Chaper Two

[Pamela]

Posted by: eocine Mar 12 2004, 02:42 PM

So we continue further into the frigid wastes....

[Pamela]

Posted by: eocine Mar 12 2004, 03:05 PM

“Quite the assumption there,” said Pietro with a raised eyebrow, “but from what I’ve been able to tell it’s not Bloody Jack who I’m investigating at the present time, rather someone with more brutal methods yet without the blood drained victims.”

The look of surprise on the Investigator’s face was most certainly not feigned as he heard Molly’s words on food riots in Paridon.

“I’ve never heard of anything of the sort and trust me I have been researching the area thoroughly.

Pietro was frankly bewildered and had no clue at all what Molly was talking about. “How long ago are you talking?” he asked, then turned away as Talin sat bolt upright....

Curious he thought to himself, there certainly seem to be a lot of nightmares going on in here... The only ones unaffected being a Paladin and a Caliban... Could they have some kind of resistance?... Or is there less to this than I'm seeing? he wondered to himself.

[Pamela]

Posted by: Castamir Mar 12 2004, 03:43 PM

Francis paused while checking his gear and turned his head to look at the newly awake Talin. "Morning."

[Pamela]

Posted by: Pamela Mar 12 2004, 03:46 PM

“You weren’t brought in to deal with his case?” Molly asked with some surprise. She’d assumed by the past reference to his lengthy stay that the most famous murderer in Paridon was the reason for his arrival. “That was what I had assumed. I’m well aware, Pietro, that he’s only been ascribed last summer’s fortnight of murders,” she added with slight irritation, “and even then, people suspected a copycat murderer since he nearly doubled the number of his normal murders.” She turned aside briefly to greet Klen before returning to the conversation.

At his look of utter astonishment, the paladin stared at the investigator, wondering if he were still addled with last night’s drugs, or perhaps just tired – he certainly looked fully alert, but…

She briefly turned to wish Talin a good morning, missing his abrupt awakening, busy struggling how to explain the obvious. Maybe he’s only been here a few months? “The food riots had been constantly written up in the Newsbill since the Great Upheaval- they quieted down about a year and a half ago, I suppose- I’m not sure as to the date…The gangs are still very bad for trespassing and trying to steal our crops, but it’s just not newsworthy anymore. How long have you been in Paridon?”

[Pamela]

Posted by: Pace Mar 13 2004, 07:04 AM

He put his fingers to his lips still feeling the icy kiss from his lips. He tried to shake off the memory of his dark past. "Mebbe I should have eaten something last night, for I didn't sleep well.

"Maybe we'll get lucky and stumble across a town or homestead today." He kept his eyes on the dry rations in front of him, hiding the dark sadness in his eyes.

[Pamela]

Posted by: eocine Mar 13 2004, 10:32 AM

“The Great What?” asked Pietro with a genuinely questioning tone. “I certainly have never heard of such a thing, and I’ve been in Paridon for the best part of a year now,” he said quietly.

When he spoke, it was with a slow and thoughtful voice. “There have been no food riots or famine since I’ve been in the city and there weren’t before either, trust me on this, I know”.

He raised his hands to his chin as he tried to consider the implications of the thought that was beginning to burgeon up in his mind. “This may seem like a very strange question, but what year do you think it is?”

[Pamela]

Posted by: Castamir Mar 13 2004, 10:54 AM

Still largely ignoring Pietro and Molly's conversation, Francis noted Talin's dour mood. Showing a surprising amount of insight (gained through experience of commanding a ship full of people) he figured it has something to do with his past, perhaps homesickness, perhaps something regrettable. Finished dressing and preparing his kit he walked over to him, placed a hand on his shoulder and spoke quietly.

"Talin, we can let the past shape us but we must concentrate on the present and look forward to the future my friend. That is the only way to make any progress in life, otherwise we become embittered and lonely, haunted by our own ghosts... Come on, let’s get ready to leave our shelter and find some of that luck you mentioned eh?""

[Pamela]

Posted by: Pamela Mar 13 2004, 11:21 AM

“The Great What?”… Pietro's response echoed in the silent shock that filled Molly's mind.

