8th of Reaping, 585, Starday

Gradually morning came and all awoke to face the mansion for the second day. A breakfast was had, and it was time to determine a course of action for this day.

Grummie awoke with a groan, and stretched his aching muscles. The rest was much needed, but he was still very stiff from his encounter with spiders the day before. He yawned several times over the course of the morning meal, and enjoyed simple conversation. At one point, he mentioned, "First, me be suspectin' to be disturbed this night. But think 'bout it. Ifen it be real folk that be hauntin this place, they would have ta sleep too, aye? So, I still believe we be up agin' a scoundrel of flesh an' bone, not ghastly origin."

After the meal was completed, the gnome stood and gathered his meager belongings. He started to remove his sword, then measured its weight, and put it back on his belt. He grabbed a dagger and said, "Let us hope there be only small rats about, and not more spiders. I not feel like luggin' about wid dat heavy sword taday. What say you, we finish searchin' da back side of the house first, and the rooms down this hall before we venture back to the other side of the manse?" He pointed out the door, indicating the hall and the door they had seen earlier.

Lwcynda said, "Sure, just lead the way."

Drist also gathered his weapons and other items, allowing Grummie to lead the way.

Cassandra and Andremar gathered their belongings and prepared to join the house party. "Yooh, Blaine. What other surprises does this place have in store for us????"

Blaine just shook his head, his eyes avoided theirs sheepishly. He fell in behind the others.

They proceeded south along the long hallway to the door at the end. In her customary fashion, Cassandra examined the door, found it safe and unlocked. So, she opened it. The Seekers found themselves looking into a large room [#37} which seemed to be just plain full of stuff. Furniture, cloth, boxes, weapons, barrels, all seemed to be stuffed into this room.

Grummie tried to conceal his joy at their discovery, but his eyes again betrayed him as he gawked at the plunder. He cleared his throat as he stepped into the room, "Lord Blaine, sir, what did you say our take was? I mean, er.. well, er.. What stays wid da house and what ken we.. er..." The gnome stumbled and began to blush, as he clarified, "Er.. Don't mind me sir. Tis da merchant in me, and clutterin me head and me manners. Yea should visit me pawn shoppe some day, when yea get all dis worked out."

Grummie stuttered and stumbled noticeably at his feeble attempt to try and change the subject, not to mention, conceal his greedy guilt. He quickly moved into the room and started a cursory search of the items inside, for clues (of course).

Cassandra was a mere two steps behind the gnome as he began his search.

Lwcynda went in with the intention of really searching for clues. She painstakingly examined the boxes, trying to discern what they held, how long they had been here, what purpose they might serve, what they suggested about the owners.

While

The gnome and the rogue rushed from box to box, opening the with reckless abandon, relishing in all the clues to the potential wealth of the mansion.

The room was searched for the better part of an hour, when Grummie finally spoke. "By gimmine, me tinks we wouldst find better den dis." His disappointed tone further underlined the collection of housewear items, draperies, linens, cutlery, and other sundry items he had exposed. "Dee only clue be `ere is dat de owners were poor!"

Cassandra sat pensively, looking where they had already looked, seeing what she had already seen. "Not necessarily, my friend. From what we have found, and the way we found it, I think there is a clue."

All eyes and ears turned towards her. "My acute powers of observation clue me in to the possibility that we were not the first to search this room. The way things seemed to packed away, certain boxes moved in certain ways, spaces let empty, things like that, make me think that someone beat us to this room. Now I have no way of knowing how long ago-"

Here she turned to Blaine. "Did any of your group stay behind?"

"Ere, no," he said with some hesitation. "But I guess some could have returned."

This possibility hung in the air, as did the decision as to what to do next.

Grummie tapped his foot and propped his closed fists on his waist (his elbows out). He was pondering Cassie's discovery, the wheels'a-turnin' wildly in his head. "Hmmmmmm," escaped his lips as his brow furrowed with inquiry and concentration. "Pardon me, Sir Blaine, sir. But what did yea say happened when you came in? Did someone get nicked away? Lost? I be most sorry, but I don't recall. Now I be wonderin' about someone in yea group who might'a searched dis already. Just tryin' ta recount what happened before, durin' an after yea visit."

Blaine took his time, as if he was replaying his arrival. His right hand pointed about, at nothing here, his lips moving slightly, speaking only to himself. "No, no one that I can think of. We never got to the rear of the house. We arrive from the front, saw someone, a woman, raven haired, in an upper window, came up that balconied area near what we now know is the library. One of our group lagged behind downstairs. He discovered the warning in the dust that we found still there yesterday. No, none of us was here long enough to search much of anywhere." His voice was distant, as he continued to contemplate possibilities.

