Back to the Future II, Track II - No McFly's here Options

[ludomastro]

Mother, I've come for dinner. Your blood is the best.
...
Yes, Mat, Lott was weak; however, we can destroy the village together.
...
The black hound is after me! Run faster you fool!
...
Those were horrible. What fate awaits me? I don't know. I am only certain that we need to get out of here.


The shadow detached itself from the wall and began to come after Alexander.

No, NO, NOO!


Alexander stirs from the less than restful sleep he has gotten in the cell. He is unsure but feels that little time has passed. He does however, remember the nightmares.

[fistandantilus4....]

Alexander
Alexander awoke to foot steps out side of his cell. His first thoughts are of his mother coming. But instead he sees Elder Hommand, accompanied by Bryce, the leader of the militia.

Elder Hommand approaches the bars, but is careful to stay out of harm's reach.
Alright Alexander, ,we've found the Talden boys. Mat and Lott anyway. Cut to pieces quite brutally just like you said. Do you hav e any explanation for this act of barbarism?

[ludomastro]

Alexander stands up and looks Elder Hommand in the eye. He recalls the council of the old man earlier in the night. I will tell the truth, consequences be damned.

Elder Hommand, think me mad or a murderer - that is your choice. This much is truth: The Talden brothers returned this night; however, they were not alive. They were undead and I was forced to destroy those we knew as Mat and Lott. Garen - for some part of him was still human - went to Hound Gate and I presume that he met his end there. You know that my master built this cell and that I could have freed myself; however, until you decide my fate, I will stay here.

With that, Alexander, holds his gaze and awaits his response.

[fistandantilus4....]

Alexander
Bryce steps forward. He is an ork man, heavily built and solid. A very serious man, and one of the few in the village that follows an adept's discipline, the Way of the Warrior.

I'm afriad the evidence says otherwise Alexander . I saw the bodies my self, as has Elder Hommond. I have fought the undead before. They bore none of the marks of decay and their bodies were stiffening when we foudn them, meaning they had only been dead for a few hours.

Elder Hommond nods gravely. There you have it Alexander . Care to change your story?

Roll perception step

[fistandantilus4....]

As Alexander's head falls from the rebuttal, he glances down at the floor. Something there is strange.

Bryce's shadow and Elder Hommonds are right next to each other,flickering in the torch light.

Except Elder Hommond's flickers slower .. and is almost gray instead of solid black.

[ludomastro]

Alexander glances down at the floor and notices something is off - strange perhaps. As he looks at the shadows he stares back into Elder Hommand's eyes and asks, You accuse me of murder yet you are not yourself this night either. Why is it that your shadow is gray and does not follow the torchlight? He points out the shadows to Bryce and the militia men as well.

[fistandantilus4....]

Elder Hommond simply smiles as one would to a mistaken child
I can see this is going no where. I fear either the heat of hte forge, or perhaps some stray mushroom has driven you to madness youg Alexander. I pity you.... but my duty must be done.

You will be given a three day reprieve to settle your soul. Perhaps recieve some absolution from your mother. On the next dawn, you will die by the means you slew your fellows. By the Sword. I am sorry that it came to this Alexander.

Bryce turns and follows Elder Hommond, speaking ot the guards on the way out. Keep a close eye on him. He may try something desperate.

As the pair of them walk out, Alexander notices Bryce glance at the Elder's shadow, concern crossing his face. The door shuts.

[ludomastro]

As Alexander watches, Bryce turns and follows Elder Hommand out of the jail. He is somewhat dismayed by Bryce's words. Try something desperate? I just might! No, the more I think about it the better off I am following the advice of the old man. I will stay here and leave my fate in the hands of the Passions. They will see me through or Death will greet me with open arms. Either way, I will not bend to madness. How do you know that you aren't mad now? I guess that I don't, however, Bryce will follow up on my words. He was watching the Elder's shadow and was concerned.

[fistandantilus4....]

Alexander

Alexander is stil sitting , quietly, hours later, un able to sleep. Little wonder that. With only three days to live, sleeping now seems a bit of a waste.
The guards, three of them now, seem to be minding their card games now. Of course, any trouble, and those fine edges swords will clear their scabards. Alexander knows just how fine their edge is. His master forged them. Alexander helped with many when he was first learning his craft.

A soft voice from the corner of the cell caught his attention.

Young Alexander ... the noble smith... locked in a cage of his own creating. How tragic.
The soft voice seemed a glow with joy at the tragedy. It wassoft, quiet, and almost hissing. It was coming form the back corner of the cell, but there was nothing there.
How long will they allow you to sit here, lost in your own madness, before they tire of the reminder of you, and simply kill you in your sleep? ONe day? Two, do you think? Madness has taken you Alexander . It is the true mark of the mad that they do not see their own ... insanity.

