Chapter 5: Further Investigations

[aine]

Isolde reaches out with her mind and then slowly says, "William, William, William." She watches the pendulum.

[HoneyDog]

The pendulum remains motionless as the firelight flickers across the faces of the group. Lady Amanda shifts anxiously in her seat. The rain continues to beat down.

[Mr. Handy]

Alexander tries to keep an open mind, hoping nobody thinks his skepticism is the cause of nothing happening.

[aine]

Isolde frowns, "Sometimes it can take a while, please be patient and listen- for anything. I'll try being more specific, I beg your pardon your Ladyship." She tries again,
"We wish to speak to... The Burnt Man."

[Philulhu]

The hairs on Captain FitzWilliam‘s neck stood on end. He wondered if it was a good idea when summoning the departed, whether to remind them of how they had left this mortal coil... ...

[HoneyDog]

Despite Isolde’s entreaties nothing is manifested by the group’s efforts. The time passes as the storm continues outside, unabated. After about an hour, Lady Amanda removes her hands and stands up. Her face is unreadable in the poor light.

“Th… thank you for your efforts, but it would seem that William will not address us. I will retire”.

She leaves the room, not looking back.

[Mr. Handy]

"Shall we stand watch again as we did last night?" asks Alexander.

[Philulhu]

”Well, his lordship doesn’t seem to want to talk,” said Captain FitzWilliam as he wriggled his hand and tried to get the blood flowing in his fingers again, ”So we may as well see if there are any other manifestations.”

[Rooter]

"Never mind," Percy says to Isolde. "It was a valiant attempt."

[Raiko]

OOC,Sorry, I've been ill (again :()

Melody is sat on the opposite side of Alexander from Captain FitzWilliam. She is very excited to be allowed to participate in Isolde's séance, and waits with bated breath for something to happen!

OOC,oops, missed the final page of posts!

By the time Lady Amanda departs, Melody has become very disappointed, after spending the previous night watching nothing occur in the graveyard, she had been certain that this would be successful.

"What does it mean if the ghost cannot be contacted by the séance?

"What if the spirit is not Lord Allingham at all?"

[aine]

Isolde is mystified, "it is very strange that we should contact no one. Even if not Allingham, there must be so many other spirits in an old building like this. It is almost as if something-or someone- is preventing them communicating with us! We might as well watch; I'm far too awake to sleep. Where should we go?"

[Mr. Handy]

"I hope it isna me," says Alexander. "I'm trying not to be skeptical. I'll stand my watch in the study again."

[Rooter]

"And I'd better set up camp in the kitchen again since someone apparently came in or out of the door without leaving tracks last time," Percy says.

[HoneyDog]

The companions go back to the previous night’s places of vigil to watch for any signs of mystery. Percy is confounded to find the kitchen door to the gardens wide open, as the rain pummels the kitchen tiles. Likewise, one of the chairs in the dining room is laying on its side.

Despite these oddities, the only disturbance is from the rain, and nothing strange is observed. Tired from last night’s exertions, the investigators decide to call it a night and retire to their beds at around 1 am.

The companions wake up again to the sound of screaming from Ursula’s room. The time is almost 4am.

[aine]

Isolde grabs her dressing gown and rushes to Ursula's door hoping to prevent anyone from going in, "Lets wait just one minute to see if she settles again or starts sleep walking." She listens carefully at the door.

listen,Roll: 18

[Philulhu]

Captain FitzWilliam had thrown on a dressing gown over his pyjamas and grabbed his walking stick as he ran toward’s Ursula’s. His leg was feeling better but he decided that a stout stick might come in handy if the disturbance had a less than metaphysical cause.

[HoneyDog]

Suddenly the door opens and Lady Amanda appears in her nightgown, leading a sobbing Ursula by the hand. An anxious-looking Josephine watches from within the room.

Seeing the companions, Amanda says, “She had the same dream again. She will stay with me for the rest of the night.”

She leads Ursula away.

[Mr. Handy]

Alexander springs out of bed and runs toward the sound of the screaming, arriving after it's over. His eyes are wide with shock. "Poor lass," he says. "She's not the only one..."

OOC,Sanity roll (current level 80) for his dream: [dice]0[/dice]

[Philulhu]

”Why do you say’not the only one’, Dr Campbell?” asked Captain FitzWilliam. ”Have you been experiencing bad dreams as well?”

[aine]

Isolde gives Alexander a look and means to speak to him later. "Lady Amanda, I beg your pardon but have you and Josephine been with Ursula all this time in her room?"