The Fall of House Pancrazio Chapter Three

[JMaytr]

Tuke finds that the handle has completely cooled. He is able to leave the room without further incident.

[PathOfDreams]

Recognizing the shrill warning cry of the owl, Goran stands ever alert. He rises from his crouch and draws the first of his longblades, agitation focuses his senses.

Goran is caught off guard by the hellish moan that blasts from behind him.

[JMaytr]

As the moan fills the hall and the child thing begins to distort, Tahl and Sir Julian can feel the "breeze" of air from up the stairs, but it is becoming hotter as if the breeze was coming from a humid and hot desert. The elf can feel sweat forming on his brow, while the Ezra champion can feel his armor heating up. As they stare at the child it vanishes from their sight.

Tristan, Harold, and Goran however, flee in panic from the apparition. They are running quickly except for Goran, who appears to be sluggish and ill. The three run without concern for their own safety. As they pass the cell door in their run, Goran collapses to the ground. He begins to violently vomit.

[Rock of the Fraternity]

"Get out of my way!" Harold shouts, breath coming in harsh gasps as he struggles to pass the younger men running -- and fails, his old body holding him back. Coughing and gasping, the old scholar nevertheless keeps going as quickly as he can.

[Lord Skybolt]

Tahl turns to Julian and shrugging his shoulder as if to say what the hell .

[ewancummins]

Tristan shows his heels to the child-phantom. The young man, who grew up in a country where travellers are not infrequently chased by ravenous man-eating wolves, easily outpaces the others who flee.

[Varrus the Ethical]

Approaching a the front of Pancrazio manor on foot, a tall young man in his early twenties, with croped black hair stops just short of the main entrance. The his armor clinks as he moves, and a large mace dangles from his belt while a silver holy symbol of Ezra hangs from his neck.
He is not sure if this is the right place, but it matches the description that his mother, Isabella, had given him before he left for Borca. Despite his training as a priest of Ezra, he finds it difficult to muster the courage knock on the door to his long lost place of birth.

[Griselda]

Oh, no, not again! Once again, Agna finds herself stuck between what she's supposed to be doing (a mountain of work with no one to do it) and what she needs to be doing. I know there's no money, not after what I just heard in the hall. Where on earth is this shopping trip coming from? Something's not right and Emilio knows it. Oh, to hell with it -- the work won't go anywhere while I'm gone, and I'm not losing another chance to find out what's wrong with him.

Agna takes off her apron, picks up her shawl and one of the smaller headcovers Luisa used to have her wear (one that actually shows her hair) and goes downstairs to leave her bucket and broom in the kitchen. Picking up her market basket, she makes her way quietly to the front door and opens it--

She was not expecting the young man in armor standing on the front step, who seems a bit confused about where he is. He shows a clear resemblance to the Pancrazio, though. Hoping that everything has not just gone completely awry, she asks politely, "May I help you?"

[Varrus the Ethical]

"Oh!", Exclaimed Sebastian in surprise as the door to the manor opened on it's own, revealing the dark haired young women inside

Uh...Uh, yes perhaps you can. Would this place be the Pancrazio estate perchance? Im afraid I'm not very familiar with the area.


Sebastien's nervously touches the holy symbol hanging from his neck as he awaits an answer.

[Griselda]

"Yes, sir, it is," Agna replies somewhat cautiously. This young man was no one she remembered. Given the events of earlier, were they about to get another surprise? "May I ask who is calling?" (1)

She glances just over the Ezran's shoulder to where Emilio waits for her with the carriage and gives him a look of I'm coming as quick as I can.




(1) Sense Motive -- http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/ ... 1d20+12=28

[Varrus the Ethical]

Still fiddling with the Ezran Holy symbol around his neck, Sebastian suddenly straightens himself up.

"Oh, My sincerest apologies Mi'lady, I have completely forgotten my manners! My name is Sebastian, Sebastian Pancrazio recently of Dementileu. Im afraid that I am Pancrazio in name only, I left Borca with my mother, Isabella, when I was but a toddler. Perhaps you know my elder brother Julian? He always did a better job keeping in contact with the extended family.

Noticing Agna looking past him, Sebastian looks over his own shoulder to see what she was looking at, and notices the old man by the carriage. "He looks familiar, but I can't place his name." Sebastian thinks to himself.

[JMaytr]

PANCRAZIO MANOR-

As Sebastian introduces himself to the maid Agna, another figure comes into the room.
She stands at the top of the foyar stairs. Slowly she comes closer to the newcomer. The woman is wearing an expensive dress and a sour look.

"Ah another Pancrazio," The woman says in disgust, "come round to collect on the fortunes of their dead matriarch. Welcome to your family home. My name is Gianna. I am wife to Roderigo, son and so direct heir to this house. That said, I knew your mother Isabella. Tell me. How is your mother?"

[Varrus the Ethical]

Sebastian looks up at Gianna, matching her face to his mother's description of her.

"She is well , though she does seem to miss this place, at least from when the time my father, Salvatore, still lived. She is also the reason that I am here, she felt that I should come here after I completed seminary, I'm afraid that before today I knew no Pancrazios outside of by mother and my brother. I must say though that I am sorry that my visit was not under better circumstances.

Sebastian says this with an effort toward showing his sincerity.

[Griselda]

At the sound of Gianna's voice, Agna's words die on her lips and her previously pleasant expression becomes a more tense neutral. She drops her head to avoid meeting Sebastian's eyes and takes a few steps as if to allow Sebastian entrance.

[JMaytr]

Gianna scans Sebastian over as if looking for something.

"From what I remember of your father it is no surprise that both of his sons would follow in his footsteps. Welcome to the manor. I am afraid that there are no empty rooms left. I assume you shall have to bunk with your brother."

Gianna stares hard at Agna.

"My husband Roderigo has decided to send the help to town. And the house security is off in the woods or something another."

Gianna steps very close to Sebastian. She is wearing an exotic perfume that is almost intoxicating.

"I can show you to your room."