Book the Second, Chapter the Sixth: A Welcome View of Sun
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Re: Book the Second, Chapter the Sixth: A Welcome View of S
"Yon tree is home to many creatures...
Lepus steps back from the oak; not wishing to fall foul of any more wildlife, at least until he is joined by the others.
He appears beside them, making note of the pebbles and the broken eggshells.
"'tis an odd assemblage, yesno? Mayhap we might appease whatever made this with a whole egg? If a rotten one can be found, old Lepus can make it fresh. Meantimes, let this old fool see these stones up close."
He leans forward to inspect the shimmering pile so as to ascertain it's purpose, gingerly prodding them if need be.
"Like the stones we found below perchance? Or a cairn or somesuch?"
Re: Book the Second, Chapter the Sixth: A Welcome View of S
Henry stands by Lepus's side, recalling how an egg was the answer to the riddle earlier that gave them access to the caves. He doubts that the answer will be the same this time.
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Re: Book the Second, Chapter the Sixth: A Welcome View of S
Whilst examining one of the piles of stones, Lepus happens to near one whose topmost pebble was, it appears, precariously balanced. This topples to the ground, where, much against that principle of Nature whose secrets were made pellucid by Newton, it bounces back and flies upward with the swiftness of a raptor after prey. Some brief time after it is lost to sight among distant clouds, a muffled sound, such as the report of a cannon heard from a great distance, is heard from far above. Not long after, the body of a swift, presumably flying at too great a height to be previously observed, crashes to the ground, its feathers singed as if by flames.
Re: Book the Second, Chapter the Sixth: A Welcome View of S
Lepus scampers back, somewhat alarmed. He turns to the others with a bemused expression on his grubby face.
"Pshht! Does not a bombardier pile his cannon balls in such a fashion, or the grenadier stack his grenadoes? Mayhap these be bombs of a kind?"
Wrapping a hand with a strip of blackened cloth, he carefully picks up a pebble and lobs it away from the trio so that it lands some distance onto the ground of the island and at such an angle as to fly off towards the Lonely Copse if it ricochets as violently as it's fellow.
Re: Book the Second, Chapter the Sixth: A Welcome View of S
"Yes, they very well might," says Henry. "This defies the laws of physics, but it explains the mystery of the birds and their nests."
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Re: Book the Second, Chapter the Sixth: A Welcome View of S
"Indeed he does," William answers Lepus, regarding the bombardier. "So does this mean this Fey entity considers herself an enemy of birds?"
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Re: Book the Second, Chapter the Sixth: A Welcome View of S
Although he hurls the mysterious object with less than skillful grace, Lepus is able to direct it in a direction away from himself and his fellows. Perhaps because its flight began in a horizontal direction, rather than the accidental falling to the Earth of the other, it does not leap into the heavens. Rather, it proceeds over the waters of the Misty Tarn where, as if it has found what it sought, it plunges into the fog-shrouded pool. A muffled explosion, accompanied by a jet of water bursting into the air, follows momentarily. By examining the area of the isle closest to the site of this incident, the adventurers discover the remains of a large frog, much shattered and torn, upon the shore. Whatsoever may be the nature of these strange pebbles, it is evident that their victims are not limited to members of the feathered tribe.
Re: Book the Second, Chapter the Sixth: A Welcome View of S
Sighing, Lepus surveys the remains of the frog.
“Be it that these things are drawn to the nearest living thing? Mayhap each one be tailored for air, water or earth? Whichever it may be, if they be in the Fae Lady’s arsenal then dispose of them we must. Though keeping one or two may prove advantageous, yesno?”
The wanderer carefully picks up another stone and inspects it for any signs of allegiance before placing it in his sack.
“There still be the matter of her true name also. Yon mighty oak may tell us more.”
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Re: Book the Second, Chapter the Sixth: A Welcome View of S
William has little head for the abstruse concepts Lord Dunwich and the Gypsy man deal in, but weapons are things he understands. "We should take them from here," he says, making to load them into the boat, "and leave them in a place she will be loath to enter. The church perhaps."
Re: Book the Second, Chapter the Sixth: A Welcome View of S
"Either that, or we could expend them all," says Henry, "though that might prove dangerous. As for her true name, Silveroak is my best guess, or perhaps Silveracorn."
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Re: Book the Second, Chapter the Sixth: A Welcome View of S
Whilst contemplating this problem, it becomes obvious that transporting, or otherwise disposing of, these peculiar objects presents a certain difficulty. To wit, although they are individually light, they are very numerous. It also seems evident that they must be handled with some care. Held gently in one's hand, they are safe enough; but, as experience teaches, dropped or tossed, even casually, they prove destructive petards indeed.
A rough estimate of their number yields a figure of five hundred or so, perhaps slightly less. In any case, it seems impossible to place more than a fifty or so at a time in the small boat, even if only manned by one individual, without causing it to ride too low in the water for safety.
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Re: Book the Second, Chapter the Sixth: A Welcome View of S
Lepus’ face falls when the number of stones becomes apparent.
”Too many to dispose of then... Old Lepus has a notion though: mayhap we could ring the island with iron? Fae folk harbour a dislike for the metal, so perchance we can keep the Fae Lady and her minions away from their arsenal, yesno?”
Then, as if his train of thought suddenly switches track, the wanderer scampers back to the oak.
