RAVENLOFT: The One That Got Away: Chapter 1 IC

[steveflam]

Bennedict blinks, mind trying to catch up with this new information. "Ah, well, come in then I suppose," he says, gesturing through the door. "As it happens, Dorgio is here as well. What brings you to Pont?"

"Thank you," glad he was remembered. He enters and elaborates. "I haff been at sea since the last time we haff seen each other. I travelled with sailors, intent very clear. Ve hunt pirates down.

Mein reasons for this is that in case you do not remember, my Papa was teh captain of a ship ant he vas killled by pirates. I haff just recently returned to bury my mama who died due to a weak heart.

I took care of her affairs this week ant found myself at the house with no ship for me in sight, so I chose this monent to come visit you."

He pausesthen adds


"I remember Dorgio, though he may not have a fond memory of myself due to my teeth and such, Herr Benn. I do not want to alarm anyone, especially any children. I am older and

know how to behave in gut company. ALso mein freunds are not here with me... except for my shadow who promises to behave himself. IS that amenable to you? It is your home after all."

[Brock Marsh Runoff]

The young swordsman catches Dorgio's eye as he and Lorna wait to be received. Something familiar about the young man, but the priest cannot place it, not at first.

As they wait in the parlor, he feels a sudden poking at his ribs and turns to his wife, embarrassed a little to be lost in thought once again. "He did seem strange, yes. But a highwayman standing out in the open? That would be stranger still. Perhaps he covers an old wound with that scarf?"

His speculation cuts short when he sees Benn and his family. "Too long indeed!" the priest replies. He smiles down at Jonas, remembering how they had rescued the child from a fiendish ghost, back when Jonas was about Sandor's age now. "And I see you've quite the brood yourself! I don't know that I've had the chance to meet young Tilda, but I am glad to see she is healthy." He makes a brief gesture of the symbol of dawn, even though he knows his friend to be a man of little faith.

As Benn goes off to receive the newest visitor, whomever they may be, he turns to Jonas. "And how are you, young man? How do you like being a big brother?"

[ewancummins]

The young swordsman catches Dorgio's eye as he and Lorna wait to be received. Something familiar about the young man, but the priest cannot place it, not at first.

As they wait in the parlor, he feels a sudden poking at his ribs and turns to his wife, embarrassed a little to be lost in thought once again. "He did seem strange, yes. But a highwayman standing out in the open? That would be stranger still. Perhaps he covers an old wound with that scarf?"

His speculation cuts short when he sees Benn and his family. "Too long indeed!" the priest replies. He smiles down at Jonas, remembering how they had rescued the child from a fiendish ghost, back when Jonas was about Sandor's age now. "And I see you've quite the brood yourself! I don't know that I've had the chance to meet young Tilda, but I am glad to see she is healthy." He makes a brief gesture of the symbol of dawn, even though he knows his friend to be a man of little faith.

As Benn goes off to receive the newest visitor, whomever they may be, he turns to Jonas. "And how are you, young man? How do you like being a big brother?"

Jonas smiles, laughing and nodding.
"Tilda!"
He points to his baby sister in the basinet.
But when the bandana-wearing stranger enters, Jonas stops laughing.
His smile fades.
The little boy stares past Dorgio, eyes fixed on the newcomer who now converses with his father.

[Brock Marsh Runoff]

Dorgio turns to see what has captured Jonas' attention. He sees the young man with the scarf around his mouth. He hears the Lamordian accent that seems just slightly off, as if the youth's tongue hit his teeth at a strange angle.

He hands young Sandor to Lorna and steps towards the newcomer, so that he stands between his family and the young man.

"Juergin, is that you? It's been years..." He has a hatchet and two long-bladed daggers under his robes, but he goes for none of them. Instead, he extends a hand out.

It's been years indeed. There's more grey in the tall, thin Gundarakite's hair, at the temples and at the corners of his long mustache. But still the same bright green eyes glitter from that scar-lined face, it's unmistakably Juergin's old comrade, Dorgio.

"I have thought much of you since we parted ways...how have you been?" He has to stop from adding, "lad." A lad no longer, indeed.

[steveflam]

Dorgio turns to see what has captured Jonas' attention. He sees the young man with the scarf around his mouth. He hears the Lamordian accent that seems just slightly off, as if the youth's tongue hit his teeth at a strange angle.

He hands young Sandor to Lorna and steps towards the newcomer, so that he stands between his family and the young man.

"Juergin, is that you? It's been years..." He has a hatchet and two long-bladed daggers under his robes, but he goes for none of them. Instead, he extends a hand out.

It's been years indeed. There's more grey in the tall, thin Gundarakite's hair, at the temples and at the corners of his long mustache. But still the same bright green eyes glitter from that scar-lined face, it's unmistakably Juergin's old comrade, Dorgio.

"I have thought much of you since we parted ways...how have you been?" He has to stop from adding, "lad." A lad no longer, indeed.

Juergin grasps Dorgio's hand firmly, glad the man remembers him, as well as Benn remembering him. He smiles, but they can only see his eyes sparkle.

"Ah, Herr Dorgio, I am grateful you haff remembered me.," looking over to where the children and women are, he nods. "You both haff little children, ja? As I was telling Herr Benn,

I do not wish to alarm the children, far from it. Hopefully if they are curious as the little boy seems to be, you both might be able to help me."

He pauses, before adding "Well Herr Dorgio, I haff been on ships for the past few years, huntink pirates. In case you did not know, mein father was a Captain of a ship

which was destroyed, crew all killed by pirates."

His eyes narrow, and he has a faraway look before going on.

