>>34685240

When we left off, you were just wrapping up the last successful haunting. It was a routine mission, paltry really. Scaring six teenagers who decided to play with a Oujia Board in the basement of an abandoned house is hardly a task for a Ghost Master of your caliber. It's a rookie mission, deserving of a fresh Spectre's first assignment, but you decided that it would be good for your career to take the mission.

Bloody Mary herself was thankful for your help in preserving the integrity of her old house, and put in a good word for you at the Bureau.

Now, with everything winding down, you have a decision to make

>Report back to the Bureau for debriefing and your next assignment
>Take a chance to rest and return to the Haunter Mansion, your home base of operations. Your Haunters may be interacted with here as well.

(Voting window increased to 15 minutes, 5 more minutes from last time because there was a tendency for late voters.)

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Bumping. Spookily.

>>34685399

>To the Mansion
Just a quick stop off to congratulate the team on a job well done.

>>34685753
To the mansion it is, then!
Writing.

>>34685399
I'm mad that I missed the first game of this. I can't wait to see what you do with this Op.

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>>34685399
Your consciousness travels along the ethereal winds and stops right at the threshold of an old mansion. The hazards of the condemned building made it unlivable for humans, but to entities not bound by gravity or other laws of physics, it was rather homely. Ghosts weren't too concerned about the floors collapsing beneath their weight.

Hector, the telepathic poltergeist, would be in his usual spot, by the ancient pool table, shooting by himself.
Skitter, an ectoplasmic spider, would be up in the attic building a giant ethereal web.
Gale, the resident wind elemental would be floating in the air currents around and through the drafty house.

>Call them all to you
>Visit them one by one
>Write in

>>34685932
>>Visit them one by one
No need to make them go out of their way for us at the moment.

>>34685932
>Visit them one by one
Gale. We didn't get the chance to interact with her last thread.

Also, damn you for starting now. Oh well, I guess sleep is for the weak.

>>34685982
>>34686005
One by one with Gale first, writing.

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>>34685932
You decide to visit your team one by one. There weren't that many Haunters on your team, given that you hadn't yet had the privilege of freeing any bound souls yet. Your cases so far had been relatively high-profile. Good for your career, but lacking in bringing new members into your fold. Though you had to give credit where credit was due, your team was quite capable on their own.

You decide to visit Gale first. The winds breezed lightly and playfully through the mansion and around the grounds. She did great weatherwork, an exemplary air elemental. Her specialties were thunderstorms, given her stormy temperament. Though her storms only rarely raged at you. As her boss, it wasn't good for her career to get stormy with you. Disobedient Haunters didn't last long in this business. So, she always seemed breezy around you.

You manifest up on the roof, where you find Gale floating about in a circle.
“Spectre...” she says as her ethereal body forms nearby, the wind elemental noticing you. Her voice carries like a sigh on the wind.“Another mission so soon?”

>I just wanted to say good job on the last mission.
>Well, yes, actually. Apparently we have another assignment coming up.
>Write in.

>>34686249
>>I just wanted to say good job on the last mission.

>>34686249
>I just wanted to say good job on the last mission.
"The monstrous face in the sky was a nice touch. There was a moment there when the kids thought they were safe once they got out of the Haunted House, then they see that in the sky, on the outside. The looks on their faces. Priceless!"

>>34686249

"Very soon, yes. But for now, Good work on the last mission"

>>34686249
>>I just wanted to say good job on the last mission.

Excellent ambiance, as always.

>>34686307
>>34686347
>>34686348
>>34686401
writing.

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>>34686249
“Well, yes. There is another mission soon, but that's not why I'm here.” you say. “I just wanted to say good job on the last mission. The monstrous face in the sky was a nice touch. As always, the ambiance was excellent.”

The breeze seems to blow about you two softly as Gale's airy face seems to smile. “Does this mean you are recommending me for a rank up? ”

Haunters were given specific ranks based on their capabilities. Gale was just a recently formed wind elemental when you took her for your team. She was Rank 1 then. Currently she was Rank 4, and her power was steadily growing. You weren't sure if the council would approve her for Rank 5, as Gale's wind manipulation would have to advance further than a storm and a face in the clouds, but did you really want to dash her hopes?

>I think you need a little bit more field time, but I'm sure you'll get there one day.
>I'll recommend you for a Rank Up as soon as the debriefing is over at the Bureau
>Write In

>>34686526
>Write In
"I don't think the council would approve another Rank Up yet, but I'll put you in for one as soon as I think it's time. Keep up the good work."

>>34686610
writing

>>34686526
>>I think you need a little bit more field time, but I'm sure you'll get there one day.

After all, you're always growing.

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>>34686526
“Unfortunately, Gale,” you say, “I don't think the Council would approve another Rank Up just yet-”
You notice the clouds grow significantly darker and start to rumble. You keep talking, undaunted. It's not like a grumpy elemental would scare you. Storms and wind didn't carry over to the Spirit World, and Gale wasn't powerful enough to manipulate the ethereal winds. At least not yet. That certainly would be a feat worthy of a Rank 5. Hell, you're pretty sure the Council would bump her up to Rank 7 or 8 if she could move ethereal winds. Still, you keep on,
“Keep up the good work, however, and I'll recommend you as soon as I think it's time. You're always growing, after all.”

