"Right, my mistake, I be a little untrusting of new people," Jack says over his shoulder. "Now, out of the alley and the fog." The big Scot whispers.
The big man was trying to herd the other two out of the alleyway. Seiing as one of them was his charge, and the other an open wallet, Jack didn't want to see them slain. 'Or meself, for that matter he thinks.'
The big Scot continued walking backwards out of the alley, keeping his eyes on the unnatural fog.
Synxol is at a full sprint in a moment, drawing and cocking his loaded flintlock as he legs it in the direction of the scream.
The mantra is breathed out with each exhaled breath, "dontbeagolem....dontbeagolem....dontbeagolem...."
Assisi, having just pulled out his club, follows Synxol toward the source of the screech.
This whole story is strange, thinks Assisi as he runs. I don't know what I've gotten into, but I must admit it is quite exciting. He hates himself for thinking that, for someone has just been hurt, or worse.
Synxol sprints down the alley, making it too the door where the thump was last heard trying the handle, it doesn't turn. It looks like the only way to where the scream came from will be up the ladder and jumping over the wall or perhaps, trying to break the solid oak door down.
As you look at the door, you can hear the wet sounds of something eating, along with the dull sound of something being broken. Whimpers can also be heard as well, your imagination is painting a scene of macabre strokes, your mind thinks that one of the doctor's creations had gotten free.
"Oh, bloody hell," Jack mutter as the young lord runs to the locked door. His own instincts screaming at him to run, to get away from here as fast as he can. His mind screamed even louder as his feet carried him towards the door. Long legs eating the distance, he gets to the door and nods to Synxol.
"Let me try before ye shoot the lock," Jack whispers as he grabs the latch and puts his shoulder to the door. Taking a deep breath, the big Scot pushes with all of his might against the solid door.
The sound of the whimpering helped to fuel his choice to come back down the alleyway.
Taking a step back, to permit the door to swing without issue, Synxol brings his pistol to bear on whatever is on the other side once Jack gets the door open.
While the others work on the door, Assisi decides the ladder may be faster. As he runs to it he imagines all sorts of monstrosities occurring, but then thinks maybe it's just a large dog enjoying its dinner, and some children screaming... When he reaches the ladder he keeps his valise on his shoulder as he climbs the ladder high enough to see over the wall and into the garden below.
The door is would enough to resist your attempts at forcing it open. It does however shudder a bit, another solid blow could do it.
Assisi, you manage to climb up the ladder eith ease. The grounds have no real order to them, there is a hedge maze that takes up a rather large chunk of the area. It is dimly lit, you see a humonid shape feasting on someone while another is crawling away.
"Solid door," Jack grunts as he repostions himself, shifting his feet and attempting to force it open once more. Ignoring the ache in his shoulder, his blood running hot, the big Scot tries to force open the door once more. Muttered curses are sent the way of the carpenter that made the door in the first place.
The door splinters unable to contain the scot's fury, and the victim breathes her last, as her heart has been removed along with many of her vital organs. The creature looks like a misshapen human, with claws instead of hands, emaciated figure is crouched still feasting on it's meal. It's head snaps up and you can see blood and sinew dripping from it's mouth, the stench of a freshly exhumed grave emanates from it's pores.
" More food brothers of the mist, the forgotten ones stir in the gravesites, to feed the lost, oh so tasty, the flesh. Where has the doctor gone? We ask for his flesh and he attacks us." The singsong voice of the creature asks getting ready to strike.
OOC: Synxol you will get a clear shot since you have had your pistol drawn and at the ready, although in a few rounds it will start to rain heavy, and their will be a chance that your power will get wet. Assisi if their is anything that you wish to do now that more light is evident you can get a surprise round.
After the 'surprise' please roll for initiative, depending on the rolls it will be either creature goes first then the group, or the group then the creature.
Lancing forward the hammer slams the flint into the pan, creating a chain reaction that begins with sparks from the flash pan into ignition of the main charge. Erupting from the barrel, with a loud retort and a wash of acrid smoke, is the bullet, which screams at the feeding nightmare.
Synxol takes a step back (5' step) and begins the lengthy process of reloading his weapon (2 full-round actions).
Assisi calls out to his new friends, "Hurry!" and then makes sure he has a path to take (avoiding the maze). He also looks to see if those coming through the door will have a clear path. Then he jumps down into the garden, and toward the figure crawling away. One victim is already dead - he doesn't want there to be another.
"Holy hell!" Jack jerks as the round explodes through the air past him. 'A bit closer then I would have liked,' the big Scot thinks as he readies his metal walking stick. It made a handy club in times like these.
