[Game Thread] Chapter I

[Cheaplaffs]

Company Von Drachen The hunters seem ethusiastic about the details until you mention the graveyard, and going in after whatever haunts the woods. The men in the company exchange frightened, almost angry glances until the leader clears his throat and crosses his arms over his chest, suddenly not as friendly as before. "Never mind." He grunts at Sharimel, suddenly sounding hostile. "Shove your terms. We're not going anywhere with you." Another one of the group adds quickly, "You'd have to be an idiot to go into those woods." The leader gives him an agreeing look, then asks, not sounding any friendlier, "You're telling me you've been there and back? And the Nightwalker didn't tear your arms off?" "Bullshit." Someone else adds. "She's lying."

[Cheaplaffs]

Dorian "Yes, I should probably return to my customers." Nile pauses for a moment, her eyes with yours, before adding, "I have enjoyed meeting you, Dorian." She winks, then says with a laugh, "I'll be seeing you." The carnival has many other sights to be taken in should you wish to explore further. The freak show has gathered quite a crowd as one of the performers has taken the stage. On the other side of the compound, men have gathered together to bet on mercenary fights. This spectacle of brutality is rarely seen within city limits, but occasionally it is allowed by public demand. The carnival has a long history of the tournament, and the Baron and Council of Greystone aren't ones to deny it. If you've seen enough, the city itself can offer many points of interest. One such as yourself should find work easily if you were to look long enough...

[Greaven]

In a flash her sword is drawn and sunk into the table's edge, standing readily as if she had never been sitting, her eyes closed in quiet annoyance as she shakes her head disappointingly. "All mankind is flawed, but vun of ze order vould fall in disgrace, be cast from the ranks, and all grace of God almighty should any of us lie. You vould be vise not to judge so, and never use such language before a lady again." the last statement leveled at the man whom said bullshit.

Growling as her eyes flashed open she withdrew her blade and turned away from the men, "Dolts and cowards all, vhy vould ve ever need a scout if ve vere to stay on a path. A simple No vould have more zan sufficed." Walking to the in keeper she gives a truly apologetic look, "Regrets, miene master always said I should temper ze anger. How much for ze repairs?"

She cared nothing for the men now, not their anger, or shame at her words, nor if the girls could bring them around. She had no patience for such people. "Must every man be afraid of goblins and shadows? Barkeep, two drinks, I care not vhat, an ample tip if you ignore ze outburst." she growls profusely to herself. True, they were vicious, flesh hungry monsters who preyed upon the sufferings of humanity, but they were minor nuisances to one who learned the ways of the battle.

[Davey Bones]

We did survive, although we did not encounter the Nightwalker. Sharimel says on the heels of Lady von Drachen's comments. As my companion said, we lie not. If you would rather go up during the day, that's fine with us, but tell us now, for we have two members of the local temple who could be dead, and time is of the essence. If we leave tomorrow, it must be at first light, no later. She says resolutely. Otherwise, we return to the temple and see where we go from here, without you.

She looks at the men. What say you, gentlemen? Can you at least help us come the light?

ooc Diplomacy check here

[Cheaplaffs]

Company Von Drachen OOC: Man, Von Drachen should have made that into an intimidate. xD Extra points for the use of a foreign object. Sense motive is good too, though. You can tell they're genuine. Judging by the reaction to your outburst, Von Drachen is able to sense hostility immidiately amongst the assorted hunters. Though none of them would be a match for you in single combat, the place is filled with seasoned outdoors men, and all of their collective experience against you helps diffuse the impact of your words. "You're not listening to me, Lady." The leader almost spits out the last word. "With all due respect, we've never heard of anything getting out of those woods alive. Everyone who's gone past the cemetery path is gone, missing, dead... whatever. We're still waiting to hear from another group of townsfolk... good men, but were foolish enough to risk going in after the children... Stupid..." His words taper off slightly as the Lady moves over to speak with the Inn keeper, as the Leader focuses momentarily on calming the murmurs of discontent between his men. Liz and Sharimel look quite out of place among them now in Von Drachen's absence, but the leader is at least fair enough to hear her out. Your reasoning doesn't sit as comfortably with them as you may have hoped, but the modesty in how you say it goes a long way, and at the very least the Leader doesn't sound hostile anymore. Now he looks worried. "Look... " He takes a look over his shoulder, and almost by reflex his men crowd around, as if to block view and noise to all but Liz and Sharimel. "There's something you three obviously aren't getting. Maybe the Walker left you alone because it pittied you... maybe because you're connected with the church... I don't know. But I can tell you one thing - now that it's seen you, now that it knows what your fear smells like... you step foot in those woods again, and you'll end up just like everyone else. All this time everyone suspects the Walker... personally I agree with that bog witch Boole. It could just as easily be some sick f--" A sharp pause, then a bashful look at Liz, then Sharimel, perhaps remembering that bit Von Drachen had mentioned about language around ladies. "...person, tramping around at night and kidnapping our children." "But what about the Wailer?" One of the men from previously asks, "It's gotta be the Walker, those ghosts from the forest!" A long pause before the same guy turns to Liz and asks, "...what did you see? What did you see in the woods?" All of a sudden the leader seems upset again and he shoots the man a harsh look. "Never mind." He barks, "You heard the lady, she said it was too dark to see nothing." His eyes turn towards Liz, then narrow, almost as if to say, 'Don't go there.' Meanwhile, the owner of the establishment is a tough looking older man who shakes his head at Von Drachen's offer to pay for the damage to the table. "And what will I do with the money? Pay the tree not to kill me when I try to cut it down to make a new table? Keep your money. Keep it and use it to book passage out of this haunted town. Before it drives you crazy, like everyone else."

