Ghosts of Gauntcliff IC: Chapter 1

[PathOfDreams]

Petrie wastes no time; without thinking about it, he trusts his eyes and instincts and heads for the gathering of mulberry, particularly the area which russled first. He sheaths his dagger and disappears amongst the shrubs, eyes and ears alert.

What in lore was that thing, it appeared humanoid, could it be a hermit or a shipwrecked man from long ago?

While rummaging through the mulberry, Petrie makes up his mind to attempt to subdue the being, unless of course it becomes hostile. "Who is there?" He calls in a curious manner, "I didn't mean to frighten ya, 'tis a fine and good day to meet a stranger." Still he clumsily searches for any sign.

[ewancummins]

EAST SIDE OF THE CHATEAU, OUTDOORS

Petrie sees no form lurking in the greenery,and hears no voice answer his words.

He does notice something caught in the branches, though- a little patch of ragged brown cloth.

[Brock Marsh Runoff]

Dorgio has been listening to Benn, Eustace, and Everline's conversation intently. "I think Benn may have part of the truth...odd as that might be for a priest to be saying. I think that people like us, maybe it is something we are born with, a talent that can be developed. But it's a talent the gods seem drawn to, for good or ill. I began my training at fourteen, but even before that I remember things, strange things. Maybe it was a boy's imagination, maybe it was The Morninglord, or maybe it was something that was always with me."

"But a god can shape that power. Like a god can act as a...what are they calling it? A--a conduit! A god can be a conduit through those who are like us."

"As for arcane magic...I have wondered before if Alain had a talent for it, certainly his spells were like nothing I've ever known." He shakes his head, remembering the strange turn Alain had taken at the Delaplore Estate. "I still wonder what power twisted in that one's soul."

He turns then, seeing Griffith stand to leave with Elianna. Her frown isn't lost on him, and suddenly he feels accutely embarrassed about how many times he'd let himself refill his glass. Bah, show a little dignity, you don't have a shot anyway.[/i] He offers her a crooked, half-apologetic smile as she looks his way.

[ewancummins]

Elliana's crystal blue eyes meet Dorgio's gaze. She tilts her head forward ever so slightly. Her little frown wavers, almost becomes a smile, and then her delicate lips straighten. She rises and takes hold of Griffith's arm.

''Excuse me, friends; I'm going out for a stroll."

[Adam]

Benn flashes Dorgio a sympathetic glance after the lady leaves the room. "Sorry old friend, I think that one may have gotten away from you." He downs his glass of rhubarb wine. "Frankly, any lady who thinks a sea captain has any kind of honorable intentions in mind is a bit delusional anyways."

[ewancummins]

"Ja, Herr Eustace." The youth turns and walks right up to Claudas. He waits for him to answer Everline, never looking at her. Once he has responded to her, he asks the man "Pardon me, Herr Claudas, can you tell me how far ist de Abbey unt do ve haff enough light left in deiner day to visit it thouroughly? Vy did Penda say I might need a stick? Is dere a lot of underbrushen dere?"

Claudas has entered the dining hall to check on the guests. When Juergin pelts him with excited questions, the chief servant remains quite calm and composed.

''Yes, there is brush in and around the ruins. There are also loose stones and some small sinkholes. A walking stick would be a good thing to have with you, young master. It's just a few hours past noon now. You have enough daylight time left for a walk to the abbey, a quick tour, and the return hike. If you prefer to ride, which would be faster than going on foot, we have some mules that you could borrow. I will send along a man to escort you and handle baggage, of course."

[ewancummins]

Benn flashes Dorgio a sympathetic glance after the lady leaves the room. "Sorry old friend, I think that one may have gotten away from you." He downs his glass of rhubarb wine. "Frankly, any lady who thinks a sea captain has any kind of honorable intentions in mind is a bit delusional anyways."

Charlotte makes a choking sound and nearly spews rhubarb wine from her full mouth. She blushes bright red.

''I'm sorry, but you really ought to warn me before you crack jokes, honey! I'm a bit too used to seeing you act grim and serious. This island getaway must be cheering you already, yes?"

She smiles and kisses Benn on the cheek.

[Adam]

He smiles and grips her hand under the table. "Perhaps," he shrugs, "I like to think that the gruffness is mostly a veneer, but after so much time navigating the political intrigues and various dangers with the job, perhaps the veneer can eventually become the reality."

