Mists Over the Musarde, Chapter Three

[steveflam]

For once, Norzak is without words. The only thing he does is clench his fists over and over again. His whole body is tight and his eyes are narrow, full of rage. He turns and walks a way off, kicking the dirt on his way, growling and muttering things better kept to himself than in front of the children.

He spits on the ground. Picking up a few loose pebbles he throws them one at a time at the building. Reaching into his pack he removes what rations and water he has and walks back to the others. He hands his items to Dorgio.

"Whoever did this is a dead man, mark me words, Dorgio. This won't go unpunished. It's disgustin an revoltin'. I may have me ways but I'd never, and I mean never do this to a child. It disgusts me ta the highest point!"

Though Norzak is furious, once he sees the children his face goes soft and he gets right into it, helping the others.

[Adam]

Bennedict takes a moment to sit on the ground after being withdrawn from the pit, eyes closed and breathing shallow, trying to pretend he can't still feel the pull of little hands plucking at his clothing. With a shuddering sigh, he reaches into a hidden pocket, withdrawing a hip flask and taking a slug.

"You'll have a hard time of it, Norzak," he says, finally returning to awareness of his surroundings. "It wasn't done out of reverence or a desire for power. It was done out of fear. One child was demanded to keep the villages safe and the farmlands fertile. If Incabulos was not appeased, suffering was spread to all. Everyone in the town knew of it, from what I understand, and accepted it as a necessary evil, the only way to spare themselves from the plague god's wrath." Bennedict shakes his head in regret. "So are the fruits of fear and ignorance harvested amongst those with no way to defend themselves."

He climbs back to his feet, turning towards the ruins of the keep. "Let us hope," he says, "we find merely a bastard pimp who murders his ladies. I shudder to think what other sorts of horrors this false-god can bring to bear against us."

[steveflam]

"I dun care. I can't fathom how a person kin do this ta children! Why?? I tell ye he or she dun deserve ta live. THey're lower then scum in my eyes.

The dwarf kicks at the ground, furious.

[ewancummins]

Buckman assists Dorgio in excavating the trnech and burying the children's bones within it, even giving up his own wool blanket to be their shroud. Buckman then stands aside silently with his hat doffed while Dorgio completes any simple ritual or prayers- spoken or silent- which the priest feels to be necessary for the temporary re-interrment.

A few minutes after the simple burial is finished, a faint, tinny sort of music can be heard. It seems to be coming from one of the upper windows of the tower, which had been closed but now has open shutters.

[Adam]

"I dun care. I can't fathom how a person kin do this ta children! Why?? I tell ye he or she dun deserve ta live. THey're lower then scum in my eyes.

The dwarf kicks at the ground, furious.

"Take comfort in the fact that they are most likely long dead, then." Benn says, resting a hand on the dwarf's shoulder. He jerks a head towards Dorgio, performing quick funeral rights, and removes his hat.

When the music begins, however, he grimly returns it to his head and lifts his crossbow. "Well gentlemen, it appears the game continues." He gestures towards the door with the weapon. "After you."

[Brock Marsh Runoff]

With the prayers complete, Dorgio raises his hands briefly to the overhead sun, then jerks his spear from the ground. He thumbs a clod from the brave --very good steel, he observes again--, and starts towards the keep with the rest of them, but not before giving Buckman a nod of thanks for the cloak.

When he hears the music, he blinks, then says to the others. "The music box Evie gave me, it is the same song. I lost it in their raid on our office, one of them must be having it now." He points to the window with his spear. "Watch for slings and arrows."

He keeps his head low and continues forward towards the door, veering left and right as he goes to avoid any attacks that may come from the windows.

[ewancummins]

Moving into the ground of the tower, the party finds things the scene they'd expected from Norzak's account: dusty storage space with dry-rotted crates, and a semi-enclosed spiral stairwell leading up to the next floor. There are a few dusty side closets attached to the main chamber. A quick search of those reveals nothing unusual, just old tools and supplies, some of these long degraded into uselessness.


From the stairwell, on can hear the music and also feminine laughter, light and melodious.

[JMaytr]

Jonathan seems affected by the sight of the dead children. He is quiet for a long time after they are buried as if he is deep in thought. A quick glance at the boy and it is obvious he is bothered-his knuckles are white he grips his daggar so tight.

[Lord Skybolt]

Alain at the sight of the children bone's get a very angry look in his eyes unlike his calm calculating look when in battle or dealing with prisoners . As the fingers of one hand move as if to throw some kind of ball of energy as his has in the past at his side .

[Adam]

Bennedict's eyes widen and his breathing is shallow. He spins, looking in all directions at the objects scattered throughout the room.

"I know this place," he says. "I saw it before, in the mirror." He points up towards the music and laughter. "And I heard that voice as well."

[ewancummins]

The laughter has ceased and the sounds of a muffled conversation may be heard drifting down the staircase. A man's voice and a woman's voice, it sounds like- but beyond that it's hard to make out clearly what's being said.

[Adam]

Bennedict heads towards the stairs.

"Let's go."

[steveflam]

"Awright, lemme send me shadow. I'll follow." WIthout further ado, once more the shadow detaches itself from the dwarf and scurries up the stairs towards the sounds of the voices. Norzak quickly follows.

[ewancummins]

The spiral staircase that runs through the center of the tower is partially enlcosed by a curving brick wall. The steps leading up are narrow , but the footing is quite solid, with no loose stones. [This tower seems to be much better preserved than the rest of the keep.]Looking up, one can see the landings and door which connect the stairway to the three upper levels of the tower. It's mostly dark inside the tower, but for the light from any lanterns or torches carried by members of your party.

Having gone up to the next floor, Jon checks the recessed wooden door for traps.

''Not trapped...not locked, either. ''

The boy gently pushes the door open. Buckman adjusts his bullseye lantern and shines it over Jon's shoulder, so that anyone looking in throough the door will get a better picture of the interior of the gloomy chamber.

Just as Shadow-of-Norzak had reported, this second level of the tower houses equipment for alchemy, distillation, and possibly cooking. The large wooden tables in this room are partly covered with flasks, bottles of tinctures, etc.

[Adam]

Bennedict steps into the room with the others, sweeping it with his crossbow and looking for any potential enemies in the room.