Gale dissipates in a huff. “Very well.” she says, the irritable disappointment audible in her words. “Just call me when the next mission starts.”

>Keep talking to Gail
>Say goodbye to Gail and move on to congratulate your other Haunters
>Write in

>>34686863
>>Say goodbye to Gail and move on to congratulate your other Haunters

Lets find that spider.

>>34686863
>Say goodbye to Gail and move on to congratulate your other Haunters

>>34686863
>>Say goodbye to Gail and move on to congratulate your other Haunters
On words.

>>34686863
>Say goodbye to Gail and move on to congratulate your other Haunters
Can our spidery friend even communicate with us? He can clearly understand us, based on last thread, but can he speak in any way?

Let's find out.

>>34686974
You ever read Charlotte's Web?

>>34686974
>>34686952
>>34686947
>>34686894
writing

>>34687004
If that's how he communicates with us, I will be amused.

>>34687004
Or mabe like Broodmother in dota2

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>>34686863
Your consciousness leaves the rooftop to go find Skitter. It's only a short jaunt below the roof, so you find him rather quickly. The massive spider weaves ectoplasm into strands, covering the attic in giant masses of ecto web. It's good to have a store of ectoplasm that massive in your home base, but you worry that if you ever had to use it, Skitter might take issue with your other Haunters consuming his webbing. Still, you have resolved to cross that bridge when you come to it.

You approach the spider, who looks up at you and chitters with his massive mandibles. “Hello, Skitter.” you say. The spider sets to work with a frenzied speed as he manipulates the webbing. Soon, you recognize letters starting to appear in the strands.

MISSON?

Skitter did not have the ability to talk on the ethereal channels. He was a sentient spider born of the fears of mortals, but he was still at heart, a spider.

>Yes, Skitter, but I want to talk first.
>Maybe, but not right now.
>Write in

>>34687228
Probably. But later. Right now we're just here to congratulate you on good work.

>>34687228
>Write in
Just a friendly visits before debriefing
How are you today? Are your little ones fine?
You both does excellent work with the cocooning

>>34687280
>>34687303
writing

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>>34687228
“Bloody Mary said that we had another mission, but that's not why I'm here.” you say. The elicits a curious chittering from Skitter. “Right now, I just want to congratulate you and yours on the good work. Your cocooning was excellent.”

Skitter gives an excited little clacking as he scurries about his webbing.
“And your swarm? How are the little ones?” you ask. The spider rearranges the strands into a different array.

GOOD.

>Glad to hear it. I don't suppose you're also looking for a rank up?
>Say goodbye to Skitter and move to the last ghost
>Write in

>>34687525
>>Glad to hear it. I don't suppose you're also looking for a rank up?

>>34687525
>>Glad to hear it. I don't suppose you're also looking for a rank up?
So what do they get with rank ups? If I remember the game right they get new powers.

>>34687525
>Glad to hear it. I don't suppose you're also looking for a rank up?
Not sure what his rank is, so dunno how appropriate this is, but we may as well.

What're the up-sides and down-sides of employing higher-ranked Haunters anyway?

>>34687615
>>34687649
>>34687658
Rank ups mean you give them access to more ectoplasm, which ranks up their abilities. As the Quest goes on, certain Haunters will get their own character sheets with their own powers.

Conversely, more powerful Haunters eat more ectoplasm, which means you won't get to use as many and they'll take a heavier toll on your energy level.

writing

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>>34687525
“Glad to hear it Skitter. I don't suppose you're also looking for a Rank Up?” you ask the ecto spider.

Skitter was a Rank 3, but his potential was probably the greatest of your entire team. Skitter's mother didn't have a rank, but if the Bureau had to give her a number it would be somewhere in the vicinity of 15. Arachne was the embodiment of Arachnophobia, manifesting as a two-story high spider wreathed in a realm of webbing. She is constantly fed by the fear of mortals all around the globe, birthing countless monstrosities dreamed up from the darkest corners of mortal fear. Most of them fade back into the ectoplasm without more than one human's belief to sustain them, but the more docile ones were taken in by the Bureau to raise into Haunters like Skitter. Most Ghost Masters gave Arachne a wide berth, for her constant diet of ectoplasm meant that beings like you were a meal to her.

HAPPY.

Skitter's webbing revealed the word Happy. It seems Skitter was happy where he was at. Maybe you should recommend him for a Rank Up, he certainly deserved it. But his simple mind gave him no desire to climb the corporate ladder of the Bureau. As long as you were happy with him, it seemed he was happy with you.

>Thanks, Skitter. I'll leave you to your webs, then.
>I think I'll recommend you for a Rank Up. A bigger diet of ectoplasm will do you good.
>Write in

>>34687979
>Thanks, Skitter. I'll leave you to your webs, then.
Add:
If you ever wish to rank up, my door is always open

>>34687979
>>Thanks, Skitter. I'll leave you to your webs, then.
Once we get some build up it's ranking time.