Cassandra asked, "Do you think any of your group did return?"

"That's what I was wondering. But, I somehow doubt it. We were all pretty shaken up. And, mine was a group of friends, not an experienced lot. That's why I came to Chatwin, to find the Femmes, a group I knew had moxie. " He realized this might be insulting. "Er, not that you don't. That which you did last night, in the library, showed me you all are much more brave than my earlier group cold have ever hoped to have been." He smiled. "So, no, we did not do much, if any searching, and I doubt that whoever has beat us to this room, or whoever is behind the apparitions and disappearances was anyone from my former group."

After a pause he added, "Why don't I show you exactly where we got to on this floor? It was in the front."

Grummie nodded as he recounted Sir Blaine's encounter again. "Aye, now me remember. Just makin' sure. Well, guess it nae matter ifen it be one o' yea companions from that time, or a long lost cousin, or a stranger. Still, twould be good ta see where ya spied that ghostly las." Grummie guested as if to let Sir Blaine take the lead, and show the way.

Drist, hearing Blaine's offer, stepped away from the doorway and gestured towards the door while telling Blaine, "Examining the place you mentioned might be quite informative. Lead the way, Sir Blaine."

"Yes, let's go have a look at the room where you saw the 'woman'."

Lwcynda could have stopped there, but since she had been silent for so long, and had not encountered anyone new to whom she could pose any questions, she had one for her companions. "I have been thinking and I think it is fine to search around during the day, but I don't think we will see a 'ghost' during the day. I suggest we stop early today and rest and then check the house out during the night. It is more likely that the ghost will come then -- and maybe it is a friendly ghost, or not a ghost at all but someone dressed-up like a ghost to scare people away. But I doubt we will see the ghost during the day. And if there is someone here searching the rooms for something, well, we might be able to catch him in the act -- maybe he/she/it is only searching at night to scare others away. What do you all think?"

Grummie smiled and nodded in agreement. "Good idea, Lwcynda. Most intriguing idea, indeed. Tis agreeable ta me. B'sides, me always did appreciate a good nap after me lunch anyway." The gnome chuckled as he followed Sir Blaine to the spot they had mentioned.

Cassandra gave a sly grin. "Yes, night. finally a chance to wear my dark suit. Hope it still fits. Did I remember to have it taken in?" It had been a while since the rogue had been truly roguish; it had also been many pounds ago.

So, through with this storage room, Blaine led the way west along the corridor to the balcony area, then north to another corridor which led to the front wall of the manor. There were four doors along this corridor. With o hesitation Blaine went right to the second door on the right hand side. H said firmly. "This one. Right here. We opened it just like this," and he opened the door in demonstration, "and there was a message." He pointed at the south wall.

[#27 on map] All could see it was a woman's bedroom well furnished and lavishly decorated. Canopied bed, vanity, dressers, and the like occupied the room. There were footprints in the dust, barely going into the room. On the south wall a message in what appeared to be dried blood read: "I shall not rest 'ere all my kin rest with me."

Blaine explained, "Those footprints are mine and two other guys. We got this far when we heard one of out number yell from downstairs. He had stumbled upon the message in the dust which we found yesterday. Did not have time to do much else up here," he admitted sheepishly. His brief moment of strength had left him. He looked at his boots once more.

Grummie studied the prints from the exterior of the room. He was careful not to enter, not yet, not wishing to taint the evidence in the room. He then turned to Blaine and inquired. "So let me see ifen I get this right. First, you came through da same door we did yesterday. You came up here to dis room, yer friend went in da dining room or whatever. You openned dis door, and found da writing on da wall, when yer friend found da writing on da floor. He called out. Den what happened? I wants to reconstruct widout error or omission, in the exact order yea did this. Plus, Where was dis ghost yea saw? Take yur time now." The gnome paused expectantly, looking at everything with scrutiny.

