Book the Second, Chapter the Third: A Plague of Vanishings

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

"Do you observe," Vincent remarks to the others in private, "that the behavior of Monsieur Harold with his stick is similar to the children with the doll, non?" When opportunity presents he will attempt an incantation to Detect Evil in the stick.

The Frenchman's spell yields an ambiguous sense of malevolence associated with the walking stick, suggesting that it is not evil in and of itself, but has been used for some dark purpose in times past.

[jp1885]

Lepus stares in amazement at the drawings, comparing the whirling patterns with his own dirty fingerprints.

"There be only a few servants who prepare the libation and yon butler who carries it to the young master. Our course then be to note the patterns of thier fingers, yesno?"

"Old Lepus worries about the young master's stick and as such is whittling his own. Mayhap the lad can be convinced of it's superior power and be induced to agree to an exchange?"

[SunlessNick]

"A remarkable process, your Lordship," says William. "Three different persons suggests the servant who prepared it, Jasper, and Harold himself. But could a fourth person have added the laudanum without touching the glass?"

[Mr. Handy]

"Thank you," says Henry. "It is possible, though the glass may have been touched by the miscreant anyway, to hold it steady. Nobody would take the precaution of not handling the glass to avoid leaving these patterns upon it, as this is a new science unheard of by almost everyone. What I would like to do is obtain a sample of Miss Ravenscroft's patterns, which should be a simple matter as she has handled various glass implements in the laboratory. Though her personality may change, her fingers do not. Once I have that, I should be able to compare it to these marks on the brandy glass to see if they match and if my suspicions are correct."

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Such notions being aired among the party, it is a simple matter of time and patience to obtain objects bearing the finger patterns of those in question. Within a matter of a few days, it has been well established that the largest marks belong to the butler Jasper, a tall and long-limbed fellow; those of middling size to Harold himself; and the smallest belonging to a person unknown, as they definitely do not match those of Miss Ravenscroft, whose fingers, by the by, are somewhat larger than those of the average female. It may also be determined, through continued observation, that the servants who fetch the nightly brandy -- or, for that matter, any wines and spirits desired by the family -- do not come into direct contact with the vessels in which they are served, that being a duty reserved to the highly skilled and trustworthy Jasper, or, in some cases, to whosoever imbibes the beverage.

As interesting as these matters may be to the adventurers, they pale into insignificance as far as the family is concerned, in comparison with the fact that a brace of Lord Highdark's hunting dogs have gone missing at some time in the middle of the night. Excited reports from the kennel master and his apprentices -- mere lads -- indicate that, unlike other persons and animals who have disappeared from the premises in recent times, they were taken away by violent force, evidence for this being abundant in the form of much damage to the kennel, loud howlings from the dogs which alarmed the kennel master and boys -- too late, alas, to discover what the hue and cry was about -- and much blood upon the straw which the beasts used as beds. The other dogs are in an excited state and require much care to be calmed; oh, if they could only speak and bear witness!

[jp1885]

Regarding this new science of 'printing fingers', as it were, the evidence has Lepus perplexed.

"So, small fingers, coupled with the writings in a female hand? Dare I say either the lady of the house or her daughter has a different personality? We know the twins labour under a malign influence also. Mayhap we should obtain the finger-patterns of these females, yesno?"

He is also alarmed at the fate of the poor dogs.

"Gah! old Lepus has heard tell of a magick said to allow one to speak to beasts, but I know it not! Yon hounds would have fought back against such violent abduction. Let us be on the look-out for anyone bearing marks of injury. "

He will keep a close eye on everyone in an attempt to spot bite or scratch marks, suspicious bandages and the like. He will also search around the kennels, looking for scuff marks, blood trails and drops of blood, in the hope that they will lead to where the animals have been taken.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Similar stratagems as have been practiced heretofore allow the adventurers to obtain the finger markings of Lady Highdark and all three of her daughters. None of these match the unidentified marks found upon the glass. No doubt a sense of frustration will be created by this discovery, but at least these persons are eliminated as suspects in the crime.

Similarly, no unusual marks of violence are seen upon any member of the household. (Of course, servants are bound to suffer some manner of small injury from time to time, given the nature of their duties, but these are all quite minor and easily explained. As far as their masters and mistresses go, no such evidence is apparent.)

Spoiler:

wis = 18[dice]0[/dice]

Investigation of the kennels by one well-versed in the ways of beasts yields certain suggestive discoveries. To wit, long strands of fur, varying in color from white to black to yellow, not matching that of the dogs, as well as a strong, unpleasant scent in certain places, reminiscent of spirit of hartshorn.

[jp1885]

Lepus sniffs the strange substance, wrinkling his nose at the acrid smell and trying to remember if it's something he's encountered before. He also inspects the hairs to see if he can recognise what manner of creature they came from.

A Wisdom roll? (18),[dice]0[/dice]

[SunlessNick]

What colour is the missing cat?

