Thread: Circus: SOF RPG: Story for Prince Testwe's Peregrination Board: Limbo / Ship of Fools.
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Posted by Doublethink (# 1984) on
:
Main Party
As the crow flies, it passes above a disparate party. Ahead are two huge men - the one to the left in battle scarred armour, the one to the right in a bear skin cloak.
Behind them slowly rides a beautifully dressed young man on a fine boned white horse. A tall man - dressed in green and brown garments that fit him like a glove - walks close on his left hand side. A disinterested observer might find this odd, for he is clearly not a groom.
Behind these two, a small knot of people, a slim man in black robes, a young woman in leggings and jerkin, and a youth gesturing about something enthusiastically.
Last, comes a bright blue caravan - holding the reins to the cart horse pulling it, is a large figure wrapped in shawls. Sat beside, a lean man with an exuberance of curly brown hair. On the back of the cart horse lies a black haired child, apparently asleep.
Daniel & Arabella
Flying south east the crow flies high above two figures, huddled in a dip of land next to the churchyard copse.
She has no idea who he is, but he spoke strange words in the crypt, light came from his mouth and the ravening shadows fled. She does not know why the cave led to the crypt, why the shadows ceased to be the comforting dark, and became a terrible hunger. She knows she trusts him.
We shall come to know these fated dozen well, my listeners, we shall hear from their own mouths, their struggle and their glory - see below they speak
[ 15. June 2016, 18:13: Message edited by: Belisarius ]
Posted by Dafyd (# 5549) on
:
Daniel is trying to remember the last time he had a conversation with a woman who wasn't in an underwired nightdress. And even then he's not sure that shouting 'back back fiend' at someone who is only after your carotid artery really counts as a conversation. He casts around for some light small talk.
'So umm... Milady Adventurer, were your parents also killed in front of your face when you were ten years old?'
[ 06. May 2014, 21:05: Message edited by: Dafyd ]
Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on
:
Brandon thinks it wise to keep his eyes shut and pretend sleep as he slowly wakes... Or comes to?
He feels the unsettling disorientation that comes from genuinely not knowing when the hell one is. Who is that lady, and that dude with the weird hair? Why is he slung on the back of a horse? Did someone win him in a poker game?
Again?
Posted by Jay-Emm (# 11411) on
:
That was a successful hunt, but it is good to be moving again if we are to be at our destination before nightfall. Let us make a good pace.
Posted by Doublethink (# 1984) on
:
Prince Testwe feels it important make his expectations known
[ 06. May 2014, 21:54: Message edited by: Doublethink ]
Posted by Hart (# 4991) on
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"Yes, my dear Prince, a most successful hunt," lied Hestor, quite convincingly. A squirrel had somehow managed to trip and impale itself on that obnoxious flute of his and now the prince considered himself a great huntsman.
"As admirable as your Royal Highness's desire for speedy progress is, I wonder if we might stop awhile in that churchyard which I'm sure you noticed. No, sir: the other direction. Yes, that's it. It's barely a mile out of our way and I'm sure your father would consider it a very educational experience for you."
While Hestor didn't really do 'comfortable' -- comfort was the refuge of those insufficiently alert to the next angle they should be exploiting -- graveyards were a place he almost approached feeling comfortable. Surrounded by the dead, one could breath the satisfaction of superiority. Whatever these men and women might have possessed in their lives, they were now dead and Hestor alive. It was a cheap sense of victory, but not one he had ever considered at all dangerous.
Posted by Doublethink (# 1984) on
:
Though Teswe seemed reluctant, Hestor thought that persuading the Prince would be ***Ridiculously Easy***, so he continued to try ...
[ 06. May 2014, 22:40: Message edited by: Doublethink ]
Posted by IngoB (# 8700) on
:
Bayani looks up briefly as Prince Testwe is getting ready to speak. He then clicks his tongue loudly at Ik and Jetse to draw their attention, and briefly puts his hand to his ear, as signal for them to start listening. "This is going to be interesting..." he thinks as he drops back slightly, and comes to stand between the prince's horse and the second group. "The man who talks too much has much to hide," he remembers his master saying. His eyes briefly flicker to Prince Testwe: "Not this one though...", they flicker back to Hestor, "... this one." He stands still and waits, with his eyes wandering around to spot any incoming movement coming towards the convoy from the back.
Posted by Doublethink (# 1984) on
:
Hestor was quietly satisfied as, despite the grumblings of the soldiers, the party turned from the path to head toward the church. He might be dragged along on this foolish princeling's 'great adventure' but at least he could indulge in some enjoyable excursions.
[ 06. May 2014, 22:56: Message edited by: Doublethink ]
Posted by Autenrieth Road (# 10509) on
:
This is what it was like for Arabella:
She was at Witt's End again, stuck as usual getting nowhere, and thinking she would have to stop and start all over again at the little house by the stream. She was going to vent her frustration with a loud "Cripes" even though the cave would only politely inform her that it didn't know what she meant. But her fingers, or her tongue, slipped, and out came "Crypt", and all of a sudden she was in a stone room she had never seen before.
The room had a small, close feeling, yet also seemed to stretch away into distant reaches sensed rather than seen between columns which seemed to be both squat and oddly tall. She had barely registered the overturned sawhorses and the cast-down coffin spilling a length of blood-red silk from under its half-open lid ("and how very real that particular blood-red shade is," Arabella started to think), but no time to notice coffins or think of colours, before thin pale fingers grasped her wrist, strange words and unexpected light spilled from the stranger's mouth, and he was pulling her outside, then out from under the trees, and into a hollow where his grip did not loosen until he had pulled her down beside him sheltering behind the merest ripple of a fold of land.
And now he was speaking to her, in words that she had not heard or thought of for long years.
"Parents?" she croaked through dry lips. She couldn't remember much before the first time she found herself outside the stream-house, wondering what to do.
A word came to her. How did she know this word? No matter, she would try it. A new word in a new place. "Arabella," she offered. And then, because she was feeling something she very rarely felt in the cave, even as familiar as the cave had become: "Safe. With you."
Posted by Doublethink (# 1984) on
:
Noon has past, we enter: Day 2
Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on
:
Clawdine yawned and wondered where the Prince was going this time. She flicked King's reigns gently to alert him they were turning, and to warn the boy his services were probably going to be required shortly.
The pattern was always the same. Hector would determine where they would stay for the night, guards would be set, the scout sent out by Hector to find water for the horses. Meanwhile Clawdine knew exactly where to put her caravan so King would get refreshed first. Then Brandon would "find" the watering place, Clawdine would be ordered away, and Hector would bask in the credit.
She shook her head. Must be time for a pipe soon.
Posted by Eliab (# 9153) on
:
"A successful hunt?" muttered Gunriana to herself. Perhaps it had been, though half the morning gone for a fraction of the food that any of the local farms and villages could have supplied scarcely represented a good bargain. The Prince, though, was referring to the sport, of finding and following a trail, of sighting the prey, of the sudden thrill of pursuit and the clean kill at the end. But the real value of the exercise lay in the opportunity to study the others. Bayani, the foreigner, was one to watch - a dangerous man who moved like a snake, and the only one who seemed at all likely to keep Prince Testwe in view during the chase. Ik and Jetse were more imposing, certainly, and His Highness was fortunate to have such protectors, but what good would even a giant of a man like Ik do if the Prince outpaced him every time a hare or pheasant started from cover along the way?
Gunriana smiled to see Hestor subtly steer his master to do his bidding. Again. There was much to learn from Master Snear.
Was the same true of Clawdine? Gunriana shot a glance in her direction. It was hard to get the measure of her. A wise woman, with troll's blood, was not someone to take lightly, and the risk of her becoming a rival - water against stone, river-witch against hail-maiden - could not be discounted. The daughters of the fates are rarely friends of one another - they have too much of their mothers' nature.
But that was a matter for another day. Hestor was leading the entourage towards the churchyard. This was no mere burying place. There was but one reason to build a shrine here, with no man's dwelling in sight of it - the place must be sacred, a site of power. A prince might enter such a place recklessly, a rune-shaper, never. Gunriana traced As on her breast and uttered a brief chant of propitiation for the powers to whom the place was sacred. "Grant us leave and safe passage, Holy Ones. As we come without offence, we will leave without harm".
Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on
:
Brandon finally opens his eyes and sits up. Fully awake, he now recognises his party members, but still can't remember getting on that horse.
"Y'all, what happened last night? My neck hurts."
(notices they are entering a church yard)
"Ooops. Sorry." (bows head reverently.)
Posted by IngoB (# 8700) on
:
A flicker of a smile crosses Bayani's face as he rummages in his jacket and pulls out a small apple.
"Kid, catch! Breakfast."
He chucks the apple towards Brandon and then turns to close the distance to the prince and his horse again.
Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on
:
Brandon sniffs the apple, shrugs, and takes a bite.
"Thanks."
"Hey, if that's a shrine you're building there, ma'am, I can donate some sage to burn in front of it, if you want. Wait, where's my..."
(Rummages in saddle bags.)
[ 07. May 2014, 02:07: Message edited by: Kelly Alves ]
Posted by JFH (# 14794) on
:
The blurry grey turned to blurry beige sand-coloured blur. Then he spotted the black pinstripes spinning and bending over the grey-brown background, slowly becoming more and more fastened along nice straight lines. Maybe sheet music on undyed linen. Maybe the boarding of the roof of the caravan. The floor was hard and his body was stiff, but at least he was not as cold or as awake as he would have been had he slept outdoors.
Stone Miller slowly raised his head, leaned on one arm and rolled over to all fours. He sat up, found himself kneeling in front of a crucifix of some sort, hanging on the wall. He grabbed it and tried to pull himself up using the nail on the wall as leverage, but it was made for lighter crosses to bear and he fell down, crucifix in hand, head bumping against the wall with a loud thud and a half-shouted, half-whispered curse. He knew Clawdine would not like it. He placed the crucifix in the usual spot when he did not know where to place things but wanted them out of his hands - in his big curly wild-grown hair. He crawled over to the window and used that to pull himself to his legs. He really, really needed a strengthener.
Stone looked out the window and saw a couple of tombstones arriving at a slow pace. He leaned over a bit too much towards the window and fell a meter and a half down on the dirt road. Again, choked curse. Anyway, church and graveyard approaching. He didn't really know his company but then again he didn't really care. He was a-wandering across the land and a caravan to sleep in was as fine a place as any. Anyway, he would need to make himself useful to someone over the day, at least himself, and make a day of labour of it.
That last hit on the head, by means of blunt dirt road, had gotten him to really wake up. This was another day on the road, another day in need of supplies. He realized the benefit of getting to a graveyard. This was not a bad place for finding things lost by others. From a professional perspective, relieving the dead of copper coins over their eyes was as good as giving the living relief as they averted their eyes with some copper generousity. The dead could usually spare it even more. Stone got a little bit enthusiastic when he thought about the possibilities, and picked up a small stick from the ground beneath a dead oak and began to poke about by the graves. He looked carefully at the tombstones for fancy titles and names as they were usually the ones with the best loot.
Stone Miller attempts scavenging at the graveyard.
Posted by Doublethink (# 1984) on
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Miller ignored the mildly disgusted glances from the others, he thought that his chances of finding something would be ***OK***
[ 07. May 2014, 05:22: Message edited by: Doublethink ]
Posted by Eliab (# 9153) on
:
"Miller, do you know which god this place is devoted to? And do you not think you should find out before provoking them?"
Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on
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Clawdine watched Brandon unhitch King and lead him up a rise to drink water from a spring bubbling out of the ground above the graveyard. She pitied the stupid ones in the party, who were collecting water from the ditches below the cemetary. Not the girl though. The girl was smart.
She shook her head again and puffed on her pipe. "Hey, 'Tone!" she called in the direction of Stone Miller. "Yer find anythin, yer 'till owe me fer the poteen yer took terday. Clawdine getz haff."
[ 07. May 2014, 06:08: Message edited by: Banner Lady ]
Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on
:
quote:
Originally posted by Eliab:
"Miller, do you know which god this place is devoted to? And do you not think you should find out before provoking them?"
(chomping apple)
"See, that crossed my mind, too. but I guess it's his funeral."
(Sunny smile)
"Hi Clawdine! Want the rest of my apple?"
Posted by Doublethink (# 1984) on
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Daniel & Arabella lie in the hollow of the ground, cold and tired but too ***vigilant*** and wary after their recent encounter to consider their next move. Daniel knows it would be ***hard*** for him to see anyone approaching. Arabella knows she is likely to hear anyone coming too close ***OK***
Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on
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Clawdine shook her head. "Give it ter King. He lovet applez. Now, dyer reckon yer could find uz a coney or two for dinner?"
Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on
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Sure thing!
(hops off horse, secures it to caravan and pokes around in shrubbery next to graveyard, ***tracking*** small animal prints)
Posted by Jay-Emm (# 11411) on
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(Teswe announced)
I say Hector, wasn't I right to suggest we came this way. It is a most peculiar place.
Teswe then wandered around looking for faults in the care of the churchyard. They might be reported later.
Posted by Doublethink (# 1984) on
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Brandon thinks it should be ***OK*** to find something for the pot around here
Posted by Dafyd (# 5549) on
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Daniel thinks about the woman's remark. 'Safe. With me. Well, that depends. We can probably count on the shadows not coming out of the crypt while it's daylight. After nightfall is a bit less certain. There have been attacks on people out at night on their own in the area. Now these creatures = If I remember correctly.' He pauses while he remembers ***occult knowledge*** to work out what the shadows were and why they're in the crypt.
Posted by JFH (# 14794) on
:
quote:
Originally posted by Eliab:
"Miller, do you know which god this place is devoted to? And do you not think you should find out before provoking them?"
"What's yer name and why's it bothering you? I've done this a million times and it ain't ever provoked no gods yet. Maybe your superstition and junior pretenses about our divine hosts will provoke them more than a poor man trying to stay alive! If you don't want me having a look around, feel free to share a few gold coins and a drink and I'll have made my day's worth anyway."
Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on
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(thrusting bushes right and left and grumbling)
You know, I see a million little tracks but they all seem to go in circles. See what happens when you let me fall asleep on a horse? I get all discombobulated.
Oh that's not even a track, that's a &^%$v leaf. Gahh. Wish I was old enough to drink coffee.
Posted by Doublethink (# 1984) on
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Daniel knows it ought to be ***ridiculously easy*** to work out what waylaid them in the crypt.
Posted by JFH (# 14794) on
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"I'm sorry, Clawdine dear, whoever's godding this place, it sure ain't Mammon. Couldn't even find a rock to break the church windows with. This ain't a good sign for Stone, I tell ya. People being so tight-fisted they don't spend money on their dead mother aren't likely to have much over for good quality petty repairs either... And tight-fisted folks make for tight-fisted ghosts... Did anyone have a drink to spare for old Stone, by the way?"
Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on
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Still sleepy and out of sorts, Brandon crawls into the back of the caravan.
Posted by Doublethink (# 1984) on
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Daniel's senses have been on a hair trigger since leaving the crypt. He is suddenly distracted by noises on the wind, a largish party arriving just to the north west, they must be in the church yard.
Daniel is struck by a sudden insight, he knows exactly where he is in relation the arriving party, the church, the crypt. All those years studying old books, maps, directions suddenly seem to click into place. Daniel realises he really can navigate.
Posted by Ariston (# 10894) on
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All this poking around, rustling around in isolated graveyards…if this really is a place of power, as the gloved lady suggested, then best to keep a lookout. The dead rarely stay still in such places once disturbed—best to keep a sharp watch and try to **spot trouble** with the halberd at the ready...
Posted by Marvin the Martian (# 4360) on
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ik not like graveyard. graveyard where people go after fight ik, so graveyard full of ik enemies. ik keep eyes open and stay close to squishy girly man (Teswe). father of squishy girly man promise ik much gold to keep squishy girly man alive on journey. ik like much gold, buy many cow and become rich man in home village, maybe do lie-down baby-make with chief's daughter.
ik think curly-hair dust man (Miller) stupid. even ik know not dig up dead people. dead people not like, maybe stand up start fighting. ik see it happen before. ik not care about curly-hair dust man though, ik not be given gold if he stay alive.
ik not worry much about it. if dead people stand up threaten squishy girly man then ik hit with club and they lie down again, stay still.
ik take apple, start eating, keep eyes open.
Posted by JFH (# 14794) on
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Stone Miller notices that that big fellow who looks rather stupid seems to be thinking a lot and throwing frustrated glances his way. "I'm sorry, sir, I'm not quite a mind reader so if you're thinking low of something I am up to I'm afraid I can't really do much about that unless you choose to open your mouth and let me know that. Respectfully, of course. What's your name, by the way?"
Posted by IngoB (# 8700) on
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Bayani sidles over to Jetse.
"Easy there, Guardian. Ghosts don't come come out to play at noon... Time to eat, not fight, no?"
He looks back at the caravan pensively.
"Thing is ... the brat you hired... sleeps all morning, wakes up with a stiff neck, stumbles about on the graveyard, and now is back to sleeping at midday. 50 soldi say that he found Stone's liquor stash, eh?"
Bayani is about to poke Jetse in the ribs, but thinks better of it. Again his eyes travel to the caravan and his jaw slightly clenches and unclenches.
"Wonder how hard that was to find..."
Squatting down he takes his knapsack off, gets out some bread and a hard-boiled egg, and starts to munch. Looking over to the Prince and Hestor, he says
"What are our noble ladies up to now?"
He adds, slightly muffled by vigorous chewing
"And where's Ik anyhow?"
Posted by Marvin the Martian (# 4360) on
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"ik called ik."
Takes a bite of the apple
"ik think curly-hair dust man not should dig up dead people."
Chewing
"dead people get angry, try make curly-hair dust man dead person too."
Swallows
"ik think maybe curly-hair dust man not like that."
Posted by JFH (# 14794) on
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"My pleasure to meet you, Ik. Thank you for your advice. Usually town dump spirits and castle ruin ghosts don't mind, in my experience, but I can stop now if it makes you feel better. I wasn't finding anything of use anyway. Could you help me think of some better way to afford a lunch around here, though? Apart from robbing kids running around with half-eaten apples?"
