Of Dreams And Nightmares

[*StarSight]

Levria dreams.

Chaos. Pain. Sorrow. Regret.

Her foot takes another step on to the cobblestone path. The dream takes a bit more substance, a bit more cohesion, pieces of reality filling themselves in with that strange dream-logic way.

She is visiting...no, has come to visit a friend...or is it a brother? It does not matter. She has come to visit someone dear. He sent a Levria a letter, didn't he? Yes, he did, it's in her pocket right now. Before her lies the cobblestone path leading to her friend's house. It is nice...it reminds her of the houses in the Lady's Ward...her friend must have done well for himself, hasn't he? Levria glances to the sky. It is midafternoon, the sun making its way towards the horizon across the cloudless sky.

As she approaches, Levria notices the front door is slightly ajar.

[*Powderhorn]

The cobbles felt oddly firm under Levria's steps, each one sending a jarring up her shins. She felt her pocket again, feeling the crinkling of paper under her hand. It is odd I can read this, no? she thinks to herself. Or perhaps it is because everything else isn't wrote so sensibly. Still, it's not a questioning of events, but rather more of a noted strangeness, an oddity in the world, but still somehow right.

Levria walks up to the door and opens it the rest of the way before stepping in. It doesn't occur to her to call out. She was expected, wasn't she? Or if she wasn't, was it her own home? It seemed strange to call out, it seemed strange to hesitate, and so, she didn't.

[*StarSight]

As Levria pats the letter in her pocket, she finds herself drawing a blank as to what it says. But it was important, wasn't it? She's come all this way because of it...or has it been a long way at all? Perhaps she should check it again, that might jog her memory...

The door opens smoothly and without a creak. Somewhere from the outside the caw of a crow can be heard. The entrance hall can be seen beyond the door, the furnishings fine and opulent, but the room a bit dark, and there is no sign of life to be seen.

[*Powderhorn]

Levria pulls the letter back out of her pocket to make sure she's in the right place. But she came here, of course she's in the right place. Right? Was this just her memory failing her again? But does her memory always fail her? What is memory in fugue?

Why is this house empty? Is it supposed to be? Of course it is. It wouldn't be if it wasn't supposed to be. But what did that letter say again?

Hello? she calls out to the room.

[*StarSight]

The letter is of course full of those lines and squiggles called 'writing'. But as she looks at it the lines and squiggles bend and twist into...a face? It speaks as though reading a letter, or dictating one:

Levria,
Something terrible is happening, and I need your help.  I fear for my life, and the lives of my family.  Something horrible is coming for me, and it will come for them afterwards...

Please, come quickly!

Your friend,
Darcy.

There is no response to Levria's greeting. She can see there is a stairwell leading up from this entrance hall, and two doors leading further into the house on the ground floor, one to her left, the other to her right.

[*Powderhorn]

Darcy? she thought to herself. Do I know a Darcy? I suppose I must, otherwise why would she write a letter to me? Oh! Something horrible! Levria starts walking towards the stairs, determined to resolve whatever the issue is for her friend... who was it again? Regardless, she must be a close, personal friend. "Why the stairs" never even crossed her mind to wonder about. It was simply right, of course, as things tend to be in dreaming states.

[*StarSight]

Levria walks, or perhaps floats to, and up, the stairs.

The second floor of the house begins with a hallway stretching away from the stairs. On Levria's right is one door.

The rest of this hall though, is shrouded in a menacing black gloom.

[*Powderhorn]

Well that seems ominous, she thinks to herself. I wonder what lays beyond the door... she ponders as she opens it.

[*StarSight]

Beyond the door is a small bedroom, the far wall has a glass door apparently leading to a balcony, and a large window to look out on the same balcony. The bed is neatly made but...dusty, as if it has been unused for quite some time.

There is a desk between the doors and window, and a woman is sitting in the chair at it, facing the wall away from Levria.

[*Powderhorn]

Levria steps in quietly, and, from the doorway asks, Hello? You wrote me a letter...?