Chapter the Eighth: Across the Channel

Romantic Horror, London, circa 1800

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Re: Chapter the Eighth: Across the Channel

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Image

Henry tries once again to carefully take the bell from Elizabeth and ring it himself.
Spoiler:
DEX = 14 (with the same bonuses as before.)[dice]0[/dice]
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Re: Chapter the Eighth: Across the Channel

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Image

Elizabeth sleeps on unawares.
Spoiler:
How long will the faint last?
We do not see things as they are, we see things as we are.
- Anais Nin
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Re: Chapter the Eighth: Across the Channel

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Wruter wrote:Image

Reeling from the Wraith's touch, Lila notices Mister Witherly struggling to find the mirror and dives aside to grasp for the fallen object herself.
Spoiler:
DEX = 18; with the Danger and True Innocent bonuses, this is an automatic success. However, if I roll a 20, the mirror will shatter.[dice]0[/dice]
Miss Davenport has successfully retrieved the enchanted mirror and will soon be able to attempt to make use of it.

At the same moment, Doctor North is able to retrieve the bell and will soon be able to ring it.
Spoiler:
I put your die roll in your post. It worked, anyway.

Miss Carrow will be insensate for two more actions of the adventurers.
The creature lashes out at random, its hatred of humanity being utterly without reason.
Spoiler:
1 = Doctor North
2 = Ivan
3 = Miss Carrow
4 = Ines
5 = Miss Davenport
6 = Mister Witherly
[dice]1[/dice]
It is perhaps a dark blessing of sorts that Miss Carrow is unaware of the Wraith advancing upon her insensate form, passing through her defenders as if they were merely shadows.
Spoiler:
The Wraith has the Ghostly Characteristic of being able to pass through material objects at will. The dagger only acts upon it because it is of pure iron.
Spoiler:
DEX = 16[dice]2[/dice]
Perhaps because she is watched over by a guardian angel, the Wraith's attack has no effect. The adventurers are free to take action.
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Re: Chapter the Eighth: Across the Channel

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Image
OOC:   Another go for Ines:

Constitution = 9, -3 Nauseous
SunlessNick rolled 1D20: 4  
Ines finally rouses herself, perhaps lent strength by the danger posed to the insensate Miss Carrow, and says in a voice quite unlike her usual lyrical tone, "May you be trapped eternally!"
OOC:   That is of course her attempt at a Gypsy Curse on the wraith, the mechanical intent being to penalise any attempt to resist being trapped in the mirror (or give a bonus to trapping it if the roll is that way round).  
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Re: Chapter the Eighth: Across the Channel

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Spoiler:
Wraith's WIS = 14[dice]0[/dice]
As if they possess some mysterious power, the Gypsy's grim words seem to freeze the spectral being in place, rendering it helpless.
Spoiler:
The Curse succeeds. The Wraith will be unable to resist the actions of the players.
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Re: Chapter the Eighth: Across the Channel

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Image

Seeing the Wraith suspended thus, Lila approaches with the mirror. She is uncertain of the object's function but raises the glass up to capture the Spirit's frozen image.
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Re: Chapter the Eighth: Across the Channel

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Like water swirling down a drain, the Wraith spins into a blur and is encased within the mirror's silvery surface. For a moment it seems as if silent thunderstorms rage within the looking glass, then all is calm, and only the moonlight is reflected. A nightingale's song pierces the darkness, where once no living creature dared raise its voice.
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Re: Chapter the Eighth: Across the Channel

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Image

With the Wraith trapped, Henry returns his attention to Elizabeth, holding her in his arms and speaking softly to her. He takes out a bottle of smelling salts from his medical bag to revive her.
OOC,That roll for me actually failed. My CON is 14, but my DEX is only 10.
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Re: Chapter the Eighth: Across the Channel

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Spoiler:
Thanks for catching that.
Miss Carrow is revived by the smelling salts, unharmed if not fully aware of all that has transpired. Of greater urgency at the moment is the condition of Ines, who clings to life by the thinnest of threads. With the aid of the others, she is able to be carried back to the Coopers Arms and made to rest.

It is a matter of some concern as to what should be done with the mirror, now that it holds in durance a spirit of uncommon malice.
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Re: Chapter the Eighth: Across the Channel

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Image

"It is a shame we parted ways with Mr. Rachman," says Henry. "He might have known how to render the mirror safe."
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Re: Chapter the Eighth: Across the Channel

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"Doctor North, is there nothing you can do for Ines?" Lila asks. She herself feels drained by the encounter.
Spoiler:
I hope there might be something I can do to regain the lost Experience.
It occurs to Lila that their earlier investigations would have been better focused on the identity of the Wraith rather than the victim. She inquires of the innkeeper as to the local history of the so-called grave at the standing stones.
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Re: Chapter the Eighth: Across the Channel

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From her bed, to which she has been banished for rest, Elizabeth attempts to rercall the events of the evening, but alas her memory is a fog. Perhaps a blessing given the nature of her final moments before merciful darkness had claimed her.
We do not see things as they are, we see things as we are.
- Anais Nin
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Re: Chapter the Eighth: Across the Channel

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With the battle seemingly over, Ines abandons the struggle to remain conscious. She remains inert while being carried back to the inn, and sleeps fitfully once in her room.
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Re: Chapter the Eighth: Across the Channel

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With the assistance of Miss Carrow, who proves an inspiring nurse, Doctor North provides such medical care to the stricken Ines as is possible.
Spoiler:
INT = 12 + 3 Profession + 1 TI = 16[dice]0[/dice]
Although there is little that mortal hands can do against the harm caused by unnatural malice, the use of anodynes to relieve her suffering is of great help. It seems that Ines will be fully capable on the morrow, given plenty of rest and simple, nourishing victuals.

