GM says, "Okay, logging."

GM cues theme music.

Gert says, "As sands through the hourglass..."

GM says, "Hans was speaking to the Count and Countess du Cap-Royal."

Hans asks, "Is there anything you can tell us about your daughter's habits that might help us?"

Hans asks, "Any habits she had, any places she used to hide? Anything she might have had with her at the time?"

(From GM) Rodolphe says, "Lucille's habits? I don't know. She liked to read, she liked dancing and music and games. She was always so happy.

[Crows-Nest] Arvid says, "dancing, games, and commando-style survival situations in the woods for weeks"

(From GM) Countess says, "She was a little drawn to religion, I think."

Hans asks, "Did she ever use to run away or hide?"

GM says, "Both Count and Countess shake their heads."

[Crows-Nest] Cat says, "this girl is taking all the wrong knacks, clearly"

[Crows-Nest] Arvid says, "hee hee"

[Crows-Nest] Arvid says, "once she gets back you guys can give her some dirty fighting tips"

Hans nods.

Hans says, "There was one other thing. This may be a difficult question, but..."

Hans asks, "Does your family have any history of sorcery?"

[Crows-Nest] Cat says, "GASP"

[Crows-Nest] Hans says, "Yeah, I know. I'm practically accusing them of being in league with Legion."

[Crows-Nest] Hans says, "But as politely as I can."

(From GM) Rodolphe laughs. "That's always been rather weak in my family. I haven't got it; my wife has a bit. Suzanne and Edmond have the potential for it, but neither seems interested in developing it."

Hans asks, "And Lucille?"

(From GM) Rodolphe says, "I don't believe she has it in her.

Hans nods again. "I thank you both for your time. We'll let you know what we discover."

(From GM) Rodolphe says, "Thank you."

Hans departs to find Gert, Arvid and Cat.

GM says (to Hans), "Sapt, the majordomo, escorts you to the castle gates and you set off back to town."

GM says, "Meanwhile, at Edgardo's & Lucia's....."

Gert meanwhile has been chatting with Lucia, trying to discover any more clues about how one of her crochet hooks ended up in a murdered man's room.

GM says, "Lucia, like her husband, speaks very little."

[Crows-Nest] Gert says (to Hans), "Keep an eye on him and don't turn your back. You don't want to get sapped."

GM says (to Gert), "and she pretends not to hear when you bring up the crochet hook."

[Crows-Nest] Hans says, "Urgh."

Gert asks if she normally does her crocheting in the house, or if she sometimes crochets elsewhere.

[Crows-Nest] Cat says, "have you got a license for that crochet hook? oh dear dear me"

Arvid taps his foot impatiently

GM says, "Lucia shrugs and nods towards the garden outside."

Arvid says, "we waste our time here -- let us merely pass on the evidence to the guards and let them interrogate her"

Gert asks, "And have you been in the garden recently?"

GM says, "She nods, pointedly ignoring Arvid."

Cat puts a restraining hand on Arvid's arm, nods to Gert, and attempts to switch the conversation to lighter matters

GM asks (of Hans), "you're back in town. now where are the others...?"

Cat says, "You know, I always found crochet much more *exciting* than needlepoint. I hear that Castillian crochet has techniques far beyond those we have at home. Did you make *that* yourself? It's simply delightful."

[7thsea] Gert says, "Anyone else have any questions? If not, I say we try Tracking from the garden."

[Crows-Nest] Hans exclaims, "What are you asking me for? You're the GM!"

[7thsea] Hans asks, "You guys were headed to the inn when we split up, right?"

[7thsea] Arvid says, "yeah"

[7thsea] Gert says, "Correct."

Hans goes to the inn.

[7thsea] Cat says, "I was hoping to loosen them up and see if there were any other topics they clammed up on"

[7thsea] Gert says, "Though we've also been to the monastery and back."

GM says (to Cat), "Lucia blushes and only nods. Really, she's a bit boring."

GM says (to Hans), "Sir Galahad Locksley is still in the inn."

[7thsea] Gert says, "I believe at this point we have two options: a) force the use of the social rules, or b) take the GM's hint that there's no more information here."

[7thsea] Cat asks, "any chance of using some skill - say, Sincerity, or Gossip - to draw her out of her shell?"

[7thsea] Gert says, "Yeah, like those."

[7thsea] Hans says, "She did avoid the question about the hook."

[7thsea] Gert asks, "How about you do that while Arvid and I and the dog go track from the garden?"

[7thsea] GM says, "Clearly she's a Suspicious Character."

[7thsea] Cat is all about forcing use of the social rules

[7thsea] Arvid says, "we could leave and then follow her"

[7thsea] Arvid says, "(if she goes someplace)"

[7thsea] Gert says, "(this conversation is proceeding via use of Significant Looks in-story, of course)"

[7thsea] Arvid says, "ha ha"

[7thsea] Arvid says, "<raised eyebrow>? <small head shake> <ear wiggle>"

[7thsea] Gert says, "If this were an IF game, I'd save here and hide outside to see if she ever went anywhere, and then when she never left the house in two weeks, I'd restore from here."

[7thsea] Hans exclaims, "Hey! You did that at the end of the Explorer's Game!"

[7thsea] Gert exclaims, "I did!"

GM says, "(It's getting close to dinner time, by the way. Remember that it was almost noon when people rode back from Bois-Franc.)"

[7thsea] Cat says, "if this was an IF game I'd have already walked up and down the entire length of the road five times, SEARCHing every leaf and shrub"

[7thsea] Arvid says, "interesting stuff always happens at night"

[7thsea] Hans says, "'*** You have *** Would you like to restore, restart, quit, or view the EPILOGUE?' >Z. Z. Z. Z. Z."

[7thsea] Arvid says, "so let's eat some dinner"

[7thsea] Hans says, "Er, 'have won'."

[7thsea] Cat exclaims, "then visit the spooky waterfall!"

[7thsea] Arvid exclaims, "oh yeah!"

[7thsea] Arvid says, "wossherface the maid has probably lured some more suckers out there by now"

[7thsea] Arvid says, "to get eaten by the waterfall monster"

[7thsea] Cat says, "ahem"

Gert leaves Cat to chat with Lucia, and goes with Arvid and the dog to check out the garden.

Hans will quickly check over the wagon-driver's room at the inn, and assuming he finds nothing, will ask the innkeeper where they were going when they left.

Arvid says, "(now that we're out of earshot)"

GM says (to Hans), "you're told that they were seen outside the inn a short time ago, following Brother Etienne and that huge dog of his around."

Arvid says, "I don't see what we'll find here -- it's not as though the crochet hook would really have gotten picked up out here and brought to his room"

[7thsea] Gert says, "Oh, right, Etienne."

Arvid says, "unless someone was trying to frame her, I suppose"

[7thsea] Hans asks, "Is Etienne still around?"

Gert says, "I'm thinking more like Lucille was hiding around here and snagged it, thinking it might be useful."

[7thsea] Hans asks, "Or is he silently with you guys?"

[7thsea] GM says, "some sort of roll is in order for Cat, but I'm not sure what."

Gert searches the damp earth of the garden for small footprints.

Cat says (to Lucia), "So to tell you the truth, I really need someone to fill me in on everything that's changed since I left. It's been *such* a long time, and Gert is a dear but she's so *busy* with something or other. Do let's be friends."

[7thsea] Gert rolls 2k1: 6 2 | 6

[7thsea] GM says, "And yes, Etienne is still around."

[7thsea] Hans asks, "Around the inn?"

[7thsea] Gert says, "I assume Etienne sticks with the dog."

[7thsea] Arvid says, "you can track our tracking rolls"

[7thsea] Hans exclaims (at Arvid), "Great idea!"

[7thsea] Hans rolls 1 die: 9

(From GM) Lucia says, "I don't get out much."

[7thsea] Hans asks (of GM), "So, is Etienne around the inn or is he around Gert and Arvid and Cat?"

[7thsea] Cat says, "I was thinking Spy/Sincerity; I'm not sure which stat"

GM says (to Hans), "Edgardo's walking down from the school, on his way home."

GM says, "Etienne is playing fetch with Cujo outside Edgardo's cottage."

[7thsea] Gert asks (of Arvid), "Can you try a tracking roll from here?"

[7thsea] GM says (to Cat), "Would be Wits."

[7thsea] Hans says, "I guess I'm not clear on where these things are relative to me."

[7thsea] Hans asks, "Do I see this happening?"

