Chapter 4: A Darkened Mirror

[Jeff]

Chapter 4
A Darkened Mirror

Sar, the 7th of Rhaan 998 YK

Along the edge of the Whisper Woods you have been walking. To your right, through the tree line, is a maze of branches, bushes, and sylvan darkness. Only here just outside the forest are you able to see your way easily under open daylight.

But stormclouds overhead continue to threaten more rain. For now they hold their burden up and daylight still makes it way in errant shafts through the clouds, keeping the land bright. If the sky was clear, the sun would be at its peak just now.

You continue your trek eastward on the gravel road from Halvern's Glen. Weeds reign over the dirt track, but it looks like just enough foot traffic—booted human feet and three-toed warforged treads—have kept the worst of it at bay. Mud and rainwater puddles make your travel along the road slow-going. The strange boy, Worm, walks with Charis and seeks out Tangat whenever the wolfdog strays too far away from him. He sings wordless melodies to himself and seems to maintain an inner dialogue that only occassionaly makes its way to his lips—even then the words are nonsensical, borderline on the arcane.

And then, within two hour's of leaving the presence of the masked nymph, Worm grows agitated. "Local lord lives in his house, inside his house. Not safe to go in, not safe to come out."

And with that, your destination comes suddenly into view around a gentle turn in the road:

Shadowcrest Manor, a structure that looks like the cross between a stately city mansion and a small keep. A fifteen foot stone wall forms a perimeter around the manor proper, with slits forming windows that peer inside. The trees here at the edge of the Whisper Woods have grown up close and tight up against the wall itself. The boughs themselves now reach past the walls, branches and leaves heedlessly scraping up against the stone and glass of the manor's second and third floors. Green and red ivy have swarmed over the outer wall. Both Goran and Grafth spy, threaded among the vines almost imperceptibly, a second network of grey-colored ivy that doesn't look...natural.

"The birds," Worm says, a nervous edge in his voice. "The birds will fight. they're not right. Can't go up, can't climb. The birds will fight."

And when he says this, your eyes are drawn up to the trees and the topmost tower of Shadowcrest Manor. Crows, and many of them, perch like haphazardly arranged sentinels. They are almost perfectly still and brooding, looking down on your party without a single squawk. For a moment, you almost wonder if they're stuffed. But then you see the slightest flicker of moving feathers, the small shift of taloned feet. There must be thirty crows among the boughs and the manor's walls—perhaps more hidden beneath the foliage.

At the boy's words, Matheu glides down from the sky and lands on a small boulder that juts from the side of the road. Those scavenger birds look watchful, but I don't think they're constructs or false either. They seem to serve a specific purpose here. We might consider that one or more of them are familiars, keeping the others in line.

Tangat woofs at this and growls low.

The road beneath you leads right up to a pair of heavy oak doors in the wall itself, stylized and framed by curling black wrought iron. Embossed within the wood itself is the motif of a dragonhawk, Aundair's national symbol.

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Knowledge (nature) check - Goran (17), Grafth (17).

[mike]

"Crows," Torhak mutters. "Whose death do they seek to feast upon, I wonder?"

The dwarf turns to the rest of his traveling companions. "The front doors, then? Or shall we seek quieter ways of entering the Manor?"

[Darren]

Kalarian moves forward to join the rest of the group, his gaze never leaving the manor. "Well, I have little doubt, now, that the map we hold depicts this very building, which means, assuming that black square on the map is our destination, that we are headed for a spot along the southern wall near the far side of the building." He looks up the crows. "I'd bet our presence here has not gone undetected." Kal's head swivels left to right. "Okay, Grafth, why don't you go right and Goran, you go left. Circle around the building, see what you can see. If you spy anything that might offer a way in, make note of it. The rest of us will move off a little ways and wait here for you to come back. Right now, we need as much information as we can get." Finally, Kalarian's gaze moves to Matheu, his usual grin not managing to find it's way to his lips. "I don't suppose I could convince you to do a quick fly-over and give us some aerial reconnaisance?"

