Book the Second, Chapter the Ninth: An Orphan Misplaced

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Old Longbones snorts. "Boast and brag, brag and boast. I'll wager my finest she-goat you'll no more make it float than get with child a mandrake root!"

So saying, he places the disc upon the table and crosses his arms in defiance

"No fingers upon! I'll stand no thieves!"

[jp1885]

“I’ll not take it, for ‘tis my beautiful countenance that persuades folk to do my bidding,” says Lepus, eyes twinkling.

He calls the serving wench over. “Stand next to me. If I touch yon stone with my hands then thou shalt alert thy master.“

Lepus’ plan is thus: he will summon his unseen servant to lift up the stone and hold it before the girl’s eyes. He will then quickly command her to take the stone and remember how she was before she entered into the hermit’s service.

[Mr. Handy]

Henry observes the proceedings with interest.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

As dependable as ever, the Unseen Servant performs the directed action, much to the amazement of the hermit. The creature, as ordered takes the disc and stares into it.

"I remember. I remember. I was sick. I died. I am dead!"

She then collapses to the ground in a swoon. Old Longbones jumps up quickly, intending to regain the disc.

"You have killed her!"

[jp1885]

“Better dead than a mindless slave, yesno?”

Motioning for the others to carry the prone girl out, Lepus asks his unseen servant to grab and hold on to the disk until the hermit can wrest it from him. He has no wish to steal from the man, merely keep him occupied while he withdraws.

[SunlessNick]

William assists carrying the creature outside, though he remains alert from an attack by the hermit. Once outside he examines her to see whether she is dead or merely fainted.

[Mr. Handy]

Henry directs Ivan to help carry the female creature and goes outside with them. He doubts she is actually any deader than she was before, though he believes his knowledge of the reanimation process is good enough to restore her to life if needed.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Whilst Old Longbones is engaged in the struggle with the Unseen Servant, proving to possess a vocabulary of blasphemous curses of impressive variety and imagination, the others carry the insensate creature without.

Spoiler:

Let's see how long this battle goes on. Servant and Hermit both average STR of 9, in that order:[dice]0[/dice]

No doubt due to his overpowering desire to regain the disc, Old Longbones is able to regain it from the invisible servant quickly, so that the adventurers are not far from his door when he wrests it from unseen hands.

"Murderers!" he cries at them, apparently not aware that the creature is not lifeless, but merely in a state of deep unconsciousness. "You'll not escape the wrath of the Kindly Ones! Old Longbones knows a thing or three." He shuts the door, retreating inside, evidently not willing to engage in direct battle while outnumbered.

When at a safe distance from the shack, the adventurers discover that the usual methods of rousing one in such a state are of no avail. Loud noises, strikes upon the cheek, water dashed in the face, even the application of smelling salts, fail to return the creature to consciousness.

[jp1885]

“Mayhap what dies once should remain dead, yesno?” sighs Lepus, sadly. “‘tis the natural order of things.”

[SunlessNick]

"I must agree it would be the best solution for all," says William.

[Mr. Handy]

"I must disagree," says Henry. "She is my daughter, and I am responsible for her. She is merely sleeping now, though she cannot be awakened the way one of us can. I think we may need that disc to revive her."

[SunlessNick]

"You saw how the male behaved," says William. "While it is true that this one has thus far been more timid, you have true children Your Lordship. Are you certain you would trust such a creature to be near them? This way it can pose no more danger to anyone."

[jp1885]

“Aye, the gallant soldier be right. Yonder creature has suffered enough - let Death claim what she is due.”

[Mr. Handy]

"I have no intention of surrendering my own progeny to Death," says Henry, determined. "I would not trust her with my children at this point," he admits, "because she has the mind of a child but an incredibly strong body. She could hurt someone without meaning to, for she knows not her own strength. Once she is properly trained and raised, she will be able to interact with people. She is very unlike the male creature. His own actions warranted his destruction, but she has done nothing wrong as yet. Instead, she has been a victim, abandoned by her mother and enslaved by that scoundrel. I am all she has in the world. I also gave my word that she would be educated. We all did."

[jp1885]

"Thy own progeny!" snorts Lepus with derision.

"Still, we did promise... Very well! Old Lepus shall not hinder thee restore the creature's unnatural life, but neither shall he help thee."

[SunlessNick]

"We did," admits William grudgingly.

[Mr. Handy]

"Thank you," says Henry. "I can ask no more of you."

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Whilst this argument -- or discussion, if you prefer -- continues, the sound of loud flapping wings fills the air. Drawing the attention of the adventurers to a particular region of the sky, this roaring noise, like unto that of an approaching storm, leads them to discover what seem to be a trio of extraordinarily large birds approaching.

"The Kindly Ones! The Kindly Ones!" comes from inside the hut, followed by the sound of cackling laughter.

[jp1885]

“It be the Furies!” Lepus exclaims.

“The wench be not dead, merely in a swoon!” he yells, partly to the hermit and partly to the approaching creatures, before turning to the scientist.

“If thy science can rouse yon girl, now be the time!” he hisses.

[SunlessNick]

William draws his pistols, but does not yet fire, waiting to see what the birds do in response to Lepus's words.