[7thsea] Arvid says, "I believe the inn is in the city and their cottage is at the school"

[7thsea] Hans says, "OK, so I don't know any of this IC."

[7thsea] Arvid rolls 4k3: 1 1 9 4 | 14

[7thsea] GM says, "Hm. So, I guess Hans sees none of this. But the innkeeper did point the general direction in which the dog and all went."

[7thsea] Gert says, "The cottage is on the road between the inn and the college--the people outside the inn told you that the group was heading towards the college on that road."

[7thsea] Hans says, "OK, that works."

Hans heads that-a-way.

GM says, "So ... Hans and Edgardo arrive outside the cottage at the same time, and see Etienne playing fetch with Cujo."

[7thsea] Cat asks, "okay, so 4k3?"

GM says, "Meanwhile, Cat is inside talking to Lucia"

[7thsea] GM says (to Cat), "right."

[7thsea] Cat rolls 4k3: 5 2 4 4 | 13

[7thsea] Cat says, "meh"

GM says, "And Gert and Arvid are in the garden looking (unsuccessfully so far) for Clues."

Hans exclaims, "Good day!"

[7thsea] Hans asks, "And hiding from Edgardo?"

GM says (to Hans), "Edgardo nods in greeting."

Hans asks, "Has Gert been by here today?"

[7thsea] GM says, "Er, back garden. I was somehow envisioning walls, but that's probably unlikely."

Gert pokes her head around the corner of the cottage. "Hans? Hans!"

(From GM) Edgardo shakes his head.

Hans exclaims, "Gert! There you are!"

Gert exclaims, "I got a dog!"

(From GM) Etienne points to the cottage.

Hans says (to Gert), "Another one? Remember what happened when you tried to adopt that hunting dog."

(From GM) Edgardo frowns and goes inside.

Gert asks, "How many pets do you want when we're married? Will ten be enough?"

Gert says, "Oh, pfft. That dog needed its space. It told me so."

Hans says, "So long as they stay out of the house, as many as you want."

Gert says, "Oh, I'm sure they'd stay out of the house most of the time."

Cat dashes herself valiantly against a wall of monosyllables until she's quite worn out. She bows out, gracious to the last.

GM says (to Cat), "Edgardo walks in on you and Lucia. Lucia seems somewhat relieved ... they not-very-subtly move so that Lucia is behind Edgardo."

Hans follows Gert around back.

Hans asks, "So, what have we discovered?"

GM says, "As Cat bows out, the door shuts behind her, and there's the sound of a bar being drawn across it."

Cat exclaims, "So nice to meet you both!"

Arvid shrugs

Arvid says, "she's hiding something"

Gert says, "Anyway! We found a crochet hook in the murdered man's room, and Cujo sniffed it and led us here. But I'm sure these dear people don't have anything to do with it--she sometimes crochets in the garden, so I bet someone pinched it. Maybe Lucille? We haven't found any signs of anyone, though."

Arvid says, "we also found a few of Lucille's hairs caught in the window"

Cat says (to Gert), "Ugh. That horrible woman. Entertain me, Gertie, I'm so bored I could spit."

Hans exclaims, "So she *has* been here!"

Arvid says, "--of the wagon-driver's room"

Gert asks, "What's that poor man's name again?"

Hans asks, "What was she doing in his room?"

[7thsea] GM says, "Edouard L'Amour"

Arvid says, "Edouard L'Amour"

Arvid says, "so I suppose he lived below the woman we talked to in Bois-Franc"

Arvid says, "I wonder if there's any connection there"

Hans says, "It would explain why he was driving a wagon full of furniture made in Bois-Franc."

Gert says, "Ed, that's right. Man, that's the third Ed in this town right now."

Arvid says, "good point"

Arvid says, "well, perhaps we should eat some dinner"

Cat exclaims, "Seconded!"

[Crows-Nest] Gert says, "It's like someone pulled up the E-F page of names and that's it."

Arvid says (to Gert), "matching all the Lucas"

[Crows-Nest] Hans says, "Yeah. I mean, at least some of us flipped ahead to G-H."

Arvid says, "after dinner we could perhaps see if Lucia and Edgardo sneak off anywhere, or look at the waterfall"

[Crows-Nest] Arvid says, "hee hee"

Cat counts on her fingers. "Ugh. Is today still liver-and-spinach night?"

Gert asks, "Right! Oh, and let Cujo smell those blankets from the wardrobe. Arvid, you still have those in your room?"

GM says (to Cat), "only for the students. The staff get liver and brussels sprouts."

Hans asks, "What have you against liver and spinach?"

Arvid goes back for dinner, stopping to check out the wardrobe on the way and see if the scrap of cloth he put inside has done anything exciting

Hans says, "Big bowls of thick, hardy spinach. Thick as day-old porridge..."

Arvid . o O ( I suppose we could take this out at night and see what happens )

GM says (to Arvid), "the cloth has done nothing."

Arvid pockets it for later use.

Cat retrieves her musket and pistols and field-strips them over dinner, just in case the waterfall *does* produce a suitor

[Crows-Nest] Arvid says, "ha ha"

GM says, "Okay, dinnertime."

GM says, "I guess this means Cat is skipping dinner."

[7thsea] Cat says (to GM), "no, I'm doing this while eating"

[7thsea] GM says (to Cat), "hah."

Gert says (to Etienne), "You'll stay for dinner? I think Cujo might still be of some help this evening."

[7thsea] GM tosses Cat a drama die.

[7thsea] GM says (to Cat), "Von Pinn is very much Not Amused."

[7thsea] Cat says, "if they haven't got used to noble eccentricity by now, they're about to get a crash course"

Arvid pockets it for later use.

[Crows-Nest] Arvid says, "ha ha"

(From GM) Etienne says, "I must return to the monastery for Vespers. But I could leave Cujo with you for the night."

[7thsea] Hans says, "Even *I* usually hang my weapons by the door when I go in."

[Crows-Nest] Arvid says, "(er)"

Gert exclaims, "If you wouldn't mind, that'd be fantastic. I'll take good care of him!"

GM says (to Cat), "so, you meet staffmembers who are new(ish)."

Arvid resumes his previous discussion with Stefan about the role of potatoes in military history, as contrasted with the noble brussel sprout

Gert gives Etienne a big hug before he leaves, then brings Cujo into the dining hall for dinner.

Hans arranges, s usual, to get a bowl of spinach in lieu of sprouts.

GM says, "Agustin Trujillo and his manservant Pedro are not present at dinner. They have their meal delivered to their room."

[Crows-Nest] Arvid asks, "wait, who are they?"

[7thsea] Gert asks, "Who?"

[Crows-Nest] Hans says, "They're the guys that Suzanne et al. are slated to marry."

[Crows-Nest] Arvid says, "oh yeah them"

[7thsea] Gert says, "Oh, the mysterious people from the night."

GM says, "The students are very happily distracted by Cujo."

GM says, "And then Stefan Kramer pulls out something he's been working on. It looks like a bar of chocolate; everyone at the staff table gets one."

Cat sneaks brussels sprouts into her ammunition pouch and fabricates grotesque rumours about the Avalonian court

Arvid eyes it warily.

Gert sniffs.

GM says (to Cat), "Sir Galahad happily aids you in fabricating grotesque rumours about the Avalonian court."

GM says, "There's something sweeter than usual about the smell."

Gert shrugs and tastes it.

Cat says, "...and that's why badgers, as a species, are officially equivalent to a count, but *individual* badgers are not allowed in the Queen's presence on pain of death."

Hans takes a bite.

[Crows-Nest] Arvid says (to Cat), "ha ha"

[7thsea] Hans asks, "Do we know chocolate?"

[7thsea] GM says, "Yes. But you don't know vanilla."

[7thsea] GM says, "Though, actually, now you do."

[7thsea] Hans says, "Ha ha."

[7thsea] GM says, "know vanilla, I mean."

[7thsea] GM tosses Cat a drama die

Hans asks, "Not bad. What is it?"

Hans asks, "Not poison, right?"

Cat says, "Oh. My."

(From GM) Stefan says, "It's a sort of flavouring I developed myself."

Cat says, "Stefan, you simply *must* give me the name of your confectioner."

Hans asks, "Is there spirits in it?"

(From GM) Stefan says, "You know those little white flowers I've been growing? They develop into these pods, see, and ... well, no spirits, no, but I think I could make a liqueur out of it...."

