[IC] Chapter 4: The Wergyn Estate

[jp1885]

Cynthia is in luck.

OOC,Luck roll (80% stat) on the way to the gamekeeper's: [dice]235674:0[/dice]

Luck (60),[dice]235726:0[/dice]

Eventually you find yourself, if Miss Coates' address book is correct, at the edge of the village. Before you stands a terrace of modest cottages, their back gardens abutting a high stone wall that runs perpendicular to the lane for a considerable distance.

You are about to look for the abode of Sam the gatekeeper when a familiar figure emerges from a leafy track opposite the terrace.

"Well this is a jolly surprise!" exclaims Reverend Skipp. "I was just wondering where you had all got to and here you are!" He glances at the stone wall and grimaces. "Off to see the New Squire are we?"

[Mr. Handy]

"Good morning, Reverend," says Cynthia with a smile. "First we were going to find Sam the gamekeeper so we can cross the Squire's land. We also wanted to speak to Mr. O'Kent, but we'd like to meet the Squire too."

[Whitehorse]

Grigori, exchanges some pleasantries with the man:

"And what business finds you in theis part of the village this morning, vicar?"

[jp1885]

The Reverend addresses Grigori first.

"Oh, just on my daily rounds. Just as the postman distributes letters, so I distribute the word of God."

Then, to Miss Knight:

"I'm afraid the Squire will prove somewhat elusive; he does not seem keen to make the acquaintance of his neighbours, let alone strangers to the village. Alas his, um, 'associates' patrol his estate most effectively. To this end I very much doubt they will let you visit Mr. O'Kent, as the estate completely surrounds his land."

He pauses for a moment.

"Perhaps you are wise to seek out old Sam. If anyone knows a safe route to O'Kent's abode, it'll be him. Come, I'll introduce you."

He leads you the short distance to Sam's cottage, where a rather tough and wiry-looking old fellow in common working clothes is digging in his vegetable plot. He eyes the vicar warily, as if fearing he will break into a sermon, and so is relieved that he is merely introduced to you.

"Don't get much in the way of different folk 'round 'ere," he mutters, doffing his flat cap. "There summat you be wantin'?"

[Mr. Handy]

"Good morning," says Cynthia. "I'm Miss Cynthia Knight. My friends and I wish to visit with Mr. O'Kent, but his land is surrounded by the Squire's property, and he does not allow people to cross it. We were hoping you could escort us."

[jp1885]

Sam frowns.

“What? Yonder to the Boundary? The New Squire don’t like strangers a-goin’ on his land, but it’s a scandal that he don’t let no-one visit the daft ol’ bugger (beggin’ yer pardon miss).”

The venerable gamekeeper looks conflicted. Perhaps some kind of interpersonal roll could persuade him to help? Seeing as you are clearly friends of the vicar; a trustworthy soul if ever there was one; I’ll allow a bonus die.

[Mr. Handy]

"That poor old man must be so lonely," says Cynthia, her voice full of sympathy. "It would really brighten his day if he could receive visitors."

OOC,Charm roll (55% skill) to convince [b]Sam[/b] to take us to see [b]Mr. O'Kent[/b]: [dice]0[/dice] Bonus die: [dice]1[/dice] That's a hard success.

[jp1885]

"Oh, well, I 'spose payin' him a visit can't hurt - been a while since anyone's seen him."

Miss Knight's entreaty clearly hits home, for Sam readily agrees to show you an old drover's path, which to the uninitiated is nothing more than a thick, tree-lined hedge.

Gnarled black trees loom overhead, hiding you from view as Sam leads you so far down the path. After a while he halts, for he dare not risk his employment by being caught escorting tresspassers so far into the estate.

"Follow this as far as it'll go. It'll take you to Stony Wood - not that it's stony any more since them silly buggers dug up all the stones for no reason. Skirt 'round the old church wall - don't go crossin' it mind - and you'll fetch up at his back fence."

He bids you good day before hurriedly returning whence he came. Assuming you wish to follow his advice, perhaps a listen or spot hidden roll might be in order?

[Whitehorse]

Before entering the green lane, Grigori surveys his surroundings... Are they unobserved?

Spot Hid=55%,[dice]0[/dice]

[Mr. Handy]

Cynthia clearly hears something.

OOC,Listen roll (55% skill) following the path: [dice]0[/dice]

[jp1885]

Making your way down the rough drover's track is slow going, and somewhat claustrophobic, with gnarled trees arching over you, dripping with damp from the recent drizzle. You are moving carefully, lest you trip over a root, when the sound of voices causes you to stop.

Peering through the branches you make out a group of men some distance ahead of you. Their language rather course and uncouth, they swear and curse, complaining loudly about the task they have been ordered to perform.

Just what this task is, is difficult to ascertain. Wreathed in black smoke, they appear to be beating the ground with sacks, sticks and what look like rug beaters.

Thankfully, if what Sam says is correct, the track will lead you around these men, and into the shelter of Stony Wood (should you still wish to proceed along it).

[Mr. Handy]

"Shall we avoid them and keep going?" whispers Cynthia.

[LTD1969]

"I think we'll have to, the only other alternative is to turn back I think.

I wonder what they're doing though."

[Zero]

Henry Joseph Lewis III merely nodded curtly when the others engaged in pleasantries with their acquaintance. He then followed the others, casually, but still wary of his surroundings. Fortunately, he did not have to rely on his own senses on this occasion. He craned his neck around the rather large form of Mr. Tereshchenko and observed what the others had noticed.

Listen (20),[dice]0[/dice]

Spot Hidden (25),[dice]1[/dice]

[Whitehorse]

"I can't make out what are they doing... Can it be stubble-burning at this time of year?

Perhaps we may see more clearly as we pass them by..."

[jp1885]

Perhaps it is prudent to consult the map given to you by the solicitor, Mr. Yemm.



The old drovers track you are following runs roughly from the bottom- left corner of the map in a northeasterly direction, with the land marked as belonging to Sty farm on your right.

You spotted the men just as the track began to turn to the northwest towards Stony Wood. They appear to be toiling in the field marked ‘the Watch’, also on your right.

Please make an INT roll.

Success,’The Watch’ isn’t actually listed as belonging to the Wergyn Estate...

While you can still make out the men, it is unclear just what they’re doing without peering out of cover somewhat. If you wish to do this, please make a stealth roll (with a bonus die as you are being careful).

[Whitehorse]

Grogori sucks his teeth in thought...

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

[Mr. Handy]

"I could try to get a closer look," Cynthia whispers. "I can be quiet as a mouse."

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

[Zero]

Henry Joseph Lewis III took a moment to look over the map the Eton party had been previously given. The young dilettante wasn't really all that good at finding his way across unfamiliar countryside, or all that good with maps for that matter. He paid others to do that sort of thing. However, with that being said, he was fairly certain the area the men were presently located within did not belong to the Wergyn Estate.

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

[LTD1969]

INT: 70

[dice]0[/dice]

Failure