Ghosts of Gauntcliff, Chapter 3

[Rock of the Fraternity]

"They will say that truly interesting lives leave you with guilty consciences," Everline says, her smile wavering not an inch. "So I shouldn't be surprised. If you thought you heard things in the night, that is." Everline issues the tinkling laugh so familiar to those who have visited the salons of Dementlieu, where waspish comments are presented with a smile, and must be taken the same way.

[ewancummins]

Elliana does not return the smile.

''I have no guilt on my conscience. ''

She blows across her tea, and then sips again.

''And my hearing is quite keen. ''

She turns to Petrie-

''So, how do you find Gauntcliff? "

[Ken of Ghastria]

Primeiro stands up politely as Elliana and, a few seconds later, Everline appear on the terrace. Any immediate concerns about Everline are quickly dismissed when she superbly trades oh-so-polite barbs with the other woman.

As Elliana turns to address Petrie, he says to Everline with a laudatory smile, "Pleased to see you back in fine form so quickly, mademoiselle." He then turns his attention back to Benn. "Fascinating legend, sir... may I call you Bennedict? From the way that you and your friends speak, you have had some interesting experiences. Will you accompany me back to the ruins? I don't shy away from any conflict, but having the expertise of you -- and these other fine gentlemen -- nearly would be most welcome."

[steveflam]

Juergin doesn't say anything for the moment. He listens to what people have to say. When Everline arrives, he actually is happy to see her and offers her a genuine smile. He moves closer to her, feeling somewhat protective of the young lady. As he passes Benn, he will utter a few words in Lamordian to the man. "I gave your wife, Charlotte, a signet whistle seeing as what has happened to Miss Everline, Herr Gehrman. It is at least something in case she needs help, mein Herr." He nods and now arrives near Everline.

He smiles at her. "I am glad to see you here, Miss Everline. Do you feel a bit better? Can I get you anything? A coffee, some pastry?"

[Ail]

Eustace politely greets the other guests as they arrive, but he doesn't talk much. There's a lot going in his head right now, not the least of it how to deal with Everline's case. But the most pressing matter now surely is the spirit at the abbey. He feels like he is not well-prepared to address it, as he had not foreseen such needs in Gauntcliff. And at any rate, he would retire to pray to Belenus only at noon. Until then, he'd have only the basics.

Still, he answered Primeiro quite resolvedly.


"You are totally right, Primeiro, we have to deal with that matter. And if you take my suggestion, that means this very morning!"


At the back of his head, he tries to make sense of Benn's words.

"A hag... yes, that makes sense. I sensed something similar to their touch in Everline, yes. But I think there is more. I've heard of creatures with similar attitudes and different names, but I can not yet be sure of what this might be. Everline mentioned an ogre... I wonder..."

[RocEter]

Everline calmly takes a seat that leaves her back neither to the open view, nor the open door, and nods graciously to Thom. "That would be lovely, thank you," she says, bestowing a demure smile on him. "It is wonderful to see such courtesy in a great performer like yourself."

The smile does not change at all, but Everline's eyes are perhaps a degree cooler when they settle on Elliana. "Oh, hello. Sleep well, dear?"

"You are too kind, I haven't performed in some time now." Thom says, returning her smile with his own, while pouring her tea. He hands her tea and sits back in his chair and takes few sips of his own.

Still, he answered Primeiro quite resolvedly.


"You are totally right, Primeiro, we have to deal with that matter. And if you take my suggestion, that means this very morning!"

"Speaking of which, I have decided that I will explore the rest of the island or as much I can. I won't be much use against the sort of you thing you will be going up against." He says. "Care to join me Everline? I am sure your travelogue could use some more information about the sites around the island, that is if you are up for it." He says to her.

"Petrie would care to join me, as well? Who knows perhaps we will find a nice dive spot?" He says to Petrie.

[Adam]

Benn nods appreciatively to Juergin before answering Primero. "I had intended to see that the creature in the ruins was dispatched, so I will gladly accompany you. I am hoping that one of our cleric companions will be going with us as well. If it is an undead creature, their abilities will be invaluable against it."

He rises as the ladies enter as well, looking Everline over with an appraising eye. "I am glad to see you up and about, Frauleine. I had heard you encountered some difficulty last night, difficulty that I am told is similar to that experienced by some members of the serving staff previously."

[steveflam]

Juergin thinks about what happened to Everline and the other girl. Frowning, he scratches his head. He has thoughts about something and as he is mulling them over in his mind, he actually says them out loud but in a low voice. Anyone near him can hear him speak.

"I wonder if the thing from the ruins is the one unt de same dat is responsible for the death of that girl and Everline's bad night?"

