Book the Second, Chapter the Eighth: A Brace of Conundrums

[Mr. Handy]

"Yes, it's best that you avoid dogs," says Henry as he continues to escort the creature, following the footprints to the north. "Animals can sense that there's something different about you. They may be more afraid of you than you are of them."

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

His interest piqued Lepus elects to scramble up the wall to see who is grubbing about the other side. If he cannot manage this feat on his own, he will summon his unseen servant to give him a leg-up.

Spoiler:

DEX = 15[dice]0[/dice]

Lepus,Scrambling up the wall with great ease, you can look down and see the hulking figure of the male creature, digging up something buried in the earth.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Vicki,Trying to cover this rather embarassing development, William calls through the door, "[color=#800000]It is Captain Palliser. Open the door - this night's business is not done.[/color]"

William,Miss Ravenscroft emerges, quickly shutting the door behind herself. Her hair and clothing are in disarray, her countenance ruddy and shiny with sweat. "What is it? I warn you that there is great danger if you remain here overlong.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

"Yes, it's best that you avoid dogs," says Henry as he continues to escort the creature, following the footprints to the north. "Animals can sense that there's something different about you. They may be more afraid of you than you are of them."

Doctor North,Soon you see the somewhat comical scene of Lepus scrambling up the high brick wall and peering down at the other side. The closer you come to the wall, the more anxiety the female creature displays, although, for the time being, she allows herself to be drawn thence. "He! He!" she cries, with evident distress.

[SunlessNick]

William,Miss Ravenscroft emerges, quickly shutting the door behind herself. Her hair and clothing are in disarray, her countenance ruddy and shiny with sweat. "What is it? I warn you that there is great danger if you remain here overlong.

Vicki,William uncouthly takes her arm, meaning to drag her back the way they came - "[color=#800000]We still require your aid in disposing of your beast,[/color]" he says. (Should she refuse or resist, he will attempt to bind her hands). In his mind: [spoiler]Her creation has cost him his chance to use the spirit in the urn - thus she is receiving the brunt of his anger.[/spoiler]

[jp1885]

If his precarious position makes it possible, Lepus will make ready with another explosive globe.

"Hoho!" He yells, wishing to surprise the creature. "What be thee digging for, eh?"

[Mr. Handy]

"That's Lepus on top of the wall," says Henry. "He's a friend. He may look strange, but don't we all? Ah, but there's someone on the other side of the wall. It must be the other one like you. I must go help my friend, but you may remain here for now if you wish." He quietly approaches the wall, looking for any gate or opening in it.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Vicki,William uncouthly takes her arm, meaning to drag her back the way they came - "[color=#800000]We still require your aid in disposing of your beast,[/color]" he says. (Should she refuse or resist, he will attempt to bind her hands). In his mind: [spoiler]Her creation has cost him his chance to use the spirit in the urn - thus she is receiving the brunt of his anger.[/spoiler]

William,Miss Ravenscroft resists your efforts to hold her fast. Battle of STR, hers = 9, yours = 12 + 1 for Profession of Soldier = 13. In that order[dice]0[/dice] Try as she might to escape capture, Miss Ravenscroft is unable to prevent herself from being taken captive. She continues to fight as she is dragged away, as if she were a wild animal. The words that come from her mouth are those more suited to the ale-house than the salon, but this invective serves only to expose the frenzied nature of her current state of mind, which is now excessively choleric. Because both of you had success, you are able to drag her along, but your speed is cut in half as she continually fights you off.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

If his precarious position makes it possible, Lepus will make ready with another explosive globe.

"Hoho!" He yells, wishing to surprise the creature. "What be thee digging for, eh?"

Lepus,DEX = 15[dice]0[/dice] The effort of attempting to reach for an explosive globe proves to be a difficult maneuver; so much so, in fact, that you go tumbling over the other side of the wall, landing close to the creature. Take one hit of damage for the fall, and the creature takes initiative as you recover. The creature seizes you in his mighty arms as if you were no more than a poppet of rags. "Cursed be your name! Be it not enough that you have stolen the servant spirit from me? Must you also torment me in my hour of despair?" He drops you to the ground, not gently. With a giant hand he indicates the pit he has dug, which leads to the shed on the other side of the wall. "Behold how I spare you your life! Yet a price I demand for it. Bring the spirit to this place, that I may obtain my desire, or else all in the house of Altumber shall die!" With that, he runs off, at a pace faster than his great size would make credible.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

"That's Lepus on top of the wall," says Henry. "He's a friend. He may look strange, but don't we all? Ah, but there's someone on the other side of the wall. It must be the other one like you. I must go help my friend, but you may remain here for now if you wish." He quietly approaches the wall, looking for any gate or opening in it.