[Joe]

Streko hands some food over to Worm. "Here, young man. Feast on this before the birds do."
__________________________________________

Let's try to remember the difference between players arguing over arguing and the CHARACTERS arguing over arguing.

[Josh]

"Wait," says Grafth watching the structure closely. "This isn't a matter of general reconnaissance. Giving whoever watches the manor more places to find us is not the best solution. If Goran and I are to scout out our position, we will decide the course of action."

He looks back at the group, "You can move back if you like, but being further away does little to aid us. Either they already know we are here, or they don't. Just stay out of direct line of sight of the manor."

[Jeremy]

Nodding at Kal's plan, Goran holds up his hand.

"Grafth is right. I think we should scout, but let's be careful. And he makes a good point: Our presence is probably already known. Whoever is in there will expect us to scout, and will wait for us to make a mistake."

He begins to check his weapons as he speaks.

"If they know we're here, it's because these woods are alive with the news of a group of foreigners who passed through the empty village and bring the child with them, the news that they move on the errand of the Fey, or so the whispers say."

The half-elf looks back at the Manor.

"Now, whether or not this accursed place can hear such whispers, I don't know. Those birds might well be spies, in fact I think a few of them are."

He turns to Worm, kindly but focused, making an effort that the child understands he is serious.

"Do you mean these birds will try to hurt us? Is it the birds we can see, or are there more birds...worse, birds?"

[Jeremy]

Jun 20, 2008 9:24:37 GMT -4 Joe said:

Let's try to remember the difference between players arguing over arguing and the CHARACTERS arguing over arguing.

Sometimes it's hard to tell the difference.

'S all good.

[Darren]

Kal looks at the two men. "Yes," he says slowly, "I believe I already said that I think our presence here is known. But if they intended to do something about it, they probably would have by now. Still, I don't think that stomping around the building as a large, noisy group is ideal, either. My guess is that the two of you are better at being quiet than myself or anyone else here."

After Goran questions the boy, Kal chuckles. "Bigger birds," he says quietly. "Good question," he adds admiringly.

[Ken]

"If our attackers from last night came from here, which seems likely," says Belarin, "then those inside will know of our presence in the area -- but perhaps not our exact position. Yet those damn crows ... feathered blabbermouths, every last one of them.

"My Lord Hornet, you usually favor the direct approach, so let us at least see what tricks of the arcane lie in our immediate path." He moves a step forward and concentrates with one hand outstretched.

OOC: Belarin is using his detect magic ability.

[Marcy]

Jun 20, 2008 18:28:18 GMT -4 Darren said:

My guess is that the two of you are better at being quiet than myself or anyone else here.

Charis gives a wry smile. "I wouldn't bet on that. Let me go with Grafth. If we're going in some way other than the front door, I'm probably better equipped to assess our options than most -- I used to sneak out a lot at night, and this place isn't so different from my family home. Though I dare say our landscaping was a bit better...."

[Josh]

"Perhaps we are forgetting that we have someone with us who may know more of this place than a tentative scouting mission could divulge." Turning to Worm, Grafth says, "Young one, can you tell us about any of the secrets of this place?"

[Jeff]

Torhak swears a few of the crows are staring directly at him.

Even after Kal's words, Matheu maintains his gaze at the carrion birds and does not reply just yet.

Worm accepts Streko's offer of food casually, chewing eagerly at the scraps of venisen that remain from the previous days' food stores. "Salty," he says as he turns his head from each person to the next as they speak. Then Goran says:

"Do you mean these birds will try to hurt us? Is it the birds we can see, or are there more birds...worse, birds?"

"The birds are mad," Worm says casually, "They fight and they argue, when others try to join them. Don't like climbers, don't like fliers. The birds own the highness, they get mad."

Fliers, Matheu echoes. Aerial reconnaisance, I believe, will provoke the crows to attack. Or perhaps it is a trigger for something else. I think they are dangerous, but not powerful. I think they are the alarms. And they have not yet chimed.