Blaine took his time, lost in thought, first trying to decipher the gnome speak into the common tongue. "Dat's, right, er I mean, that is a fairly accurate account of the events as we arrived at the manse, and pretty much explains why we left, and why I was left with no companions." Here Blaine looked confused, or more confused. "But, I do not recall saying I, or we, saw a ghost. When we were outside the front of the house, after something or someone spooked the horses, I happened to look up this way, and I saw what I thought was a female form at the front window, likely that one." Here he pointed at the window on the north wall. "It was this sighting that brought most of us traipsing up the stairs and to this room." He paused again. "In fact, before we made out way up, I did call up to her. Black hair she had. But, she drew back from the window. Then once here, as we were taking in the writing on the opposite wall, we heard a scream from our one companion who had neglected to climb up here with us. Probably hoping to cash in on his own. Seems he had stumbled upon those other words in the dust" Again he paused, deep in thought. "I do not think I ever claimed to see a `ghost,' not that it would have surprised me."

Lwcynda took over the cross examination. "And excuse me for not remembering Sir Blaine, but who were these women in your family history? Or did you say you did not know? It sure looks like some women lived here at one time because this is the 2nd female bedroom we have found, isn't is? Also, don't forget that 'thank you' from someone who was pleased that Grummie got rid of the bookworm. Maybe there is more than one ghost -- a friendly one and a not-so-friendly one...." Lwcynda took a breath and waited for an answer.

The besieged Blaine blustered on. "My knowledge of the family history is a sketchy as it is recorded poorly. It is over 200 years since any mention of this house and the family which inhabited it were made. The viscount, my great many times over uncle, was a wealthy and influential man. And then he was gone. The story goes that one of his daughters went insane and murdered him." He acknowledged Lwcynda's conclusion with a nod, "So your supposition is viable. He did have more than one daughter, but exactly how many I do not know. Come to think of it, he could well have had sons also. It is just the one daughter who gets mentioned because she supposedly did in the Viscount. And, then it is said that she murdered the rest of the family, then killed herself. Not much in known after that time, because no one came to the manse, as it was said to be haunted by the insane daughter's ghost." He took a breath. "Hmm, now that we've seen more of the house, and now that you mention it, no reason to believe that there could be only one ghost. Do ghosts kill each other off? For, if in fact the legend is true, would it not be likely that those murdered by cracker jack girl might want to take revenge on her in the after life? Wonder what happens when a dead kills a dead?" He let this conundrum take him over and fell silent.

Grummie nodded as Sir Blaine recounted the tale yet again; as if he better understood the story now. At the mention of the ghost, Grummie surmised, "Mayhaps is my fault. I know not good words in common for such things. Mayhaps me own mind be playin' tricks on me, and I be assumin' it be ghostly female." The gnome paused, realizing he wasn't making much sense of things, and just confusing the poor man. "Anyway, thank thee for yea explanation again. I understand now more. Let us search the room then, what say yea all?" He waited for comment or concern.

But neither was forthcoming. The Seekers took to the search of this room like a fish takes to water. Grummie began to study the walls of the room, searching for portal or passage. Drist followed suit.

Lwcynda agreed, saying simply, "Yes, let's have a look around. Maybe we can find some clue. I wonder if there could be a journal or diary somewhere?....."

Cassandra also joined in the fun. Blaine, and Andremar took posts at the doorway. Gork went to the end of the hall from where he could see the balcony and glimpse the downstairs area somewhat. "lest weeee beeee surprised."

While there were no hidden doors, or secret passages, there were a few items of interest. Amidst the normal female clothing of a bygone time, the search did turn up a collection of perfume bottles in a drawer of the vanity. The was also a silver locket on the vanity. Cassandra examined the clasp and pronounced it safe. Inside was a portrait of a very handsome young man. "Definitely do-able," declared the rogue.

Lwcynda's search for a hoped for diary proved fruitless. Andremar did gaze upon the writing on the wall. Since he had the most writing experience of anyone in the group, he felt it safe to declare, "I doubt that the book of poems was written by the same hand as that bloody message on the wall."

Once they had concluded the search, they figured they were the first people to go through this room in a long time.

Grummie held two of the purfume bottles aloft, and called for the light. "Andy, look a' dese. See anythin' in the bottles or about dem dat might be .. er... how say you. Do yea think they be more dan perfume in dem. Potions or salves, mayhaps?" He wiggled one of the bottles, attempting to slosh any contents that might remain inside.

Andremar obliged. "From what little I know of perfume, I'd say that's what they contained." For indeed, what little liquid was in any of them, gave the smell of just what it was expected they should contain.

Cassandra grinned, "Can't blame a gnome for being nosey. There must be more to this whole place than meets the eye, or nose for that matter." She, too, smelled the essence. "Once very fine, I'd say. Not that I ever used such stuff. But I have had cause to smell 'em before I've borrowed 'em." She winked.

"Wonder who the guy in that locket is? Or was?"

