Candace "Bones" Macdougal's page

*Chirrup*

Talon exclaims, flickering his wings in irritation from his perch on Candace's shoulder. The young woman quickly reaches up and puts a calming hand upon the bird's back, softly petting it has her face turns an even deeper shade of red.

"Agatha...I...I...said I was sorry. It really wasn't...wasn't anything to do with..." She says with sorrowful exasperation. Hurt and more than a little anger and embarrassment clouding her voice.

"Bah! Quiet you. I've no need for more of your useless apologies." Shouts back the spurned Agatha, waving the young woman from her room.

The truth of the matter was that the young master in question was neither interested in the much older Agatha or Candace or birds. He'd barely given Talon a glance, after he'd asked Candace to show him her small aviary. Instead the door hadn't been closed more than a minute when he suddenly pressed himself up against Candace in the quiet of the shed-turned-aviary tucked along the back wall of the manor's estate. His searching lips puckered like an addled pond grouper tried to reach her own even as she began to shout in protest and struggle away. But by that point his solid grip was already clamped upon her shoulders and there was no breaking away.

'Hahaha, and the others said I couldn't land a kiss or more from one 'o the Baron's brood.' He said with a leering grin. 'Now let's see about that more..." He adds trying to reach beneath her tunic. The man's laughter quickly turned into a cry of pain and fright as Talon swooped down raking his namesakes across the young man's head and shoulder. Using the distraction, she gathered all her possible strength and planted a well aimed knee that had Alain toppling like a felled tree, his eyes rolling into the back of his head. Candace scrambled away, calling Talon, who raked a claw across exposed flesh one last time for good measure.

Needless to say Alain had not set foot on the manor grounds since. Unfortunately, when Candace tried to tell Agatha what had happened, her sister simply wouldn't believe such a thing could possibly have happened. Even if it had, it was surely because Candace had encouraged him in order to steal him away and then changed her feather-headed mind at the last moment. Obviously Agatha still hadn't considered that her younger sister was simply telling the truth.

"Fine! You can rot away in here all alone, for all I will care." She says, puffing out her cheeks and doing her best to hold back tears. Instead of waiting for any further derision from her sister, Candace spins and stomps out of the room. The embarrassment and humiliation in front of the rest of the village. She caught a glimpse of Stitch's snickering face and even worse the surprise and shock on the outlander's face. It was all more than she could bare. I should have never brought them here! Would have been best just go to the standing stones and see for themselves what was there! At that moment she really did hate her spinster sister as she raced back down the stairs. Talon's chirrup echoing down the shadow filled hall.

Her nose wrinkles and her eyes water as the overwhelming smell of the incense plays havoc with Candace's senses when she steps into the room. More surprising than the harsh smell is the utterly unusual chaotic state of her eldest sister's room. Towel's hanging from chairs, rain soaked clothing mildewing on the floor. A mold filled bowl of half eaten, congealed porridge. Saint's blessing, I thought I'd just be lucky in avoiding her these last few weeks. Candace thinks guiltily. Instead she's been ill and forced to take care of herself.

"A...Agatha? It's Candace. Are you unwell? Perhaps one of us should run for the apothecary...or...or the temple if you prefer?" Candace says standing next to her sister's dresser, doing her best to push some of the clothing back into the drawers. "I'm sure folk would be willing to help if in return you could just tell us why old Jerrod said you would be the one going out to the old stone circle in the moors. It's nothing against you doing it, but you see, the council has tasked us with...ummm...with finding the saint's hand and its like Zuni said, the signs point to the standing stones." She pauses for a moment, but gets nothing in response. "If there's any way you could help, well, it's...well...I'm sure...uh...folk would be grateful."

Negotiate with CHA: 2d6 + 0 ⇒ (1, 4) + 0 = 5

Uh oh...

"It is probably best if someone else asks Agatha about the stones." Candace whispers to those standing in the hall. "She'll likely just yell at me as a bothersome, tiresome, girl and tell me to go make father's porridge."

