The Ghost Lights

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Meanwhile, at quite some distance ahead, Trask and Forbes finally overcome man and boy. (It seems likely that so young a lad was unable to maintain as steady a pace as desired.) There, leaning upon an vast, ancient tree, the two breath heavily, with apparent exhaustion. They evince no awareness of those who draw near them, seeming not only fatigued, but dazed.

[SunlessNick]

"Are you all right?" Nathan asks the man and boy. "You have led us quite a chase."

[SunlessNick]

Josette begins screaming, but manages not to panic at the sudden danger. Still calling for help, she reaches around her, trying to find a handhold on firmer ground.

Vicki,If the dice say I die, go with it. (Though you said I could continue as a ghost if so?)

[Mr. Handy]

"Why did you flee?" asks Reverend Trask. "We are here to help you."

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Torn between rescuing their comrades and rushing to the aid of a lady in distress, the two men who were able to avoid the quicksand have no choice but to perform the former, those being closer at hand.

Spoiler:

STR to get the men out, no more than two at a time. Based on an average STR of 9: 2d20 = 7, 11 One out, so three can work to get the last one out 3D20: 1, 18, 14. One more out, so 4d20: 16, 16, 8, 14. Wow, barely did it.

Struggling mightily, one by one the men are drawn out of the foul pool of death, although this has taken much effort and no little time. Meanwhile, the selfsame hazard seeks to devour another victim.

Spoiler:

Took three die rolls to get everybody out, so let's see if Josette can keep afloat for three die rolls. DEX of 9, need to make it 3 times. 3d20: 2, 9, 3 I'll count the 9 as a bare success.

Rushing to the aid of the unfortunate young woman, the men arrive just in the nick of time to pull her from the muck, at the moment it begins to close over her head.

Spoiler:

Just for fun, let's see if all five fail a STR roll. Not likely, but with interesting consequences. 5d20 = 20, 16, 20, 7, 9. That was close!

It appears that one heroic figure alone was able to effect the salvation of not only his fellows, but of the distressed lady. This man, who exhibits not only greater vitality, but finer features, than the others, holds Josette tenderly in his arms, as he awaits for her to waken from her insensate condition.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

At a calmer, but perhaps no less disturbing, location, Trask and Forbes discover than the sailor and the boy make no response to their inquiries. They are able to be led back from whence they came, and otherwise display no resistance; but neither do they evince signs of volition.

[SunlessNick]

Presumably the man sets Josette back on her feet when she wakens. "Thankyou good sir, I owe you my life, she says to him, rewarding him with a chaste kiss on the cheek (and hoping he cannot sense her heart flutter as she feels the strength in his arms). "Thankyou to you all. I am humbly sorry that I so rashly impelled you into danger."

[SunlessNick]

As long as Daniel and the sailor are willing to go where they are led, Nathan refrains from subjecting them to further questions for now. He takes them around the lake shore to rejoin the rest of the group.

"Have you ever seen men affected thus?" he asks Reverend Trask. "I have sometimes seen such a thing in the aftermath of battle, but this cannot be that."

[Mr. Handy]

"I have seen nothing like that personally," says Reverend Trask, "but I have heard tell of things. You may not be far off, in that they may have fought - and lost - an internal battle. I suspect that they had been victims of some form of possession, from which my prayers would have set them free. I imagine such an experience would be very traumatic."

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

The presence of a deep blush upon the manly features of her rescuer may strike Josette as incongruous, but who can tell what sensitive emotions may lay hidden under a burly exterior? Be that as it may, the fellow evinces much reticence, denying that his service was anything other than that any of his comrades would have offered. He rejoins them as all make their weary way back to Collinsport, and the sound of friendly jibing at the man's heroic efforts may be heard from them.

Back at the village, once all have refreshed themselves from such exhaustive efforts, it becomes clear that Daniel, once in a recovered state of mind, has no memory of his peculiar odyssey, save for a vague notion that he was drawn to the place by those seeking rest, the exact identity of whom he is unable to recall.

[SunlessNick]

Josette tries to prevent her eyes straying to her rescuer during the walk back, for fear of further embarassing him. All the same, she wonders whether she might contrive a way for their paths to cross again.




Back in Collinsport, Nathan endeavours to learn if the similarly bewitched sailor has any more memory of the events than Daniel. Should there be someone willing to convey a message to the House, he will also send word that Daniel has been found unharmed.

[Mr. Handy]

Victoria greets the returning party, seeing if anyone is injured and needs treatment.

[Mr. Handy]

Reverend Trask accompanies Nathan Forbes to seek the sailor and see what he can recall.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

At the Collinwood mansion, a maidservant discovers a curious object left just outside the front door. It proves to be an example of that artform peculiar to New England seaports, known as scrimshaw. Upon a sizable piece of a whale's tusk, an anonymous artist has engraved the image of a mermaid combing her hair. For what purpose this was placed there, or by whom, remain unknown.

Miss Winters is kept busy performing such ministrations as are required to restore Mademoiselle DuPres' peace of mind, to the extent that is possible, while also continuing to tutor young Sarah in such matters as are appropriate to her age, sex, and station. The girl evinces an interest in Boston, inquiring if Miss Winters has ever been there, and if the journey to that famed city is a lengthy and difficult one.

Discovered the ensorcelled sailor at the Eagle, consuming what is quite an amount of ale, even for one of his profession. The fellow is lost in thought, but does not object to conversation. (Nature possessing a sense of irony, it turns out that the man's name is Jack Tarr.)

"Hope I don't wind up down in Davy Jones' locker," he mutters at one point. "Dry land's the only proper place for burial."

[Mr. Handy]

"I've not been to Boston before," says Victoria to Sarah. "It would take some time to get there by land, but it would be faster by sea. Neither route is without risk. Why do you ask?"

[Mr. Handy]

"Quite right, Mr. Tarr," says Reverend Trask. "I wonder, why did you go out on the lake in a boat?"

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

"I've not been to Boston before," says Victoria to Sarah. "It would take some time to get there by land, but it would be faster by sea. Neither route is without risk. Why do you ask?"

"Oh, no reason at all, mere curiosity. I suppose passage by sea would be quite dear, would it not?"

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

"Quite right, Mr. Tarr," says Reverend Trask. "I wonder, why did you go out on the lake in a boat?"

With a shudder, Tarr replies "Don't rightly know, 'cept there's those as are restless below. Forgot all else. Hope to forget more." He swallows a large draught of ale, and sinks into unconsciousness.

[Mr. Handy]

"I hope the restless ones below were put to rest by my prayers," says Reverend Trask. "This may have something to do with the lights, but I'm not sure what."

[Mr. Handy]

"It would have some cost, yes," says Victoria. "Of course, your family certainly has wealth. If you did wish to visit Boston...out of curiosity, perhaps they could be persuaded to let you go if you were properly escorted. I could accompany you as well, if you wished. I'm sure it would be very educational."

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

"I hope the restless ones below were put to rest by my prayers," says Reverend Trask. "This may have something to do with the lights, but I'm not sure what."

There being little point to continuing to interview one who is, as they say, dead to the world, the fellow's questioners withdraw.

Some time later, there come reports from the harbor that the curious phenomenon known to seafaring men as Saint Elmo's Fire appears with some regularity upon the masts of the ships at anchor. Most extraordinary is the fact that this does not occur during thunderstorms, as one would expect from common experience, but during clear weather. Sailors being a superstitious lot, there has been much grumbling and refusal to board vessels that are thought to be cursed.