Blaine offered. "The story I related mentioned a crazed daughter. That story in no way removes the possibility of a son, or other significant male."

Grummie shrugged as he gently placed the glass bottles back where he found them, and turned to the others. "Nothing unusual here, 'cept da writin' on da wall, me guess. What do we do's now?" he inquired as he tousled the bed linens and glanced under the bed for boogie-monsters.

The lines were old but still serviceable. The boogie monsters were out at the boogie monster hangout.

Drist stood quietly in the corner, staring thoughtfully at the wall with the message. Finally overcome by his curiousity, Drist approached the wall and began examining the writing itself. Without looking away, Drist offered his companions an explanation.

"Something about this situation bothers me. Both messages so far have in truth shown us nothing to prove that a ghost is here, but only some human skilled in the art of deception. Also, if this message here were truly written in blood, where would the blood come from, except from the writer?"

A renewed glance by one and all at the floor confirmed that another source of the blood was unlikely

Drist continued examining the blood, checking the taste, smell, etc. And he came to a logical, rangerly conclusion. "I do not think this is blood at all. It has neither the texture nor color of true blood. And, I have seen, and we have spilled our fair share of blood since our little group was formed."

All reflected on the many foes who had fallen at the blades of the Seekers over the years. "I have cleaned my sword many times, and no blood like this did I ever see."

Cassandra was now drawn to the `blood.' "Fair elf, I do believe you have hit upon something. I know some of my kind, not myself though, use some blood like substitute. It comes in handy when feigning death, or as a ward for a potential mark to be made some day."

Lwcynda had bandaged many a wound in her time. She now examined the `blood' and agreed with Drist's conclusion. "Not blood. No."

Blaine had taken all this in. At first he seemed enthralled by the talk, hopeful almost, but then he said, "Of course, ghosts do not bleed. Or do they?"

Whether this musing on the young Lord's part was of any value remained to be seen. Certainly some credence to the elf's wonderment about the existence of ghosts had to be given.

Cassandra asked, "Now if I were a thief, and I, as Drist suggests, was trying to ward intruders off, then I must have a reason."

"My treasure," answered Blaine.

"Yes, of course, but if I had found the treasure, I would have no reason for any wardings, now would I?"

"No," answered Blaine.

One more important question that I would concern myself with." Cassandra whirled round and went to the door of the room. "As I was doing all this scaring and warding, I would need a place of concealment. Somewhere from which I could slink when I needed to and in which to hide when that seemed more appropriate." She looked down the corridor. "Now if I were a thief, where would I hide?"

The gnome was obviously pleased, and his face shown signs of erruption and excitement as he listened to the story unfold about him. He had suspected deceit and trickery from the beginning, and now the conundrum was unraveling before them. He nodded and mused as the ranger, rogue and cleric compared notes and concurred on their findings.

With regard to the blood, he replied, "Ahh, yes, I know not of ghosts, and little o' zombies, but I never known one ta bleed, at least not dat much. So, ifen it ain't blood, and it' ain't undead bugger blood, den it must be.. er... well, somefin' else. Somefin' ta trick us." He smiled again.

"And ifen someone still be trickin us, den da treasure must still be hidden here some'eres. Or mayhaps da manse is da treasure. Da house itself, and da lands? Ya think?" He scratched at his chin and jaw as he thought. "And I suspect we ken find'ems hiding place, ifen we search every corner o' dis manse. Dey likely ta be a room we can't get inta, or some hidden spaces in da walls. Dis not be a cave or a mine, but I suspect I ken spot a void in da walls once we finish walkin da grounds and da inside." Having commanded the attention of the others for long enough, the gnome cleared his throat and concluded his speech, "So, what say yea, we keeps lookin about, an' try to at least search da rest o' da rooms for lunch?"

No one objected, and it was a little early for Lwcynda's groups nap to take place. There were a few doors in this very hallway to offer temptation to the curious.

Across the hall and slightly back the way the came was the nearest door. [#28] After having Cassandra check it out, it was opened. It seemed a bedroom, but first glance suggested a simpler d�cor than those which had already been uncovered.

The walls were completely undecorated, the furnishings were simple and functional. There was a bird perched beside the window. An open wardrobe seemed to hold dresses. A simple bed took center stage. Against the south wall, a human skull sat on the empty vanity, as if staring in its own reflection in the mirror.