[ewancummins]

He smiles and grips her hand under the table. "Perhaps," he shrugs, "I like to think that the gruffness is mostly a veneer, but after so much time navigating the political intrigues and various dangers with the job, perhaps the veneer can eventually become the reality."

Charlotte kisses Benn again on the cheek.

''Well, I'd like to go check on Jonas now. Run along to the ruins if you like. I'll see you tonight, anyhow."

When she says 'tonight' she gives Benn's hand a little squeeze under the table, unseen by anyone present.

[steveflam]

"Ja, Herr Eustace." The youth turns and walks right up to Claudas. He waits for him to answer Everline, never looking at her. Once he has responded to her, he asks the man "Pardon me, Herr Claudas, can you tell me how far ist de Abbey unt do ve haff enough light left in deiner day to visit it thouroughly? Vy did Penda say I might need a stick? Is dere a lot of underbrushen dere?"

Claudas has entered the dining hall to check on the guests. When Juergin pelts him with excited questions, the chief servant remains quite calm and composed.

''Yes, there is brush in and around the ruins. There are also loose stones and some small sinkholes. A walking stick would be a good thing to have with you, young master. It's just a few hours past noon now. You have enough daylight time left for a walk to the abbey, a quick tour, and the return hike. If you prefer to ride, which would be faster than going on foot, we have some mules that you could borrow. I will send along a man to escort you and handle baggage, of course."

"Herr Claudas, I tink maybe I not goink alone. Der ist more people at the table vas eatink Herr Sancerre. Maybe you could just wait moment see how many ve ist? Hmmmm...." The lad gets an idea, smiling to himself.

"Maybe, you can go tell dem at deiner table, vist me, so it comink from an adult, unt not a young person like me, ja? I vould appreciate
it unt it vould help me, mein freund." He smiles appreciatively at the man.

[ewancummins]

Claudas nods.

''Yes, of course, young master. I'll just wait for them to finish their food and drink."

[steveflam]

"Very gut, Herr Claudas. I vait in next room." He smiles and exits the dining hall and moves to the next room, waiting by a window, appearing to be pensive.

[Brock Marsh Runoff]

Dorgio manages a small shrug and fumbles about for his cigarillo. "I'm not thinking I was very charming just now anyway." He lights up with an almost preternatural felicity and sighs audibly as the tobacco wears some of the edge from his nerves. "But those were my damned flowers." He gives Charlotte a wry look when she bursts into laughter.

He shakes his head, remembering something from earlier. "Denys, he seemed to be a little...abrupt in his leaving, yes? I'm knowing he is a busy man, but still, he is seeming distracted."

[Ail]

"Well, Everline... I said sacred and divine because I was referring to clerics of Belenus. Of course, sacred and profane are merely points of view. They depend on whether you agree with the tenets of the god at their source.

But now, Ben... there seem to be magical effects that I have never seen a priest evoke, and likewise divine effects I have never heard to be produced by a magician. And there are, as you said, incantations that seem to be accessible by both kinds of casters. It is this common core that is troubling us here, it seems, but in my view... it could be explained by all magic having a divine origin. I don't claim Belenus to be the only god, although sometimes the canon likes to impose that view. It fails precisely on the point you mentioned: if there were only one God, he could eventually make the whole world into his image. If the world does not conform to the ideal vision of this god, then his power must not be absolute. Either there are more gods, or there are limits to god's power.

But now, there are many many different arguments we could follow. For example: who sets limits to God's powers? Some sort of natural law? Then that makes Gods a higher entity than men, entities that are more powerful and more conscious and serve mainly as our guides. In this respect, I can worship Belenus gladly and assume he's not all-powerful and not powerless.

In this line too, I can suggest, though I had never really thought of it in those terms, that there is a universal pool of magic, a certain array of energy that can be manipulated somehow. I leave my faith in that manipulation to the gods, because they know theirs secrets and grant me access to them by my prayers. Perhaps that access is not forbidden to simple men, and if they can find the right words and rituals, they will be able to touch and bend it too. However, which is more taxing for the human being? I'm sure the arcane way, surely, because that practitioner is doing all the work, while the devout priest is accessing it through a much more powerful intermediary."

[ewancummins]

After nodding to the people gathered in the room, Everline rises and quirks an eyebrow at Claudas. "Where might I find Monsieur Sancerre?"

Claudas informs Everline-
''My master has retreated to his private chambers. If you would like to speak with him, I can arrange an audience at his-and your- convenience."