[Game Thread] Chapter I

[Cheaplaffs]

Maeva Maeva, you still have a turn before the vampire's gaze takes effect. I appologize for the disorganization regarding initiative, I'll try to remember to get everyone to roll beforehand. For now, just assume friendly characters move before enemy characters. But anyway, I'll allow you to do what you need - including getting out of the way of the gaze if your character has enough foresight to do so, or through inadvertant action. Just try not to metagame since you know its coming.

Sharimel and Liz Finally, a sign of life. The slat in the door slides away, and a pair of racoon eyes, wracked with seeming insomnia, perhaps mental illness. Her hair is frazzled, and there are what look like claw marks on her ear. They're too slight to be an injury sustained during an attack, more likely self-inflicted. The house smells like it hasn't been a sanitary environment for some time. "The boy and the girl!" She growls, "That's why you're here, aren't you? To kill the Wailer?" She hacks, trying to laugh, "You stupid fools..." The eyes become angry now, and she snarls as she speaks. "The council can fry in hell!!Everything you see here is lies. Lies heaped over lies. And when you get to the bottom... I hope you find my baby there, with all the others..." She trails off, and the shutter slams shut. "You want answers?" Comes the voice from behind the door. "Go see the graveyard! Ask the Council why my baby's grave is empty!"

Lady von Drachen Feel free to make contact with Liz and Sharimel when ready. You find the Boole's residence as directed, along the narrow crook of the river. The home seems to have fallen in disrepair, and you can hear Sharimel's cries for reason, amidst another, more viscious sounding one.

[Davey Bones]

Tell us where the graveyard is, and I'll consecrate it immediately. That should help in some way Sharimel responds.

Sharimel turns her head slightly as she hears someone approaching...

[Greaven]

Her merry humming was shot down at the sounds coming from ahead, she could only sigh tiredly as she shook the weariness from her small form. "Vell, hell vith pride, I shall still take my time." Continuing her childish hummings, rhymes she remembered when she was just a girl, playing with her friends, he family... Her... She sighs defeatedly as she ushers the thoughts away.

Rounding the last bend, she could now see Sister Sharimel, and yet another young lady that Maribel had failed to mention, "And people vonder vhy even I make fun of ze church, absentminded girl... to zink, she is in charge, grim times." Chuckling lightly to herself she forgoes introductions until she comes to a stop just a few feet away from Liz, her magnificent war horse shaking its mane in contentment as the knight dismounted and patted his neck.

"Vell met Sister, I hear you have had a few troubles since arriving," casting a curious eye to Liz, "I am sorry, I did not know zere vas another. Vell met to you, Miss?"the woman at the door, she gave a polite bow of her head, the blue tail of her helm skipping down it's side, "I am Lady Elizabeth von Drachen, Knight first class of ze order of Magdalen. Grand Marshal Dieter has sent me to assist... Or rather I requested it of him. How may I be of help?"

[copatt]

Sensing no immediate threat from either Boole or the newly arrived knight, Liz lowers her cossbow, places her feet together, and bows slightly to the knight. Greetings lady-knight, I am Liz, servant-penitent of the church.
Liz takes a step back, leaving it to Sharimel to introduce herself and to explain the quest.

[Davey Bones]

I am Sister Sharimel Our quest entails information gathering at this time. We need to know as much as possible about the creature called the Nightwalker. She sighs. At this point, I have a teacher who has been less-than-forthcoming, a council who seems not too concerned, no real history, and now a half-mad parent raving about the council. I suspect this is not what Cardinal Hesegard knew was going on around here... Any information you can share would be much appreciated.

She glances at the door and turns back to the Lady. At this point, I'm inclined to consecrate the graveyard and see if that helps. I prefer not traipsing around in the dark not knowing what we're dealing with.

[Cheaplaffs]

Maeva: Listen Check Results Sorry, I must have overlooked this in the mechanics thread. My mistake. You can determine right off the bat that there are four initial attackers, just by the noises they make and the feeling you get from their scuffling on the cobblestone. In the flash-fire of Elliot's shotgun, you can make out four sillouttes for an instant, but you're sure there must be a fifth, somewhere off in the dark, because you can feel him staring at you...

[Cheaplaffs]

Sharimel, Liz and Lady von Drachen By the time Von Drachen has arrived, the sun has dissapeared behind the trees and the sky has gone purple. What the local people call, Ghost Time. See information on Ghost Time in the Book of Grim. The night takes on a much different air than the day in Europa. Probably because it feels so much like an alien world, in this land where everything bad comes out at night. One is brought up to naturally retreat from darkness, to avoid the nightfall. But you must compell yourself to remain, as you always have. For your own sake. "You'll find it at the end of the road!" Comes the voice again, after many moments of silence. There's the sound of another hacking laugh, though. "But if you go now, you'll miss the Wailer!"

[Davey Bones]

I say we go to the graveyard and investigate. Something doesn't feel right about this, and I'd prefer not to delay as that could cause even more problems. She looks her new companion. And Lady von Drachen, what, if anything do you know about this situation?

