approaching an old house in the woods, lost in deep groves ivy and moss covering areas of the house from roof to foundation tall trees have overtaken parts of the house and structure becoming an almost living house vs one of brick, wood, stone and plaster
finding a door concealed by hanging ivy, hanging open on hinges silent the old owners having long since left, internal rooms empty but for dust the rooms lit by sunlight filtered through the outside leaves what furniture there is, is dark with age, heavy and solid, unpolished the massive weight of time holds little here, yet..
clear and clean, the rooms are free of debree and wild plant growth
the visitor walking within, almost sensing someone watching calls out a greeting, "ill ell nar?"
the reaction is not what was expected, rage hate to almost the point of feeling heat
quickly leaving the inside of the house, moving to a safe distance a strange grate in the outer wall near the gate moves the outside dark like black iron, the inside lit glowing red the metal of grate moving and shifting as if mimicing a living guard the fire inside adding to the false life of the object the outdoor grate guardian questioning the unexpected visitor
languages shift and reply as ancient and lost words flow as the two seek a similar language to discuss the event in answering the grate even as the visitor watches the house whatever was angered moving within the old home, angry at the intrusion
finding a common language, the traveler learns the variant origins of the greeting call the words were once a greeting for those of werewolves, vampires, and damphirs the current usage is "any one here?"
others are "i am weak", "come eat me", "join the feast"
it all depends on who it's being said to, and intent by tone
advised by the outside guardian spirit that what lies within is not of those three, leaving only the known possibilities restless spirits known as ghosts, demons and the fae, is it something? someone else?..