The Fall of House Pancrazio Chapter Three

[PathOfDreams]

The gruff and filthy ranger slouches at the servants table in the kitchen, a now cold pot of tea remains atop it's woven hotpad. Goran raises his eyes to the ceiling and stares into the grain of the wood...

His euphoric ride with Grandma's tea has numbed him enough to forget about the swelling pain in his guts. He has confined himself to the kitchen with the help of the potent petals and this whole while thinks of his family and friends, new and old alike. What will become of this place? Are we cursed forever? Was it the fire, which seems so long ago, the start of all this? His thoughts wander for a while longer until he realizes that the effects have nearly worn down, and worn him to a nub as well. The comings and goings throughout the house seem to have slowed. Where is everyone?He gathers his pack and weapons, holding both in his arms, and heads out the back door into the night air. A moment is spent inhaling the sweetness of it. Goran knows that the morning will bring more danger in those tunnels, and so he returns to the stable to set up for the evening. He can tell by the absense of the few steeds that Emilio has not returned from town.

With that in mind, he staps his bag and his blades on tight, and heads around the manor and down the path leading to Vor Ziyden. He strides lengthily into the night ever alert for the dangers he will no doubt encounter, all the while remaining as silent as possible. (1)

(1) Move silent: result 2+8= 10

[ewancummins]

Coming to feed the horses, Tristan pauses a moment near the stables, standing in the circle of light cast by his magic torch, listening intently.

Hmmm...must have been nothing, the wind...

Shaking off his jumpiness, the young man enters the stables and proceeds to feed slices of turnip to the horses.
He speaks to the animals as he feeds them.

''I'll get you some good corn, bags of it, soon as I'm able.''

[JMaytr]

Along the Road-

Goran moves silently and alertly down the road that leads to Von Ziyden. The wind picks up slowly and carries a chill that finds its way into Gorans bones. slowly he can feel his sinuses filling up and it is not long before mucus begins welling at his nostrils. Pulling his coat up against this bitter, unusual for late spring wind, Goran continues on towards town.

Soon the sound of approaching horses fills Gorans ears. Still hidden from casual view the ranger watches as Emilio appears driving the Pancrazio family carriage.

[ewancummins]

Pancrazio estate, near the stables

Tristan pulls his coat tightly against his body, shivering in the chill air, and turns back towards his own quarters.

[PathOfDreams]

The ranger's heightened senses reveal the carriage before it is even in sight. Once he confirms that the family's loyalist member is at the reigns, a relief floods into him shielding briefly from the cold chill along the road.

Goran steps from his concealed position amongst the foliage of the tree line and hails silently to Emilio with a raised hand.

[Varrus the Ethical]

After finishing helping Tristian move goods from the larder and into the manor, Sebastian enters the library. There, he begins to search for any books on family history from the last century, using the recovered patch to help identify the ancestor that may have been the ghoul that he and his companions had fought earlier.

[JMaytr]

Emilio does not appear to see Goran in the night light and continues to drive the carriage forward.

[Griselda]

Inside the carriage, Agna struggles to stay awake. The unusual spring chill has seeped in, nibbling at her bones and fingers, and she pulls her shawl around her, shivering. She gazes out at the night sky from the window, looking for stars.

[PathOfDreams]

It rapidly becomes apparent to the ranger that a running leap is going to be in order. Without much more thought, Goran engages his tired body to take the few running steps needed to make his daring interception with the carriage.

His legs bend and charge the energy needed for the leap, then... his feet leave the surface of the dirt road.

jump check in OOC.

[Rock of the Fraternity]

Harold is still looking for someone to tell about what he found in the black jar.

[JMaytr]

UPSTAIRS AT PANCRAZIO MANOR-

Harold finds Roderigo in the upstairs room that once served as Luisa's meeting chamber and office. Sir Julian is in there as well. Roderigo has compiled several tomes onto the oak desk that serves as the rooms center piece. As Harold comes closer he can see that the books are genealogy records.

"Ah, Harold. My son told me you were staying in the manor tonight. If you would like you may use the room of my uncle Saverio. It is on the other end of this floor. Since you are helping with these investigations into the tunnels I would like you to use the room for as long as you would like. And also, I'd like you to stay for dinner tomorrow night. I am throwing a great feast for Lord Dylisnia. I'm sure some of your tales of years past might please him. Of course I wouldn't want to impose upon you."

As Roderigo speaks there is a noise from the door way of the room. It is the sound of a flute playing. The note becomes harsh and loud suddenly then ceases all together. At the sound of the flute Roderigo goes visibly pale.

And the Tuke turns the corner holding a small recorder.

"I can never understand why people would play such a devise. Horrible on the ears really. Of course in the hands of a lesser master it might be sheer torture."

Tuke waddles into the room and sits in one of the oak chairs before Roderigo's desk.

"Where did you get that?" Roderigo shouts, snatching the instrument from the halflings hands.

"I found it in larder. Where the maid died. The smell in that room is not pleasant I tell you something. Id have your gypsy girl mop that up before tomorrow's shin ding. You can keep it by the way."

Roderigo puts the flute into a desk drawer.

"What are you doing in here any ways? Don't you have tricks and puns to amuse my daughter with?"

"Thats what I've come to tell you. Lady Magenta has not returned from her visit to Von Ziyden. I'm afraid she has decided to remain at her brothel..er betrothed's house tonight."


"Why she suffers your presence I'll never know. Fine, I'll deal with her in the morning. Begone jester."

Tuke stands atop the chair, bows exaggeratedly, and then does a back-flip off of it, landing like a cat near the door of the chamber.

"Goodnight my lord." The halfling then turned to Harold. "Don't wet your bed gramps."

Tuke scampered silently away.

Roderigo shakes his head, his patience obviously thin.

"I'm sorry about my daughters fool. Now then, what did you want to tell me?"

[JMaytr]

ALONG THE ROAD TO PANCRAZIO MANOR-

Goran runs and leaps onto the back of the carriage, though it is his quick reflexes that keeps him from falling off of the moving vehicle.

Inside the carriage Agna is jolted in her seat as a heavy thud crashes into the back of the carriage.

Emilio is clueless to Gorans arrival and continues to drive the horses north towards the estate. In the distance maybe a quarter of a mile lies the mansion. The house stands in silhouette against a gibbous moon; an ominous sentinel in the night.

[Rock of the Fraternity]

"We found zombie-making supplies down there," Harold says, choosing not to cushion the blow. "Gemstones. I found a bare handful in a rather large jar, which suggests someone may have used all the other stones that were there. And incidentally, those stones can be used to create more formidable undead as well. Pancrazio manor may be sitting on an army of the dead.

I thank you for your hospitality, by the way. Most kind of you. However, I am ... uncertain whether I would wish to present my tales of yore to the Dilisnya lord. I hear his tastes are ... fickle. If you absolutely require me, I am at your service, of course."

[RocEter]

Julian says nothing as his Uncle chastises Tuke. He waits for Harold to finish speaking.
"It seems the situation is more dire then I originally thought Uncle. However I am confident that will be able to clear out the tunnels tomorrow. " Julian says.

"If there is nothing else you need Uncle, I have a few minor tasks to attend to before I retire for the night. Rest well Uncle." he says. Julian will wait for a response from his Uncle, if he doesn't need anything he will go to stable and brush down his horse and feed him.

[Lord Skybolt]

Tahl goes about his rounds making sure the estate is secure from down below and from more common surface intruders . He then goes to his room to perform all the needed maintenance on his weapons and armor for tomorrows excursion into the tombs . Then after that is finished he goes to see how Tristan is doing with his dogs .