RAVENLOFT: The One That Got Away, Chapter 3

[kintire]

Kat watches it go Icily, returning her rapier only once she is sure it is gone.

"You have some... odd informants, don't you?"

[Brock Marsh Runoff]

Dorgio is speechless as the shadow reveals what it knows. But once the thing that was once Norzak (or was it?) shows itself out of the door, Dorgio looks to Benn with wide eyes."

"The alley. We must check it. Now."

[Adam]

Kat watches it go Icily, returning her rapier only once she is sure it is gone.

"You have some... odd informants, don't you?"

Benn's eyes shade in a very unpleasant manner as he grumbles "You have no idea" in response.

He nods at Dorgio's suggestion and heads outside.

[ewancummins]

OUTSIDE


Benn, and anyone who follows him out, finds the alley deserted. Late afternoon sunlight illumines the rooftops and part of the alleyway.
The street behind carries light traffic: a one-horse wood-cart rolling east under its rider's direction, some apprentice lads walking west.
The wind picks up.
A few black flakes fall in the breeze, drifting from Benn's roof tiles like polluted snow.
The cold ashes dissolve as soon as they touch down on the pavement, Benn's hands, anything.
Searching the area, the investigators discover small traces of the black ash on the street and in the alley, and streaked on a building's brick wall. Not much, but noticeable.

[Lord Skybolt]

BUG HUNT




Cleaning out the roaches may be a dirty job, but Alain has learned some tricks to deal with these horrid bugs. Light to deny them comfortable spaces. Cleaning the house, searching out leaks , clearing away any food, and so on.
Several common poisons have failed to work against these giant roaches in the past, but Alain knows of alchemical preparations that should attract and kill the creatures. The problem in that other city was not so much killing them as dealing with their endless numbers.
Does he have the skill to mix such stuff his own, or will he need help?


In his experience, some small predators will kill the bugs. Cats. At least, the alley-cats of that city, a mangy and feral breed, would not hesitate to slay and consume the fat roaches.

Alain leaves after making sure that what bugs are left will hopefully stay in what shadows he has left for them, while he goes out to look up the prospect of getting some cats and maybe some bug poison to kill them off . He also needs to look up a tailor as well . While doing these things he will look up Benn and Dorgio to see if they have any idea on who he should ask about the alchemical poison to use against the bugs . He needs to give him the presents he made for them in anycase .

[Adam]

Bennedict makes a note of the ash, but hustles to fetch a ladder or something similar to get to the rooftop, as instructed.

"I believe this answers your question from earlier," he says to Sara, gesturing to the ashy substance.

[ewancummins]

OUTSIDE BENN'S HOUSE

Bennedict makes a note of the ash, but hustles to fetch a ladder or something similar to get to the rooftop, as instructed.

"I believe this answers your question from earlier," he says to Sara, gesturing to the ashy substance.

Benn finds he does not own a tall enough ladder, but a visit to a neighboring shop and some polite words gets him what he needs.

He climbs up and inspects the slate roof tiles.

Streaks of ash show on the gray slate. He probably never would have noticed this, given its location and the dark color on a dark color, if not for Dark One's warning.

From his vantage point atop the high ladder, Benn sees some streaking and staining on other nearby roofs, in the street, and on walls. Not a lot, but it is present. Of course smoke and dirt mark the cityscape on most days, but this does appear to be rather more than normal.
And when he turns west and looks over the rooftops and across the river further out, he sees a thin haze of grayish black smog hanging the Ghost Streets on the other side of the islands and bridges of the central city. Squinting in the summer sunlight, Benn makes out that the low, dark cloud sheds what appears to be black snow on that derelict portion of the ancient city.

[ewancummins]

BUG HUNT




Cleaning out the roaches may be a dirty job, but Alain has learned some tricks to deal with these horrid bugs. Light to deny them comfortable spaces. Cleaning the house, searching out leaks , clearing away any food, and so on.
Several common poisons have failed to work against these giant roaches in the past, but Alain knows of alchemical preparations that should attract and kill the creatures. The problem in that other city was not so much killing them as dealing with their endless numbers.
Does he have the skill to mix such stuff his own, or will he need help?