Posted by Marvin the Martian (# 4360) on
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"you not have food in blue cart? maybe troll woman give you rock to chew? ![[Killing me]](graemlins/killingme.gif)
"
Posted by JFH (# 14794) on
:
Stone Miller was somewhat underamused.
"Your jocularity at my expense is much appreciated, dear Ik. Where did you find that apple of yours, by the way? And could I have the remainders once you're done with it?"
Posted by Eliab (# 9153) on
:
quote:
Originally posted by JFH:
"What's yer name and why's it bothering you? I've done this a million times and it ain't ever provoked no gods yet. ...
"You have a point there, of course. Why, one only has to look at you scrabbling through manky old bones in a deserted grave-yard in the hope of finding a pewter ring or an old boot-nail with which to buy liquor to see that you could not possibly have done anything to provoke the gods e'er now.
Carry on, then, and good luck to you. I'd suggest severing the heads of those whose rest you violate and laying them at their feet, as an basic precaution, but no doubt the good fortune that has hitherto followed you throughout your life makes such safeguards unnecessary."
Posted by Dafyd (# 5549) on
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Daniel sees a group of people arguing with each other. He jumps to his feet and waves. 'Hello. Nice to meet you. Are you the kind of people, who if I were to say "be careful about going into the crypt it's not safe," would go straight into the crypt? I meet more of those kind of people in my line of work than you might think. Not for very long usually.'
Posted by Marvin the Martian (# 4360) on
:
quote:
Originally posted by JFH:
Stone Miller was somewhat underamused.
"Your jocularity at my expense is much appreciated, dear Ik. Where did you find that apple of yours, by the way? And could I have the remainders once you're done with it?"
"ik get food from squishy girly man. squishy girly man want ik keep him safe, squishy girly man give ik food. it part of deal."
Ik looks at the remainder of the apple in his hand. There's about one good bite left. He lobs it in the general direction of Miller, stands up and strolls casually around for a bit to stretch his legs. The more observant members of the party may note that despite his apparent nonchalance he's keeping a close watch on the prince.
Posted by JFH (# 14794) on
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Stone Miller thankfully runs up to the apple and greedily eats all of it at once, seeds and all. He then looms off, sits down with his back against one of the cartwheels of the caravan and sings a slow song softly to himself.
Posted by IngoB (# 8700) on
:
In a smooth but studiously unhurried motion, Bayani picks up his knapsack and stands up. Only a very observant onlooker would have noticed the simultaneous rapid grab to his back, concealed by these large motions - and that his right hand is now holding a dagger in reverse grip, blade resting hidden on the inside of his forearm. His left arm still holds on to the knapsack, arm through the straps, almost like one would carry a shield. Bayani starts to walk towards the prince with long but casual strides, apparently ignoring the stranger.
Posted by Eliab (# 9153) on
:
quote:
Originally posted by Dafyd:
'Hello. Nice to meet you. Are you the kind of people, who if I were to say "be careful about going into the crypt it's not safe," would go straight into the crypt? I meet more of those kind of people in my line of work than you might think. Not for very long usually.'
Gunriana considers this. There didn't seem to be anywhere nearby that the stranger might have been visiting except for the crypt. That his first thought had been that others needed to be warned off was curious, although possibly explained if he had seen Miller poking around in the dirt.
"Your warning is most appreciated, sir. I am Gunriana De Vanés. May I enquire as to your name and line of work?"
[ 07. May 2014, 10:49: Message edited by: Eliab ]
Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on
:
Clawdine looked at the boy asleep in the back porch of the caravan,
and Stone Millar half asleep against her cart wheel, and decided she needed to do something about dinner herself. Above her half a dozen ducks were flying high to the west.
"Well, Clawdine," she muttered to herself, "you'm be very good at the fishin' and the duck huntin' and you'm be the best one ter catch 'em if'n we're gonna eat at all, at all. Best ter get yer fishin' skin on."
*** rolls a 6***
Had any of the main party been watching they would have seen a naked and shapely young woman leap over the boy and disappear out the back of the blue caravan in less time than it took to blink.
Posted by Autenrieth Road (# 10509) on
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Arabella had been trying to be vigilant, but the warm noonday sun and the security of the trustworthy stranger by her side had lulled her to sleep. She emerged slowly from a dream in which she was living more of FictA's backstory: far too many relationships with men which Ended Badly. As she emerged to consciousness, in that moment when you realize that it was a dream, and not Reality, she thought contentedly "Thank goodness Life is not imitating Art in this case."
In the next moment, she realized that the stranger was no longer at her side, and that there was noise all around. And now she noticed the gravestones, all around the depression in the ground where she and the stranger had sheltered.
What on earth was going on? Best to see how long she could stay hidden behind this ripple of a fold of earth, and see what she could find out by observing. She suspected that eventually she would have to show herself, or be discovered by one of the increasingly noisy members of this invasive (if not invading) party, but for now she chose to quietly observe.
Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on
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Jerthro roused himself and hurried off to join the others. He announces rather to no one in particular:
"I heard you all talking about food. I brought a saucepan, if we need it to cook anything in. And a kettle, and I think a frying pan, but I might have forgotten that one. I know I have a butcher knife so that I don't have to use my dagger.
By the way, I'd be careful about splitting up too far. In sto...In the last fight I was in, it didn't work out too well."
Posted by Hart (# 4991) on
:
quote:
Originally posted by Dafyd:
Daniel sees a group of people arguing with each other. He jumps to his feet and waves. 'Hello. Nice to meet you. Are you the kind of people, who if I were to say "be careful about going into the crypt it's not safe," would go straight into the crypt? I meet more of those kind of people in my line of work than you might think. Not for very long usually.'
"Stranger, identify yourself!" cried Hestor.
Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on
:
Brandon starts to climb out of the caravan. Fleeting dreams about nekkid women have become a disturbingly common feature in his sleep for the last year or so,a so he doesn't give it much thought. Well, he gives it some thought, just none of an analytical nature.
"Sorry, guys. Man, I feel weird. I'm beginning to think one of you put something in my cider last night."
Brandon notices someone new, a big lumbering guy who grunts as he chews an apple, and nods shyly. He attempts to look cool and grown - up as he nods to Jerthro, who he idolizes. He looks around for the nice soldier guy who gave him an apple. He tries to wave at him, but Bayani looks preoccupied.
"Is everything ok out here? Did anyone manage to catch a rabbit or anything? Are we still poking around in a graveyard, and did I mention what a dumb idea I think that is? Forget the ghosts, what if the sheriff comes around? "
"Ah, well, if you can't beat 'em..."
Brandon starts to wander among the gravestones himself, out of sheer curiosity. He isn't looking for stuff, he is looking at the stones themselves. He keeps glancing over at Bayani, curious too about the action taking place.
Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on
:
quote:
Originally posted by Hart:
"Stranger, identify yourself!" cried Hestor.
Oh, now who is this joker?
Posted by Autenrieth Road (# 10509) on
:
Arabella is keeping her head down, so can't see who is addressing her benefactor. She hopes it is her benefactor who is being addressed, and not Yet Another Stranger who has wandered onto the scene. And this would be good, because then she would learn the name of Seigneur Benefactor.
Although her head is down, into her line of sight from the other side of the small depression where they're sheltering she can see a little boy -- no a rather biggish boy -- coming closer. Oh dear. She might have to speak to him if he gets much closer. She flattens herself down and imagines that she is an unnoticeable leaf. Not that she expects this to help, but she's quite nervous about talking to strangers who crop up unannounced in the middle of graveyards.
Posted by Marvin the Martian (# 4360) on
:
ik see sneaky shadow man (Hestor) and bayani (ik respect good fighter, use name) react to strange skinny hat man (Daniel). ik like not have to do talky stuff with people party meet - leave to sneaky shadow man, him good talky talk. ik happy just bash people who threaten squishy girly man.
maybe ik bash skinny hat man soon. maybe skinny hat man join party. ik not like too big party but squishy girly man keep letting others join. it not ik place to question. ik just protect.
Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on
:
Jerthro beams at Brandon. "Great kid," he thinks. "If only there were more like him around.
He stops to root in his kit for a moment, not noticing that Brandon is heading off elsewhere. "How are you doing, buddy? Want to go look around a bit with me? Maybe we can gather firewood for later and keep our eyes open for edibles too."
Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on
:
"Sounds good to me, butI warn you, i am sucking at finding stuff right now. Hope you have better luck."
(tromps over to Jerthro with head down.)
Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on
:
Brandon wonder if there is any good vegetation around here, since the animals seem to be hiding.
Posted by Jay-Emm (# 11411) on
:
The 'Rules' were quite clear about what to do in this situation.
Someone had said something was dangerous, he had to see for himself.
Testwe attempted to slip off without anyone (but especially Ik) noticing and moved considerably deeper into the shadow by the church. It was already creepy but he took a few more steps.
Posted by Ariston (# 10894) on
:
Jetse thought he **spotted** something moving in the bushes towards the chapel. It could be dangerous to the prince…wait, where'd that fool get off to?
Catch Bayani's attention. Two fingers at Jetse's eyes, point at Bayani, repeat, point to empty saddle, point to shadowy movement. Keep quiet, don't draw attention, let the silent one follow, the barbarian stay with the wagon, and the guardian watch and wait.
Posted by Marvin the Martian (# 4360) on
:
ik still keep close eye on squishy girly man.
ik see squishy girly man go behind church. ik think maybe squishy girly man need go toilet. ik move so can keep eye on both squishy girly man and skinny hat man, who ik still think ik may get to bash soon.
Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on
:
Brandon heads toward Jerthro, but on the way spots a particularly pretty headstone-- an angel with large white wings slumped over a sarcophagus as if she has just got the worst news of her life. As he looks to the side, his path diverges, and his steel toed boot connects with something in the grass. Someone, actually.
"OH! Sorry, lady. Wait a minute-- who the heck is THIS, now?"
[ 07. May 2014, 17:51: Message edited by: Kelly Alves ]
Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on
:
"Better stay put, whoever you are-- looks like something's up"
Brandon looks at the escorts convening on the chapel and puts a hand on his sword.
Posted by Hart (# 4991) on
:
Hestor repeated himself: "Stranger, I adjure you, speak! Can you not see you are standing in the presence of... Oh, shit, where's he gone now?"
Hestor was torn. He decided to keep his eyes on the strange man, as the strong men seemed to addressing the missing prince situation quite adequately for now. It didn't seem likely that the strange man was about to attack him, but just in case there was some physical threat he was unaware with he would stand his ground and converse with the strange man at a slight distance. He had initially been intrigued by the presence of another man of such exquisite taste as to also enjoy spending time in graveyards, but had also started to consider the possibility that he might be up to no good.
Posted by IngoB (# 8700) on
:
Bayani mutters something long and ugly under his breath as he sees the prince disappearing into the shadows. He is just about to bound after the prince at full speed, when the guardian catches his eye. He nods at Jetse, and repeats the gesture from his own eyes to the bushes, to show that he sees and understands. Then quickly and quietly he puts his knapsack on his back, and exchanges his dagger for one of his sizeable bolos.
The ***hunt*** begins. Firmly keeping the bushes with the suspicious movement in sight, he softly but quickly sneaks to a patch of little trees with a long hedge on his left side. From there he starts to approach the bushes. He makes himself small and takes the measured strides of a cat on the prowl, never shifting his weight until his front foot has touched the ground softly and emptily, and has found no twig to break there. As he approaches the bushes, he slowly lifts his hands, the left ready to grab, the right with his bolo ready to slice and dice...
Posted by Autenrieth Road (# 10509) on
:
"OW!" yelled Arabella, jumping up and trying to look as threatening as a slight and slightly muddy person could. She stepped quickly backwards, but couldn't go very far before being blocked by a large weeping marble angel.
"Who are you? What do you want? What are you doing here?" she peppered the boy with questions. (She wasn't sure which adage she should choose to guide her here, but decided to go with The best defense is a good verbal offense.)
While she kept the boy in view, she saw in her peripheral vision a man in a long black robe not far from her, over the lip of the dell. Was this the man who had addressed Seigneur Benefactor? He reminded her of Seigneur Benefactor in certain ways -- could she trust him too?
Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on
:
"Who am I??? Who the hell are you!? I asked you first, and I got back up!"
[ 07. May 2014, 18:23: Message edited by: Kelly Alves ]
Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on
:
(Brandon waves wildly at Jerthro, keeping his hand on his sword.)
Posted by Doublethink (# 1984) on
:
Meanwhile, the beautiful Clawdine lies at the edge of the stream, screened from the churchyard by a hedgerow, tickling the soft, soft bellies of the fish that will be her next meal.
Posted by Marvin the Martian (# 4360) on
:
ik see other fighting men looking after squishy girly man. ik think they good enough to take care of trouble. ik think maybe he see if he get to bash skinny hat man after all.
A grin crosses Ik's face as he strolls purposefully towards where Hestor is confronting Daniel. His right hand stays very near the club tucked into his belt. Very near indeed.
He arrives at the scene of the confrontation. He stands to the side of Hector, watching Daniel with the intensity of a tiger watching its next meal.
(to Hestor) "skinny hat man enemy? you want me bash in head of skinny hat man?"
Posted by Ariston (# 10894) on
:
Jetse took another look at the situation as he moved to flank…whatever it was Bayani was stalking.
Hopefully just prince, and not a thief using abandoned church as base of operations—or something much, much worse. Things not going according to plan. At all.
First, halberd isn't best weapon for this. Oh well, not worst, but bow would be better. Bayani holds out, close the distance, join in.
Second, commotion over at the angel statue. Seems fool of a boy found someone else napping for a change, hobo joining in for backup. Oh well. Hopefully, half a drop of sense between the lot. If not, Ik will fix.
Third, everyone scattering. Bad news. Stay together, keep guards handy, keep sharp watch, everyone lives. Convoys live, people die.
Last, that barbarian left his post. Wave him back, point to wagon, hope he gets the hint. Don't abandon everyone. Gunriana defends?
Keep moving. Keep watching. Keep low. Be ready.
Posted by Hart (# 4991) on
:
Hestor whispers, "Thanks for checking, Ik, but you know I find it easier to learn what a man's up to before you bash his head in than afterwards. I'll be sure to let you know if I think this conversation appears to be moving in the head-bashing direction. The man seems to be about to speak up."
Posted by Doublethink (# 1984) on
:
Bayani, realises it will be ***easy*** to succeed in his hunt, whoever thinks they are passing undetectably through those bushes is in for a surprise
Posted by Dafyd (# 5549) on
:
"Hello, I'm Herr Doktor Daniel Van Adescant. You can call me the Doktor. No, don't call me the Doktor, that would be silly. I wear a black floppy brimmed hat. Black floppy brimmed hats are cool.
The crypt has got Shadow beings, Umbrae Vitebibendae, in it. They're usually found guarding ancient vampires. So I wouldn't go in there, unless you're up for fighting Shadow monsters, and probably ancient vampires as well. We should probably have a plan before we go charging in. Well, I have a plan. I sort of have a plan. I just don't know what it is yet."
(The woman Daniel had rescued from the crypt is talking to a boy. They appear not to be hitting each other over the head so Daniel decides to let them get on with it.)
[ 07. May 2014, 19:05: Message edited by: Dafyd ]
Posted by Doublethink (# 1984) on
:
With blinding speed and surprising strength Bayani seizes the figure in the bushes, and throws it to the ground. His arm raised to strike, he freezes.
Those of the party within sight stare at the tableau - the fighter, his body and blade in perfect balance as if a fused weapon, the terrified face of Prince Testwe staring upwards ...
Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on
:
Jerthro steps closer to Brandon. He feels he should protect this boy although there isn't any apparent danger. Or maybe considering the loud "Ow" he should be protecting people from awkward 12 year old boys?
Jerthro stretches himself to his full height, trying to look very in charge. And yet this was all rather new to him, and he really wasn't sure what was going on. "Can I help you?"
Proper people didn't hide in the middle of nowhere, he was pretty sure of that. His mother would have had opinions about any woman who was curled up in a graveyard for sure. Should he mention that? She did seem a bit young though perhaps that was just because she was bedraggled and had been curled up on the ground. Still, someone should get the situation under control. "You do know that hiding in graveyards isn't very safe... or proper!"
Posted by Ariston (# 10894) on
:
Jetse runs over to the prince and grabs him by the collar. He nods at Bayani, and not unroughly lifts the prince to his feet.
"What was that about?"
Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on
:
(Did someone just say something about vampires? Flippin' vampires?)
Brandon look around, and sees Bayani menacing that dork of a prince who irritates the crap out of him. (Brandon.) He ducks his head to smother giggles, but is probably not successful.
(sotto voice)"Hey Jerthro, Bayani done flushed us out a peacock."
Posted by IngoB (# 8700) on
:
Bayani breathes out audibly and slowly, and with this his entire body seems to deflate, as he slightly rocks back onto his heels. After a brief pause, he puts away his bolo, looking at the sheath as he stores the weapon. He then uses his right hand to grasp the princes' forearm and pulls him to his feet. Bayani's face is carefully neutral but he does not look at the prince as he speak in a soft voice:
"Frightfully sorry, Sir. My mistake to confuse you with an enemy sneaking up on us. If it would please Sir to not crawl alone in bushes or there might be ...."
He suddenly looks the prince full in the face, and somehow the colour of his eyes seems drain from them, turning them into dead, hard, black stones.
"... accidents."
Walking around the prince, he stands between him and the church. His posture leaves very little doubt that heading back to the camp would be a splendid idea, just about right now.
Posted by Hart (# 4991) on
:
Glancing around, Hestor noticed that the prince had been found and the boy was distracting himself with some girl he had found. He wasn't quite sure where Clawdine was. Maybe they'd be able to leave her behind? But, this man was intriguing, and seemed astute. While Hestor was certainly aware of the existence of vampires, and had even met a few, he also knew that their existence was far more often invoked as a ruse to keep the locals suitably fearful (one he had used rather often). What could the Doktor be hiding?