Before anyone could enter, Grummie threw his arms wide, trying to block the doorway just a moment, as he whispered "Shhh! See dat dere bird? How did it get in 'ere? No NORMAL bird could survive cooped up in 'er for long. Walk softly, and I be careful for' peerin in da mirror. So fer, mirrors in dis place nae been nice ta us."

Grummie dropped his arms and moved slowly just inside the doorway, with his back against the wall closest to the door. He slowly made his way around the room, watching the bird and beginning a search of the walls, ceiling and floor.

Lwcynda whispered, "Well, I don't think that I have any useful spells for this. Is anyone able to speak with animals or have a spell to bind the bird or catch him or anything like that? Maybe it's stuffed." She waited to see what as Grummie entered the room.

Grummie smiled at Lwcynda's suggestions. "Hmm.. Mayhaps he knows chipmunk? I'll ask him how he got in here, and what he's doing here." The gnome paused and looked at the bird as he puckered his lips and annunciated, "Chirp, gurble girb, gerb gerp, clack, prockle." The gnome shrugged, "or maybe field mouse," and he wrinkled his nose to say, "squeek, sqak, sqak... sqeak, spick, spack, squick squak, squeekeek."

But the bird nay move a muscle, for, as Drist was able to discern from his vantage point at the door, "It's stuffed," he deadpanned, amused by Grummie antics, "Try speaking to it in the language of the dead." The bird was apparently someone's prize from a successful hunt with a bow.

Grummie relaxed his posture and chuckled lightly, as he strode up to the bird and announced to the group, "Twas a funny I made, no?" He laughed and smiled, either amused with himself, or embarrassed that once again he'd unwittingly become the comic relief of the day. Either way, he threw caution to the wind and studied the creature, stuffed as it was, very closely... prepared to prod at it with his dagger if nothing proved evident by sight alone.

Drist, seeing that the room was obviously safe, entered and began his usual search of the room's contents, leaving the bird to Grummie.

"Oh that was very good Grummie!" Lwcynda joined in the search around.

Cassandra asked Grummie, with a wink, if he needed any help 'handling the bird.' Then figuring he knew what he was doing, helped the others in the search. She took particular interest in the skull.

Blaine entered cautiously and just glanced around. Andremar and Gork held court in the hallway.

The clothing in the open wardrobe were indeed dresses, fine ones, now yellowing with age. There were also woman's shoes, and other garments.

Grummie quickly identified the bird, a sparrow hawk, a companion bird. "Nay, no sign of a wound be `ere." I be thinkin' dis be a pet of some sort, and when it died, it were stuffed ta be kept round."

Cassandra spoke to the skull. "Yorick? Horatio?" But got no reply. "It does seem to be that of a man. No marks upon it."

With a sideways glance, Drist could see the mirror without causing any reflection. "What are those streaks upon the mirror?" He edged up to it from the side and took a swipe of the stain. Both he and Cassandra examined the stain substance.

"This is not what we found on the wall in the other room." They both agreed this substance was likely blood, very old and very dry blood.

Inside the vanity was empty, and nothing else of interest was found in the room.

Grummie decided it was best not to disturb the bird, as it represented someone's beloved pet. It was best to leave the creature at rest; although, he'd never considered such a fate to be restful, perhaps this animal would have preferred it this way. He shrugged and turned his attention to the mirror and the bloody stains.

First, he glanced at it from the side, much as they had already done. He was trying to find a pattern to the smudges, or a clue as to how they occurred. He then studied the wall nearby, and the floor. He was looking for a trail of dried blood, or anything of interest.

The smudges, very old and very dry, appeared to have the pattern of streaks, as if someone had used hands, fingers, to drag them down the mirror. Not a true pattern, but it did seem to have some deliberate nature.

Drist returned his thoughts to the bird for a moment before addressing the group again. "From what I've seen of this house so far, nothing is as it seems. While it may not be the best idea, perhaps there is something about this bird that we are missing. Perhaps we should examine it more closely. It may even have something within it that may prove useful." Drist shrugged. "This is only a suggestion, though."

Grummie winced at the thought of something being inside the bird, a cringe visibly rippled across his flesh. "Aye, yea may be right Drist. ... er... Me havs ta admit, dis be a strange place, wid strange tings in it." The gnome swallowed deeply and straightened his back in an attempt to rise above the occasion and compose his dislike for the ideas in mind. "uH... Well, ifen yea be search da bird, I be over here, spectin' dis mirror and skull."

