Umbertiel, part 2 (Inquisition)

As we play, occasionally we'll close a thread and open a new one to keep the size of threads (and relative complexity) down to a dull roar. Here's where we store the closed posts from the history of Errant Road.
Locked
User avatar
Sareth
RPG All-Star
Posts: 2604
Joined: August 23rd, 2007, 8:54 pm

Re: Umbertiel, part 2 (Inquisition)

Post by Sareth »

Graybeard wrote:"I -- I not be knowin', ma'am," the boy answered, a little bit of fear returning to his eyes. "Uncle Shemmy, he --" he started to tear up again, then made an admirable effort to control himself -- "he just be sayin' the big bad be lookin' like a Tsoo-rakyan devil. I be figurin' that be makin' him a demon, right? And I not be seein' the demons that be settin' the fire, but all the other altar boys and novices be sayin' they be just terrible to be lookin' on, wi' glowin' eyes an' horns an' such-like. I just be knowin' they be droppin' a burnin' beam on Uncle Shemmy ... right when he be there to be savin' me ..." The tears started again.
"There, there," Lillith wrapped him up in her arms, rocking him soothingly until Nyle returned. She the suggested to the man that Ronnie be taken home and watched carefully for a while to be sure he was going to be alright, then set off with Brad to escort Ronnie back to town.

I wish I could ask him about the weapon he was using, but I think he's been through enough trama for one night.
Last edited by Sareth on October 18th, 2011, 12:35 am, edited 1 time in total.
Image
Image
Alberich
Noble Knight Protector
Posts: 1892
Joined: October 5th, 2008, 9:58 am

Re: Umbertiel, part 2 (Inquisition)

Post by Alberich »

At the barn door, Timothy gently deprived Ronnie of his strange weapon, and gave it a brief looking-over, both to understand its workings and to check for artisans' marks. It wasn't in working order anymore, anyway. Ronnie confirmed that Uncle Shemmy had had it, but where he'd gotten it, this boy didn't know.

Brother Tim responded to Lillith. "If I understood him, the other 'demon' his uncle was after was the one who looked Tsuirakuan - he didn't know anything about the ones who started the fire, only what the other boys said that demons look like."

Lillith's gentle attentions appeared to have calmed the boy down, much to Tim's approval. He thanked her for that, then spoke a little to Ronnie. He gave a few encouraging words, telling the lad he needed to keep very quiet about what he'd seen and done until he talked to Father Arpad, to whom he must tell everything.

He handed the device to Brad and gave him this charge: "Ronnie's home is at the temple, so please get him back there, and see to it that Father Arpad gets this thing, and knows what Ronnie has to say, so he can ask him any more questions. Keep the rest among ourselves." Brad nodded in agreement. He well understood the need to avoid further rumor-spreading, on top of recent events.

Ronnie in tow and his weapon in hand, Brad accompanied Lillith back to town. Timothy stayed at the farm, where he worked with Nyle for several hours fixing what could be fixed in the barn. One of the doors was easy enough to repair; the other had a hinge that was going to require some smith work, so Tim provided a few coins for that. (Nyle, he knew, he could trust; looking after his shaky father and their farm, he'd had to grow up fast, and he was responsible.) He hoped he was keeping reputations as well as carpentry in good repair.

Rose had read instructions from her superior, that Timothy needed to be with her early in the morning to hear the more private message that was coming. And there were also morning prayers. And between now and then he still had to pack, and, he hoped, take a look through a couple of books before time to set off. This would not be a night for long, refreshing sleep.
User avatar
Graybeard
The Heretical Admin
Posts: 7180
Joined: August 20th, 2007, 8:26 am
Location: Nuevo Mexico y Colorado, Estados Unidos

Re: Umbertiel, part 2 (Inquisition)

Post by Graybeard »

OOC: We seem to have poor little Ronnie getting pulled in two ways. Lillith thinks he's going off with Nyle, while Tim thinks he's going with Brad and Lillith. Can we resolve that? The poor little lad has had a rough enough day as is. :?

One way or the other, Brad will "recognize" the weapon (as will Lillith) as soon as its trajectory is resolved ... and then things will get weird.
Image

Because old is wise, does good, and above all, kicks ass.
Alberich
Noble Knight Protector
Posts: 1892
Joined: October 5th, 2008, 9:58 am

Re: Umbertiel, part 2 (Inquisition)

Post by Alberich »

[OOC - Perhaps a cameo appearance by Solomon the Wise? Barring that, since you've told me the novice-types live in the temple, and Lillith wants him sent "home," I think it makes the most sense for Brad & Lilly to take him to the temple, and then they can meet the others to share the info. That should move the plot along nicely, and we probably won't need many more posts before Tim shows up in the morning to hear the Message from the Second Parrot. And I hope on the walk out of town some friendly soul will fill him in on the High Weirdness That Resulted.]
User avatar
Graybeard
The Heretical Admin
Posts: 7180
Joined: August 20th, 2007, 8:26 am
Location: Nuevo Mexico y Colorado, Estados Unidos

Re: Umbertiel, part 2 (Inquisition)

Post by Graybeard »

[OOC: Okay, fiat. He's with Brad and Lillith. In which case ...]

Brad was all set to gush profundities about Lillith's way with children, and his fervent hope that she and he would have kids of their own (and soon) for her to comfort when they had owies, when he stopped to notice something.

The "weapon" that Ronnie was clutching bore an uncanny resemblance to a statue that he'd seen before. Of course, it was in miniature, six inches tall rather than nine feet. It also had had one of its gem-like eyes knocked out, recently from the look of it, and it was holding a small crossbow in its stone hands, with one end knocked off the bow. This broken surface too looked clean and fresh. Had Lillith's unexpected magic caused some damage to the thing that caused it to become inoperative? It fit the facts.

