The Fall of House Pancrazio Chapter Three

[Varrus the Ethical]

Gianna's Perfume assaults Sebastian's sensitive nostrils, suddenly rousing them in great anger. Sebastian attempts to suppress this nasal uprising, but has little time to react.

He fails

"ACHOOOO!!!"

Sebastian's mighty sneeze reverberates across the manor, clearly embarrassed, Sebastian quickly tries to change the subject.

"Oh!" Sebastian begins to stammer, his voice taken with a nasal tone. "So sorry! Uh, you mentioned bunking with my Brother? Then Julian must be here! I would very much like to see him first, perhaps he is involved in this security business you mentioned?

[Griselda]

Nearly inaudible, Agna murmurs quietly, "Bless you."

[ewancummins]

dungeon

Tristan pumps his legs. The egress to the greenhouse is in sight. Just a few more feet...

[JMaytr]

Tristan finds himself on the floor of the greenhouse nearly out of breath. A moment later he is joined by Harold. Goran is still below in the tunnels, making it as far as the cell by the chair he found the children's book on. Like a boy scared by lightning, Goran has crawled under the soiled bed in the cell.

Tahl and Sir Julian stand unfazed near the steps where the child thing had been. The breeze is no longer warm but cool.

[Rock of the Fraternity]

"Curses," Harold wheezes once he comes back to himself. He leans heavily on his staff as he shakes his head. "Curses. Too weak."

The old man shakes his head, sending drops of sweat flying, and starts to limp back down the stairs. "Pancrazio!" Harold shouts, his voice a raw croak, like a raven in distress. "Are you alright?"

[ewancummins]

Tristan blinks away tears of shame.

''We ran! We ran and left them. Oh....''

He gets up and follows Harold, holding up his magic torch for light.


''Goran? Julian? Tahl?''

[Rock of the Fraternity]

"Stop beating yourself about the head, boy!" Harold snaps at Tristan. "It was a ghost, some have the power to fill your mind with fear."

The old man seems to chew over his words for a moment, then continues in a gentler tone of voice: "Do not blame yourself. It happens. Bad things ... happen. Besides, none of us ran of our own volition.

Just try to do your best when your mind's your own, lad."

[ewancummins]

Tristan looks at Harold, his pained expression fading somewhat, and says-

''You are right, of course. Well, let's find the others!''

The younger man keeps a sharp eye out as he walks down the stairs.

[JMaytr]

Tristan and Harold come upon the cell as the travel back to the group. They can see Gorans feet poking from under the bed in the room.

[Rock of the Fraternity]

"Goran," Harold croaks as he limps into the cell, staff thumping against the floor. "Goran. Are you injured, man? Come on out of there, this is no place to rest your weary bones."

[ewancummins]

Tristan drops to a crouch and lowers his heatless torch almost to floor level, so that he can get a better look at Goran.

[RocEter]

Looking back Julian shakes his head and turns his attention back down the tunnel.

"We should wait for others to return before proceeding down the hall. Be on guard though, the ghost may have not left the area."

He unsheathes his blade and standing in a defensive position, moving slowly back wards down the the hall.

Mumbling under his breath as he does "More undead the last thing we need."

[Griselda]

Agna has quite finished making herself a target for Gianna's ire. She curtsies as Sebastian enters the house, then slips behind him out the door, closing the door behind her. She's glad to be out of sight -- and hopefully out of mind -- of Gianna, but she feels a bit guilty for leaving the rather uncomfortable young man with the mistress of Pancrazio Manor.

With a sigh of relief for an escape effected, she makes her way over to the carriage and climbs up next to Emilio.

[Lord Skybolt]

Tahl also readies his thinblade and shield moving back with Julian, guarding his back the whole way .

[Varrus the Ethical]

Sebastian Enters the manor, careful to keep Gianna at arms length lest her perfume upset his allergies again.

He notes the trepidation of the nameless young maid who he just met, as well as the attitude of his Aunt towards her.

Standing in the vestibule Sebastian waits for Gianna to answer his question about his brother. He also produces a rag to wipe his nose as he waits.