Jake follows after the Constable, taking the time to grab his gun belt out of his valise and strapping it on.
Wilson, eager to get to the bottom of this mystery, follows suit with Jake, securing his pistol and then following after the Constable.
Kwan eagerly follows the sounds sometimes following the constable, and sometimes impatiently running ahead.
The going is slow as Tumwell stops at every farmhouse, henhouse, outhouse, and doghouse and makes sure that everything is as it should be. As the night grows late, the howling grows more and more frenetic, as if the animal is desperate for some reason. Finally, with dawn not far off and your group miles into the hills surrounding the vale, the howling ceases.
Tumwell look at Jake and then the rest of you and says, "well gentlemen I thank you for your company but as for me my bed calls my name. The train south calls at the station in an hour...if you hurry you can make it. The pub has a couple of rooms to rent above their barn if you decide to spend another day in our village."
"Hmm... he seems to be trying to get rid of us. What are they hiding in this community?" Wilson reflects. "I had better look sharp."
Focusing on people's behavior, particularly that of the constable.
You notice that the constable's shotgun is poorly maintained, that he is puffing hard trying to climb the hills, that he has visible food stains on his clothing and that every farmer he meets in the cold wet night expresses surprise that he's out and about instead of warm and dry inside the pub.
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Father Murphy frowns at the time mis-spent. In the pre-dawn light, he catches a glimpse of ruse growing along the shotgun's mouth. Frowning at the constable with all the power that CATHOLIC GUILT can muster, he mutters, "Sloth is among the most deadly of sins. We are thankful that you are aware of this. Tell me, were a party, certainly not us, I mean a different group of men which most certainly did not include you, but someone else, were this other group interested in encountering the howling creature, where would you send them?
I say this only out of curiosity, certainly not out of any plans to follow through, and certainly not to bring you anywhere near that location.
But surely you must have some guess?"
Connor muses that that might have come out better did he not want to strangle the man for depriving them of both a good night's sleep and a chance to accomplish anything...but that is now in the past.
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Caine tries his best to recall the route that the constable used through the evening, he looks around wondering about it....
"Is it possible the constable took us chasing the wild goose?"
The route was definitely serpentine but considering he was checking every farm and farm building, not unreasonable.
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[dice=wIlD nOTiCE]d6Father Murphy frowns at the time mis-spent. In the pre-dawn light, he catches a glimpse of ruse growing along the shotgun's mouth. Frowning at the constable with all the power that CATHOLIC GUILT can muster, he mutters, "Sloth is among the most deadly of sins. We are thankful that you are aware of this. Tell me, were a party, certainly not us, I mean a different group of men which most certainly did not include you, but someone else, were this other group interested in encountering the howling creature, where would you send them?
I say this only out of curiosity, certainly not out of any plans to follow through, and certainly not to bring you anywhere near that location.
But surely you must have some guess?"[dice=Persuasion]d4
[dice=wIld pERsUAsIOn]d6Connor muses that that might have come out better did he not want to strangle the man for depriving them of both a good night's sleep and a chance to accomplish anything...but that is now in the past.
Tumwell favors you with a look as dreary as an English winter, "Now listen here Yank, none of that tone. You're not in the colonies anymore. Here we expect our visitors to behave as civilized folk."
Looking exhausted, the fat lawman sits down on a moss covered rock and continues, "feel free to wander the vale to your hearts content but there's little to see further up the road except the castle. Beyond that is pure wilderness."
Wilson raises an eyebrow at the mention, "Castle? I understand many old castles and manors are falling out of use, these days. Is the castle still inhabited? Maybe they heard or saw something."
Wilson raises an eyebrow at the mention, "Castle? I understand many old castles and manors are falling out of use, these days. Is the castle still inhabited? Maybe they heard or saw something."
"Er, what? Still inhabited? Why of course it is, young man. The castle, specifically Castle Plum, has been the home of the Vanes for 700 years or more, don't you know...story is that King John himself knighted Charles Vane and gifted him the castle for his expert handling of an indiscretion involving Queen Isabella...quite a famous story...surprising you didn't learn about it in school...don't they teach you Yanks history?"
Caine thinks of the castles in Japan and the stories told of haunts and even Tengu.....
"Indeed the size and shape of a castle could have created distortion in sound which prevented us from following."
"I must admit that I have no idea if a castle could make a wolf sound, never heard of that. I guess Sir Author, Sir Author Vane that is, would know if his castle howls if anyone does," Tumwell says doubtfully.
I think we should head out to the castle ASAP.
Jake grinned.
"That's a fine idea! Always wanted to visit a castle..." He enthused.
"I have never been to a castle. Let us go". Kwan seems almost excited for the first time anyone can remember.
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"I have visited a number of castles in Japan, yet none here."
@Jake
"Jake have you ever worked on a movie in a castle?"
Adjusts his katana...recalls how much work and detail it required to make it...