"I think we'd better show this to Rose and Argus," he said, suddenly serious as he sped up his pace toward the temple and inn.
Image

Because old is wise, does good, and above all, kicks ass.
User avatar
Sareth
RPG All-Star
Posts: 2604
Joined: August 23rd, 2007, 8:54 pm

Re: Umbertiel, part 2 (Inquisition)

Post by Sareth »

[OOC]Edited the previous post to reflect the changes.[/OOC]

Lillith looked down at the statue in Brad's hand. She immediately nodded in agreement. "I think your right. Come here, Ronnie." She lifted the boy off his feet and swept him to her back. He was clearly heavy for her, but when Brad questioned her with a look, she simply shook her head and then nodded to town.

So rearranged they were able to pick up the pace.

[OOC]And I think Brad and Lillith should quiet down for a bit to give the townies a chance to catch up in time. Say when.[/OOC]
Image
Image
User avatar
Graybeard
The Heretical Admin
Posts: 7180
Joined: August 20th, 2007, 8:26 am
Location: Nuevo Mexico y Colorado, Estados Unidos

Re: Umbertiel, part 2 (Inquisition)

Post by Graybeard »

[OOC:
Sareth wrote:[OOC]And I think Brad and Lillith should quiet down for a bit to give the townies a chance to catch up in time. Say when.[/OOC]
OK. There's one thing I want to get out in play, and after that, we'll let them rest for a while. :mrgreen: Incidentally, we're beyond our usual thread length, and it might be time to start another one and archive this one. Of course, that length is arbitrary, so we don't have to switch, but the time is coming soon. (Alberich, FYI, we usually try to create a new thread after one reaches 250-270 entries just so that readers won't have to do too much pawing through articles to find the one they want. The break between threads can be anything from nonexistent -- picking up right where the previous one left off -- or overnight, or rarely, even longer.) So for a little closure, and a little movement:]

"Oh, my," Sister Rose said, blushing slightly, upon reaching the cloisters. Without a word to Argus, she quietly renewed the damping spell, and extended it to where Bryce and Maduin were staying. "They're taking their instructions to lie low rather seriously, aren't they? I think we can head back to the inn and finish up with the diary." She smiled (outwardly). "I'm a bit tapped out on magic, but I don't think we're going to need magical silencing tonight quite as much as they are."

Dammit.

--------------

Brad, of course, wouldn't let the love of his life overburden herself for any longer than absolutely necessary, but he had to face it: there were times when a mother's touch was the right thing, even if it was a "surrogate" mother. He therefore didn't interfere in the carrying arrangement until Lillith was starting to show signs of wear. (It took longer than he expected, he was pleased to see; this woman he loved was so strong...) When they did finally transfer the boy from her shoulders to his, he took the opportunity to ask a question that had been bothering him for a while.

"So this was the thing that you used to make the bolts fly? How does it work?" he said.

Ronnie squirmed a little. "Yes, Your Eminence," he said. (Brad decided not to correct him, not now.) "I just had to be rubbin' it, then it be shootin' arrows. But after the whirlwind, it don't be workin' any more. I be thinkin' it got busted when the wind be knockin' pieces off it." He had a sheepish look as he continued. "Lucky-like, I be not a very good shot. See, I be thinkin' you-all be demons, which you ain't. I'm glad I be missin' you."

Brad smiled as he hoisted the boy onto his own shoulders. "So are we. Did it make the fireworks too?" A nod from Ronnie confirmed this, then he got on to the real question on his mind. "Your poor uncle gave it to you. Did he say where he found it?"

Ronnie thought, looked unfomfortable, made a decision. "Yessir," he finally said. "He said he be pickin' it up on the ground at the stable, when he be goin' by there the first time an' seein' the fire. It be like somebody be leavin' it there ..." The reminder of his uncle was threatening to make him cry again, so Brad hastily changed the subject, joining his beloved in murmuring comfort to the boy until they reached the temple.

[OOC: So are we good to start a new topic? Two or three more entries in "Background Noise" on the journal will follow, starting this evening -- have been busy since weekend and unable to write much. Incidentally, yes, I know that what Ronnie said this time about the origin of the gadget differs from what he said before -- but by now he'd be opening up just a little, and less inclined to evade. It's important.]
Image

Because old is wise, does good, and above all, kicks ass.
User avatar
Drusia
Veteran of the Errant War
Posts: 1293
Joined: September 7th, 2009, 9:53 pm

Re: Umbertiel, part 2 (Inquisition)

Post by Drusia »

Graybeard wrote:[OOC: So are we good to start a new topic?
OOC: Sure. ^^ Eli and Desiree are still occupied, so this is probably as good a time as any.
Alberich
Noble Knight Protector
Posts: 1892
Joined: October 5th, 2008, 9:58 am

Re: Umbertiel, part 2 (Inquisition)

Post by Alberich »

[OOC: I'm fine with a new thread, but I don't think it should be named after Umbartiel, if we're leaving in a few posts.]
User avatar
Graybeard
The Heretical Admin
Posts: 7180
Joined: August 20th, 2007, 8:26 am
Location: Nuevo Mexico y Colorado, Estados Unidos

Re: Umbertiel, part 2 (Inquisition)

Post by Graybeard »

OOC: OK, on to a new thread tomorrow, then. I'll leave this one open until morning (server time), so that everyone can get things tidied up for a fast-forward overnight. Brad will have nothing to say unless Lillith specifically causes him to, and Rose is still finishing up Bree's diary, which has one or at most two more pages to run. That'll give enough time to tidy this one up, and then "The Road to Getsemiel" will premiere tomorrow. The reason for the name of the thread will be clear soon enough ....
Image

Because old is wise, does good, and above all, kicks ass.
Locked