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87 On Guard johnb (Admin)
After hearing Edgar's interpretation of Uddhugg's warning Rolf issues his orders. After some discussion, Callum and Ravn return upstairs. Moving back into the area of the Bird-woman's nest, Callum espies a small celestory (see note) window high in the wall in the remains of the first room. It is shuttered but not glazed with light leaking in through the sides of the shutters and two small flower shaped cut-outs. The cut-outs provider a very limited view outside. Callum can see out of the window unaided, but Ravn needs to collect some of the debris to make a step to raise him enough to see out. Edgar, flying up to the top floor lands on an appropriate beam, and watches Callum and Ravn's efforts. Down stairs Elsbeth and Peter head off towards the kitchen, finding tables and a couple of shelving units they can use to barricade doors with. Mandrake, Yuri and Zhiri stand with Rolf in the hallway, awaiting clarification of their instructions. ----------- NOTE Celestory windows are long and narrow, this on is about 9 inches high and 3 feet in length, and they are designed to give some daylight but not provide entrance to the building. It is set just over 6 feet from the floor. ------------ Updated map on the website Legend A = Ravn C = Callum e = Edgar E = Elsbeth & Laddie P = Peter R = Rolf m = Mandrake Z = Zhiri Y = Yuri K = Kerim M = Madelyn
Which door? Peter Gasgano
As he leaves for the kitchens, Peter asks "Rolf, do you want us to concentrate on the other door, the one that's smashed open? After all Mandrake should be able to lock that one again." As he points to the door in the entrance hall.
Rolf's thought on things Rolf
"A worthy thought, Peter. Yes, focus on the smashed door." OOC: For those willing to follow Rolf's orders -- Zhiri is supposed to be seeing if we can see what's coming from the roof by going through the hole, with Edgar and Madelyn. Yuri is supposed to be with Callum and Ravn looking into rooms on the second floor. Rolf is supposed to be outside with Kerim to see if the house might be scaled.
Stool pidgeon Ravn Ashengrey
Ravn looks with envy at Callum as the gargantuan savage with ease manages to bring his eyes level with the celestory window, the rune caster's own six-foot-two insufficient to gain a view of the surroundings. With a shrug and a sigh at finding himself thusly dwarfed he searches the debris for something suitable to raise him enough. An old rickety footstool is the answer to his prayers. Realizing, though, that it is in all likelihood more rickety than footstool after years of disuse and the relentless gnawing of both time, the elements, and the probable woodworm, the rune caster tests its durability with a few stomps of his foot before positioning it below the window. Then he climbs it and peeks outside...
sounds like fun Zhiri
Zhiri gives a mischievous grin and heads for the hole, dragging some debris over so she can easily climb through and up on to the roof. "Adventure, excitement... this is why I left home..." she murmurs happily to herself.
Confusion Kerim Alakani
Kerim looks wildly about him, at once keen to seek refuge and yet eager to be able to help those with whom he travels. His free hand absently moves to the cheese not long removed from his ears, should it be needed that is.
What can you see? Madelyn
Madelyn nods at Rolf’s orders, and watches as Edgar takes flight up to the hole in the roof. She follows Zhiri up the stairs, but frowns as the young girl pulls the debris over and starts trying to climb out onto the roof. "I’m not sure you should be doing that", she voices her opinion "Who is going to pick up the pieces if you fall? And Rolf did say ‘not to risk ourselves’". She steps forward in a position where she can catch the girl if she falls. "Edgar, do you see anything?"
Climbing on the roof johnb (Admin)
I think I need a dex check for Zhiri to get out onto the roof edge plese.
But I thought Zhiri
"I'm sure he wanted us to climb up here," Zhiri says with a shrug, persisting with the attempt to climb onto the roof. [11 on the dex check]
But we have a bird to do that! Madelyn
Madelyn’s frown deepens as the young girl attempts to climb onto the roof. "That would be why he sent Edgar with us" she says quite curtly, "so that we can get his report"
Anxiety attack Ravn Ashengrey
Ravn peers out the slotted window frame at the rolling landscape of the island's interior, slightly uncomfortable at the thought of what trollish terrors and faerie fiends may be approaching from the wilderness. Stay your fears!, he tells himself, these are not the evil realms of the northern forests! But the ill-boding feeling remains regardless, affirmed by the sound of Zhiri's ascent to the roof and the other's spoken warnings, woefully loud in the rune caster's opinion. By Odin! Rolf is wrong about this. We're trapped in here, unable to bring our force to bear, and the debacle downstairs is sure to alert whatever is coming to our presence! It is only prudent to greet a friend with caution, but greeting a foe with none is not! This is unwise! He turns to make a remark to the tall Celt next to him, but decides against it - there is something calming about Callum's still posture that soothes his anxieties a little, and besides, what good would it do? No, there would be no point in wording my thoughts now - the Constable has given his orders, and arguing would only sow discontent and confusion. He looks up at the roofbeams, seeing Zhiri's one foot hanging down, revealing that she has reached the lookout. Why does the raven not report..?