"Vampires, you say. How interesting! Would you mind telling quite why you're standing in a cemetery near a horde of vampires?"
Posted by Marvin the Martian (# 4360) on
:
(To Hestor) "ok, ik let you do talky stuff first."
ik see bayani playing with squishy girly man. no danger there. ik remember ik should be watch cart, so ik go to watch cart. keep eye on hestor in case hestor need ik bash head in after all.
Posted by Ariston (# 10894) on
:
Of all the words to hear as Jetse walked up to the group by the angel…
"Vampires."
He stood behind the scholar, listening. This should be an interesting story. Hestor knows how to ask the questions. Use intelligence. Strategize. Eliminate threats.
Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on
:
Clawdine had lost all track of time. She was at one with the stream of watery life, and it had delivered a goodly bit of sustenance to her. The only difficulty for the naked young woman was how to carry such a large haul of fish back to the caravan. She transformed back into her larger self, loaded the fish into one of the shawls and heaved it over her shoulder.
There was plenty to eat, and plenty for the others, if they cared to cross her palm with the right coin. She wondered whether anyone had bothered to set a fire yet.
Posted by Eliab (# 9153) on
:
Gunriana looks around. Prince Testwe is safe, the soldiers seem attentive, and the stranger shows no sign of hostility. And the threads of fate seem to be leading to the crypt.
Shadow creatures. Vampires. Beings of cold and darkness. Fire would be the obvious counter to such enemies.
***Gunriana looks around for combustibles*** dry wood, leaves, kindling.
Posted by Jay-Emm (# 11411) on
:
"What are you doing?, you stupid peasant", Testwe yelled indignantly (and unjustly) at Bayani.
As he hears a vague comment about vampires he rants about superstitious nonsense.
He goes back to Clawdine's caravan where he demands she transforms. Then leaves in an even larger huff.
However he is now back in the main party, and although sulking appears to be behaving himself.
Posted by Doublethink (# 1984) on
:
Gunriana knows she has an ***OK*** chance of finding what she needs, if she is sufficiently vigilant.
Posted by Dafyd (# 5549) on
:
Daniel has been asked, by the nice man in black, "Would you mind telling quite why you're standing in a cemetery near a horde of vampires?"
'If I'd kept on sitting down when I heard you coming you wouldn't have been able to see me when I waved 'hello',' says Daniel.
Surely the nice man in black was clever enough to work that one out by himself?
'Anyway, vampires. I'm a vampire hunter. My family was killed by vampires when I was ten. Have I mentioned that yet? I have this letter of introduction from the High Priest. Now I was exploring the crypt to find out whether any one was in it, and then I was going to get help, preferably a mob with flaming torches. But if you people are willing to help you'll do.'
(The young woman who arrived with these people appears to be gathering firewood and kindling. Smart woman that.)
Posted by Ariston (# 10894) on
:
A vampire hunter. In a vampire nest. Could be worse. Jetse can live with this.
"Tell us everything. Strategies. Tactics. Ideas. We'll plan now. Then we'll strike."
Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on
:
quote:
Originally posted by Jay-Emm:
"What are you doing?, you stupid peasant", Testwe yelled indignantly (and unjustly) at Bayani.
As he hears a vague comment about vampires he rants about superstitious nonsense.
He goes back to Clawdine's caravan where he demands she transforms. Then leaves in an even larger huff.
However he is now back in the main party, and although sulking appears to be behaving himself.
Backstory moment -- Brandon keeps running into assjacks like this, ever since he ran away from a whipping boy job at age 9 and began his life on the road. If he didn't hate the prince before, he really, really does now. "Wages," he reminds himself.
Bayani, though... "Accidents." Heh. So many hero- worship opportunities for a fatherless boy....
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
More than one person is still tossing around that disturbing word, "vampires" so Brandon tells the lady in the graveyard, "i'll get back to you." And heads over to where the main group seems to be gathering.
[ 07. May 2014, 21:58: Message edited by: Kelly Alves ]
Posted by Autenrieth Road (# 10509) on
:
The boy seems to be a fabulist -- Arabella is sure she didn't hear him breathe a word of "who are you" before he stumbled over her. But perhaps a peaceful approach would serve her better. Give her more time to figure out what was going on and what she should be doing.
"My name is... Arabella?" She hadn't ever had to think of her name in the cave, but the new word felt like it should be a name, even though Seigneur Benefactor hadn't reacted to it as if it were a name. But he hadn't reacted to it at all, so she suspected it was more likely a name than a spell, so safe enough to give out to others.
And now a flurry of activity -- the thin man in green and brown slung about with daggers dove into the bushes, and an elegantly dressed young man was dragged out of the bushes, knocked to the ground, helped up, knocked down again in the flurry of activity, helped up again, and, judging by the expression on his face, roundly tongue-lashed.
But through it all, the man in black robes and Seigneur Benefactor remained still -- no, not quite still, attentive -- staring at each other. And Arabella heard quite clearly the name she'd been waiting to find out: Daniel.
And then -- what, he was exploring the crypt to find out if there was anyone in it? But he'd found someone in it: he'd found her! She wondered why he was keeping that part quiet, but trusted that he must have good reason for it.
She supposed she should keep up this... what was the word for it? oh, yes: conversation... this conversation with the boy as a cover while continuing to observe the unsettlingly large group that had invaded the church yard.
"Uh... are you looking for something?"
----
Her conversational timing has clearly suffered badly while in the cave. The boy is already rushing away. Arabella leans against the weeping angel and wonders if she dares follow him towards the crowd, or conversely whether she should flee with a magic word. But the one magic word she remembers -- the accidental word that brought her here -- ugh, no, she doesn't want to go alone back into that shadowy stone room.
[ 07. May 2014, 22:20: Message edited by: Autenrieth Road ]
Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on
:
(Over shoulder) "Lady, they keep talking about vampires, I'd be careful if I were you!"
Posted by Autenrieth Road (# 10509) on
:
As the boy runs off with his parting shot, Arabella realizes she has been focused on far vision -- Daniel and the people beyond -- and near vision -- the boy -- but has overlooked middle vision. And here in her middle vision is a very fit looking young man, probably 18 but trying to pass for 25. His statement hangs in the air (even though it was uttered several minutes ago):
"You do know that hiding in graveyards isn't very safe... or proper!"
Arabella considers this. Safe, she likes safe. Proper, though -- there are proper words to be used, and proper ways to proceed in a maze of twisty little passages all alike, and property to be amassed and transported back to the stream house. None of these seem to fit what the very fit looking young man is trying to say, though.
Arabella isn't sure what to say in reply. Safety right now feels much more like a who -- Daniel -- than a where. She decides to try the word everyone else is repeating:
"Vampires?"
Posted by Dafyd (# 5549) on
:
Daniel sees that the big short guy with the halberd is asking about tactics.
'Our overall objective is to stake any vampires in the crypt before sundown, when they'll start waking up. They'll be asleep until then. Mostly asleep. They tend to wake up when their coffins are opened. But they can be held down by a couple of strong men. However, they have the guardian Shadows guarding them. So we have to get past the Shadows. On the one hand, I can work a ritual to protect us from the Shadows. On the other hand, I'll need to be in the crypt to do it where they'll be able to attack us. On the other other hand,' - at this point, having run out of his own hands, Daniel takes Hastor's hand, - 'I can repel the Shadows by the light of the gods. On the other other other hand,' - he takes Hastor's other hand, - 'While I'm doing that I can't work the ritual. If anybody else has any relevant skills or talents or suggestions for repelling dark magic this would be an excellent time to say so.'
He pauses. There's something he's forgetting. Oh yes, the young woman Arabella Adventurer. What was she doing in the crypt? He didn't see her there when he first came in.
'Milady Arabella, what were you doing in the crypt when we met?'
Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on
:
Jerthro smiles, relieved to be noticed. He had just been starting to feel rather sulky.
"Vampires? Vampires are terrifying!
I mean... Not that I'm scared of them or anything. I know all about vampires. Still vampires are seriously dangerous. Erm, maybe we should move nearer to the fighter types."
Posted by Hart (# 4991) on
:
Hestor contemplated. The Doktor seemed very keen on touching his hands. This was not appreciated. He hoped his icy glare would tip the Doktor off to this, but then remembered that icy glare was pretty much his default face, so it might not communicate much.
Some of his party seemed very gung-ho about this vampire killing business. Very public spirited, but since when did that get you anywhere! Only when there's a public worth impressing. However, what was the worst that could happen? Harm to himself was, of course, the worst of all possible scenarios. Harm to the prince was pretty much next, given the consequences his father could enact. Losing all of our body guards would be a problem, but we do have quite a few. Losing our witch would be bad too. There are several expendables around, though. The best strategy would appear to be one which risks only them, while lending glory to himself or the prince.
Hestor had to admit that he wasn't an expert on vampires, but there were a few factoids he half-remembered. Was he quick-**witted** enough for them to be correct?
"I say, Doktor, vampires wouldn't be able to pierce the skin of a troll woman would they? And wouldn't the blood of innocent children provide very attractive bait for the Shadows, luring them away from others? Do let me know if I'm remembering correctly. You are, after all, much more expert than I, a mere cupbearer!"
Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on
:
Was Clawdine the only one who noticed it was now far into the night, with no fire going, a load of fish still to be smoked and some weird strangers emerging from the shadows in the cemetary?
"Hey Jerthro, I wants ter see some of that impressive equipment you'm got, if yer feel like showin' it ter uz".
Clawdine cackled delightedly at herself with no thought at all as to the effect it might have in the dark on the more nervous members of the assembled group.
Posted by Autenrieth Road (# 10509) on
:
Arabella is now trying to carry on two conversations at once: one, with the very fit young man who is urging her towards the crowd, and two, to answer Daniel's question. Plus managing her conflicting feelings: crowds, scary; Daniel, safe. Well, she doesn't want to shout what she has to say to, and what she has to ask of, Daniel, where the whole neighbourhood can hear it. So perhaps moving closer is the better option.
"Nearer," she says to the very fit young man, and is unsure whether she is tongue-tied because of being in the cave too long, or because she can see that, while he is a bit callow at 18, he will be very very fit indeed at 25. She shakes her head to rid it of thoughts of just what he might be fit for.
Coming up close to the crowd, she stands just outside the drip line of Daniel's wide floppy-brimmed hat. She is afraid of the question, but she trusts Daniel's motive in asking it, so she decides that nothing but the truth will do.
"I was at..." she hesitates, unsure if place names from the cave still hold power. "... the End of the Witt, and I said the name of... the little-but-big stone room, and then I was in that room, and you grabbed my wrist, and shouted words and light, and then we were here.
"And if I had known I was coming, I could have brought you a lamp, and a wand, and a cheerful bird singing in a golden cage, and a green plover's egg as big as..." but she doesn't see anything as big as the plover's egg to compare it to. "Well, big.
"And maybe you could have used them against the Shadowy Life Drinkers, or maybe it's the Shadowy Fast Drinkers, I always did mix up my French and my Latin. But I digress. All I can bring you that seems useful is my Intuition, which you may command when it seems needful.
"And I have a question for you, Seigneur Daniel. Why was the coffin open and overturned?"
Posted by Autenrieth Road (# 10509) on
:
Arabella has been not quite brave enough to ask what she really wants to know: "Daniel, was that your coffin?" But she senses that whatever his answer, she will continue to trust him. She trembles at what this might reveal about herself, and feels Fictitious A to be near, snickering.
Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on
:
quote:
Originally posted by Hart:
"I say, Doktor, vampires wouldn't be able to pierce the skin of a troll woman would they? And wouldn't the blood of innocent children provide very attractive bait for the Shadows, luring them away from others? Do let me know if I'm remembering correctly. You are, after all, much more expert than I, a mere cupbearer!"
"The blood of WHAT???? What the hell are you trying to say, you boot-licking freak?!!"
(Scoots closer to Jerthro.)
"Listen, I can guarantee you I am not innocent enough to be good bait for anyone. So just hold your horses, buddy."
Posted by JFH (# 14794) on
:
Stone Miller was near the caravan. In a moment when he made sure everyone thought he was sleeping, he gently snuck one of the skulls he'd come across, one that looked particularly cursed, down Gunriana's packing. He then walked over to all the noise surrounding the two newcomers.
"Howdy! The name's Stone Miller. Who might ye be?"
He received the standard introduction from Herr Doktor, but the woman seemed very confused.
Posted by Autenrieth Road (# 10509) on
:
"I'm... have we met before? I'm, uh, Arabella."
The Miller looked terribly familiar, in that maddening déjà vu kind of way, where you were never going to work out what triggered it.
Posted by Doublethink (# 1984) on
:
After Hestor's ill-advised remark about the blood of innocent children, the tactical conversation between Daniel and the interested members of the party became somewhat heated and of less practical use. Hestor realised he had revealed too much of the tenor of his thinking, far too early - not a mistake he was often guilty of.
He made a strategic decision, they would not go into the crypt, clearly too dangerous - they could camp down in the churchyard. The prince was in a foul mood after his run in with Bayani, so would whine incessantly if Hestor insisted he get back in the saddle anyway. Also, he needed to evaluate these strangers before they went any further - Daniel was over familiar and the girl seemed to be some kind of simpleton.
Testwe would insist on keeping them with the party, just to spite him, he was sure.
[ 08. May 2014, 06:12: Message edited by: Doublethink ]
Posted by Ariston (# 10894) on
:
quote:
Originally posted by Daniel:
If anybody else has any relevant skills or talents or suggestions for repelling dark magic this would be an excellent time to say so.
"Dark magic? Does not even the sign of the Light overcome the darkness?"
Jetse takes out the holy sun symbol he carries with him.
"Would this help against the creatures?"
[ 08. May 2014, 06:25: Message edited by: Ariston ]
Posted by Doublethink (# 1984) on
:
Darkness has fallen, Hestor had to argue long and hard to get the nervier members of the party to camp down in the graveyard, that peculiar Daniel fellow was beside himself - ridiculously over-dramatic. Hestor even allowed himself to become angry.
Fortunately, the troll and the eager youth had made themselves useful, and there were now fish on sticks over a small fire - though the useless group hadn't been able to find any kindling - in the end he had had to get Ik to chop down a small sapling in the copse. Daniel kept staring at the logs Ik had cut or some reason.
Oh well, Hestor supposed that round the campfire might be a good opportunity for sizing the new additions up.
Posted by IngoB (# 8700) on
:
Bayani walks over to Ik and says loudly
"I call dibs on first watch."
then he sits down next to him cross-legged, and drops his voice so that only Ik can hear.
"I say, if there are any vampires coming at us let the magic people handle it."
He nods over vaguely in the direction of Gunriana, Daniel, and Clawdine.
"Fight magic with magic. And if that means less magic around in the end, I'm not crying... We drop back to the client, OK?"
A strange emotion passes briefly over Bayanis face, somewhere between surprise, hurt and rage.
"Speaking of the client, nobility is like a magic, you know."
He chuckles.
"Squishy girly man grows balls magic."
He grabs a fish and debones and fillets it with a speed and accuracy that speaks of a life growing up close to the ocean. He looks down at the fish.
"Still, nobles and peasants. They all cut the same."
He starts gobbling down the fish.
Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on
:
Clawdine looked across the dancing flames of the campfire at the prince and his entourage. Though it was a circle of twelve there were still distinct social separations being observed. Prince Testwe was propped against his cushioned saddle with Hestor sitting primly behind him on a log. To one side of the log were Jetse, Jerthro and then Brendon, heads bent close together in comfortable conversation. Ik and Bayani, on the other side of the Prince, were working out the nightwatch roster.
Gunriani, slightly back from the fire, was elegantly reclining on one elbow, but Clawdine could see she was watching the diminutive Lady Arabella and Van Adescant next to her most interestedly. Then came Clawdine herself, and Stone Miller sitting furthest back in the shadows. Clawdine tossed him a half a fish and then wondered aloud what the newcomers might like to wash their meal down with.
"Clawdine gotz ale, wine or poteen fer theyz that need it. But it'll cost ye newcomers a tale or a bit o' muzick. 'Tone here alwayz playz a bit o' the bluez fer 'iz nightcap, don't 'ee, 'Tone?"
Posted by JFH (# 14794) on
:
Stone Miller wasn't used to sitting around campfires with other people. He usually preferred darkness at night, to keep his night vision and not to attract robbers or animals. The fire cast strange patterns of light and shadows on the faces of the people surrounding it, and for a moment he wondered whether there might actually be some power guarding this place. Thoughts from that moment festered in him, and at the end he was convinced that it may not have been that wise an idea to rob a graveyard he was later to spend the night at. Or get that witch, whose eyes seemed to glow with reflections of the campfire, as an enemy. He moved over to her and whispered,
"Thank you madam for your kind advice to sever those skulls before. As it happened, I noticed how a particularly ugly one happened to end up in your backpack somehow, and I just thought I'd let you know so that it won't cause you any inconvenience if you should think it got there by ill-intended magic or so... I would not want anything to mess with your powers in such an atmospheric place such as this, of course... Also, if you should need anything to improve those powers, I'm fairly good with tinkering and it is not uncommon for hosts to offer spirits or protection in exchange for such work. Perhaps we could strike some such sort of deal, at least until we get out of this place and I find myself in control again of my now rather shaky feet?"
Posted by JFH (# 14794) on
:
Stone hadn't noticed Clawdine's words, all too focused on the campfire and the darkness, but he looked up, decided he had to look brave, and put on a sad smile.
"Well, of course, Clawdine... I got some bone of honest man in me, so I wouldn't sing joyfully at a graveyard, but I'll share a song of lost love if some liquid love should come my way. I won't drink before singing, of course, yet feel free to hand me a bottle of the stuff and I'll take it when the need grows direr."
Posted by JFH (# 14794) on
:
Stone sang to a beautiful, warm yet sad melody,
"To the west by the coast,
off a hill in the cold,
waits a man for his maid
with hair woven of gold,
He stands lonesome yet proud
for he knows she is his,
he is hers, hers alone,
and he longs for her kiss,
but the man waits for naught,
he is yet to find out,
in a letter that soon
shall arrive from the south.
