A Stitch in Souragne - La Danse de Mort

[Ken of Ghastria]

Lucien turns to watch Vincent's interaction with the barkeep, although he can't hear the conversation. He turns back to Goren and Zumba with a confused expression. "Do either of you know what caused him to react like that?" he asks. "Well, until he gets back....

"Zumba, I learned a few things. We need to speak -- and soon -- with a powerful Voodan, perhaps the most powerful. He goes by the name Chicken Bone. Do you know where to find him?"

[steveflam]

Goren nearly stifles a laugh, nearly. Souragnien "I know not why. *giggle* Chicken Bone? Voodan? What is this? And how can this help us?"

[Rock of the Fraternity]

"You met her afore, monsieur?" the barman asks, his smile growing a little wider. "Nice girl, nice girl. Shy. Doesn't talk much about 'erself, so I do not know where she worked 'afore." The smile slips, and the barman shakes his head. "Poor chile. She say she needs the work so badly; she is making money to travel, oui? She goes on l'hermitage, the spirit retreat." The barman makes some sort of warding gesture. "Into the swamp. She go into the swamp once she has the money. Poor chile. Cute girl, she could live well on shore if she not so afraid and shy all the time. If you know Marri, you tell her, she does not have to test her soul against the swamp. She's a nice girl."

[Guzrath]

Vincent starts counting the money. "A spirit retreat. And she needs money?"
"I would love to talk to her, but I doubt she remembers me. It's been a while, but I do remember her the way you describe her."

He pauses "If she's here, I wouldn't mind talking to her. This spirit retreat seems like a bit much for an innocent girl like her" he says.
Vincent puts the six silver on the table with his hands on top, waiting for the reply of the bartender, looking at him with a gentle smile.

OOC:
Diplomacy 23

[Ail]

"Chicken Bone? Where have you heard that name?"


When the others answer him, Zumba continues.


"Chicken Bone is well-known in Souragne. He is very dangerous but also a last resort for the desperate. They say Chicken Bone can do anything you want. Anything. But it is not free. That would alright usually, if you can pay the price you go ahead and you have what you wanted. But the problem is that he will only tell you the price AFTER the deed is done. And you may not like it at all...

I once heard a tale of a certain Simon La Fleur. He was son of one of the sieurs, rich, young and spoiled. And once wanted to bed a girl who was already engaged. She was actually faithful and rejected Simon, so he became bitter and wanted revenge.

People say he entered the swamp, to look for Chicken Bone in there. It's not like legends say how to find him, but eventually people find him out. He used to make a profit so people could always find someone who told them how to find him. But in the times of Simon LaFleur, it was not like this. Finding him was much harder, and his location a barely whispered secret.

But Simon found him, somehow... and he asked him to kill the girl's beau. Only after he had cast the spell to kill the man did he say what the price was: the heart of a girl, the very same girl that Simon wanted for himself.

This enraged Simon and he attacked Chicken Bone... or tried to. Somehow the old man evaded him and managed to hold him... then he cast a spell on him, and it was Simon who paid the price for the girl. I don't know if Chichek Bone took his heart or no. But the legend says that some nights after, Simon was seen walking through Port d'Elhour with a vacant face, unable to speak, and only the white of his eyes could be sean. He looked ragged and broken... for all of us in Souragne, it was clear he was a Zombie. Dead, and still walking, to commit whatever act Chicken Bone might want.

So, that's your Chicken Bone. Still sure you want to talk to him? I'd much prefer to seek this Voodan the bartender told me of..."

[Rock of the Fraternity]

"You are not from here, you do not know," the bartender says with a sigh. "The swamp, Lac Noir. She is dangerous. You need things to survive there. More than candles. Steel. Medicines. Netting. Fishing spear. All that or strong magic. It costs money.

I tell Marri, a friend wants to see her from before. You tell me your name, I tell her!" the bartender concludes with a friendly smile.

[Guzrath]

"The name is Vincent" he answers "but like I said, I doubt she remembers me. I was simply a guest." he says smiling and pauses.
"However, just like her I was not much fan of Greenleaf" he says smiling as if remembering an incident.

Vincent picks up de box of candles. "It's really good to hear she is in good hands." he says warmly. He walks back towards the table with the box of candles.
He presents the candles to Goren and says in a loud enough voice "welcome back". He puts his hands on Goren's shoulders and leans in closer. "A little gift from me to you." He looks at Lucien and Zumba "Let's hope this works." he says in a lowered voice still leaning on Goren's shoulders.
Looking at Zumba "You people are quite protective of your own kind. Back home the owner would've brought her back downstairs to Lucien after the incident. Almost naked even, if they would think that was actually the reason Lucien acted the way he did.".
He lets go of Goren's shoulders and sits down to his meal and quickly takes a bite. "Hmmm" and takes a sip of his wine.

OOC:
He hopes he made the girl curious enough (if she gets the message) and that he left a trustworthy impression with the bartender to relay the message in a positive way for her to come and look for him. Need another Bluff of Diplomacy check for this Rock?

[steveflam]

Goren is a little baffled at the gift of the candles, but thinks better than to say something. Vincent did this for a reason Souragnien "Yes, thanks Vincent. I , um, liking candles."

Scratching his beard, he looks at his food. He looks at the others. Souragnien "Anyone wanting my food? I am no hungry for some reason. Another mystery, I suppose. So, is we thinking to visit this um Chicken Bone?"

[Ail]

"I'll take it if you don't want it, Goren, thanks."
Zumba says and waits just a moment for the others. If no one else replies, he takes Goren's plate and starts eating it.

