Book the Second, Chapter the Tenth: An Introduction to Soci

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Lepus again staggers under the blow, bidding his unseen servant to grab the skeleton’s legs (in the manner of, some decades hence, one might describe as a rugby tackle).

He glared at the retreating back of the ultimate cause of his injuries and mutters a dark curse.

OOC,If possible, Lepus will curse the hermit with the ‘fame’ spell.

Spoiler:

servant's dex = 9[dice]0[/dice]

A loud thump is heard as the invisible servant, seemingly unused to the rougher forms of outdoor sport, lands upon the ground, without grasping the skeleton. A few muttered curses emerge from the empty air.

Spoiler:

Sure, we'll count the Fame spell as your gypsy curse. The target has a chance to avoid it, based on wis = 9[dice]1[/dice]He avoids it, so we'll say you still have the chance to apply another curse at some time in the future.

The malediction wished upon the fleeing figure does not seem to have any effect upon his fevered flight. By this time, the family and guests have gathered near the door of the manor home, much alarmed at the to-do occurring outside.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Eliza continues attacking the skeletons.

Spoiler:

dex 16[dice]0[/dice]damage[dice]1[/dice]

Eliza manages to pull off one of the skeleton's arms and hurl it high into the air. This would be a most debilitating wound for an ordinary mortal, but such handicap does not seem to effect the monster's ability to wield a sword, although it drops the shield to the ground.

Spoiler:

I'll remove its armor advantage, although I don't think it will be around much longer anyway.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

"I dub thee Napoleon Bones-apart," says Henry as he smashes the skeleton. Then he tries to outflank the skeleton fighting Eliza to likewise dispatch it - or at least distract it.

OOC,You're welcome. That was a much better outcome!

Spoiler:

dex back to 9 for you and ivan[dice]0[/dice]damage [dice]1[/dice]

Working together, man and master rip apart what remains of the one-armed creature until it is no more than a pile of broken bones. (Perhaps it was grim amusement on the part of both at Doctor North's witty quip that inspired them to attack with such effectiveness.)

The figure of the hermit is lost beyond the hills and trees of the estate. The bronze swords and shields remain on the ground, like some memento of the Trojan War.

[SunlessNick]

Eliza stands where she is, quivering as she slowly winds own her fury. "Thankyou for defending me Father, Lepus, Ivan," she says, rather incongruously when compared to her behaviour of moments before. "I fear my dress may be diasarranged."

[jp1885]

"Ah, 'twas an honour," Lepus grins, all traces of animosity towards the revenant girl forgotten. "'tis a shame my curse didn't land, else the hermit wouldn't be as such for much longer!"

He bends down to help up his servant (odd that no one else has done so; it is almost as if the fellow is invisible!)

"I am sorry for asking too much of thee Britches. Mayhap we will deal with the rogue once and for all, then you can rest for a while."

To the assembled company he bows, waving a hand towards the discarded weaponry.

"Echoes of antiquity for thy collections. Old Lepus has no need for such things, but has an eye for these seeds..."

He scours the ground for any of Longbones' seeds that have not germinated.

[Mr. Handy]

"You are quite welcome, my dear," says Henry with a bow. He uses his Regenerator to treat Lepus's wounds. While he knows it is running low on galvanic fluid, he thinks there is still at least one use left in it before it needs to be refilled.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

There do not appear to be any more of the small objects that the hermit placed into the ground, and from which these unnatural warriors emerged. This seems reasonable, as it would be most unwise not to keep a careful eye upon such things, lest they be wasted.

It may be observed that the skeletons, as all bones must, eventually crumble into dust; however, this occurs at an extraordinarily rapid rate, as if centuries pass by with every heartbeat. In like manner, the swords and shields break apart into countless tiny fragments. Sic transit gloria mundi.

Once the guests have had time to recover, in body and wits, from this encounter, conversation turns to the instigator of the invasion.

"We shall have to launch an attack against this so-called hermit, before more disaster follows," Lord Highdark declares. "Gentlemen," he continues, notably disregarding Eliza, "we must have a strategy, lest his sorcery be our undoing. What say you?"