>>34688035
>>34688088
Writing. Onward to Hector

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>>34687979
“Thanks for the talk, Skitter.” you nod. “If you ever want to Rank Up, just let me know. You do good work, and my door is always open.”

Skitter gives a pleased little clack of his mandibles before returning to his webs. A quick ethereal jaunt places you a few floors down. An old, dilapidated pool table sits in an abandoned game room where Hector wanders around with a pool cue he manifested out of his own ectoplasm. It would be a strange sight, seeing a ghost play pool with an ethereal cue, but given his telekinetic powers, Hector could enjoy a game with minimal exertion. Indeed, a regular mortal would find the table unplayable, the wood warped to ensure that the billiards would all roll to the same corner. However, for Hector, it suited him just fine.

“Boss.” he said as you enter, not even looking up from his shot. “What brings you around here?”

The clack of the balls rings out as Hector sinks a striped ball into a side pocket, an ethereal cigar smoking between his lips.

> Congratulate Hector on the previous job
>Scold Hector for his behavior last time
>Join the game
>Write in

>>34688335
>Join the game.

>>34688335
>> Congratulate Hector on the previous job
And see if we can join him in his game.

>>34688335
>>Join the game

>>34688421
>>34688424
>>34688511
writing

>>34688335
>Join the game
>Congratulate Hector on the previous job
He did fine, but he started to get a little carried away near the end.

Besides, if somebody gets maimed or knocked unconscious that kind of limits the possibilities for spooking them. The rest of them got driven out out screaming, but getting the two that passed out we had to get led out by the police. Waaaay less dignified an end to our haunting.

Just keep it in mind for the future.

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>>34688421
>>34688424
>>34688511
You summon your own ethereal cue. Normally you couldn't interact with the Material World without a tremendous strain on the ectoplasm, but Hector's game was relying heavily on his telekinesis, which you could tap into with minimal effort. You lined up your shot and were rewarded with the clack of billiards. Your solid sinks into a corner pocket.

“Just wanted to congratulate you on the last haunting.” you say.

“So you're not miffed about the head injury?” Hector asks tentatively, keeping a stone face as he shoots another stripe.

>Never get that violent again.
>It's not that big a deal. The kid lived, after all.
>Write in

>>34688636
>>It's not that big a deal. The kid lived, after all.
>Write in
Just be careful next time.

>>34688636
>>34688588
What they said.

He did good, But don't let it get that far again.

>>34688636
>I understand the need for acting that violent occasionally but its hard for us to do our job when are targets are unconscious

>>34688687
>>34688701
>>34688703
writing

>>34688636
A little bit here and there's fine, but you've gotta be more careful with it.

If somebody ends up dead or maimed, it'll start to attract all the wrong sort of attention.

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>>34688636
You bank another solid. Pool isn't your game.
“It's not that big a deal.” You say as Hector lines up another shot. “The kid lived, just be careful next time.”

The stripe disappears into the pocket as you continue. “I understand the need for acting that violent, but it's hard for us to continue our job if the target is unconscious.” You step forward to line up your cue. “Besides, two of the kids ended up unconscious, leading to the police arriving and us being stuck with the cleanup. It makes for a less dignified haunting and wastes energy. Just keep that in mind. A little bit of violence here and there is fine, but you've gotta be more careful with it.”

“The spider made the girl pass out.” Hector says.

>Don't argue with me Hector. I will not tolerate insubordination from my Haunters.
>I said it's all right, Hector. Just don't let it happen again.
>Write in

>>34688974
>I said it's all right, Hector. Just don't let it happen again.

>Write in
The girl pass out because of phobia but she is harmless. If there are no injuries then its fine.
I already talk to spider and next time we should let their mortal friend wake them up. Or should we hire a dream demon?

Just lighten the mood

>>34688974
>I said it's all right, Hector. Just don't let it happen again.

>>34688974
>I said it's all right, Hector. Just don't let it happen again.

>“The spider made the girl pass out.” Hector says.
Come on, he SCARED her unconscious. She's going to remember that for ages. Any ol' person can clonk somebody's head against the wall, Hector. You're better than that.

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>>34688974
“I said it's all right, Hector.” you say dismissively. “Skitter was harvesting madness, which is extremely valuable to us as you know. No injuries mean no paperwork for me. The girl passing out from a phobia is harmless.”

“And a kid tripping over a rug and cracking his head isn't?” Hector says irritatedly as he sinks another shot.

“Just don't let it happen again.” you say with a heavy breath. “Skitter scared the girl unconcious. She'll be feeding ectoplasm into the environment for the rest of her days. Anyone can just trip someone and make them bash their head against the wall...” you wander over and place your hand on the old poltergeist's shoulder. “You're better than that, Hector. I know you are.”

“All right, all right, boss.” Hecto says with a smoke exhale from his cigar. “I'll keep the reigns tight next time.”

