Ghosts of Gauntcliff: Chapter Six

[ewancummins]

"I couldn't say. I'm hardly a master of geography, and I wasn't bothering to look where we were going in my haste to get out here. I know only what they were telling me." He turns. "I'm curious why you're taking such a defensive tone with me. I'm your friend, Herr Sancerre, and I have no reason to suspect you. I think only that there was a threat here you were unaware of when we arrived, and you are as caught up in this as the rest of us. You've been nothing but a generous patron to me and my family. I want to see this threat dealt with once my wife and child are safe, and I'm just trying to gather information about what may have happened here and if we can expect more of the same when other ships are coming in."

Denys sighs.

''I'm sorry, Benn; it's just that I feel partly responsible for this horrid state of affairs. I should have known the deal was too good to be true. I shouldn't have trusted the Marquis' word. Gauntcliff is dangerous. I honestly didn't know. All these people are here because of me, Benn, and some have already died. Poor Maggie..."

[Adam]

"It will do very little to waste time mourning for those who are lost. Right now we must see to the people who are still alive."

[Ail]

Eustace turns to Primeiro as he talks

"I don't know, I'm not particularly worried about Elliana. She may have odd habits, but although I don't trust her, I don't think she may be all that evil woman you imply. Right now, I'm very wooried with the shadow's presence in the manor. When it's alone in a cave with 5 people that are attacking something it prizes, it's relatively easy to deal with. When it is in a place full of people that it might control at will and it happens to be in our sanctuary that means all sorts of bad signs. Even now, it may be controlling someone to make an arson on this estate. We must find it , Primeiro, and hold it in place to prevent more damage. How we will do that, I don't know, but that's we must do."

Eustace is concerned, and walks while he speaks, but before Primeiro replies, Juergin comes in and smiles...

oh he smiles.

"This can not be good" he says softly, almost to himself.

OOC: I hold further comments before I know how much Eustace understands of the situation. Also, what of Eustace's scanning around? Any sign of the shadow?

Kno. Arcana to know anything about the effects of failed Power Checks. I know it must be pretty high, but let me try anyway.

1d20+11 = 20
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3519083/

[Ken of Ghastria]

As Juergin even begins to form the first syllables of a response, Primeiro gets another look at those razor-sharp, inhuman teeth ... and runs as fast as he can in the opposite direction! "Get away from him, Eustace! Get away!" he yells.

First, the shadow creature is loose in the chateau, and now THIS?! Clearly the place is no longer safe. At the next intersection, he runs toward the nearest exit to the outside and begins to circle around the chateau in search of the others -- half-fearful that they, too, have been horribly transformed into freaks.

[Ail]

Suddenly, Primeiro's reaction makes sense. Eustace does not relish one bit the idea of staying alone with a Jurgin with shark-teeth and an undead companion on the side. He double backs after Primeiro, but so far in control of his actions, looking to see that no further threats come their way. Indeed, banding together now would be the best choice. The morning had conspired to have the group separated and that could only bring woe about.

[ewancummins]

The north shore
While Everline makes ready to go (or finds something useful to do, if she has decided to stay and help) Benn does his best to help the survivors. Most of these of people are cold, wet, and exhausted.

The rain has slacked off, but not stopped. The fog has not lifted.

Griffith gives a report; three drowned-- two children and two of the sailors. One other sailor is missing.
As he puts it- ‘’He’d have swum ashore by now, I imagine. Still, we’d better keep lookin’ till near dark.”
The boy Jürgen is also missing.
Griffith says, ‘’It seems the lad set out in his little boat, thought to be helpin’ the men with the search. He hasn't com’ back, or responded to hailin’ from the shore, even the loudest cries. I think he might have drifted far out to sea, or been capsized and got himself drowned.”

Denys tells Benn and Griffith- ‘’Find the boy and the missing man, if you can. Enough lives have been lost today. Curse these mists!” He tears at the fog with his right hand.

[steveflam]

"I... I.... why are you afraid of me? I fell ill at sea and when I came back to the Chateau, I grew these teeth.... That is Dark One, my friend. I won't hurt you and neither will he. Don't be afraid of me or he. Primeiro.... Eustace..... Eustace, can you heal? I feel sick and quesy since I got off of the ocean. Look,,,, I keep my weapon sheathed... why, why do you act this way?"