[Mr. Handy]

Henry collects samples of the fur for analysis. "We may have found traces of the missing cat," he says, "It may have been enlarged after all, and it would have motive for this attack. Were I a cat that suddenly found itself greatly increased in size, I too might have sought revenge on dogkind."

OOC,Actually, even identical twins have different fingerprints.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Lepus sniffs the strange substance, wrinkling his nose at the acrid smell and trying to remember if it's something he's encountered before. He also inspects the hairs to see if he can recognise what manner of creature they came from.

A Wisdom roll? (18),[dice]224076:0[/dice]

Spoiler:

Close enough, given the inherent familiarity with animals of the Gypsy class.

The scent is similar to that which members of the feline tribe produce when marking their territory, but much stronger than normal. The fur also resembles that of cats, but is much longer and thicker than one would expect.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

What colour is the missing cat?

It will be remembered that Artemis is of that mixed color known as calico to ailurophiles.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Henry collects samples of the fur for analysis. "We may have found traces of the missing cat," he says, "It may have been enlarged after all, and it would have motive for this attack. Were I a cat that suddenly found itself greatly increased in size, I too might have sought revenge on dogkind."

OOC,Actually, even identical twins have different fingerprints.

Spoiler:

Interesting. Edited to take out the reference.

[jp1885]

"Aye, you be right; 'tis a cat," Lepus frowns. "Though a cat the size of a lion, yesno? Let us assume 'tis the young lady's beast - how to catch it without causing injury... Mayhap we could brew something akin to the scent of a tomcat? Lure the creature out and administer a sleeping draught?"

[Mr. Handy]

"Catnip should do the trick," says Henry. "Cats are mad for it. It should be no problem for me to prepare a sleeping draught, I'll just have to increase the dosage accordingly to account for the increased size."

[SunlessNick]

William concurs with this plan as the best means to take cat alive. After a moment's thought he adds, "Miss Ravenscroft was of the opinion that the missing elixirs might yields three of four of each kind of transformation. We have now accounted for three instances of growth, and two of shrinking. It seems likely to me that the remaining doses of the latter would be reserved as a weapon against those the culprit considers a threat to them, but we may yet face one more enlarged creature."

[Rooter]

"Mon dieu!" Vincent exclaims. "I will inquire of Mademoiselle Georgina what le chat's favorite treat may be, non?"

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Doctor North will, of course, explain to his companions, who may not be as versed in natural philosophy as himself, that he is referring to the mint-like herbal plant originally designated as Nepeta floribus interrupte spicatis pedunculatis by the great naturalist Carl Linnaeus, later renamed Nepeta cataria, no doubt to the relief of many a copyist, by that learned gentleman in his classic tome Species Plantarum.

The question remains as to where one should hunt for this curious product of the Earth's bounty. True, it is not uncommon throughout Europe and Asia, but there are so many types of flora that it is not a simple thing to locate any one of them. Perhaps a glance at the map of the environs of Highdark Hall may provide some inspiration.

https://engineoforacles.files.wordpress ... dings1.jpg

Meanwhile, in conversation with Georgina, Vincent elicits some further information.

"The dear little thing so loved to take kippers and sardines and small eels from my fingers, although Papa did not like me to soil my hands in such a way." The memory produces a weak smile, followed by weeping.

It is one of Nature's peculiar jokes that cats, so averse to water, should relish the taste of the creatures that dwell therein.

[jp1885]

Gurning alarmingly, Lepus ponders what's been said, cross-referencing it with the map of the estate he's created in his head from his wandering thereabouts.

"Mayhap some eels could be fished from yon Misty Tarn? We have the runes from the cave to drive the spirits of the island away should the matter arise, hm?"

"If not, mayhap these herbs could be procured from the kitchen garden, or p'rhaps it groweth in Tamsin's Close, yesno?"

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

There is no great difficulty in obtaining a number of elvers from the Misty Tarn, given some direction by a kitchen servant of Spanish ancestry, that nation famed for preparing the young eels as a delicacy.
Undertaking this task during daylight hours seems to keep away any malign entities that may be about their dark business. It is possible to keep the elvers alive for a short time simply by placing them in a container of water.

Catnip not being much used in cookery, although it is true that some eccentrics prepare a tea from it, claiming salubrious effects from the brew, there is none to be found in the kitchen gardens.

The party agreeing to explore Tamsin's Close, for want of a better scheme, they discover it to be a stone and iron structure, evidently of great age, consisting of a wall about the height of a tall man, enclosing two circular structures of gray brick, something like a pair of small towers. Between the two lies a small pool of water, as may be viewed from the single heavy iron gate on the eastern side of the structure. The water is thick with algae, and the whole area abounds with lush vegetation, apparently being little visited and never cared for by any groundskeeper. The gate is not locked, but is nearly rusted shut with age; if opened, it emits a loud shrieking noise as its hinges, obviously unmoved for some time, reluctantly perform their duty. The towers have no apparent openings, as if they were built merely as follies.