Clatter .. johnb (Admin)
One or two slates clatter to the ground below as Zhiri hoists herself up onto the lip of the roof. Finally she perches, precariously, on the roof at the edge of the hole.
Clear skies Edgar
Edgar caaarks a greeting to Zhiri as she joins him up on the roof. "The open air is nice, is it not," he says conversationally, as he continues to look around. "I see nothing out of the ordinary," he calls out to those below. "The boat holds station off shore, the skies are clear and there is no sign of activity in the other buildings nearby. I can see no sign of what scared Uddgugg so - perhaps some bird of prey happened by ..."
Continuance of confusion. Kerim Alakani
Like those perched atop the roof Kerim too stands bewildered as to what could have spooked the bird so. As a man of the ocean he is used to trusting a birds senses from anything such as electrical storms to where the food is. He still seems skeptical and is suspicious of something, or perhaps nothing. Not wishing to be cooped up in this run down dwelling all week Kerim shifts further away from the house, almost like bait, his Scimitar close at hand and cheese in his ears. He spares a look over his shoulder and all around him, knowing his sense of hearing dulls his reactions.
the best laid plans.... Rolf
Looking up, he sees that Zhiri has already made it to the top of the house. He'd figured between him and Kerim looking climb up the house from outside, Zhiri trying from the gapping hole in the roof and Ravn, Callum and Yuri looking from upstairs, someone should be able to spot the approaching threat, if threat there is. But, as Zhiri succeeded, there wasn't much point for Kerim and he to attempt the roof. Taking a good look about and seeing nothing of note, Rolf returns his gaze to Zhiri and he waves up to her, trying to give her the idea of sending Edgar down with what she sees. Suddenly, he feels an urge to call up to her, but that would be unwise if enemies are about. Gesturing a few more moments, he looks over to Kerim, "I see no threat, you?" [Assuming negative....] "Let's see if the others have had better luck." He turns to re-enter the building.
Where the eagles... Zhiri
"Indeed, indeed," Zhiri says, looking around her at the scene laid out, the position giving her a good vantage point. She gives the bird a curious look. "Are you some kind of disguised genie to speak so like a person ?" She then turns to look through the hole. "Its okay, Lady, we are alone up here. I have no idea what startled the other bird so, but there is little of interest apart from a nice view."
This is odd.... Ravn Ashengrey
Edgar's and Zhiri's failure to identify the cause for Uddhugg's behaviour does not grant Ravn any ease of mind, unfamiliar as he is with their scouting talents and only too familiar as he is with the ill tidings of Uddhugg's occasional remarkabilites. "This comforts me not, Callum," he regards the Celt, mostly out of a need to share his concern, "Uddhugg, I fear, is a harbinger of the Norns of Fate, spun from a thread of ill fate I suspect, and when he makes himself heard there is trouble brewing." Better not mention my own nickname... He casts yet another glance out the slotted window past the ruined buildings at the wilderness beyond, then realizes with a shivering shudder that the creature or creatures of Uddhugg's observation may be closer than that... ...shiver... Thus unsettled, the rune caster summons Uddhugg again, drawing the flurry fowl from its perch on his shoulder to his hand. He looks it straight into its one eye. "I cannot see what you have seen, my curséd companion and, alas, you cannot tell." He strokes it along its dented beak with a motion that betrays the air of disapproval he feigns about the bird. "But you can show me where you have seen these creatures, can't you?" He raises his hand to release the crow on its course. "AWAY, ONE-EYED WANDERER! Fly first to where the creatures were and then to where they are! AWAY!" The scene that follows Ravn’s dramatic command is a peculiar one. Rather than take to the skies as would be expected of any well-trained pet, Uddhugg hobbles back down along the rune caster's upstretched arm and onto his shoulder to resume its restful perching. Ravn stares with disbelief at the disobedient creature, then whispers something gently. "CAA-AAW", the bird replies and shakes its beak fervently. The irritated look on Ravn's face changes into one of irritation, but then he calms himself and whispers again. "CAA-AAW", the bird repeats with another beak-shake, forcing a deep sigh of self restraint from its obviously self-proclaimed master. Embarrased by the bird's behaviour but still insistant, Ravn whispers a third time. And now Uddhugg responds with but a single short "CAW", nods its beak and takes to the air. Ravn is left behind, pulling out his meadhorn yet again, unplugging it and checking the volume of its contents. Satisfied, he corks it and regards Callum again. "Say, good Callum, you would not by any chance be in possession of anything resembling a large handful of birdseed and a lump of candy, would you?" Then he turns to follow the bird's path and destination. OOC: I am sorry for the lengthy post, but I just couldn't resist the temptation to do a little comic relief (again). I hope you find it amusing, otherwise just tell me to cork it.