[ludomastro]

Alexander looks at the back of the cell and confirms that nothing is there. Nothing that I can see at least. Do I responsd? And have the guards think you mad? No, I don't think that is wise. Alexander kneels, folds his arms and bows his head. He begins again to pray to the Passions choosing to ignore the disembodied voice.

[fistandantilus4....]

Alexander
Hahahahhaahahaaahaaa!
What are you going to do? Hide from me!? I am in your head fool! I am you! Or some broken part pf you. Can you feel your self slowly going mad? Can you feel your mind breaking yet Alexander ? You will, if you don't yet.

There will come a time, when you can just feel it oooozing in. The madness.. taking over ... letting you go.. go to do the things you really want to do. To hurt. To kill. To Kill again.

Murderer

[ludomastro]

Alexander begins to grow angry with the voice. I am not crazy! Focusing on the voice, You will be silent! My fate is in the hands of the Passions. Calming somewhat, Focus on that which is important, young one. Master Silas, thank you for your wisom.

With that he focuses again on his prayers and ignores any future utterances from the voice.

[fistandantilus4....]

Alexander
HAHAHHA! You think rambling on the words of a dead old man is going to make any difference!? It's nothing more than a rotting piece of meat now! Food for the worms! Just like good ol' Mat and Lott that used to make you laugh so mcuh. Because you put them there. How would that rotting piece of meat feel on that ... journeyman!?

[Grinder]

Written records, pah. We need to find survivors!

[ Spoiler ]

Perception check to find the house of the elder or the towns hall: d10= 10, reroll 5= 15.

[fistandantilus4....]

The town hall is easy enough to spot from the air. The combination of "biggest buidling" and "most damaged" really make it stand out.

[Lady Door]

Very well. If you would like we can search for survivors as we try and locate the city hall. Though, it would make sense that in a time of crisis the town would barricade themselves within the city hall. So, whatever survivors we are looking for, we would most likely find there.
Morgana begins walking, eyes scanning the town.

[fistandantilus4....]

It looks like most of the fighting did indeed happen in the Hall. There is a small wall arounnd the town, but it looks less than deensible, not being in very good repair in the first place from the looks of things. The Hall has the refuse of a barricade at the front ,and it's windows. There's no way to tell how long it lasted. But in the end .... it didn't.

[Grinder]

Ralo flies towards the town hall and scans for survivors on the way to it.
The village remind him too much of mortality and Death, something he avoids to think about as often as possible.

[Lady Door]

It would have to be a huge pyre. Something that big would send up a smoke plume that could bring unwanted attention. Still, it is the best way to ensure that the dead remain so. Perhaps, we could burn the bodies in shifts. Forgive me, that sounded callous. I just meant that if we created a small pyre and burnt them over a period of time, it would draw less attention. What do you think, Ralo?
The stench of Death truly was overpowering. Morgana closed her eyes and made a silent prayer to Astendar.
Beautiful Astendar, please, in this time of Death and Darkness, help my heart to still see the beauty all around us, the life that still lives. Guide me to find those that have need of me, have need of a song and a story. Help me, Astendar. Help me.

[fistandantilus4....]

NOTE:As I mentioned before, still holds true ... there are no bodies. Only blood.[/color]

[Lady Door]

Looking around the remains of the city hall, Morgana comes to a startling realization.
Ralo, there aren't any bodies here....

[Grinder]

Is it possible that all have become cadavermen like the poor souls we've met tow days ago?

[ Spoiler ]

Magic Lore test to know who is able to create cadavermen.
Perception 6 plus Magic Lore 4 = 10 = d10+d8= 9+2= 11

We should be careful and expect the worst. Saying this, Ralo readies his broadsword.

[Lady Door]

I suppose it would be possible. It would take a powerful Horror, or a powerful Nethermancer to animate so many. I say we search for the journal, if it even exists, and then continue on to Vanten. Perhaps we can stop the spread of whatever is causing this.
Seeing Ralo ready his sword, Morgana pulls hers from it's scabbard. Comforted by it's familiar weight.
Keep an eye on the outside. I'll venture in and take a look around.

[Grinder]

Waiting on the outside? Pah, and who should help you in combat?

Ralo flies as quick as possbile to the town hall and searches for an entry.

[fistandantilus4....]

Inside the Hall, there are a few scattered weapons, and a number of farming implements that have been converted in to such. There is a great many supplies stocked within as well. Bags of grain, breads, a barrel of water, cheeses, jerky. They may well ahve been able to hold out on the food here for a month depending on how many mouths they had.

Small cloth dolls in one corner nearly bring a tear to the eye, especially after seeign the blood stains near by. A tragedy like this does not only strike the hale and hearty. On this scale, the young and the old, the helpless, are consumes as well.

It's not the smell of death that is so present here, but of hope lost. Sorrow. Despair. The only sound is hearts breaking.