Lethal Experiences - Introduction

The group consisted of six couples, but it did not matter to The Magician; he only cared that there were six woman and six men. Over the last twenty minutes they had accumulated in the entrance hall of the mansion. Looking them over via CCTV The Magician decided that, as none of the women stood out above the others as being particularly more suitable for any of the things he had planned, he might as well let chance take a hand in the allocation of the women to parts of the performance to come.

They all signed tonight's page of the visitors book, which doubled as a contract agreeing to participate in whatever way they were asked. The Magician flipped a switch and the glass cabinet, that had stood empty between the twin curves of the marble stairs, began to fill with smoke; the hissing of the smoke machine drew the attention of the gathering. Moments later, the front of the cabinet swung open releasing the contained smoke to drift up to the dome overhead and allowing The Magician to step down from the cabinet to greet his guests.

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome the Macabre Mansion and tonight's Lethal Experiences. During which the ladies and one of the men will experience some things that under other circumstances would be fatal, but here those participants will survive; consider it magic or illusion we are not worried, just enjoy the consequences of your Lethal Experiences. To add some extra spice to the proceedings you will be allocated partners at random, each man helping with their assigned partner's demise and afterwards sharing a room for the night. In the morning all will be restored to normal and breakfast will be served. If you are not happy with that, please come forward and strike your name from the visitors book and leave by the exit, over there."

There was a slightly awkward silence during which everyone wondered if anyone would leave.

In the event, nobody made any move to depart. The Magician continued his introduction. "To help with mixing people up and setting the scene for each act, you will go upstairs, ladies using the flight on your left and the gentlemen up the flight on your right. At the top of each flight is a box of keys. Pick a key and use it to unlock the door that matches the tag. The men will find the room to which they will return for the night; the ladies will find dressing rooms in which to prepare for the evening. Wherever you end up you will also find instructions  and clothes to change into. Please change into the costumes provided, then follow the instructions to get to where you will be dining with your allocated partner for the rest of your stay in the mansion. Dinner will be served at each booth when both members of the couple arrive at the table. The show with start when dessert is served. I will see you then. Any questions?"

One of the women put up a hand. "What if we don't understand the instructions or can't follow them?"

"If there is some problem with the instructions, pick up the phone and dial zero-zero-one and a person will answer to help with your query. You may need to be a little patient, because I only have two people to answer the phones, but they will be answered. Once the show has started I shall be directly in charge, so, please direct your questions to me."

After a short wait for a second question that never arrived, The Magician declared, "It is time to begin an evening that each of you will find unforgettable. Please ascend the stairs, change into your costumes and enjoy your meal. I shall see you later." He stepped back into the cabinet which rapidly filled with smoke, after about twenty seconds, the door opened releasing a second gout of smoke to the dome above and showed the box to be once more empty.

The group in the entrance hall take a few moments to orient themselves, before the men and women  start to move to the stairs.

At the top of the stairs that the women ascend the keys in the box have round key-fobs each of a distinct colour; red, blue, pink, orange, yellow and grey. Looking down the hallway leading into the wing of the mansion on this side of the stairs, there are six doors, three on each side, with a plate of a corresponding colour. With no clue as to the fate that choosing any specific colour will lead to and no knowledge of what any of those fates might be, the women pick there favourite colours of the ones in the box when they get to pick. Some hope that they will choose a key that will result in them being partnered with the person they arrived with, but none have any illusions about the likelihood of that. All hope that their Lethal Experience will be in some way enjoyable and to be able to enjoy the meal and company preceding it and the night to follow, with whichever man they are partnered with.

At the top of the men's staircase, the keys in the box bear name-tags matching the doors down the corridor leading into this wing; Theseus, Perseus, Daedalus, Castor, Achilles and Orpheus. The men dispersed to their randomly picked rooms; each hoping for a pleasant dinner companion and wondering if their selection of room meant that they would also have a Lethal Experience and also whether that was a good or bad thing.