Mists over the Musarde, Chapter Two

[ewancummins]

in the great chamber with the altar-

He shakes his head to dismiss the random derailing of his train of thought, resuming his observation of the surroundings.

Looking around, Benn doesn't notice anything obviously out of place...
except perhaps the repeating owl motif. Some of the carvings depict Ezra accompanied by what appears to be a large barn owl. That's odd, and Benn hasn't seen it before.

As he looks about, Benn realizes he isn't alone near the altar. A soft coughing noise comes from someplace behind him. An old man in a black cassock stands a few feet back and to Benn's left. His beard and hair are white as hoar-frost, and his eyes are greenish- gray, the color of the sea in winter.

''Admiring the artisans' works, eh? Yes, all very fine, but not our greatest treasure, oh no. ''

The man steps closer, turning to face Benn directly, and extends his right hand in greeting. The fingers are very long and thin. Black stains mark the thumb and the tip of the index finger.


From his spot a little distance off, Dorgio observes all of this, seeing the old man come from the door through which the younger female acolyte had departed, several minutes before.

[steveflam]

Norzak approaches the door as silently as possible, staying to the shadows. Once there he listens before entering. He does try to sneak in a peek as well.

[ewancummins]

Norzak approaches the door as silently as possible, staying to the shadows. Once there he listens before entering. He does try to sneak in a peek as well.

No noise comes through the door, except an occasional soft rustling sound. Peaking between the door and the frame reveals a big room, lit by a soft light.

Opening the door as quietly as he's able, Norzak sees a lit oil lamp hanging near the door, along the stone wall. The room looks to be a large cellar, perhaps sixty feet square. It is well stocked, with sacks of flour, barrels labled 'salt pork', chests , crates, racks of wine bottles, jars of fruit, etc.

At the opposite end of the big room is another doorway, this one propped open with an overturned bucket.

Something moves in the shadows beneath a table, just a few feet from the dwarf.


Purrrrrrrr

A tabby cat emerges from cover and moves towards Norzak, swishing its tail and regarding him intently with its bright green eyes.

[Lord Skybolt]

Alain keeps on the trail of Norzak looking/listening as he follows along behind the dwarf and tries to look like his is put off about some thing like a lost college .

[ewancummins]

Alain keeps on the trail of Norzak looking/listening as he follows along behind the dwarf and tries to look like his is put off about some thing like a lost college .

Alain moves through the side halls and closets, poking about. He doesn't find anything unusual, just the ordinary sorts of things one would expect to see- brooms, a water pail hanging on a hook, etc.

Soon enough, he finds the stairs leading down to the cellar. Its open, and Norzak is inside.

As Alain walks down the steps, he hears someone walking in the hallway above, moving towards him. Along with the footsteps can be heard a deep voice-

''...bringing it down now. I'll see to it.''

[ewancummins]

meanwhile, upstairs....


The young woman in cream robes has returned. She approaches Dorgio.

''Welcome friend, how may I assist you?''

She says this in Balok, not in the Richemuloise tongue.


Getting a better look at her, Dorgio sees she's neither tall nor short, and is not a great beauty, but pleasant looking in a plain sort of way. Her black hair is pulled back in a long braid, and she's not wearing any adornments.

[Lord Skybolt]

Alain is finding a good place to hide to listen in on conversations, but that would look like he went there for a nap if he is found out .

[ewancummins]

Alain is finding a good place to hide to listen in on conversations, but that would look like he went there for a nap if he is found out .

Alain finds an old cot in the righthand corner of the room, behind a stack of barrels so tall it nearly reaches the eight foot ceiling. The position is a good one for hiding.


Norzak moves quickly to the lefthand corner, hiding behind a heavy wooden bench stacked high with wine-casks.


Both of the investigators have just hidden themsleves when they hear footfalls coming down the steps, towards the cellar.

Peering out from their secret places, Alain and Norzak see a man enter the room. He's a portly fellow, and stooped. A long beard, dingy gray to match his dingy gray clothing, is tucked into his belt.

The man takes the lamp up from the floor where Norzak had left it.

''Humph! No-sense acolytes, leaving burning lamps lying 'round. Like to start a fire. Ah, there's my little mouser! Got a present for you, my sweet.''

The tabby cat brushes against his leg and purrs loudly.

The man bends down and gives the cat something from his pocket. The cat eagerly snatches at what turns out to be a small fish- possibly pickled but certainly not alive.

[ewancummins]

in the cellar

The bearded man takes an empty sack from one of the shelves and proceeds to fill it victuals of various sorts- wheels of cheese, glass jars containing preserved fruit, etc. Once the small sack is full, he heads back upstairs, the cat following behind him. As he leaves, he turns the oil lamp down very low, then hangs it on the wall from an iron hook, away from anything flammable.




Norzak and Alain are now the only ones in the room....

[steveflam]

Norzak waits and once he is sure the old man is gone, he walks as silent as possible to the door help open by the barrel. He listens closely then takes a quick look inside. He holds his hand up for Alain to wait.

[ewancummins]

Norzak waits and once he is sure the old man is gone, he walks as silent as possible to the door help open by the barrel. He listens closely then takes a quick look inside. He holds his hand up for Alain to wait.

On the other side of the doorway is a short hall. At the end of the hall is a closed wooden door. Some faint light is coming through the cracks around the edge of this further door.

[steveflam]

Norzak approaches Alain but says nothing. He motions to the door and mouths "There's a door" as he moves to the hallway and beckons Alain. He moves as sliently as possible to the door and had a good listen. If there's a light, there may be someone there.

[ewancummins]

Through the door, Norzak makes out scratching sounds and the occassional dry rustling noise. Then he hears a thump, as of something heavy being placed on a shelf or table. A moment later, he hears what sounds like a person walking away and closing another door, soewhere across the next room.

The light remains.

[steveflam]

Norzak motions quicly to Alain. Once the man is near him he whispers. Awright. I heard someone movin' aroun', then it appears 'e took anuther door 'n' closed it behind 'im or her. Take a listen anyways, mebbe ye'll hear somethin' else."

Norzak moves out of the way to let Alain listen at the door. In all honesty the door wouldn't be locked. He figured if it were, he or Alain would get it open quick enough.

[Adam]

"Guten tag, brother," Bennedict says, reaching for the priest's hand and giving it a shake. "Pardon me for taking you form your scribe work. I'm sure you are very busy. I am Bennedict Gehrman, a historian from Lamordia. I am interested in your grand cathedral here. It is truly a marvel to see."

He turns back towards the drawings. "I am curious, however, as to the meaning of this symbol." He gestures with the butt end of his walking stick towards one of the owls. "I see it prominently displayed on many of the works of art, here, and I'm not familiar with it being a typical piece of Ezran iconography. I do know, however, that in many cultures the owl is a symbol of wisdom and knowledge. It is mentioned quite frequently in the Ezran prayer for Wisdom, if I am not too mistaken. Is it possible that the artist was attempting to indicate that there is some exceptional knowledge to be found here? If so, I, as a scholar, would be most interested to learn of it."