Ghosts of Gauntcliff Chapter Four

[ewancummins]

Juergin, the dark place-


Juergin hears a voice shouting from someplace in the gloomy dungeon.

[Brock Marsh Runoff]

Dorgio turns from Charlotte when Primeiro returns and tells them about the handkerchief. "Yes, we should be finding out what that is, but I'll have to be catching up when I'm done with Charlotte."

But he never does catch up, as Eustace's question of what to do with her rattles around in the priest's head. He turns to take a bracing gulp from his flask, and if Eustace is careful he might notice Dorgio adding a drop or two of the laudanum to his own liquor supply. "We can't be doing that to her." He says, keeping his voice low. "What happened to Everline, we can't use Charlotte as bait. She's already in shock, she won't be able to help herself, the poor girl's mind couldn't take that, and we shouldn't risk her even if she was herself."

"No," he says, slumping onto a chair. "If somebody must dream, it has to be someone who can fight. It has to be one of us."

[RocEter]

Thom looks at Petrie "They always run." He says to him standing up.

Thom gives chase after Bruno, hoping to catching him up.

[ewancummins]

Benn's room-


Dorgio slowly falls asleep.

[Rock of the Fraternity]

Everline soon returns to Benn's room. "How's everything here?" she asks, irritation coming off of her in waves. "Look, I've been thinking: we need to find the old high priest's sceptre, there's nothing else for it. Just wish I knew where to start looking..."

[RocEter]

Catching up to Bruno, Thom leaps into the air to tackle him. His right knee smashes into Bruno's spine with all momentum from the chase. They both fall to the sandy ground tumbling forward a bit, roll around in the sand interlocked fighting for control of the grapple.

[steveflam]

Juergin, the dark place-


Juergin hears a voice shouting from someplace in the gloomy dungeon.

The young lad steers his course that way, fear pumping his legs. He dos not wish to yell as of yet so as not to give up his position.

He tries to hear what the yelling is person is saying.

[Ail]

Eustace pulls Everline and Primeiro aside,

"Dorgio is falling asleep now. It's a theory... that maybe we'll enter the eventual dream world if one of us dreams. I think if we are scared enough we may attract the creatures... it's like an irresistible candy, I guess. Then, we will try to be pulled inside, somehow. As for Charlotte, we should keep her awake, she'd not resist any confrontation there. It's just a mad theory, but the best I can think of at the moment."

[Rock of the Fraternity]

"What?" Everline hisses, voice lowered but intense. "The dolt! Benn an' Juergin are gone in the flesh! Thar's no guarantee he'd end up in da same place's dem, or that he'd even be able ta help if he does end up wid them!"

[Ken of Ghastria]

Primeiro looks uncomfortably at Charlotte, and he then looks down at Dorgio and shakes his head. "Walking without weapons into the ogre's den," he mutters.

"Mademoiselle Vaughn is right," he continues, "in that we need to find the abbot's scepter, especially since the scroll that might have helped us has likely disappeared along with Benn. I'll have a chat with my new best friend, Monsieur Sancerre -- it's possible that he found it on one of his early explorations and didn't know its history. Excuse me." With that, he goes off to find Sancerre once more.

_____________________________________________
Primeiro won't prevent anyone from coming with him if they wish. He simply states his intent to speak with Denys.

[steveflam]

Juergin in the dark place

The lad runs even faster now, knowing he will give his position away if he yells. He chances it, however, knowing that if he can meet up
with Benn, the chances for survival will increase exponentially.

"HERR BENN! HERR BENN! KEEP YELLING, I CAN HEAR YOU! IT IS ME, JUERGIN!," he yells out in Lamordian.

[Adam]

Benn fumbles back to where he woke up, reaching on the ground until he finds his cane.

He stalks back to the door, chanting ancient, guttural words under his breath. He feels the reassuring rush of magical energy flowing from the world into the wood, until he walks to the doorway.

"That is about enough of this hallway," he mutters to himself, reaching back and swinging at the door.

[Ail]

"Well... I may be the cause for it, since it was my theory. But I did not propose to try it as a means of access, no, I was just afraid that Charlotte might be sucked in if she dreamt. Anyway, now I don't know what to do. I'd like to go with you, Primeiro, but we mustn't leave Charlotte and Dorgio alone. We are getting spread too thin as it is, and that is dangerous against the creatures of shadow."

If Everline does not object, he will go with Primeiro talk to Sancerre. He thinks his diplomacy may be of help.

[ewancummins]

Benn-

Benn strikes several times, and the door bursts under impact of the oak stick.

The hallway beyond is dark. From somehwere in the distance, Benn hears the echo of a voice calling his name, chased by the beat of footsteps coming ever closer....

[ewancummins]

A short time, later, on the Terrace

Denys has consented to meet Primeiro and Eustace on the upper terrace, where breakfast was served earlier today.

Wispy clouds diffuse the golden afternoon sunlight, and a cool breeze sweeps over the open patio.

Denys Sancerre, now dressed in a caftan of blue velvet, sits at a small table near the railing, poring over a collection of maps and notes.

"Gentlemen, please be seated."