[IC] Chapter 4: The Wergyn Estate

[Whitehorse]

Grigori involuntarily shrinks back from the seemingly prematurely wizzened man... But gathering himself, he shakes Lewis by the shoulder...

"My God Lewis, are you all right! You look like you've ages 50 years..."

[LTD1969]

Professor Garrett is appalled at Mr Lewis's transformation.

SAN 59

[dice]0[/dice]

The Professor loses 1 point of SAN but keeps his cool.

"I say, it looks like Mr Lewis is a bad egg!"

[Zero]

From the outset the Henry Joseph Lewis III had suspected that these Eton folks were psychologically or intellectually deficient, but now his concerns were becoming manifest as he observed the telltale signs of madness.The look of amusement from the dilettante's face quickly vanished and the young man gave the others a vexing look, then abruptly replied, "Just what are you lot playing at? I haven't changed at all."

[Mr. Handy]

Cynthia relaxes. "It's just another illusion," she says. "We're seeing things."

[jp1885]

Another illusion: quite so.

Perhaps the dry, rattling chuckle you also hear is too?

Either way, Mr. Lewis is suddenly back to his normal aloof (if somewhat perturbed) self.

As you carry on along the dried up stream, you see something moving in the fading light ahead of you. At first you mistake it for the mist being whipped up by a localised squall, but this is not the case.

Upon your approach the phenomenon appears to be a number of flapping, sheet-like things...

[LTD1969]

"Look at those. What are they? Bats?"

[Mr. Handy]

"I saw them in my dream!" exclaims Cynthia. "Another illusion, no doubt. Someone really doesn't want us talking to Mr. O'Kent."

[Whitehorse]

"Head down and forced march to our destination may be our best tactic... I fear for our sanity if we allow ourselves to be distracted by these visions!"

[LTD1969]

"Something tells me that pretty soon we're going to see one that turns out to be real."

[Mr. Handy]

"Right, let's keep going, then," says Cynthia. "Someone seems to be producing these illusions, in an effort to keep us away. That someone is likely to be dangerous, but we have numbers on our side."

[jp1885]

Miss Knight,The fact that the place you dreamed of is actually real disturbs you greatly. Are the other horrible visions you and your companions have suffered also real? Please make a 1/d4 SAN roll (i.e lose 1 SAN if you pass, 1d4 if you fail).

Upon your approach, you discover that this is no illusion...

...in fact, it is simply a long line of what appears to be washing!

Before you is what is obviously the curved line of a garden fence, on which a number of tall poles have been attached. Slung between these poles is a line of string and pegged on this line are numerous sheets, shirts and even the occasional pair of longjohns.

Some of the sheets are ragged and have clearly been hanging there some time, while the clothes look like recent additions. These items must have been cunningly positioned to catch as much air as possible, as they flap about even though the misty air seems quite still.

Please make an INT test.

If you succeed,Looking at the map, you realise that the former position of the stones in Stony Wood, the dried up stream and this curved section of fence with it's washing line all form 3/4 of a rough circle around the church ruins. Presumably the remaining 1/4 runs through the field where the men were toiling.

Set in the fence between the flapping sheets is a small wooden gate leading through an overgrown garden to a tumbledown cottage. All is dark, save for a flickering light in one lower floor window.

[Whitehorse]

Grigori thinks a moment..

Int = 80,[dice]0[/dice]

[Mr. Handy]

"Oh, it's just the washing," says Cynthia with relief. Still, she's disturbed by the eerie similarity to her dream. How could she dream accurately about a place she's never been? "You know, the stream on the map and this stone fence forms part of a circle. The stones those men removed must have formed part of the same circle, accounting for about a quarter of the circumference. Hasn't the stream been diverted too?"

OOC,Sanity roll (current level 78) for the similarity to my dream: [dice]0[/dice] INT roll (70% stat) about the laundry: [dice]1[/dice]

[Zero]

Henry Joseph Lewis III glanced over at Ms. Knight and considered what she had observed for several moments. Even if this new squire was modifying the property, it hardly mattered. There was no such thing as the supernatural, except in the works of fiction. Further, this man had every legal right to do so, therefore it wasn't really their place to meddle in his affairs.

"I don't see it, but even so, what's wrong with that? Surely a new landowner has the right to modify their property as they see fit, no?" he replied.

INT (65),[dice]0[/dice](

[Mr. Handy]

"That may be," says Cynthia, "but that doesn't mean it's a good idea. That Boundary was built for a reason."

[LTD1969]

"I thought there was something significant about the stream being diverted, I rather fancy you've hit on something there Miss Knight."

[jp1885]

So, might one enquire how you wish to proceed?

[Mr. Handy]

"Shall we approach the cottage and knock on the door?" asks Cynthia.

[Whitehorse]

"Indeed MIss Knight. We have come this far, we should make this fellows acquaintance with all speed."

[jp1885]

The short walk from the washing line, through the unkempt kitchen garden and up to the cottage door passes without incident.

Even though the light is fading, it is easy to see how tumbledown the place is. However, despite seemingly on the brink of collapse, the building radiates a strange feeling of solidity and indeed protection. It is as if this modest abode acts as some sort of bulwark against the oppressive dreariness that has haunted your steps as of late.

Upon your approach to the weather-worn wooden door, you hear a guttural cough from within, before a rough-sounding voice wheezes:

"Yer 'ere at last aye? Come in then!"