Aunt Lenore

Aunt Lenore's House of Horrors: A Tale of Greed, Blood, and Bad Real Estate.

Let's be honest, family gatherings can be a nightmare. But for two particularly dimwitted brothers, Leslie and James, a visit from their dear Aunt Lenore turned into a full-blown descent into madness, mayhem, and a whole lot of bad luck. This isn't your typical family reunion; this is a tale of greed, immortality, and a house with some serious structural issues.

Our story begins with the brothers, drowning in debt thanks to their shared passions for gambling and, in James’s case, the finer things in life (read: booze). Their only hope? Their wealthy Aunt Lenore, who, bless her ancient heart, showed no signs of kicking the bucket anytime soon. Desperate times call for desperate measures, so they hatched a brilliant (or so they thought) plan: invite Auntie dearest for a "relaxing" visit to their dilapidated mansion and… well, let’s just say they weren’t planning on playing bingo.

Leslie, the less-bright of the two, relinquished his room to his scheming brother, James, who penned a rather lackluster invitation: "Dear Aunt, we'd love for you to come visit. We'll treat you like a queen. Or at least a well-off relative."

Aunt Lenore, however, wasn't born yesterday. She sniffed out their desperation faster than a truffle pig sniffs out truffles. A quick trip to the bank confirmed her suspicions: her nephews were flatter than a pancake. "Well, well, well," she cackled, a wicked grin spreading across her face. "A perfect opportunity for a little fun."

Aunt Lenore arrived, a vision of saccharine sweetness, with a smile as wide as a crocodile's maw. The brothers, however, saw right through her facade. Their eyes narrowed to slits, and they exchanged a sinister glance. This was the woman they were supposed to coddle and comfort? Ha! Fat chance.

They led her to their 'finest' room - a dingy little cell barely fit for a rabid raccoon. As they ushered her in, they couldn't resist a smug smirk. "This is it, Aunt Lenore. Our pride and joy." The old woman, ever the sport, played along. "Oh, lovely! Simply divine!" she gushed, though her eyes betrayed a hint of amusement. "Now, where shall we begin our festivities?" she asked, her voice dripping with faux enthusiasm. The brothers exchanged another evil grin. The fun was just beginning.

Their first attempt on Aunt Lenore’s life involved a poisoned dinner. They cooked up a storm, slipping a potent concoction into the sauce. Unfortunately for them, they were forced to partake in the meal as well. Let’s just say the evening ended with a lot of frantic trips to the bathroom, and Aunt Lenore was doing just fine.

Next up: arson. They tried to set her room ablaze with a candlestick, but their pyrotechnic skills were about as good as their financial planning. They managed to set the room on fire alright, but when they rushed in, expecting to find a crispy aunt, she strolled in behind them, completely unharmed, claiming she’d fallen asleep on the couch.

Then came the rigged staircase. Surely, a well-placed tumble down the stairs would do the trick? Nope. Aunt Lenore emerged from the wreckage, dusting herself off and chuckling, "Perhaps you should stick to less ambitious schemes, boys."

It became painfully obvious: Aunt Lenore wasn't your average elderly relative. She was playing with them, toying with their pathetic attempts to off her. The hunters had become the hunted.

Aunt Lenore, her true nature revealed, stood before the terrified brothers. "Your little games have amused me, but now it's time for the main course," she purred, her eyes glowing with a sinister light. She revealed her secret: she was an immortal being who needed their blood to rejuvenate herself.

Leslie, ever impulsive, tried to fight her. James, ever arrogant, tried to intimidate her. Both failed miserably. "You poor, deluded boys," Lenore purred. "Do you truly believe you could harm me? I have walked this earth for centuries… I shall savor every drop, every last ounce of your vitality."

But Lenore had something even more twisted in store. She cast a powerful spell, trapping their souls within the house for eternity. Their bodies were rejuvenated, stripped of their vices, but their minds were slowly corrupted again by their old habits. The mansion was restored, only to slowly decay once more, mirroring the brothers' descent into darkness. The house became a trap, a gateway to eternal suffering, and the brothers, now Lenore’s eternal servants, lured unsuspecting victims to their doom, forever reliving their mistakes in a macabre, never-ending cycle. So, next time you’re thinking about inviting your rich relatives for a visit, just remember Leslie and James. It might save you a lot of trouble… and possibly your soul.

This is a Rol playing game collection of sessions from Stories from the Grave and taken from Seeds of Horror. I've left out the dice rolling and planning so that it's just the story as a tale.