Grayell laughed and shot Serenity a look that wasn't entirely scolding as he shook Alec's hand.
Yeah, seems we're in quite the fix now. Obviously, we won't be able to leave town either. But I have a suspicion already. Let's find someone to talk to.
Alec [M:118:6:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=412&page=1#1242]"I see," said the blind man to the deaf lady.[0:Wandering the stacks.][1:Present and accounted for.]
Alec turns to Serenity and shakes her hand as well. "Seeing as how you're the one with the idea, I'd say lead on."
Come in under the shadow of this red rock, and I will show you something different from either your shadow at morning, striding behind you, or your shadow at evening, rising to meet you. I shall show you fear in a handful of dust.
Serenity looked over to the stable where some other work hands were putting things away and taking care of the horses. Their drivers must of gone home,
"Why don't we ask these men over here?"
Serenity began to walk over to the stable, Grayell and Alec follow suit. As they approached two of the men looked up and tipped their hats off to Serenity, then nodded to Grayell and Alec.
"Ma'am," "sir." replied Serenity.
The one that started talking was wearing brown overalls with with a white shirt underneath. He wore a rounded brown hat with matching color gloves. Clearly he was young with a square jaw, and a little easy on the eyes.
His friend was a tad shorter wearing a similar outfit but with rounder cheeks and jaw.
"My name is Stephen, I take care of our cattle, what's left of it." "Paul," said the rounder one.
He seemed polite enough, but not entirely relaxed as one would expect given the circumstances.
"I hear you the folks who're going to help us with...our god. I'm sorry but I never really believed in it myself, having not seen it an all. I figured that old man was just crazy and we hunted for a ghost."
Grayell and you might just be right. I need more information though. How long has this been going on? How frequently? How many people have been taken... and cattle? Are the killings particular or indiscriminate, secret or public... anything. What do these beasts look like? Any tracks?
Alec [M:118:6:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=412&page=1#1242]"I see," said the blind man to the deaf lady.[0:Wandering the stacks.][1:Present and accounted for.]
Alec nods to the men as well. "I'm Alec. And, I don't think god is a very accurate word. Sounds more like an angry - or corrupted - forest spirit. But anything at all you can tell us will help."
Come in under the shadow of this red rock, and I will show you something different from either your shadow at morning, striding behind you, or your shadow at evening, rising to meet you. I shall show you fear in a handful of dust.
Paul answered Grayell first, "Well these two horses are the last ones we have. They don't really attack them when they were just here in the stable, only when we used to try and escape the area. We used to have four wagons and about ten horses, good ones. The creatures would attack them to force us of."
The short work hand petted the one horse closest to him, "These were the best we had and saved em last."
Stephen spoke up next, "Yea, Paul and I only been working here for a little over a year, we were picked up when the town's wagon came by our way and we had nothing to live by. We been working here since then. So I was a little skeptical about the god thing, but we were being fed and the work was good."
Serenity intervened, "And the creatures?"
"Yea I'm sorry I was about to get to that. We used to hunt once a month, get about five bucks to 'satisfy' the forest god. Then the elder would go into the forest with a few men on the night of the first full moon of that month, men would come back, then the elder would come back. We never missed our schedule."
Paul started again, "We got attacked the night before the moon was gonna be full, about two months ago. First by this giant thing, it had white fur and a large mouth, but lots of it was covered in this..black..something. I can't really describe it."
"The smaller ones then came for us at random times, and I'm sorry but they're really hard to describe. They looked like shadows, with mouths basically. Just black, cloudy lookin, four legged monsters. The attacks were frequent at first, like once every two days, then it slowed to about once a week. But we still don't know when to expect one."
I'm not sold but I definitely will say it sounds like corruption.
Any ventures into the forest that were, lemme say irregular prior to all of this? Any strangers in town, something new that happened or stirred things up - SOMETHING out of the ordinary?
Alec [M:118:6:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=412&page=1#1242]"I see," said the blind man to the deaf lady.[0:Wandering the stacks.][1:Present and accounted for.]