[PathOfDreams]

Petrie decides to bury his focus into his plate. When he is engeaged by the sweet Eliana, his focus changes. "Truth? The island is everything to be expected. The beauty is beholden to dreams, especially compared to me homeland where gloom and rain reign over the skies." He pauses briefly to chew another mouthful of his hash, the last as it was. "And yet sadly, 'tis more than expected, what with the spirits and all. My plan was to spend time here fishing mostly. Oh well, I guess."

He pushes his platter aside and stands to the height of a large oak. He wanders to the rail encircling the balcony; he stands there and dangles his eyes downward over the mulberries. For a moment he is distracted by the thought of the creature, whatever it was, he had chased into them. His name being said by Thom pulls him from his daydream, "Huh? Um... sure Mr. Thom, I do not see 'ow my skills could be of assistance at the ruins, so perhaps it's best to accompany you exploring the remainder of the island."

[ewancummins]

Elliana turns back towards Thom and Petrie and says,
"Have fun on your little expedition, gentlemen. It sounds like fun. Maybe I will see you later today? M. Sancerre promised to give me a tour of the caves today; where the baths are, you know."

She turns to Dorgio- ''Please be careful at the ruins, Dorgio. I understand there was an accident of some sort the last time your and your freinds went there. I'd hate for you to be hurt."

She smiles warmly at the priest.

[Ail]

Eustace looks apprehensively to Juergin and nods involuntarily. His face darkens, and then he says to the others.


"What Juergin said bears thought. I have heard tales of creatures that infiltrated the dreams of innocent victims. Hags, of course, can do it, and I've heard many many stories about them. Less commonly in Tepest, there are stories of black horsewith fiery eyes called nightmares, that ride victims. But as far as I know, these are real creatures with a physical essence. But there is something else...

He drinks a sip of wine, gaze fixed in the distance past Juergin... He munches on bread absent-mindedly

I hope I am wrong and over-thinking. But the shadow at the ruins... it reminded me of something of Nova Vaasan folklore. Something a certain Dr. Gregory Illhousen wrote about. What he wrote is disturbing I hear, but alas all I know is from rumours I heard in passing. I got an introduction to his thoughts, but I chose other studies.

Anyway, according to the legends, there is a creature that is formed like a creeping shadow. It lives in a strange world, I think. Something not just like our land, but it is able to enter the dreamss of sleepers. There's something horribly sinister in the way it feeds on the souls of the dreamers and in the way it warps the dreams into nightmares.

It might be just a coincidence that Everline is attacked in her dreams on the same day I have seen such a creature. I hope it is, but it is heavily disturbing. I fear we won't find anything in those ruins anymore

his voice sinks.

[Brock Marsh Runoff]

"The line about the caverns, just a distraction," Dorgio says in a low voice after Denys leaves. "He is our friend, Denys, but there are horrid things afoot, Benn. Everline was attacked in her dreams last night by something unnatural. It's left her sapped of strength in a way I cannot heal. I am not knowing if this creature in the chapel is tied to Everline's ordeal, but we must sweep it from this world as soon as we can, especially if children are on their way."

"I think whatever killed that girl Maggie, it is tied to what happened to Everline. That's why we must consult her spectre. It is…not necromancy…some scholars are calling such rituals 'rites of repose.' I am liking that better, I think." He barely sounds convinced.

He abruptly falls silent once Jeurgin enters the terrace. No doubt the lad has seen his fair share of the ugly side of the world, but Dorgio would rather not discuss the exhumation with the all-too-earnest young man about.

"Yes, let us be off soon," he says to Petrie and Jeurgin. Something behind the priest's eyes is already at the abbey, already planning the hunt. But that look disappears, quickly replaced by a hapless smile when he sees Elianna.

"And a lovely morning it is!" He tells his Darkonian companion. "As far as accidents, well, that's all part of the fun, eh?" His smile broadens a little, as if the line came off as more charming than it likely did.

"Right, then," he says to the rest of the group, now that they are more or less assembled on the terrace. "Let s not be tarring longer, we should be off soon, and we should be bringing plenty of torches," he adds, having noted Eustace's suggestion.

[Rock of the Fraternity]

"I'll be joining you," Everline tells Dorgio with a smile as sweet as arsenic. "My readers will be most pleased to know that the evil was swept from this island before their arrival." Her eyes flicker to Elliana for a moment, and then she adds: "I should inform monsieur Sancerre of my whereabouts for the day. He is a true gentleman, solicitous of a woman's frailties." She chuckles a little.

(OOC: This is a big, fat HINT that Everline thinks Sancerre may be in danger alone with Elliana, rather than the reverse.)

[ewancummins]

Elliana laughs, a sound like silver bells.

"Yes, he really is a sweet man, sweet as a baby."

She rises and moves towards the door. As she passes Everline, she leans in and whispers-"Couldn't you just gobble him up, dear?"

[Rock of the Fraternity]

"In my case, I rather fear that would be a case of my eyes being too big for my stomach," Everline says, not bothering to lower her voice. Her eyes flick up and down, looking at Elliana, and she smiles without saying another word.