[Davey Bones]

Do you have a name, good sir? Sharimel asks. I'd like to know with whom I'm speaking.

She takes a seat near to him and speaks quietly. Can you tell me a bit about Boole? You say she is a bog witch? And what of these men who ventured into the forest looking for lost children? Anything you tell us can be of use. She reaches out and grasps his hand with both of hers. We're not damsels in distress, but we understand when we need help, and right now, we need help. Every bit of information will help.

[Greaven]

Sighing lightly, out of sorts even, she bows her head and steps back, "I vill send you back a table zen or tree. For now I have work to do." Stepping back and away she turns eyes about the tavern in utter disappointment, but lightly she would clasp her hands together, and remain silent as she prayed for these men, had they really lost all hope? It was depressing.

Slowly, in gentle tones she reminds Sharimel of other confusing items, "Miss Sharimel, do not forget, ve need to see ze grave keeper, or who ever had a key for ze gate. And I have questions for ze council." There was not point to exacerbate the situation or their tempers by her asserting herself so strongly again, she could only run her fingers along her scarred cheek in silence as she waited for the ladies to be done.

[Solitaire]

Dorian smiled. "I've enjoyed meeting you as well, Nile. Thank you for this most interesting trinket." He turned and walking away from her booth, poring over the conversation in his mind as he turned the tiny chest over and over in his hands. He explored the rest of the carnival for a time, but found nothing that could hold his attention away from the chest. Dorian wasn't quite sure why, but he felt unprepared to continue exploring the tiny chest at the moment. He decided to explore the city of his birth, which he hadn't seen for years. Walking into the city, Dorian kept an eye out for places to stay, as well as any other place of interest. After all, the city held many secrets.

[copatt]

Liz backs away from the woodsmen, debating what exactly it was that she had seen that the one was asking about, and teh other urged her to stay silent over. She looks up timidly at both Sharimel and Lady von Drachen. Maybe, uh, maybe we should start with the gravekeeper.

[Davey Bones]

That's fine with me, maybe we can find a tracker in the morning....

[Cheaplaffs]

Dorian Greystone is for the most part closed for the night. All daytime businesses have closed their doors and only services can be found open at this hour - the blacksmith, the local taverns and inns, and of course brothels. Being here on the streets at night reminds you of the reason your road has lead you back to your childhood home. The Council here has sent word out to all able-bodied mercenaries and monster hunters to investigate the local disturbances and disappearances originating from the city's necropolis. If you still wish to look into these matters, it would be a good idea maybe to take a look around inside. Otherwise, there are other places of interest in the city that may be worth investigating. The necropolis being one, there are several other places about the city that are said to be the site of recent haunting experiences. For someone who tends to be drawn to such things, the Mercy Bridge and Vigil Tower are two places in particular.

Company von Drachen At that point the leader introduces himself as 'Keith'. Not bothering to go around the table to introduce his friends, Keith sort of softens up at Sharimel's touch and budges a little. "A year or so ago, when all this just started to happen with the Wailer, Boole was complaining constantly to the Council to find her children. They told her over and over again that the Nightwalker probably got them like all the rest, but she wouldn't buy it. Claimed the Nightwalker had told her itself it wasn't responsible. She actually had a good point, I think, when she asked why the thing would suddenly decide to come after us, after leaving us alone for so long? It had to be someone in the town, but she had no evidence." The man shrugs, lighting a pipe. You notice his hand shakes slightly as he strikes the match. "If you ask me, the old lady doesn't sound so crazy to me." Murmers between his men. Keith diffuses their chatter with a harsh look. Seeming to soften up a bit now and sympathize somewhat with you, he goes on to answer, "A few of our neighbors and friends decided to go in after the Nightwalker, as I'd said. But a few days turned into a few weeks, and when they never came back, everyone pretty much decided the case was closed. Nobody's gone into the woods after them out of fear of that thing." He offers you the pipe, "If I were you, lady, I'd take the next carriage out of this place. That's what every sane person is doing."