A sudden white rage erupted. She couldn’t believe his audacity, that he would joke so long and so callously about something like this. How dare he?! Her whole body was tense, trying to contain the storm that rang through her now, her fury a sheet of lightning waiting for the next wrong word or motion.

She watched him intently, and at Pietro’s final question, jumped to her feet. “How dare you – do you think this is funny?!” she stammered out in a low, tight voice. Her hands were clenched and trembling, as she fought to contain herself. Her wide brown eyes searched his face for the first sign of a smirk, the first excuse she could have to reach out, to lash out...

[Pamela]

Posted by: Pace Mar 13 2004, 11:32 AM

Talin gave a weak smile of thanks. "If the ghosts are what drives you in the present? But you're right. To dwell on the past is to lose the future.

“Aye I’d like to scrounge up some luck Tymora willing..." Talin trailed off at Molly's suddenness. "What's going one here?" he asked rhetorically.

[Pamela]

Posted by: eocine Mar 13 2004, 11:44 AM

“I have, to put it perfectly simply, not the faintest idea what you are talking about,” said the half-elf, a look of intractable honesty on his face.

“I don’t think this is funny in the least, but neither do I think this is accidental.” He met her eyes with a stare of his own. “I don’t know what’s going on here, or has gone on before.” He paused for a few seconds to let it sink in. “But I do know that there is an answer to be found.”

His hands snapped out to take Molly’s. “Something very strange is going on here of that I have no doubt.” His eyes flicked around the room then back to her. “Look around you, consider the others that we travel with, brought seemingly from other worlds. How much easier is that to believe?” He asked, pressing on.

Without looking at the Vampire Hunter, Pietro answered him. “It looks like there is even more going on here than we could possibly have expected,” he said simply.

[Pamela]

Posted by: Castamir Mar 13 2004, 11:57 AM

Francis turned to face the potential argument, suddenly interested.

[Pamela]

Posted by: Pamela Mar 13 2004, 12:17 PM

Molly was so busy scrutinising the half-elf’s face and listening for any hint of sarcasm and humour that she gasped when he suddenly seized her hands. It was as if cold water had been thrown, or she’d been suddenly shaken awake. She mentally stumbled, trying to follow his argument, to absorb what he was suggesting – and the possibility it offered.

Alive - he might be alive…

“742…autumn 742…” she murmured, staring, waiting to hear Pietro's own answer, simultaneously dreading and wanting it.

[Pamela]

Posted by: eocine Mar 13 2004, 12:39 PM

Hearing her murmured words, Pietro’s eyes closed for a few seconds.

Shit, thought the Half-Elf. He never liked being wrong, but he’d have paid every penny he owned to have been wrong on this.

Sadly…

He looked into Molly’s eyes, seeing a pain there that he didn’t know the cause of… “Now, I’m telling you the honest truth here.” Beats of silence echoed around the cavern before he spoke again.

“I’m from the year 735. This Great Upheaval you spoke of hasn’t happened for me yet.” He paused in thought for a time. “Whether it has happened ‘now’ I don’t know, so we should forget about the year for now, agreed?” He asked trying to keep her talking…

[Pamela]

Posted by: Pamela Mar 13 2004, 12:58 PM

ALIVE.

Time seemed to stop.

He’s alive.

Jamie…

A radiant smile broke out across Molly’s face, her eyes sparkling feverishly. “Thank you,” she said, not paying attention to the veiled warning in Pietro’s answer.

She gripped his hands tightly, then released them, and turned to smile at all the others. “Forgive me for my ill behaviour,” she said, swaying a little with the shock of the previous minutes. “I suppose we should get going –
I was going to bathe – that can wait till later.

"We should get going,” she said, a zealous tone to her voice, and strode to her armour, putting it on as swiftly as she could.

[Pamela]

Posted by: Castamir Mar 13 2004, 01:16 PM

Francis watched – worried by what had just passed, despite barely understanding it. He would have to keep an eye on this. The group dynamic had been good, this was something that could upset the balance, and he wasn't going to risk their survival by letting that happen..

Perhaps when Molly is out of earshot I should ask Pietro about this 'Great Upheaval'...