"I have thought that my talents in crafting puzzle boxes and weapons that maybe I could make some of the weapon props for a movie."
@Kwan
"What of you Kwan? Do you have such hobbies?"
Tumwell listens to your conversation for a moment then interrupts, "I must say, if you show up looking like ragamuffins, the staff will never admit you into the castle. You would be visiting nobility, and no matter how minor that mobility is they still have certain standards. Also rudeness," giving a hard stare in Murphy's direction, "will not be well tolerated." Shaking his head in disgust at the obvious stupidity of Yanks he continues, "of course they have a telephone...you can see the wires following the road."
With his piece said, Tumwell struggles to his feet from his rock and with a curt wave of his hand heads back down the road towards the village muttering, "I must be a nutter to follow these Yanks out into the hills on a night like last."
"Jake have you ever worked on a movie in a castle?"
"No, not yet. My swashbuckling work has been only a couple of seagoing adventure movies. I played a couple of the enemy Captains in Captain Blood, have you seen it?"
"Er, what? Still inhabited? Why of course it is, young man. The castle, specifically Castle Plum, has been the home of the Vanes for 700 years or more, don't you know...story is that King John himself knighted Charles Vane and gifted him the castle for his expert handling of an indiscretion involving Queen Isabella...quite a famous story...surprising you didn't learn about it in school...don't they teach you Yanks history?"
Jake waxed enthusiastically.
"Say, that sounds like the bees knees! That's the other reason I came to England, to find a story like that to film with my new studio! I wonder if they would be willing to rent the castle as a set?" He mused aloud."I must be a nutter to follow these Yanks out into the hills on a night like last."
"Now now Constable, I know I myself am grateful for your considerable efforts on our behalf..."
"I suggest we give them a call at a more decent time rather than come calling at all hours. If that howling was coming from up the vale in the castle vicinity, they may have some more information or some evidence of what it was, particularly if it bothers any of their animals."
"I didn't hear any barking, though. I thought owning hunting dogs of some sort was a common practice among aristocrats," Wilson muses further.
The grumbling constable gives Jake a smile and returns to shake his hand. Whispering he says, "it's an honor to have a famous movie star in our little village. Let me know if you need anything else. And," jerking a thumb at Murphy, "keep an eye on that one. He's a bit of an odd duck, not sure if I'd trust him."
"I suggest we give them a call at a more decent time rather than come calling at all hours. If that howling was coming from up the vale in the castle vicinity, they may have some more information or some evidence of what it was, particularly if it bothers any of their animals."
"I didn't hear any barking, though. I thought owning hunting dogs of some sort was a common practice among aristocrats," Wilson muses further.
You've noticed phones at the pub and the church offices.
"I have visited a number of castles in Japan, yet none here."
@Jake
"Jake have you ever worked on a movie in a castle?"Adjusts his katana...recalls how much work and detail it required to make it...
"I have thought that my talents in crafting puzzle boxes and weapons that maybe I could make some of the weapon props for a movie."@Kwan
"What of you Kwan? Do you have such hobbies?"
"I do not understand what you men by 'hobbies'. I only do what must be done, and that takes all my time".
"If the higher caste in this land are similar to those in mine, then they would prefer visitors during the daytime... just not to early. They don't rise with the son".
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"Father Murphy has the right of it, we should call the residents of the castle and make certain we announce ourselves for a visit, and make certain our tour includes the whole of it, so that we may see everything from stem to stern."
"Apologies Kwan I meant no offense it seems in these lands hobbies is a turn for things thought trivial and of little import."
Telephone borrowed, you place a call to Castle Plum and request an appointment to visit the castle and speak with Sir Author. The request is not met with much favor by the man who answers the phone, but after having to hold the line for several minutes the man tells you that a truck from the castle will be calling at the train station at noon (4 hrs from now) to pick up some packages and you may ride back in the truck to have a brief visit to the castle.
"Lets make sure we have everything we need and head to the train station and by everything we need, I've noticed things ussually have a chance to go ariy when we are working together so I hope you all understand what I mean said with a wink to the group.
"We had best get cleaned up as well. It has been a long night and we want to make a decent impression." Wilson says before looking to secure a place to stay, and therefore tidy up, with he publican.
Jake nodded.
"Yeah, we've been up practically all night. I could do with a nap and a change of clothes at least."
You find that the only rooms available are the store rooms above the pub. It's not a luxurious accommodation by any means but there is plenty of room for each to stretch out and get a couple of hours rest and then prepare yourself for the coming day by taking turns in the small lavatory at the back of the pub.
Precisely at noon, you gather at the quaint train station as the train from the south pulls in. The porters off-load two large crates and place them on the platform. An ancient looking lorry, belching smoke from its tailpipes, pulls to a stop and an elderly man climbs down from the cab, looks at the crates and then at you.
"Oy, you the boys coming to visit the castle? Give me a hand with them crates why don't you," he says pointing to the boxes. "Names Sumners by the way," he says as he waits for you to load the boxes.