Cat knows an emergent fashion when she spots one, and starts scheming to acquire some seeds

Gert says, "Oh, this is divine."

Gert feeds a corner to Cujo.

Hans says, "You should make bars of these with cherry brandy mixed in."

GM says, "(Von Pinn only eats a quarter of her bar, on the grounds that it is unladylike to gorge oneself on chocolate. Highest panache roll gets her leftovers, if you want.)"

[7thsea] Gert says, "Hee hee"

[7thsea] Hans rolls 2k2: 10+3 10+2 | 25

Cat asks, "Do the flowers have the same exquisite scent? May I see them?"

[7thsea] Gert rolls 3k3: 10+4 8 6 | 28

[7thsea] Hans says, "Curses."

[7thsea] Cat rolls 3k3: 6 10+9 5 | 30

[7thsea] Cat says, "yoink"

(From GM) Stefan says (to Cat), "Of course, of course. I'll bring you a few tomorrow morning."

Gert sees Hans take the leftovers and gives him The Look. Gleefully, she takes it when it's offered to her. Then Cat engages her in a conversation that makes her eyes glaze over, and when she comes to, the bar is gone!

[7thsea] Arvid says, "ha ha"

[7thsea] GM throws drama die to Gert.

[7thsea] Gert exclaims, "Yay!"

Cat says (to Stefan), "oh, don't *pick* the poor things! That would kill them! But if, maybe, a potted version..."

(From GM) Stefan says (to Cat), "NO! (ahem) I mean, no, I couldn't ... I mean, um, I haven't a spare pot...."

Cat, totally ignorant of horticulture, desperately wonders how she can keep an exotic plant alive until she makes it to a fashionable court

Cat finishes the last spoonful of soup, hands the fine china to Stefan, and raises an eyebrow

(From GM) Stefan says (to Cat), "Oh my, look at the time, I must go water the plants ... thery're VERY delicate, you know!"

Ghogg arrives, looking for booty.

[7thsea] Arvid says, "aw, man, I bet he feeds them human flesh"

GM says, "Stefan jumps up and runs off."

Cat says, "(sotto voce) Thirty percent of net proceeds and a patronage once I come into my title. Final offer."

GM says (to Cat), "He's gone before you can finish. Von Pinn looks disapprovingly after him."

Cat says, "Really, Hans, your friends have so much to learn about polite behaviour around a lady."

[7thsea] Hans says, "'Feed me, Stefan!'"

Gert looks around forlornly one last time for the missing vanilla bar, then sighs and gets up. "Well, Arvid, can we go smell those blankets now?

Hans licks his fingers. "Mmm?"

Cat, with an artful flick of the wrist, conceals the soup bowl just in case she gets an opportunity later

[7thsea] Arvid asks, "I don't actually remember what happened to the blankets -- did I take them out?"

[7thsea] Gert says, "The GM claimed you took them for your room."

[7thsea] Hans says, "You must have left them in your room."

[7thsea] Arvid says, "oh ok"

[7thsea] Hans says, "Which means that AUgustin and Pedro may have gotten to them."

[7thsea] Arvid says, "those guys are smelly"

Arvid says, "we'll need a place to pick up the trail from"

Arvid says, "I suppose we can head back to the inn"

Gert says, "Or the cottage."

Gert says, "(which is on the way, after all)"

Arvid says, "worth a try, anyway"

Arvid says, "we don't have any real evidence she was ever there, but"

Gert says, "Oh, and let's make sure that everyone has a lantern. I don't know if the blackwood is actually connected to anything, but, light is always a deterrent in The Stories."

Hans says, "You know she was at the inn."

Hans says, "Or else her hair was."

Gert says (to Arvid), "We have, yeah, her hair and the hook in the same place."

Arvid says, "the inn, but not the cottage"

Gert says, "Right, and the hook is connected to the cottage."

Gert says, "Anyway, it's on the way."

Ghogg goes home.

Hans says (to Arvid), "It is probably best not to bother arguing."

Hans says (to Arvid), "Trust me."

GM asks, "So, you're off to...?"

Arvid says, "my room to get the blankets, I guess"

Gert, while Arvid is getting the blankets, rummages around the stable and the old store room to get the largest lanterns she can find, and distributes them to everyone when they get back together. She even manages to find a small one to attach to the barrel on Cujo's neck, though she doesn't light that.

GM says, "Right. You get the blankets."

Arvid says, "then the cottage to see if Cujo can pick up a trail there, and the inn if not"

GM says, "Cujo picks up the trail at the inn."

Gert looks faintly disappointed when the trail isn't found at the cottage, and sighs.

Cat says, "This was more exciting when we were breaking curfew."

Gert giggles. "And in our socks!"

GM says, "He takes you back to the school via shadowy backlanes ... always through the darkest route possible."

Hans, once they are all alone, says, "We should talk to Elena tomorrow."

Hans says, "I have been asked not to say why. But she can help us. And she may need help too."

Arvid says, "interesting"

Arvid says, "personally I think that girl is nothing but trouble"

Arvid says, "I don't know what she's spreading rumors for"

Hans asks (of Arvid), "So you approve of her?"

Arvid says, "...well, when you put it that way"

Cat asks (of Hans), "She mentioned a waterfall to me. As if she wanted me to do something about it. Does anybody know where this waterfall is?"

Hans says, "Harrumph."

Arvid says, "we were out there just a few nights ago"

Hans says, "It is not the first time she has told that story."

Cat asks, "And how it managed to maintain a regular supply of husbands *before* the Revolution?"

Arvid says, "she'd sent some girls out there after curfew, following some silly rumor -- ah, I see you've heard it"

Arvid says, "we found them there with two men -- the ones who didn't come to dinner"

Cat asks, "More to the point, has anyone heard this rumour from a source other than Elena?"

Hans says, "It is almost as if she may know things that others don't."

Arvid says, "or that she makes them up"

[7thsea] GM throws DD at Hans. "Subtle, hah."

[7thsea] Hans says, "Thanks."

GM says, "Cujo stops outside the workshop."

GM says, "He sniffs at the door and growls."

[7thsea] Cat asks, "workshop?"

[7thsea] GM says, "Where the wardrobe has been kept."

[7thsea] Cat says, "gotcha"

Gert steps up and cautiously opens the door.

Arvid says, "hmm"

GM says, "Darkness within."

Hans asks, "Does the trail lead past here?"

Cat says, "Wait. Don't tell me that the dog has been tracking the blackwood, rather than the girl."

Gert asks, "Travelling blackwood?"

Hans says (to Cat), "He may be tracking where she went after leaving the inn."

Hans asks, "Do dogs always track forwards?"

Gert shines the light into the workshop and enters with Cujo.

Arvid says, "I believe it depends which way their tails curl"

GM says, "Cujo doesn't want to go inside, but reluctantly follows after a couple of tugs."

Arvid says, "or perhaps that's pigs"

Gert says, "Oh, hmm. I was assuming he was tracking backwards."

Cat says, "Unless she has done as Hans' ancestor did, and had her spirit absorbed by the wood."

[Crows-Nest] Hans says, "RTA 'couple of thugs'."

[Crows-Nest] Hans says, "(Presumably Gert and myself.)"

Gert says, "Maybe both."

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "hee"

Cat marches up to the wardrobe

GM says (to Cat), "you're in front of the Wardrobe."

Cat says, "Of course, the best way to test that theory would be for one of us to -"

Cat raises her lantern beneath her face

Cat says, "SPEND THE NIGHT in the wardrobe..."

Hans opens it.

Hans says, "Be my guest."

[7thsea] Arvid says, "hee hee"

[7thsea] Arvid says, "creeeeeeak"

[7thsea] Cat says, "Hans should do it. He could stretch out."

Gert shudders. (to Cat) "How do you *do* that? You haven't lost the ability to creep me out."

GM says, "Inside the wardrobe, you see that Edgardo has finished painting over the entire backing with green paint. Except that there's a patch where the green paint has been completely worn away, exposing the wood beneath."

Arvid frowns

Arvid says, "didn't we tell him not to paint it"

Arvid asks, "?"

Cat presses a palm to the spot

GM says (to Cat), "it feels cold."

Cat moves around and looks at the corresponding spot on the back

Hans says, "Things don't fade and wear that quickly outside of witchtales."

GM says, "There is nothing unusual about the back."

Cat asks, "Should we try breaking through?"

Arvid asks, "breaking through?"

Gert says, "As mysterious as this is, a cold spot and worn paint is a little anti-climactic. I was expecting something to jump out at us."