Jack takes a step forward to make sure that he is blocking the door. He tries to ignore the creepy voices. The sound seemed to slither through his ears and into his mind.
The ball grazes the creature it's attention focuses on Jack since he is standing, blocking the creature from seeing Synxol.
The creature moves forward to attack the scot.
Assis you see that the figure crawling away is missing her leg, the bloody stump pumping out her. You also see another creature coming out of the mist, it's attention is focused on the woman.
Sucking in his gut at the last second, Jack manages to avoid having his guts splatter across the cobblestones. Much to close for his liking, the freakish looking thing might have been able to pass off itself as human. Only in complete darkness, or to the blind it would pass.
Gripping his metal walking stick tightly in both hands, Jack swings at the.., thing with all of his considerable might.
Whistling an inappropriately-jaunty little tune, Synxol takes the powder horn in hand, and begins the process of ramming a bullet down the flintlock's gullet.
Assisi gasps, "There is another!" and runs forward, evading the first creature, to attack (with his club) the one approaching the massively injured woman, hoping to crack its skull, if that is even possible.
He wonders what that whistling is. Is someone trying to dispel the evil voices? Or is there someone nearby obvious to all that is happening?
The best way to think about these creatures, is walking dead, or perhaps ghouls as a small portion of your minds are anylizing what to call these creatures, another part is focused on the combat itself.
Assisi, the creature manages to stumble, avoiding your blow from the club, it hisses at you and tries to take a swipe at you with it's claws.
Jack: the creature facing your snarls and tries to bite you, still reeling from the blow that your club/walking cane dealt almost as if you had rung it's bell so to speak.
ooc: post youse guys' actions
Synxol continues to whistle, and continues to reload.
Jerking his shoulder free and shoving back against the foul smelling thing, Jack snarls. He slams his metal walking stick into the things smelling of an opened grave.
Assisi stands to the side to give Synxol a clear shot at the creature, should he ever finish reloading his gun. This creature from hell must be put down! So he tries again with his club, hitting its head as hard as he can.
Ooc: Synxol please make a spot check for me
Jack the creature springs in your face causing you to lose your grip on your walking stick. The creature tries to drag it's claws along your throat as well as attempting to bite your chest.
Assisi as your drop the creature that tried attacking you, you feel a hand grab your shin. Looking down, you see the woman trying to sink it's teeth in your body.
Synxol glances about.
"And another!" shouts Assisi as he finds the legless woman attacking him with her teeth. She bites into his leg but only recovers wool (My best suit!).
Instinctively he stands above her and tries to knock her out with his club, which has proven to be worth the few giulios he paid for it.
Grey eyes darting between the clearly not human creature and his walking stick retreating into the darkness, Jack mutters a curse. Taking a half step back, the big Scotsman changes his stance, instincts from a life time of close quarters combat kicking in.
The training he had received from the Chinese certainly helped matters along. The creature finds Jack's foot snapping upwards to try and replace the stinking thing's hanging bits back into it's body cavity.
The creature that Jack kicks staggers back and collapses, whatever was animating it finally gives up it's hold. The man who was eaten starts to shamble to his feet, it's eyes glowing red.
Synxol manages to reload his pistol, only to feel a sharp stabbing pain as a yipping sound comes from behind him. He feels an edge of metal pierce his clothes and flesh.
The woman let's out an unearthly moan and tries to sink it's teeth into Assisi.
Synxol
The attack had been foiled in his clothing, but that does not give him much solace, considering he had not even heard the creature coming at him.
Synxol takes a step back (5' step) and brings the pistol to bear on his attacker.
Assisi's mind races with the horrors unfolding before his new friends and him. He can hardly believe it is happening. Now the zombie woman in front of him had bit him, and it hurt!
He lets out a yelp and strikes her again, unsure what else to do.
(Combat Expertise: +1 to defense, -1 to attacks; Defense: 16)
The sound of Synxol's pistol being fired once more, cause Jack to spin around. He makes a quick decision, turning his attention back towards Assisi. The Brother was struggling with two former victims of these things. The glowing red eyes gave him a pretty good idea that they had gone a bit..., wrong.
"Quick! To the Brother!" the Big Scot whispers loudly to the young lord. If whatever Synxol had taken a shot at is within kicking range, Jack will launch a kick in it general direction. If it's not the big man will head to the Scholar's aid.