Candace looks up at the manor as the group slowly trudges their way up the muddy track. She couldn't help but imagine how the place must have once looked. Bright, proud, full of life and hope. A beacon of civilization in the frontier wilderness. She sighs. That was all long ago. The family had fallen on hard times. The Macdougal's of more recent years hadn't been so much beacons for civilization and hope, but more like smoldering old lamps drawing con men, swindlers, and schemers. Moths come to eat the family fortune. She sighs again.

She casts quick glances at the others traveling up the hill with her. Was it pity? Or more righteous justification? There were many who thought even the idea of nobility and family titles should be tossed aside. Or even worse, was it just distaste or disapproval at the dilapidated state.

"I do my best to help out and keep things up as I can, but there is just too much, and well, I'm not really handy with tools. Candace says her face flushing. "But I could work the gardens, at least until all this rain started." Her brief cheer turning a bit shy again as she points out patch of well tended raised garden beds now mostly filled with water and a few struggling plants.

"Father keeps saying he'll get the repair men up here, but that he just hasn't the time for such things given all the different projects he's managing." She says the belief in her father shining in her voice as she guides everyone away from the front entrance. They couldn't go through the front hall as it is currently occupied by a smattering of buckets, pans, and pails to catch the rain leaking through the roof. The constant *plink* *plonk* *plip* of the water can be heard through a broken window.

"More like the old buzzard can't find anyone willing to work for free." Stitch mutters with a derisive snort.

Pretending not to hear the remark Candace catches a glimpse of the movement above. She quickly pulls her eyes away and suppresses a shiver. "We don't use the west wing much anymore. 'Cept for Sarafina of course." The family rarely talked about the sixth daughter of the baron. Not since...

*Chirrup* Talon gives Candace a light tap on her head, drawing her back into the moment.

Arriving at the back entrance, she finally manages to work the lock and shove the thick oak door open.

"Father! Agatha! Anyone!" She hesitantly shouts stepping into the tiny back entrance and mudroom. A shadow filled hallway leads deeper into the manor while the smell of woodsmoke signals the kitchen likely lies through a second doorway. Over the acid scent of the smoke is another, much stronger smell. That of mildew, mold and dry rot. The tangy odor permeates the very essence of the manor. Candace doesn't seem to notice. "I've guests from the village!"

For the moment nothing answers back but the echoing sound of water dripping into pails.

"S.sss...sure." Candace stammers nervously. "She should just be at manor house. I mean, I can't really imagine her being anywhere else." The woman adds, clearly puzzled by the discovery of her eldest sister's late evening activities.

Confused and clearly a bit nervous about confronting her rather imposing and controlling sister, Candace leads the ragtag group of villagers up toward her families manor house.

GM: If you had a different Agatha in mind, well then Candace can just be wrong about her assuming it was her sister.

Fidgeting and fussing in the leather armor, Candace dawdled near the back of the group barely hearing anything being discussed with the odd old man shouting at them from up in the trees. She did take care to carefully and discreetly slide her foot off of a red and yellow primrose.

When was the last time this armor was properly cleaned? She wonders, trying to scratch an itch on her lower back. When suddenly the name Agatha registers in her mind. Wait?! What? Agatha?! Cleaning tending to standing stones...

"You don't suppose he means our Agatha, do you Talon?" She whispers to the falcon who warily watches the woodsman on his perch.

*Chirrup* Replied the falcon conspiratorially.

"Then again, how many woman named Agatha with wooden legs can there be in one village? Only one that I know of."

*Chirrup*

Candace sighs, it seems she might need to deal with her sister after all.

"Ahem....Ummm....I think he might be referring to my sister Agatha." Candace says sheepishly from the back of the crowd.

Candace will take one of the leather armor, if no one objects.

