The Trial of Angelique

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Shocked at what has occurred, Nathan lunges forward to sieze her wrist and pull the knife away. Remembering the fate of Ben Stokes, he says, "Quick! We must wipe the blood from his mouth." If Angelique is not fighting over the knife, he will use the sleeve of his coat in an attempt to match his words with action - otherwise, he will attempt to keep her restrained trusting the Reverend to do see to Mr Collins instead.

There is no apparent sign of life within the woman's body, merely pale blue eyes staring into eternity and a grimace that might be compared to a skull's smile. It is a curious fact that the blood now staining Nathan's coat does not harden, as the normal course of Nature would have it, but remains in a liquid state. Even more peculiar is the fact that the large amount of sea water soaking said coat with each movement of the boat neither diminishes the intense color of the scarlet fluid, nor reduces its extent.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Reverernd Trask quickly does so, and as he does he prays over Barnabas to try to negate Angelique's dying curse.

Victoria,I'm using Exorcism.

Spoiler:

Even seemingly dead, she has a chance to resist the Exorcism, based on WIS. Hmm. It looks like the dice rolling function is (temporarily?) gone, with the change in the forum, so I'll use this external link for now. You'll have to trust me.

https://rolladie.net/

rolling a d20: 2

The roar of the ocean carries the sound of Reverend Trask's prayers away. There is no obvious effect upon either the dead woman or the insensate man, save perhaps for a distant, high-pitched cry, that seems to come from far above. The call of gull or albatross, perhaps? Or did it more closely resemble the shrieking laughter of a madwoman?

[SunlessNick]

Does the same strange property of the blood apply to that on the lips of Barnabas Collins?

[Mr. Handy]

"We must get him back to shore," says Reverend Trask. "Miss Winters's medical skills will be helpful."

Victoria,I don't suppose [b]Victoria[/b] can use her Grace point to force a reroll if the original attempt was unsuccessful? It may be too late by the time she finds out what happened, but she would be praying for the success of the rescue effort from shore.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Does the same strange property of the blood apply to that on the lips of Barnabas Collins?

Close observation of the insensate man reveals that the selfsame peculiar nature of the dead woman's blood reveals itself upon his blue-tinged lips.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

"We must get him back to shore," says Reverend Trask. "Miss Winters's medical skills will be helpful."

Victoria,I don't suppose [b]Victoria[/b] can use her Grace point to force a reroll if the original attempt was unsuccessful? It may be too late by the time she finds out what happened, but she would be praying for the success of the rescue effort from shore.

Spoiler:

Worth a try. off-site 1d20: 9 Angelique still resists the Exorcism spell (her WIS must be at least 11.) Your two other True Innocents can give it another shot, if they wish, once you're back on shore and they see what's going on.

The bold rescuers make their way back to shore, not without much effort. The two sailing men, disturbed by all they have seen, rush off once the boat is made secure, no doubt to spread word amongst their fellows. Barnabas is carried to the nearest place of lodging, where he is subject to the tender care and orisons of Miss Winters. The former is clearly of great value, as his breathing becomes more regular, although he remains unaware of his surroundings. The latter, perhaps not so much, as the blood of his dead wife remains on his mouth. All efforts to wipe it away end in failure.

There being much interest in the valiant efforts of the rescuers, it is not so very long before the constable arrives to investigate the results. Upon seeing the body of Angelique, throat slashed and, curiously enough, still bleeding profusely, he makes inquiry.

"Here now! Who's killed her?"

[SunlessNick]

"The question that lay between would appear to have been decisively answered," says Nathan to Victoria. "It seems I owe an apology to yourself and Miss DuPres."

To the constable's question, he says, "She took her own life. I would assume because she feared returning to custody and trial."

[SunlessNick]

Confronted with both the injured man and the revelation of a suicide, Millicent swoons.



Nathan excuses himself from the constable and goes to tend her, since Miss Winters is occupied with the stricken Mr Collins. He calls for a brandy from the tavern-keeper.

[Mr. Handy]

"Yes, the witch is dead by her own hand," says Reverend Trask. "As she died, she placed her blood on her husband's lips and uttered a powerful dying curse on him. My prayers alone are not enough. We must all pray together in order to break it."

