IC - 2- Day 2 - Dame Marie Sunday - Everyone

[Mr. Handy]

Laurent examines the tree. "Could it have been blown out to sea in a storm and then washed back ashore?" he wonders aloud.

[SunlessNick]

"It must have," Florence agrees.

Changed to "on St Joseph."

[Mephistophilis]

Although not a native species these rose apple trees are quite common in the gardens of St Joe's elite, it is entirely conceivable it was blown out to see in a storm and then washed up here. As far as Laurent and Florence can see there's nothing remarkable about the tree, other than how unusual it is to see a whole tree like this washed up on the beach.

What's more interesting is that beyond the gully, there is a tumble of boulders that marks the end of the cove. Chunks of coral in all shapes and sizes, resting every which way, and seeming to form pockets, tunnels, fissures, crevices, and even maybe some small, dark caves.

[Mr. Handy]

""Let's go take a look over there, suggests Laurent, pointing to the end of the cove.

[SunlessNick]

Florence nods and joins him.

[Mephistophilis]

The blocks of coral form a series of small caves running up to the naked rock. No rain could fall here, nor would any seawater come this far up the gully unless driven by a storm more severe than Anse Douce has known in recent months. The sand therefore is soft, and there are many blurry footprints visible.

Towards the end of the caves, where they were more rock than coral, a great crack zigzags through the rock face. Nothing is visible in the darkness and it is too small to climb through. On the ground nearby there is a layer of fine brown particulate matter and a distinctive but indescribable smell, ammonia-like but more organic and fleshy, like rotting fish.

Roll 1d6 to search the cave

[Mr. Handy]

Laurent takes a thorough look inside the caves.

Roll to search the caves:
1d6

[SunlessNick]

Rolled 1D6: 6

Florence must have caught the right angle for the light.

[Mephistophilis]

Looking over the fissure and the detritus on the floor, Laurent thinks it is probably bat guano, suggesting the hole in the rock leads to another cave beyond. It's about half a metre across and then narrows, too narrow for him to get any further in. It slopes sharply down and the sun catches something within the crack, reflecting the light, balanced on a little ridge of rock. He leans in and with some stretching manages to retrieve it, it looks like a brooch. He holds it up to Florence, the burnished gold metal is familiar to them both from last night. The shape is bizarre, like a bloated fish but with legs underneath the body, and a short lure dangling in front of the mouth. The workmanship is exquisite but it has an unpleasant look to it.

While Florence studies the brooch Laurent steps back and looks at the cave floor. In the soft sand there are many footprints, the few distinct ones are of different sizes, both men and women, or maybe children. Some barefoot and some wearing shoes. While he studies the floor he notices the sand is disturbed around a large stone, with something poking out underneath. Crouching down he rolls away the stone and sees there are clothes buried, under the rock. Digging into the soft sand he draws out a pair of khaki trousers and a shabby green shirt, beneath them he digs out a pair of sandals.

Over his shoulder Florence sees something that catches her attention. Where the sand has been disturbed by Laurent there is more fabric visible, something blue. Florence rushes over and pulls on the fabric, uncovering a large piece of clothing. She shakes the sand off, it is a blue karabela dress with white lacing, just like the one Marise was wearing last night.

With the commotion caused by Florence pulling out the dress Laurent notices something falling to the floor. A silver pin, it looks like a cheap name badge like they sell in Le Cap, probably dropped by some kid while they were having a party. Finishes with the brooch, Florence takes the pin from Laurent and holds it up to the sunlight, looking more closely, turning it over and peering at the back of it. This isn't a cheap trinket, it's sterling silver and would have cost a lot of money. And there's a name engraved on it, 'Alice'.

Florence feels light headed, she hears the seagulls crying overhead, there's something about their cry, almost like a voice, the voice of Badessy perhaps... And another sound, a high pitched tinkling, coming from the direction of the fissure in the rock.

I can't decide if Florence is really lucky or really unlucky! Roll Insight again

[SunlessNick]

Well, this time I rolled a 2, so I at least don't get another point.

Florence looks aghast between the clothing and the cave. "Marise must have come here with... what were they doing in that cave? And without clothes. There must be another way in, somehow."

The brooch fills her with distaste as she associates it with the changes in her daughter. Unless Laurent stops her she takes M. Labas's advice and throws it into the sea.

Looking at the pin, she says, "Alice is the name of George Benson's wife, non?"

And when the tinkling starts, she looks at the cave in terror. "Laurent, get away from there!"

[Mr. Handy]

Laurent backs away from the cave. "Oui, that's his wife's name," he says. "I wonder if the clothes I found belong to the American we met last night."

[SunlessNick]

"If he's touched her..." Florence growls, before the situation at hand recaptures her attention.

[Mephistophilis]

Laurent shakes out the clothes and looks at them more carefully, the trousers could belong to anyone, but the shirt, it's shabby but stylish, American maybe. The dress, that's just like something Marise has.

Florence flings the golden brooch into the sea and watches it disappear under the water. She feels oddly reassured by the action. Turning back to look at the crack in the rock the tinkling sound abruptly stops and the seagulls go silent.

There's something about the cave, it's like the moth and the flame, although this moth senses the danger and can't resist. Florence finds herself fascinated by the dark recess in the rock wall, but she's getting some nasty vibes as well. Tilting her head, it's like a crooked smile, like the cave is smiling at her, like it knows something that she doesn't. Florence pulls herself together and backs further away, this place isn't right, it's like...it's like some kind of time bomb that might go off at any minute.

OOC:   Alice is indeed the name of George Benson's wife, and it's a relatively unusual name for St Joe

[SunlessNick]

"I think we should go," Florence says in a trembling voice. "Something is wrong here. This is a bad place."

[Mr. Handy]

"Agreed," says Laurent, feeiing more than a little nervous.

[Mephistophilis]

Laurent and Florence back out of the cave onto the beach. The sun is getting higher in the sky and it is becoming hotter, muggier.

Looking out to sea, over towards the old pirate island of Ile du Vent they can see a boat, but it's too far off to identify.

Where do they want to go?

[Mr. Handy]

I think we should go to the hotel next.

[Mephistophilis]

If you go to the hotel how do you get there? On foot the most direct path would be along the beach but it'd take quite a while and you'd come out within the hotel grounds rather than at the main entrance. There's a dirt road that would take longer, it'd be quicker by car but there aren't many motorised vehicles in Dame Marie

[Mr. Handy]

Is there a taxi?

[Mephistophilis]

No taxis. There are the St Joseph camions that Laurent often repairs, they go from town to town so they might go near to the Azagon on the way. The Azagon Hotel itself has some vehicles, station wagons and jeeps. A few people in Dame Marie have their own vehicle, Dr Clermont drives an old Renault, George Benson has a jeep, the Armée de St Joseph have a truck, old Metellus takes fish to Cap Matelot in his pickup.