Whilst their companions are engaged in this errand of mercy, Miss Davenport and Mister Witherly make inquiry of what might be known about the standing stones. In order to avoid unnecessary distraction caused by the close company of one who is bound to another by the laws of God and Man, but without revealing her sentiments, Miss Davenport is able to persuade Mister Witherly that it would be most efficient to conduct their interviews separately.

Miss Davenport questions the innkeeper.
Spoiler:
CHA = 6; Beautiful and Bad Reputation cancel each other out.[dice]1[/dice]
The keeper of the Coopers Arms indicates that such curiosity on the part of a stranger is unseemly, and offers no information.

Mister Witherly questions the keeper of the Six Poor Travellers House.
Spoiler:
CHA = 9[dice]2[/dice]
He is able to convince this charitable individual that he is a amiable person, and is willing to supply what information he can.
Spoiler:
INT = 9[dice]3[/dice]
Unfortunately, he knows very little about the legends surrounding the standing stones, other than that they are very old, and best left undisturbed.
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Re: Chapter the Eighth: Across the Channel

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Lila suggests, somewhat testily, that perhaps if the radiant Miss Carrow were to question the innkeeper of the Coopers Arms their curiosity would not be quite so unseemly.
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Re: Chapter the Eighth: Across the Channel

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Conscious of the fact that by dint of her fainting fit she had proved little aid in the struggle at the stones, Elizabeth is only to happy to try her feminine wiles in questioning the reluctant innkeeper. She smiles a most beautific smile at the gruff looking fellow, "Sir, what legends apertain to the stones?"
Charisma,[url=http://orokos.com/roll/514060]Charisma 11[/url]: [u]1d20[/u] [b]12[/b]
Alas it seems tht even she is unable to soften the innkeepers mood.
We do not see things as they are, we see things as we are.
- Anais Nin
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Re: Chapter the Eighth: Across the Channel

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Their quest for further information having been frustrated at all turns, the adventurers spend another night peacefully.

In the morning the three students of Divinity -- Peter, Stephen, and Bartholomew by name -- are ready to accompany the party with signs of great appreciation for the generosity shown to them. The ride is a pleasant one, not very long, and the journey is completed well before dusk.

Upon arrival the three young men display a slight degree of apprehension at the prospect of meeting His Grace, the Most Reverend John Moore. He is known to be an amiable man and a competent administrator, noted for his promotion of Sunday schools and missionary enterprises. Whether such an eminent personage would welcome the inquiries of the students remains to be seen.

"Perhaps if one of you were to attempt an introduction?" Peter dares to suggest.

"Indeed," Stephen adds, "our appearance is hardly likely to win us an audience."

"Dust covered with dust, all is dust," remarks Bartholomew, somewhat cryptically.

The imposing edifice of Canterbury Cathedral looms ahead.
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Re: Chapter the Eighth: Across the Channel

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Image
OOC:   Does "fully capable" mean that Ines's hit points have increased to 2, or are they still at 1?  
Regardless, Ines will be subdued throughout the journey to Canterbury, making little effort to be part of any conversation, or even stir from the coach during breaks in travel. (Inwardly, she will be thankful that the Wraith's form of attack at least leaves no physical wounds to be jarred by bumps in the road).
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Re: Chapter the Eighth: Across the Channel

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"I could attempt the introduction," offers Henry. "He may respect an educated man, or a titled one. The latter means less to me than the former. I earned the right to be called Doctor, but being an Earl is an accident of birth. Others may hold a different view, but either way I have both covered."
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Re: Chapter the Eighth: Across the Channel

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Spoiler:
Ines is back to 3 hit points this day; 1 recovered per night plus 1 from Doctor North's skills. One more added each night until back to normal.

Miss Davenport may regain the one point of experience lost by determining the identity, while in life, of the Wraith, which will require some form of research and investigation, the locals being of little aid.
A preliminary interview is granted to Doctor North, in view of his social status and education, with one of the many clerics of lower rank who serve as intermediaries for His Grace.

An intense and often bewildering discussion follows among the three students. Although it is difficult to convey the exact nature of the controversy which so concerns them, in essence it involves the position that the Church of England should take with respect to, on the one hand, the Methodism of John Wesley, and, on the other hand, the Deism of David Hume. It will require great diplomacy to approach His Grace with this complex and possibly inflammatory question.
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