Ghosts of Gauntcliff Chapter Four

[PathOfDreams]

Without a verbal reply, Petrie just gives Thom a nod. He follows shortly behind his companion in the foot chase. With astonishment the little man brings down the blonde haired foe and introduces him to taste the earth. Petrie stops at the feet of the downed man and whips his pack off his back while dropping to a knee. He slips the knot that secures the neatly coiled rope to the outside of his pack.

"Let us see ya run from us with your legs hemmed up then lad!" Petrie shouts. "Thom... Keep 'im there just a few more moments while I lock 'im down." Petrie attempts to straddle atop the legs of Bruno and bind them tighter than a virgin's maidenhood. His large sword now sticks from the sand as his spear does a few feet away.

[ewancummins]

Without a verbal reply, Petrie just gives Thom a nod. He follows shortly behind his companion in the foot chase. With astonishment the little man brings down the blonde haired foe and introduces him to taste the earth. Petrie stops at the feet of the downed man and whips his pack off his back while dropping to a knee. He slips the knot that secures the neatly coiled rope to the outside of his pack.

"Let us see ya run from us with your legs hemmed up then lad!" Petrie shouts. "Thom... Keep 'im there just a few more moments while I lock 'im down." Petrie attempts to straddle atop the legs of Bruno and bind them tighter than a virgin's maidenhood. His large sword now sticks from the sand as his spear does a few feet away.

The big blond man struggles, trying to throw Thom off his back and kick Petrie at the same time. The bookseller and the Forfarian manage to subdue him, and Petrie binds his legs with rope.

When the fight is over, both Petrie and Thom are dirty and sweaty.

The hound growls and barks, sniffing around the helpless prisoner.

[Adam]

Benn nods in satisfaction at the shattered door before looking up at the sound of his voice.

"Hello?" he says, "Is someone there?"

[ewancummins]

Benn nods in satisfaction at the shattered door before looking up at the sound of his voice.

"Hello?" he says, "Is someone there?"

The footsteps become louder and faster paced.
Something slams into Benn's chest, nearly throwing him to the floor!

[Ken of Ghastria]

On the terrace--

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."

Primeiro takes a seat. "Monsieur Sancerre," he begins, "when we explored the abbey ruins and found the scraps of notes about the creatures that attacked the residents in their dreams, there was reference to 'the abbot's scepter,' a presumably blessed item that restored the victims to health." Primeiro speaks casually and politely to Denys, much as he had upon arrival, though with a hint of deference that had not been there before.

"I'm aware that you haven't learned much about the island's earlier inhabitants, but in your earliest visits here, or perhaps during the construction of the chateau, did you or one of the workers happen to come across anything that could be considered a scepter? Perhaps even a mitre or rod? It may be one of the few weapons we have at our disposal."

[ewancummins]

On the terrace--

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."

Primeiro takes a seat. "Monsieur Sancerre," he begins, "when we explored the abbey ruins and found the scraps of notes about the creatures that attacked the residents in their dreams, there was reference to 'the abbot's scepter,' a presumably blessed item that restored the victims to health." Primeiro speaks casually and politely to Denys, much as he had upon arrival, though with a hint of deference that had not been there before.

"I'm aware that you haven't learned much about the island's earlier inhabitants, but in your earliest visits here, or perhaps during the construction of the chateau, did you or one of the workers happen to come across anything that could be considered a scepter? Perhaps even a mitre or rod? It may be one of the few weapons we have at our disposal."

Denys shakes his head.
"No, we didn't recover anything like that. Of course, the ruins are big and cluttered with rubble. The sceptre you seek might be buried beneath the fallen masonry, or tucked away in some hidden cellar. "
He sips a cup of steaming tea.
"I'm trying to glean some clues as to what the blazes is going on, and might might have happened to Benn. My notes and charts don't seem to be of much use, I'm afraid. Still, I may uncover something..."

[Adam]

Benn staggers backwards with a yelp of alarm, swiping the cane defensively in front of him to ward off whatever just ran into him.

[Ail]

Eustace nods at Primeiro's question and proceeds.


"We know how good friends you are to Benn and Dorgio, but please understand, something is afoot here that is far worse than any of us could have thought at first. I kid you not when I say we all saw Juergin and Benn being sucked into a shadow pool inside a closet. And Jonas is indeed missing, while Everline was attacked in her dreams.

Coming out blunt, there are stalkers that attack the dreams of people, and we think they might have been in your chateau for a long time already. They're biding their time, but they were here before. And they, probably, wiped this whole island out before you ever learned of it.