Jake, looking natty as ever and working on his first Lucky Strike, grinned at him and proffered his hand.
"Of course sir! I'll be glad to lend a hand; name's Jake, Jake Westfield."
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"A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Sumners. Of course, of course. Work is good for the soul, and a labor shared is a labor halved."
Connor is quickly learned that nothing that they have come across is as it seems (or should be) and he does not miss that the fellow might be the only soul on the whole British Isle that had a harder night than them.
"Though alas I'll need this labor to be a bit more than halved for me to be of much service," he says as he tries to pick up a box, and then must let it down after only getting a corner a full inch off the ground, his efforts eliciting a faint jingle of chains from inside.
Fr. Murphy fails to stifle a massive yawn. "Oh! Apologies, but it seems that last night had little Grace for me, what with all the to-do about. How slept you, Mr. Sumners?"
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Kwan helps lift the crates, and puzzles for a moment placing his head against the crate with a curious frown on his face.
Wilson pitches in to help with the crates, though the fatigue from the night before is telling and keeping him off his game.
"A tour? That's a capital idea, Chang. I expect a fellow like you, Mr. Sumners, knows a great deal about the local history as well. The Constable seemed quite proud of the castle's role in history last night. I was hoping, perhaps, you could tell us a bit about it. Right now, I feel woefully ignorant about the castle and lord and I'd like to avoid embarrassing ourselves with that ignorance."
"A most fortunate turn of events that you should honor us with a ride to the castle, will a tour interfere over-much with you job duties Mr. Sumners?"
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"Well, see here gov'nor...I'm just a simple handyman for Sir Author and his kin, I don't be giving tours, especially of the castle...you'll need to speak to Sir Author about that."
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Wilson pitches in to help with the crates, though the fatigue from the night before is telling and keeping him off his game.
"A tour? That's a capital idea, Chang. I expect a fellow like you, Mr. Sumners, knows a great deal about the local history as well. The Constable seemed quite proud of the castle's role in history last night. I was hoping, perhaps, you could tell us a bit about it. Right now, I feel woefully ignorant about the castle and lord and I'd like to avoid embarrassing ourselves with that ignorance."
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For some reason, Sumners has taken a liking to Guthrie and happily shares what he knows about the history of the castle and its surroundings as well as Sir Author and his family. A couple of items likely stand out...
"Well, see here, Sir Author is a stickler for proper behavior and Master Lawrence has the same attitude. I'd recommend you watch your P's and Q's around them. Young Miss Eloise is more salt of the earth you might say. Poor things been a bit ill, don't you know."
"It's an old castle, you see, one of the oldest still in use in all of Britain, so of course there's all kinds of stories bout the old place. Goblins and Ghosties and such, don't you know, but I've lived there for nigh on 60 years and ain't never set eyes on what'cha might call monsters."
Lowering his voice, he adds, "now, don't you be telling Sir Author I told you this one, but I heerd it from my pops and he heerds it from his that the Vanes burned some witches, must have been around the same time you yanks had your Salem...anyhow, them witches supposedly cursed the Vane family, just nonsense I know, but still that stories been 'round for a long time."
"We've been having problems with Wolves the last few months...haven't seen 'em but you sure can hear them sometimes. Master Lawrence has ordered all of us to stay locked inside when the wolves are howling."
"Wolves, eh? Have they a history of being particularly aggressive in these parts? I wouldn't have expected wolves to be a problem in Britain."
Jake perked up.
"Wolves? Say, that would be perfect! The lonely sound of wolves howling in the distance, the hero stumbling through the woods, desperate to get to the castle before he's caught... It practically writes itself!" He enthused, waving his arms about, framing an imaginary movie camera.
Kwan remains quiet and observant.
Somehow you all manage to crowd into the battered lorry and hold on tight as it wheezes and huffs up the steep road from the village. After a few miles of travel through beautiful but incredibly rugged terrain you find yourself in front of Castle Plum, ancestral home of family Vane.
Jake's eyes no doubt light up as the castle seems to be a perfect setting for a movie, run-down, isolated, walls overgrown with ivy, no lights showing through any openings in the walls...
As the lorry backfires, Sumners pulls to a halt in front of the remains of a barn that stands across a open space from the castle entrance...
"Well, there you go," he says pointing to the castle, "you'd best be going and introducing yourself to Sir Vane." Even as Sumners gives his advice, a well dressed man opens the door to the castle and gives you all a hard stare.
Wilson thanks Sumners as he gets down from the truck and approaches the well-dressed man. He decides to take it fairly easy on the greeting and not press too hard at this point.
"Good day, sir. My name is Guthrie Wilson, and these are my associates, Forest Roosevelt, Chang Cain, Kwan Ho, Father Murphy, and Jake Westfield. We rang ahead from the town this morning and hope our visit won't intrude too much on castle hospitality. May we come in?"