Synxol, your shot had been aimed at head level for a human the little person that stabbed at you is roughly three foot 6 inches, he at least you think it's male, let's out an almost dog yelp and tries to scurry past you, into the grounds. The first zombie that Assisi has hit with his club finally stops moving, the other one stumbles and falls to the ground thanks to Jack's kick to it's spine.
Synxol heeds Jack, taking another few steps back while reloading, his eyes scouring the grounds for threats.
Breathing heavily, Brother Assisi stares at the hopefully now-fully-dead woman with the missing leg, as if expecting her to explain her behavior. Then he steps back, says "Thank you" to Jack, and looks around for further threats, including from the house and its upper stories.
"Yer welcome, Brother," Jack nods to Assisi, keeping his grey eyes on the downed dead. "Mr. Syn, what did you fire at a moment ago?" the big man asks the Lord, lifting his eyes up and scanning his surroundings.
Jack is also keeping his orbs peeled for his walking stick. He was somewhat attached to it.
Jack, your walking stick is found after you almost trip over it, at the same time you see a small human run past you yipping like a dog. he manages to flee into the mist and you can swear that you see a scaled tail from his backside. You quickly lose track of him and a few seconds later you hear a squeal from him and the wet sounds of something chewing on meat.
Synxol, glancing behind you towards the alley entrance, a wall of the deepest darkness looms behind you. You can make out unintelligible sounds, that make the lizard part of your brain telling you to flee from this wall of the night. It seems like the only way is forward and perhaps more creatures lie in the grounds. The lights in the manor are providing some illumination, along with the lights that show the path towards the hedge maze.
The manor grounds have been well maintained... at least until at least a few days ago, while the mist is obscuring much of what would be a very lovely manor you can see clearly 15 feet away from you. The sounds of eating flesh can be heard in the hedge maze, two paths, to the north the manor grounds and the manor itself, to the east; the hedge maze. Synxol is currently in the standing in the entrance to the alley, his focus is on the alleyway itself. Jack and brother Assisi are currently standing in the cross roads of maze and manor, two 'deadites' lie at their feet, along with creatures that were eating formally alive humans. The ground at your feet is cobblestone, the shape of trees can barely be made out in the mists strangely enough no one has come to investigate the commotion that has happened in the last few minutes.
ooc: knowledge religion checks for those of you wanting to know more on the creatures that attacked you, knowledge arcania check for the small stabby type.
Synxol backs toward the others as he continues loading his flintlock pistol whilst glancing about trying to wrap his head around what the Hell is going on with the creature, darkness, voices, and other related arcana that appears to be the norm of this spacial location, and chronological period.
Bending over to pick up his walking stick, Jack blinks in surprise at the sight of the scaled midget, complete with a tail, goes running past him.
"Okay, perhaps now not be the best time for this," Jack looks at the other two and pauses for a moment, trying to organize his thoughts. "But, I be powerfully curious to know what in the hell the thing with the claws was." The big Scot nudges the one of the chewed on formerly moving corpses with his boot. "Not to mention what be going on with with the two that it be eating. These poor sods didn't seem to give it much trouble." Jack was speaking barely above a whisper. The sounds of the coming storm where much closer.
The sounds of something being noisily eaten reaches his ears and he suddenly remembers the little scaled thing.
"Did you shoot at a scaled midget with a tail? 'Cause I be thinking it's something dinner in the maze." Jack glances at the maze then looks back at the lord. "I say we check out the manor first. I'd rather be stumbling around a maze in a storm."
Assisi looks at the small upright creature and wonders what it is, and also about the creatures that attacked him.
(OOC: not sure what my bonuses are, but must be at least +5 I would hope)
(from an earlier post)
"This place is evil. We ought to regroup, pray that we are not killed, and then return, better prepared."
Assisi and Synxol, both realize that if the fables are true, then the creatures that attacked first the humans who quickly turned into zombies, then the rest of your are called ghouls. Religious scripture tell tales of the dead rising up due to the call of a vampire, indeed some scripture claim that vampire's are in fact ghouls. Both fact and fiction seem to be close to the truth but not 100 percent, as ghouls are normally found in caves, underground aqueducts, as a case in Rome claimed, or in a graveyard. Since no graveyard was passed on the way to the manor and the fact that no family plot can be seen, then that means a sewer is nearby.
The scaled person is something called a kobold, some books claim that they are the offspring of dragons, the last known sighting of a dragon was in the 1300s. Synxol, recalls that when the 'veil' is stretched thin, the other beings of shadow, can be seen easier then normal. Odd occurrences can happen when the 'veil' has been torn, what happens in the torn veil is hidden from the rest of the 'normal' world.