"Just this past few weeks I haff come back to bury mein mother and look after the homestead. She had a bad heart. I remembered Herr Benn's offer and came unannounced this very evening."

He looks towards the outside and frowns. "I may haff startled some children singing, my shadow "freund" decided to have a look. Apparently he was overly fond of children when he was alive,

from what I understoot. I made him promise not to show himself in Herr Benn's abode."

[Adam]

Bennedict's eyes widen at the mention of the "shadow friend."

"Aye, lad, that would be for the best. I might be more worried about my wife than the children, to be honest," he says, "Hornsby, come take this young man's cloak and set an extra place for him at the table."

[ewancummins]

Bennedict's eyes widen at the mention of the "shadow friend."

"Aye, lad, that would be for the best. I might be more worried about my wife than the children, to be honest," he says, "Hornsby, come take this young man's cloak and set an extra place for him at the table."

Hornsby sees to the cloak, and any other items that need putting away.

He then conducts the guests to the parlor and there serves them tea and savory pastries.

[kintire]

Kat descends from the coach with a pleased smile, adjusting her dress. She isn't really used to these things, but you can't go to a reception in leather armour, and she does like showing off that she can afford a dress these days. And the coach fare, if it comes to that. Well, cab to be honest, but it still beats walking.

She approaches the door, and knocks politely, glancing up and down the street, largely out of habit...

[ewancummins]

Kat descends from the coach with a pleased smile, adjusting her dress. She isn't really used to these things, but you can't go to a reception in leather armour, and she does like showing off that she can afford a dress these days. And the coach fare, if it comes to that. Well, cab to be honest, but it still beats walking.

She approaches the door, and knocks politely, glancing up and down the street, largely out of habit...

The street is clear. Deserted, even.

After only a short wait, a thin , middle-aged fellow in somber clothes answers the door.
Benn's servant, she recalls.
"Mademoiselle Katrina."
He bows.
" Please to follow me. The others have gone into the parlor."

The serving-man escorts Katrina to a cozy parlor where Bennedict Gehrman, his family, and some guests sit.
There are still a few empty chairs, stacked up against the far wall.
Steam rises from a copper tea kettle set on a side table. The air carries a scent of hot dough, meat, and spices; Kat can follow her noise to the pastries on a platter near the kettle and cups.

Charlotte, Benn's wife, rises with a smile. The brunette looks slightly plumper than when Katrina saw her last, though she still cuts a handsome figure in her blue kirtle and cream blouse.
"Katrina, it's good to see you again. Let Hornsby your things, please. And when you are settled in, you can meet Tilda."

[kintire]

The young woman smiles warmly at Hornsby and then at Charlotte. She is dressed in a flowing dark dress than sets off her pale skin and raven hair. The dress is off the shoulder and very low cut, but includes a shawl of dark lace draped over her shoulders that falls to the top of the dress.

"Its good to see you again Madam Charlotte. I am most grateful for your hospitality. And good to see you all again."

She passes Hornsby an umbrella and a lantern, unlit, and settles down at the table

[Adam]

Bennedict speaks quietly to Dorgio. "I think it best to get the matter of Juergin's teeth out of the way for the children. Do you agree? I'm sure he would be more comfortable if he could take away his bandanna, and the children will likely be curious. You agree?"

He nods towards Katrina as he sees her enter. "My duties as a host call. I'll be back in a moment."

"Madam Katrina," he says as he crosses the room, studiously keeping his eyes high on the woman and away from her low cut gown. "We're so glad you could come."

[alhoon]

Raen arrives at the house. The average built man, with the dark hair has left his goatee to grow somewhat, resembling more the stereotypical wizard. Appearances matter and his years in Richemulot have not converted him to the mentality of secrecy. He wears good quality dark clothes with a white shirt. He knocks the door of the address he has been given.

[kintire]

Kat gives a slight curtsey and a pleasant smile.

"I couldn't turn down such an invitation. It's been too long! How is business? I hope the sudden conversion of the watch to actually investigating crimes has not provided much competition?"

She smiles as if regarding that as something of a jest.

[Brock Marsh Runoff]

Dorgio does not visibly hesitate when he shakes Juergin's hand. "I knew of your father, and I'm sorry to hear of your mother's passing. If only better circumstances could have brought you here among us."

He turns to his wife. "Lorna, this is Juergin. He was a cabin boy on the ship that brought us to Gauntcliff. He helped us bring that monstrous spirit, Fredrick Dodds, to a proper end."

Turning to Juergin, he says, "And this is Lorna...maybe you remember her? She was on the shipped that wrecked on Gauntcliff's coast. And this," he says with a grin wide enough to show his gold tooth, "Is Sandor, our son." The child looks barely out of infancy, but stares at Juergin with the same intent green eyes as both his parents.

He goes with the others toward the parlor, and when Benn discretely whispers about Juergin's condition he replies in equally low tones: "If they ask, war wound. Got it fighting the ghosts of Gauntcliff with us. True enough."

[Adam]

Kat gives a slight curtsey and a pleasant smile.

"I couldn't turn down such an invitation. It's been too long! How is business? I hope the sudden conversion of the watch to actually investigating crimes has not provided much competition?"

She smiles as if regarding that as something of a jest.

Bennedict smiles knowingly. " Far from it," he says, "It's had about as much effect on my business as I'm sure it has done for yours. If anything, I'm too busy now that the watch is actually paying attention."

He gestures to the rest of the room. "You've met Dorgio, of course. This is Juergin, one of my countrymen who I met on one of my earlier misadventures."