Cassandra said, "That is a good observation, Drist. Perhaps we are looking too hard at things, and not hard enough in things. Here, let me help you." So saying, she carefully examined the stuffed animal, lest it be trapped in some way. Declaring it safe, she handed it back to the elven ranger, since he would be more in tune with normal bird anatomy.

Drist felt about the bird, till a small opening was detected. Using a knife, he widened the slit just a bit, then felt inside. "What's this?" he wondered as he extracted a small paper.

Those who were interested flocked to the elf. Unfolding the little tidbit, he revealed a note. It read, " My father needs to see himself."

Andremar examined the handwriting. "Not the same as our poet friend."

Grummie had turned his attention away from Drist, and whatever was being done to the poor bird's carcass. For some reason, it disturbed him to watch. Having done his best to avoid directly glancing into the mirror, but still intrigue by it, he took a quick and cautious glance behind it. Years of dust and well stained outline of the mirror was all he found.

Grummie nearly 'tossed his cookies' when they dug the note out of the bird. He fought desperately to fight back the urge to retch and he barely managed to regain control of his contorted face. Finally, he overheard the words of the note as they were read aloud, and an idea hit him. He groaned a bit, swallowed, shook off the effects and began to inspect the skull. He said, "Mayhaps tis his father here, aye? Could it be some kind o' mechanism dat you spin about and face da skull inta da mirror?" Grummie began to tap at the skull and look for anything that might be attached to it. "Ifen it don't spin, den do we pick it up and show it to da mirror? But what does it do? Tis it a good thing, o' bad? Guess only one way ta find out... eh?"

But, as Grummie turned his attention to back to the skull, he realized that the object was placed in such a way that its hollow eyes were 'looking' into this mirror. He could see its reflection in the mirror, and in theory, so could the skull.

Upon testing, he learned that he could lift the skull, move the skull, turn the skull, and if he wished, take the skull. None of these actions seemed to have any effect here at this time.

Having done everything except spin the skull on one finger, the gnome felt a bit embarrased. "Me not know what else ta try. Mayhaps it be the other mirror, that nasty one da note be talking 'bout. Wait, wasn't there a portrait in da manse somewhere? What ifen we show da portrait to dat magic mirror? What then?" Grummie shivered a bit, mindful of the possible evil this might cause.

Cassandra pondered along with the gnome's ponderations. "Any and all of those options could well be useful, or harmful. I suggest we try them as the opportunity presents itself. Apparently, this mirror is not of any use, nor does the skull do anything with it. we did have, er, difficulty, well at least you didi, Grummie," she grinned, "with that other mirror. Wonder if we'd get two skulls?" She walked about as she spoke. "There are still two rooms in this hallway. Maybe one of them has a mirror? Why don't you carry the skull, Grummie. Drist will carry the note, and remind us of it if we forget. Let's hit the next two rooms, and by then it should be mid day or so. We can then decide if we go on with Lwcynda's take a nap idea, or do some skull experiments."

With that she headed out the door and on to the next door down the hall. She checked and opened the first door on her right, [#27]. It opened into what appeared to be yet another woman's bedroom. A bed against the south wall, dresser, book shelves along the north wall and in the western corner, and a writing desk across from the door. "No mirror," she noted, "but probably worth investigating. Bet you, Andremar, would like to take a look at those books at the very least."

Leaving the door ajar, she continued tot he last door in this hallway. Opening and looking in [#30] she said, "Another bedroom, no discernable signs of whose or what."

Lwcynda agreed with Cassandra and so followed her out.

Grummie tucked the skull under one arm and waddled along behind the ladies as they inspected the next few rooms. He was less cautions now, and troddled into each room surveying the walls and the floors, in hopes of finding something unusual or amiss like trap doors or sliding panels. Grummie gave both rooms a thorough going over, but found nothing special in these veins.

Drist put the note away and follows the others into the next room. [#27] Upon arriving there, Drist first checked the desk, as he seemed to have luck finding things there. On this desk he found a book of poetry, in hand script, similar to that found in the library. The ink was long since dry, and the volume not completed.

Andremar looked at the books on the shelves. Some of them were poetry also, but others were diaries. These were in the same hand as the poetry. A quick look at the dates in the latter suggested they dated back to when people were known to live in the manse.

"Yes, that's about when the Viscount was still around," confirmed Blaine.

The rest of the room contained clothing, obviously well aged, the type worn by young ladies.

Cassandra returned from the other room. [#30]. "Nothing there at all. Guess no one really lived in it. Could have been a guest room, I suppose."

By now, it was around noon time.

