...
[Pondering him... He decides she is occupying her thoughts with him. Once more, the mask cancels out Mettaton's fury by forcing him to accept his weird Mettaton-brand world as reality. This reality has Mira thinking about him, constantly... That's fact. He strikes a pose.]