Arvid says, "if you want to remove the paint, I'm sure there's some turpentine around here"

Hans says, "Like in Lord Umbert and the Night Hag."

Cat cocks a pistol

Cat says, "I was thinking something a little more drastic."

Hans says, "Or Helmuth and Gerda."

Gert says, "If it wasn't for Lucille, I'd say we should burn it."

Gert says, "but this is our only connection to her."

Arvid says, "it seems like a pity to ruin a nice piece of furniture"

Cat says, "All right, all right. Let's make just a tiny drill-hole and see what happens."

Cat exclaims (at Arvid?), "nice? It's made out of cursed wood!"

Cat says, "I bet it's just teeming with unseelie."

Arvid says, "pshaw"

Arvid says, "none of your Avalonian superstitions apply here, I'm sure"

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "only Eisen superstitions."

[7thsea] Hans says, "I am disappointed that no one has asked about Lord Umbert or Hemuth and Gerda."

Cat says (to Arvid), "a child was stolen. I rest my case."

[Crows-Nest] Arvid says, "exactly"

Gert says, "Still--it's obvious that something either emerged from here and went and killed poor Ed, or killed poor Ed and went back in here, or both."

[7thsea] Arvid says, "Hemuth and Gerda was obviously fanfic by you, so I didn't want to embarrass you"

Arvid asks, "Lord Umbert? is that another relative of yours?"

[7thsea] Hans says, "Hee."

Arvid exclaims, "I don't think that is obvious at all!"

Cat looks around for a hand-drill

Arvid says, "the blankets were in here, so naturally Cujo traced them back"

Cat asks, "Can anybody tell me what a hand-drill looks like?"

Hans asks (of Arvid), "It is a very old children's story -- you have never heard of it?"

GM says, "This being the school workshop, there are drills galore."

Cat asks, "Is this one?"

Gert exclaims (at Arvid), "The blankets weren't in the room at the inn!"

Cat holds up a chisel

Hans says, "Many many years ago, Lord Umbert lived in a castle near the Black Woods."

Gert says, "There's a trail between there and here."

Arvid waves his hand airily

Arvid says, "perhaps the blackwood smell carries a great distance"

Gert rolls her eyes.

Cat says, "Gertie, help."

Gert mutters, "Some people, they don't know, you can't tell 'em."

Hans says, "One night, he awoke unable to breathe and when he lit his lamp, he found a witch sitting on his chest."

Gert says (to Cat), "Oh, right."

Gert hammers through the backing with the chisel.

Hans says, "He couldn't rise from his bed, so he called for his manservant, who came running with a sword to fend off the witch."

Arvid sighs

Arvid says, "if I ever manage to get some really nice furniture I'm not letting you two near it"

GM says, "Cujo suddenly jumps up, hair standing on end."

Hans says, "But the hag throw a handful of dust at the floor, and when the servant stepped on it, it rotted and broke through, and he fell."

Gert exclaims, "Hey, it's working!"

Arvid asks (of Cujo), "what's that?"

Hans says, "But he picked himself up, and came at the hag with his sword."

Gert exclaims (at darkness), "Hey, whatever-you-are! We want Lucille back!"

Hans says, "Then she threw dust at his sword, and it immediately rusted and fell to pieces."

GM says, "Cujo stares directly at the door through which you came, whines a bit, and hides behind you."

Hans says, "The servant was so frightened that he ran away."

Hans says, "He was ashamed, though. The next morning, he returned to find his master and apologize."

Gert strides through the doorway, lantern aloft in one hand and axe in the other.

Hans says, "But when he reached the gates of the castle..."

[7thsea] GM says, "Hans is in full-out storytelling mode, I see."

Hans says, "There was nothing left but a crumbling ruin. His master, the other servants, and all that had been ther was gone."

[7thsea] Gert sighs. "Isn't he dreamy?"

Arvid says, "I've noticed your stories always have depressing implications for our situation"

[7thsea] Hans says, "#7thsea Whoops, I thought they were still poking holes in the wardrobe."

Roger arrives, looking for booty.

[7thsea] Arvid asks, "is Gert provoking any reaction from whatever it is?"

GM says, "As Hans finishes the story, a figure -- a 12-year-old version of Suzanne, with long blonde hair -- appears at the doorway, sees you all, and quickly backs out into the corridor."

GM says, "Er, 10-year-old."

Hans exclaims, "Lucille!"

Gert exclaims, "Hey, come back! Your family is safe! They're worried about you!"

Gert charges forward, forgetting she's still brandishing the axe.

Arvid says, "hunh, I guess she wanted to hear the end"

[7thsea] Hans asks, "We're in an interior room, and she's in the corridor that led to the room?"

[7thsea] GM says, "Right."

[7thsea] Arvid says, "I assume Lucille is actually 10"

[7thsea] Arvid says, "I dunno what she's doing being older in in Andre's dream then"

[7thsea] Hans says, "She was 10 according to Suzanne."

GM says, "Well, Lucille isn't coming when she's called."

[7thsea] Arvid says, "good enough"

Hans follows her.

Gert asks (of GM), "I don't see her in the corridor?"

[7thsea] Hans asks, "Did Andre actually see her older, or did lecherous Arvid just assume that that's what he meant by a blond girl who looked like Suzanne?"

GM says (to Gert), "she's running away. Blonde hair doesn't blend into darkness all that well."

Gert charge!

Gert exclaims, "Stop! It's OK! Let us help!"

[7thsea] Arvid says, "ha ha"

Hans follows, grabbing Gert's axe from behind.

Gert says (to Hans), "Oh, right, good thinking."

Gert lets Hans take the axe and charges forward with just the lantern.

[7thsea] Arvid says, "I'm not sure a distinction exists between an older version of a blonde ten year old who looks like Suzanne, and an older person who lookes like a blonde Suzanne"

[7thsea] Hans asks, "But did he say she was older?"

[7thsea] Arvid says, "except I guess on a missing child poster the first would say "computer enhanced to show aging progression""

[7thsea] Gert says, "Hee hee"

[7thsea] Arvid says, "oh, hmm"

GM asks, "So .. who's chasing, and who's staying?"

[7thsea] Hans asks, "Or did he just not happen to mention that she's younger?"

Hans is chasing Gert.

[7thsea] Cat says, "I'm going to stay behind for now"

Cat glares at the wardrobe. "That was awfully convenient for you, wardrobe."

Arvid stays back with Cat.

GM says, "(excellent.)"

[7thsea] Arvid says, "he apparently said he thought it was Suzanne"

[7thsea] Hans says, "Hmm. I guess he really did -- yeah."

[7thsea] Hans says, "Weird."

[7thsea] Cat asks, "is there a hole in the wardrobe's back panel, or did Gert get distracted before she punched through?"

[7thsea] Arvid says, "(and it seems like a 10 year old and a 17 year old or whatever are hard to confuse)"

GM says, "Okay, let's see a couple of finesse + sprinting rolls from the chasers."

[7thsea] Gert rolls 4k3: 6 5 6 1 | 17

[7thsea] GM says, "maybe he was especially disturbed by the Lolita aspect and didn't mention it."

[7thsea] Arvid says, "good point"

[7thsea] Hans rolls 4k3: 9 4 2 3 | 16

[7thsea] Arvid says, "I had a similar dream myself but presumably I was filling in whatever details seemed best"

[7thsea] GM rolls 3k3: 2 6 10+2 | 20

[7thsea] Gert says, "bah"

[7thsea] Gert asks, "Can I add a drama die?"

[7thsea] GM says, "Sure"

[7thsea] Gert adds a drama die!

[7thsea] Hans asks, "Er. Are you saying that Arvid had a dream about Suzanne?"

[7thsea] Gert rolls 1k1: 6 | 6

[7thsea] Cat says, "man, that's one speedy ten-year-old"

[7thsea] Arvid | GM says, "Arvid dozes off and dreams of a girl who looks a lot like Suzanne Pervenche, only blonde ... wandering in the moonlight. One by one, other girls follow behind her: Camilla Karnstein, Laura Schriftsteller, Adelheid and Klara Sessemann, Arielle Sainte-Seraphine...."

[7thsea] Hans says, "Ah, right."

[7thsea] Arvid says, "but presumably this is normal for teachers at this kind of school"

[7thsea] Hans says, "At least those like Arvid."

[7thsea] Gert says, "snrk"

[7thsea] Arvid says, "the best kind"

[7thsea] Hans says, "Some of us are loyal."