Yet those damn crows ... feathered blabbermouths, every last one of them.

Worm laughs at this. "Blabbermouth birds. Feathery and loud when they want to be."

Belarin turns his focus toward the scene before them...

"Young one, can you tell us about any of the secrets of this place?"

The boy turns toward the "shiffy man," Grafth. "They called me Worm, 'cause I could always 'scape the boxes 'n irons. Showed them, I did. Then I 'scaped the local lord's house, the dark cellar. Wasn't dark to me. Wasn't dark. But upstairs....wouldn't go upstairs. They said...my sissery said....she said not to go upstairs. That's where the shadows go, where the fail'ers go. No good upstairs. Haunted."

Matheu looks to Kal now. Shadows. Perhaps undead shadows. Or maybe shades, the echoes of a mortal body. He may speak of failed experiments, or possibly ghosts. I do not know enough abuot what has happened here.

Within the range of his arcane sight, Belarin senses nothing overtly magical. His senses cannot penetrate the stone wall, and the heavy door of the gate doesn't radiate anything either.

[Darren]

"Alright," Kal says, the wheels in his mind turning. "Alright, we can't go up. That much is clear. But our young lad here apparently learned how to get in and out from below," he says as a grin comes to his lips. He kneels in front of the boy. "You went in and out through the basement, right? Can you show us where?"

[Jeff]

"The way, the only way," Worm says, pointing fearfully in the direction of the double doors. Then, he wails suddenly: "'Scaped from there, don't wanna go in!" A few of the crows shift but none take flight.

[Josh]

"Well, that isn't what I wanted to hear," Grafth says, his voice betraying no underlying context to his words. "Though I have no doubt that this correct, it may still benefit us to briefly scout the area."

He looks to Goran, "What say you? I'm wary of splitting the group, and if those vines," he says, indicating the "unnatural" vegetation on the manor walls, " are any indication, there may be more traps within the surrounding forest."

[Darren]

Kalarian kneels in front of the boy, putting his hands on the boy's shoulders to try to steady him. "It's okay. We're not asking you to go back inside. But how did you get out? You didn't come out the front door, did you? So where did you come out from?" Kal turns and gives a look to Charis, silently asking for her help.

[Ken]

Belarin finishes his examination of the area and saunters over to listen to the conversation. In a light, singsong voice, he says, "A scary cellar, dark and deep, and from its gloom Brave Worm did creep! Up the stairs, sight unseen, and through these doors to the forest green!" He points at the double doors as he finishes. "Is that what you did?"

[Marcy]

Charis kneels beside Worm as well. "Hush, little one. No one will ask you to go back in. We just want to know how you got out. Is the funny singing man right? Did you come out through the big doors?"

To the others, she says, "I agree with Grafth -- we need to scout the perimeter, if possible. But we should test those vines out first, see what they're capable of."

[Jeff]

Belarin finishes his examination of the area and saunters over to listen to the conversation. In a light, singsong voice, he says, "A scary cellar, dark and deep, and from its gloom Brave Worm did creep! Up the stairs, sight unseen, and through these doors to the forest green!" He points at the double doors as he finishes. "Is that what you did?"

Charis kneels beside Worm as well. "Hush, little one. No one will ask you to go back in. We just want to know how you got out. Is the funny singing man right? Did you come out through the big doors?"

Worm turns from Charis to Belarin. "Yes, yes, up through the floors and out from the doors. Scared of them, scared of the sistery of the lord. She is angry, she is mean. Can't climb, can't go up! Hide in the cage and listen forever, hide and listen, over here, overhere, overhearrred the metal men speak a word. A word to open the doors from the other side. Inside out, from within to without." He pauses and turns his sightless eyes to Charis. "It is the only word to 'scape. A word of freeing. A pretty name. A name they hate, but a name only he likes."

The boy's face grows softer and his hands shake a little. "Gwenolyn."