It is imperative, Monsieu Sancerre, that you understand the danger we're all in, and that we must absolutely link to all the details that might possibly give us a clue. There were writings in the abbey referring to these shadows, a full account of how the monks died. There is a cell where some maddened creature is still imprisoned, and locked it still is, but the writings speak of at least 5! shadows.

Please, tell us all you can, and don't try to hide anything even if it seems innocuous. We are all victims, here, and I'm coming out to you as honestly as possible to ask the same of you. Please, do not conceal anything from us, for the very life of all these people, not just your fortune, is at risk.

Please, tell us how far you have explored the island before our arrival, and if indeed anyone has gone to the abbey before us. Tell us also of any rumour you may have heard about previous inhabitants, please, as there have been some sightings of odd creatures roaming around. Those might all be explained away as tricks of the eye, but I'd like to be sure before I dismiss them, that there has been no prior odd event that was badly shrugged away for lack of a sensible explanation."

[PathOfDreams]

Petrie gathers himself to his feet after he is confident that his knots will hold. Brushing sand from his short blonde goatee and matching mane, he speaks matter of factly, yet with a hint of I told you so, to the bound man. "So lad... I gather next time you wull listen when you are commanded."

The large Forfarian pulls a dagger from one of his boots and cuts the remainder of the rope not used to secure the oaf; he casually coils it and threads it to his backpack. "Why don't ya find out if 'e 'as anything on 'im, eh Thom?"

Suddenly, Petrie swivels his head and snatches his sword from the sand. His gaze searches to ensure the other man left unconscious near the hole still lay in the sand.

[ewancummins]

The Terrace-

Eustace nods at Primeiro's question and proceeds.


"We know how good friends you are to Benn and Dorgio, but please understand, something is afoot here that is far worse than any of us could have thought at first. I kid you not when I say we all saw Juergin and Benn being sucked into a shadow pool inside a closet. And Jonas is indeed missing, while Everline was attacked in her dreams.

Coming out blunt, there are stalkers that attack the dreams of people, and we think they might have been in your chateau for a long time already. They're biding their time, but they were here before. And they, probably, wiped this whole island out before you ever learned of it.

It is imperative, Monsieu Sancerre, that you understand the danger we're all in, and that we must absolutely link to all the details that might possibly give us a clue. There were writings in the abbey referring to these shadows, a full account of how the monks died. There is a cell where some maddened creature is still imprisoned, and locked it still is, but the writings speak of at least 5! shadows.

Please, tell us all you can, and don't try to hide anything even if it seems innocuous. We are all victims, here, and I'm coming out to you as honestly as possible to ask the same of you. Please, do not conceal anything from us, for the very life of all these people, not just your fortune, is at risk.

Please, tell us how far you have explored the island before our arrival, and if indeed anyone has gone to the abbey before us. Tell us also of any rumour you may have heard about previous inhabitants, please, as there have been some sightings of odd creatures roaming around. Those might all be explained away as tricks of the eye, but I'd like to be sure before I dismiss them, that there has been no prior odd event that was badly shrugged away for lack of a sensible explanation."

""You share all this now, and you ask me not to hide anything? I should have been fully briefed the moment you returned. I own this island."

He refills his teacup.

"My workers and I have been on Gauntcliff for months, and nothing has happened to us. Where were your living shadows then, monk? I think you must have some pretty big gaps in your theory. Perhaps you have awakened some ancient curse? Hmmm..and why is this scepter so important? What exactly did you find in the Old Abbey? "

[ewancummins]

the hills

Petrie gathers himself to his feet after he is confident that his knots will hold. Brushing sand from his short blonde goatee and matching mane, he speaks matter of factly, yet with a hint of I told you so, to the bound man. "So lad... I gather next time you wull listen when you are commanded."

The large Forfarian pulls a dagger from one of his boots and cuts the remainder of the rope not used to secure the oaf; he casually coils it and threads it to his backpack. "Why don't ya find out if 'e 'as anything on 'im, eh Thom?"

Suddenly, Petrie swivels his head and snatches his sword from the sand. His gaze searches to ensure the other man left unconscious near the hole still lay in the sand.

Petrie sees the the other man laid out on the sandy earth, still apparently unconscious.


The big blond guy struggles with his bonds a little before he starts to talk.

"You got noffink to prove 'gainst us, guv'nor! Just let us go, right?

[Ken of Ghastria]

""You share all this now, and you ask me not to hide anything? I should have been fully briefed the moment you returned. I own this island."