GM: I'm not exactly sure what equipment Candace was able to get from Florian or if we need to spell it all out at this point. Perhaps everyone gets one Adventuring Gear as defined in the Equipment Table?

Earlier in the morning...

Candace arrives at the Pig & Pickle barely managing the load of equipment given to her by Florian. A hodgepodge of torches, tools, rope, hard rations, and a few other items that the councilor thought might come in handy for the expedition.

Huffing and puffing beneath the heavy load, Candace drops the stuff in the center of the tavern's common room. After a few seconds catching her breath she offers a shy smile to those gathered.

"I managed to convince Councilor Florian to provide a few supplies for the expedition. If we divide up the load between us all, it shouldn't be too much of a burden on any." She says.

When she sees the armor Zuni managed to secure, she finds herself cautiously fingering the leather and holding it up to her thin frame. A bit of extra protection could come in rather handy. She contemplates.

"What do you think Talon? Will it fit?"

*Chirrup*

Candace flushes as Florian quips about her families financial straights. It wasn't usually something she thought about much, preferring the company of Talon, the woods, and open hills more than the village. Still, she knew they had fallen on hard times and Agatha and Gwendolyn and Marisa were always going on about the need to raise more funds. Of course none of them agreed on how to go about doing that.

The only other one in the family who didn't seem to be bothered by their financial misfortune was Evelyn, her raven haired sister second oldest after Agatha. Candace wasn't sure exactly how Evelyn managed it, but her sister always seemed to have just enough money for whatever she happened to need at the time.

"Do we have a deal?"

The words draw Candace out of her internal thoughts and she nods at the rather arrogant councilor. "Certainly, I'll talk to father." She says cheerfully, knowing full well that the odds of anyone listening to her thoughts about business were laughably long.

She then cautiously takes the brooch, handling it as if it were covered in the toxic effluent of the Sixteenth Pit of Chaos. "It...it's...magical?" She stammers, looking at the little bit of jewelry as if it were ready to reach out and strangle her at any moment. "I don't..." She considers all of the others on the expedition who might need and benefit from the supplies. Not just herself. Adventurers and heroes often have to deal with great and powerful magics. Best learn to do so right at the start, girl. Else you might as well just go home and clean the kitchens and finish your knitting. Candance swallows hard and slowly nods.

"Oooo...okay. I'll wear it for you Master Florian." She says, gingerly pinning the brooch onto her worn cloak.

*Chirrup* Talon quips uneasily, shifting to the shoulder opposite the brooch.

Watching Syrina try to learn more about the Standing Stones and mostly running into the usual stone-faced silence that outsiders encountered, Candace decides to tackle another important challenge. Mainly, the fact she had nearly nothing suitable for traipsing off into the moors to crawl about in forgotten caverns or tombs or whatever might be lurking out there.

"Agatha will be most displeased, if she knew what we were doing. So we certainly can't go home to get any supplies. She'd stop us in a heartbeat." She says to Talon eliciting a confused look from those sitting nearby, until they realize it was just Candance being...well Candace. She always was considered a bit strange by most folk.

Chirrip Came the usual reply, the falcon's eyes keenly following the rat tail dangling from Stitch's pocket.

She sits thoughtfully pondering her problem until her eyes finally light up and she hurries after the departing councilors.

"Master Florian! Master Florian!" She calls to the town's largest merchant when she spots him making his way across the mud filled main lane.

The man doesn't stop until he is back under cover of the lantern makers shop at which point he turns and simply quirks an eyebrow wondering what the baron's odd daughter might want of him.

Slopping through the mud, Candance takes a moment to catch her breath and then makes her request. "Master Florian, since the council has sanctioned our expedition to recover the good saints hand. I thought it might be possible for the council to either donate some of the equipment we might need, or at the very least, provide it on account to be paid upon the hand's safe return." She looks up at him, her hair completely out of sorts and bedraggled with the rain and her journey from the manor. She was never an attractive girl, not like that woman Syrina, but her youthful looks and knowledge of her family could occasionally sway folks to be a bit more charitable or kind to her. She looks at Florian, her eyes filled with excitement for the endeavor and fear of its failure. "Surely it would benefit the entire village and the council if we are well equipped at the start to give us the best chance of success? And a bit of rope, a few torches, a shovel or two for digging, maybe a few other odds and ends that others might think of. Would that be possible councilor?"