>Thank Hector again and take your leave. The Bureau would be waiting for you
>Continue to hang around the mansion
>Write in

>>34689268
>Thank Hector again and take your leave. The Bureau would be waiting for you

>>34689268
>Thank Hector again and take your leave. The Bureau would be waiting for you

Add: If you make a mortal wet themselves next time with no injury, ill buy you a drink

>>34689268
>>Thank Hector again and take your leave. The Bureau would be waiting for you

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>>34689268
“Thank you Hector.” you say again. Hector was an old poltergeist. His telekinetic powers got him to Rank 5, but his attitude always made the Council wary of a Rank Up. Hector was opinionated and stubborn, but his loyalty was without question.

With all of your Haunters congratulated and tended to, you knew the time had come to report back to the Bureau for debriefing. Your consciousness fades away onto the ethereal winds and you manifest back into the Bureau, a realm of nothing but corridors and offices. You briefly wonder if you should have another chat with Bloody Mary while you're here. Maybe it should wait until you're done with the official business...

>Seek out Bloody Mary
>Go to the Debriefing Office first.
>Write in

>>34689529
>Go to the Debriefing Office first.

Business first

>>34689529
>>Go to the Debriefing Office first.

>>34689529
>Go to the Debriefing Office first.

I don't think we need to chat Bloody Mary yet

>>34689567
>>34689570
>>34689582
writing

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>>34689529
You decide to go the Debriefing Office first. You manifest outside of the right door and venture in.
“So you're back.” Mortimer, the desk skeleton says as he looks up.

The desk skeletons. Dead businessmen and women that were recruited to keep the Bureau running smooth. Cogs, really. Exceptionally adept business workers were recruited upon their death to work for the Bureau until they were replaced. Most of them weren't allowed to move on because the Bureau needed desk jockeys with no skill at haunting to keep it working. When a new accountant or administrator dies, they were recruited into the Bureau, and the oldest worker got to move on. Needless to say, most of them were bitter.

“The Bloody Mary house has been cleaned.” you say. “Minimal complications.”

“Yes yes yes, I've already read the report. You injured one mortal and drove another one a good way into madness.” You had to hand it to them. Not much got past the desk skeletons. You assumed Bloody Mary had filed the report. It was her house after all. She had requisitioned the haunting herself.

“The boy survived, and we covered everything.” you answer. “Nothing abnormal for the authorities to pick up on save for the testimony of six teenagers with spooky stories.”

“Just be sure it doesn't happen again.” Mortimer says, clacking away on the keyboard with bony fingers.

>stay tuned for part 2!

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>>34689835
“I won't.” You answer, and then sit in silence as Mortimer types away.

“Is your team up for another Haunting?” the skeleton asks. You nod. “Good.”

Mortimer reaches into the files in his desk and draws out two envelopes. He places the first on in front of you.
“Two new requisitions came in. You're the first Rank 5 to report back, so you get your pick of the litter. The first is a family that recently moved into a new house. The house recently went on the market after a woman slit her wrists in the bathtub. So, as per protocol, the next family or two that moves in we want to spook out. Water and blood, that's the theme the Haunting requires. Also, there's reason to believe that there are some spirits bound to the house. If you find any, go ahead and try to help them. A Spectre of your rank with only three Haunters is starting to raise questions.”

Mortimer places the second envelope by the first one. “The second is investigatory. A motel. Ectoplasmic bands around that area are being drained at an alarming pace, but we're not sure. No Hauntings have been authorized, so we need you to figure out exactly what is eating the plasm.”

>Take the haunting.
>Take the investigation.
>Write in

>>34690001
>>Take the haunting.

Also ask about what type of spirits may be bound to the house.

>>34690001
>Take the haunting.

Lets recruit Bloody Mary

>>34690001
>Take the investigation.

Little bit change of pace.

>>34690001
>Take the haunting.
Let's keep this simple so no using Bloody Mary.

>>34690001
>>Take the haunting.

>>34690108
>>34690087
>>34690068
>>34690033
>>34690075
Haunting wins.
Writing.

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>>34690001
You reach out and take the first envelope.
“What manner of spirits are in the house?”

Mortimer clacks away again.
“Ectoplasm suggests two or three spirits based on ectoplasmic usage in the area. Can't give you any more than that. The entire point of bound spirits is that they're unregistered.” the skeleton says in a huff. “As in, you know, not in our system. If you want to know more, go find them.”

You nod, taking the envelope. Mortimer continues, “How many Haunters will you be taking with you?”

>Take your whole team.
>Take only one or two.
>Write in

>>34690267

>Take only one or two.
Just take Hector

>>34690267
>>Take only one or two.

Skitter and Gail, bench Hector so he can cool his jets.

>>34690267
>Take your whole team.
Skitter might not be strictly necessary given the theme we're supposed to go with for this haunting, but we're still operating pretty light. No sense in trying to economize just yet.

Might need one of them to help with unbinding bound spirits anyway, and it'd be a shame to have left one behind if they could've been helpful with that.

>>34690267
>>Take your whole team.

>>34690303
>>34690306
>>34690380
>>34690436
writing

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>>34690267
Your first instinct is that Hector could probably do this haunting solo. Gail and Skitter don't entirely fit with the theme the Bureau wants, and Hector could help with the water theme with his telekinesis. Burst pipes and leaking faucets fit right in with the water, and you could get creative on the blood front.