In his experience, some small predators will kill the bugs. Cats. At least, the alley-cats of that city, a mangy and feral breed, would not hesitate to slay and consume the fat roaches.

Alain leaves after making sure that what bugs are left will hopefully stay in what shadows he has left for them, while he goes out to look up the prospect of getting some cats and maybe some bug poison to kill them off . He also needs to look up a tailor as well . While doing these things he will look up Benn and Dorgio to see if they have any idea on who he should ask about the alchemical poison to use against the bugs . He needs to give him the presents he made for them in anycase .

ALAIN OUT IN THE CITY THAT MORNING

Alain finds a gray-haired, kindly looking woman displaying a box of kittens and their mother in one of the market squares. The creatures look healthy. The woman smells faintly of ginger.
The old lady tells him,
"I've got too many cats in my house. Ten. They ran out of rats, believe it or not, and are eating my food. My niece came by and told me I'd have to give some up. I want Madame Agathe and her cute little babies to go to a good home. You can have her if you promise me you will give her a saucer of milk regularly, and pet her, and maybe give her ribbons to play with. Please don't change her name. She likes her name. I haven't asked her what to name the little ones yet. You could do that."
She strokes the lazing, purring tabby mother-cat.
"You do like kitties, yes, monsieur?"

[Adam]

"I don't see any signs of the intruder up here," he says, "But there are streaks of this ash up here and on the nearby buildings. Do you suppose the shadow was implying that this phenomenon has something to do with Maytr?" he muses out loud.

He reaches into a pocket, pulling out a small envelope. He tries to catch some of the ash in it to see if it continues to "melt" if it doesn't come in contact with flesh.

[kintire]

Kat looks curiously at the Ash and shudders.

"Looks uncanny to me." Then she frowns. " Is it on all the roofs nearby, or is it some sort of trail? Do shifters attract ashclouds? Why am I even asking questions about this stuff?"

[Adam]

"I see it on some of the other nearby buildings," he answers, "But I can't get high enough to know if it's everywhere."

He shrugs at her other question, regarding the shifters and ash. "I don't recall anything off hand, but I learned long ago not to take anything for granted with the creatures of the night."

[alhoon]

Raen, having been silent during the shadow's appearance and the investigation of the ash cloud.

"A pity... I have not prepared the correct spells for this case. However, tomorrow I could be able to... give you a lift so to speak. Make sure you have as high vantage point as you want. But for the time, I'll just check for the presence of magic."
Raen falls into spellcasting and within a couple of seconds a light blue glow momentarily settles in his eyes and disappears. Then, Raen starts concentrating on the ash.

[ewancummins]

Raen, having been silent during the shadow's appearance and the investigation of the ash cloud.

"A pity... I have not prepared the correct spells for this case. However, tomorrow I could be able to... give you a lift so to speak. Make sure you have as high vantage point as you want. But for the time, I'll just check for the presence of magic."
Raen falls into spellcasting and within a couple of seconds a light blue glow momentarily settles in his eyes and disappears. Then, Raen starts concentrating on the ash.

The ash

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just sits there, inert and cold. But then, just for a second, Raen thinks he sees a flicker of red light from a few specks, like tiny embers. He feels no change in the temperature. Whatever it was, the effect vanishes before he can make sense of it. It might have been his imagination, an optical illusion, magical residue from a spell, or perhaps some stranger thing beyond his knowledge.

[alhoon]

Raen frowns. "Bennedict, I can't detect much from this ash, but I think I saw... something. It could be my mind playing tricks, or it could be more. The ash itself doesn't appear to hold any magic, but I believe some lab testing to see what it comes from, cloth, wood, paper, etc could be beneficial."

[Adam]

Benn climbs down the ladder, sealing the envelope. "My thoughts exactly. I think finding an alchemist to take a look at this would be a good idea."

He looks towards the gathering cloud. "Perhaps it would make sense to go under the epicenter of this cloud and see what there is to see, as well. Finding the source of this phenomena would be a good idea, I think."

He looks down at his shirt and pants. "Well, after I go arm myself, that is."

He hustles inside to strap on his breastplate and fetch his gear.