Drist set down the poetry book. "Perhaps we should stop here for lunch. That way we can look at those diaries while we eat. There may be something of importance in there."

Grummie strutted around, glancing at the books, "Any o' yea see any books about mirrors?" Grummie chuckled lightly as he took the skull and "showed" it to the books, desk, etc.. Not really sure of any particular results, nor expecting anything to work... "Who knows," he said with a shrug, "... might work, ya know. It might!"

When Drist commented about lunch, the Gnome's goofy grin became toothy with excitement. "Aye, tis a good idea. Me gullet be achin' for food. Tis quite a good idea... and perhaps dese books have somethin' good wid'in dem." He smacked his lips and licked his teeth. "Wishin' we searched da cellar, I am. Would be goods ta have some wine wid' lunch. Mayhaps we will do that later... after our nap, eh?" The gnome prepared for a quick meal ...

As everyone seemed hungry, it was agreed that now might be the appropriate time for a snack. Lwcynda reminded the others about their plan. "An afternoon nap, and then evening and after dark exploration, hoping that these "ghosts" show a little more life.

Andremar stuck his nose in the books, and barely came up for air. Every so often an "Oh , my," or a "Now that's interesting," would come from his mouth.

Finally an exasperated and curious Cassandra blurted, "You know, Andremar, the rest of us are equally interested. What the blazes is in those books anyway?"

"Hmm? Huh? Oh, well you see these are the diaries of our young poetess, one Reveri, daughter of the Viscount." He sat there quite satisfied, as if that explained everything.

"And?" demanded Cassandra, "She has what to tell us?"

Andremar seemed confused, "Tell us?"

"Yes, what do the diaries say?"

"Say?" The mage seemed very amused by this choice of verbs. "Anyone knows that books do not talk. They 'read.'"

Cassandra did a slow burn, "OK, then - what do those diaries read?" The words came out one at a time, her voice rising with urgency.

"What? Oh well they tell a story of sorts, not linear but it can be fathomed that she was one of three sisters, and at least two bothers. When Reveri was 13, her mother, poor thing, died in childbirth to one of the brothers. So, Reveri grew close to her Aunt Jocasta-a mage of some sort- who became a second mother to the girls. She was also close to her two sisters, Regine and Becky.

"Reveri envied Becky's outgoing personality, and even more envied the male attention it got her. Still, it is obvious that the two were fast friends. Rveri wished she could get closer to her other sister, but there was something detached and distant about Regine. She could seem bright and cheerful and perfectly normal when she wanted to, but most of the time was spent as if walking around in a fog. After their mother died, things got worse.

"For her 15th birthday, Regine was presented with a raven as a pet. Reveri took an instant dislike to the thing Regine seemed quite taken with it and would never be separated from it, though no one could remember exactly who gave it to her. Reveri never trusted the bird and repeatedly describes it in these writings as 'hateful' and with 'eyes that burn with evil intelligence.'"

Here Andremar stopped in his recitation.

Grummie listened attentively as he munched on a large slice of spiced bread he'd smuggled from town. "Hmm.. sounds inter'estin' Andy. And dis handwriting be the same? And what o'dis evil bird? What makes a bird evil? Could it be da work o' dat spell-slinging aunte? - no offense meant to yea profession Andy..." The gnome bowed slightly, realizing he might have offended. "Me thinks we be gettin' good info from dese books, about da history, and da untimely death o' dis viscount? But me still doubts da ghosts and spooks, or whever, be real. Ne're seen a real one. Zombies now... under crypts in monestaries! Dey be REAL! Yuk!." The gnome realized he'd gone off on a tangent, and was mumbling nonsense. He shrugged, "Well, anythin' else Andy?" Grummie waited and listened quietly should there be more to add, then then inquired. "We restin' in here, or some'eres else?" as he gathered up his pack, preparing to make a pillow of it.

Lwcynda mused, "Maybe that stuffed bird in the other room was Regine's. Well, we may know more about the sisters -- two nice ones and one into 'black arts" perhaps? Maybe the bird wasn't really evil, but Reveri just thought it was because she didn't like black birds. Or maybe it was an evil familiar. Do we know if any of your family was inclined to use magic Sir Blaine? I guess we will find out more as we continue."

