The Fall of House Pancrazio Chapter Three

[ewancummins]

Tristan is napping when Tahl finds him in his quarters. He lays on his simple cot without a blanket, dressed but shoeless. The dog Elsie is curled up at the Arkandaler's feet.

When Tahl enters the room, Tristan wakes and sits up on the cot.

''Oh, Tahl? Everything alright?''

[PathOfDreams]

Goran chuckles with surprise to himself as a delighted grin appears on his face. I haven't done that before! Woohooo! This is how it should be, high flying adventures.

The ranger holds on until Emilio draws the carriage to a halt, enjoying the cold wind whipping at his face. When he dismounts he meets the ground with a light step. Goran approaches the carriage door and opens it, standing aside.

[Lord Skybolt]

"Oh every thing is fine . I was just wondering if the food stuff we brought from below was safe to eat . " Tahl wondering aloud if it was worth it to bring the "food" back from the tunnels .

[JMaytr]

Sebastian spends several hours in the library looking for any reference to the Pancrazio family tree but strangely finds nothing. Soon the cleric finds his eyelids heavy and slumber begins to take him there at his chair in the room. Just as the feels himself begin to sleep, Sebastian jolts awake. As his awareness returns Sebastian begins to hear a low soft note, like the wind blowing through a keyhole, through out the library. As he stands the sound becomes louder.

[Griselda]

The jolt almost knocks Agna from her seat with a yelp of fright. What was that?! She moves to the other side hastily and leans out the windows for an unsuccessful attempt to see what it was. Could they have kicked up a stone? It would have to be rather large to make a noise like that. She knocks on the ceiling to get Emilio's attention, again without success. Either he's driving in his sleep or he simply can't hear her over the rumble of the carriage on the road.

The carriage pulls to a stop and the door opens. Having not heard Emilio clamber down from the box, Agna is certain it isn''t him doing the honors. If this is how some rogue thinks he's going to play, he's got a another think coming, she decides, and grabs the heaviest parcel she can lay hands on. She winds up, ready to haul off on the first head to enter her line of sight.

[ewancummins]

Tristan's room

''Safe- yes, seems safe enough. I've eaten a little, and I feel fine. I tested it first, of course.''


Tristan opens a jar of dried fruit and offers some to Tahl.


''Someone must have been hoarding food down there for some time. My guess is Luisa. The clues seem to point towards her: the entrance was in the greenhouse that only she frequented, and the keyhole on the chest resembles her ring. Maybe I'm wrong. You have to admit, though, that it seems pretty strange to think that none of the Pancrazios knew about a big network of cellars beneath their ancestral home.''

[Lord Skybolt]

"Thank you ." Tahl says and takes some of the dried fruit . And as he is chewing on the fruit thinks about what Tristan said about nobody else in the family knowing about the cellars .

[PathOfDreams]

"Come, come, that wouldn't do much to stop me should I decide to have my way with you. Good thinking though Agna, you may relax however, you have no doubt had a long day. Please, come from there." He gives Agna a chuckle and a smile to lighten the mood as he appears from the side of the carriage to reveal himself, a gloved hand is offered to the house girl to assist her leave of the carriage.

"I realize I'm a bit ragged and stink of the underearth, but has anyone ever helped you from the carriage before, nonetheless opened the door for you?"

[Griselda]

Agna's cheeks burn fiercely at Goran's comment and she lets the parcel drop, still holding it. She tries to cover her embarrassment by picking up her basket and some of the shopping trip's results. "Not funny," she mutters under her breath.

Turning to the door, fully prepared to jump down on her own, as she often must, she is instead met by the young master offering to hand her down like a lady. Her first expression is surprise and words that don't quite come for a moment before she answers, "No," in a near whisper to Goran's question. She gazes uneasily at the gloved hand being extended to her, waiting for the catch -- the stinging comment, the abrupt withdrawal, however they choose to remind her that she is worth little in this house. But, it's Goran. Would the boy who once climbed to the top of the tallest tree to coax me back down do that to me?

Finally Agna shifts one of the things she's holding to free up a hand, and hesitantly places her hand on Goran's, so lightly it does not dimple the leather on his palm.

[ewancummins]

Tristan's quarters


Tristan continues to chat with his friend-

''Well, our food situation is good for now. Speaking of food, I hear that the Old Man is planning a big dinner for one of the local rulers. I don't know much about politics around here, but it I've heard some nasty stories. We'll need to keep our eyes wide open during the party, in case that Lothario fellow shows up with his goons, or someone else has a mind to make a move on the house. ''

[Lord Skybolt]

"Yes, speaking of goons I welcome some fools at the party trying to start something !"As Tahl says this he pats his shorter blade that is at his right side .

[Varrus the Ethical]

Rubbing the sleep away from his eyes, Sebastian calls out, "Is someone there?"

[JMaytr]

IN THE LIBRARY-

Sebastian looks around the library but sees no one. The sound of the flute becomes louder and louder as if its source was coming closer to the cleric. Suddenly there is a loud cracking noise, like a whip, behind him. Turning Sebastian sees a small boy.

It is the apparition from below in the tunnels! (1)

As the cleric stares at the boy he watches as the ghost puts his hands in the air as if grabbing something. A small ring of fire circles his head like a halo. Slowly the halo lets off loose embers that float around the library like snowflakes. The boys face seems to darken and his eyes begin rolling back in his head. His mouth opens and closes as if gasping for air. His hands claw frantically at the invisible hands around his throat, but they quickly tire and fall slack to his sides. Soon his tongue is hanging out of his mouth and he collapses to his knees and then crumples to the ground in an unnatural position.

The flute music is almost deafening now. Sebastian cannot help but put his hands to his ears and squeeze shut his eyes. His palms become sticky and wet as the cleric discovers his ears are pouring blood! (2)


To make matters worse when Sebastian opens his eyes he sees large flames all around the library. Long walls of fire seem to block his escape.

(1) Will Save
(2) take 15 points of sonic damage!

[Varrus the Ethical]

Ears ringing and close to collapse, Sebastian struggles to hold back the panic while he attempts to call on Ezra for aid.


(OOC: assuming he is able, Sebastain casts Create Water on the part of the flame wall blocking the exit to the passage.

[PathOfDreams]

Goran conitinues to display his smile for the young house girl. This encounter with her comes as a pleasant end to the evening.

"I know that my family is less than thankful for all your efforts." Goran's mood sombers a bit, his obvious apology, in not so many words. His movements to help her from the carriage are slow and purposeful, supporting as much of her weight as she allows.

When she is on firm ground, he remains holding her tiny paw and with his other hand draws his boar's tusk dagger from the back of his belt, with an effort to hide his action...