[Greaven]

Smiling light she sighs, "Less than should be expected I am afraid. Children have been going missing, unknown as to vhy, zis nightstalker, or perhaps ze wailer could have som cause." her green eyes shift about through the trees as she nods, "Zis place stinks of lies... Even Maribell is not above suspicion. Everyone seems to dart about ze truth. Despite ze ill begotten creatures here, I have a feeling zere may be more zan meets ze eye."

Clutching at her bastard sword loosely, she smirks again, grinning to Liz with a nod, "Vell, no matter, ve vill get to ze bottom of zis." Her smile hid the pained look she gave Liz, not caring to much for penitents, not as people, but for the ill done to them. "You do know vhat ze worst monster of all is ja? Ze one whom hides behind a mask of humanity... Let us hope, zis is not ze case."

Without much preamble, she continues, "Ze council may not be panicked due to a need to keep ze people calm, but zere is no excuse for ze way ze church is in complete panic. I zink ve should visit zis council ven our task is done, and ve have had rest." With that she steps aside, even offering a ride on thunder to Liz, who's bare feet had gotten a ludicrous look from the woman.

[Davey Bones]

Off to the graveyard, then, and see what, if anything, we can findSharimel replies, grateful for her new companion's acceptance of Liz.

OOC Was there something in your post that should have been a thought, or did you miss some bolding, Greaven: should "Zis place stinks of lies... Even Maribell is not above suspicion. Everyone seems to dart about ze truth. Despite ze ill begotten creatures here, I have a feeling zere may be more zan meets ze eye." have been bolded for me and copatt to see?.

[Sporatik]

Jacob, reeling backward away from his vampiric attacker, attempted to distance his mind from the conflict at hand and concentrate on another prayer. A few mumblings and a wave of his hand, and a nearby stone laying on the ground began to glow with holy light, illuminating the area.

[Casts light]

Hopefully this newfound light will be enough to take the edge off the vampire's advantage.

[copatt]

Liz shrinks under the newly arrived knight's gaze. She seems nice enough- Empathetic? Empathy I can handle. Sympathy I do not need. It's just weird being the object of such attention.

Liz shifts awkwardly, trying to hide one bare foot, vainly, beneath the other- wishing that she could do a better job of it, wishing that she could hide the horrible brand on her face at all. Through a choking voice, Liz finally manages, your hospitality is most welcome lady-knight, but I shall walk. The graveyard is not far. Perhaps if a ghost gives chase, I'll accept your offer then- if it still stands.

[Greaven]

Bowing her head lightly, she laughs, "Ze graveyard ho!" Her enthusiasm was very near that of what you might expect of a zealous monster hunter, it was clear she took joy in her job. "Of course ze offer stands, vhat kind of knight vould I be if zings change under such little matters. Thunder, I am sure, vould love a lighter rider anyvays." Patting the horse she looked back at the house and raises a brow, "Unfruitful?"

Noting the shy nature of the girl she booms in a fit of more laughter, "I am sorry, I am sorry, but you zink to much of little zings. I am no noble to boast, I am a peasant, born, and bred... Zink no'zing of ze toys I carry. I am likely more simple at heart zan either of you." She removes her helm and brushes the hair from her face, revealing the faint scars of claw and fire. Liz was branded by the monster of man, and Elizabeth had been branded by the monster of night. It most assuredly was empathy.

On the way, she asks questions concerning what Sharimel had learned, having taken little time herself to gather any intelligence, thinking it more important to find the field opperative that no one had even given her the courtesy of informing her of. When filled in, she could only nod lightly, mulling over possible ways to bring down this blight.

[Cheaplaffs]

The Company Von Drachen The road to the graveyard seems even worse than the one leading into town. With only trees and the countryside to use as landmarks, all seems very hostile and the notion that you shouldn't be here keeps creeping up on you, alive in every shadow cast by the full moon. Up ahead, a sign on a metal post reads 'Goodson Cemetary', the steel making shieking, whining noises as its caught by the wind and swings back and forth on its axis. Lady Von Drachen's horse suddenly starts neighing and rearing, doing anything it can not to proceed any further. You must make a ride check or be thrown clear, and then a handle animal check to calm the moments ago placid and magestic beast. It couldn't be Dark Matter - you would have sensed it as you approached. More likely something spooked it - something that cannot be seen. For Liz the feeling is worst of all - almost as if someone is following her, harrassing her. Something keeps catching the back of her heel and painfully resisting, much like someone accidentally stepping on the back of her foot. This has happened ever since the Witching Hour, when you left Goodie Boole's house. Your trained patience and reason is also beginning to run thin - since you're the only one who keeps hearing the sound of a little boy's laugh. Sharimel and Von Drachen hear nothing but the sound of the wind through the autumn forest. Just as Sharimel crosses the threshold of the signpost, the party is wracked with a startling shriek eminating from Goodson. The scream is human, but like nothing you've ever heard before. It lasts far too long, now stretching on a minute and counting. And so loud - even from this distance away from town. Could this be the Wailer?

[Davey Bones]

OOC Noting the odd behavior of the horse, Sharimel casts Detect Undead. duration = 5 minutes

I don't like this. Sharimel says after casting the spell. She extends her senses out to determine if she can feel anything undead. I'm really concerned about that shriek. Looking at her companions, she asks: Shall I just try to consecrate this graveyard now and we then follow the sound of that... whatever is shrieking?