Mists of Winter: Chapter One

[Adam]

"A Barovian document he had acquired," he says, "I don't think it's related to what we're investigating."

[steveflam]

"Very well," he replies. "Shall we get going? Or is there more to do here?" Franz looks around from the standpoint of someone wanting to break in and what could be done to better protect the
establishment.

[Adam]

"I think I have what I need," he says, "Let's head out. I have another stop I'd like to make."

[steveflam]

"Mattheo, you might consider getting a guard dog. Or getting a better door and deadbolts. Perhaps
get iron bars to guard your windows. I am not sure of the cost of these but am sure a guard dog is the cheapest."


Franz follows Benn to his next stop.

[ewancummins]

BENN AND FRANZ
AND MUNCHEN



Benn leaves the shop, followed by Franz and the bulldog.

The Lamordian leads the way through back alleys where high brick walls and overhanging gutters choke out the weak and hazy sunlight. On he goes, deeper into a part of the city Franz does not know. Benn strides across stone footbridge that spans a canal choked with filthy slush and turns at the far end.

Franz sees Benn walk down the embankment of the canal, under the bridge.
Then he loses sight of the man.

Munchen begins whining, and tugs at Franz's pant leg, pulling him away from the bridge.



Benn sees

VIEW CONTENT:

the open drain pipe under the bridge, a brick circle that drips a thin stream of foul water into the canal.
His contact may be reached by crawling in, making a light, tossing initial payment into a certain nook, and waiting.

[steveflam]

Franz goes immediately on alert, hands reaching for his blades but not unsheathing them. While he trusts Munchen, he also
knows that Benn will call out if he is in danger. "It's ok Munchen, Benn will tell us if he is in danger, leibling." He talks in a soothing voice to the dog.

He hurries under the bridge and calls out to Benn "Benn, are you all right? Munchen
seems a bit worried about the bridge."

[Adam]

"Probably smelling the fellow we're here to see," Benn responds, "You may need to keep your dog back. I don't want to startle him."

He reaches to the head of his walking stick, closing his eyes and chanting the simple incantation to trigger it to light up. Once done, he gives a satisfactory nod, reaches inside his coat pocket for a bag that jingles as he pulls it into his hand, and begins to crawl forward into the tunnel.

"I won't be long," he shouts as he crawls in and drops the bag into the appointed place.

[steveflam]

"Ja, ok." He turns to Munchen and gives the dog the command to sit "Sit. Gut boy. It's ok, Benn will come back. I will honor your feelings by arming myself."

He does so, standing ready at the hole, ears and eyes alert.

[ewancummins]

BENN, INSIDE THE DRAIN

As Benn enters, he hears Franz's dog growling, but that noise soon fades away.

Benn waits, crouched on his knees, with his walking stick stuck out in front of him. Saint Elmo's fire dances cold and blue around the stick's brass knob, reaching wispy fingers toward the curved brick interior of the drain.

All remains silent, save for the thin trickle of chill water along the drain pipe's lower channel and the exaggerated echo of Benn's own breath.

Scrape.
The noise comes from further down the pipe.

Tiny red lights appear in the shadows further in, past Benn's magic light.

Scrape.

Something black, the size of a small dog, rushes towards Benn and snatches the pouch he had dropped into a particular chink in the masonry.
The creature vanishes before Benn gets a good look at more than its long, naked tail.

Silence hangs heavy over the tunnel for several minutes, and then a voice Benn has heard before, in another subterranean encounter, calls out,
"Good payment. What do you want?"

FRANZ AND MUNCHEN, OUTSIDE THE DRAIN ON THE EMBANKMENT BELOW THE CANAL BRIDGE


Munchen growls a bit and refuses to go near the drain pipe.
Instead, the dog walks under the bridge and urinates on the stone foundation. He then begins rooting about a noisome heap of frosted offal and trash.

[Adam]

"There are two things I'm looking into today," Benn replies, guarding his tone, "The most important is this: I'm beginning to suspect that there is a new creature in the city's waterways. It drowns people, specifically seeming to favor children. After it finishes it's dirty work, the bodies are found with the eyes blacked out." He can't help but wave the light a bit to the side, trying to light up the source of the voice as much as possible. "I don't know if it has only recently come to the city, or if it was from here, left, and returned, but I was put on this case by a hunter that had followed it along the river from a foreign land and only arrived here yesterday. Have you or your kind heard anything about it?"

[ewancummins]

"There are two things I'm looking into today," Benn replies, guarding his tone, "The most important is this: I'm beginning to suspect that there is a new creature in the city's waterways. It drowns people, specifically seeming to favor children. After it finishes it's dirty work, the bodies are found with the eyes blacked out." He can't help but wave the light a bit to the side, trying to light up the source of the voice as much as possible. "I don't know if it has only recently come to the city, or if it was from here, left, and returned, but I was put on this case by a hunter that had followed it along the river from a foreign land and only arrived here yesterday. Have you or your kind heard anything about it?"

''Hmmm...it drowns children? Human children? Does it make noises, music?"

[Adam]

"I haven't heard that specifically," he answers, "But I wouldn't rule it out. Most of what we know about it comes from descriptions of the victims and its association with water. Have you heard something about it?"

[ewancummins]

"I haven't heard that specifically," he answers, "But I wouldn't rule it out. Most of what we know about it comes from descriptions of the victims and its association with water. Have you heard something about it?"

"It could be Demon-Piper of the bogs. He leads victims into the deep water, and children are his special prey. Listen for his evil flute. If you do hear it....best to stop your ears or run."

Squeaks and chattering sound from down the pipe, in the deep darkness.
Benn catches a glimpse of something man-sized moving just at the edge of his conjured light.

"Whatever it is, we'll scratch about and see what we can find. You kill it or drive it off. We must not let monsters roam our city."

[Adam]

He smiles ruefully. "Of course," he agrees, "If you can get an idea of where or how to find it, perhaps we can see to its disposal. You've already been helpful in letting us know about the music. You'll have to let me know if you come up with anything else."

He tries not to start as he sees movement at the edge of his light. "Secondly, have any of your above ground contacts heard of a crew of foreigners who committed a break-in on a book store last evening? They would be notable for having just arrived recently, and for the fact that they only stole a scroll during the robbery, rather than money."

[ewancummins]

He smiles ruefully. "Of course," he agrees, "If you can get an idea of where or how to find it, perhaps we can see to its disposal. You've already been helpful in letting us know about the music. You'll have to let me know if you come up with anything else."

He tries not to start as he sees movement at the edge of his light. "Secondly, have any of your above ground contacts heard of a crew of foreigners who committed a break-in on a book store last evening? They would be notable for having just arrived recently, and for the fact that they only stole a scroll during the robbery, rather than money."

"I don't know, but I'll ask questions, look into it. "