Ghosts of Gauntcliff Chapter Four

[RocEter]

"Everline barely survived an encounter with this creature in her dream, just how long do think a small child will be able to survive in the flesh?" Thom says to Eustace. "That there is enough justification to open the door."

"Just because one's body reaches physical maturity, doesn't mean one's mind reaches maturity at the same time. No offense Everline." He says, offering her a smile. "Think about Eustace, out of all the servants it chose a 12 year old girl to attack and kill. After that it disappeared, why? I can only wager to guess that there were no other children here at the time, I am correct Denys." He says looking to Denys but continues on. "Than we show up and on very first night the creature reached an attacked Everline, the third youngest person on this entire island and Everline wasn't even at the Abby. Than this very afternoon Jonas was taken, the youngest of every one on the island." Thom says as stating the obvious.

"The information is there, all you have to do is look. Trust me Eustace, my deduction skills are uncanny. Need I remind you of the time how figured out a vital piece of information at the delapore estate from nothing more than a lock of hair, the beginning of a letter and a drawing?"

[ewancummins]

Denys turns to Everline and asks, "How old are you, exactly? Fifteen? Seventeen? Old enough to marry, surely."

[Adam]

"What is preventing you from entering this place to get it yourself?"

[ewancummins]

BENN, IN THE CROOKED TOWN

"What is preventing you from entering this place to get it yourself?"

''The key was taken from us and placed within a dream. We can approach no closer than this. Our nature is unlike yours, mortal man."

[Adam]

"Placed within a dream?" the pen stops, and he looks up with a confused expression. "I can't say that makes a lot of sense to me. Do you mean that I need to fall asleep and get this item back from you that way? I'm not sure how much you know of mortals, but we don't have much control or ability to have a specific dream."

He sighs. "Perhaps if you could fill in some background for me, that would help. Where are we? How did I get here? Who are you?"

[ewancummins]

"Placed within a dream?" the pen stops, and he looks up with a confused expression. "I can't say that makes a lot of sense to me. Do you mean that I need to fall asleep and get this item back from you that way? I'm not sure how much you know of mortals, but we don't have much control or ability to have a specific dream."

He sighs. "Perhaps if you could fill in some background for me, that would help. Where are we? How did I get here? Who are you?"

The creatures laugh--a chilling sound.
"It seems that we know more of your kind than do you, scholar."

The Exiled Princes stop in front of a moss-covered stone house with a door of blackened wood.

"Enter. The guide waits for you beyond this door. "

[ewancummins]

JUERGIN

Juergins eyes narrow. Which makes you worst than a pirate in my book, he thinks to himself.

"You have one chance only to live. You bring me to Jonas and then the man. Understood? NOW!"

Having a grip on the beast makes it a bit easier to use his other hand and with it, he removes the whetstone from his pocket. Balling his fist up around it, he reaches back and swings as hard as he can in an uppercut.

In a very even voice dripping with anger he says "Move now or next time I'll cut an ear off with my fish hook. Don't try me, because I've killed thirteen men. You're dead hide bothers me not."

''Ow, no hit more! Me help, me help."

The creature walks in total darkness, leading Juergin to...
someplace Juergin cannot see.

"Can you help the three of us get back to where we were taken from?"

''Me know where Smezel open gates. When Smezel come back, me take you."

[Adam]

Benn looks doubtfully between the three figures and the door. "Indulge me one more question and I will happily do as you ask. Have you been sold any other human slaves recently? A young boy, perhaps?"

[ewancummins]

Benn looks doubtfully between the three figures and the door. "Indulge me one more question and I will happily do as you ask. Have you been sold any other human slaves recently? A young boy, perhaps?"

''There have been others, but they failed."

[Adam]

Bennedict's expression falls, but he turns with no more protest, opening the door and stepping inside.

[steveflam]

"Very well. Answer me a few questions now. Where am I?. How far am I from Gauntcliff island? What do these Dodds need us for? Can you get me Jonas and Benn? Jonas is the little boy and Benn is the human man I came here with. By the way.... my name is Juergin, what is your name?"

[ewancummins]

"Very well. Answer me a few questions now. Where am I?. How far am I from Gauntcliff island? What do these Dodds need us for? Can you get me Jonas and Benn? Jonas is the little boy and Benn is the human man I came here with. By the way.... my name is Juergin, what is your name?"

"Me name Gruz. Me take you to Smezel. You give him nice things, him open door for you. That good?"

[steveflam]

"Very well. Answer me a few questions now. Where am I?. How far am I from Gauntcliff island? What do these Dodds need us for? Can you get me Jonas and Benn? Jonas is the little boy and Benn is the human man I came here with. By the way.... my name is Juergin, what is your name?"

"Me name Gruz. Me take you to Smezel. You give him nice things, him open door for you. That good?"

"Gruz. I would prefer to have Jonas and Benn with me. Can you we do that or not?"

[ewancummins]

BENN

Bennedict's expression falls, but he turns with no more protest, opening the door and stepping inside.

The door swings open with a faint squeal of rusted hinges at the slightest pressure from Benn's fingers. Within, the front room of the house is murky, lit only by a small light that flits through the air like some glowing insect. Benn cannot make out the exact dimensions of the shadowy chamber, but he'd swear it's somehow wide than the front of the house would have allowed.

As his eyes adjust to the poor light, a gray hand falls on his right shoulder. The creature at his back says,
"Follow the guide. Succeed, and you will be rewarded. Fail and you will find your own punishment."

[ewancummins]

"Gruz. I would prefer to have Jonas and Benn with me. Can you we do that or not?"

''Benn, that be the fat man? Big man? Him gone. Me take you to him? Smezel knows the way."