Negotiate for basic equipment using CHA: 2d6 + 0 ⇒ (5, 4) + 0 = 9

"Oh...uhhhh...really just Candace is fine." Candace says still blushing at Zuni's kindness as she responds to the woman's question. The big watchwoman was everything the baron's daughter wished she could be. Strong, courageous, respected by most folk in the village. Free of any pushy sisters, at least as far as Candace knew.

Her thoughts quickly turn from admiration and back to the task at hand when Zuni mentions the Moors. And she remembers why she'd come to the Pig and Pickle in the first place.

"Ummm...Talon and I...uh...well we just happened to be walking along...err...well Talon was flying...the edge of the Moors. On the old path, you know, the one that goes to those Standing Stone tucked in the vale behind Twin Top. And we saw these tracks..." She says quietly, barely heard amongst the rest of the chatter.

"Big prints. Not like cattle or uhhh sheep. They were heading away from the village." She adds shyly and with a shiver as she too thinks of all the children's tales of evil and dangers lurking in the Moors.

"Oh...hello Motherbear...errr...Miss Apertaux." Candace says, her face scrunching to a grimace at her initial slip into familiarity with the Watchwoman. Her sister was always berating her for 'being much too familiar with the common folk. To do so, is to encourage the riffraff to strive above their proper station. Candace thought that was just nonsense, after all most of the other villagers didn't have a leaky roof or a stove that put more smoke than heat into the kitchen. Based on her own experience in her just over two decades of life, she'd much rather live a common folks life than that her noble family offered. Alas, life is what it is. Still she offers the Watchwoman a shy smile and nods toward the oozing honey.

"It is a lovely rendition of the old standing stones, don't you think?"

She frowns down at the indecipherable mess. "Or at least it was. Even the strange, twisted, Iron Watcher in the southeast corner of the circle was portrayed. Or it was until Lady Astier stepped on it." She adds, her eyes shifting to focus on the councilwoman's honey coated shoe standing near the edge of Remy's tossed divination.

*Chirrup* Talon pips from Candace's shoulder, a friendly avian greeting to the Watchwoman and her undertaker companion.

Candace clattered with every step she took. Her hurried pace into town causing the tiny bones woven into her long strands of hair to tap-tap while noble Talon rode resolutely upon her narrow, cloaked shoulder. She'd spotted two more of the odd, three-toed, tracks along her way. One more leaving town and one entering. That last one sent chills racing along her spine.

"Do you think it's some kind of shapeshifter?" She says to the golden eyed bird on her shoulder. "I wonder if it is that big, tall woman who came into town a day or two ago. That would explain why she's so tall and broad shouldered. Why, I bet she's her to eat up..."

*Chirrip*

Candace sighs. Talon was right. She couldn't let her imagination run wild. Agatha was always calling her a mooneyed ninny because, well because Agatha was Agatha and ever since Candace can remember her sister didn't believe when she said a pixie hid father's favorite mug, or that bogan's were bothering the milk cow. So it was always up to Candace to put things right by giving offering a bit of Remy's honey to the pixie or draping a necklace of mistletoe and lavender around Nutmeg's neck to keep the bogan's at bay.

She passed the cobbler's, the baker's, and the candlestick maker's. The later had recently burnt down in yet another of the mysterious accidents since the Hand had gone missing.

Finally arriving at the Pig and Pickle, dripping and mudsoaked, she's surprised to see a crowd gathered in the common room staring down at a mass of honey comb, slowly oozing its golden contents into the gaps of the floorboards. Much like the entire village, the tangy smell of pickles permeates the air.