"I'm particularly interested in any strangers in town shortly before it happened. Anyone come into town, enter the forest, then leave shortly after? Or never come back, even?"
Come in under the shadow of this red rock, and I will show you something different from either your shadow at morning, striding behind you, or your shadow at evening, rising to meet you. I shall show you fear in a handful of dust.
"Can't really say to be honest. Some travelers come on by sure, usually to rest, but we always tell them to not go into the forest. Folks tend to get lost in it, and only the elder has supposedly gone farther in. That's why he always sends his help back and comes home alone. After they drop off the sacrifice I mean. At any rate, we didn't have any travelers around when the attacks started happening."
"Not any that were staying with us at the time."
Serenity felt that these men were being honest, not that she suspected they would hide anything to begin with.
"Thank you, we'll leave you to work then." "Ma'am."
She turned to Grayell and Alec, "We should try talking to someone who's lived here a long time."
The elder. If he doesn't know, then whoever does isn't telling. Half cocked and running off to kill something that is apparently a god... I'd rather quit the job.
Grayell heads back to the building to speak to the elder.
Alec [M:118:6:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=412&page=1#1242]"I see," said the blind man to the deaf lady.[0:Wandering the stacks.][1:Present and accounted for.]
Following Grayell, Alec sighs. "Forest spirit. And, I'd say we're pretty much stuck here until we finish the job. Whatever it is apparently doesn't want people to leave - and now that we're here, that includes us."
Come in under the shadow of this red rock, and I will show you something different from either your shadow at morning, striding behind you, or your shadow at evening, rising to meet you. I shall show you fear in a handful of dust.
The group walks back into the first house they entered, no one to be found in the living room,
"They might be upstairs," Serenity said, leading Grayell and Alec up the stairs and into the room she took Gwiyn to. When they arrived the door was open down the hall and both she and the doctor could be seen caring for the elder. She noticed Serenity and left the room to meet her.
Looking at Grayell and Alec she bowed and wiped her face of any remaining tears, "I'm sorry about earlier, I couldn't control myself thinking about my little baby brother."
Serenity wrapped her arms around her, "Darling, its ok, we're all here to help, but we need your help first." she let go and backed away a little.
"Thank you..I know its just been so hard, on everyone. Whole families have been torn up because of this mess. What did you want to know?"
Everything. I intend to bring back anyone we can and stop the killing that plagues your people, but we simply need to know everything. And as the only man to meet with this beast, I would like to hear it from the elder.
Grayell folded his arms. People in trouble should be far more compliant than this, without the need for encouragement. Maybe he was being too harsh, but this whole scenario stank.
Alec [M:118:6:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=412&page=1#1242]"I see," said the blind man to the deaf lady.[0:Wandering the stacks.][1:Present and accounted for.]
"I'd like to speak with him as well. If he could tell me the spirit's name, I might know why it's acting like this." Looking around, Alec has another idea. "And, if you've got any books about the town, or someone that catalogs its history, I'd like to see the book, or speak to the person, as well."
Come in under the shadow of this red rock, and I will show you something different from either your shadow at morning, striding behind you, or your shadow at evening, rising to meet you. I shall show you fear in a handful of dust.
Gwiyn frowned a little, "What more is there to know? We've been good people to the spirit until it turned its back on us, we just wanted you to kill it in case it came back soon."
She turned around to look at the elder, shaking her head "I don't even know how many days he has left...but...you can try.. to talk to him."
"Thank you Gwiyn,"
Serenity hugged her once more and walked to the room, the two men in tow. Dean got up when they walked in,
"I heard you outside, you best be careful with him, a few days may be too long to hope for."
Serenity nodded as the doctor stepped outside to give the team room. She took the seat by the bed side and looked over the Elder who was awake and turned slightly to her,
"Sir? How are you, my name is Serenity. I've come with two men to help your town, but we need to find the god first. You seem to be the only one who knows where we can find it."
He didn't say anything, but seemed to jerk his head side to side a little, as if to disagree. That's when he really noticed Grayell, and seemed to show a little more life in his condition.
Raising a weak arm, he motioned for Grayell to come closer.