The Unsettled House

[Igor the Henchman]

"Friend of theirs? A lucky turn for me, then"

Following Francois' cue, she lets go of her sword and moves closer. Before the nervous animal could make a step to turn away, she holds its bridle in an iron grip.

"Then you can spare a moment to walk the lady to her rendez-vous, 'zat right? And I'll tell you all about their little problem - from what I been' hearin', it's a juicy one. Forces of darkness entrenched in their fancy home, they say. Disturbin' beauty sleep at night. So they been sending a man out to feel this here gutter for folk willing to get themselves killed fightin' spectres. Desperate indeed - they say its a family matter."

[Rock of the Fraternity]

At Dulapont Manor:

"Whut? Whut?" the crooked man mutters, the musket wavering, then waving from side to side ... and mercifully, a second silhouette appears in the rectangle of light and very efficiently takes it away from him.

"I am so very sorry, milords," the second silhouette says as it neatly, almost absent-mindedly snaps open the musket, taps out the bullets to pocket them, and hands the musket back to the crooked man. "Welcome to Dulapont Manor. My name is Chalmers, head butler to the family."

Chalmers' voice fairly oozes class, sophistication and efficiency as he steps out of the light and into the fog, so you can see his face. The butler's face is dignified and clean-shaven, his grey hair swept back and cut shorter than is the Richemuloise -- or, indeed, the Dementlieuse -- fashion. His uniform is almost offensively clean and neat.

"This," the head butler says with a polite gesture to the shivering crooked man, "is Bentley. He is a new hire, and I beg you will forgive his ... zealousness in desiring to protect the house. Now, would milords care to follow me while Bentley stables your animal and conveyance? I believe a hot drink is in order on such a chilly evening."

On the streets of Mortigny:

Tiny little wisps of fog start to lap at the hooves of François' horse and the boots of his new acquaintance. Little wisps, which start to pool together and grow thicker, larger. Night's chill is rolling into the city, and the river fog is hot on its black heels.

The horse, unaccustomed to being handled in such a way while mounted, snorts and folds back its ears. The whites around its eyes are starting to show.

(Listen check for both of you.)

[Igor the Henchman]

Brida got an 18

[The Giamarga]

Francois got a 20, Gaspard the horse got an 18.

"Hooo, hooo. Calme-toi, Gaspard" Francois unsuccesfully tries to calm his increasingly skittish horse, "Of course, of course, Madame. I'll escort you there allright. This is no time to be out and about for a young lady anyways. If you would be so kind as to release the good Gaspard?"

OOC: Francois failed a handle animal check to calm Gaspard miserably, but i just noticed that Brida is much stronger than Gaspard! Anyways if/when Brida releases the horse Francois will try to calm him again.

[Rock of the Fraternity]

On the Streets of Mortigny:

Gaspard suddenly snorts louder, more urgently, his eyes rolling in his sockets. Both the young nobleman atop the horse, which looks as if it is trying to dance away from the large woman, and the woman holding the bridle, hear a sly skittering of claws from a nearby rooftop ... and then silence.

And then more skittering on the roof on the opposite side of the street.

Then silence.

Skitter.

Silence.

Scratch.

A single roof tile falls to the left, becomes lost in the mists apart from the crash of it breaking.

Then ... silence.

[Igor the Henchman]

Guided by trained military instinct, Brida's free hand silently reaches for the shield strapped to her back.

"Ruhe, Mistvieh!, she whispers. You hear them funny noises, too?"

[OOC: off to bed now]

[The Giamarga]

"Hooooo", Francois grabs the reins tightly and gently kicks the horse into a slow trot down the street, "If you would be so kind to come along Madame, I think we're headed this way." Francois steers toward where he remembers l'Avenue de Giacome to be. "Probably only some rats on the roof..." he whispers, while nervously surveying the rooftops left and right.

[OOC: Handle Animal 20 tp finally calm the horse down a bit, I assume that Brida does not try to stop the horse, which she probably could, but moves along either releasing the reins completely to grip her sword or guiding the horse along on them. Also Spot check (1d20+2=17)
Igor or Rock: feel free to narrate Francois to fast forward to the House if you want to. (Really, no need to have an encounter with the rats on the walls... ]

[Igor the Henchman]

Somewhat reassured that Francois will not kick his horse into a gallop to dissapear, Brida reluctantly releases her hold on poor Gaspard. Shield in hand, she follows along.

"Foul things, rats" she mutters under her breath.

