Ghosts of Gauntcliff: Chapter Six

[Rock of the Fraternity]

"I don' feel righ' about leavin' anyone 'ere wi'out proper protection," Everline says casting a worried glance at Benn and his family. Her left hand strokes the hilt of her morningstar in a nervous gesture.

[Brock Marsh Runoff]

"I am not liking the idea of leaving these people unguarded either," he says, agreeing with Everline. "Perhaps one of us should be staying behind, either me, Benn, or Eustace. Should we be drawing straws?"

"There is more to what the creatures said, the two with Juergin. They were saying they served something called "The Dodds." Benn, did you hear of such a creature? Is the Dodds the shadow we are hunting, or something else?"

"They said The Dodds hated the 'pretty man' but they didn't know who that was. Is he a ghost, some other creature? Perhaps it is me!" He gives a short, mocking laugh, then suddenly he stops, and turns to Primeiro.

"My friend, have you thought more about why the Shadow would have your portrait? And you, Everline?"

[steveflam]

THE CAVE


‘‘That’s a wise choice, boy. Okay, listen closely to me: The shadow beast is only my servant, and after they badly damaged it last night I lost control of it. Now it is hiding in the shipwreck. It must have used its powers to confuse the steersman and wreck the ship in the fog. I raised the mists, of course. Perhaps it was trying to escape? Foolish creature. If your friends go there now, to the north shore, they can destroy it by using their magic. I’ll sacrifice it to help you. Without it, I won't be able to attack them in their dreams. Of course, that will be only a temporary setback for me. I can make another shadow-servant, but I will be busy for three nights as I paint it. Tell them you were running away, looking for supplies to make an ocean trip in your small boat, when you saw a living shadow creeping near the wreck. Lead them there. When the shadow attacks, they can destroy it with their magic. That should make them trust you. Wait three days and nights, and then bring them here to this cave. Make up a reason to go this way, or let them think doing so is their idea. I will hide in the back of the cave. Don’t tell them I am here. I will disable Everline and Primeiro with your help, and the others can go free. We’ll scare them, but we need not hurt them. Let them go. I don’t want them messing about on my island."


He motions towards the opening at his back.

''You may go. Do what you must do. I will keep faith as well as you keep it."

VIEW CONTENT:

The boy nods at Fredrik Dodds. "I'll bring Gruz and Smezel with me. See you in three days." Jürgen exits the cave, waiting for Gruz and Smezel. Once gone from there he walks away and when he is satisfied he is far from the cave he stops.

"Dark One, what do you think?I mean, I think he will help me, but in exchange of Primeiro and Everline? That is a high price to pay. They will still be afraid of me but I will abide by my spoken agreement with Dodds."

[ewancummins]

Juergin-

VIEW CONTENT:

Dark One tells the boy, '' I think you should look out for yourself and your gang. Maybe play both sides against the middle? ''

[steveflam]

Juergin-

VIEW CONTENT:

Dark One tells the boy, '' I think you should look out for yourself and your gang. Maybe play both sides against the middle? ''

VIEW CONTENT:

"I do too, actually. What of these Lost Princes? Can they be of all of interest? We need to go back to that dark place to find out. Or else play the party against Dodds. I cam win both ways that way."

[Rock of the Fraternity]

"I think the bastard made that paintin' ta mark me in some way," Everline says, her tone of voice grim. "Invaded me dreams, din't 'e? Hurt me there, din't 'e? Bastard spawn of uncleanliness an' filth!"

The brief flash of rage in Everline's eyes is a terrible thing to see.

[Ail]

Eustace shrugs at Everline's words and says

"Well, yes he did. But as far as we know, he didn't attack Primeiro yet."

He looks in Primeiro's direction, with his air of frustration at failing to know something

"Although, it seems, he's got a particular interest in you, Monsieur".

[Rock of the Fraternity]

"Well, we 'urt it, too," Everline says, and shrugs.

[Adam]

Benn absently answers over his shoulder while writing. "Those Gruz and Smezel creatures seemed to work for them, whoever the Dodds are. They wouldn't really elaborate."

He trails off into a mumble "not that they really could. They were basically cretins..."

[Ail]

Eustace nods to Benn. He begins pacing restlessly from one side of the room to the other and says:

"We have to find a room where to put all people in. Then, we should consecrate it, then we should go to the abbey, much that it displeases me going there at night.

Benn, are you tied to staying here for one full day? Would you be able to provide assistance to those that stay behind?"

[ewancummins]

Jürgen



Dark One replies- ''The three robed things in that weird city? Maybe they can help, but they said they were leaving and never coming back, didn’t they? I sure got that impression. We saw them leave through that magic portal. Besides, how would you get to that strange town? Smezel says the magic knife no longer works. We are stuck here on this island, it seems. Something about all the doors being shut. Looks like your choices are narrowing, boy.”

[Ken of Ghastria]

Eustace shrugs at Everline's words and says

"Well, yes he did. But as far as we know, he didn't attack Primeiro yet."

He looks in Primeiro's direction, with his air of frustration at failing to know something

"Although, it seems, he's got a particular interest in you, Monsieur".

"'He'? You mean 'IT,' I believe," says Primeiro testily. "Whatever the creature is now, it long ago ceased being anything living. And yes, it apparently does know me from my childhood. I don't know why it's here, or why it choose to attack women first -- perhaps a woman mocked the bastard for being as pathetic in life as it is in death. I do know that it'll be dead again soon ... if we work together."

[ewancummins]

The private bar-


Denys sighs.

''Ah, well we'll all do what we can, no? Fortune has dealt us a cruel hand, friends. I am heartily sorry for getting you all stuck here. "

[Ken of Ghastria]

Benn absently answers over his shoulder while writing. "Those Gruz and Smezel creatures seemed to work for them, whoever the Dodds are. They wouldn't really elaborate."

Primeiro looks up. "Dodds?" As getting an explanation from Benn, he frowns and steps away. "I recalled the man who painted my portrait years ago as 'Reddik' or 'Frederic,' something like that. "But that name...." His eyes widen. "I think that could have been his last name! 'Frederick Dodd' or 'Dodds' ... yes, something like that!" He looks excited and frustrated at the same time. "Damn, I wish I could remember more!"

[ewancummins]

Denys lays a hand on Primeiro's shoulder.
''It's alright, son. You are talking about things from your childhood. No one could reasonably expect you to recall every detail. What you have remembered thus far may yet be of use to the common effort against this monster."