To her home came a prince
with more gold than her hair,
And his title and name
was worth more than skin fair,
As that letter arrives,
when it to him is brought,
his heart breaks into twain,
love and life both made naught."
[ 08. May 2014, 09:18: Message edited by: JFH ]
Posted by Dafyd (# 5549) on
:
Daniel: 'if we're cooking, I just happen to have some garlic on me. I find garlic always makes food taste much better. Except for that one time when I added it to the sweet custard. But apart from that, it always makes food taste better, especially when one's eating it in a graveyard just outside a vampire's lair at night.
Don't anybody go wandering off on their own.'
Daniel is keeping his sixth sense for undead wide open.
Posted by Marvin the Martian (# 4360) on
:
quote:
Originally posted by IngoB:
Bayani walks over to Ik and says loudly
"I call dibs on first watch."
then he sits down next to him cross-legged, and drops his voice so that only Ik can hear.
"I say, if there are any vampires coming at us let the magic people handle it."
He nods over vaguely in the direction of Gunriana, Daniel, and Clawdine.
"Fight magic with magic. And if that means less magic around in the end, I'm not crying... We drop back to the client, OK?"
A strange emotion passes briefly over Bayanis face, somewhere between surprise, hurt and rage.
"Speaking of the client, nobility is like a magic, you know."
He chuckles.
"Squishy girly man grows balls magic."
He grabs a fish and debones and fillets it with a speed and accuracy that speaks of a life growing up close to the ocean. He looks down at the fish.
"Still, nobles and peasants. They all cut the same."
He starts gobbling down the fish.
"ik agree. we protect squishy girly man. but if fancy magics not work ik happy go bash heads."
Ik takes his own fish and starts biting chunks off it. Occasionally he spits out any bones too large to swallow.
[ 08. May 2014, 10:05: Message edited by: Marvin the Martian ]
Posted by IngoB (# 8700) on
:
Bayani looks at Ik.
"Don't play chase with vampires, Ik. My master told me that they are fast, and that they like to attack in groups. He said it's like trying to swat a swarm of angry hornets..."
Bayani gets up, walks over to Stone Miller and squats down close to him, saying in a low voice
"Women and princes, can't live with them, can't kill them outright..."
He grins and without waiting for an answer stands up and moves away towards the newcomers. A few silver soldi are left lying in the dust where he had squatted down.
As he gets close to Daniel and Arabella, he takes a small bow. "Hello, my name is Bayani Dagohoy, I am one of the escorts of the Prince. I happened to hear that you have some garlic on you? It's hard to get around here, and it so reminds me of home... If you would have some to spare, I would love to use it with the fish."
He bends forward to Daniel "And if you could tell me what to strike in a vampire, where and how, with this ...." he briefly slides one of his bolos out of it sheath just enough to show it, "... that would be much appreciated."
Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on
:
Clawdine cackled delightedly. "Oyay, oyay... Mizter fancy hatz zurely got a good tale fer uz about vampirez...and Clawdine amn't the only one wantz to hear it."
Posted by Dafyd (# 5549) on
:
Daniel talks to Bayani.
'Certainly have some garlic. I find it's best roasted whole to the point that the bitterness has just gone. To kill a vampire you need to cut its head off or stake it through the heart. You don't need to use wood to stake it through the heart, but it's really quite hard to get anything through the rib cage without hammering, and sword pommels tend not to recover from the treatment. I generally find that vampires don't cooperate when you try to behead them either. Vampires can be driven back by fire. If you get caught in a melee with one that's awake I recommend as your best tactic trying to hamstring it or otherwise immobilise it.'
'That reminds me. Would anybody, you or Milady Arabella or anybody else, like to help in turning those unused logs over there into stakes please?'
Daniel gets out a pocket knife and starts whittling.
[ 08. May 2014, 12:12: Message edited by: Dafyd ]
Posted by JFH (# 14794) on
:
Stone didn't know where the melody or the words appeared from, all of a sudden they were just with him, and taken in by the moment, he had to let go of his tongue and let it sing whatever came of the inspiration of the moment.
'Mongst oak and linden, ferns and twigs,
shades and stones a-whispering,
A princely lad of early years
would want his camp, insistering.
The bearer of his cup and kopf*,
his father's man a-chosen
adviced him so against the will
of man from crypt a-rosen.
The crypt-raised one would warn of webs
of darkness and a-sucking
of bats of draculaic might
yet Prince just thought o' f...
The darkness thickened as the fire
in centre was a-glowing
but evil 'pproached with mighty steps
Soon all would be a-knowing.
----------
*German for "head".
[ 08. May 2014, 12:57: Message edited by: JFH ]
Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on
:
Jerthro grinned. "I'd love to! This is great. Totally great!"
He grabs a bunch of pieces of wood--too many--and returns to sit somewhere as near as he can to both Arabella and Brandon. He feels protective of them. One's a child, and the other too innocent. Clearly someone should be looking out for them.
As he worked on the stakes however, he paid attention. He heard that the fighters were staying aware, but they were all interested in the prince. He didn't really trust them to look out for the rest of the party so he decided to stay awake for a while and keep his eyes open. Perhaps he could use his ***intuition to help him stay vigilant and figure out what was going on.***
[ 08. May 2014, 13:18: Message edited by: Gwai ]
Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on
:
Brandon eyes Hestor sullenly, and picks up a stick, beginning to sharpen it.
"Grmble grmble what kind of outfit have I hooked up with grmble..."
Brandon thinks about his medicine kit.
"Garlic, huh? I wonder whether anything I got in my kit-- or any of the plants growing around here-- will help out with vampire-hunting."
Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on
:
Jerthro turns to Brandon.
"Don't let him get you down. Now we're getting into the exciting stuff. Just think what a great story this will make to the kids back home!"
Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on
:
"Besides," Jerthro continues, "There are definitely a lot of plants like garlic that grow in the area, and garlic itself grows wild. I wonder if the relatives of garlic would also turn vampires. Maybe we'll get the chance to test. That would be cool.
We probably shouldn't go hunting for plants right now, and there's not enough light to see by anyway. But tomorrow, if you'd like we can look for some cool plants. You can do all kinds of things if you know the right plant to use."
Posted by Marvin the Martian (# 4360) on
:
ik also take wood, make into stakes. stakes kill vampires.
cutting off head also kill vampires, ik think. when ik have enough stakes ik make sure dagger plenty sharp.
bayani right that fancy magics go first, but ik want have good weapons ready if fancy magics lose.
Posted by Jay-Emm (# 11411) on
:
Teswe was not being awefully consistent.
At one moment he was sharpening his sword and telling everyone who'll listen about how it would go through anything.
Another moment he would talk about how there was no such thing as vampires and he couldn't understand why anyone trusted that Doctor. "It was perfectly safe, why he'd walk right into the church if someone asked him too". Yet it was conspicuous he didn't make that offer too anyone who might take it up.
Then he'd blame Hector for making the foolish decision to come here (though after the incident with Bayani, not when in earshot).
Meanwhile his royal self-confidence was also showing a few signs of being there. "What are vampires doing on MY route", he muttered loudly.
Posted by Autenrieth Road (# 10509) on
:
Arabella notices that Daniel has not answered her question. Ah well, better to try to be useful than fret over what the open coffin might mean or imply. Since she hasn't got a pocket knife, she has been occupying herself making stacks of branches for the pocket-knife wielders to make into stakes. She hums to herself while doing so:
Who can make a stack
Into a stake?
Silent E!
But now all the stakes seem to be finished. She sits down again near Jerthro, who seems like a reassuring (though attractively distracting) presence, and amuses herself by trying out her new hum on different members of the party:
Who can make Ik
Into Ike?
Who can make Dan
Into a Dane?
Who can make a gal
into a gale?
Silent E!
She imagines turning into a gale and blowing away the shadows.
Posted by Marvin the Martian (# 4360) on
:
"everyone who make stakes, give to ik so ik make sure they good, strong, kill vampire"
Ik checks all the stakes for effectiveness using his ***craft basic weapons*** skill
[ 08. May 2014, 19:55: Message edited by: Marvin the Martian ]
Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on
:
Clawdine grinned as she handed a jug of liquor over to Stone. "Yer amn't auditioning ter be the royal minztrel are yer? Yer muz 'a been touched by magic at birth, 'Tone. Yer look almoz hanzum when ye zing. Oughta do it more."
She smiled and shook her head. "But yer amn't the only one with hidden talent, I bet. I wonder what talez our fine ladeez could tell, now?"
Posted by Doublethink (# 1984) on
:
Seeing Ik expertly check and finish the stakes, hardening their points in the fire, leads those who had been dismissing him as a bone-headed barbarian to start to reconsider
Posted by Eliab (# 9153) on
:
Gunriana stepped away from the group, but staying just in sight, and paces nervously. Of course it made sense that magic should be the first line of defence against creatures of night and evil. Of course even veteran fighting men would call for sorcery before steel when such enemies threaten ... but ...
There was no evading the truth. She had never faced vampires, shadow guards, revenants or barrow-kin. There were tales, of course, some reliable, some wild, but none of her charms had been put to such a test. There was no one to ask for guidance. There would be no time to experiment - she would make the choice when the creatures attacker, and the magic would be enough ... or it wouldn't. A sudden impulse struck her – to run to the Prince and confess her fear and weakness, and beg that he make haste away from this ghastly place rather than let Gunriana stand between him and the darkness.
She breathed deeply. Fate's path had led here. The outlander, Bayani, had simply assumed that she would deal with the threat if it arose. And if he could be confident in her powers, then she had no excuse for doubt.
“Remember, Gunri,” she remembered her great aunt saying solemnly, “the runes were old when the world's keel was laid, and when the waves cover us all, they will be as sharp as when they were first cut. It is their power that you cast. Not your own. What is yours is here...” she touched her brow at the recollection “...knowledge and faith. Make those strong. The runes are strong already.”
The decision was made. If the shadows were coming, the witch would meet them. She walked back to the party and called for Jetse's aid.
Posted by Eliab (# 9153) on
:
Gunriana took time to select the right place. It had to have bare stone, enough to bear a sharp cut, be near to the crypt entrance, and, above all, the stone was to be so placed as to catch the light of the rising sun. Jetse had spoken a true-speaking, whether from his own heart or by the inspiration of the sacred powers of this place mattered not.
"Guardian Jetse, Sun's champion, there is power in your symbol of Light, and here we will raise a ward of light against the darkness. Hold your symbol in your left hand, and with your right hold this as I direct..."
She placed a mason's chisel in the Guardian's hand, and then reached for her hammer, using her right hand throughout. If the warrior would cooperate, she meant to cut Sol into the stone, so that the ***Rune magic*** would channel the light of the dawn into a charm against shadows and vampires.
Posted by Hart (# 4991) on
:
quote:
Originally posted by Kelly Alves:
Brandon eyes Hestor sullenly
"It was a compliment, dear boy..."
Hestor decided it would best for him to rest awhile, until enough time had elapsed since his last error to trust himself to try once again to apply his mind to this situation.
Posted by Doublethink (# 1984) on
:
Despite her excellent skills, Guriana realises that in attempting this novel ward her chances of success are only ***OK*** - she shivers
[ 08. May 2014, 20:55: Message edited by: Doublethink ]
Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on
:
Clawdine yawned. She was tired. But she could sense the shadows deepening. When the moon went down and before the sun came up would be the most dangerous time in this place. Slowly the poteen began to take effect on those who had partaken of it, and Clawdine slept where she sat.
Posted by Eliab (# 9153) on
:
She could feel the power. The three lines of the rune caught the light of the moon, the promise of sun's dawning, and the doubts and fears that had beset her melted away. This would be a place to make a stand, a refuge from evil, a sacred flame in the cold night, and the power would grow and be sealed with the first rays of morning.
Gunriana took a few steps back to the others, feeling both elated and drained.
"This is the place of the Sun's power, marked for safety and strength. If the shadows come, or if you flee from wanderers in the dark, this shall be your refuge. We make our stand here, with the light behind us and our faces fearless against the dark. The light is with us, and the darkness will learn what it is to be afraid. I have cut the rune. I have said the word. Light is in this place."
Enough words. The young enchantress was exhausted. She went to find her pack so that she could sleep in her cloak.
Posted by Ariston (# 10894) on
:
Jetse already had the talisman out; somehow, it didn't seem odd to have an emblem of the Unconquered Light handy. He took the chisel gladly.
"Now what?"
(ETA: crosspost—read it one post up for it to make sense)
[ 08. May 2014, 21:15: Message edited by: Ariston ]
Posted by Marvin the Martian (# 4360) on
:
Ik noticed that the others seemed to be paying him more respect after he finished off the stakes. He reflected inwardly that here again was a group who had judged him stupid based on his lack of proficiency with the spoken word. Ok, he may never be able to discuss Wittgenstein or debate the finer points of disestablishmentarianism, but he knew that that didn't in and of itself make him stupid. He was just talented in other areas.
He didn't put it that way in his own thoughts, of course.
"bayani want first watch, bayani can have. ik go sleep now. wake ik when it ik turn take watch."
Posted by Autenrieth Road (# 10509) on
:
Arabella watched the body language of Gunriana and Jetse curiously as the strange rite unfolded. She could see in Gunriana's motions that something exhausting and time-consuming was taking place. Yet in Jetse's posture she could see that the rite passed in a flash, over so quickly that it was finished before he barely realized it had begun.
It was all very strange to the cave-adjusted Arabella, where the most complicated actions were taking and dropping, with an occasional throwing, and magic resided for the most part in single words, sparse and spare in their power.
She rolled her word around silently on her tongue. If she used it, she could see whose name was on the coffin. But then she would still have to get back out, and the camp would be in an uproar, and so many members of the camp were working so carefully on a plan, and perhaps she needed to save up her strength so she could use a different word to bring people out with her to safety, once the raid on the cr- -- on the little-big-room had begun, and in case darker or stronger powers were found in... there... than were expected.
She wasn't sure she'd be able to sleep, but eventually she did sleep, and slept uneasy dreams in which a fanged man in an elegant suit advanced on pale maidens in oddly stiffened nightgowns, and then the scene wavered, as if seen through water, and now the maidens had the fangs and advanced on the man, who tried to ward them off with crossed candlesticks.
Posted by Dafyd (# 5549) on
:
Daniel had something bothering him. Somebody had asked an excellent question. What was it? Oh yes - Arabella had asked, 'why was the coffin open and overturned?'
'Why,' says Daniel out looud, 'was the coffin open and overturned? Obvious answer: somebody left it in a hurry. The vampire has another bolt hole, somewhere they can get to without passing through sunlight.' Daniel turns his ***investigation*** knowledge to the question of whether he is a) thinking along the right lines, and if so, b) where the vampire's other bolt hole might be.
Posted by Doublethink (# 1984) on
:
Daniel realises that despite his excellent talent, working this out away from the location will be ***hard***
[ 08. May 2014, 21:54: Message edited by: Doublethink ]
Posted by Doublethink (# 1984) on
:
Arabella's dreams shift and change, she is back at the house by the stream, she goes in. On a gate-leg table by the window lies a draw-string purse, she picks it up and ties it to her belt. It is speckled green, light, the size of a large plover's egg. She knows it will contain no gold, but all that she needs which is barely anything, and a lamp and hazel wand.
Arabella's sleeping face smiles, and her hand curls next to her belt resting on the speckled purse she has dreamt into the world.
Posted by Jay-Emm (# 11411) on
:
Testwe wonders about the mystery of Arabella. Could the occupant have fled with it's hunter?
Something had apparently given a massive shock.
He keeps a cautious eye on the mysterious stranger.
He whispers his suspicions to Hector and makes up a *poem* to see if he can draw out more of Arabella's past.
It goes about the sun in the morning as it journeys over various landmarks. The regional specialties are mentioned, paying particular attention to her reaction to the 'blood red tomatoes', and the 'crimson wine'. As are the regional crafts and occupations.
Finally it dwells on the church, describing an imaginary image to try and prompt corrections from her subconscious.
When Arabella wakes up he will try and recite it.
[ 08. May 2014, 22:27: Message edited by: Jay-Emm ]
Posted by Doublethink (# 1984) on
:
Testwe realises it will be ***hard*** to write a poem good enough to extract information about Arabella - but at least he has time before she wakes to try to complete it.
[ 08. May 2014, 22:29: Message edited by: Doublethink ]
Posted by IngoB (# 8700) on
:
Bayani had been mostly ignoring what was going on. When Daniel had talked about hamstringing the vampires, that had reminded him of combos he learned long ago for slicing through the tendons at knee and ankle, to literally drop the enemy. He had been shadow-fencing apart form the others since then, to remind himself of the moves...
Now he was marvelling at all the stakes everybody had piled up. Clearly they would be able take on an entire vampire army now. At least if that vampire army decided to stand really still, while the stakes where being hammered slowly through their breast cages...
"Yeah, Ik, I will keep watch. Sleep well," he said.
"Ik could possibly slam a stake through a breastbone with one powerful strike," Bayani thought quietly to himself, "perhaps Jetse could do that, too. Fair enough. The rest of us, not so much..."
He walked over to Jetse, while munching on the last fish. He has spiked it with plenty of garlic, but charred it accidentally in the fire. Surprisingly, it was really nice now, a tangy smokey-sweet taste... Speaking so that only Jetse could hear him, he said
"Guardian, they should have made spears. A spear through the heart will work no different from a stake, I'm sure, but with a spear you can stab hard and stay at a distance. What are we going to do with all those bloody stakes if the vampires are not sleeping, throw them?"
He shook his head.
"Sure hope that new magic of yours does something. Anyway, I'll keep watch now, for three hours. Should I wake you or Ik, to get up next? Or perhaps Jethro?"
Posted by Jay-Emm (# 11411) on
:
As Testwe laboriously works at his craft, he tries to explain the finer details of poetry to Stony Millar. However the rhymes fail to stir his heart, and he begins to doubt their effect on the strange women.