...of course, Hector could use a little bench time. A bit to cool off would do you some good.

After a bit of brief internal debate, you resolve not to clip your own wings. Besides, you want to free the bound spirits, and the more tricks up your sleeve, the better.

“I'm going to take all three of my team.” you answer.

>See if you can requisition a blood-fetter spirit for this haunting. It'll cost you most of the gold plasm you gathered with the pink girl's madness that Skitter harvested.
>Decide that you can just get creative on the blood front. After all, it doesn't have to be real blood. Food coloring works just as well for hauntings as it does in the movies. Mortals tend to not ask questions when they're scared out of their mind.
>Write in

>>34690528
>>Decide that you can just get creative on the blood front. After all, it doesn't have to be real blood. Food coloring works just as well for hauntings as it does in the movies. Mortals tend to not ask questions when they're scared out of their mind.

>>34690528
>Decide that you can just get creative on the blood front.
Knocking jars of tomato sauce off of shelves is a go.

>>34690528
>>See if you can requisition a blood-fetter spirit for this haunting. It'll cost you most of the gold plasm you gathered with the pink girl's madness that Skitter harvested.
If you're going to do something, it's best to do it while decked to the nines. Half-assing things tends to cause bad shit to happen.

>>34690528
>>Decide that you can just get creative on the blood front. After all, it doesn't have to be real blood. Food coloring works just as well for hauntings as it does in the movies. Mortals tend to not ask questions when they're scared out of their mind.

>>34690610
>>34690629
>>34690683
>>34690716
looks like we're getting creative!
writing.

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>>34690528
You briefly contemplate spending your recently-earned gold plasm on requisitioning a blood-fetter spirit, but you ultimately decide that you don't want to spend your hard-earned currency right away. Mortals were highly suggestible. Smearing ketchup all over the walls might look paltry from an objective viewpoint, but to a mortal scared out of their mind, tomato sauce running down the walls would look like the walls were bleeding just as well as if they actually were. With only three Haunters at your disposal, your previous Hauntings relied on your wits and creativity to get you to Rank 5. Most Ghost Masters needed Haunters that numbered in the double digits to rise as far as you have. Luckily for you, the mortal mind was malleable and highly open to suggestion. A fact that only ever made your job easier.

You bid Mortimer a good day and walk out of the Debriefing Office, envelope in hand.

Once outside, you contemplate visiting Bloody Mary, or just gathering your team and heading to the Haunting Site.

>Pay Bloody Mary a visit
>Get on with your job
>Write in

>>34690867
>Pay Bloody Mary a visit.
We're here may as well pay a visit to her. Hell she could have some tips for us.

>>34690867
>>Pay Bloody Mary a visit
Hey, maybe she has some tips.

>>34690867
>>Pay Bloody Mary a visit
Visit the nice lady!

Also ask for advice on how to bloody up a place of residence all properlike.

>>34690867
>Get on with your job

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>>34690867
You resolve to visit Bloody Mary. You find her easily enough in the Bureau, considering she'd been by the Debriefing Office not long before you to drop off the Haunting Report.

“Bloody Mary.” you call out as you manifest near her. She turns to you. “Oh, Spectre. I wasn't expecting to see you so soon.”

Bloody Mary was an immensely powerful spirit. The subject of an urban legend that spans continents, Mary was a ghost from a time when belief saturated the Spirit World. In her original incarnation, she could even be a benevolent entity. Women called upon her in their mirrors so that she could write the names of the man who would become her husband on the mirror. If she appeared bloody, it was a premonition that the woman was going to die before she married.

It was only when belief started to wane in the world, with the advent of the sciences and the decline of ectoplasm that Mary had to reinvent herself. The legend changed that if you called upon Mary, she would kill you by scratching out your eyes. A more gruesome tale to inspire more fear.

Normally, Mary could only manifest inside of mirrors, but here in this purely ectoplasmic realm, she could walk around freely. It was her house that you Haunted last as a favor, and she currently owed you a favor in return.

>Call on your favor now to help with your bloody haunting.
>Just talk and maybe get some pointers.
>Write in

>>34691111

>Just talk and maybe get some pointers.

>>34691111
>Just talk and maybe get some pointers.
I'm got a haunting and I need to use water and blood as my themes. i can get water with Gail but I need some advice with blood.

>>34691111
>>Just talk and maybe get some pointers.

>>34691140
>>34691141
>>34691257
writing

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>>34691111
“I just wanted to say hello and chat for a bit.” you say. “Oh.” she says. “Well, I always have time for the Spectre who chased away the mortals from my house.”

“I've been assigned a Haunting by the Bureau,” you say, “and one of the themes I have to stick to is Blood. However, I don't have any Haunters with a blood fetter. I'm good on the water front, but Blood is going to be tricky.”

She blinks a few times. “...You accepted a Haunting without the appropriate fetters. That's...”
She looks like she really wants to say the word “stupid.”
“...Bold of you.” she seems to be trying to be polite.