"Hmmm... Chicken Bone. I still think we should go there last. Unless you don't want to ask him a favour, that is... but who seeks Chicken Bone for anything else than favours? He's not the socializing kind, I hear."

[Ken of Ghastria]

So, that's your Chicken Bone. Still sure you want to talk to him? I'd much prefer to seek this Voodan the bartender told me of..."

"A man who tears out hearts and makes people undead slaves... sounds like someone worth talking to," says Lucien with an amused, curious look after Zumba describes the tale. "But you're probably right. Let's find this other Voodan first. Do you know where to go?

"And Vincent..." He lowers his voice, aware that Vincent has been putting on a bit of a show for the local residents, and doing quite a good job of it. "All right, what is the issue with these candles and that girl? I've known you for only a few hours, monsieur, but I sense that you're not a collector of waxworks. What's really going on?"

[Guzrath]

"And Vincent..." He lowers his voice, aware that Vincent has been putting on a bit of a show for the local residents, and doing quite a good job of it. "All right, what is the issue with these candles and that girl? I've known you for only a few hours, monsieur, but I sense that you're not a collector of waxworks. What's really going on?"

Vincent looks at the others, apparently surprised the others haven't recounted their side of the story. "It's true I'm not a collector, but I do like the museum of wax in Port-a-Lucine. Quite impressive." he says and takes another bite and sip.
"Our first night in Port d'Elhour, which was actually last night, we all had quite the uncomfortable dream. I do not know the details of theirs, but mine was about a damsel in distress" he falls silent taking a moment for himself not mentioning this was the woman who had gotten killed this morning on the road. "In my dream I had to rescue the damsel in distress from a man in white like we encountered this morning on the road and later today in multiples at the church." he takes another bite and sip.

"This morning at the cathedral, where we had our night, we were informed that it might have been the candles that caused it. However, monsieur pointy eared and jealous Greenleaf, was convinced it was the candle girl Marri" he pauses for effect "who must have done, because she was nowhere to be found. Furthermore, he claimed that her grandfather was said to be working on an estate that was attacked by zombies, but he wasn't one of the casualties....where everyone should have been. Him working at the estate was based on fish-women talk from the market, so no telling if there is any truth to that story." he pauses for a moment looking disappointed that he left his food cool a bit.

"Marri's complete name is Marrielle Rénard and she seems to be collecting money to go on some form of soul searching expedition to Lac Noir" he says shrugging, not knowing what that is. "Apparently this is quite intense and only made by Voodans and a few others." He reluctantly takes another bite from his cooled dish and then pushes the dish aside. "To hot outside to eat so much". He takes the bottle of wine and fills everyone's glass. "It appears to me that she has something heavy weighing on her. Whether it is guilt or a sense of loyalty or responsibility to someone I do not know. I did not want to push the subject since we need to talk to her and these people are very protective of their own kind."

"oh and monsieur Lucien. If by any chance she comes to the table to talk, I would ask you to be a bit more gentle this time. It seems you can be with that lovely performer" he says smiling.

[Ken of Ghastria]

"So this Marri sells candles... possibly laced with a hallucinogen and linked to our enemy..." Lucien says, his voice becoming a harsh whisper, "...and the three of you quietly sit here while they burn around us?!" He stares at each of them, incredulous. "Did it not occur to you that a place like this, with travelers from other areas, would be a perfect place to strike? The city loses the tourists, loses the money, and loses authority ... all of which ties into what we've been discussing! And, if so, perhaps the girl is terrified of what she's doing and she doesn't want to get caught! Damm!" He again extinguishes the flame on their table's candle. "I don't expect her to return. Let me see if she's still even in the inn. If so, we should follow her. And I'll explain how I'm looking for her later." He begins muttering some Elven-sounding curse as he concentrates, and his eyes again take on a faraway look.

_________________________________________
Again using 3 pp for clairvoyant sense on the same spot he viewed before. Good thing we leveled up, or I'd be tapped out by now!

[Ail]

Zumba stops eating, alarmed by the sudden shift brought by Lucien's words.

"I didn't really believe Greenleaf's theory, that's why.... but the way you put it... it could be a possibility, one that I'm not sure is true."

He gets up after Lucien, unsure of what he should do, of what the other will do.

"Perhaps we can examine the candles we have here, now, to see if they have anything strange? Surely, some magic could detect that?"

[Guzrath]

Vincent looks at Lucien "Tourists? Are you serious?" he asks with a laugh. Vincent opens his mouth to continue, but sees Lucien's far away look and concludes he would hardly hear him at all.

He looks at Zumba shrugging. "I do not think we will find anything in these candles, nor in the boxed ones. But I could be wrong, i'm no expert.
Besides, if I remember correctly I fell asleep quite quickly because of that candle. Did you have the same?"
He takes another sip from his wine and sit back relaxed in his chair waiting for the next dish.

[Rock of the Fraternity]

Remote-Vision T.V.!

When Lucien views the location where he last saw Marri, he sees... she is there no longer. The old woman is still there, sweeping the floor a little. Soon enough, she totters away, presumably to do some little job elsewhere.

Dining room:

Following the feast of boar and apricots, the serving girls come and present you all with a comprehensive cheese platter and a very fine port. It may occur to you all that the dishes served in the Inn so far have been mostly Core recipes. Even the soup made with herbs and spices from the swamp is reminiscent of potâge aux legûmes, as could be served in Dementlieu.