[Mr. Handy]

Victoria prays as she treats Barnabas, but she can tell that her prayers have failed as well. When Barnabas appears stable, she takes smelling salts to revive Millicent. She has a pretty good idea of what this curse is supposed to do to him, and it saddens her that she is unable to stop it. "Thank you, Mr. Forbes," she says. "Angelique's power of deception was strong. You should not blame yourself for being unable to overcome it earlier."

[SunlessNick]

Nathan will join the Reverend's prayers (not that he particularly expects to impress God with his efforts), while Millicent will add her own when she awakens.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Spoiler:

We'll give Millicent a chance to spend a Faith Point. off site die roll 1d20 = 13

It may be that only true purity of heart has the power to overcome evil, if the event which follows Millicent's earnest prayers be any evidence. In any case, to the astonishment of all present, the curiously flowing blood ceases to pour from Angelique's throat; it vanishes from Nathan's coat; and even disappears from the lips of the nearly insensate Barnabas. As he is given such treatment as is available, including sips of rum to restore his soul, the constable, having heard from multiple witnesses, is satisfied that Angelique died by her own hand. There remains the question of disposal of the remains, the only known relation, Barnabas himself, being in no state to make such a decision.

[Mr. Handy]

"The curse is broken," says Reverend Trask. "Well done, all of you. The body of the witch should be burned. It is the best way to dispose of one."

[Mr. Handy]

"Barnabas is free at last," says Victoria with a sigh of relief. "Perhaps now he can find true happiness."

[SunlessNick]

OOC,Vicki, thanks - I forgot about faith points - Millicent would have done that readily.

"Judging by the fate of the unfortunate Ben Stokes, you may well have saved Mr Collin's soul, Millicent," says Nathan.

"No, no, the Reverend's faith and knowledge must be what decided it," Millicent blushes.

"Reverend, constable, would you be willing to take charge of the matter of Mrs Collins. I shall convey Mr Collins back to his home, an see the ladies back to Collinswood. They should not have to witness to grisly an enterprise."

[Mr. Handy]

"Of course," says Reverend Trask. "We shall take care of it."

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

With the help of some burly laborers who are not very delicate about what work they perform, as long as payment be forthcoming, the body of Angelique is conveyed to a remote location in virgin forest located at some distance from Collinsport (the woodlands close at hand having been greatly reduced by the need for timber for shipbuilding.) After no little effort to create a pyre, given the wet conditions of recent days, the unpleasant task is completed, until clothing and flesh are consumed, leaving behind only charred bones, to be consigned to the earth without marker.

Was it some wild fowl of the woods that filled the air with a sudden, piercing noise? Or, as the laborers claim, was it the mocking laughter of a woman unseen?

As time passes, Barnabas appears healed in body, if not in soul. He remains within the silent walls of what is now commonly known, to those who gossip about the unhappy Collins family, as the Old House. To date, he has refused all company, and does not venture without.

[Mr. Handy]

"Perhaps you should visit Barnabas," Victoria says to Josette when she sees her. "I think it would relieve his melancholy state, and I'm sure he would be pleased by your presence."

[Mr. Handy]

With the area purged of the evil influences of the werewolf and the witch, Reverend Trask takes some time to study the strange book of prophecies that he had found in the crypt.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Trask,The book, upon further examination, proves to be even more curious than first imagined. Upon an early page, in letters that are unusually plain, lacking the flourishes that are the pride of type designers, is the strange phrase COPYRIGHT MCMLXVI COLLINSPORT HISTORICAL SOCIETY PRESS. An impossible year, to be sure, and Collinsport lacks any book printer, let alone a guild of historians. Facing this page, upon a blank surface, are handwritten words, inscribed by one with a hand that is not very elegant, but quite legible, and strangely lacking in those inevitable changes in thickness and darkness that are the bane of anyone who wields a quill, or even those steel pens, rare luxuries for the wealthy, that must be frequently dipped into ink. The ink itself is of an odd color, being very bright blue. The inscription reads "To Victoria Winters, with much affection from Elizabeth Collins Stoddard". You are not aware of any person of that name, although the presence of the word "Collins" is intriguing.