Ghosts of Gauntcliff Chapter Four

[Rock of the Fraternity]

Everline sighs. "Darn and blast! I have been looking simply everywhere for maps of this island's cave system for my travelogue! I don't suppose you could help me, monsieur...? Oh dear, how rude of me; I have failed to properly introduce myself. Everline Vaughn."

Everline holds out her right hand.

[ewancummins]

Everline sighs. "Darn and blast! I have been looking simply everywhere for maps of this island's cave system for my travelogue! I don't suppose you could help me, monsieur...? Oh dear, how rude of me; I have failed to properly introduce myself. Everline Vaughn."

Everline holds out her right hand.

''Rollo, name's Rollo, Miss Vaughan. Sure I can help you. Let me just put these papers away in the boss's office, and I'll see if we don't have the sorts of maps you need."

[Rock of the Fraternity]

"Excellent, Monsieur Rollo," Everline says, and bestows a beaming smile on the older man. "You are so kind to help me out. Let's go!" Nothing in Everline's enthusiastic expression allows for the possibility that she would not be allowed into the office.

[ewancummins]

Sancerre's office

"Excellent, Monsieur Rollo," Everline says, and bestows a beaming smile on the older man. "You are so kind to help me out. Let's go!" Nothing in Everline's enthusiastic expression allows for the possibility that she would not be allowed into the office.

Rollo leads Everline into a large, shadowy office room. The room looks very secure, with no windows and only two doors. An unlit oil lamp rests atop a massive oak desk. Rollo sets the box of papers down on the desk and lights the lamp.

The light reveals wooden bookshelves on three of the four walls, and a tapestry hanging on the fourth wall. Rollo shoves the box into a nook behind the desk, and then begins searching the stacks.

"The Boss has some drawings of the caverns in here someplace. I don't think he'd mind you seeing them. What's the harm?"

[Rock of the Fraternity]

"No harm at all, Monsieur Rollo," Everline purrs, and starts to peruse the stacks right alongside Rollo.

[ewancummins]

Benn, in the Dark Place

Benn hears Juergin cry out, and then someone or something slams into the floor with a heavy thud.

Benn tries his best to defend himself against his unseen foe, but he trips and pitches forward onto his face. His nose resumes bleeding. Something crashes into the back of his head. He sinks into unconsciousness to the sounds of tittering laughter.


...........



When Benn returns to consciousness, he finds himself bound hand and foot. Rough stones scrape his back when he wriggles against the rope. His glowing magical shield has vanished, leaving him in total darkness.

Something pinches his side.

A high-pitched voice speaks-
''Fat human. Mmmmmmm....tasty."

Benn hears laughter; it sounds like several creatures around him.

[Adam]

"Let me go, damn you!" Benn shouts, pulling against his restraints. "Who are you?! What is this place ?!?"

[ewancummins]

"Let me go, damn you!" Benn shouts, pulling against his restraints. "Who are you?! What is this place ?!?"

The voices laugh at Benn at he struggles against his bonds.

"This is the dungeon. We work for the Master. He gives us present--you. Now you our slave, fat human."

More laughter.

"'You big and stupid. Shut up now, we got to decide if we eats you or sells you."

[Adam]

"If you're going to kill me, get on with it," he growls, "if not, untie me and bring some light into here. I'm no use to you as a slave like this."

[ewancummins]

"If you're going to kill me, get on with it," he growls, "if not, untie me and bring some light into here. I'm no use to you as a slave like this."

''Okay, we kills you then. "

Benn hears the scrape of metal on leather...

[ewancummins]

The creatures beat Benn mercilessly, and cut off part of his left ear. He hears one of the monsters chewing something wet, immediately after the knife slices through his ear.

''Lazy, stupid slave! You want no work? Want die? You wish you dead when you in pit. Stupid human."

Another piping voice cuts in- ‘’I want to eat his fingers! Give me the fingers!”

[Adam]

Benn roars in pain and rage. "I DIDN'T SAY I WOULDN'T WORK! I TOLD YOU I CAN'T WORK WHILE I'M BOUND! IT ISN'T MY FAULT YOU ARE TOO STUPID TO UNDERSTAND ME!"

He begins to thrash at anything that moves near him, biting and headbutting if necessary.

[ewancummins]

Benn roars in pain and rage. "I DIDN'T SAY I WOULDN'T WORK! I TOLD YOU I CAN'T WORK WHILE I'M BOUND! IT ISN'T MY FAULT YOU ARE TOO STUPID TO UNDERSTAND ME!"

He begins to thrash at anything that moves near him, biting and headbutting if necessary.

The creatures squeal and gibber as Benn thrashes.

[Adam]

If they back off, Benn stops thrashing. He pants out. "Now, perhaps we can talk. I'm more than happy to do what you want. But I can do very little with my hands tied behind my back and no light. Tell me what you want me to do and give me the ability to do it, and you'll have my help."

[ewancummins]

If they back off, Benn stops thrashing. He pants out. "Now, perhaps we can talk. I'm more than happy to do what you want. But I can do very little with my hands tied behind my back and no light. Tell me what you want me to do and give me the ability to do it, and you'll have my help."

The voice that has done most of the talking thus far speaks again,
''Maybe human smart? Good human, stay calm."

Another voice mutters-''I want his fingers. "

The spokes-monster continues, ''We untie you when we get you to the market. We no need big slave like you. Sell you to the sleepless ones. You be quiet, be still, and you live. Make fight, and we eats you."