[Cheaplaffs]

Company Von Drachen, Part II The next morning brings more of the same symptoms of whatever disease is slowly killing Goodson. More townsfolk packing up and leaving. More sad, beleagured faces. More missing children. You're awoken not by the shrieks of the Wailer or some undead force, but a young woman throwing herself upon the angel statue in town square, sobbing and screaming that her child was missing. Only woodsmen from the local tavern were strong enough to pry her fingers from the stone, her face looking like it was possessed with insane grief. As if any of you had slept much anyway. Make a fortitude save, or be fatigued. When news gets around that a member of the church had been murdered, you recieve an official summons from the council. The messenger sent to deliver it is shakey and nervous, and doesn't stay long enough for you to even tip him. Von Drachen was the first to receive him, and is given a sealed envelope. Inside, the message reads to meet a Council representative at the angel statue at noon. It doesn't seem like a friendly connotation. Chances are, they're growing suspicious of your activities last night. Keith is the bringer of late news as you reach the bottom floor of the tavern. He and his men are still at the table they were seated at last night, and the bearded man whispers in Sharimel's ear, grabbing her loosely by the bicep to bring her ear close, "The Council is looking to lynch you for killing a priest. I'd become three ghosts if I were you."

[Cheaplaffs]

Maeva Manipulating the controls, you're able to follow Jacob's instructions and reset the pump system. Once the water is cycled back through the pipes, you can hear the architecture and internal structure and foundation begin to whine and creak with the added pressure. The pipes obviously weren't build to sustain both the water reservoir and the added blood from the crypt's new owners. Time to get out of here. Just as you're about to jerk the rope to signal the Brothers Grim, a figure lurches out of the shadows ahead of you and groans loudly. He doesn't appear to be normal, and drawing closer to the light of the manhole behind you, you can spot a gaping wound in his neck, from which a broken shard of bone is viable. At first it appears as if he's attempting to shove you, but really you realize with shock that its a feeble attempt to grapple and tear you to the ground. Its breath is rancid and horrible, and yellow, decaying teeth threaten to close in on you. Book of Grim Updated.

[Greaven]

The news, sadly, was not disturbing in the least, it was something she was beginning to suspect all along. She of all people knew that evil lay within grasp of all man, and it was no surprise that Boole seemed to be speaking truth. Crazy or not, it made no sense for this creature to suddenly start abducting children from their beds, or luring them away. She didn't trust the creature, nor Boole for consorting with it, but she certainly could see the possibility of truth in the matter. With a sigh she finds her way to her room, ignoring the matters for now, casting only a simple, yet thoughtful, mutter behind her, "If zis madhouse has any sane in it, I vould not count ze panicked masses fleeing among zem... But zen, I doubt I count for one of ze sane eizer."

Trained to sleep as needed, as she was, still had her finding trouble to dig in, her paranoia simply getting the better of her, both sword and crossbow, loaded even, within arms reach the whole night. Up early, as what person could have slept much at all, training again took over, as she cleansed herself and went about morning exercises, and more importantly her prayers. "O' Heavenly fa'zer, forgive zis humble servant for her temperament. Forgive her ze transgressions. See her veakness, and cherish zem, but guide her to make better a person. Servant. Knight... Protector. In your name, let it be done."

Come the morning the news was something of a surprise, who would have suspected that the council would be so eager to meet with them, and something of the look of the messenger rubbed the Paladin the wrong way. Snorting, Elizabeth gives a grim grin, as Sharimel delivers the words of the trappers, the Lady Knight rolls her eyes with mirth unfitting of their current standings. "Eizer zey, vish to keep somezing hidden, vich I am inclined to believe. Or ve are being used as scapegoats... I personally believe both, Ja? Ja." The council were either fools, or involved, which she had thought a possibility from the beginning. They had access to the cemetery, where in control on the consensus of the village, and where easily within a position to mislead this flock of sheep.

"Behold, und, ze vayvard shepherds lead ze lambs astray, casting zem from light, und leading zem to slaughter. I suppose ze only question now, is how to proceed. I am alvays for ze direct approach, confronting ze council, ve have far and many reasons to cause doubt vithin ze people," she pauses as thoughts begin to tumble in her head,there was nothing substantial to link them to the matter. What she needed was proof to avoid a public outcry. "ze Locked cemetery being a good start. But, confrontation here vould lead to many a hurt commoner... Perhaps ve should take a look at zeir homes?"

[Solitaire]

Dorian relished the night air as he walked the streets of Greystone. Others might be afraid, walking through the city at night, and perhaps they were right to fear the darkness. But Dorian felt only the slight electric tingle of an adrenaline rush waiting to happen, all his senses on full alert. Every sound seemed magnified, every shadow jumped in his peripheral vision. Dorian had considered taking a break from walking around for a while, but the only places open this late were the inns and brothels, neither of which tickled his fancy like a lively tavern at the moment. He stopped to read the signs requesting monster hunters to investigate the disturbances. Though he briefly considered exploring other sites he vaguely remembered from his childhood, Dorian felt the necropolis pulling at his consciousness, crying out for him to explore it. He could not resist the allure of danger, and set off to find the entrance.