Posted by Autenrieth Road (# 10509) on
:
quote:
Originally posted by Bayani:
At least if that vampire army decided to stand really still, while the stakes where being hammered slowly through their breast cages...
Arabella giggles in her sleep and dreams a vivid image:
Posted by Doublethink (# 1984) on
:
Jerthro has a fleeting sudden feeling embarrassment, he has no idea why.
Posted by Dafyd (# 5549) on
:
Daniel thinks he will have to go into the crypt to work out the significance of the coffin. He hopes they can last until morning.
Daniel takes Bayani's point about the spears, but it's easier to make a functional stake than a functional spear. It's easier to find the wood to make a functional stake than a spear shaft. And unless the vampire is charging at you recklessly, it's not easy to stake it with a spear either. Whereas many vampires predate these newfangled crossbow things and don't recognise what crossbows can do until it's too late.
Posted by Ariston (# 10894) on
:
quote:
Originally posted by IngoB:
"Sure hope that new magic of yours does something. Anyway, I'll keep watch now, for three hours. Should I wake you or Ik, to get up next? Or perhaps Jethro?"
"Ik next, then me. I will take the darkest time."
Posted by Eliab (# 9153) on
:
Gunriana pulled her cloak from her pack. The skull dropped the short distance to the earth, and rolled slowly to her feet, gazing silently up at the witch with its empty eyes and mocking leer. She had forgotten about Miller's warning until now. Indeed, she had dismissed it as rambling, but here was the skull, just as he had said. A foretelling? A warning? Malice? But if malice, whose? His – or was he the unwitting instrument of a more sinister power.
She picked up the skull. The lower jaw was missing, but the teeth in the upper jaw were intact, if a little worn. Gobbets of rancid flesh clung to the bone, and a fine web of cracked, leathery remains of skin covered part of it. Inside, some putrid matter was all that was left of the brain. She studied it carefully. It had had a story once. It had been loved, or had deserved to be. Those black holes in its hollow face had once wept tears of joy and compassion. Now it was mixed in dust and filth, no trace left of the person it had been. Whether man or woman, rich or poor, wise or fool, the story had ended and was forgotten, with no trace that anyone had even mourned its passing.
“And so end all our tales” whispered Gunriana. “There is nothing but the turn of a few tides to separate you and me.”
A transcendent feeling of connection, of love, fell on her like a hammer blow. Gunriana clasped the skull to her, her spirit reaching out to it, knowing that what is lost cannot be called back, but can be felt, and can be honoured. Pulling her cloak around her, she shut out the world and its dangers, losing herself in the dark folds, aware only of hard bone and the odour of the grave. She placed the skull carefully between her breasts and let her soul respond to the untold, forgotten story of the dead. There was pain enough in this one dead bone to break every heart that lived, and this was but one of unnumbered bones. Skulls no different from this, no different to the one lurking behing the face of every friend, lay forgotten under every piece of earth on which she could plant her feet. Gunriana let the feeling take her where it wished, and in seconds deep sobs wracked her body as the sorrow of the lost filled her heart, and the grief of life overwhelmed every other thought and feeling, and she sobbed on, and on, unable even to want anything else, until at last sleep descended and her weeping fell silent.
Posted by IngoB (# 8700) on
:
Bayani jumped back, shocked when he heard Daniel's voice. How could he have let that guy sneak close enough to overhear what he was whispering to Jetse alone?!
"You... where did you come from?"
Still not recovered, he only manages to snap
"I'm looking forward to everybody getting their crossbow then."
With that he slinks back. But his mind is racing. People like this guy shouldn't be able to move like that. That was ... skilled. That was ... dangerous. That is ... suspicious. A trickster?!
Bayani takes position just outside of the circle of light thrown by the fire. Where he sees, but is not easily seen.
Wait and see. The cat waiting at the mouse hole. Still. No thought. Just waiting. And when the mouse peaks out its head ... his gaze travels to Daniel and his hands sneak to his bolos ... chop it off.
He becomes motionless, blending perfectly into the shadows.
Posted by Hart (# 4991) on
:
Try as he might, Hestor couldn't sleep. As he lay, eyes closed, on the hard ground, his mind was racing with poison theory. Would any of the vials he brought be useful against the strange foes they would soon face? The mortenghast root in the Hildenburg poison... that might inhibit the curstic bile duct of the vampire, but would it do so quick enough to be of any use during battle, and would it be in any way effective as a vapor? How about the britfik entrails in the Jorgernstern mixture? Would that saturate a shade's mylangial cortex?
So many questions! How he wished he had access to one of the great libraries back home. But, for now, he'd have to rely on his **poison** training to try to finding something useful amongst his vials.
Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on
:
Clawdine had slept like a stone. It was the sudden plummet in temperature that awoke her. Icy fingers of dark frost were creeping towards the embers of the campfire. She looked around for something to poke it with, and saw the pile of little stakes. Groping for one, she grabbed a pile of shavings to bring the fire back to life. Then she jabbed the stake into one of the oily fishheads, wrapped it in a rag she tore from the end of a shawl and doused it with poteen.
Not being a fire child, she wasn't sure if her crude torch would work, but she somehow felt it would be of more use than if it was left as a stake.
***rolls a 14***
Posted by Autenrieth Road (# 10509) on
:
Arabella comes awake with a start. She grasps at her belt, and -- there the plover egg pouch still is. Could she still be dreaming?
If she is still dreaming, she is also dreaming a fishy light and an oily smell coming from a torch on the caravan side of the fire.
She turns over the thought that had startled her awake, if awake she is: she possesses a set of skills just about perfect for being sent alone into... there... in search of a runaway vampire hiding in a bolthole: Climbing and Navigation for finding her way around, Night Vision to see where she is going, Find Hidden to find the blasted creature, Intuition to make on-the-spot decisions about what to do next. The only thing she is unsure about is Improvised Weapons, because she isn't sure she can count on finding anything with which to Improvise. Unless perhaps she could Improvise the plover's egg pouch itself into a weapon?
And she could walk in and Teleport out (although she thinks she might need to use her Intuition to figure out the out-teleporting word to bring her back here to the dell), or, better (from some points of view), she could Teleport in and take the Shadows by surprise -- the only point of view for which that was a problem, was the point of view that suggested she would want to get out quickly and safely at the end, instead of trying to outrun a pack of enraged Shadows.
And speaking of the plover's egg pouch, what is this in it? She draws out the lamp and the wand and stares at them.
Then she realizes that she can't use all her skills in quick succession; she would have to rest in between the chances she took with each skill.
So... teamwork it would have to be. And she barely knows the team, and barely knows the quest. And she still isn't sure she's awake; the appearance of the pouch and the lamp and the wand have her quite puzzled. She wonders if she could logically figure out how to use them, or if she will have to Intuit their use.
She isn't puzzled about Daniel any more though. She had been confused by the initial lick of thought that came from him when they first escaped to the dell, but her dream-vision told her that he was exactly who and what he said he was, and Arabella trusts her dreams.
Daniel! She looks over. He is sitting where she had last seen him, staring into the fire. And Bayani, she suspects, is sitting close by, staring at Daniel. What trouble might be brewing, just when they all need to work together?
She closes her eyes against the fishy torchlight, and wonders about ways to elude Shadows and incapacitate Vampires. Violence. Magic. Is there some third way?
[ 09. May 2014, 03:20: Message edited by: Autenrieth Road ]
Posted by Autenrieth Road (# 10509) on
:
Arabella can't get back to sleep.
She tries distracting herself by making up a story about Fictitious A, but FictA, as fictitious characters are wont to do, seems to be dictating her story to Arabella rather than the other way round, and FictA seems to have set on doing extremely dull things like filling out expense reports and tutoring online statistics classes. ("Whatever those might be," thinks Arabella to herself. "My goodness, I'm making up a lot of gibberish.")
So Arabella tries to set in order the people who have come to the dell, based on what she has seen today.
The man in green and brown and daggers seems to be in charge, stalking and coordinating.
There are two warriors: the one who fire-hardened the stakes, and the one who helped in the strange stone-ritual.
There is the woman who carried out the stone ritual, with the grey silk glove on one hand. Arabella pauses to wonder how the other glove came to be lost.
There are the two young ones who spoke to her in the dell. ("Well, Master Young and Master Wouldn't-want-to-be-called-young," Arabella emends her thought.)
There is the man in black with the curious affinity for Daniel. Arabella engages in a flight of fancy, imagining them as brothers. "Long-separated brothers, unaware of each other's existence, brought together by strange circumstances in this dell," proposes Arabella to herself. "That would make a good story."
There is the elegantly-dressed young man who was caught trying to sneak off through the bushes. He is the only one with a horse to ride. He seems to be a prisoner of some sort, captured with his horse in some encounter that Arabella doesn't want to imagine.
There is the shawl-draped woman who brought the fish. She has a much sturdier horse than the prisoner's, to draw her caravan.
There is Stone Miller, who struck Arabella with such a sense of déjà vu. She still can't place the memory, but if it's a true memory, then the crucifix in his hair is new since they met. Apparently he has undergone a religious conversion?
That makes ten.
And then there is Daniel, who apparently makes meaning of his orphaned life by hunting vampires.
And herself, who is unsure of her purpose in this world. In the cave her purpose was to amass treasure. But here, with all these people around, and the unfamiliar feelings and ideas that have been growing ever since she first felt herself feeling that unaccustomed sensation, Safe, with Daniel... here, maybe it's a different adventure she has fallen into.
That makes twelve.
Oh yes, and there's a nubile naked maiden whom Arabella has only seen once so far, in a fleeting instant, through the trees towards where there is probably a river, by the lay of the land. But she hasn't camped with them tonight, so Arabella thinks she must not be part of this party, but merely some local lass, blissfully unaware of the vampires and shadows haunting this place.
So not thirteen.
"And among all of us twelve, is there anyone with a particular skill for building trust among us?" Arabella isn't sure if she has spoken out loud or not. But no, Daniel on the one side is still staring at the embers, and Young and Wouldn't-want-to-be-called-young are both sound asleep on the other side. Sound asleep, that's what Arabella wants. She closes her eyes and resolutely starts counting sheep.
Posted by Doublethink (# 1984) on
:
It is ***easy*** for Hestor to think about poisons, it relaxes him as it always does
Posted by Doublethink (# 1984) on
:
Hestor thinks that a concoction with a base of garlic oil would be effective, perhaps mixed with some lye and mayiavt powder. It could be rubbed onto the edges and points of the warriors weapons.
This has the added advantage of being extremely helpful, whilst not involving actual fighting of the vampire.
Hestor smiles.
Posted by Doublethink (# 1984) on
:
A bat flies silently back into the eaves of the church, in the dead blackness of the pre-dawn.
Perhaps the fire has disturbed it, or the fitful sleepers, it had circled near the rune stone earlier but couldn't seem to fly any closer to the camp.
The sky gradually lightens, and as the dawn breaks, white light flares briefly from the sol rune - it seems as if this itself carves the rune a little deeper into the rock.
Dawn has broken.
Posted by Marvin the Martian (# 4360) on
:
Ik rises from a dreamless sleep. Nodding to Jetse (who had the third watch) and seeing the others apparently asleep he strolls down to the nearby stream.
ik happy today. no attack in night. this good, vampire be scaredy maybe. that good, scaredy vampire more easy to fight.
He bathes and, after drinking his fill, makes sure his gourd is full of water.
ik see tracks of young barefoot woman by stream. ik not see young barefoot woman yesterday. hm. maybe there be young barefoot woman somewhere, but ik think if that true then someone notice her by now. maybe someone in party be body-changy type. ik not trust body-changy types, ik like know what ik deal with. hm. ik not know who it be, but ik sure it not squishy girly man, sneaky shadow man, bayani or jetse.
He heads back to the campsite and begins preparations for breakfast.
Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on
:
Clawdine is not asleep. She is very aware that the regular squatters in the churchyard are waiting.... waiting for what, though? Waiting to see if the prince and his followers will move on? Waiting for them to lower their guard? Waiting until the shadows are stronger? Or hungrier? Perhaps they were simply waiting for orders from something even darker.
Clawdine had had enough of waiting. She whistled shrilly to King, who snorted and shook the sleep and the hair out of his eyes. "I reckon we be moving on terday, King. No matter wot theyz do." She nodded at the party beginning to stretch and stir. "There be bad magic in thiz place."
Posted by Dafyd (# 5549) on
:
Daniel says,
'Right. Thank you everybody for the company and supper and the supply of stakes. I'm going into the crypt this morning. Would anybody like to come with me. It will be quite safe. That is, it will be quite safe compared to declaring yourself a candidate for the throne of Westeros. Milady Gunriana, will that useful sun charm thing work if you bring it indoors?
If I or we don't come out again by midday, I suggest any survivors go to the village over there, organise a mob with torches and pitchforks, and come back to burn the place down. Make sure they're pitchforks. One mob thought billhooks would do. We don't talk about what happened. Pitchforks are crucial.
Who's with me?'
Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on
:
Jerthro straight up bounced out of his sleeping bag. "That sounds great. Let's do it!
We'll be doing a good thing, and it'll be really exciting to boot!"
Posted by Autenrieth Road (# 10509) on
:
Arabella wakes up when Jerthro's sleeping bag falls across her face.
"Who? Wha-? I'm in," she says reflexively, not quite sure what she's in for. Then, remembering what she'd been thinking about overnight: "Wouldn't it be good to introduce ourselves all around and find out what everyone can contribute to a plan?"
Posted by Hart (# 4991) on
:
quote:
Originally posted by Dafyd:
If I or we don't come out again by midday, I suggest any survivors go to the village over there, organise a mob
"Organizing angry mobs are one of the things I do best. Why, I once engineered a whole revolution in the hamlet of Fortensia because the duke wouldn't sell my Lord quail eggs at a favorable rate.
"Before you go charging in though: Do you have anymore of that garlic, Daniel? I can concoct a poison with it to coat your blades and stakes with that will prove very helpful to your chances against vampires."
Posted by IngoB (# 8700) on
:
Bayani looks up from his cup of morning tea when he hears Hestor speak. He walk over to him:
"So, will the prince find it educational to go vampire hunting, or will the prince find it educational to wait for the glorious return of the vampire hunters. What do you think?"
He looks at his fingers.
"A pure matter of speculation on your part, of course. The prince's mind is his own, we understand. But speaking from one professional to the other, I would like to know whether us guards should be getting ready to move or not..."
Taking a small step back, Bayani crosses his arms and a slight smirk appears on his face. He waits silently for an answer.
Posted by Hart (# 4991) on
:
Hestor whispers, in what he hopes is sotto voce, "A prince's mind is indeed his own. We both know that he's as weak as a gadfly, but he is quite handy with a rapier. I think he may be most useful on the 'organizing an angry mob' detail. But, after my poison work this morning, I am too tired to try to persuade him of anything. We really will need to wait to find out what royalty himself thinks, a most unfortunate circumstance for any civil servant."
Posted by Dafyd (# 5549) on
:
Daniel:
"Garlic-based poison on all edged and pointy weapons will be just the thing for the vampires. Good thinking. At this point I'm trying to think up ways to chase off the Shadows if yelling, back, back, foul fiends doesn't work. Unfortunately, I tried my Occult knowledge yesterday morning and it drew a blank. Fire and lots of light can't hurt.
The last time we stopped to think of a plan we waited all night. I'm going in."
Daniel moves over to the door of the crypt. He has his holy symbol in one hand and his crossbow in the other, as armed as is consistent with not shooting himself or anyone else in the foot accidentally. He pulls the brim of his hat over his eyes to reduce the degree to which his eyes have to adjust to the darkness, nudges the door open, and looks in. He's hoping that everyone else who's coming will join him when they see something's happening.
Posted by JFH (# 14794) on
:
Stone Miller walks up to Daniel and asks, probably a little too loud for that sensitive moment by the crypt door, what's going on and where he's headed and what's the plan and so on. Nobody ever wakes him up or tells him anything, he says.
Posted by IngoB (# 8700) on
:
"Right."
Bayani look at his feet and shakes his head silently. Then he looks up at Hestor again.
"Based on the famous Dictum of the Duke of Murphy, I would like to have one of your vials with garlic poison, please."
He pauses.
"And how about you find his Highness, and alert him to the early start of our lesson today?"
Posted by Jay-Emm (# 11411) on
:
In the daylight, vampires seemed a thing of fancy to Testwe.
He puffed himself up on the idea he'd been smarter than all those who'd spent the night making stakes. Even that runesmith his father admired had been taken in.
He wasn't going to let that strange couple fool weak minded Hector and his other retinue. "Follow me" he called to his men, "I'll show you he's a charlatan".
As he walked nearer the shadows drew longer. He was not going to admit his overconfidence, but was hoping someone would give some excuse...
Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on
:
Brandon has been lying awake listening to Daniel babble and ges up as soon as Jerthro does.
"I'm game if you are."
(Pause. Rubs sleep out of eyes.)
"What happened with the billhooks? "
(Pause)
" I keep hearing about garlic, what's it for? ' cos sometimes it grows wild, some places. We can stock up if we need lots of it. If we can find it."
( Pause. He holds out his hand to Arabella and grins.)
"Howdy, Miz Arabella, I'm Brandon. Sorry I yelled at you before. "
(Pause. Looks Daniel up and down and grins with amusement.)
"Mister, you sure talk a lot. You look like my great--uncle Stretch Milligan.. He was my favorite uncle. Mind if I call you Stretch? I really miss him."
Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on
:
" Bayani, sir, can't we just let the prince sleep in? From what I've seen he's just a headache waiting to happen."
(Belatedly glances around to see if prince heard.) "Ooops."
[ 09. May 2014, 17:39: Message edited by: Kelly Alves ]
Posted by Autenrieth Road (# 10509) on
:
Arabella has untangled herself from Jerthro's sleeping bag.
"OK, no parliamentary procedure for our plan. As ever, I trust you, Daniel.
"It seems like it's about 90 minutes before everyone will have woken up enough to head in... there... . Here are some things I can offer:
"If you think it would be helpful, I can teleport in There first, which might take the Shadows or the Vampires by surprise in a way which would be helpful to you all, if you rush right in afterwards.