The wall of shadow that is at the alley entrance, reminds you of the book that you had started to read early today however, you feel that no one might be around to pull you back from that abyss.
Synxol, feeling foolishly comforted by his reloaded weapon, relays what he has gleaned from the wine-sodden recesses of his mind regarding veils, kobolds, and the like.
The young lord leaves the other two to decide their course, and instead bends down to consider the dead. Perhaps Dr. Frankenstein is among them.
While the Lord and the Scholar take a few moments to look at the corpses and think about the events, Jack keeps an eye out. He glances back at the door that he had forced open. His long legs passing over the distance quickly, the big Scot quietly shuts the Servant's door.
Moving back to the other two, Jack thinks about what Assisi had said, mulling it over in his head.
"We should start peeking around the manor. Since we be here, we might as well be having a bit of a look-see," Jack says quietly to them. "There be the chance that those things be after the doctor." The big Scot flashes them a grin. "Another reason we should check out the manor."
Looking at the entrance to the maze, Jack shudders slightly.
"Besides, the only thing that we could be doing for being better prepared would to have Desmond guarding our backs," Jack says with a faint shudder. "And I rather not be having a Boggle be at my back."
Assisi is confused and is unsure what the best course of action is. He nods at Jack's words, and says, "The manor it is, then. For now. The good- The Doctor may be here, and may be in danger."
"Alright, to the manor," the big Scot says as he starts moving towards the home of the doctor. Mister Syn, if you would be so good as to keep an eye on path to the maze while we head to the manor. I'd rather us be snuck up upon," Jack adds with a quick grin.
The big man makes his way to the home, looking to see if anyone has come to a window. Jack hoped they were still undiscovered by whatever is in the manor.
The bodies on the ground are both female, unless the doctor has managed to change his sex, there is a good chance that these two corpses are not him. The first woman is dressed in noble fashion, but not a person of note, the other who is missing a leg, is dressed as a servant. A short walk leads you to the front manor door, which is currently hanging by a hinge, black congealed blood is splattered on the door itself.
The lighting on the inside of the manor, shows that the decor is in the latest fashion, the main entrance has a double stair case, both lead upstairs, one stair is on the left, the other is on the right. A landing overlooking the door and the entrance hall, as a lord of lady could overlook their guests.
Underneath the landing, a short walk and you would be in what you imagine the servants area, that would lead to the kitchen. An open door to the east (left) lies a sitting area, where one would wait in the case that the lord/lady of the house wasn't available at the moment. A couch that is over turned can been seen, along with a few shelves of books, that have been scattered about. No bodies have been found.... so far, although this is a big place so who knows what can lie within.
The doors that you can see are a double set, large enough that two people could walk next to each other while going through them and still have some room. A trail of boots can be seen going up, wet from water or sewage, are noticeable, one set looks normal sized, the other set is smaller then normal perhaps from a woman.
A wash of alcohol-flavoured vomitus washes the ground next to the bodies, spattering on Synxol's shoes and the lowest reaches of his pantaloons. All evidence of the young lord's weakness are erased by the swipe of the back of his hand across his mouth.
Trembling fingers work to close the fallen's eyelids, but fail to accomplish even this simple task.
His ears keep reminding him that the maze is perhaps the last place on the earth he wishes to be proximal to. With this in mind he retreats gathers among the pack, feeling safer with better odds that a predator might eat one of his traveling companions.
He was glad that the Boggle was searching on their behalf, since it was doubtful that they would find the doctor here...unless these creatures were under his charge. The thought that a lady, even a minor one, would grab a servant and plan a break-in was dubiously at best.
Synxol speaks, mostly to himself, as he glances around, "It is odd that my gunshots have not attracted more attention."
"Yea, that does be a bit on the odd side," floats Jack's response from over his shoulder as he glances back at the young lord. Corpses to the Scot were nothing new, Whitechapel practically churns them out. He had been more concerned with the "still moving and attacking after death," part of things. That part had been very new, and extraordinary terrifying.
All in all Jack was impressed that the two were holding together as well as they were. Even after a lifetime spent in the street of Whitechapel, he still wanted to run, screaming, from this place as fast as he could.
"Me boy's did mention that not even the Bobbies be walking past here." The big Scot fall silent for a moment. "Perhaps it be like Desmond's place. Most sane people just wish to be staying away from places like that," Jack glances back at the maze they had left behind. "Which be making us three bat s*~& crazy by my guess," Jack says quietly to the others, a smirk stretching across his whiskered face for a moment.
"Then again, maybe we be getting lucky and people just be thinking it be the coming storm," Jack says with a shrug of his massive shoulders.