>That's why I wanted to see if you have any pointers.
>I've been on more high profile cases before, and my team hasn't failed me yet.
>Write in

>>34691379
>That's why I wanted to see if you have any pointers.

>>34691379
>>That's why I wanted to see if you have any pointers.

>>34691379
>>That's why I wanted to see if you have any pointers.
"Reckless, I know. But here I am, asking you for some solid advice-- though I will admit I'm not too proud to beg."

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>>34691379
“Well, that's why I wanted to see if you had any pointers.” you say. “I know it's reckless. Which is why I'm here asking you for some solid advice. I will admit I'm not too proud to beg.” you say lightheartedly.

Bloody Mary's expression softens a bit. “Well, it would be terribly cold of me to make you beg, especially after you did me the honor of preserving the integrity of my house. I can give you some advice.” she says with a nod.

“Mortals aren't blood experts.” she says, “and even the ones that are, don't make proper analysis when they're scared. Of course, one of the signature moves of the blood fetter is the bleeding walls. Even so, that is one of the easiest illusions to fake with anything that looks like blood. If a mortal is scared enough, any sufficiently dark liquid will look like blood to them. Ink is a popular choice. Red paint. Oh, and handprints. Red handprints usually strike a particular chord, especially if you can make the prints 'crawl' toward them. I suppose you could also do red smears or writing in any sufficiently colored liquid. Anything beyond that, though, and you will need a blood fetter. My favorite is bleeding from the eyes. Strikes a deep chord in the fears of mortals. Unfortunately, that would be next to impossible for you to pull off.”

>Thank Bloody Mary and continue about your business
>Continue talking to Bloody Mary
>Write in

>>34691604

>Thank Bloody Mary and continue about your business

>>34691604
>>Thank Bloody Mary and continue about your business
Thanks for the tip

>>34691604
>>Thank Bloody Mary and continue about your business

>>34691604
>>Continue talking to Bloody Mary
"Hm... I don't suppose you'd be interested in tagging along? As an advisor, of course. I wouldn't dream of telling you how to make the walls bleed, let alone make the taps splurt out blood instead of water."

>>34691644
>>34691655
>>34691658
>>34691718
writing

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>>34691604
“Thanks for the tips, Mary.” you say. Her advice would be helpful. While it would be easier to ask Bloody Mary to help directly, you aren't interested in calling in that favor just yet. It was good prospects to have such a high-profile spirit owe you a solid.

You resolve to keep her words in mind, as this next Haunting would test your wits. Failure could result in a Rank Down. Not many Ghost Masters had the shame of being Ranked Down, but you don't know if the Bureau would overlook your blatantly reckless decision to go into the haunting without a blood fettered Haunter.

Well, for better or for worse, your send out a pulse along the ectoplasmic winds to summon your Haunters. They would be along shortly. You look inside the envelope and get the location of your next assignment. With your Haunters in tow, you arrive to a fairly normal looking house.

>scope the family you'll be haunting
>scope the environment.
>write in

>>34691826
>scope the environment.
Let's see what we can use

>>34691604
>My favorite is bleeding from the eyes.
Can't imagine how we'd manage this, but if Gail can pull a bit of her weather control indoors we might be able to pull enough humidity from the air to start up some nosebleeds.

Especially if we can get a nice one going in the middle of the night, having someone wake up with their pillow and sheets bloodied would be a good start.

>>34691826
>scope the family you'll be haunting
Know your enemy. We'll get a bit of info on the environment while watching the family anyway, and we'll be able to know how focus our effort when we look around the house more carefully if we get an idea of how/where the people spend most of their time.

>>34691826
>>scope the family you'll be haunting
Better off finding out what makes each individual tick. Maybe one of them is a hemophobe, arachnaphobe, or one of them could just be plain OCD about stuff not being organized.

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>>34691826
Your first instinct is to scope out the family. You needed to know as much about the mortals you'd be scaring as you could. You expand your consciousness to view the majority of the house. The oldest male was busy hauling in boxes from the moving truck parked out front.

The oldest female was unpacking things in the kitchen as a baby played in a contraption that allowed it to wheel around in a plastic circle.

Upstairs, two prepubescent boys fought over which one got which room before a teenage girl threw them both out, claiming the biggest room as hers. The children set about to exploring the upstairs of their new home.

>Investigate the family more
>Investigate the environment

>>34692054
>>Investigate the environment

>>34692054
>Investigate the environment

>>34692054
>Investigate the environment
Knowing that there's a baby is nice; parents tend to blow things way, way out of proportion if a baby is involved. Wake up and see 'blood' everywhere? Freak out a little. Baby starts crying in the middle of the night, walk in to see 'blood' everywhere? Insane panic.

Without knowing anything else, the two boys are probably the best place to plant the "there's a ghost" seed, since they'll have each other to feed off of.

>>34692095
>>34692132
>>34692155
writing.