GM says (to Gert), "you leap and tackle Lucille. She struggles, then spits something at you. Next thing you know, you're muffled in some kind of black shadowy substance."

Gert exclaims, "Ack!"

GM says (to Hans), "You catch up in time to see Gert wrapped up in black fabric as Lucille struggles out of her grip."

Hans exclaims, "Lucille!"

Hans exclaims, "You stop that right now, young lady!"

[7thsea] Arvid says, "ha ha"

Hans cuts Gert free with his sword.

Gert tries to open the lantern to burn the shadows!

[7thsea] Arvid exclaims, "and I don't want to see any more demonic possession out of you, or there'll be trouble!"

GM says, "As people occupy themselves with freeing Gert, Lucille takes off again."

Gert exclaims (at Hans), "Leave me! Stop the girl!"

GM says (to Gert), "the lantern light, at close range, does in fact cause the shadow-fabric to dissolve."

[7thsea] Hans wonders if dracheneisen gets a bonus against schwarzwald demoncloth.

Gert exclaims, "See, I can get through with the lantern! Go!"

Hans, satisfied that Gert's fine, runs after Lucille instead.

[7thsea] Hans rolls 4k3: 8 8 5 10+1 | 27

[7thsea] GM rolls 3k3: 5 2 8 | 15

Arvid stares at the wardrobe and taps his chin thoughtfully.

Arvid says, "suppose she's a ghost or something"

[7thsea] Gert rolls Finesse to see how fast she can get free.

[7thsea] Gert rolls 3k3: 9 7 4 | 20

Hans keeps his panzerhand up to parry with, if she tries the same thing against him.

GM says (to Hans), "Lucille is taking a round route back to the workshop. You tackle her again a short distance away."

[7thsea] Cat asks, "is there a hole in the wardobe back, again?"

[7thsea] GM says, "There's the hole that Gert made with the chisel."

Arvid says, "sometimes they're tied to a place or object"

Cat says (to Arvid), "You hold the light - I'm going to try and look through this."

Arvid does so as he continues to muse

Hans holds her down and covers her mouth.

Gert catches up to Hans when she can.

[7thsea] Hans asks, "Does she look like she's scared or possessed?"

[7thsea] Arvid says, "or evil"

GM says (to Hans), "Lucille struggles viciously."

[7thsea] Arvid says, "I guess that's possessed"

[7thsea] Arvid says, "unless she's normally evil"

[7thsea] Cat exclaims, "just then, in walk the PTA board!"

[7thsea] Arvid says, "ha ha"

[7thsea] GM says, "hahaha"

Hans says (to Gert), "Get something to tie her with."

Hans says, "She does not seem to be herself."

GM says (to Arvid&Cat), "There sounds like some sort of commotion out in the corridor."

Gert hollers "Hey, guys! Get out here and bring your lanterns! And maybe a rope!

Arvid says, "I suppose Hans and Gert have gotten themselves into trouble again"

Arvid asks, "...see?"

[7thsea] Cat asks, "Can I see anything through the hole, before I go?"

[7thsea] GM says (to Cat), "yeah. You can see through the wood to the other side."

[7thsea] Cat says, "oh well, it was worth a shot"

Cat grabs the nearest cord-like thing and trots out into the corridor

[7thsea] GM says, "Hey, it *did* call Lucille back from wherever she was."

Arvid says, "Edgardo is irritating anyway, he can just as well fix it"

Gert helps Hans hold Lucille down, and looks for something to cover her mouth with.

Hans says, "Good, a curtain cord should be soft. She *is* still a little girl, after all."

Hans says, "I think."

Gert looks down with concern. "If only we knew how to fix it. Light, I suppose?"

[7thsea] Hans asks, "So, can I trust that when I asked the Count about Lucille's usual habits, he would have mentioned this?"

Gert sets the lanterns down in a circle around Lucille.

[7thsea] Gert says, "Ha ha"

[7thsea] GM tosses Arvid a drama die. "There were so many halfway-there points throughout ... the '....see?' bit finally decided me."

[7thsea] GM says (to Hans), "yeah."

GM says, "Lucille struggles harder in the presence of the light, making screaming sounds."

Arvid belatedly arrives.

Arvid says, "goodness"

Cat asks, "All right, Lucy dear. Calm down and we'll take the light away, hmm?"

Arvid asks, "don't you think you're hurting her?"

Hans asks (of Lucille), "Who are you?"

Hans says (to Arvid), "It might be. Whatever It is."

Cat says (to Arvid), "I was like that with whooping-cough medicine. My nurse blamed me for that finger all her life."

Gert exclaims, "Lucille! You must remember! Your family--they're OK! We rescued them! Suzanna and Pierre! Your parents!"

Arvid asks, "nemo me impune lacessit, eh?"

GM says (to Gert), "she doesn't seem to react any differently."

Gert searches Lucille's eys for any sign of recognition.

Gert curses.

GM says (to Gert), "Nope, no recognition."

Hans looks at Arvid, worried that it may have him too.

Gert asks (of others), "Well, would getting her family help?"

Gert asks, "Anyone else we know here good at reversing transmogrification effects?"

Hans says (to Gert), "It would let them know that she's here. But..."

Arvid says, "I think it would only distress them"

[7thsea] Arvid says, "hmm"

Cat says, "Ahem. If we have a vampire here, I'm guessing that we may also have further vampires. I for one am in favour of taking some precautions. Immediately."

[7thsea] Arvid says, "possibly we should retrace her footsteps through the spooky woods"

[7thsea] Gert asks, "Whose?"

[7thsea] Hans asks, "Was she ever in the spooky woods?"

[7thsea] Arvid says, "well, the wagon's"

[7thsea] Hans says, "Assuming you mean the schwarzwald."

[7thsea] Gert says, "We *did* retrace her footsteps."

[7thsea] Arvid asks, "didn't it go through? or just near?"

[7thsea] Hans says, "That's east of here; the wagon came from the west."

[7thsea] Arvid says, "but all the woods are spooky at night"

[7thsea] Hans says, "The waterfall girls went east, I think, but not far enough to reach the woods."

Cat says, "Or if it is some ghastly Eisen forest ghoul, we should put a bratwurst in our pockets and play the accordion standing on one leg, or - ooh, I still have some sausages from breakfast in my pocket."

[7thsea] Hans says (to Arvid), "Well, true. But not all of them have evil shadow demons in them."

[7thsea] Arvid asks, "at night, how can you tell?"

Hans says, "In Eisen, carrying meat near your abdomen is not considered a good way to protect yourself against ravenous monsters."

[7thsea] Gert asks (of GM), "Any loremasters around who might know what has happened? Who'd be the most likely?"

Arvid asks, "what about carrying it near someone else's abdomen?"

[7thsea] Arvid exclaims, "me!"

[7thsea] Arvid says, "well ok obviously not"

[7thsea] GM says, "Yeah, Arvid seems most likely."

[7thsea] Arvid says, "ogh"

[7thsea] Arvid says, "er, oh"

[7thsea] Gert says (to Arvid), "Well, roll Lore then! ;-)"

[7thsea] Arvid asks, "hmm, can I make some kind of roll now that we've seen more about her?"

[7thsea] Hans says, "I believe you are obligated to."

[7thsea] Arvid asks, "is this natural philosophy again?"

[7thsea] Gert says, "Or Unnatural philosophy."

[7thsea] GM says, "Sure. Or Occult."

[7thsea] Hans says, "Isn't there a -- yeah, that."

[7thsea] GM says, "Say, 25 with Natural Philosophy, 20 with Occult."

[7thsea] Arvid says, "I don't have occult, but clearly that's where I'm spending some xp"

[7thsea] GM says (to Arvid), "consider Occult a rank 0 knack with the Scholar skill."

[7thsea] Arvid asks, "I dunno, can I buy it and then roll? or buy it later?"

[7thsea] GM says, "You'd have to buy it later, if you do."

[7thsea] Gert says, "You can try Research, maybe, if the roll fails."

[7thsea] Gert says, "Or, you know, just spend some drama dice."

[7thsea] Arvid says, "ok, so right now I'm rolling NP, and I'll throw in a drama die"

[7thsea] Arvid rolls 6k5: 9 8 10+5 9 6 9 | 50

[7thsea] Hans says, "#7thsea Or we can engage in some ill-advised scheme instead."