Jack looks at the door hanging by a hinge and the dark, congealed bloodstain and shakes his head slightly.
"Well, getting in won't be much of a problem," Jack mutters as he carefully approaches the door. Walking in, the big man takes a few long moments to look around. He points out the two sets of wet prints, noticing that the Brother and the young Lord had noticed them as well.
"Alright, it looks like we been following the wet footprints first," Jack whispers to the others. "If we don't be finding anything at the end of the wet prints, then we be doing more searching around." The big man looks at the prints and gets ready to creep through an manor filled with who knows what. And Jack really doubted it was going to be friendly.
"Oh, and be keeping your eyes out for gems and the like. I have a Boggle to be paying," Jack says looking at the two with a ghost of a smile on his face.
As Assisi enters the building, and thinks about all that has transpired, he recalls reading an article about a place in London where insane people are brought, and "treated". It is known as Bedlam, even if its real name is Bethlam. This room, those creatures outside, remind him of that place.
Looking around, it is obvious that something occurred here recently. Assisi first goes over to the books, to see if there is any pattern to what was thrown to the ground and what was not, and to see their subjects in any case.
The scattered books hold no real clues, it seems like they were purchased for the the sole purpose to entertain people while they were waiting. Whomever or whatever was throwing books around, was in anger not finding the one thing that they were looking for. It seems that the doctor didn't believe in hiding his personal books in plain site.
A fire is burning in the hearth, as to ward off the chill of the spring evening however, no wood smoke can be enjoyed. It seems that whatever is fueling the fire is not by gas or wood, 'magic' or if the most hardcore of followers of Christ would say " Devilry ". The scholar in you is aghast at the sight of so many books treated so roughly.
The footsteps lead up, after Assisi and the rest of you come back from the sitting room, you resolve to head up the steps, the real question is: Quickly or with caution?
ooc: Move silently/ checks for those of you who want to move up the steps with as little noise as possible, or if you are moving normally. Either way at the moment move silently checks will not be impeeded by a -10 for moving at normal speed. At the moment due to the scene or what you have just witnessed I'm allowing normal move speeds with moving silently. I'll have a notice when you will need to slow your movement rate down as we progress through the manor :).
OOC: When the group moves upstairs:
The carpeting muffles the sound of your steps as you go upstairs, the quality would make royal family servants wish for this quality. Upon reaching the landing the trail leads to the west, as another large hallway looms through an archway. Two sets of double doors can be seen, one 20 ft away from the landing and another at the end of the hall, which looks about 60 ft away from the landing on the west.
The east section of the house seems to hold three more sets of double doors, each about 20 ft away from each other, it seems that whomever made these tracks hasn't had time to finish exploring the manor... or they might have a map.
Synxol moves up the stairs as one would expect of a visiting lord. He does not skulk, clad only in the shadows of his nefarious intentions, and moves both with a purpose and an ease that was intended to not end him up on the wrong side of a gun barrel.
Following the trail, Jack realized that the thick carpeting was deadening the sound of his foot steps. 'I be thinkin' all the places I have to break into should be havin' this type o carpet,' the Scot thinks with a grin.
As he gets closer to the first set of door after passing through the western arch, Jack slows his step. He looks at the carpet for a moment while he was near the door to makes sure he wasn't missing any wet footprints coming from or to the door.
Jack takes a moment and touches one of the wet footprints. Bringing his damp fingertips close to his hawkish nose, he sniffs. The big man wanted to know if the footprints were just wet boots. Or if the owner had been traveling in the sewers before coming here.
Once the Scot had that figured out, he rises and continues to follow the tracks to the double doors. 'Hopefully, I be having a chance to do a proper look-see through the manor,' Jack thinks when he gets to the door.
Hand on the right door's latch, Jack looks at the other two and nods. When they look ready, he carefully opens the door.
One of the boot prints does smell of the sewers as the other set smells earthly as if the person had walked through a field of wet grass. An odd combo to say the least, the smaller set is the sewer while the larger set, which looks closer to Jack's size in step.
Another piece of the puzzle which might be revealed soon, your hand touches the door and as you open it, you get the smell of an open sewer looking in to the room, you notice a desk that isn't destroyed a series of book shelves, another hearth which is unlit. A few lamps, filled with whale oil or so you guess, candles a few rather comfortable chairs are over turned and the footsteps of someone walking around cursing in Gaelic and Greek. A thump of a book hitting the ground can be heard, looking at the room you notice more stacks of shelving, the library rivals Synxols' and the volumes would make a scholar drool at pouring over the books.