[SunlessNick]

"He used me most grievously," Eliza says, apparently oblivious to Lord Highdark's disregard, "and has twice now sought revenge for my rescue as if he were the wronged party. He will not desist now."

[jp1885]

"Aye; he will not desist 'til he has you under his thrall." Lepus says. "Even if the menfolk of the estate be gathered to march 'pon his hut and force him to leave, he would soon come back. My vexing, had it struck, would have changed his character to a less vengeful one, but such a thing cannot be uttered often."

"Mayhap he could be persuaded to abandon his folly?," he continues. "By flattery or coercion? Let us look into the character of the man, yesno? Ask of the locals about his desires and wants; look to old legends about his forebears. See how they obtained such devices and knowledge to call forth the Furies and bring back yon Spartans."

[Mr. Handy]

"An excellent suggestion," says Henry. He then quotes Donne. "No man is an island. Those who live nearby must know of him, and the more information we can find, the better equipped we shall be. If we can find out how he came by his powers, we may be able to determine how to neutralise them."

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Much inquiry is made in the village of Lowhaven as to the nature of the hermit. From almost all who are questioned comes only the information that he has lived alone on the moors for as long as anyone can recall, his lonely existence only vouchsafed by the witness of shepherds and goatherds who happened to venture that way. At last, the adventurers meet an ancient beldam, thought by her neighbors to be nearly a century old, who claims to know more.

"Aye, 'twas many and many a year ago. I was a mere child then, when Old Longbones first came to these parts. He was old even then, as I am now. Spake a heathen tongue, nowt a bit o' sense to it. Weren't much later that he learned to talk like ordinary folks, tho. Earned his bread a-tellin' stories. Oh, most wondrous stories they was, wars and sea voyages and monsters and such. Then off he went, without a 'good day' to any, and been's there ever since. Said his name, it seems, fore we all knew him as Old Longbones. What was now. Not Timothy, no, though like to that, it seems."

[jp1885]

“Tithonus, mayhap?” asks Lepus, searching the dusty corners of his memory for any stories of human immortals from Greek legend.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

"Oh, aye, was some such heathenish name as that. Knew you him, then?"

[jp1885]

“Only in tales old Lepus heard long ago,” says the wanderer. “‘tis said he was sweet in the goddess Eos. ‘twas granted immortality so they could be together, but did not think to grant everlasting youth. So yon fellow lives forever, always ageing.”

Lepus laughs.

“No wonder he be so ill-tempered!”

[SunlessNick]

Eliza's inclination is simply to kill the hermit, so that he can be no threat to anyone - but, apparent as it is that such a plan does not seem to be the preference of those two who are her touchstones for humanity, she refrains from giving voice to it.

[Mr. Handy]

"What else do you know of him?" asks Henry. "We cannot restore his youth, but there may be a way to remove the curse of immortality, thus rendering him mortal."

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Within the many books relating to Hellenic mythology within Lord Highdark's eccentric and haphazard library, there are some which suggest that the Tithonus of legend was transformed into a locust, or some such insect; which does not appear to have happened to the hermit, unless this metamorphosis were somehow reversed. In either case, it remains to be determined in what manner to approach said miscreant; or, indeed, if he still occupies the same modest hut as before, or has taken himself to some other place, in preparation for defense.

[jp1885]

"Mayhap we can summon the goddess Eos from her slumber," Lepus suggests in all seriousness when the party reconvenes (perhaps the hedge wizard knows something about the summoning of the gods of antiquity?)

"'twould also be wise to scout the hermit's abode. If he still dwells within then our battleground is known. If not, then we might find something of use discarded therein."

[SunlessNick]

"How would this goddess aid us?" asks Eliza, uncertain of Lepus's intent. "I agree," she says of the hut, "and if is not there, we can deny him its refuge for later."

[jp1885]

Lepus shrugs. “She could take her lover back to Olympus or relieve him of the burden of immortality, yesno?”