[7thsea] Arvid says, "man"

[7thsea] Cat says, "yow"

[7thsea] Gert exclaims, "Or that works!"

[7thsea] Cat exclaims, "Arvid suddenly remembers what his doctoral thesis was!"

Gert asks, "Arvid! You know about this sort of thing! Will exposing her to sunlight cure her or kill her?"

Gert asks, "Or do we have to do something more complicated to get her back to what she was?"

GM says (to Arvid), "Okay. First thing to do if you're wondering about vampires and such, is check for a pulse. She has none. So she's already dead, and either re-animated by a blackwood spirit, or else actually a vampire."

Arvid inspects her pulse.

Arvid says, "her heart isn't beating"

[Crows-Nest] Roger says, "I am a little weirded out in that my grandmother was named Gert"

GM says (to Arvid), "The sunlight thing has been known to destroy both blackwood shadow monsters and vampires, so that would work either way."

Hans asks, "How do you start a heart beating?"

Gert frowns. "That sounds like a bad sign."

Arvid says, "I don't know if that means she's a reanimated corpse or a vampire or what"

Arvid says, "getting her in sunlight might help in either case"

Hans asks, "And do you have to get it out of her before we fix her heart or after?"

Arvid says, "but I don't know how we'll keep her through the night"

Hans asks, "Tied up with curtain cord in a ring of lanterns, like right now?"

Cat asks (of Arvid), "what happens if we burn that horrible box?"

Hans asks, "And if this thing is in Lucille, does that mean that Lucille is still in the box?"

Arvid thinks

Hans asks, "And for that matter, where was she when it was delivered?"

Cat says, "alternatively, we could let her go, let her get to the box, and see what happens..."

GM says (to Arvid), "Looks like 'Lucille' actually melds into the wood of the wardrobe, which would explain the paint wearing out."

Arvid says (to Hans), "I think she was in the wardrobe"

[7thsea] Hans asks, "How would that explain that?"

Hans exclaims, "But we opened the wardrobe!"

Arvid says, "no, *in* the wardrobe"

[7thsea] GM says, "Where she emerges from the wood, she wears out the paint in passing."

[7thsea] Arvid says, "she wears it out flying through it"

Gert asks (of Arvid), "Is there... is there any way of getting Lucille back?"

Cat asks, "So if we burned it now, would that sever the two? Or would the blackwood spirit just take up permanent residence?"

[7thsea] Hans says, "Aha."

Arvid says, "I'm not sure we can risk that -- we don't know where Lucille's spirit is"

Arvid says, "hmm"

Arvid says, "I think perhaps we should have another talk with our handyman and his wife"

Cat says, "perhaps a less polite one"

Arvid says, "I don't know if his paint was intended to keep her in or out"

Hans asks, "And why did this thing hunt down the wagon driver to kill him?"

[7thsea] Gert asks (of GM), "Does Arvid know of any way to get Lucille back, or does he know it's impossible, or...?"

Cat asks, "would it be easier to bring them to Lucille, rather than attempting to transport her?"

[7thsea] GM says, "She's dead. You can't get her back."

Cat says, "also, if Lucille came out of this wardrobe, presumably other things could too. So we need a guard on both Lucille and the evil furniture."

Arvid says (to Hans), "...revenge, I suspect"

[7thsea] Hans says, "Well. We promised Ed and her parents that we'd return her."

[7thsea] Gert says (to Arvid), "You have to break that to Gert, then."

[7thsea] Hans says, "So I guess we're going to have to tell them just to keep her tied up and out of direct sunlight from now on."

[7thsea] Arvid says, "ha ha"

[7thsea] Hans says, "Also, I am not buying the dead-no-bringing-back thing either."

[7thsea] Cat says (to Hans), "funny, that was my father's favoured parenting style"

[7thsea] Arvid says, "ha ha"

[7thsea] Arvid says, "(more)"

[7thsea] Hans says (to Cat), "Ha."

[7thsea] Arvid says, "actually, that applies to either of Hans' statements"

[Crows-Nest] schep says, "search her for a little phial of magic healing fluid"

[Crows-Nest] Hans asks, "Actually, we haven't searched her, have we?"

[Crows-Nest] Hans says, "Someone with a Wits score should."

Arvid says (to Gert), "I'm, er, not sure"

Arvid says (to Gert), "I'm afraid that in, er, most of the literature, spirits in this situation don't always, ah, survive the exorcism"

Hans asks, "So we are breaking new ground?"

Arvid says, "let's hope so"

Hans asks, "So. How to retrieve her soul from the wardrobe?"

Hans says, "Hmm. It must like the distillation of spirits."

Hans says, "Or like distilling the essence from a plant -- wood, in fact."

Gert asks, "Is her spirit in the wardrobe?"

Cat says, "I feel a sudden urge to interrogate someone who does more than hiss, spit and bite."

Hans says, "So we need Stefan's help."

[7thsea] Hans says (to Cat), "I'm sure your father felt *that* way, too."

[7thsea] Gert says, "OOC, I think the story is supposed to be that the wagon driver killed her and put her back in the wardrobe, where the blackwood reanimated her body."

[7thsea] Hans exclaims, "Oh!"

[7thsea] Gert says, "So first she died normally, then the magic happened."

[7thsea] Hans says, "That would be inconvenient."

[7thsea] Hans says, "But unpleasantly plausible."

[7thsea] Arvid says, "weird he did that instead of just dumping her body"

[7thsea] Hans says, "And, er. Rather not dissimilar to the story I told last time."

[7thsea] Gert says, "Ha"

[7thsea] Gert says, "Well, I dunno, maybe he did dump the body and this is an echo of something that the blackwood started or who knows what."

[7thsea] Cat asks, "might Edgardo know about this?"

[7thsea] Gert says, "I don't know how, but perhaps."

[7thsea] Arvid says, "I think he knows something is going on, which is why he's painting it"

[7thsea] Arvid says, "and wossherface obviously knows something, since her crochet hook was there"

[7thsea] Gert asks, "Maybe they were visited by the spirit and asked for a crochet hook?"

[7thsea] Arvid says, "ha ha"

[7thsea] Hans says, "If it were just an echo, you would think it could get out of these cords."

[7thsea] Cat says, "let's pay a return visit"

[7thsea] Arvid says, "and a cup of sugar, but that got baked into cookies"

[7thsea] Hans says, "It could have just found the hook."

[7thsea] Hans says, "Maybe she lost it here, while Edgardo was painting."

[7thsea] Hans says, "And she didn't want to admit that."

[7thsea] Gert says, "True, but if so, it's weird that Cujo didn't pick up the scent there."

[7thsea] Hans says (to Gert), "Well, it smelled like her."

Cat says, "Oh. Look at that. I must have dropped my handkerchief at our Castillian friends'."

[7thsea] Hans says, "And so he led us to her."

Hans asks, "Is this really the time to be worrying about handkerchiefs?"

[7thsea] Gert says, "But he led her along a shadowy route that she presumably took."

[7thsea] Gert asks (of GM), "Which didn't go by the cottage?"

[7thsea] GM says, "No, it took a different route."

[7thsea] GM says, "Avoiding the main roads."

[7thsea] Hans asks, "Which would be reasonably consistent with what I suggested, no?"

[7thsea] Gert says, "What a vampire needs with a crochet hook I don't know."

Cat asks, "Would anyone care to accompany me while I retrieve it?"

Arvid asks, "possibly, but they know something -- why was Edgardo painting the wardrobe?"

Arvid asks, "and what is Lucia hiding?"

Gert says, "I"

[7thsea] Gert says, "er"

[7thsea] Arvid asks, "what does a vampire need with a crochet hook? what does god need with a starship?"

[7thsea] Hans asks, "That Lucia and Edgardo were here painting the wardrobe, Lucia dropped a hook by mistake, and then later Lucille popped out of the wardrobe and picked up the dropped hook?"

[7thsea] Hans says, "This could suggest that she's an IF protagonist."

[7thsea] Arvid says, "I don't understand why Lucia would lie about that"

[7thsea] Arvid says, "ha ha"

Gert says, "I'll stay with Lucille. Do we tell her family before trying to expose her to sunlight? She doesn't seem to remember them at all, and it might be painful for them to see her like this. On the other hand, maybe they'd want to know."

[7thsea] Hans says, "So Lucia might have just been hiding the fact that Edgardo was painting the wardrobe."

[7thsea] Gert says (to Hans), "Yeah, that's plausible."

Hans says, "I think someone should look at the wardrobe before we do anything with Lucille."

