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82 Upstairs
johnb (Admin) |
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Sorry I forgot I was going to be in a place where I couldn't upload maps. So you will have to make do with this for now. The old maps are still on the site though.
Upper Floor
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| D D |
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| D D |
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| ---- E | |
| |ssC R| |
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s = stairs
W=window
D=Door
C=Callum
E=Elsbeth
R=Rolf
Ground Floor
Mandrake and Edgar are by the large doors in the Entrance Hall
Ravn and Peter are just inside the Entrance Hall
Kerim and Zhiri are in the Kitchen
Madelyn is in the door way from the first room to the Kitchen
Yuri is still in the first room
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Rolf, Elsbeth and Callum ascend the stairs slowly and carefully, the stair creak but seem fairly sound so they continue to the top. At the top of the stairs they can see a corridor heading off to the left with two doors on each side. There is a small grimey window at the far end letting just enough light in to allow them to see.
To the right is a closed door.
Mandrake discovers that the lock on the inside of the door can be unlocked using a handle and that no lock picking is required. The lock is stiff, but will open with a bit of work.
Peter and Ravn continue their conversation, waiting for something to need their attention.
Zhiri watches Kerim searching the kitchens. Kerims search for light bearing implements is fruitless. There are many large things lying around still in their places and a few things that might be of no or little importance. However, it becomes clear that all the small useful things, along with the supplies etc. have all been removed. Just as if those who fled the place knew they were leaving and took all the useful, valuable, or portable things with them.
Madelyn can see both the kitchens and the initial room from her vantage point, and can thus watch both Kerim and Yuri's searches.
Yuri examines the rubbish pile on the ground floor. The pile seems to consist on masonry and wooden beams from fallen walls, ceiling and roof. Mixed up with it are what could be the remains of a number of tables and chairs.
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Caution in moderation
Rolf |
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Rolf looks along the dusty corridor, then back at the door next to them. The doors along the corridor bother him, these narrow confines would make for a good ambush and it wouldn't take much to split them up all the more so that they can be picked off, one by one. Of course, moving in any direction is likely to have a similar result. The door at the top of the stairs it is then. Sword in hand, Rolf tries the door, seeking to determine if a gentle push, a stout shoulder or a lock pick will be required to open it.
OOC: I'm a little confused, but the that's right at the top of the stairs by Callum and Rolf appears to be the one most likely to head towards the nest. At least, that's Rolfs determination.
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Correct
johnb (Admin) |
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OOC: Sorry about the map thing.
Yes, the door imediately at the top of the stairs is most likely toi lead to the nest, and indeed as Rolf tries the door he can hear a faint squeaking noise behind it.
The door is firmly closed - it will not open to gentle pressure. There is a simple lock mechanism showing below the handle.
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This place
Peter Gasgano |
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Peter grins at Ravn. "Yes. We knew all that before we came over here. This place was built as the home for an order of knights similar to Madelyn's own Order of the Saga. However, they were broken and disbanded when Galinia fell. They had failed in their charge, and their leaders all feel fighting to protect the land. Those few that remained felt dishonured and wouldn't continue the order.
Now Richard Briganda has decided to make it the centre for the new Galinia.
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Örlog is a cruel master
Ravn Ashengrey |
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Ravn listens with keen interest to Peter's summary.
"It is clear to me that you are knowledgable in more ways than that of the cooking pot, Peter."
There is much recognition in his voice and his gentle smile, but his visage glooms a little as the rune caster proceeds to cause on the demise of the lost Order.
"Back in the Motherland it is considered the noblest deed to fight to the end and thus earn one's seat at Odin's long table, yet the last remainers of this Order seem, by your reckoning, to have become ashamed of their noblest offering the ultimate sacrifice."
Ravn takes on a ceremonial tone as he recites:
"Creatures die, people die, you shall perish, too. Yet I know of One that never dies: judgement passed on the valiant death."
He pauses for dramatic effect.
