Mists Over the Musarde, Chapter Three

[Adam]

Bennedict walks into the clearing, seeing Norzak and Dorgio conferring away from the cabin.

"Well, I'm here," Bennedict says, "Despite all odds."

[steveflam]

"What took ye so long? Did ye get onto a scrape alone again?"

[Adam]

For a moment a look of irritation flashes on Benn's face. "I took a moment to ensure that we didn't simply hand the key back to Van Deichs and his cronies." He pulls the silver key from his pocket, holding up to the light. "I stopped to check if anyone had removed it, and discovered that rats were running off with it. Oh, but don't worry." He flashes a sardonic grin. "They were being led by a delightful Wererat named Ignatz who decided not to eat me and gave me the key in exchange for money."

He pockets the key again, turning away. "Perhaps a bit more caution in the future, gents. We can not afford to be sloppy with these enemies. Has anyone figured out where we are?

[ewancummins]

While the others are conferring, Jon walks towards the cabin door.

The dogs inside the cabin go crazy, barking ferociously and letting loose bloodcurdling howls! The cottager slams the door shut.

Jon retreats from the cabin, and the furious racket of the angry hounds subsides to a low rumbling growl.

[steveflam]

"Not yet. They be speakin' some ole Darkon langidge. Mebbe we's in tha past or mebbe some outta tha way place. Tha man asked us if'n we was from the castle or somethin'."

Norzak goes on to explain to Benn what has transpired since they arrived. "Ay, Dorgio, why's them mutts barkin at Jon, but not at us? Thass not tha firss time a mutt acts odd 'roun the lad."

[Brock Marsh Runoff]

"The man, he said something about a castle? Where could we be finding this? I do not think we will be getting much more out of our friend in the cabin."

He then turns to Jon, and motions him a little farther away from the cabin. "My friend, I had been waiting for a better time, but you are having the right to know. When we took you to the priests, they found nothing when they tested you with silver, yes? But since Denys made a gift of this," he says, motioning to his spear. "I have been remembering stories from when I was a boy, stories about iron from the stars. How it can be used--" <i>how it can be used to ward off evil spirits</i>, he nearly says.

"How it can be used to divine the nature of an illness. If you are liking, you could be touching the back of your hand on the flat of the spearhead, carefully though, and if it is burning, maybe we are finding our solution."

[ewancummins]

Jon stares at Dorgio for a moment, his face blank of all expression. Then, very slowly the youth extends his empty left hand, palm facing down toward the earth.

''Do it, then.''

When Dorgio presses the star-iron spearhead against Jon's bare skin the boy doesn't flinch from the cold metal's touch.


Jon says-

''Satisfied now? I'm not a monster. The dogs- maybe they just don't like me, or maybe they smelled a beast in the woods.'

[ewancummins]

While the test is being conducted, Buckman climbs a tall oak tree - the tallest tree in the vicinity of the cabin. He disappears into the tree's leafy boughs.

After a few minutes, Buckman comes down out of the branches, hits the dirt, and walks briskly toward the gathered party members. The scout makes his report:

''Well, I spotted something up north- looks like a big stone building atop a bald hill, rising up out of the forest. We can't see it from down here because of the tree cover and the lay of the land. I reckon it's about five miles' march overland- and it looks like this here trail leads in the right direction. Y'all think we ought to give it a look-see?''

[JMaytr]

Jonathan watches the others making sure they really are satisfied. He was getting tired of the accusing eyes of the others. How many times did he have to prove he wasn't a night creature to them? He fought along side them, risking his life, and they grow weary because of some agitated hounds? The boy shook off the thoughts. No wonder they suspect you at every turn, you don't fully trust them do you?

[Lord Skybolt]

Alain comes up to Jon and speaking with feeling says to Jon :" Look Jon I never thought their was any thing wrong with you to begin with, and if someone put their sword to my throat I run away too if did not know what they were up to . I judge people by their actions and in all things you've done it was to help us catch some evil people of this world with some minor misunderstandings along the way. I trust you to have my back as I will have yours . " And as he ends his speech to Jon he puts out his hand for Jon to shake .

[Brock Marsh Runoff]

Dorgio gestures at Alain while looking at Jon. "You are seeing, nobody is thinking you a monster. You are walking free with us here, and your blade is yours. Is this how people are treating monsters? You are one of us, my friend."

The priests face hardens a little then. "You are one of us, but you are also a <i>man</i> who is knowing that life is brimming with things we would rather not be facing. You face an illness, my friend. You are knowing this. Perhaps Norzak's priest can be helping you when we return, but still, I am looking for an answer. Not because you are a monster, but because you are a friend."

He gives Jon a brief nod, then turns to Buckman. "That is sounding like the castle Norzak was mentioning. Let us be going there; perhaps the trail is not so cold yet."

[steveflam]

"Like the boys say, we trust ye Jon. We's jess concerned bout ye is all. Less get ta tha castle up there. I think I seen it in me dream. An I won' let anyone harm ye in me presence, unnerstood?" He grips Jon's shoulder with affection and looks to the castle.

[Le Noir Faineant]

Jon stares at Dorgio for a moment, his face blank of all expression. Then, very slowly the youth extends his empty left hand, palm facing down toward the earth.

''Do it, then.''

When Dorgio presses the star-iron spearhead against Jon's bare skin the boy doesn't flinch from the cold metal's touch.


Jon says-

''Satisfied now? I'm not a monster. The dogs- maybe they just don't like me, or maybe they smelled a beast in the woods.'

OOC Let me try, too! Pweeze!

[ewancummins]

on the trail leading north, to the Castle...

Your small party trudges north along the trail cut through the deep woods, halting periodically so that Jon and Buckman can scout head, or Norzak may receive a report from his detached shadow.

After an indeterminate time of hiking and occasionally cutting through brush or clearing the trail by manual labor, the party emerges from the treeline to find itself standing in a broad clearing of scorched tree trunks, yellowing weeds, and patches of bare soil. In the middle of this dead zone rises a huge hill. Atop this great mound squats a grim square keep, seeming to be at least partly in ruins. The northeast tower still stands outwardly intact above the walls, making it the highest point for miles around. In contrast to the lush vegetation of the forest, the hill and the walls of the castle are almost entirely bare of vegetation, save for clumps of sickly looking grass and creepers. A footpath is discernable amid the rubble and dirt of the hillside, winding up towards the yawning gate of the stone fortress at the summit.

No one but the party is seen to be present, and not even wild beasts or fowl disturb the quiet stillness of this place. Even the breeze is stilled, so that the air seems heavy and stale.

[Brock Marsh Runoff]

Dorgio surveys the keep, then breaks the eerie silence with a rough chuckle. "Were I a bestial madman, I would be hiding in a place like this." He frowns then. "But if he did come this way, why was there so much brush to clear? Maybe he did not come by the footpath, or maybe he came in a form that needed no trail..."

He then looks to Jon, Buckman, and Norzak, "Are any of you noticing a way in besides the front gate? If he is there, we can be sure he's been preparing for us."

A thought suddenly strikes him then. "Benn, when you were gone, a bear approached us. Norzak, he was saying he'd seen a bear in his dream. Make anything of it? He said he saw an owl too, but I saw none."

He then turns to Alain, and asks, "When you were searching the clearing, were you finding any signs of an owl?"