Mists Over the Musarde, Chapter Three

[steveflam]

Norzak puts his hand on Jons shoulder. In a low voice, he reassures the lad "Jon. Dun worry. I thinks thet ghosts have some kin a fear effect on people. Thass why ye ran. As fer them tinkers, don ye worry. I don think we are in danger with them around. I got me a hankerin that they will help us, for a price. If any try anythin on ye, I'll gut 'im and feed 'im 'is liver an guts, ok?"

The dwarf winks and squeezes the young mans shoulder gently. Leaning into Jon, he whispers "I saw ye notice thet young lassie an her you. Ye fin' er to yer liking? I don' know human ladies, but was she, well, good lookin?" Norzak asks Jon, trying to relax him and change his uneasy thoughts.

[JMaytr]

Jonathan looks away embarrassed.

"I just never saw a girl like that before. I don't trust those people. Something about that music gave me a weird feeling in my stomach."

[ewancummins]

"Now that you mention it, in another time we may have seen one of the weasel-like creatures you were describing. You wouldn't have an image or description of them that I could see?"

The old man, Harrus, answers Benn:''I have no such image, but I can describe them easily enough. They look almost just like ordinary weasels, only as long as a man is tall from tail to snout. ''

Harrus stands up, moving stiffly as one might expect for such an elderly fellow.

''I hope I have been able to help. You must excuse me, but I grow hungry. I must eat a little something now. Come to me in the morning if you have more questions.''

Harrus hobbles off to get some food before the best meat is all gone.


Wat brings a bit of dinner for each of you: roast pork, some stewed vegetables,and a little potato bread.

As the night deepens and the trading, tale spinning, and eating draws to an end, the folk in the Mootshouse make ready for sleep. Only the low central fire is left burning; all other lights are extinguished. Aside from a few men whose duty it is to gaurd the doors or to watch the fire-pit, nearly everyone else is soon asleep. The Moothouse has grown quieter. Still, there are night sounds: the wind playing across the rooftop, the hiss of slowly- dying coals in the firepit, the soft tread of the sentries, and the snoring of some of the sleepers. The livestock sleep near their owners, in most cases, or else in small makeshift pens within the huge barnlike hall.

Wat has found a family who have brought extra hide blankets to trade, and they have generously offered to lend several to the party so that you may all sleep in comfort. It's warm in the Moothouse [the fire pit coals combining with the body heat of so many people and animals make the inside of the building warmer than the summer night without], but the soft hides make better mattresses than does the hardpacked earthen floor.


''Kakkkaa kkaaaahhh!''

In the morning, the alert among you are awakened by the cry of a cockerel. Many folk are still sleeping as dawn creeps over the land outside the Moothouse doors. The night gaurds crawl wearily up into the loft and bed down above the gathering, to sleep in leathern hammocks.

''Aiiiiiiiieeeeee!!!''

That was no rooster! Someone is screaming in terror or alarm! The sounds comes from outside the Moothouse, but perhaps not far away.

[Le Noir Faineant]

Cirdan, in his long Elvish nightskirt, with sword and shield in hand.

Outside, outside, and kill anything that cannot give a good explanation.

[Adam]

Bennedict follows closely on the knight's heels, fumbling with his crossbow to get it ready to fire.

[ewancummins]

Stumbling outside , Cirdan and Benn walk into the dawn's rising light [the door faces east]. Once their eyes adjust, they look about. The spear bearing Moothouse gaurds are in place near the doors, and they, too, look about confusedly.

The scream sounds again.

''Aiiieeeeeee!!!!''

This time, Benn and Cirdan can discern the origin of the wailing- it is coming from the campsite across the clearing, about sixty yards distant from the Moothouse. Cirdan and Benn can see that the tinkers are awake, at least several of them, and that the camp is abuzz with activity.

[steveflam]

Norzak stumbles out of bed and quickly gains his footing, standing alert. He gets his bearings and fights the urge to unsheath his blade as he moves to follow Benn and Cirdan, mind you at a slower pace. The scream came from teh direction of the tinker camp. He just hoped that didn't ruin their chances of any information from the old Raunie or a trip back home to Darkon.

[Adam]

Benn, seeing no immediate threat, lowers the crossbow and walks rapidly across the clearing towards the tinker camp. For probably the first time in history, his thoughts and Norzak's are on the same page.

[steveflam]

"Everything, ok?," he asks the first tinker he sees. At the same time he takes the opportunity to look around and take in the people's attitude's and body language.

[Brock Marsh Runoff]

Dorgio wakes for a fitful rest, and he rises with a twitch, the finger of his left hand tightening around the Symbol of Dawn he'd been clutching as he slept. He then grabs the star-iron spear, and runs out, barefoot and unarmored, to catch up with the rest of the group.

When he realizes the noises came from the camp, he starts towards careful to keep the tip of his spear pointed away from the tankers. "What is wrong?!" He calls out.

[ewancummins]

Miklos and five of his band meet your little party at the edge of the camp. They are all armed: crossbows, hatchets, and knives.The gyspies look very upset and even hostile. Some have tears on their cheeks.

Miklos speaks in Mordentish, his voice thick with emotion,

''Giorgios! You have brought the beast among us, and now it has killed two of my kin. You will not travel with my band. ''


As Miklos speaks his angry words, you see some tinkers at work behind him. Two men are carrying what appears to be a woman's body wrapped up in a white bed sheet, taking the bundle from one of the house-wagons. Here and there on the white sheet are dark red splotches. Further back, another group of tinkers is building a large pile of dry wood in the middle of the campsite. On an open cart near the steadily growing wood pile lies another shrouded figure. A dog lies down beside the prone figure on the cart.

[Lord Skybolt]

After hearing the yell Alain put on his chain shirt as quickly as possible and then gathers the rest of his gear for the day ahead . He does these things in an at first hurried way, but slows down to a normal pace when not hearing any further ruckus from out side . After getting outside he goes to Norzak's side and says to him "So do you know whats going on here ?"

[JMaytr]

Jonathan snorts loudly in his bed roll, seemingly oblivious to the horrors happening around the group. With heavy effort the boy tries to sleep, his mind on happier times.

[steveflam]

Norzak turns to Alain "I dunno yet. Miklos sez we brought on the beast an two peoples is dead. Now 'e says we can't travel with 'em." Norzak goes on to explain what happened the evening before.

"This stinks", then lowers his voice so only Alain can hear him "Wanna bet Van Dieks is about an responsable fer these killins? I'd wager a few coins fer ale that 'e's here."

[Lord Skybolt]

"I don't know about that for sure, but it sounds like a good guess to me . I say we need to hunt down this Van Diecks as soon as possible in any case then, if we are going to be getting back to home with the help of these tinkers ." Alain whispering back to Norzak at the same noise level so as not to be heard by anybody that are not members of their party.