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

[jp1885]

Lepus follows suit, while looking around for any large stones. If the sight of the statue fails to placate the man, maybe he could be fooled into swallowing rocks? Surely that would sate his hunger?

[Mr. Handy]

Henry also gestures for the man to follow them down the stairs. "Aku," he says, pointing at the statue and heading down toward it.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

The fellow only displays a countenance of utter disdain when confronted with these gestures, and rejects the offer of stones with a snarl. He becomes angry, growling and striking his chest with his fists, crying "Aku!" as he does so. Remarkably, he appears to have grown visibly thinner, despite his recent intake of sustenance.

[Mr. Handy]

"He must be under some sort of curse," concludes Henry. "Could you reverse it?" he asks Lepus.

[jp1885]

"'tis worth a try, aye..."

Twisting strange shapes with his hands, Lepus mutters strange words...

[SunlessNick]

Eliza tries to gauge the man's strength,fearing his hunger may compel him to attack.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

"'tis worth a try, aye..."

Twisting strange shapes with his hands, Lepus mutters strange words...

Spoiler:

Well, let's have this do something . . .

Although there is no evident change in the fellow's disposition, the arcane mutterings of the hedge wizard do seem to have some effect upon his perceived nature. As if by some conjuror's trick performed with mist and mirrors, the man appears, at times, to be slightly translucent, in a way suggesting only partial substantiveness.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Eliza tries to gauge the man's strength, fearing his hunger may compel him to attack.

Spoiler:

int = 90

Through sharp observation of the fellow's limbs, and careful consideration of the warp and weave of muscle, bone, and sinew, Eliza is able to deduce that the man, despite a cadaverous thinness, is one of considerable might.

[jp1885]

Lepus frowns.

"I know not whether I have wrought a change or not..."

He waves at the fellow.

"Art thou still hungry?"

[Mr. Handy]

"Could he be some sort of ghost?" asks Henry. "I can see through him sometimes."

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Lepus frowns.

"I know not whether I have wrought a change or not..."

He waves at the fellow.

"Art thou still hungry?"

If the fellow's constant gesturing with empty hands can be taken as a demand for sustenance, as seems probable, the response to this inquiry appears to be in the positive.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

"Could he be some sort of ghost?" asks Henry. "I can see through him sometimes."

It may possibly be the case that the being has, in some manner or other, encountered some few words of the English tongue. As evidence, upon hearing Doctor North speak the word ghost, he grins widely, revealing many strong, sharp teeth, and beats his fists against his chest, crying out yet again the single word aku. He then snarls in a threatening manner.

Spoiler:

0target: North, Lepus, Eliza1damage2

Being nearest the inquisitive hedge wizard, the fellow -- or should one say creature? -- suddenly lashes out with both hands, ripping a piece of flesh -- fortunately, not of so great a mass as that demanded by Shylock -- from Lepus' arm, shoves it into his mouth, and swallows it in the manner of a beast. The injury is a painful and bloody one, if not yet threatening to life.

[jp1885]

Lepus yowls as he is attacked by the fiend.

Leaping back, he raises his hands defensively.

“I remove a curse, now I make one. If a ghost you be, then thou art banished!”

Being hurt by the creature enables Lepus to curse it with a banish spirit spell.

[Mr. Handy]

Henry stands ready with his cane and Ivan with his sword to strike in the event that the creature looks like it will attack again.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Spoiler:

The being has a chance to make a saving throw to avoid banishment, and has WIS = 14 (similar to a Wraith)0

The creature seems annoyed by the magical incantations of Lepus, but, with evident strain on its countenance, manages to avoid being dispelled, although it appears to shimmer in and out of existence for a moment.

Spoiler:

I'm giving it a normal DEX of 9 instead of the Wraith's usual 16 (!) because it isn't quite a Wraith, but something else.1 Choice of victim, as before2damage3

Turning its attention to Doctor North, the creature again slashes out with sharp claws, inflicting painful injury and devouring such flesh as it obtains in this crude manner.

Spoiler:

And to explain something I neglected, just for fun . . .

It is a curious fact, if one has a moment to consider it, that the being takes no notice whatsoever of Ivan, whose vast form could hardly be missed by anyone of even minimal eyesight. Might this have something to do with the fact that the Russian homeland is famed for its icy climate, and the creature evidently hails from a much warmer one?

[jp1885]

Frustrated, Lepus quickly grabs a piece of rag from his pockets and, using blood from his wound, draws the symbol he discovered in the caves under the Highdark estate.

If he succeeds, he will hold it up to the fiend (half-hoping that it’ll eat the bloodied cloth and thus carry the tune inside it).

[Mr. Handy]

Henry and Ivan will strike at the creature if Lepus's plan does not succeed. "Perhaps it cannot stand the cold," he muses aloud.

[SunlessNick]

Using all her strength, Eliza slams her fist into the creature's jaw.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Using all her strength, Eliza slams her fist into the creature's jaw.

Spoiler:

Let's have this happen first. DEX = 180damage1

This bold attack causes the lower half of the being's face to fall off completely, and yet seems to have only caused it a moderate amount of harm, as it continues its ravenous approach.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Frustrated, Lepus quickly grabs a piece of rag from his pockets and, using blood from his wound, draws the symbol he discovered in the caves under the Highdark estate.

If he succeeds, he will hold it up to the fiend (half-hoping that it’ll eat the bloodied cloth and thus carry the tune inside it).

Spoiler:

Let's see if it's smart enough to recognize it. INT 90

Apparently eager to devour anything that is even remotely edible, both cloth and blood being ultimately derived from living organisms, the creature swallows it. Freezing suddenly in place, its eyes roll back in its head until only yellowish sclera are visible. It then collapses, breaks apart into uncounted bits and pieces of bone and sinew, and ultimately vanishes completely.