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>>34692054
The environment seemed to be in the warm and sunny suburbs. Gale would need a lot of plasm to work up a nice ambiance. Maybe best to bind her now and give her the time. Of course, it might be more effective to have her eat a lot of plasm at once and quickly work up a storm. Then again, working up quick storms is usually more effective if in accordance with some sort of trigger. The house seemed normal enough. The suicide within it's walls hadn't tainted it with plasmic energy too much. There was residual spirit energy, but whatever spirit that caused it had long moved on. Of course, that didn't mean there weren't trapped spirits around, just no free roaming ones.

The plasm is modest in this area. Enough to work with, but not plentiful yet. Middle class folk tend to not give much stock in the supernatural unless it's religion/spirituality, feung shui, or crystals to align their energies. You didn't care what they believed in. It fueled your team with plasm, and you certainly needed more of it. After today, this area would be rife with it.

>Bind Gale now and have her start to gather energy for storms
>Investigate the area further
>Check the ectoplasmic bands for trapped spirits.
>Write in

>>34692271
>>Check the ectoplasmic bands for trapped spirits.
Lets see if we can't employ some local talent.

>>34692271
>>Investigate the area further

>Check the ectoplasmic bands for trapped spirits.

>>34692271
>>Check the ectoplasmic bands for trapped spirits.
Let's look for some friends!

>>34692271
>Check the ectoplasmic bands for trapped spirits.
This is an easy first step.

Getting Gail started would be good too, but I'm not sure if that would limit our ability to have her help out with any trapped spirits. We can probably afford to wait until we know more.

>>34692271
>>Check the ectoplasmic bands for trapped spirits.

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>>34692271
You decide to investigate the possibility of trapped spirits further. The Bureau said that there might be more around. You check the ectoplasmic bands and notice something peculiar. The backyard pool was actually eating plasm. Water doesn't eat plasm. There was something else inside the house, too. Something that you didn't notice on your first sweep, but as your consciousness poked around, it seemed to register you.

>check the pool
>check inside the house.

>>34692374
>>check inside the house.
Pool is a bit too dangerous right now.

>>34692336
Either way, I say we go slow burn on this one. Make the house unnaturally humid, move stuff about in the bathroom, have razors showing up in unexpected places. God I hope they have razors. Have Harold lurk about as a shadow in the house, have those kids see him coming out of the bathroom. Really build up a good atmosphere before we start going loud.

>>34692374
>>check inside the house.
Maybe this one was around when that woman killed herself.

>>34692374
>check inside the house.
If the pool spirit is watery it'd be helpful, but most of our work is going to be done inside. If there's something in there that would interfere with our operations and/or help us out, it'd be good to know that.

>>34692398
Turning on the bathroom faucet and letting it run if left unattended would be great for ambiance, and is relatively low-effort on our end. Flooding the floor/fogging up the bathroom all the time for the low, low cost of Hector turning the faucet on one time seems like a great idea.

>>34692386
>>34692398
>>34692412
>>34692462
writing.

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>>34692374
You decide to check inside of the house to what is reacting to your plasmic ripples. You zero in on the biggest room. You scan the plasmic bands and locate the disturbance. It seemed to be something in the wall. You look past the plaster and paint and come to view a rather disturbing looking toy. A child's teddy bear lay nailed to the support beam. It seemed to turn its head to look directly at you, registering your presence.

>attempt to communicate with it
>touch it
>feed some plasm to it.
>write in

>>34692544
>>attempt to communicate with it

>>34692544
>>feed some plasm to it.
It's probably weak and more or less why we didn't notice it the first go around.

>>34692544
>>feed some plasm to it.

>>34692544
>feed some plasm to it.
so we may
>attempt to communicate with it

>>34692564
>>34692601
>>34692617
>>34692626
writing

>>34692544
You want down from there?

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>>34692544
You send a little ectoplasm into the spirit. “What are you?” you ask.

The toy gives a little lurch. “Trapped...”
“Trapped? Trapped how?”

“Nails.”
You notice the teddy bear had nails driven through its limbs and head. It continues to struggle. “Release..me...”

>Try to get the nails out yourself
>Summon a ghost to get them out. (Hector is the default option for this one)
>Fuck that. Leave the bear in the wall.
>Write in

>>34692710
>>Summon a ghost to get them out. (Hector is the default option for this one)

>>34692710
Hector, think you can help the little guy out with the Plasm in the air right now?

>>34692710
If taking the nails by our ghost powers is impossible, can we lure the teenage girl to take the nails?

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>>34692710
You summon Hector to your side. “Hector, try and get those nails out of him.” you order. Hector's telekinesis should prove more than able to rip out a few nails and free the spirit.

You feel the poltergeist draw in a bit of plasm and reach out to touch the nails. Unfortunately, you feel a giant ripple emanate from the nails as Hector's kinesis pulls back. “YEEOWCH!” Hector yells as he backpedals away from the toy.

“Hector, what's wrong?” you ask urgently.

“Curse nails, Boss.” he says, wringing his hands as if they hurt him. “I can't touch them.”

Great. This means you'll have to get one of the humans to remove the nails.

>Talk to the spirit again. You're not sure that you can get more than a few words out of it at a time. And it takes plasm to overcome its bind.
>Move on and try to find a way to free it.
>Write in

>>34692871
>>Move on and try to find a way to free it.

