The Devil's Dreams, Chapter 1, IC

[RocEter]

Thom just shakes his head at Vinegar about her comment on the description.

"Hmm, who knows if the book he was writing in is important? It could have been just some book he noted useless information. Then again, it could be important.."

"Even the smallest of detail is important. Perhaps they are useless random notes but even those can give some sort of insight into the man's mind. Or it could be something more. Either way I am sure it is best to check it out, though I know expert on the matter, I think Dorgio would agree.." Thom says trailing off as he picks his goblet up and takes another sip of wine.

[Brock Marsh Runoff]

His brow creases in thought. "That book, it does sound familiar. He had a book of sketches with him. The contents were...most disturbing. I'm thinking I took it with me after the deed was done. If I did, it would be in my house in Pont. Perhaps when we are done here, I can retrieve it and perhaps find some clues."

"You are correct Karim, speaking with the departed is often unwise. And yet at times it is necessary. The older I get, the more I believe that only the dead know true wisdom in this world."

[ewancummins]

The door between the parlor and the guesthouse's main hallway swings open. A black-robed old man staggers into the room, doing his best not to drop any of the several books and scrolls he's got cradled in his thin arms.
The man shuffles quickly to the table, where he dumps the double armload of papers and tomes right on top of the party's map. With one bony hand, he adjusts the white periwig perched off-center on his long egg-shaped head. He pauses to take a ragged breath, then wheezes out something like a question-

''You there...huuuuhhhnnn...young fellow.....ehhhh.... spores? Well? Ehhhhhh...''

He glares about the room, waggles his grimy right index finger at no one in particular, and half-shouts-

''Spores!"

[Le Noir Faineant]

Does Dofur know the man?

The dwarf will sneeze in irritation.

[ewancummins]

Does Dofur know the man?

The dwarf will sneeze in irritation.

Dofur saw the old fellow get out of a coach, out front of the guesthouse, this morning.


He doesn't know him by name.

The old man looks down at Dofur after the dwarf sneezes.
In accented but perfectly intelligible Dwarvish, he says-

{ Ho, dwarf! Do you know...huff...where my yellow mold spore samples are at the moment? Eh? My blockheaded assistant is always misplacing things. Where is he, I wonder?" }

[steveflam]

Vinegar is startled by the newcomer. "Who are you? Why you here dumping your books here on our map?" She moves and stands right at the
newcomer. She place sher hand on the man, hoping to push him back. "Stand back or I'll cast a nasty spell on you. Speka now or be warned I'll hurt you."

[ewancummins]

The old man looks severely at Vinegar and says-

'' Mind your manners, you sassy little strumpet!''

When she tries to push him back, he slaps her in the face, pretty hard for a scrawny old man!

''You dare to shove me! I'll teach you to show respect for your elders!"

[steveflam]

Vinegar recoils from the slap and casts a spell at the man. "NOONE TOUCHES ME LIKE THAT, YOU RETARDED MONKEY. FEEL MY WRATH YOU DEMENTED OLD MAN!"


OOC:Vinegar casts Bonefiddle at the old man

[Lord Skybolt]

Alain shakes his head in disgust and mutters under his at the actions of the "trollop" . And if the "trollop" actually tries to harm the apparently harmless old scholar . He will intervene by using his only readied spell .

[ewancummins]

The old man cries out as a ghostly fiddler's bow manifests in mid air and then descends upon his face. The insubstantial bow draws through his flesh, sawing back and forth and making horrid music to the accompaniment of his terrified screams.
The elderly fellow slumps to the ground.

Just then, Alain suddenly lunges forward and touches Vinegar from behind- releasing a coruscating blast of electricity into her body.
Vinegar shrieks, stiffens and drops smoking to the floor.

Both the girl and the black robed scholar appear to be either dead or comatose.

The ghostly bow vanishes.

[RocEter]

Thom watches the altercation between the old man and Vinegar with interest. He shakes his head in disgust as Vinegar uses a spell against the old the man and causes him great bodily harm.

He smiles as Alain quickly moves into action and takes Vinegar out by flinging electricity from his hand. Standing he moves over to the old man to see if is still alive.

"You handled that swiftly, Alain is it?" Thom says to Alain as he moves to the old man. "It seems trouble follows your lot, Dorgio."

Kneeling down he does his best to find the old mans pulse. "I suspect our host will not be too pleased to hear of this, perhaps some one should close the door."

Heal check roll: 1d20+3=22

[ewancummins]

The old man has a very weak and thready pulse. He's barely breathing. A deep purple bruise runs down his crown and across his face, the visible sign of Vinegar's horrific magical attack. One can only guess at the internal damage. To Thom's discerning eye, it is as plain as bold print that the old man will likely die without immediate aid. He might need healing magic to survive this trauma.

[Adam]

Bennedict bursts back into the room after hearing the commotion, quickly looking the situation over.

"What in the hells happened in here?"

Presuming someone explains, Benn will rush to the old man's side and heal him, possibly doing the same for Vinegar assuming Karim or Dofur are nearby to restrain the wild woman.

*use touch of healing*

[ewancummins]

The old man twitches when Benn touches him. He half-opens his eyes, blinks twice, and gasps for air.

''Unhnnnnn....ehhhhhh...''

He closes his eyes again. His breathing is still shallow, but it has resumed a normal rhythm. His weak pulse has grown a bit stronger.

[RocEter]

As Benn heals the old man, Thom pulls a dagger hidden in his coat sleeve out. The dagger appears to be all metal, as if made in cast, broad at its base and thin at it point. The deeper the dagger goes into a body the large the wound, the hilt is wrapped with leather straps and the pommel is open loop which rope or wire could be tied too.

He proceeds shorten the hem of the old man's robes and cut strips of cloth to use as bindings for Vinegar. He assumes the robes are made of rough linen or wool rather then fine silk such his coat or shirt. He then moves over to Vinegar and proceeds to bind her hands tightly behind her back.

While he is doing this he explains what transpired. Once he has tied the bindings he stands, and slips the dagger back his coat sleeve.

"Like I was telling Dorgio, trouble seems to follow your lot. I would keep an eye on this one. The mouth on her could run you a foul quickly."