TheNexusProject/DorsonsDoorstep

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Dorson's Doorstep

by Sparrowhawk

"Sometimes, I think about doin' it, just ta find out what would happen. Then I smack myself in da head wit a brick, fer thinkin' such stupid things!"
-- Born Of Fire, Street-Sage of Ashtown.

"Exclusive! Killer Cultists in Ashtown! What evil power do these kidnappers serve?"
- Recent headline in The Nexus Scuttlebutt

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For all the horror stories told about it, for all its fearsome reputation, Dorson's Doorstep doesn't look very impressive. A small, semicircular porch; white marble stained gray by the fire that destroyed the house it was once attached to; it is one of the most feared places in the scary environs of Ashtown. With its solid stone structure offering good protection from the elements, it looks like the perfect place for a squatter or vagrant to spend the night. But only the foolish or ignorant make that mistake.

The current, deserted state of Dorson's Doorstep is in stark contrast to its former place in Nexus as a center of social activity. Half a century ago, Wolf Dorson was a prominent merchant from an old Guild family. He loved to host lavish parties, where the glitterati of Nexus would go to be entertained and indulged. To further his standing in the Nexus social scene, he bought a piece of property in the hip Aston district. The new mansion was a showcase of the best craftsmanship, designed by the famed architect Limestone Hollyhock. Its facade was all white marble, with a neat semicircular porch. The guests to the mansion would admire the detailed reliefs carved into the marble while awaiting entrance. Once inside, the guests could admire the intricate woodwork, done by the best carpenters in the city. Dorson loved to boast that not a single nail was used in its construction. No expense was spared on furnishings and decoration, making the Dorson House the ultimate party showplace.

Wolf Dorson was riding high, but that wouldn't last. His playboy's life of business deals and boardroom meetings interspered with expensive parties came to an end with The Great Nexus Fire. When the blaze broke out, his house was in the middle of one of its days-long parties. Nobody inside heard the alarms when Aston started to burn. Aside from the facade, the house was constructed almost entirely of wood. It went up in flames quickly. Fewer than ten people escaped, all of them servants.

When the flames subsided, all that was left of the Dorson House was the magnificent marble facade, and a large pile of ashes. The facade collapsed within a week, and the pile of ashes became a hole in the ground when the foundation tumbled into the basement. Soon, scavengers were picking up the marble to sell for food. The only part of the mansion left intact was the porch.

After the fire, living was desperate for the survivors. People had so little, they fought and killed over anything of value: food, water, clothing, or shelter especially. Dorson's Doorstep quickly became one of the most sought-after squatting spots in the ruined neighborhood. Groups of survivors fought violently for squatter's rights to the place. It was a week before anyone noticed that those who slept there overnight didn't come back the next day... or the day after that... or the day after that. Finally, one gang decided to ambush the gang that had beaten them earlier that day, and take the Doorstep from them before they could get a good night's sleep. Bofore they could set foot on the doorstep, however, they froze - a strange, indigo haze was rising from the pit behind the porch. The intruders backed away as the mist swallowed the sleepers. It pulled away a minute later - leaving the porch empty.

Since then, the legend of Dorson's Doorstep has grown. It is the center of many a tale, most of which are only told late at night around a low-burning fire. It can be difficult to seperate the fact from the fiction. One certainty is that anyone who says they slept on Dorson's Doorstep and lived to see the morning is lying. (Gah! Tired! I'll finish it later. - Sparrowhawk)

Comments

Hey, Sparrowhawk, are you gonna finish this one? I'm kinda interested in seeing what the rumours and secret are. - Moxiane

Aaaww, shucks. I sorta forgot I started this. I was very sleep-deprived. If you hadn't commented on it, (and I hadn't seen it on the RecentChanges page,) I might have missed it entirely. :^o Now that I've seen it, I'll definitely finish it (since it's good stuff.) Expect an update tomorrow. -Sparrowhawk also has to write the TheNexusProject/DorsonsDoorstep/TowerOfNine page. The slacker.

Feel my pokety-wrath! *pokey-poke* - Moxiane

Looks like this page was last edited in December. Maybe we should put a note on TheNexusProject/DorsonsDoorstep/UnwrittenLinks that anyone can finish / rewrite it if they want? Sparrowhawk seems unlikely to. (TheNexusProject/DorsonsDoorstep/TowerOfNine has a similar problem.)
~ Shataina

Hey, I'm getting there! The move of the wiki didn't help, and I'm semi-busy. I've done certainly enough for a groundlaying... But I did indeed think about it yesterday, and once I don't have around 4 other things that need creative, linguistic energy (damn Nobilis characters, games to GM, and stuff) I promise I shall finish it.
-- Darloth

Okay. I don't suppose you feel like finishing this one too ... I'm going to put a note on it that anyone can if Sparrowhawk doesn't say anything.
~ Shataina

While I can claim that I can certainly finish one, I do not think two at once is a good idea. Sorry, but hopefully some other wikizen can pick it up.
-- Darloth