[7thsea] Arvid says, "but we know he was, because it's painted"

Cat says (to Gert), "I think that the longer this is concealed from them, the more awkward a position we're likely to find ourselves in."

Hans says, "And by 'someone', I mean someone who knows something about wood and natural philosophy and the occult."

Hans says, "Or at least two of the three."

Cat says, "It could quite easily be implied that we arranged the whole business."

Gert nods.

Hans exclaims (at Cat), "What? BUt...!"

Arvid says, "well, three of us have an alibi for the night the wagon-driver was killed"

Hans . o O ( What devious minds some people have! )

Gert says, "Let's tell the father, then, and he can decide whether to tell the others."

Hans says, "Very well."

Gert asks, "Anyone volunteer to be the bearer of bad tidings?"

Hans says, "I suppose that should be my duty."

Gert gives Hans a hug. "Sorry, dear."

Hans says (to Gert), "But if Arvid and Cat are leaving, I do not think it is safe for you to stay here alone."

Hans says, "With... Lucille."

Cat says, "Well, someone needs to guard her."

Hans says, "Yes."

Gert asks, "Maybe Arvid and Cat can wait until you get back?"

Cat says, "Not to mention make sure that nothing further crawls out of that wardrobe."

[7thsea] Hans says, "I am just worried that as soon as we all leave, Gert will end up on #interludes getting possessed."

GM says, "(Also, y'know, you're in a public corridor. Which might get used by the occasional passing servant with insomnia.)"

[7thsea] Arvid says, "hee hee"

[7thsea] Hans says, "Although on the plus side, then we'd *have* to find a cure, which would increase our chances of Lucille surviving."

Gert says, "Let's get them all in the same room first, then."

[7thsea] Gert says, "Hee hee"

Hans says, "Fair enough."

Cat says, "Very well. Let's move her into the workshop and await the Pervenches."

Gert gives Lucille a bear hug and moves the struggling bundle into the workshop.

Hans helps carry the unwilling body.

Cat sits with her back to the wall and her musket trained on the wardrobe.

Hans says, "Right. I shall return."

Roger has disconnected.

Roger goes home.

GM asks (of Hans), "Okay! Where are you going first?"

[7thsea] Hans says, "To talk to the Count."

[7thsea] Hans asks, "Was I going any other places than that?"

[7thsea] GM says, "Ah, I thought you might consider Pierre or Suzanne as well."

[7thsea] Cat says, "leave that to the parents, I think"

[7thsea] Hans says, "I'm going to let him -- yeah."

GM says (to Hans), "so off you toddle to the castle. It's dark out, now, and people are in bed."

GM says (to Hans), "You manage to wake Sapt up to let you in."

[7thsea] Hans says, "It occurs to me that if Lucille's soul is still reachable, there's probably one person in town who could sense it."

GM says (to Hans), "And up to the rooms that the Count, Countess and Edmond are occupying."

[7thsea] Hans says, "(Or at least, could sense that the links between it and this world haven't been severed.)"

[7thsea] GM asks, "How much does Hans really know about how fatewitchery works?"

Hans knocks gently on the door.

GM says (to Hans), "you have to wait a minute or so, but the door eventually opens."

[7thsea] Hans says, "Fate witches are spooky and can tell you things that they had no way of knowing and can manipulate Vodacce men."

GM says (to Hans), "Rodolphe Pervenche looks dead tired, but his face lights up when he sees you. "You have news!""

Cat tries to keep everyone from sinking into despondency by discussing every boy she has avoided being married to

Hans says (to Count), "Yes, but... it may not be good."

Arvid says, "...that's quite a list"

GM says, "The Count steps out into the corridor and shuts the door behind him."

Gert exclaims (at Cat), "You forgot Curt!"

Arvid says, "and to think those are just the ones you're telling us about"

(From GM) Rodolphe says, "What is it?"

Hans says, "We have discovered a creature -- something unnatural -- has taken hold of Lucille."

(From GM) Rodolphe says, "What do you mean, 'taken hold'? Where's it keeping her?"

Hans says, "It is inside of her, controlling her."

Cat exclaims, "Don't I know it. Last year Daddy even suggested a Castillian. Imagine!"

(From GM) Rodolphe blinks. "I don't understand. How do you know this? Have you seen her?"

Hans nods. "Yes. But she is not as you knew her."

(From GM) Rodolphe says, "I'll be the judge of that. Where is she now?"

[Crows-Nest] Cat says, "nice use of the perfect tense there, Subtle McSensitivepants"

Hans says, "I should warn you: this creature, it is dangerous. But I will show you. Come with me."

[Crows-Nest] Hans says, "That is an excellent name."

Hans leads him to the workshop.

[Crows-Nest] Gert says, "Hee hee"

GM says, "Back to the workshop goes Hans, with Rodolphe Pervenche (who's only just grabbed a dressing gown, not bothering to get properly dressed) in tow."

Cat performs an elegant curtsey, without taking her musket off the wardrobe.

GM says, "He demands to know everything about what's going on with Lucille."

Gert tries to explain, deferring to Arvid for the more technical explanations.

[7thsea] Arvid asks, "hmm, should we fetch Edgardo?"

[7thsea] Cat says, "that's next on the list, I think"

[Crows-Nest] Gert asks, "Has anyone IC thought of the theory that she was killed by the wagon driver first, before being reanimated?"

[Crows-Nest] Gert says, "(#7th, but anyway)"

[7thsea] Arvid says, "I think I am considering it"

[7thsea] Arvid says, "since it seems like most of the time a ghost kills someone it's for revenge"

Hans whispers to Gert, "Go to Elena. She *knows* things." (Significant facial expression.) "Ask her if Lucille is still in this world. Promise her anything reasonable if she can help."

[Crows-Nest] Hans says, "I'm guessing not."

[7thsea] Hans says, "(Oh, Arvid responded here.)"

Gert whispers back, "Elena? Well... OK."

[7thsea] Hans says, "It still seems really weird that this wouldn't be her body, and also weird that he would have killed her and left the body in the wardrobe."

Gert has no idea what Hans is talking about, but does trust the man, so if Rodolphe is satisfied for the nonce, she goes to find her.

[7thsea] Hans asks, "Also, did he *seem* at all suspicious when he delivered the stuff?"

[7thsea] Cat says, "rather than split us up too much I'll wait until Elena's dealt with before wandering off to Edgardo's"

[7thsea] Arvid says (to Hans), "no"

[7thsea] GM asks, "How is Arvid explaining all this to Rodolphe, anyway?"

[7thsea] Hans says, "I wouldn't think that he'd feel the need to hide the fact that he'd killed a fleeing criminal."

[7thsea] Arvid says, "hmm"

[7thsea] Cat says (to Hans), "he mostly seemed angry at du Sices"

Gert excuses herself and goes to find Elena.

Arvid explains just that she's possessed by a demonic spirit, that the spirit is connected somehow to the wardrobe, that the wardrobe is made of blackwood, and that the spirit may have been the thing that killed the wagon driver and hence it is unsafe to release her

GM says (to Gert), "Elena's asleep in her room in the servants' quarters."

Cat says (to Rodolphe), "I'm sure you fully understand the need for discretion in this matter, my lord. The Geneva rumour mill is a terrible engine indeed."

(From GM) Rodolphe says (to Cat), "Indeed. Just this evening I heard the most astounding story about badgers in the Avalonian court."

Gert softly knocks on Elena's door until she gets a response.

[7thsea] Arvid says, "yay"

(From GM) Rodolphe says (to Arvid), "And my daughter? Is that (waves at 'Lucille') still her?"

GM says (to Gert), "Elena eventually emerges."

Arvid says, "I don't know -- it may be her, or it may be the spirit has taken her form"

Arvid says, "I've only heard about this sort of thing in books before, never seen it for myself"

Gert says (to Elena), "I'm sorry to bother you, but Hans told me...well... he asked me to ask you if Lucille is still in this world. We found a creature that *looks* like Lucille, you see, and... I don't know why he thinks you would know, but I do trust him."

[7thsea] GM checks notes. "Ohhhhh man....."

[Crows-Nest] Gert says, "Whoops."

(From GM) Elena says, "What? How ... how on earth would I know that?"

[7thsea] Hans says, "Uh-oh."

[7thsea] Cat says, "dammit I *knew* we should have sent backup when we arrested the witch"

Gert exclaims (at Elena), "I don't know!"