"Also, if this Lamp and Wand are my own Lamp and Wand from The Cave Before, then the Lamp will burn for a good long while without going out -- unlike a torch. And the Wand, when waved, creates bridges over chasms. If I used my Intuition (not saying yet whether I should do so), I might be able to find out if they have other uses here.
"Finally, if needed, I could follow the fighters in and if there is a rout, I can teleport out as many fighters as I can hold on to, provided I can Intuit the out-getting word for coming back to the dell. Note that I believe, based on how I used to teleport back in the cave, it's as many as I can hold onto, not as many as can hold onto me.
"And if none of that seems helpful, I guess I will just try to rush in with you-all, and see if I can Improvise A Weapon, despite completely not understanding how combat works. No, no, Hestor, your poison vial won't help. If I take it now, that won't be Improvised. More's the pity.
"Oh, and hello Brandon. Nice to meet you properly. What are you doing here? And isn't it great that Seigneur Daniel The Trustworthy has a plan for us?"
Posted by Hart (# 4991) on
:
"Once more into the crypt dear friends, once more!
"Take these garlic poison vials and apply it to anything you want to try to whack a vampire with. I will be right here, outside the crypt. Holler if you need me to run for help."
Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on
:
( Brandon blinks as he tries to absorb Arabella's speech. Suddenly he leers in a goatish twelve year old fashion.)
" You've TOTALLY got a crush on him, don't you?"
(Yes, he says it loudly.)
Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on
:
quote:
Originally posted by Hart:
"Once more into the crypt dear friends, once more!
"Take these garlic poison vials and apply it to anything you want to try to whack a vampire with. I will be right here, outside the crypt. Holler if you need me to run for help."
"Ooh, shiny! "(Grabs one.)
(Dabs it on stake, thinks for a moment, then dabs some on sword and boot tips. He did say anything.)
[ 09. May 2014, 18:53: Message edited by: Kelly Alves ]
Posted by JFH (# 14794) on
:
Stone peered into the dark. It was dark. Black even. He reached into his hair and pulled out the bottle Clawdine had endowed him with last night, and had a sip. And another. The bottle was empty after his third. Strengthened by the wine, full of Dutch courage albeit possibly somewhat less charming and deep-thinking than usual, he decided to follow the others inside. His wisdom told him the loot from the graves must have been relocated inside the crypt, and if others would go ahead and smack up those skulls and lead the way in dealing with whatever might be hiding in the shadows (apart from Stone himself), he could be quick out when the others were worn from the battle and get a first look at that treasure before others did. So he was prepared to follow the others, discretely whistling his favourite folk melodies as he hid very convincingly in the shadows behind the others.
Posted by JFH (# 14794) on
:
In all the commotion, someone handed the whistling Stone a bottle and he heard he was supposed to use it for fighting the inside creatures. He broke it against the stake he was carrying and thought it a decent substitute for the regular broken whiskey bottle.
Posted by Ariston (# 10894) on
:
For once, Jetse was glad for the cowardice of his companions. He looked at the small vials of garlic sauce, then at his small armory, back at the vials, back at all those arrows…
He wondered how much of the poison Bayani needed, what with all those hidden blades.
Well, here goes nothing. Each arrow was carefully dipped, his sword blade coated in the juice, and every point of the halberd painted in the poison.
Back underground, against the undead, in an abandoned crypt. Old hat. Done it before.
He took his holy symbol and tied it on his scabbard. Best to keep it handy, it seemed.
One last look around as his party gathered at the crypt door. The young lady who avoided place names was there. She seemed…distinctly underarmed for this. He silently offered her his shield. She'd probably be needing it.
Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on
:
More thinking-- Brandon puts the stake in his belt and draws his sword. Why bother with the stick unless he can get close enough to poke someone with it?
Posted by Dafyd (# 5549) on
:
Daniel peers into the crypt. He puts his opticles onto his nose. He is using **Vigilance** with his **opticles** (or **Occult** if he can get away with it) to assess whether there is any way into the crypt that won't alert the guardian shadows, or any areas that the shadows can't get to.
'Nothing ventured, no suicidal mission undertaken,' he says.
If he sees no immediate danger he advances cautiously into the crypt, holding his holy symbol in front of him, keeping in mind the safest route back out in case of more trouble than can be handled.
Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on
:
Brandon looks at the party arranging itself around the crypt, starts to line up alongside Jerthro, then thinks again and gets a respectful distance behind Arabella. He's just worried. Even with all her talk about teleporting and wands and things-- still worried.
[ 09. May 2014, 19:50: Message edited by: Kelly Alves ]
Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on
:
Jerthro is of course trying to get as close to the front as he can without being rude.
Posted by Marvin the Martian (# 4360) on
:
ok, we go in. ik stay close to stupid squishy girly man, keep alive, earn gold.
it only vampire. what worst happen?
ik take garlic poison bottle, smear poison on dagger and club. ik not know if poison help club, but ik not want take chance.
ik ready.
Posted by IngoB (# 8700) on
:
It appeared that their were actually going to do this. Bayani quickly and liberally applied the potion he got from Hestor to his main blades (the two bolos and the dagger), but he did not touch the hidden blades with it. For now, he keeps one bolo drawn and stays close to Ik and the Prince.
As he passes Hestor he says
"Great that you are keeping watch, just in case they have a second exit."
He smiles and ducks in.
Posted by Marvin the Martian (# 4360) on
:
"today we fight, bayani. may gods protect us."
Posted by Doublethink (# 1984) on
:
Now hush my listeners, for many things of grave import shall occur as our fated travellers venture inside the crypt to do BATTLE.
Only when it is ended, shall those who lived, tell their tale.
Posted by Autenrieth Road (# 10509) on
:
Arabella blushes completely crimson red at Brandon's blunt observation. "It's hardly my fault," Arabella thinks, "that I have imprinted on Seigneur Benefactor like a baby duckling. You just try being dragged out of... a little-big stone room... in those circumstances and see how you feel afterwards."
Fortunately, everyone seems to be too busy getting ready to enter to pick up Brandon's announcement.
The warrior next to her is offering her something. Arabella gratefully takes the shield. "Thank you, Warrior Of The Stone Ritual," she says. She slings it awkwardly on her left arm, keeping her right hand on her plover pouch for reassurance, and quick access to the Lamp and Wand inside.
What she most wants to do is find out whose name is written on the coffin's lid. If in fact coffins are marked that way here.
---
ETA: Arabella suddenly realizes that everyone is starting to bustle and hum, ready to head in. She rushes to get her head oriented to her capabilities, to join in as best she may. (FictA adds, helpfully: "That means 'cross-post'".)
[ 09. May 2014, 20:06: Message edited by: Autenrieth Road ]
Posted by Doublethink (# 1984) on
:
Hestor, Guriana, & Clawdine stay gathered around the rune stone. Guriana is working a rite with Clawdine's help to strengthen the rune ward - it is here the party can seek safety if they are routed.
The prince waits a little way off - undecided whether to follow after the others as Daniel leads them warily into the crypt - I can smell the undead he hears the vampire hunter tell the others ...
Posted by Dafyd (# 5549) on
:
quote:
Originally posted by Autenrieth Road:
Fortunately, everyone seems to be too busy getting ready to enter to pick up Brandon's announcement.
Daniel's attention was elsewhere and he was completely oblivious to Brandon's remark.
Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on
:
Clawdine sighs as she watches the preparations for going into the crypt. Vampire hunting she doesn't understand but treasure hunting she certainly does. She knows she may well see things that the others miss. She might even get to anything valuable before Stone Miller who seemed remarkably adept at scavenging. She is curious enough to follow the others down the stone stairs.
After helping Gunriana to focus some more strength into the rune she has created, Clawdine turns and whispers loudly to her horse:
"Well, King, we'm be leaving zoon enuff, and Clawdine betz there be a few lezz ter feed ternight and a few that'll need fixin'. Keep an eye on that Hector 'Near fer me. If'n he try ter take anythin' outta me van, yer bite 'im good, d'yer hear?"
She patted King twice sharply, as though a command had been understood between them; took up a new torch, and went after the others.
[ 09. May 2014, 20:25: Message edited by: Banner Lady ]
Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on
:
Brandon feels a powerful urge to HUSH.
Posted by IngoB (# 8700) on
:
Seeing that he probably doesn't need his other hand for steadying himself or climbing right now, Bayani draws his second bolo and starts to pull slightly ahead of Ik.
"Ik, if we have multiple incoming, I will move on to the next one as soon as I get one incapacitated. You make sure to finish them for me, OK?"
Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on
:
(Commercial break-- thread temporarily closed.)
Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on
:
(We now return to your regularly scheduled programming.)
Posted by Doublethink (# 1984) on
:
Led by Daniel, the party creep down winding steps into the crypt. It is dimly lit, a few old vigil candles in niches.
The room is oblong about the size of a small feasting hall (it may have been here before the church). The long walls contain shelves of rotting ancient coffins. The ceiling is supported by twelve evenly spaced columns about a foot and a half wide - in the centre is a closed, beautifully maintained coffin.
As you leave the bottom of the steps you all see black vapours roll out of the coffin shelves coalescing into shifting, terrifying forms.
Gunriana's heart was pounding in her chest, and the skull, bound to her belt by a leather strap through the eye socket banged against her thigh with every step. "Soon! Soon!" it seemed to be saying. "Soon you will join me, dear sister!". Gunriana held it still, feeling the smooth bone under her fate-marked palm. If that was what was written, it had been written long ago, and there was no avoiding it.
The darkness was growing thicker, the shapes forming around the companions, and then, the shadow creatures were advancing, silent and dark, to defend the crypt.
The witch's fingers twitched. She had planned to cast Sol, but even as she formed the rune in her mind, she knew that this place had yet to be claimed for the light, and the shadows would choke the rune's power. Ar then, the rune of fertility, the rune of the fruitful earth and the turning year, a rune of power under the ground, and a call to the lingering half-dead to return to their place. The nearest shadow began to move towards her, thirsting for the warmth of life, as Gunriana scratches Ar on the ground between them.
"Ground and grave call you, shadow - your place is here no longer!"
The creature rushes forward, but Gunriana hurls the spear as hard as she can, transfixing the thing just as it passes over the rune. The spear jerks violently in the air as if it had hit rock, spins wildly and hits the floor. The shadow creature is gone.
"The fates claim you and that which you guard! Light is coming!"
Gunriana screams in triumph and steps forward aggressively, elated by victory foreseen, before realising that she no longer holds a weapon, and prudently slowing her pace for others to take the fight onwards.
*****
Having heard vague things from Daniel about garlic having juju, Brandon waves at the vapors with his garlicked sword.Can't hurt, right?
Well that would be wrong. What Brandon does mostly is attract the attention of the vapors. Wow, they are sentient. And irritable. And now two are converging on him.
Brandon whacks mightily at the one closest, which disappears in a poof (or whatever it is they do.) He swings at the next one coming, and it evades his blade long enough for another one of those things to come over and help his buddy out.
"Oh, &%$# this,"Brandon thinks, and runs back to where Hestor is huddling against the wall.
*****
Daniel sees the vapour gather and launch itself towards him. He has no time to do anything except fire his crossbow at it at point blank range. The vapour dissipates as the garlic-laden bolt passes through it. Daniel steps forward, and raising his holy symbol shouts, Go back ye Shadows! Back to the noxious pit which spawned you! Light shines out from him, filling the crypt.
*****
Testwe sees a shadow take shape, while the darkness is still swirling he has readied his rapier and getting ready to strike. His first hit breaks the structure of the mist, and his second sends it back into the hell it came from.
He looks to see what new forms are revealing themselves.
*****
Jetse: No battle cries. No gloating. Silence. Efficiency. Waste not your last breath taunting your enemy. One stroke, one foe, one kill.
The halberd moved through the gathering gloom before it could coalesce. Best not to have to find out what it would have become. Destroy it before your curiosity destroys you.
*****
Stone looks around him and is rather disappointed. Usually the darkness and them eyes and characters and laughing eerie faces went away after a nice, cold, smooth and calm-inducing drink. His step somewhat (very) uneasy, he decides to stop those jerk-like faces laughing at him at swings the bottle bravely in wild strokes, almost accidentally hitting straight between the eyes of that thing all around him, and for the first time, ironically thanks to his drunken primal strength, able to fight off one of his personal demons that usually plagued him when sober. He decided his victory clearly deserved a drink.
*****
The vapour coalesces into a hideous, many-legged blashpemy of form and rushes at Ik. Ik swings his garlic-coated club in an arc of pure mathematical precision straight into what passes for the head of the beast. The head explodes on impact, and the remainder of the body falls twitching to the floor.
Ik stands over the twitching form, raises his club high over his head, and brings it down with savage force. The shadow disintegrates into nothingness.
"puny shadow thing chose wrong ik to fight. ik destroy!"
Bouyed by his victory, Ik raises his club and waits for the next challenger to approach.
*****
Bayani moves to the side, so as to have a free path to the central coffin, yet to stand between it and the Prince. His body is slightly crouched, like that of a runner waiting for a starting signal. For a moment there it seems like he is concentrating too much on the source of evil in the middle of the room: a shadow creeps up on him from his right side, silently... But just as the shadow grows larger and darker close to him - ready to strike - Bayani's arm flicks out, driving his garlic-poisoned blade deep into the foul vapour. As he pulls back his blade just as rapidly, the shadow appears to get sucked into the clear pocket of air created by the stab, like black water swirling into a vortex. Then it is just gone, like a bad dream. But it is not clear how much Bayani has seen of the shadow emptying into nothingness, for all this time his eyes never once left the coffin. And they have not blinked.
*****
Jerthro ran at one of the shadowy things. Finally a chance for a real fight. This was great! In his excitement he swung a bit wildly. Fortunately the thing hadn't seen him coming, and it was an ***easy*** fight so he smashed the thing into so many pieces of fog.
"Take that, thing! Take that!" Jerthro yelled gleefully.
*****
Arabella clutched her improvised garlic stake lamp carrier. She didn't know what to expect, but what she particularly didn't expect was the complete confusion that erupted as soon as she got to the bottom of the stairs. In the melee, she found herself face-to-face with a wraith. It reached for her, but Arabella's reflexes were faster, and she thrust the lamp straight at the **easy** target. The wraith howled and dissolved into bits of mist.
*****
As the darkness swirls away, a ghastly figure is revealed. His lip curls and light glints from a half-hidden fang ....
*****
'Well that's finished off the shadows,' says Daniel. 'I think I should have a look around. It's ok, people, you needn't look like that - the vampire's probably still asleep.' He looks over his shoulder to check. 'Unless that's it materialising right behind me where you're all staring, in which case it won't take us by surprise because you're all staring there.' Daniel looks over his shoulder again. 'Oh, it is materialising there. I should probably do something about that.' As he says so, a shape slips past him armed with two sharp blades. There is a blur of motion and Daniel does not see what happens.
*****
At the very instant that the vampire appears in their midst, Bayani explosively releases out of his crouch position into a giant leap forward towards the fiend. For a split second he hangs suspended in mid-air, both arms raised high with his upper body in full tension bent backwards. He forms almost an image of the snarling wide open mouth of the vampire, as he hold his blades held in reverse grip, their glistening steel pointing forward and down, like fangs...
But then he crashes into the vampire with a sickening, bone-crushing thud. At the same time he collapses his upper body forward, driving both of his bolos with all his body strength into the torso of the vampire, piercing his weapons all the way through his pale body. Yet there is no blood, just the vampire with Bayani on top of him, pinning him to the ground with his swords, like a butterfly pinned with a needle for display. An incredibly loud, high-pitched shriek escapes the mouth of the vampire, the first sound either one of them makes. Then with astonishing speed and limberness, the vampire raises his feet to Bayani's chest and kicks him straight off, pushing the blades out of the ground and back through his own body as he sends Bayani flying backwards with them.
As Bayani tumbles to his feet, Vark gets up and makes a motion as if to brush some dust of his shoulders. Then he bares his fangs and his long pointy tongue darts out, licking them, caressing them. Raising his hands with their long claw-like fingernails, he starts to advance towards Bayani. Meanwhile the two large slit wounds in his chest start to close, like two open eyes being shut tight.
Bayani opens his mouth and starts to ... sing. Strangely, it is not a battle hymn but a sweet and simple melody, calming sounds that eerily contrast with the menace advancing towards him, hanging in the air like lost memories.
"Matulog ka na, bunso" (Sleep now, youngest one)
Instead of stepping towards Vark, Bayani suddenly takes a roll forward, avoiding the claws zipping through the air where his body should have been. Staying low and ducked down, he slashes hard at the tendons behind the vampire's left knee and drops his blade down to slice at the left Achilles tendon. To top off the move, he spins around and kicks the left lower leg of the vampire hard on the shin. With this, the vampire's leg suddenly seems to sag like so much boneless meat and Vark wobbles uncertainly as he desperately tries to catch his weight on his other leg.
"Ang ina mo ay malayo" (Your mother is far away)
Carrying the momentum of his spinning kick, Bayani flips around and drops into a kind of half-split, one leg bent the other half extended. Both bolos are chambered at his hips. He then punches them forward with all his strength, driving one through the calf muscle and the other through the thigh of the intact leg of Vark. Another howl escapes the Vampire, but this time it is low and guttural, and with just a hint of flutter and tremble as his throat clenches with the pain. Bayani twists both blades stuck in the leg with all his might and then tears them out - leaving big gaping holes in their place. Vark moans quietly and brokenly, a strange sound like chalk grating on slate far away, and drops forward, both of his legs rendered temporarily useless.
"At hindi ka masundo" (And she can't come for you)
Bayani postures up to chop off his opponents head. But his blade sings uselessly through the air. Where there should be the collapsing form of the vampire, nothing, emptiness. Bayani's jaw goes slightly slack as his eyes desperately dart around to find a trace of his vanished enemy. There is almost a hint of panic when suddenly his eyes lock onto a target. His face sets, he drops his blades and jumps high into the air, reaching up with his arms as if catching a ball. As he comes down, his hands hold tight a small bat. Squeaking fearfully.