“What then to do with thee oh tree? He holds out the acorn on an upturned palm near one of the many holes. Furnish us with the Fae Lady’s name oh denizens and this morsel shalt be thine.”
Re: Book the Second, Chapter the Sixth: A Welcome View of S
"Yes, iron, a capital idea!" says Henry. "I wonder why it is that the fae are so repulsed by iron. Could it perhaps be due to its magnetic properties? Or is it that it is a key component of blood?"
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Re: Book the Second, Chapter the Sixth: A Welcome View of S
Whilst Lepus is thus engaged in conversation with the mighty oak, the acorn draws the attention of a common squirrel, this treasure overcoming its inherent fear of humanity. The chattering creature, perhaps one of the bravest of its tribe, makes so bold as to attempt to seize the acorn.
In the mad scramble that follows, neither man nor beast succeeds in gaining the object of dispute. Rather it falls to the ground and rolls for some distance, where, as Fate would have it, it comes to a halt amongst others of its kind. (Such a pile of acorns is, of course, to be expected beneath an oak of great age.) It would be a matter of some difficulty to determine exactly which of these many is the one in question. (As to why the squirrel choose to make a hazardous venture to obtain such, when many others, in no way distinguishable from it, lay about in easy access, that is a question best left to the mysteries of Fauna.)
Meanwhile, Lepus having made such meditation as he could upon the preternatural aspects hereabouts, is able to determine that the oak itself, although impressive enough for its sheer bulk and extraordinary age, is purely of Nature. It is true that beings of unearthly nature have, at times, made use of it as hearth and home, there being traces of the uncanny detectable by the Gypsy's hidden senses for such. As to their current residency or absence, that would require further exploration to determine.
The notion of surrounding the isle with a barrier of iron raises several matters to be meditated upon; viz. where to obtain sufficient supply of ironwork, and in what manner to construct the defenses from such.
Spoiler:
Meanwhile, Lepus having made such meditation as he could upon the preternatural aspects hereabouts, is able to determine that the oak itself, although impressive enough for its sheer bulk and extraordinary age, is purely of Nature. It is true that beings of unearthly nature have, at times, made use of it as hearth and home, there being traces of the uncanny detectable by the Gypsy's hidden senses for such. As to their current residency or absence, that would require further exploration to determine.
The notion of surrounding the isle with a barrier of iron raises several matters to be meditated upon; viz. where to obtain sufficient supply of ironwork, and in what manner to construct the defenses from such.
Re: Book the Second, Chapter the Sixth: A Welcome View of S
"We may not need enough iron to encircle the entire island," says Henry. "It may suffice merely to enclose the oak tree and these projectiles."
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(viewforum.php?f=176)The Terror Out of Time
(viewforum.php?f=191)]The Ninth Planet
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The Masque of Nyarlathotep
Re: Book the Second, Chapter the Sixth: A Welcome View of S
Lepus sees little profit in searching for the errant acorn, assuming that it has served it's purpose in taking them to the tree. Instead, while his companions debate around the piles of stones, he continues his investigation of the mighty oak.
Convinced of the unusual nature of it's occupants, he renews his investigations by poking around the holes at ground level before clambering up the tree (making good use of the many handholds) if necessary. All the while he mutters greetings and apologies in equal measure.
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Re: Book the Second, Chapter the Sixth: A Welcome View of S
Although such limitation of need may indeed prove true, and serve as a wise example of parsimony of resource, nonetheless, to encircle both tree and the multiple arrays of arcane armament will require a considerable supply of ironware. (There are, of course, workshops supplying such for the inhabitants of Highdark Hall and their servants, there being both blacksmith for more involved work, and ironmonger for miscellaneous small needs not requiring the use of anvil and forge.) The practiced eye of Doctor North, whose skill in the royal art of geometry allows him to make accurate estimations as to the perimeters of both oak and the piles of stones, deduces that such a program would require approximately half a dozen rods of iron wire; a considerable, but not impossible amount.Mr. Handy wrote: "We may not need enough iron to encircle the entire island," says Henry. "It may suffice merely to enclose the oak tree and these projectiles."
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Re: Book the Second, Chapter the Sixth: A Welcome View of S
jp1885 wrote:
Lepus sees little profit in searching for the errant acorn, assuming that it has served it's purpose in taking them to the tree. Instead, while his companions debate around the piles of stones, he continues his investigation of the mighty oak.
Convinced of the unusual nature of it's occupants, he renews his investigations by poking around the holes at ground level before clambering up the tree (making good use of the many handholds) if necessary. All the while he mutters greetings and apologies in equal measure.
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"Stars and comets! Cannot a body enjoy a good, long nap without every Tom, Dick, and Harry disturbing his peace? Begone, you bungling burglar!"
Re: Book the Second, Chapter the Sixth: A Welcome View of S
"Nay kind sir, old Lepus be no burglar but merely a visitor, here to pay his respects to the fabled dweller in the mighty oak. Pray allow this humble intruder tarry a while to converse with thee? 'tis said that thou knowest a great many things - mayhap the true name of the fae lady whose minions doubtless disturb thy rest with their exploding spheres and wotnot?"
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Re: Book the Second, Chapter the Sixth: A Welcome View of S
"Perhaps we could also bring the villaige priest here and have him consecreate the ground," suggests William in a revision of his previous notion.Mr. Handy wrote:"We may not need enough iron to encircle the entire island," says Henry. "It may suffice merely to enclose the oak tree and these projectiles."
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