>>34692871
Okay, this can be good. This can be part of our slow born. We can add knocking or scratches to the itinerary, right here when things start to get spooky. They think there's something behind here, maybe a raccoon got in the walls, so they hire an exterminator or just get inside to what's doing it and they find this bear done up like Jesus. Like, with the other creepy stuff that'll be happening that the beginnings of a narrative right there.

>>34692871
>Move on and try to find a way to free it.
We will use the teenagers to pull the nails

>>34692902
>>34692915
>>34692919
writing

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>>34692871
You decide to move on with your Haunting. You can't help the poor spirit now, and having Hector try and pull out the nails could damage him. You wanted to free the spirit, but you can't risk your own Haunters. Best to build up plasm and manipulate the mortals into doing your work for you.

You pull your consciousness out of the wall and contemplate your next step.

>Start to build plasm
>Investigate the pool
>Write in

>>34693007
>>Investigate the pool

>>34693007
>Investigate the pool

>>34693007
>Investigate the pool

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>>34693023
>>34693035
>>34693040

You decide to investigate the pool. The closer you get to it, you notice that the pool isn't devouring ectoplasmic energy... it's turning it into music. You hear a soft harmony on the ethereal winds, coming out of the very water.

>investigate closer
>call out to the water
>write in

>>34693171
>call out to the water

>>34693171
>>call out to the water

>>34693171

>call out to the water
"A lovely melody you are creating, might I inquire as to why?"

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>>34693171
“Hello? Is there someone there?” you call out to the singing pool.

“Hello?” a voice answers back, lyrical and soft.

"You have a lovely singing voice. Might I ask why you're singing?"

"I am a Nixe. Ours is to sing."

>I'm a Ghost Master from the Bureau, I'm here to help.
>You're a what?
>Write in

>>34693310
>>I'm a Ghost Master from the Bureau, I'm here to help.

>>34693310
>>I'm a Ghost Master from the Bureau, I'm here to help.

Probably a elemental.

Here's an idea on how to free the spirit with the cursed nails;
Project the sound a child crying, possibly coupled with a faint etheral form.
Get the mortals to investigate.
Have the 'Child' cry for 'Teddy'
Have Hector seal the house and have the 'Child' throw a Kinetic Tantrum, all the while screaming for Teddy.
Have the mortals lead to where the Teddy is and they should free it to placate the 'Child'

Just an idea...

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>>34693310
“Well, I'm a Ghost Master from the Bureau. I'm here to help” you say to the spirit.
A ghostly form rises out of the water. A strange looking woman with the top half of a human, and the bottom half of a ghostly fish. “A mermaid?”

She shakes her head. “A nixe.”

You look at her a bit blankly. “...You look like a mermaid.”
“Ours are the rivers and lakes, not the oceans and the waves.” she answers.

“Right. Well, I'm here to help.” you say. “You are a trapped spirit, right?”

She gives a nod. “Once I swam through the currents and the airs, following my waters through lake to rain to river to rain and lake again. Now my water is stale and stagnant. Return me to the cycle and I may swim free again.”

You drink all of this in. A river mermaid trapped in the water of a pool. You didn't know much about water or pools, but it seemed simple enough. Get the water out of the pool so it could evaporate and she would be free... of course, cracking the pool so the water could return to the ground table aquifer might do it, too. Too bad you don't have an earth elemental handy.

>Promise to help and return to your job
>So what are your powers?
> Write in

>>34693498
>>Promise to help and return to your job

>>34693498

>Promise to help and return to your job

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>>34693498
“All right. I'll be sure to help you return to your cycle so you can swim free again.” you reassure the nixe and dissipate your consciousness once more. She sinks back into the water, and once again you are looking over the scene.

So, a family of six to scare away from the house. A dad, a mom, a baby, two boys, and a girl. You were tasked with using the themes of water and blood due to the fact that the previous owner committed suicide in the bathtub.

There's a singing ghost mermaid in the pool.
There's haunted teddy bear crucified in the wall with curse nails that ghosts can't remove.
You have three haunters with none of the specific fetters that you're required to haunt with.

You're going to have your work cut out for you.

>fin
>housekeeping next post.

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>>34693641
Okay, so wrapping up everything for tonight.
If anyone wants to continue the haunting tomorrow, speak now or until next Saturday evening hold your peace.

Archive links are on the twitter page. I'm trying to do the Quest on saturdays, but life sometimes happens. Updates and times will be posted there.
https://twitter.com/Grub0830

Archive link is also here:
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/34685240/

Opening the floor to questions, comments complaints.

>>34693694
I'm all up for continuin tomorrow, OP. This quest is looking very, very promising.

>>34693806
well, I'd hate to leave a haunting half finished for an entire week, so I'll likely start up a thread to finish the current one.

Thread 2.5 of what have you. I'll start it earlier than I have been just so the threads don't run so late. Probably mid to late afternoon opposed to the evening times.

>>34693828
Sounds good. Will look forward to it.

>>34693942
specific times will be posted on the twitter. Otherwise, just search the catalog in the afternoon. It's always the same OP image.