Jürgen is clearly confused by the reaction he is getting. He has in now appeared menacing to anyone, in his mind at any rate. And why his teeth
bother people he knows not. They are neat and can come in handy, no?

[steveflam]

Fixing time line

[ewancummins]

The Chateau, Jürgen

The boy looks for help, or tries to show off his new teeth, but the few servants he encounters only flee from him in abject terror.


When he goes to his own room, he finds Gruz and Smezel playing dice on the floor. The monsteras argue in a mixture of the Common Tongue of the Western countries and alien jargon.
Smezel screeches " Zukh! Cheater! That is a three.”
Gruz snatches a die with one disproportionately big hand. He holds it close to his single big eye, squinting.
‘’What number three looks like? Me forget.” He holds up four fingers, smiling hopefully.
The two little goons cease their squabbling when the get a closer look at Jürgen’s mouth.
Gruz whimpers, ducking behind a hamper.
Smezel crawls forward on his hands and knees.
“We serve you! Don’t eat us, okay?”


In the dunes, on the trail to the Chateau

The mist is lighter here, but rain still drizzles down from the gray afternoon sky. Primeiro races ahead and Eustace has to push to keep up. The two men tumble or stagger down the lee of a tall dune. Primeiro crashes into a man leading a mule. They recognize the man as their companion, Dorgio. Neither of them recognizes the slender, black haired teenage girl on the back of the mule.

[steveflam]

Jürgen is completely taken aback from this reaction to his new interesting teeth. "Gruz,,,, Smezel..... I won't eat you. Aren't these teeth nice? I went to sea, then came back and felt bad, sick. Then my jaw really hurt. I suppose they grew in. And I had a salty bad taste in my mouth. This is so weird but my teeth are so nice. Why are they so bad? I don't understand...."

The boy sits on the bad, confused. "What am I going to do? Can you guys help me with finding out about my teeth? I won't eat you, I promise."

[ewancummins]

Jürgen is completely taken aback from this reaction to his new interesting teeth. "Gruz,,,, Smezel..... I won't eat you. Aren't these teeth nice? I went to sea, then came back and felt bad, sick. Then my jaw really hurt. I suppose they grew in. And I had a salty bad taste in my mouth. This is so weird but my teeth are so nice. Why are they so bad? I don't understand...."

The boy sits on the bad, confused. "What am I going to do? Can you guys help me with finding out about my teeth? I won't eat you, I promise."

Gruz peeks out from behind the clothes hamper.
''No eats Gruz?"

Smezel grovels and says,
"You got the new teeth cuz you magic! Magic teeth!"

[steveflam]

The boy sighs. "Eustace and Primeiro ran away from me. Why? I did nothing to them.... These teeth are so cool! No Gruz or Smezel I won't eat you. I am just sad because my nice new teeth... yes I guess you could call them magic teeth ,,, well they scare people. Do you know of anyone, someone who can know of magics? Someone who can know about my new teeth? I would be grateful."

[ewancummins]

The boy sighs. "Eustace and Primeiro ran away from me. Why? I did nothing to them.... These teeth are so cool! No Gruz or Smezel I won't eat you. I am just sad because my nice new teeth... yes I guess you could call them magic teeth ,,, well they scare people. Do you know of anyone, someone who can know of magics? Someone who can know about my new teeth? I would be grateful."

Smezel scratches his belly.
''Who else got the magic? "

Gruz roots through the dirty clothes.
''Yay! New clothes." He pulls on one of Juergin's shirts, which fits him like a long robe. He waggles his arms and hands inside the hanging sleezes.
''Looks at Gruz!"

[steveflam]

Jürgen laughs out loud. "Gruz, that looks good on you. Smezel, here, try one too." He finds another shirt for the other creature. "Now, does the CHief know someone who knows good strong magic?"

[ewancummins]

Jürgen laughs out loud. "Gruz, that looks good on you. Smezel, here, try one too." He finds another shirt for the other creature. "Now, does the CHief know someone who knows good strong magic?"

The two creatures look at each other. Gruz says something that sounds like gibberish to Juergin. Both creatures cringe and whimper.
Smezel turns back towards the boy and whispers,
"The Dodds got strong magic."