Mists Over the Musarde, Chapter Three

ewancummins · Post by **ewancummins** » Fri Feb 27, 2009 2:58 pm

Your little party walks up the hillside, towards the ruined keep at the top.

Jon and Buckman are the first to reach the open gateway of the keep, and the others soon join them at the entrance. Buckman walks catiously and slowly inisde and conducts a search of the grounds. He then reports-

''It's like Jon said. All wrecked and ruined. 'cept for that nor'east tower. I found those muddy footsteps leading right up to the door of that tower. The boy's got himself a good eye.''

At that last bit, Buckman claps Jon on the shoulder in a friendly manner.

steveflam · Post by **steveflam** » Fri Feb 27, 2009 3:01 pm

"Let's have me shadow look around past the door. It's safe fer alla us that way."

Brock Marsh Runoff · Post by **Brock Marsh Runoff** » Fri Feb 27, 2009 4:50 pm

Adam wrote:". . . we may have left one danger only to wander into one that is far worse."

"On that we are of one mind, my friend. But I am not meaning to offend. This work, sometimes it is getting to me. Sometimes it seems our lot to stumble from one bloody discovery to the next. But that is foolish thinking, we are choosing our own path, yes? I am beginning to enjoy it, this danger. Perhaps you are as well, I am thinking. Ha, there must be easier ways of gaining knowledge than with iron at your breast and hip, yes? For all your cool demeanor, I am fearing you're as mad as the rest of us. Or well, perhaps not all of us. But come, let us be seeing if this Wolutha can protect Van Deicks from the end he's forged for himself here."

He then approaches the door, careful to let Norzak's shadow go before him. The way the thing moved unnerved him a little; what love for shadows had a priest of the sun? For a moment, he thought of a wizened old Dawnbringer back in Gundarak who'd told him that there could be no shadow without sunlight, and that all things light cast a shade of darkness. In response, a young Dorgio had asked why no shadows were cast at midday, when the sun was brightest. It had earned him a rap on the ear, but it was a question he still pondered.

ewancummins · Post by **ewancummins** » Fri Feb 27, 2009 5:06 pm

Norzak's shadow swiftly and silently glides under the wooden door and enters the northeast tower.

ewancummins · Post by **ewancummins** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 12:42 am

As you all stand outside the door and wait for Norzak's shadow to return....

The sound of weeping rises softly, slowy from somewhere nearby...perhaps in that pile of tumbled stones in the midst of the courtyard? It sounds like a child crying.

Lord Skybolt · Post by **Lord Skybolt** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 3:29 am

Alain on hearing the weeping, cocking his head to the side tries to home in on were the noise is coming from .

ewancummins · Post by **ewancummins** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 3:34 am

Lord Skybolt wrote:Alain on hearing the weeping, cocking his head to the side tries to home in on were the noise is coming from .

Alain is pretty darned sure that the weeping is coming from a certain pile of fallen stone bocks and rotted timbers in the middle of the courtyard. The mound of stone and wood is only about the size of small cart. It's a short distance away from the base of the NE tower. He cannot see any movement from the pile, but maybe there's something underneath it, or hiding behind it, just out of sight.

Lord Skybolt · Post by **Lord Skybolt** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 4:23 am

Alain points out the pile too the rest of the party with and silently moves towards the pile of stone blocks so as not to spook whoever is weeping with a spell ready to cast if this is some sort of trap .

Le Noir Faineant · Post by **Le Noir Faineant** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 6:00 am

Cirdan, as always in the back of the party, making sure they are not ambushed from behind.

Adam · Post by **Adam** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 4:51 pm

Bennedict levels a crossbow at the sound of the weeping. "Trust nothing until we have a better idea of where we are and what we're up against. I'd rather not be surprised again."

He ponders Dorgio's comments, wondering if perhaps he was going a little mad. Let him negotiate with a wererat for his life, and see how his mental state is. There is no gain without sacrifice.

JMaytr · Post by **JMaytr** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 6:03 pm

Jonathan hears the crying and then a sudden memory floods his brain.

"Shhh. Be careful Alain, I think I have heard tales of a kind of witch that lures men to their deaths by sounding like a weeping child or woman. A sort of undead siren.

"Norzak, can you make your shadow check it out? Just in case?"

Jonathan scans the area, more alert than before. (1)

(1) Spot check. DM roll.

Brock Marsh Runoff · Post by **Brock Marsh Runoff** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 6:07 pm

Dorgio's grip on his spear loosens a little for a moment. But then he readies it for a throw if something should spring out at Alain. At first, he had thought about Anja, and how he'd followed her cries through the sewers, but he knows Benn is correct here, especially if this is some witch's trick.

ewancummins · Post by **ewancummins** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 9:03 pm

Alain moves slowly and quietly towards the rock mound, keeping to the shadows and hiding behind whatever cover is available. He reaches the pile and peeks around the corner to see.....

...more stones and debris. Nothing- ah, wait! Alain gets a brief glimpse of something moving inside the pile of broken stones and rotted timbers. Something thin and pale is wriggling around within a shadowy hollow space. Alain cannot be certain, but he thinks he saw a milk white hand, tiny and delicate. In addition to the soft weeping which emanates from the mound, Alain detects a faint scratching sound.

ewancummins · Post by **ewancummins** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 9:50 pm

JMaytr wrote:
Jonathan scans the area, more alert than before. (1)

(1) Spot check. DM roll.

Jon spots a leprous-gray rat squatting atop the rocks not too far from Alain. This is the only animal the boy has seen since leaving the forest. It's not unnaturally large, but is at least as big as the typical sewer rat. It fixes its beady gaze on Jon for a second, then scampers away into the ruins.

JMaytr · Post by **JMaytr** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 10:28 pm

Jon watches the rat leave, a strange feeling coming over him. He nods approvingly towards Alain.

Café de Nuit

Welcome, friends, to our establishment.

Mists Over the Musarde, Chapter Three