Looking down at the broken honeycomb at Remy's feet, her eyes suddenly go wide.

"Oh my." She exclaims, not noticing the odd looks of all the others staring at the beekeeper, or at the tavern keeper's frown as he notices Talon riding on her shoulder. "That looks like a perfect replica of the Standing Stones." She says, the bones in her hair clacking as she leans forward to get a closer look at the scattered comb.

*Chirrip*

*SPLORK*

"Oh blast and damnation!" Candace swears lifting her soaked boot, and now foot, from the more than ankle deep puddle. "This never ending rain has turned the entire forest on the south side of the village into a murky, disgusting swamp." She adds to no one in particular, except maybe the small, puffed up, sparrow sitting a few paces above her head. Although she will never know it, the sparrow does agree with her general sentiment. It flies away looking for a drier perch.

Somewhere high above, near the very top of the wide, tall elder firs that marked this gloomy area there's a loud chirrip. Followed by three more in quick succession.

"I hear you laughing up there Talon." The young woman says, gray eyes peering up into the dense canopy only to be rewarded with a massive plop of rainwater dripping into said eye. "Bah. Silly bird. Get down here this instant!" She hollers, rubbing water from her eye as her long dark hair, pulled back into a single pony tail flops back and forth.

"If father, or Ignys forbid, Agatha, find out we've been in Gloomwood, we'll not hear the end of it for weeks." She's past her majority, by too many years, but still her eldest sister treated her like one of the twins. Sometimes it was more than infuriating at times.

*Chirrip* Is the bold reply from high above.

"Well, I don't know why it's forbidden. It just...it just is. Silly bird." She replies, although its somewhat unclear if the eloquent falcon is listening. "Something to do with ghosts or spirits or something, I think. Or maybe it was evil faeries. There're always evil faeries in gloomy woods. Or was it a dragon. Dragon's often live near villages and eat their cattle. Or maybe..."

*Chirrip*

"What? Oh...well, I know it has to do with those old stones that are out here somewhere. Creepy old mossy covered things. Just standing there in a circle for no good reason."

Fighting her way through a patch of tangled brambles and vines she stops in her muddy tracks. Before her is a narrow path leading deeper into the wood. It isn't the overgrown, swampy trail that surprises her. No, it is the odd, water filled footprint squished into the path. A footprint, most certainly not human, on a path no one in the village ever uses. She couldn't wait to tell Charolette.

If she hurried, she could catch the cook's helper at the Pig and Pickle before she headed home from her shift.

"Come on Talon. Really we've got to go this time." She shouts.

*Chirrup* The bird replies, but this time swoops down out of the trees to land on the long leather glove covering the young woman's outstretched arm.

Candance is the fifth of seven daughters born to the beleaguered Baron MacDougal whose broken down manor stands high upon the hill overlooking the village. The Baron, a gentile and outgoing man who happens to be on his third wife and utterly horrible with money. It has been five generations since the Macdougals actually produced a head of the family who wasn't taken in by any grifter or confidence scheme that happened to be passing through.

Called Bones, Candance is skinny and all hard angles and edges. Having survived three bouts with various poxes and fevers, it is considered a miracle by some that she is even alive. (Witchery by some others.)

She's a quiet girl with almost no skill in the usual womanly arts of embroidery, cooking, and gossip. Instead she has taken to the art of falconry after a young gentlemen passed through courting her older sister (The baron's second eldest at the time.) Her sister gave her one of her poor husband's falcons after the man met with a tragic accident while riding near the Giant's Stairsteps, a massive set of cascading terraced waterfalls, known for excellent fishing holes, and mysterious deaths.

Candace bonded took to the hunting birds with rarely seen joy and persistence.

Quote: "Fly! Fly Talon and bring us home a fine rabbit."

"Wait. Where are you going you blasted bird! Get back here!"