Gert says, "Can you help, though? I don't know who else to ask."

(From GM) Elena says, "Your Hans must be mistaken. He must mean someone else."

[7thsea] Hans exclaims, "Perhaps I'm half Avalon and have Thomas!"

Gert asks, "You won't help us?"

(From GM) Elena says, "I can't. I'm sorry.

[7thsea] Hans asks, "I forget; did I mention earlier that she may need help as well?"

Gert says, "Well... if you change your mind, let me know. If there's anything I can do..."

Gert sighs sadly.

(From GM) Elena shakes her head. "I must get back to sleep. I have to be up early tomorrow."

Gert says, "I understand. Sorry to wake you."

Gert returns to the workshop emptyhanded.

[7thsea] Cat says, "she'll be out of the window the second you close the door"

[7thsea] Arvid asks, "Edgardo?"

[7thsea] Cat says, "yes"

[7thsea] Hans says, "So you could meet her there."

[7thsea] Hans says, "Under the window."

[7thsea] Arvid asks, "also, it's noon here, how are we doing time-wise?"

[7thsea] Hans says, "I'm fine, but then, I don't work today."

[7thsea] Cat says, "I need to make tracks in half an hour"

[7thsea] GM says, "fine here too."

[Crows-Nest] Gert says, "If we could wrap things up soon, that'd be good."

[Crows-Nest] Gert says, "sigh,channel."

GM says, "Okay, off to Edgardo's, then."

[7thsea] Gert asks, "12:30, then?"

[7thsea] GM says, "okay"

GM asks, "Who's going to Edgardo's? Arvid and Cat?"

Gert asks (of Rodolpho), "Do you want to tell the rest of your family?"

[7thsea] Cat says, "yeah, that should work"

[7thsea] Arvid says, "alrighty"

[7thsea] Cat says, "I suppose this presents an ideal opportunity for us to get ambushed, now that the muscle's otherwise occupied"

(From GM) Rodolphe says, "If there's nothing to be done, this creature will have to be destroyed. If I must tell them that Lucille is dead, then so be it -- but they don't have to know she was ever like this."

[7thsea] Arvid exclaims, "you've got guns!"

Gert nods.

Cat says (to Arvid), "You knock at the front door; I'll make sure nobody sneaks out through the garden."

GM says, "At Edgardo's."

Arvid knocks on the front door.

GM says, "Edgardo answers the door."

Cat positions herself in a convenient shadow around the back.

Arvid says, "ah, Edgardo"

GM says, "He doesn't actually open the door more than a crack until he sees Arvid is (apparently) alone."

Arvid says, "we require your assistance at the workshop"

Arvid says, "the time has come for the truth"

(From GM) Edgardo says, "?"

Cat sneaks through the garden, hoping to peer through a window

Arvid says, "don't play the fool with me, man -- we've seen her"

(From GM) Edgardo turns pale. "You've seen...?"

Arvid says, "and we want an explanation what you were doing with the wardrobe, and why"

Arvid says, "get dressed and come with me"

(From GM) Edgardo says, "Oh, the ... wait."

[7thsea] Arvid says, "ha ha"

GM says, "Edgardo closes the door."

Arvid glares at Edgardo

Arvid says, "dammit, don't you --"

GM says (to Cat), "You do find a window."

[7thsea] Hans exclaims, "Aw, you could have gotten more info from him if you'd stayed quiet!"

GM says (to Cat), "Lucia is pacing nervously inside."

GM says (to Cat), "A moment later, Edgardo comes into the room. They begin whispering to each other."

GM says (to Cat), "In Vodacce."

[7thsea] Gert exclaims, "Lip reading!"

[7thsea] Cat exclaims, "I have Vodacce *and* lip reading! hooray!"

GM says (to Cat), "Then Lucia whispers something to Edgardo and kisses him."

[7thsea] Arvid says, "wait, I thought he was Castillian"

[7thsea] Arvid says (to Cat), "ha ha"

[7thsea] Cat says, "I think for this one I need a drama die"

[Crows-Nest] Arvid says, "hmm"

[7thsea] GM says, "Wits + Lipreading."

[Crows-Nest] Arvid asks, "if they're vodacce, are they connected to Elena?"

[7thsea] Cat asks, "with a drama die, that's 5k4, right?"

[7thsea] GM says, "Right"

[7thsea] Arvid says, "a drama die adds to both sides, yeah"

[7thsea] Cat rolls 5k4: 3 9 2 4 7 | 23

(From GM) Edgardo says, "It's the Vendel dog. He said he'd seen you practicing."

(From GM) Edgardo says, "Now he wants me to go look at that wardrobe."

[7thsea] Hans says, "Oh dear."

[7thsea] Arvid says, "man, I am going to kick them both in the shins so hard"

(From GM) Lucia says, "Edgardo, please be careful. You remember what I told you when we went to look at the dead man."

[7thsea] Gert says, "Man what is up with these complete sentences."

[7thsea] Arvid says, "hee hee"

[7thsea] Hans asks, "How many Fate Witches are there in town?"

(From GM) Edgardo says, "I'll try to be."

(From GM) Lucia says, "Edgardo di Ravenna, look me in the eye."

[7thsea] Arvid says (to Hans), "2"

[7thsea] Arvid asks, "...or is it only 1?"

(From GM) Lucia repeats the name twice, then kisses Edgardo.

[7thsea] Hans asks, "Or is it a whole secret society of them?"

[7thsea] Gert says, "Hey, it's that fate witch kiss thing."

[7thsea] Arvid says, "awesome"

[7thsea] Hans asks, "Is that from the Vodacce book?"

[7thsea] Gert says, "I don't *think* so..."

(From GM) Edgardo gets dressed, hiding a stiletto in his boot, and goes back out.

[7thsea] Arvid asks, "kissing?"

[7thsea] Arvid says, "that's from the basic book"

Cat restrains herself from jumping up and down with glee

GM says (to Arvid), "And then Edgardo appears at the door again, fully dressed."

Arvid says, "took you long enough"

Cat leaves, and runs on ahead to get back to the workshop first.

Arvid says, "now then, let's be going (raising voice slightly for Cat to hear)"

(From GM) Edgardo shrugs and follows Arvid back to the workshop.

[7thsea] Gert says, "Yeah, p221 in the PG."

[7thsea] GM says, "End."

[7thsea] Cat says, "woo cliffhanger"

[7thsea] Gert exclaims, "Yay!"

[7thsea] Hans says (to Gert), "Hmm, I see Blessings there, but nothing about kisses."

[7thsea] Arvid says, "some interesting twists"

[7thsea] Hans says (to Arvid), "Yeah."

[7thsea] Arvid says, "those are delivered by kiss"

[7thsea] Hans says, "Huh. I thought it was about looking into their eyes."

[7thsea] Arvid says, "that too"

[7thsea] GM says, "Yeah, Edgardo and Lucia *claim* to be Castillian. But there's a reason neither of them speaks more than they have to. They're worried about someone noticing their accents."

[7thsea] Hans says, "Oh, there is kissing. Missed that."

[7thsea] Hans says, "A shame about Elena, but maybe Lucia will help confirm it."

[7thsea] Hans says, "(Yeah, right.)"

[7thsea] Cat says, "we need like three more PCs just to stake out under fate witch windows"

[7thsea] Arvid asks, "there's no possibility Lucia was disguising herself as Elena, is there?"

[7thsea] Arvid says, "(clearly my heart is set on Lucia being disguised as somebody)"

[7thsea] Hans says, "That would be awesome but crazy."

[7thsea] Cat says, "if fate witches get Teleport, maybe"

[7thsea] Arvid says, "not all the time"

[7thsea] Arvid says, "just to spread rumors about the waterfall"

[7thsea] GM says, "And I won't have this 'twice-blooded' nonsense in *my* world."

[7thsea] Gert says, "Ha"

[7thsea] Cat says, "okay, thanks a lot, all. gotta go"

[7thsea] GM exclaims, "See ya!"

[7thsea] GM asks, "Same time next week? Or not?"

[7thsea] Hans says, "Works for me."

[7thsea] Arvid says, "um, maybe"

[7thsea] Arvid says, "I am probably free but I want to get in on this 4e game if it happens next weekend"

[7thsea] GM says, "Should check out that scheduling thing lpsmith posted about on #rpg."

[7thsea] Hans says, "If Arvid plays 4e, then I guess I will want to play 4e too."

[7thsea] Arvid says, "(since it is only a one-shot)"