The Haunting of Bill's House

A Horror One-Shot played 26th of October 2023. A soft homage/parody to *The Haunting* series by Mike Flanagan. Dungeon Mastered by Cayne

## Characters

Player Characters

* Solomon Martinez
* Superkitten99
* Reybanise Fasharash
* Laurent

Story Characters

* Bill Yuliman
* Beth Yuliman
* Lisa Yuliman
* Jeeves

## Monsters

Main Antagonist

* Jiangshi *(Beth)*

Additional Antagonists

* Nosferatu
* Germishka *(Ronald)*
* Carrionette *(Stacy)*

## Story

Four adventurers take on a job advertised by a man named Bill Yuliman. He tells them that his Wife and Child, Beth and Lisa, were murdered in his home while he was away on a business trip in Baldur's Gate. He now believes that there are entities living within the home and wishes for them to be dealt with so he can sell the house. Additional pieces of information given to the adventurers is that the family dog Ronald went missing the same day as the murders and that the housekeeper Jeeves continues to live in and take care of the property.

The group of ghost busters were met with silence at the front door and enter on their own accord. They were greeted by a golden humanoid silhouette playing the piano, while several more danced around the ceiling. Upon Solomon claiming they meant no harm, the creatures disappeared and the house was plunged into darkness. From here, the party split up and looked for clues.

Solomon and Laurent discovered papers in the study that indicated the last piece of business done here was at least four years ago. While perusing these documents, Solomon heard a ball falling down the stairs. A creature communicated with them that they should head toward the master bedroom. Meanwhile, on the way to the attic Reybanise decided to consult with his god, during this Kitten enter Lisa's bedroom and discovered her within sitting next to an inanimate life-sized doll. After revealing that her mother was not allowed out of her bedroom, Lisa's doll Stacy began to move and attack Kitten. Before a blow could be landed however, Kitten burned Stacy into a bubbling plastic puddle. Reybanise read Lisa's journal which revealed that Bill and Beth had been fighting about money.

On route to the master bedroom, Solomon and Laurent spotted a figure in the garden below and called out to them, but the figure walked silently away. Directly after, they heard scratching coming from the office door. Assuming it was the missing dog, they both opened the door and peered through. After trying to entice a creature hiding behind the desk with food, they were charged upon by a rabid bat-like dog. They quickly closed the door and called out to the others as they ran to the master bedroom. Kitten and Reybanise ran from Lisa's room towards them and at the same time the rabid dog broke down the office door and charged toward them. Reybanise took a step in from of the group and burned the creature to embers.

Standing at the other end of the hall past the remains was the figure from the garden, Jeeves. A mute, he communicates through writing to the group that the lady of the house would appear to them when appropriate. Following this the whispers of a disembodied voice said "I see you" then "I'm behind you" and laughed. The group decided to enter the Master Bedroom. A mirror on the wall caught Reybanise's eye and as he looked into his reflection his face began to melt until all sight was gone. The same fate befell Kitten, they were only freed when Solomon called to the strength of his god and shattered the mirror.

Within the room they found another journal, this time belonging to Beth. It told of how she hate her husband for always being absent, then described her falling in love with another man from the village. The final page described a plan to run away with him and her daughter. Digesting this information, the group proceeded to the attic entrance in the storage room. Within the room, peering over towering boxes was the pale bald head of a creature dripping blood from the mouth. When Laurent attempted to leave, he found both hallways blocked by Lisa and her Stacy dolls. Not realizing that the pale creature had join them, a fight broke out.

The creature jumped to the ceiling and sprayed blood across the four of them and leaped upon Reybanise attempting to tear through his armor, it was only with the combine efforts of the group that it was weakened enough for Reybanise to call the power of his god and burn the creature to ash. With only one path left to them, the group climbed to the attic and entered.

They found a woman kneeling in the center with long black hair and a white gown. They creature moved lighting quick behind Kitten and as the party launched attacks at it, it's eyes glowed a bright white light and sucked power out from Kitten, continuing to rip into it's metal body. Kitten swam in and out of consciousness as the party desperately tried to end the Jiangshi's life. Finally Solomon's hit connected in a radiant flourish as the creatures head was cut clean off and flung to the floor. The room went pitch black. When light ignited before their eyes, Lisa, Beth and her lover knelt huddle together in the center of the room. Beth gave an inaudible thank you as they faded away.

Before exiting the group discovered that Jeeves had passed away in his bed. Instead of immediately going back to Bill, they took a detour to the sheriff's house and informed him of what they'd discovered. Although the town came to the conclusion of Bill's guilt, the law did not and Bill was allowed to remain unpunished for the murder of his family. In an act of his own justice, Raybanise returned to the house and burned it down.