"Know that the Asir value most the deed which holds no promise of reward but uncertainty and pain. Lingering on the dishonor of failure sets the fear of death in men's hearts, and rather than Heimdall's salute will such cowardly nithings earn an oar on Naglfar, the ship of Hel, for shaming their lords' quest."
Ravn looks sad.
"But sometimes, the Norn's web is tangled by trollish twine and forces even the bravest of men away from their calling. Know you more of this Order and what brought about their fall?"
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Heroes die only once
Edgar |
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Edgar gives a low caaark of satisfaction as Mandrake discovers that the doors to the Entrance Hall are unbarred.
"At least the way is open to retreat, if needs be," he says, though softly as he overhears (how could one help but not with the religious zeal with which the words are delivered) Ravn's denigrations of those who prefer to live to fight another day.
Still, as the raven glances around nervously, as worried as the Warden about the possibility of ambush, at least both the Norseman and Peter are close by, and Kerim and Zhiri not much further off, else he'd be far more concerned about the welfare of the gnome and himself.
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no
Peter Gasgano |
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'Oh, I think they were more concerned that they were still alive and had failed, responds Peter.
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Where now then?
Kerim Alakani |
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Kerim abandons his fruitless search, content there is little to be found for lighting, or other trade purposes.
He sheaths his cutlass and looks about the place as he speaks to Zhiri "Gone are the tools these people lived with as too they are gone. No haste, nor force it seems was their taskmaster, indeed little is left to pick."
He lets out a sigh "Guess I do that these sirens lived here long before these humans came", indicating the people that once lived in this house. "Again they must be driven forth, for Richard."
He looks at Zhiri, trying to judge by her reactions to his comments her alliegances, if any, to Richard.
"Come Zhiri, the air is fresher out here, and it would do Warden Rolf well to have eyes outside the building"
Kerim offers Zhiri a hand to step over the junk in the room, leading back to the entrance to the house.
Even if Zhiri doesn't follow he sits guard just inside the door looking out to the skies, awaiting the return of the slain sirens mate that he is so sure exists. He doesn't actually go outside.
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Yes, but...
Ravn Ashengrey |
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"Still, I would expect them to have kept some sort of remembrance, rune staves, scrolls of lore or the like, if for no other reason than to warn their successors of what befell them."
Ravn seems bent on learning more about the buildings' past occupants. If only the Constable had chosen him for going upstairs...
"Maybe there are clues to that intrigueing question behind the other door? We shall see when Rolf and the others return."
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Well ...
Peter Gasgano |
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"Well they left some knowledge behind, Argon Truth-Writer tells of some of their tales. Well so Findal macCarthen says in his works, although I have never seen them. I guess someone from the church will have them." responds Peter.
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Wary... and waiting
Elsbeth |
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Elsbeth stands at the rear, her scimitar in hand, watching Rolf try the door. Every nerve tingles as she waits for something to happen...
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OOC
johnb (Admin) |
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OOC reprise for Rolf's door
The door is firmly closed - it will not open to gentle pressure. There is a simple lock mechanism showing below the handle
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Sure
Zhiri |
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Zhiri listens to Ravn, her mouth slightly open as she digests the strange notions he is espousing, then when Kerim speaks to her, directs him a brilliant smile and follows him to stand watch near the doorway.
"Does it matter that they leave little behind?" she asks him, looking around at the state of the dwelling. "New things would be brought across immediately. One couldn't live for long in conditions such as these. There are no carpets, no silverware, no books... What a dull and dreary place to live without such things."
The strange being which accompanies her steps away from the folds of her cloak as she sits down on a handy surface. Kerim can see that it appears to be a tiny man with skin like ebon charcoal, wrapped in robes of crimson which seem to shift and distort as the tiny flames which make the warp and weft of its cloth, flicker. She glances down at it with a fond smile, before turning her attention to the area outside the door.
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Here's Callum...
