Book the Second, Chapter the Eleventh: A Lengthy Trek

[jp1885]

“Mayhap the inscriptions ‘pon Men Scryfa will furnish us with a clue, yesno?” suggests Lepus.

[Mr. Handy]

"Indeed," says Henry. "Let us go examine the inscriptions."

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

This plan being agreed upon, the party makes the journey to Men Scryfa. The object proves to be a roughly rectangular single stone, perhaps six feet long or so, and one or two feet wide. As those familiar with the writings of the late antiquarian William Borlase may recall, that gentleman discovered the monolith in 1769, and noted that it lay recumbent upon the ground, having fallen from a standing position at some time in the past. Indeed, it is still fallen from its previous vertical stance, and may bring to mind, to one of romantic disposition, the image of a soldier supine upon the field of battle. Inscribed upon the widest part of the stone are the words Rialobrani Cunovali fili, easily translated as Rialobranus son of Cunovalus, apparently the names of men of ancient times. A more literal reading of the words, extracting their Cornish meaning through the offices of Lepus, might be something to the effect of Royal Raven, son of Famous Leader. Whether this casts any light upon the meaning of the inscription is worthy of consideration.

[jp1885]

Having translated the inscription, Lepus peers under the stone.

“Be it worth setting upright I wonder? Should such a deed awake yon Royal Raven, would he be best pleased?” he muses.

[Mr. Handy]

"Without knowing more about the man, I couldn't say," says Henry. "Were I dead, how I felt about it would depend upon who awakened me and why. I wouldn't mind a conversation with a fellow scientist. Still, the stone is clearly supposed to be upright, so he may prefer it that way. Eliza and Ivan certainly have the strength to restore it."

[SunlessNick]

"If this is the place the abducted villagers were brought, it seems to me that it would be at his behest. He may be a man much like my former captor, the hermit."

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Spoiler:

d20

Whilst peering beneath the fallen monument, Lepus notices several small bones, the lightness and delicacy of which suggest that they belonged to an avian creature.

The question of raising the stone to a vertical position being a matter of some debate, it falls upon the shoulders of the loyal Ivan to heed his master's wishes. The task proves to be a fairly simple one for the mighty Russian, given that he need only grasp one end of the object and tilt it forward until it reaches its original state. This being done, there is no other apparent effect save the restoration of the monument.

[jp1885]

Scraping the dirt off the newly exposed side (being careful not to tread on the bird’s remains), Lepus checks for any more inscriptions.

[Mr. Handy]

"Perhaps this is meant to be the burial place of a bird, and not a man," says Henry.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Careful examination of the newly revealed side of the monument fails to reveal any other inscriptions. In point of fact, that side is remarkably smooth, as if it were carved with great skill quite recently, instead of the many centuries allowed to it by the careful study of the learned Mister Borlase. One could run one's hand upon it and imagine it to be made of glass rather than stone.

[jp1885]

Intrigued by the polished surface, Lepus peers into it, opening his senses to prove the stone.

[Mr. Handy]

"Fascinating," says Henry, peering at the surface. "It is clearly ancient, yet it reminds me of some of the devices in the future laboratory. Perhaps an image will appear on it."

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Spoiler:

d20

While Doctor North is unable to detect anything other than polished stone, a lack of perception shared by his ward and manservant, Lepus is able to detect, seemingly deep with the rock, the barely visible image of a large black bird. Seen against a background nearly as dark as itself, it is nearly invisible; yet there it be.

[Mr. Handy]

"I can see nothing in the stone myself," says Henry.

[jp1885]

“There be a Raven, or mayhap it’s spirit, ensconced therein,” says Lepus.

“Cannot be the Raven King, for John Uskglass ruled the North, or so ‘tis told…”

Lepus leans forward until his nose is nearly touching the polished surface.

“Canst thou hear me, oh prince?” he whispers.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

A whisper, barely detectable even to the sharpest ear, emerges from within the depths of the polished stone. It is in the ancient Cornish tongue, spoken in a rasping voice full of the weariness of age. Simultaneously, the image of the bird moves with extreme slowness, flapping its wings as if they were encased in a fluid more viscous than treacle.

lift, that i might fly

[jp1885]

“Yon Raven wants to fly,” croaks Lepus, his forehead pressed against the stone.

“But to what end?”

He mutters an incantation to detect evil in an attempt to discern the bird’s intentions.

[Mr. Handy]

"If you think the Raven is trustworthy," says Henry, "Eliza and Ivan should have no trouble hoisting the stone."

[SunlessNick]

"Does he know aught of the missing villagers?" Eliza asks.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

“Yon Raven wants to fly,” croaks Lepus, his forehead pressed against the stone.

“But to what end?”

He mutters an incantation to detect evil in an attempt to discern the bird’s intentions.

There is no evidence that an evil presence currently resides within the rock, but that some form of wickedness took place near here at some time in the past.

not stone but bone