OUR TOUR BEGINS HERE.

[yourghosthost]

[Eventually, no matter your reading comprehension or your sense of time, you all find your way to the stretching room. Once everyone has gathered, the ominous sounds of a clock ring throughout the chamber. The clock strikes 13 times, and the candles in the room light themselves up on their own.

Something...or someone is in the room with you. They make themselves known quickly, with a deep voice that echoes throughout the room.]

When hinges creak in doorless chambers, and strange and frightening sounds echo through the halls; Whenever candlelights flicker where the air is deathly still - that is the time when ghosts are present, practicing their terror with ghoulish delight!

Welcome, foolish mortals, to the Haunted Mansion. I am your host, your... ghost host. Kindly step all the way in please and make room for everyone. There's no turning back now.

[The doors close behind everyone as he speaks, leaving the group stuck in the room until he finishes talking.]

Normally, we spirits don't open our manor up to temporary guests. But desperate times have forced me to extend visitations beyond our usual tours, and residency has been extended to your select group. You shall remain here permanently, unless...

Well.

[...his tone goes slightly darker for a second, with a hint of reluctance. The candlelight dims for just a moment.]

If you end the life of one of your fellow guests without being discovered, you shall be allowed to leave.

[It takes a moment, but the lights return to their normal brightness, and his tone becomes chipper once more.]

Of course, you're more than welcome to stay in the manor as long as you like! Our spirits haven't spent time with the living for a while, so they'll be excited for the change of pace.

Comments

[pardonmylanguage]

So...it's just that kings are the only ones who get to speak from the afterlife or something? [Lion cosmology sounds weird, man.]

[capulion]

The Kings of our past become the stars in the sky, and from there they watch over us and guide us. So, I suppose they're the only ones who have the power to affect things from the afterlife. Like they did in life!

[What are you talking about lion cosmology makes perfect sense.]

[pardonmylanguage]

...when you say "guide," do you mean actually appearing as lion-shaped ghosts [She waves vaguely at their Host] or just stuff like voices out of the sky?

[capulion]

Well the kings have never spoken to me directly, but I have heard stories of them appearing in the forms of the clouds, or speaking in the wind or the thunder. My father once told me that he saw his own father in his reflection, too.

[Reflections are Important.]

[pardonmylanguage]

[Well, some of that sounds like what ghosts do normally too. Especially the wind and thunder thing.] So...who exactly gets that advice, usually?

[capulion]

Well, the ones who need it most, obviously! Kings, sometimes, but other leaders too. The Guard, or head lionesses, or our wisemen.

[Or whatever Rafiki's official title is who fucking knows.]

[pardonmylanguage]

[...she's most weirded out by the fact that lions apparently use the term "men." Unless something's just translating it for them?]

So...why don't those other leaders give advice from the afterlife, then?

[capulion]

I don't know! Maybe they do! Like I said, they've never spoken to me.

[And she isn't sure if she's offended or relieved by that and seriously why are you questioning this so much??]

[pardonmylanguage]

[LION COSMOLOGY IS WEIRD.]

Well, maybe they will after your dad steps down! Or...or however it works for you. [LION MONARCHY IS WEIRD.]

[capulion]

[MAJOR SQUIRMING.]

Yeah, maybe, I guess. I don't know.

[She is very very uncomfortable right now. Is there an exit?]

[pardonmylanguage]

...well, at least you have something to go on. [At least there's a lion afterlife of some sort, right?]

[capulion]

I'm not sure what you mean by that.

[pardonmylanguage]

...where I'm from...we can't speak to the dead at all. People have claimed they can, but most of it's probably fake.

[capulion]

Oh.

[Awkward. That would... really suck.]

I'm sorry.

[pardonmylanguage]

I-it's okay. [She rubs her forehead.] We-we're used to it, I guess. And I believe there is some afterlife, even if we can't talk to each other.

[capulion]

[She nods.]

The spirit is too strong a thing to not carry on in some way! It would hard to be so unsure.

[She can't even imagine.]

It's good you believe at least.

[pardonmylanguage]

...yeah. [A slight nod. She doesn't want to get into her full reasons-part of her already feels like she said too much.]

[capulion]

I'm certain your ancestors watch over you.

[For what that's worth.]

[pardonmylanguage]

[She actually gets a small smirk.] Never really knew most of them. Would rather have the Chief, honestly.

[capulion]

Well, sure. They lived before you!

[That's just how it works, dude.]

I don't see why not him, too.

[pardonmylanguage]

[A shrug] Maybe you're right. Who knows how it works for us anyways.