"May putik, may balaho" (There's mud, there's a swamp)
Bayani looks at the bat in his hands for a moment... Then he bends down and bites off its head.
He spits it out with a disgusted frown, and throws the body of the bat to the side. He then picks up his blades and turns around to see the others staring at him, seemingly frozen in place.
He grins. "Nope, that didn't taste like chicken. ... And I need a beer. Anybody care to join?"
Posted by Doublethink (# 1984) on
:
Daniel assumes that the power of his invocation against the undead must have weakened even the ancient vampire, for how else could a single fighter achieve such a stunning victory
Posted by Doublethink (# 1984) on
:
As the party warily explore the crypt, they find an old and sturdy chest.
They look at the chest.
They think about the rest of their fellows, who do not yet know of their success.
They are reasonably sure that the crypt is clear of danger, Daniel can no longer sense undead - but - it is dimly lit and there is more to explore.
Posted by Jay-Emm (# 11411) on
:
Teswe announces,
"See our labours have not been in vain, anyone more expenrienced [sic] want to open it."
He eagerly explores the rest of the room for more rewards, while keeping an eye on what else others are taking.
Posted by Eliab (# 9153) on
:
Gunriana looked admiringly at Bayani, wondering at the grace and savagery with which he had fought the vampire. A true warrior. She imagined him standing at the prow of a raider, legs poised for balance, blades ready, and awaiting the crash of timbers and the sudden rush at the enemy's bloodied deck. Any captain would be glad to have such a man in the forefront of battle. She glanced at the other warriors, Ik and Jetse, the giant, and the Sun's champion, no less fearsome than the outlander.
Did the Prince realise his good fortune in having the service of these three? And, more importantly, was he the man who could bind such warriors to him with ties stronger than his father's gold? If he could, he would be a Prince indeed, mighty men would throng to his courts. If not? Bayani's graceful steps would carry him far away, Ik return to his people to raise strong sons, and Jetse would carry the light into dark places until the fate of all champions overtook him.
With a sense of forboding, Gunriana saw Prince Testwe standing, all unknowing, as the helmsman of a great ship, as wind and tide began to shift one way or another. The fates of all depended on the choices of one.
And yet he seemed more interested in the box by the crypt, than in his heroes. Not a good omen. With time, perhaps, he would learn that he had within his grasp a treasure exceeding anything likely to be found in wooden boxes.
Gunriana walked up to Bayani, and brushed his arm lightly with her right hand. “You are reckless, outlander, but I think not without reason. Your victory will be remembered as a thing of beauty. Tell me, are you hurt?”
[ 16. May 2014, 11:42: Message edited by: Eliab ]
Posted by Dafyd (# 5549) on
:
Daniel puts on his **opticals** and pokes about the crypt to **investigate**. He studies the body of the bat. He uses a stake to check the inside of the coffin to see whether it's as deep as the outside of the coffin. He taps the flagstones to see if any of them are loose. He checks the stones in the walls. He's looking for anything of interest - secret compartments, secret doors, etc.
What he'd really like to find is anything linking the vampire to other vampires, shedding light on vampire history, outlining vampires' evil plans, or so on. He'll settle for treasure. Noblemen and their retinues appreciate financial encouragement.
Posted by Marvin the Martian (# 4360) on
:
quote:
Originally posted by Jay-Emm:
Teswe announces,
"See our labours have not been in vain, anyone more expenrienced [sic] want to open it."
He eagerly explores the rest of the room for more rewards, while keeping an eye on what else others are taking.
Ik, sworn to protect the Prince, and seeing that the Prince has taken a strong interest in the chest, is concerned that it may contain another threat. He ***sniffs*** the crate to see if he can smell anything untoward
Posted by Hart (# 4991) on
:
"Well, done, your Royal Highness!" exclaimed Hestor. "Bards will sing for the ages of how you gallantly fought the terrifying shades and then chivalrously left the vampire-slaying to one of your loyal and brave-hearted companions!"
"Now, to the chest... Ik has sniffed it, I see. Did you detect any enemy inside, Ik? If not, I'll use my magical periscope to look inside through the lock."
[ 16. May 2014, 13:32: Message edited by: Hart ]
Posted by Ariston (# 10894) on
:
"Wait. We should secure the area first. Not all enemies are undead. We can take the chest outside and open it later. Security first, looting second."
Posted by Autenrieth Road (# 10509) on
:
Arabella has been itchingly curious about the coffin ever since asking Daniel about how it came to be overturned. And now she's even more curious, wondering how it came to be stood up again.
Others seem to be busy investigating the insides of things. Arabella is curious about the outside of things, well, one particular thing: what name is written on the coffin lid?
She cautiously tiptoes up to where it has been pushed aside while Daniel investigates the coffin's interior.
Hmmmm! On it is something written in a script Arabella only half remembers from her school days. She wonders if she will have the **wits** to decipher it.
Posted by Autenrieth Road (# 10509) on
:
Deciphering the antique script turns out to be **easy**. Arabella reads it, and then reads it again:
quote:
Hesther Van Adescant
and then a year written, with a short stroke after it, and then a smudge. If Hesther had lived, that year would make her about twenty years older than Daniel.
Posted by Dafyd (# 5549) on
:
'Oh dear,' says Daniel. 'I have just stabbed myself in my eye with my opticals. I am going to have to fix them. Also, ow!!!! No, I don't know how I managed to do that. If you can't envisage how it happened I can't either. Also, have I said ow!!!! yet?'
Posted by Autenrieth Road (# 10509) on
:
Arabella wondered if she should wait for things to quiet down, but it looked like the busy searching was going to go on for awhile. Except perhaps for Daniel, but he seemed to have replaced searching with writhing with his hand over his eye, so that wasn't any part of quieting down.
"Listen to this," Arabella called out loudly to the band in the crypt. She pitched her voice to carry all the way out to the runeward. "Hesther Van Adescant." And she added the year. "Apparently a birth year; there's a dash after it, and then there's a smudge."
[ 16. May 2014, 21:27: Message edited by: Autenrieth Road ]
Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on
:
Clawdine had been sitting on the crypt stairs, leaning against the wall watching the action unfold. In the dim light she seemed indistinguishable from the stone, apart from her two bright, beady eyes. She was looking for something in particular, using all her ***vigilance*** to ***find hidden*** treasure.
Posted by Doublethink (# 1984) on
:
Clawdine realises it will be ***easy*** to find ***find hidden*** doors in the crypt.
[ 16. May 2014, 23:10: Message edited by: Doublethink ]
Posted by Hart (# 4991) on
:
Hestor put his periscope back in one of his many cloak pockets. So, that's why the chest is so heavy. It was hard to see too much in there, as it was so fully. There was gold, gems and some objects he couldn't identify wrapped in velvet.
Arabella's discovery was certainly interesting news about their new acquaintance, Daniel. Interesting information to file away for future manipulation, certainly, but it didn't seem to be of immediate concern. The treasure, on the other hand, was. It was time to try **picking this lock.**
Posted by Doublethink (# 1984) on
:
Hestor realises he has an ***OK*** chance of picking this lock.
Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on
:
Clawdine moved slowly off her seat and crept quietly around the walls behind the pillars. Her eyes were fixed on a carved panel underneath one of the lower shelves. It looked...inviting. She ran her hand under the shelf, ignoring the insects that scuttled through her fingers. It was a simple catch.
The others were still gathered around the chest at the end of the crypt, offering help to get the lid open, or to heave it outside.
Using her bulk as a screen, she flipped the catch and let the panel open slightly. Even that much movement was enough to release a telltale cloud of dust into the air.
Her hands moved faster than her voice; before she had uttered a word, the swaying tassles on her shawl covered her theft. "Weel, lookit we have here," she said brightly, letting the hinged panel open out for all to see. "Wot d'yer think thiz might be..."
Posted by Hart (# 4991) on
:
The lock defeated Hestor. It was an intricate mechanism. He was sure the blind tailor in Bamville would have no problem with it, and all he'd have to do was hint that he might be inclined to mention the incident in Haverbrock to his wife to be assured of his best efforts. The chest could wait.
Posted by JFH (# 14794) on
:
Stone had looked on curiously as Hestor tried to manipulate the lock. Stone enjoyed watching another master, and empathized with the disappointment in Hestor's eyes as the lock remained closed. He decided to see if he could help his fellow tradesman out.
"Now now, Hestie, don't be upset - there ain't be no need to take this chest here all the way to Bamville! Let me see now... It seems to me that good old Rollin' Stone Miller might just be able to *craft* a neat little way into this ole' babe here. Please hand me that candelabra, will you, and that chest plate from the dead knight lying on the floor... and fetch me a couple of nails from that coffin, and a piece of that chain from the wall, and, say, Brandon's belt. Do shut him up with this cloth I found on one of the corpses before, if he keeps whining. Don't tell him where I found it. Let's see... Do you have a rock or something sturdy that I can beat the plate into place with...? Thanks! Yes... This should work as a one-way valve, I think... Now all we need is a... The belt goes in here, to hold the funnel into place. This should be it. Ik, could you come over here and tie this belt around your waist with the metal thingy pointing backwards? Thank you! When we count to three and hold the candle by the end of the metal pipe, could you also let go of those inner gas supplies we overheard before? Whereas a regular fireball probably wouldn't be enough to break this thing, a glowing, blowing, precision-aimed "torch" of lit-up air should be able to cut through whatever this here chesty is built from. Come on now, Ik, be a big boy and don't be scared. So the belt around your waist and the big opening to the cheeks, that's right!"
Stone whispers to the others, making sure Ik does not hear, "Please stand back... I hope this will work the way I planned it."
Posted by Eliab (# 9153) on
:
Seeing that most of the others were concentrating on opening the chest or examining the hidden door, Gunriana chose her moment to approach Prince Testwe.
"Your Highness, my by counsel, if that chest is indeed full of gold, now would be the time to take the oaths of any of these newcomers whose service you wish to accept. And to pay off and dismiss any others. Blood has been spilled over less wealth than your warriors have just won you, and though a sworn word is no certain proof against villainy, it will deter some."
Posted by IngoB (# 8700) on
:
"Ma'am, a word."
Bayani lightly and hesitantly touched Gunriana on the shoulder, and led her to the side.
"First, thank you for your concern. I'm sorry if I wasn't ... responding to you earlier. Me and magic have a long history. Maybe you can feel that I'm not very ... susceptible to its powers. There are reasons for that. Not very good reasons, I'm afraid."
The look in Bayani's eyes became furtive, and he continued in a surprisingly shy and small voice.
"That said, I've had time to think and biting off the head of a vampire, even as a bat, may not have been such a good idea. I do not know if I have perhaps ... swallowed some of its poison, if you see what I mean. If you can see whether I'm ... clean, or not, that would be much appreciated."
Bayani looked to the ground for a while, then he nodded over to the Prince.
"But as for the Prince, I am worried that if Hestor and you keep playing him back and forth like a shuttlecock, he will soon want to assert himself, somehow. As is the want of youth."
Bayani's face suddenly looked tired and drawn.
"And Ma'am, I fear a test of loyalties shall do our little company here no good at all..."
Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on
:
quote:
Originally posted by Dafyd:
'Oh dear,' says Daniel. 'I have just stabbed myself in my eye with my opticals. I am going to have to fix them. Also, ow!!!! No, I don't know how I managed to do that. If you can't envisage how it happened I can't either. Also, have I said ow!!!! yet?'
Backstory moment--Brandon is a total brat.
(Rough snorting noises erupt from his nose for a long moment.)
"Dude, you're a mess. You're funny, but a total mess. And I think you need to say 'ow' a couple more times, some people are ignoring you."
"Aw, that's mean, i'm sorry. I can run back and get some salve from my medicine kit if you need it."
Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on
:
Clawdine watched the group around the locked coffer with some amusement. She fingered the key she was hiding beneath her shawl.
"'Ow much d'yer think a key might be worth, right now?" she whispered to Hestor.
Posted by JFH (# 14794) on
:
Stone, having put the metal together but still waiting to see if his *crafting* was good enough, looked around him and spoke up,
"It seems Ik is thinking this over very carefully. Sure, I would too if I were him."
Stone saw Arabella standing by the coffin, pondering something closely.
"Whatcha thinkin' 'bout over there, honey? Apart from whether Prince Fancy Pants is married? Who keeps you warm at night, by the way?"
Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on
:
While brandon is being a giggling little twirp, he feels a weird sensation at the back of his breeches-- a little jerk. He lookls around to see ik lumbering away. "?" he thinks?
SOmething... lose is happening around his waist.
"????" He thinks. He looks down. His pants are around his ankles. He is painfully aware of two things-- one, a very pretty woman is close enough to see him standing in his breechcloth, and two, he hasn't been as faithful in washing out that breechcloth as he should have been. By his calculations-- five days.
"Oh for the love of-- what the HELL, ik! What did I ever do to you!"
(Brandon grabs at his breeches and yanks, trying to twist them in the front and hold them in place with one hand.)
Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on
:
Brandon runs in pursuit of his belt. Which means he eventually finds Stone constructing some whozamajiggits-- apparently with his belt.
"Give that back, you cheese dick! Why do you need my stuff to make a moonshine rig, or whatever the hell that is! You guys suck, picking on a Kid!"
(sniff)
"I thought you were COOL, ik!" ![[Waterworks]](graemlins/bawling.gif)
Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on
:
PLEASE IGNORE THE LAST TWO POSTS, AS I MISSED ONE VERY IMPORTANT LINE. I SHALL BACKTRACK
Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on
:
quote:
Originally posted by JFH:
Stone, having put the metal together but still waiting to see if his *crafting* was good enough, looked around him and spoke up,
"It seems Ik is thinking this over very carefully. Sure, I would too if I were him."
Stone saw Arabella standing by the coffin, pondering something closely.
"Whatcha thinkin' 'bout over there, honey? Apart from whether Prince Fancy Pants is married? Who keeps you warm at night, by the way?"
Brandon sees ik pondering. He waves, because he likes ik. ik's lack of response is unsettling, so he edges over to Daniel. He looks up to see that weird hari guy, Stone, kind of creeping on Arabella. Should he interfere?
Ah, why the hell not?
"Give it up, loser! she sticks to her own species!"
[ 18. May 2014, 06:41: Message edited by: Kelly Alves ]
Posted by Autenrieth Road (# 10509) on
:
"Mind your own business, little boy," snaps Arabella, surprising herself. She thinks of herself as usually a mild-mannered non-snappish sort.
She addresses the man with a crucifix in his hair. "Keeps me warm at night? An excellent question. We should consider it further together. But before we pursue this excellent question, who do you mean by Prince Fancy Pants?"
Posted by JFH (# 14794) on
:
Stone hears Brandon shouting something in a corner.
"Hey, laddie! Come on over here and I'll show you this really interesting piece of machinery, you won't ever have seen the likes of it unless your mother lives in Dinkerton. Ah, such a lovely place and such lovely housewives, and so much tinkering to make a living from - until I stripmined the market, of course. That, and the lack of hospitality on the part of the husbands. 12 years and 5 months ago - I know because the magistrate left a coupla scars on me back before I left. Anyway, come on over and I'll show you how it works, ok? Let me tell you something funny - it runs on farts!"
He whispers to Hesthor,
"You ready to get the belt?"
Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on
:
"Ew. Ok, suit yourself"
(Looks at Daniel and winks.) "Snooze you lose, man."
(Despite odd feelings of apprehension, Brandon wanders over to find Ik, because he thought he was cool.)
[ 18. May 2014, 07:02: Message edited by: Kelly Alves ]
Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on
:
quote:
Originally posted by JFH:
Stone hears Brandon shouting something in a corner.
"Hey, laddie! Come on over here and I'll show you this really interesting piece of machinery, you won't ever have seen the likes of it unless your mother lives in Dinkerton. Ah, such a lovely place and such lovely housewives, and so much tinkering to make a living from - until I stripmined the market, of course. That, and the lack of hospitality on the part of the husbands. 12 years and 5 months ago - I know because the magistrate left a coupla scars on me back before I left. Anyway, come on over and I'll show you how it works, ok? Let me tell you something funny - it runs on farts!"
He whispers to Hesthor,
"You ready to get the belt?"
"Farts! HELL Yes!"
Scampers over to Stone
[I'm sorry dude, your browser must just wait for me to post... )
[ 18. May 2014, 07:07: Message edited by: Kelly Alves ]
Posted by JFH (# 14794) on
:
Stone replied to Arabella:
"Oh, you don't know about him? He'll be very pleased to hear! The fella paying for this entire gig is Testwe over there, or rather his father, who happens to be the king of this land - apart from the roads. I rule the roads and decree by song and poems! These big fellas are his body guards. I have none and I need none, save for this little baby here," Stone says, placing his tooth pick between his teeth and showing a pleased grin.
Stone also turned towards Ik.
"Hey, Ik, you know how Bye-Bye Bayani here took all the glory from the fight before? Well, the way I see it, you have an excellent chance now to help out in really taking home the treasure. So how 'bout you take your hand out of your ass and lend it to me over here instead? You know you can trust ole' Rollin' Stone, voted technician of the century in the village of Stuck-In-The-Mudsbottom!"
Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on
:
Oblivious to the chatter, Brandon skips over, a big boyish grin on his face.
"Dude, I take back what I said. You made a fart machine? You are the coolest guy I know.It runs on actual farts? Can I help? I know I'm little but man. I'd surprise you..."
Posted by Jay-Emm (# 11411) on
:
Teswe did think the runesmith had a point.
Though as he announced its divisions, there can't have been many who, thought it fair, if hed had picked up in this he'd have been sad at the greed of his inferiors.
3% for each in his party, 2% for the official hangers on was surely more than generous (except brandon would be made to give his share to the strangers, coward).
Posted by Autenrieth Road (# 10509) on
:
"Oh, him," says Arabella. "So he's in charge. Huh, I thought he was a prisoner. No, I haven't been thinking about his pants at all."
And then after a pause, "So tell me about this contraption of yours: how did you ever come to think of such a thing?"