Callum mac Aonghas |
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Callum looks over at Rolf. "Will you be wanting this open, then?"
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Shocking!
Ravn Ashengrey |
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Ravn turns to regard Zhiri, the young woman’s comment to his aired thoughts having caught his attention.
"But fair maid, there is good reason to my concern. When the wind blows a leaf from a branch in autumn is there then nothing in the leaf’s place? Ah but there is, namely the wind sweeping the branch. And whatever made these buildings’ previous inhabitants abandon them could still be lurking, ready to defend its unrightful home."
He joins them by the doorway, eager to continue the conversation.
"You see, it is not the fact that they leave little behind that catches my eye - it is the plentitude of information that these meager remains reveal if we watch them from the right persp...ODIN!"
Shocked and interrupted, the rune caster takes a startled step backwards as he views the fiery brownie with disbelief and horror painted all over his bearded face. He almost gathers his composure but cannot withhold a baffled question.
"WHY, by the flames of Muspelheim! have you set that nisse on fire??!?"
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Unsure
Kerim Alakani |
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Kerim takes in what Zhiri says thinks for a minute and replies thoughtfully.
"Both sides of the table have I sat, knowing the glint that only gold can possess and as day contrasts night I have eaten with dirty fingers the grub of the earth. The same are each in the end...much though do I miss the finery and raiments I found it carried an unspoken price tag that was too high for me to bear."
"What is cast free of their departure is of no concern, only why..."
Kerim is about to continue with some train of philisophical thought but is interupted by the small flaming one, though he is not at all shocked by its appearance. He looks at it for a moment seeking some recognition and then talks to it in his native tongue.(sorry GM, I can't remember what it is and I don't have a character sheet copy, yikes!)
"Of what ilk are you, I feel your kind should be known to me."
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Let's hold off on the bashing
Rolf |
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"Aye," Rolf replies to Callum's question. "But hold off." Rolf steps down the stairs to the turn so that he can look down into the kitchen. "Madelyn, see if any one knows their way around a lock." He steps back up and leans against the wall, waiting. Idly, he observes, "We might set up in this building, being able to lock the door again might be a benefit."
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hmm?
Zhiri |
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** EDITED April 29, 2001, 6:42 pm **
Zhiri looks at Ravn with a completely confused expression.
"I'm sorry I have no idea what you're talking about. A flame of what? And a nissi?" She follows the direction of his gaze, glancing at Kerim as he speaks to her, and then realises that they're talking about her companion.
"He isn't on fire, he's a gen, he likes fire." She raises an eyebrow at Ravn. "He's not going to hurt you, don't worry."
The tiny figure scowls a little at Zhiri, and directs a glower at Ravn that would be somewhat more frightening were he not less than a foot tall.
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Help required
Madelyn |
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At the shout of her name, Madelyn steps forward to the bottom of the stairs and looks up at Rolf. She nods in response to his question, and heads back out to the main entrance hall.
"Rol ….", she stops herself before continuing, "Constable Rolf has asked if any of you are knowledgeable with lock picking. I think he needs your assistance upstairs"
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Explanations and questions
Ravn Ashengrey |
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Ravn recovers from the sight of the fiery faerie and smiles, nervously at first, then somewhat giggly as he realizes his folly and the fact that this young woman has no clue at all what he is talking about.
"Forgive my outburst, maiden, I mistook your companion for a creature of the North, a nisse, a brownie or house elf if you will. And certainly a creature one would NOT set ablaze for fear of attracting untimely doom."
He casts another glance at the mysterious being, then proceeds to explain, beaming with joy at having a volounteered audience.
"Muspelheim is the realm of fire giants, ruled by Surt, the mightiest of their number. It lies to the southeast of Midgard and stretches to the outmost branches of the Yggdrasil, it is said."
Then he eyes the flaming midget once more, and his curiosity overtakes the joy of storytelling.
"A gen, you say? Surely some kind of magical elemental being, that much is clear, but to what use is it? Does it speak?"
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