[OOC: I'll leave it to Rock to decide whether we get a larger encounter or fast-forward to the avenue de Giacome]

[Baron Zamedi]

"Great Humanity, I can't say how pleased I'am to see you sir."- Says Paul as he relaxes and straightens his garments. If a good observer had been around he would have noticed the monk's fist closing tight and readying for striking just before old Chalmers appeared.

"I'll say, some hot tea would be most appreciated."- With this Paul hands his backpack to Bentley ('Weird coincidence this one's name') and crosses the threshold into the Dulapont manor.

[InVinoVeritas]

Ranjan follow Paul, lugging his trunk with him.

"I must say, a spot of tea would be perfect now!"

Looking around, trying not to look strained, Ranjan adds, "Would there be a good place to put my mystical focuses?"

[Rock of the Fraternity]

At Dulapont Manor:

"Of course, tea is the prime beverage for chilly evenings!" Chalmers agrees heartily. "Bentley, please do hurry along."

Bentley, however, is standing in the doorway, hugging the backpack he was given as if it were a favoured stuffed toy. His eyes are huge in his face -- honestly, there doesn't seem to be a single straight line in his whole frame; his nose is crooked, his eyes are visibly at different heights, even his ears jut out from his head at different angles.

"Mr. Chalmers, sir," he whimpers, eyeing Ranjan's trunk. "You can't be serious about letting some dark wizard into the lady's house, sir! 's Agaist the ways of Ezra, sir, inviting such evils in!"

Before this line of conversation can go much further, the sound of hooves and boots echoes from the mist. A man on horseback, accompanied by a tall figure in a hooded cloak, appears out of the growing gloom along l'Avenue de Giacome. Bentley whimpers with obvious terror, but Chalmers squints at the mounted figure ... and his mouth falls open with shock.

"Young ... young master François?" he exclaims, visibly shocked.

(OOC: And so the party meets for the first time. Play nicely, now. ^^)

[The Giamarga]

"Bonsoir, Monsieur Chalmers. Surely you have received the message about my impending visit ? I picked up this here young lady on the way to the manor and she has been telling me about the call for help that you sent out. It seems my arrival is just in time then. What is this I hear about ghosts in the attic ?" says François, as he halts his horse, dismounts, and grabs his saddlebags. He looks expectantly and slightly bemused at the other malformed servant offering him the reins of Gaspar. "Shall I have to stable the horse myself ?"

Then he looks at the other late arrivals. "Gentlemen, I'm pleased to make your acquaintance. My name is François Dulapont, from the Pont-a-Museau Dulaponts. And this young lady here is ... " he looks up expectantly at the hulking armored Falkovnian woman towering over them all, expecting her to salute formally every moment now. Sure she was an intimidating sight, but somehow he trusted the strange woman.

[InVinoVeritas]

Ranjan merely smiles at Bentley's protest, his mustache curling even further. "Evil? No, no, nothing of the sort! My capabilities merely come from faraway lands, dealing with mysteries that are within us all. And my secrets never descend from the Vistani, so I assure you, there is nothing to fear. Besides, who better to catch a ghost than one who is well versed in eldritch ways? Come, I do hope you can join us this evening. I may be able to help you contact that special someone you miss..."

[Igor the Henchman]

"Me a 'young lady' now? How sweet ov'ya to notice", Brida says, removing her hood for the first time. There is a small pause as the others take in her caliban features - the angular mouth, the falkovnian hawk brand, the large-pupiled golden eyes of a preying bird. She then stands to attention, further towering over the group. "I am Gefreite Brida Schreivogel, fresh from the good Kingfuhrer's service. I hear ya got spirits who need guttin' hererounds. Say, handsome, - she hunches down to fix her gaze on the crook-nosed Bentley - you got issued a command, just now. You gonna rush to stable that, or do I give you my ol' army discipline?"

She then turns to the others, making a disturbing attempt at warmth in her voice: "Pleased ta make ya 'quant'nance, all".

[Baron Zamedi]

Paul winces a little at the sight of the gargantuan woman's face but is quick to regain composure, sure he thinks that calibans are a step behind humans in the long road to perfection, but he also thinks it would hardly be convenient for his well being to react as such.

"Pleased to meet you Lady Schreivogel, Monsieur Dulapont."- Paul bows and shakes hands as is customary in Paridon. -"My name is Paul Bentley, from Zherisia."- Says Paul with his best manners. -"Excuse the hastiness but I believe it better to continue this conversation drinking some tea inside and not in the chill of the street, what do you say?"