[IC] Chapter 3: Wergynstone

[Whitehorse]

Grigori takes his life-preserver in one hand, and goes to peer over the wall...

[jp1885]

The wall is rather high Mr. Tereshchenko, so a climb roll will be required.

The scrabbling becomes more frantic, seemingly in reaction to your voices. You become aware of a rattled, throaty breathing...

[Whitehorse]

Assessing the wall carefully, Grigori thinks it can't be any worse than that of Eton which his used to shimmy over for unauthorized visits to the town...

Climb 60%,[dice]0[/dice]

[jp1885]

Alas, the wall is slippery and wet. While the crumbling brickwork might offer suitable footholds, for the most part they play host to colonies of spongy moss, which seem to frustrate any attempts to gain purchase.

Whatever is on the other side seems, however, to be aware of Mr. Tereshchenko's efforts. The ragged breathing grows heavier and more urgent, as does the increasingly frantic scratching and scrabbling.

There is, what can it be called, a mewling? Grunting? Growling? Perhaps a cattarhal cough or perhaps even a death rattle? It is difficult to tell if the noise comes from a human throat or that of an animal.

Whatever it is, it seems frightfully keen to get to you...

[Mr. Handy]

"The poor beast sounds like it's hurt," says Cynthia. "I certainly can't climb the wall in this evening dress. Surely it must come to an end or have a gate at some point."

[Zero]

Suddenly apprehensive, Henry Joseph Lewis III peered again towards the church in the distance. There was something unnerving about what was transpiring here, and the young man wanted very much to get indoors, away from whatever it was that was opposite that wall. He increased his pace and continued towards the sole lit structure in the township.

"You know, I'm already rather sick of this chill. What do you say we get inside, yeah?" he suggested.

[Whitehorse]

Grigori, somewhat annoyed that his climbing skills were not what he recalled from his childhood, concurs with the suggestion that they move on.

"Actually, given that the message we received was that the stones were being removed from a wall, and that something uncanny might be released, perhaps it would be as well to move on from whatever lies behind this barrier. Let us hurry forth and see what we shall see..."

[jp1885]

Perhaps pressing on might be the most desirable option, for whatever paws for you behind the wall redoubles it’s efforts with a savage fury.

The weird sounds apparently emanating from the fiend increase likewise; it’s mewling growls becoming louder, more savage and guttural. A bark? A shout? A scream? Surely no human or animal throat is responsible for such a hideous cacophony (maybe a Natural World roll or some such would answer this question)?

At any rate, whatever clamours behind the wall seems dreadfully keen to get at you; it’s din keeping apace as you as you make your way down the lane. And there, but a few yards ahead of you, there yawns an open aperture in the very wall that separates you from, well, whatever it is...

[Whitehorse]

Grigori wastes no more time in readying his walking-stick shotgun. He waits, 10 yards from the opening, determined not to fire on anything unless it crosses through.

What foul beast is there? He cannot think, but it shall not attack them before recieving a volley of shot.

[Mr. Handy]

Knowing that she would be useless in a fight, Cynthia keeps well back.

OOC,Natural World roll (10% base skill) about the beast: [dice]0[/dice]

[speshul]

Tom has been following along lost in though covering the other with his rifle, keeping to one side with a clear line of site and covering the wall climbing attempt. The rifle was kept mostly hidden in rolls of clothing and supplies, and in revealing Tom just calming plops it out and gives it a quick but thorough check to make sure it all works. He ignores any looks of surprise he also draws a bayonent and slips it into his belt.

Upon seeing the opening he will step to the front with his rifle raised.

"Hold here and get behind me, if that things wants through that's where it will come" He will use a commanding voice to convince the others to listen.

He ready's his rifle and will shoot if he sees any clear danger. He considers drawing his bayonet.

"Cynthia could you watch the rear please, just in case you know, they are clever buggers"

He is partially hoping to avoid the young lady seeing any blood shed, let alone anything weirder.

[jp1885]

As you pause by the open doorway, a howl of rage (or is it a shout?) tears through the sodden air. The scrabbling and growling intensifies, seemingly right next to the aperture.

OOC: Please may I have an INT roll from you? If you succeed, please read the spoiler below.

INT success,It occurs to you that the terrible noise this creature is making doesn’t seem to have woken anyone from the surrounding houses. No villagers have left their beds to investigate the din...

[speshul]

Tom looks quickly to his wards, "You hear it right the roaring beast noise?"

At their reactions he is pretty confident but after all the weird happenings he is uncertain.

"Strange no on from the pub noticed or mentioned it right"

His gun is still held ready, if 30 second pass will add his bayonent to his rifle turning it into a short spear. Keeping danger an extra three foot away from him.

Spoiler:

[dice]0[/dice] int

[jp1885]

Mr. Pritchard,Seeing as you rolled so well... It also occurs to you that, while the locals may still be fast asleep, surely the cacophony should have at least awoken thier dogs? But the healthy bark of man's best friend is conspicuous by it's absence...

[Mr. Handy]

Cynthia keeps an eye out behind them, though she can't help but look in the direction of the noise from time to time.

OOC,INT roll (70% stat) about the beast: [dice]0[/dice]

[LTD1969]

"I think whatever it is we don't want to meet it at close quarters, if at all."

[Zero]

Henry Joseph Lewis III slowed momentarily to listen to the creature's strange vocalizations and also noticed that not a single inhabitant had stirred in response to the sounds. He observed the others in his party as they prepared to confront whatever manner of beast was pursuing them and thought this to be folly. They were far safer indoors. They needed to get to the church.

"What are you lot doing? We should quicken our pace." he said.

Natural World (10%),[dice]0[/dice]

Intelligence (65),[dice]1[/dice]

[jp1885]

Ah, please don't count your chickens just yet Mr. Lewis; you have yet to reach the church.

In fact, unless you wish to turn back to the inn, the only way forward (towards the church) is past the gap in the wall...

[Zero]

As you pause by the open doorway, a howl of rage (or is it a shout?) tears through the sodden air.

OOC:   Hmm, I interpreted this as the church doorway. I figured that by then we had already been moving through the town and the only one it could refer to was the church's. I'll rewrite it, but I was clearly confused about the walking pace and distance.

[jp1885]

So how do you wish to proceed lady and gentlemen? Pressing on towards the village green and thence the church will take you past the gap in the wall. Turning back will take you to the inn.