Up, up and away ! Edgar
"A genie ?" Edgar echoes, turning his attention back to Zhiri. "No ... I am truly a bird ... albeit one who has been granted the gifts of thought and speech." "Though for what purpose ..." this last mostly to himself, his voice low enough that only the woman upon the roof besides him could hear his musings which trail off as Uddhugg takes to the skies once more. With a caaaarck of apology to Zhiri, and with no time to ask Rolf's permission, lest the crow gain too far a lead, the raven launches himself after Uddhugg, perhaps hoping to witness for himself what so scared his avian cousin ... or perhaps hoping that there is indeed naught to be found.
Silent response Kerim Alakani
Kerim, still searching at a level below the others, hears Rolf's question. He answers with a shake of the head, not wishing to give his location too easily. Then with a tilt back of his head indicates that it is clear at least to leave the building by the path he has trod. GM: I am trying to find an eave with enough shadow to hide in on another structure.
Birdseed Free Callum mac Aonghas
Callum grins slightly at the Norsemans antics before he replies. "Nay, I have nothing about me that might tempt your bird. I could be doing with knowing what's happening well enough, though!"
height advantage Mandrake
Mandrake closes the door as requested, then suggests to Rolf that he would be best suited to finding a position upstairs from which he can cast down rubble should a fight be the result of their coming encounter.
tables and chairs ... Peter Gasgano
Peter starts by dragging a table from the kitchen and trying to upend in in place of the door that Callum so casually opened earlier. Sweating and panting he finally gets the table into place, but finds it doesn't completely fill the doorway. Then working around, and with, Elsbeth he starts dragging beams and other larger pieces of debris to support the table in its new position. "I wouldn't like to be the one defending this flimsy barricade." he pants to Elsbeth between dragging beams. "Lets just hope no one tries to charge it." He adds.
In flight Zhiri
Zhiri turns to watch the birds soar into the sky, her own arms spread as though she would take flight, an expression of joy on her face as she watches them wheel in the air above. The moment passes quickly, and she glances back through the hole at Madelyn, making sure the other woman is still alright.
Let us leave Kerim Alakani
OOC: Unless I am much mistaken we seem to be dithering here, the victims of our paranoia. Kerim, finally unable to bear it any longer removes the cheese from his ears and calls to those inside. "Effendi's, come, let us away on our task, be it as it may what scared the crow so is real it seems it does indeed possess of an intelligence and patience as to not try our hand in combat. Mayhap it has senses our danger greater than is conquerable and shall leave us be. Come away and let it mourn. Without a partner it shall bring no more of it's evil brood upon the isle. Come." Kerim beckons the party to exit the building, waving his arm in support of his voiced opinion.
Agreed Elsbeth
Elsbeth nods to Peter, sweat standing out on her forehead. "We'd be trapped like rats, I'm thinking," she replies doubtfully. "I'm thinking bein' locked away is not one of our Warden's better ideas. And its been wee quiet up there, I'm thinking." The druid sighs as they drop the last beam into place. "Maybe we should be seeing what the other's are doing?"
False alarm? Rolf
Seeing no threat, Rolf moves towards the open door to the building. Leaning inside, he catches sight of those on the first floor. "We don't see around, Peter, could you check with the others? Elsbeth, why don't you bring the wolf and see if he can sniff anything out?"