He refills his teacup.

"My workers and I have been on Gauntcliff for months, and nothing has happened to us. Where were your living shadows then, monk? I think you must have some pretty big gaps in your theory. Perhaps you have awakened some ancient curse? Hmmm..and why is this scepter so important? What exactly did you find in the Old Abbey? "

Primeiro raises an eyebrow. "Mademoiselle Vaughn and I did brief you on the shadow creatures earlier, monsieur. We also found notes from the abbey, in pages that were largely illegible and falling apart. Good Bennedict was able to read part of them, enough to raise grave concerns...." He proceeds to recount the key details from the page discovered in the ruins.

"Does that shed light on anything you've found in these notes, Monsieur Sancerre?" he asks, as he seeks to get a better look at the papers on the table.

_______________________________________
When Denys complains about not being notified, is he referring to the abbey? Everline and Primeiro told him about the shadow creatures at the beginning at the chapter, though perhaps the other stuff didn't make it into the conversation.

[ewancummins]

""You share all this now, and you ask me not to hide anything? I should have been fully briefed the moment you returned. I own this island."

He refills his teacup.

"My workers and I have been on Gauntcliff for months, and nothing has happened to us. Where were your living shadows then, monk? I think you must have some pretty big gaps in your theory. Perhaps you have awakened some ancient curse? Hmmm..and why is this scepter so important? What exactly did you find in the Old Abbey? "

Primeiro raises an eyebrow. "Mademoiselle Vaughn and I did brief you on the shadow creatures earlier, monsieur. We also found notes from the abbey, in pages that were largely illegible and falling apart. Good Bennedict was able to read part of them, enough to raise grave concerns...." He proceeds to recount the key details from the page discovered in the ruins.

"Does that shed light on anything you've found in these notes, Monsieur Sancerre?" he asks, as he seeks to get a better look at the papers on the table.

_______________________________________
When Denys complains about not being notified, is he referring to the abbey? Everline and Primeiro told him about the shadow creatures at the beginning at the chapter, though perhaps the other stuff didn't make it into the conversation.

''I understand that events are developing quickly, and you have had little time to give me all the details. You told me what seemed most important at the time. Forgive my impatience. I am as worried about Benn and the two boys as you must be. Let me see these pages you found. Please don't tell me Benn had them when he vanished?"

Neither Eustace nor Primeiro have the mouldering papers from the ruins.

Denys mulls over what Primeiro has told him before adding,
"My guess is that the haunting in the ruins was dormant until your party awoke the shadow demons by disturbing that hidden chamber. There has been only one death on my island. Wouldn't the shadows, or ghosts, or whatever they are, have taken more souls? If they wiped out a whole monastery, and perhaps even a Ghastrian settlement, why would they spare me and my workers for so long? It doesn't make sense."

[RocEter]

the hills

Petrie gathers himself to his feet after he is confident that his knots will hold. Brushing sand from his short blonde goatee and matching mane, he speaks matter of factly, yet with a hint of I told you so, to the bound man. "So lad... I gather next time you wull listen when you are commanded."

The large Forfarian pulls a dagger from one of his boots and cuts the remainder of the rope not used to secure the oaf; he casually coils it and threads it to his backpack. "Why don't ya find out if 'e 'as anything on 'im, eh Thom?"

Suddenly, Petrie swivels his head and snatches his sword from the sand. His gaze searches to ensure the other man left unconscious near the hole still lay in the sand.

Petrie sees the the other man laid out on the sandy earth, still apparently unconscious.


The big blond guy struggles with his bonds a little before he starts to talk.

"You got noffink to prove 'gainst us, guv'nor! Just let us go, right?

"Prove? We are on island friend. Plenty of cliffs and natural hazards, plenty of chances for accidents." Thom says looking down at Bruno. "But lucky for you I consider myself to be reasonable and rational man. So why don't you tell me what you and friend were going to bury before our timely interruption? Of course if you aren't in the mood for talking, I suppose I can just leave with my associate here and his hound..." He says.

Thom pats down Bruno to see what, if anything, he has on him.

[ewancummins]

DORGIO, IN DREAMS



Dorgio finds himself walking down a dirt road, with tall golden barley waving in the breeze to either side. The warm sunlight soothes him, dispelling the chill and fear in his heart. Up ahead, past the crop rows, he sees the thatched roofs and white washed walls of his native village. A familiar tune lilts over the fields, the same music played by the music box that Denys gave him after he helped rescue Evangeline from the kidnappers.