[ 18. May 2014, 12:46: Message edited by: Autenrieth Road ]
Posted by Dafyd (# 5549) on
:
Hmm... thinks Daniel. Is that a coincidence, or has this vampire really got hold of my aunt's coffin somehow? And if so, why?
Posted by JFH (# 14794) on
:
Stone threw Arabella a confident look with his honest blue eyes and a smile of gold, and said,
"Oh, I just looked your way and realized something very hot can usually pierce through the hardest realities, and then it was all mechanics from there on out.
Stone winked smoothly at Arabella and turned over as Ik called for his attention.
"What's that you said, Ik? You feel a particularly bad one coming on? Well, then we must act at once!"
"Brandon, you see this lovely machine here? You see, sometimes, kid, you gotta learn to sacrifice something for one's trade and joys - like I sacrificed the skin of me back in Dinkerton. I'd like to ask ye for a somewhat smaller sacrifice, since you're not yet that age I was. Do you think you could lend me your belt so that we can tie this thing here 'round Ik's waist, and so that the experiment can start? We need something to hold it in place, otherwise the funnel will just act as a reflector and spread it all around, which would not be pleasant at all, you see. Well, not unless you're building a stink bomb, but I'll show you that after you lend me your belt and we get this thingy started, ok?"
Posted by Hart (# 4991) on
:
"Stealing boys' belts is a little below my station, humble though I am, Stone," whispered Hestor. "Besides, the boy seems keen enough to help you without having to resort to theft."
He turned back to the troll lady, who had been very patiently waiting for a response from him for quite some time. "My dear, things are worth different amounts to different people. To Brandon, it may be worth his pride and that's a very precious thing to owe someone."
Posted by Eliab (# 9153) on
:
quote:
Originally posted by IngoB:
Bayani lightly and hesitantly touched Gunriana on the shoulder, and led her to the side.
She touches Bayani lightly on the lips with her index finger.
"Whatever the reason, outlander, it is not given to gods or men to resist the runes. Sometimes to strive against them, never to overcome. Your rune is Raed, the Wanderer, a rune of the Skyfather, and if magics seldom sway you from your path, it is because you walk in its power."
The young woman slips her hand behind Bayani's head, twisting her fingers in his hair, and pulling his face toward her own. Their eyes meet and she feels his breath on her face.
"What do you seek, Wanderer? Not gold, I think, and not glory either, though it may be you'd refuse neither. You did not learn to fight with such skill without mastering your passions, but that last move, the wolf's move, shows that you have the heart of a wolf, which is yet untamed. Will your wandering cease when you find one who can bring you to heel?
I can lift curses and draw poisons, wolf-hearted one, but the consequences of your own free will, that you have written for yourself, and I fear my rune-lore will not avail against it. Yet I will do what I can."
Gunriana begins to unlace Bayani's linen tunic, working dextrously with her right hand alone. When she has exposed as much of his torso as he permits her to see, she opens his mouth to check for abrasions, kneads his stomach with probing fingers to search out swellings or bloating, and then turns her thumb-nail in a savage, sideways twist to score Maðr, the rune of mankind, and Yr, the yew-tree, the soul's protector with poison in its gnarled hand, on Bayani's breast. She leans forward and her tongue darts out to taste his wolf's blood, relying on her skill in ***healing*** to detect and cure any corruption of body or spirit.
[ 18. May 2014, 17:18: Message edited by: Eliab ]
Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on
:
quote:
Originally posted by JFH:
I'd like to ask ye for a somewhat smaller sacrifice, since you're not yet that age I was. Do you think you could lend me your belt so that we can tie this thing here 'round Ik's waist, and so that the experiment can start? We need something to hold it in place, otherwise the funnel will just act as a reflector and spread it all around, which would not be pleasant at all, you see. Well, not unless you're building a stink bomb, but I'll show you that after you lend me your belt and we get this thingy started, ok?"
Brandon thinks of his dignity, then thinks of the Greater Good. He shrugs.
"Sure, have at it, Mister Stone. I can get a rope or something. A vine even, if need be."
Brandon hold his britches by one hand and removes the belt with the other.
"Like I said, just let me know if you need help in the, um, fuel department."
[ 18. May 2014, 17:49: Message edited by: Kelly Alves ]
Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on
:
quote:
Originally posted by Eliab:
quote:
Originally posted by IngoB:
Bayani lightly and hesitantly touched Gunriana on the shoulder, and led her to the side.
She touches Bayani lightly on the lips with her index finger... etc, (pant, pant) etc.
If Brandon is anywhere near enough to see any of this, he keep stealing goggle eyed looks in their direction.
Posted by JFH (# 14794) on
:
Stone smiles gratefully and triumphantly at Brandon.
"That's great, boy! Thank you! We'll all remember this, things like this is what builds character, you know? Let's tie this to the machine and fasten it to Ik's waist. It should be just about big enough - it's supposed to be tight so that there is no air slippage. Now come over here, Ik, and aim your cute behind towards the chest lock like this. Hestor, is the candle in place? Great.
OK, EVERYBODY STAND BACK!
Ik, are you ready? Go."
Posted by Doublethink (# 1984) on
:
There is a loud rumbling noise, a massive plume of flame, Stone's hair briefly catches fire - the chest's lock melts and runs down the side of the chest and puddles on the stone floor. The wood around where the lock was, is smouldering slightly.
Stone realises he is more ***skilled with fire*** than he realised.
Posted by Doublethink (# 1984) on
:
In the chest are a twelve velvet wrapped objects, gold coins and a handful of rubies.
Posted by Hart (# 4991) on
:
Hestor spoke up in a loud voice: "OK, everybody. First, I as cupbearer to his royal highness, I propose a toast. To Prince Testwe and his most excellent and loyal retinue!
"It is also my duty as cupbearer to remind you all, as I know you are very aware, that all treasure accrued on this trip is the property of his Highness. If, in his beneficence, he chooses to share it with such mere commoners as ourselves, let us all express the appropriate gratitude.
"Your Highness, how should you like to proceed? My counsel is, as always, at your service."
Posted by Eliab (# 9153) on
:
Gunriana releases her grip on Bayani.
"It is not given to every wanderer to walk so close to the dark without some taint of shadow clinging to them. But you are fortunate. Nothing of your enemy has stained you, and your spirit may be at peace."
Her hand flicks out for the last time, wiping a trace of blood from the runes scratched on Bayani's skin.
"Guard your steps in future, warrior, for good fortune is a blessing which my mothers never give, but only lend."
The witch holds the outlander's gaze for a moment, then, with some sign of effort, shakes her head and turns away. As she walks back to the others, she presses her blood-spotted fingers to the jaw of the skull swinging at her belt, then raises the hand to her own lips.
Posted by Eliab (# 9153) on
:
Gunriana moves to stand next to the Prince. She says nothing. Bayani had been right. He would have to find his own voice. What sort of Prince did Testwe wish to be? And, perhaps more importantly, what sort of Prince did he wish to appear to be?
Posted by Jay-Emm (# 11411) on
:
Teswe starts to shares the gold coins in the proportions he announced.
Sternly rebuking Brandon for his cowardliness in running away, he gives holds the money out then passes it to the Doctor and Arrabella.
His heart softens a bit and he throws a few coins to Brandon after all. He thanks Hector for his noble words and eagerly looks at whats inside the velvet pads and counts the rubies into a bag.
However out of his 'share' of the coins he gives another share to Hector to provide a festival at the next village (and makes a list of requirements that cost twice as much), a few more went to Bayani to thank him for his part.
He sits down utterly convinced his magnanimous gesture has earned the respect of the people, maybe he was a little too generous he mused.
Posted by Hart (# 4991) on
:
Hestor watches as Testwe unwraps the first item: a pair of black gloves so thin as to be useless against the elements, what a crock! But, then, Hestor looked closer: the gloves bore the unmistakable (to those with an eye for such things) crest of Neanar, the elven seamstress who had so far eluded all of his attempts to trade. These were not her finest work, must have been a rush job, but they would still lend the wearer augmented dexterity when needed, provided they were given enough time to recharge in between uses. If he'd have just had those when he was picking the lock, we wouldn't be smelling this foul odor now!
"Your Highness, forgive your servant his idiosyncratic affections, but those gloves really are just my color. As you can see, they're thin, no use to keep your royal hands warm, and they're not really sized for your dainty hands anyway, are they? If you Highness were to grant them to your humble servant as a gracious gift, they would be forever prized by my doting heart."
Testwe didn't really understand what Hestor was on about, but thought he was probably being flattered. And they were exceptionally dull gloves, so what was the harm? To Hestor they went.
Posted by Dafyd (# 5549) on
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Daniel peers at the collection of artifacts people have found. He picks up a tatty piece of cloth. 'Hmm. An embroidered hammer? It couldn't be, could it? The fabled maniple of St Cushing, scourge of vampires and undead? It went missing from his shrine a century ago. I shall have to return it to the shrine. Perhaps not immediately. I think the Saint may not object if I return it by an indirect route.'
Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on
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Jerthro looked into the chest and saw a bit of a hilt sticking out of the velvet. It was old and the leather on the handle was cracked to the point of peeling. When he gestured to ask if he could pick it up, the prince shrugged. He figured touching couldn't hurt, and the hilt didn't look promising.
Nor was the rest of the dagger more expensive looking. It was notched in multiple places and discolored. Jerthro looked at it with a smile. "Someone's done a lot of fighting with this."
Prince Testwe wrinkled his nose. "From the odor, they should have taken better care of it then! If you like that thing, why don't you take it away where I won't have to smell it."
Jerthro bowed, smiling. He had a feeling this thing was worth more than it looked.
Posted by Doublethink (# 1984) on
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Having finished putting out various small fires in unmentionable places, Ik looks carefully at the contents of the chest. He reaches out and takes a set of worn but sturdy boots.
Testwe makes to speak, after all he has not given his permission, Ik turns - boots in hand - and looks at Testwe ...
Testwe blinks, and decides that after all the barbarian fought well, and helped open the chest, and the boots are old, and worn - and his magnanimous nod of agreement has nothing at all to do with being in any way even the slightest bit intimidated by the large, tough, heavily armed barbarian warrior. Definitely not.
Posted by Eliab (# 9153) on
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Gunriana thanked the Prince for the proffered book, and bowed slightly.
In the old tales, the highest compliment paid to a generous lord was often that he hated gold, that is, he was so quick to give it away, that one might almost think it a thing he despised. How fitting, thought Gunriana as she opened the book, that Prince Testwe was so generous with this symbol of wisdom. One might almost think...
Very little of Gunriana's education had come from books. Her Great-Aunt had preferred stone and wood to parchment when it came to writing, and memory to everything else when it came to record keeping. Books, to House De Vanės, meant ledgers and logbooks, not the legendary enchanted tomes of the great scholars. She certainly had never heard of Demoslant's Principles of Rhetoric, as the worn cover identified this old volume. Even so, by the end of the first page, she knew that she had received a treasure. The writing was beautiful, perfect, flowing letters, embodying a text in which every word was well chosen, blending sound, image and meaning with an artistry and precision that she had scarcely imagine possible in mortal language. With a sad shock she realised that this was not a work that she could properly red in the dim light of this haunted crypt. These were words which demanded diligent study and which deserved to be savoured. She closed the book reluctantly, and bowed again to Prince Testwe, this time with deeply felt gratitude. "You will indeed find your voice, Your Highness" she whispered to herself, "and I will find mine."
[ 21. May 2014, 23:36: Message edited by: Eliab ]
Posted by Autenrieth Road (# 10509) on
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Arabella has been hanging back but when she sees the Prince unfold a package of midnight blue velvet to reveal a small chalice with grimy lumps around the base, the stem so bent that the bowl hangs uselessly almost bent double on the stem, she steps forward quickly.
"Sire, can I have that?"
Testwe looks over the twisted chalice, looks at Arabella. He remembers a particularly irritating lesson from his tutor in Princely Comportment. "A prince should be seen to be generous," the tutor had told Testwe. Many times. It was usually uncommonly annoying to consider how to put this into effect, but now Testwe sees a perfect opportunity. The chalice is clearly silver, but also as clearly useless. And what more generous act than to give it to this utterly charmless waif?
"Yours it is, lady," says Testwe, placing the chalice in her hands.
"The wrapping too?" Arabella is single-mindedly insistent.
Slight irritation tickles Testwe's nose at the graceless request, but he can't see any way to use this scrap of velvet, so why not? Ha, his old tutor thought Testwe ungenerous? He'd show him!
"Lady, it is our pleasure to bestow this bit of velvet, as a token of our great love for our people, and our joy in gladdening their hearts." He makes a show of draping the midnight blue wrapping over Arabella's hands, over the chalice.
"Thank you, Sire." Arabella mumbles and backs quickly away.
Once safely behind the coffin lid again, Arabella uncovers the chalice. She tilts it slightly, to gaze into the bowl. She feels the world ripple. She can feel the greater clarity lying on the other side of that ripple, but she's not ready to use its power yet. She turns her head, and wraps the chalice without looking at it again.
Posted by Jay-Emm (# 11411) on
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At last thinks Teswe as he sees a hint of gold. He wonders at the detritus the vampire seems to have hoarded.
Lovingly he unwraps the precious necklace from it's velvet. "Truely, he announces", in a voice uncharacteristically touched with awe, "this belongs on the fairest of them all".
He wraps it back in the velvet and keeps it safe, he feels better than he has for days, he puts it down to anticipation, but the memory lingers.
Posted by Ariston (# 10894) on
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This fight went off easily enough, but others might not. Best to be prepared for when things take a turn for the worst. The felt wrappings, while old, were still in remarkable condition; no doubt something as sturdy and absorbent (and, no doubt, unnaturally preserved) would make for a good set of bandages.
Jetse took the wrappings out of the coffin, and folded them neatly, before placing them in his pack.
Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on
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Brandon hears his name being called out, in combination with the word "coward", and marches over to ask that whoever said that to repeat himself. As he nears, Prince Testypants tosses his hand, and a few coins hit Brandon in the chest.
Scowing, still clutching his breeches, Brandon picks up the coins and nods brusquely, saving the smart-ass for later.
Brandon notices the Prince fumbling with a nifty little gizmo of some sort and muttering. Of course, Prince is muttering words like "broken" and "useless"
"Hey, let me take that back to Stone-- He's building something over there. Maybe he can fix this thing ."
Prince tosses him the broken mechanical device-- turns out to be a compass.
"Cool"
Again Brandon keeps hold of his breeches as he scoops up the new toy and heads back to Stone.
He looks up to see the horses standing a few yards away, and notices rope sticking out of a saddle bag-- rope that would make a decent belt.
"Hm, maybe I should go to the horse and get that rope first, so I can swap it for my belt"
Posted by Doublethink (# 1984) on
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Stone gestured to a broken lute and raised his eyebrows to Prince Testwe, an imperious nod, Stone took the lute to repair (snaffling the slim volume underneath it at the same time.)
He headed out of the crypt, and sat on the ward stone by the horses, to take a good look at the lute and think about what he'd need for a repair.
Stone is jolted out of deep thought by the arrival of Brandon and his compass. "Interesting device, if I just free this spindle here ..."
Stone hands the functioning compass to Brandon.
[ 22. May 2014, 19:08: Message edited by: Doublethink ]
Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on
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"Thanks, man. I am really having trouble with my pants, so I'm gonna go to the saddle bags over there and get a ro--"
Brandon finds himself standing with his nose two feet away from a horses left flank.
Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on
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Clawdine stands in the shadows while the Prince doles out his new found largesse. At the bottom of the chest a bulky object is wrapped in grubby muslin. Testwe uses the point of his dagger to flick open the rags and then gestures to Hestor to pick it up.
Hestor grabs the end of it between his finger and thumb and holds the battered pewter ladle distastefully aloft.
The Prince gestures dismissively. "Throw it out, Hestor. Unless the gypsy woman wants it. Isn't it strange what some people think important to keep?"
Hestor turns and walks towards Clawdine before dropping the ladle at her feet. "Trash for trash" he hisses. But as his fingers open to let the handle go, their eyes meet.
Clawdine looks amused, and bends to pick it up. There is a strange connection to the ladle they have both touched.
Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on
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Brandon gulps. He stares at the compass in his hand for a moment-- come to think of it, it has a strange, quite pretty crystal-- and considers the fact that Prince Testy gave it to him because he thought it was useless. He quickly pockets the compass, then gets the extra rope and cuts off a bit to tie up his breeches. He walks slowly back toward Stone.
Posted by Doublethink (# 1984) on
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By the time our dozen companions have left the crypt and gathered outside, it is just past noon - the third day has begun.
They have learned much about each other, and their future is full of possibilities. Perhaps the Gods look down with interest to see what use they will make of the vampire's strange hoard, perhap they are angry, perhaps they laugh, perhaps they roll dice ...
But these are tales for another time my listeners, and we shall leave our twelve as they stand in the graveyard - grateful to be alive and whole after their encounter with the blasphemies beneath the church.
[ 23. May 2014, 07:08: Message edited by: Doublethink ]
Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on
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Clawdine trailed the rest of the party up the crypt stairs. In a crack in the stairwall something caught her attention. She reached up and touched the dusty stone. She could feel the precious node beneath her fingertips. Clawdine closed her eyes and channelled all her desire into calling new life into the stunted dicotyledon. Sweet water dripped out of the stone above it, and the leaves grew and unfurled faster than thought. The vine travelled quickly, with new tendrils springing into maturity all along its length - covering the coffins, winding around pillars, filling the crypt and folllowing Clawdine up the stairs and out into the sunshine.
The remainder of the prince's party watched as the church disappeared beneath the greenery, and buds all over it popped open into scented white trumpet flowers.
"The Devil's Bane" breathed Gunriana.
"Angel's Trump", nodded Clawdine.
"Good riddance." said Prince Testwe. "Let's be on our way."
The prince's retinue fell in behind his horse, and the peregrination of Prince Testwe continued.
[ 23. May 2014, 08:02: Message edited by: Banner Lady ]
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