[Darren]

Kal takes a few steps away, seemingly annoyed. "Great," he says in a low voice. "We know how to get out, but no idea how to get in." Turning back around, he raises his voice slightly. "Okay, then. Let's do the reconnaisance and see what we can find out. Maybe Charis and Belarin can get some more out of the boy while you're gone." He looks at Grafth and Goran, raising his eyebrows a bit as he adds, "Do I even need to tell you two to be careful?" He flashes his customary grin.

[Jeff]

Yes, human, Matheu says, a venture like this one may also actually require some...effort.

[Joe]

"Well," Streko says with a grin, "we can always knock, now that we know that getting out won't be an issue for us."

Streko take a look around, wondering if he sees anything that might help them, perhaps an herb to assist sleep. He wracks him brain for information on this area of the world and what they might be up against.
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Any of Streko's 4E skills come into play here that he can add to the conversation?

[Jeff]

I don't want to begin using 4E stuff until I'm ready with all characters. And I'm not. Just haven't had the time.

[Darren]

"Little dragon," Kalarian says, "unless you have something useful to add, why don't you go perch somewhere and keep your beak shut?"

[Jeff]

Eloquently delivered, noble Deneith, the pseudodragon returns with a hissing smirk. Your tongue and wit sharpen more each day.

Then he turns his eyes on the crows again.

Clearly directing his thoughts toward Belarin, Charis, and Grafth, he says, I may be able to beguile one of the birds.

[Joe]

Okay, do any of Streko's 3E provide useful information?

[Marcy]

"If I could get to a window," Charis responds, "I'm betting I could get us in, so if you could keep the crows from sounding the alarm, Matheu, that would be a big help. But we still need to get through the forest...and the vines...to find one."

[Jeremy]

Goran seems strangely thoughtful about Kal's "careful" comment. He gazes at Grafth, and nods. I'll go across the north side here, and around to the east. You go south and bend around. We'll meet in the back, use visual signals, then we'll each retrace the path the other took, that way we'll miss nothing. We'll meet back here."

"Does that sound like a good plan?" he asks the shifter in earnest.

Goran turns to the others, and grins at Kal.

"Do I need to tell you guys to stay here and be quiet? Now, if either of us, or both, aren't back in twenty minutes...you should probably revise your counsel."

[Josh]

Grafth considers this for a moment, then concedes. "Alright, Goran."

Before heading off, he speaks again, "Perhaps you should leave the book and what we're assuming is the map of this manor here, with the group. If you fall prey to an ambush, the enemy may have the very thing we're trying to keep from them."

The shifter then heads south, just inside the line of foliage. His stance is low, his steps silent as he moves through the trees. Grafth watches closely for traps as he walks, pausing at irregular intervals to observe the manor.

Grafth is looking specifically for places that might provide an opportunity for entrance, and generally trying to take in as much detail as possible. He looks in the windows to see if he can detect movement as well.

[Ken]

@Marcy said:

"If I could get to a window," Charis responds, "I'm betting I could get us in, so if you could keep the crows from sounding the alarm, Matheu, that would be a big help. But we still need to get through the forest...and the vines...to find one."

"While I certainly don't reject your company with our young charge, my lady," Belarin says, indicating Worm, "you know the best use of your talents better than, say, our Lord Hornet. But beware, if the main entrance has some magical warding, the windows may as well. Despite the fiery words of earlier today, I would hate to see you seared."

To Matheu, he adds with an enthusiastic smile, "So beguile as you will, interesting dragonette! I wish to see one of your kind in action. Should things go poorly for you, I will assist as I can. I promise to try not to hit you."

Jun 24, 2008 9:10:48 GMT -4 wentzjw" said:

"Perhaps you should leave the book and what we're assuming is the map of this manor here, with the group. If you fall prey to an ambush, the enemy may have the very thing we're trying to keep from them."

"I shall hold it temporarily if you'd like, Goran," says Belarin. He looks at Kal with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "On my mother's spirit, I vow not to peek ... at least until we're back on the ship. Hmmm, I think my mother is dead...."