The Fall of House Pancrazio Chapter Three

[PathOfDreams]

"Then Sebastien, we are your two here, Tristan and I."

[ewancummins]

Tristan nods in silent agreement.

[Rock of the Fraternity]

"Beware the altar room," Harold suddenly announces, commencing to back up. "It is wholly steeped in some form of Evocation magic ... I do not know what kind at this time."

[ewancummins]

''Evocation magic? What is that? ''

[Rock of the Fraternity]

"Summon energies," Harold replies, "and release them. Earth, fire, air, water, ice, acid, force ... The manifold manifestations of power unbound by form, to bind in shapes of protection and destruction both. Evocation is the art which allows the skilled to mold the raw power that exists everywhere around us to his will. Or indeed, her will. When bound in places, I often dread traps set to explode if the wrong action is taken."

[Varrus the Ethical]

"Then if you and Tristan wish to venture forth, I can cast my ward, and then the rest of the party can remain here to make sure that nothing comes out of the gate. Aside from you two of course"

[ewancummins]

"Summon energies," Harold replies, "and release them. Earth, fire, air, water, ice, acid, force ... The manifold manifestations of power unbound by form, to bind in shapes of protection and destruction both. Evocation is the art which allows the skilled to mold the raw power that exists everywhere around us to his will. Or indeed, her will. When bound in places, I often dread traps set to explode if the wrong action is taken."

Explode? Like gunpowder, heh? Sounds dangerous- but useful. Do you know this sort of witchcraft, Harold?

[Rock of the Fraternity]

"Then if you and Tristan wish to venture forth, I can cast my ward, and then the rest of the party can remain here to make sure that nothing comes out of the gate. Aside from you two of course"

Harold makes a sour noise, but nods. "Let's get on with this," he says brusquely as he limps up to stand next to Tristan. "I'm an old man. I'm used to having a cup of tea right about now, and I don't like changing my schedule. Not even for dead critters walking about."

"Explode? Like gunpowder, heh? Sounds dangerous- but useful. Do you know this sort of witchcraft, Harold?"

Harold's perpetual frown becomes an actual glower at this point. "Let me answer that question by saying here and now that I am not a walking powder keg with a lit fuse for you to avail yourself of whenever you are facing a locked door or some other inconvenient obstacle, boy."

[JMaytr]

ALONG THE ROAD TO VON ZYDEN-


The wreck of the carriage litters the area around the road and a few planks had fallen on poor Emilio. With some effort Agna is able to assist the elder man in lifting some of the wreckage off of him. A heavier plank pins down Emilio's left arm.

That is when the two hear the noise. The sound of something moving over gravel and crushing twigs slowly begins to fill the air. There is a faint tune as well, as if a violin was being tickled. Looking about Agna sees something coming down the road, from the direction the mists had receded.

Two horses are approaching the pair, pulling a brightly painted wagon behind them. A dark haired and mustached man wearing loose fitting red and orange silk was in the drivers seat, and the sounds of a violin grew louder. As the wagon comes upon the party it stops and the driver smiles down at Emilio and Agna.

"Salut!" The driver calls down to the pair. "Buna dimineata! I am Iosif. My Aunt told me we would find you here! I am hoping you are not badly hurt."
The back of the Wagon opens and two boys about ten years of age climb out.

"My sons will be helping you with this accident. Miklos! Radu! Be helping our friends here."

The two boys begin working quickly and Agna can see that two more wagons are approaching.

Emilio winces in pain as the two boys effortlessly remove the plank. With their and Agna's help he manages to stand as the other wagons, also driven by men, pull to a stop near the group.

"Eu sunt tu pare rău doare braţul tău!" One of the boys-Radu-says to Emilio in a deep voice for one so young.

[Griselda]

At the sound approaching, Agna turns to see what's coming. She feels no fear or worry, despite the overweening strangeness, only expectation and perhaps a thread of hope. "Do you hear that.... music?" Still, she would have never believed anyone who described to her what rolls up before her and Emilio. She is absolutely dumbstruck by what she sees, much less what she hears from the driver. For a moment, she can only stare as her voice fails her, then she manages, "I'm fine, it's him I'm worried about."

As the boys work on lifting the plank, she tears her eyes from the driver and wagon and stays close to Emilio, at the ready for any direction that could assist. She helps him to his feet carefully, grateful that he seems less injured than she feared earlier, but only time or a more skilled healer will know all the damage.

Still supporting Emilio, she turns to the driver. "I-- I don't know what else to say, except thank you, a thousand times, thank you." And she means every word a thousand times over. Dear and merciful Lady, for this sudden assistance, for sparing a life dear to me, I am truly thankful.

As things settle for the moment, Agna finds her eyes wandering over the exotic features of their rescuers and the wagons. Something in her drinks in the sight with a thirst she does not understand.

[PathOfDreams]

Goran, ready to receive the blessing given forth by the mighty Ezra, speaks once more before this happens, "It might be wise to break down the chains first so we know we can proceed further."


"Tristan, I take it you intend on using that powder hog to do the trick?" Goran steps back from the gate a few paces to ensure he is behind the houndsman when his shot rings forth.

[ewancummins]

''Well, considering the magical things we've come across in these tunnels....maybe we'd better have Harold take a look at the locks and chains, to make sure there's no hex on them. If the locks aren't hexed, I'll get them off. Hmmm, I've brought a few tools with me. Maybe with a little gun oil and some leverage, and I could force one open. They look really fragile. If that doesn't work, we can always smash it with the back of my hatchet or with a shot.''

[ewancummins]

Tristan moves away from the gate for a moment, approaching the closet/shrine doorway.

He doesn't enter, but looks in to see Sebastian. He waves to get the man's attention.

''Sebastian, you said you could make us invisible to any living-dead critters, right? Well, Goran and I are ready and...Hey! Are those keys? ''

He points to the iron keys that sit on the decrepit shelf of the east wall of the closet.

'' Better toss them to me. Those might go with the locks on the gate out here.''

[Varrus the Ethical]

"Yes that probably a good idea" Sebastian says, handing the key ring to Tristian. He then looks back at the shelf, he colects the tinder sticks, and finally examines the contents of the who scroll cases.

As he is doing this he says "When you open the gate, I will ward you and Goran."

[Griselda]

The tangled nonsense-sounding syllables from Radu seem to resolve themselves in Agna's mind. Without thinking, she adds, seeing Emilio's confused expression, "He's asking something about your arm."

She realizes what she just did and is suddenly both frightened and exulted, like an acrophobe who has just climbed to the top of a mountain. She also realizes, looking around, that she is the lone woman in the midst of a circle of men, her hair uncovered and her dress torn perhaps indecently. Some instinct that has nothing to do with Magenta's vile threats or Gianna's scorn tells her this is not appropriate. Shivering, she does the only thing she can think of and turns her face away into Emilio's shoulder. What is this? What's happening to me?