Doctor North,There are no entrances on this side of the wall, those being located solely to the west and south of the estate. The female creature displays distress at the prospect of being left behind, choosing instead to follow you. Whilst approaching the place where Lepus clings to the top of the wall, you observe him lose his balance and vanish, fallen to the other side. The voice of the male creature comes from beyond the barrier, but his words are indistinguishable from this side. After a moment you do not hear it again.

[SunlessNick]

William,Because both of you had success, you are able to drag her along, but your speed is cut in half as she continually fights you off.

Vicki,William goes in search of the others. As they walk, he demands of Miss Ravenscoft, "[color=#800000]You brought that monstrosity into being, you must know some means to reverse the process. It has cost me much, and you [i]will[/i] aid us.[/color]"

[jp1885]

Dusting himself off, Lepus mutters curses against the giant.

“Psht! Yon monster can go to Hades afore I give him back the urn!”

Scrabbling you’re his feet, he inspects the hole the creature had been digging. If it yields nothing, he will climb back over the wall (calling on his unseen servant of required, to inspect the shed.

[Mr. Handy]

"We need to get over this wall," says Henry to the female creature. "I can give you a boost up so you can get on top of it, then you can lift me up so I can join you. I'm not strong enough to lift you, but you're strong enough to lift me. Then we can drop down on the other side."

OOC,If [b]Ivan[/b] is with us, he can help us both up to the top of the wall.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Dusting himself off, Lepus mutters curses against the giant.

“Psht! Yon monster can go to Hades afore I give him back the urn!”

Scrabbling to his feet, he inspects the hole the creature had been digging. If it yields nothing, he will climb back over the wall (calling on his unseen servant if required, to inspect the shed.)

The hole proves to have been an attempt to dig under the wall, given the angle at which it descends into the Earth. The task was not yet complete when it was interrupted by the arrival of an unexpected guest.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Vicki,William goes in search of the others. As they walk, he demands of Miss Ravenscoft, "[color=#800000]You brought that monstrosity into being, you must know some means to reverse the process. It has cost me much, and you [i]will[/i] aid us.[/color]"

William,With a tone more fitting for a haughty queen than one being dragged against her will, Miss Ravenscroft replies, "And what profit will it yield me if I agree to your demand? You have interrupted a most valuable and dangerous experiment. I cannot be held responsible for the consequences." By the time you make your way to the wall, the others have managed to reach the other side, where their voices may be heard in conversation audible, if not understandable.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

"We need to get over this wall," says Henry to the female creature. "I can give you a boost up so you can get on top of it, then you can lift me up so I can join you. I'm not strong enough to lift you, but you're strong enough to lift me. Then we can drop down on the other side."

OOC,If [b]Ivan[/b] is with us, he can help us both up to the top of the wall.

Spoiler:

Sure, he can be present. Given two strong characters,we'll presume the attempt to reach the other side of the wall is successful.

A most unusual trio of persons make their way across the wall safely, to find Lepus staring intently into a hole running, as if made by some hare of prodigious size, down into the ground. The fellow has a tale to share with the new arrivals.

[jp1885]

Lepus scrambled out of the hole, grinning at Henry but keeping a wary eye on his female companion.

OOC:   Does he recognise the third person?

“I caught the monster digging this hole. Methinks the beast meant to tunnel under yon wall to the shed on ‘tother side. He ran off, threatening to destroy the Altumbers unless we gave him back the urn. Thou rest assured I shall not do such a thing, for ‘tis cunningly hidden from temptation.”

[SunlessNick]

"Is that you, Lepus?" calls WIlliam in response to the Gypsy's distinctive voice. "It is I and Miss Ravenscroft."

Vicki,Before reaching the wall, William will say to her "[color=#800000]It will profit you because your creature has killed, and if he is not held to account you may be certain that you will.[/color]"

[Mr. Handy]

"That was the male creature, no doubt," says Henry. "He must have followed you to try to get the urn back. I have a safer place to put it, if we can get it back to my castle. There is a secret chamber with a tireless guardian where it can remain undisturbed until the end of time." He calls out to William. "Yes, Lepus is here with me!"

[SunlessNick]

"I have brought Miss Ravenscroft with me," says William. "As the originator of the method by which the man-creature was given life, she will help find a way to reverse it."