Blaine rummaged through his mind for family secrets. "I cannot say that my family was known for its use of magic. My more recent family members, father, uncles, grand relatives, were fighters, as am I. At least the males were. This is not to say that we have no mages on the family tree, just not, or no longer, known for it." He stared at the diary in Andremar's hands. "Of course, from what you have found in that book, whatever transpired here long ago might just have put an end to the use of magic in my family. For those of you unfamiliar with proper family behavior, if a certain line of work, shall we say, leads to no good, it's use becomes forbidden, and after a few generations, all mentions of it are expunged. So, since the recitation implies some evil to that bird and magic, it does not surprise me that there are no prominent mages in my current family."

Andremar shook his head in agreement. "Only so true, so true," he said sadly. One rotten apple can spoil a whole bunch."

Cassandra raised an eyebrow at her friend, "Yes, one rotten apple. Hmm, well anyway, I can see that the sated gnome is balling up his pillow. Is it now nap time? Should we head back to our regular sleeping quarters, where we spent last night? We do know all the ways in and out of that room, and it is closer to the pantry."

Grummie listened attentively as he munched on a large slice of spiced bread he'd smuggled from town. "Hmm.. sounds inter'estin' Andy. And dis handwriting be the same? And what o'dis evil bird? What makes a bird evil? Could it be da work o' dat spell-slinging aunte? - no offense meant to yea profession Andy..." The gnome bowed slightly, realizing he might have offended. "Me thinks we be gettin' good info from dese books, about da history, and da untimely death o' dis viscount? But me still doubts da ghosts and spooks, or whever, be real. Ne're seen a real one. Zombies now... under crypts in monestaries! Dey be REAL! Yuk!." The gnome realized he'd gone off on a tangent, and was mumbling nonsense. He shrugged, "Well, anythin' else Andy?" Grummie waited and listened quietly should there be more to add, then then inquired. "We restin' in here, or some'eres else?" as he gathered up his pack, preparing to make a pillow of it.

Lwcynda mused, "Maybe that stuffed bird in the other room was Regine's. Well, we may know more about the sisters -- two nice ones and one into 'black arts" perhaps? Maybe the bird wasn't really evil, but Reveri just thought it was because she didn't like black birds. Or maybe it was an evil familiar. Do we know if any of your family was inclined to use magic Sir Blaine? I guess we will find out more as we continue."

Blaine rummaged through his mind for family secrets. "I cannot say that my family was known for its use of magic. My more recent family members, father, uncles, grand relatives, were fighters, as am I. At least the males were. This is not to say that we have no mages on the family tree, just not, or no longer, known for it." He stared at the diary in Andremar's hands. "Of course, from what you have found in that book, whatever transpired here long ago might just have put an end to the use of magic in my family. For those of you unfamiliar with proper family behavior, if a certain line of work, shall we say, leads to no good, it's use becomes forbidden, and after a few generations, all mentions of it are expunged. So, since the recitation implies some evil to that bird and magic, it does not surprise me that there are no prominent mages in my current family."

Andremar shook his head in agreement. "Only so true, so true," he said sadly. One rotten apple can spoil a whole bunch."

Cassandra raised an eyebrow at her friend, "Yes, one rotten apple. Hmm, well anyway, I can see that the sated gnome is balling up his pillow. Is it now nap time? Should we head back to our regular sleeping quarters, where we spent last night? We do know all the ways in and out of that room, and it is closer to the pantry."

"Well, I guess we could go back as we can guard it better and as Cassandra says -- it is closer to the pantry." Said Lwcynda.

Grummie nodded in agreement as the back of his hand reached his yawning maw. "Yawwwn... yeth... er... yes." He smacked his lips and fluttered his eyes, his belly now heavy with lunch. "I suppose would be best ta move back to a safer place, eh?" He stood and gathered his pillow-pack, as he made way for the door. "An who'ever be on guard ken browse through da books a bit more. Me still thinks dere be secrets to reveal in dat room. At least know we know who was da poet for da 'Ode to Tinkerpaws', aye? Maybe our new-found knowledge o' history, birds, skull and mirrors will 'help us turn up clues, eh?"

"They just might," agreed Cassandra. "Course, if we turn up a stuffed cat, who knows?"

And so the Seekers made their way back to the hoped for safety of the study [#33]. There was something different about the room since last they saw it. It appeared as if it had been straightened up, cleaned, as if room service had been there in their absence. There was a definite calm about the room.

Cassandra entered slowly, looking for anything suspicious, [well more suspicious than a clean room!] but found nothing. "Wonder if whoever did this expects a tip?"

Blaine seemed amused, then confused. "I doubt it," he said, "as I doubt there are any servants still on staff."

Grummie stopped suddenly, seeing how the room had been straightened. His eyes widened with anticipation and he hastily glanced around the room, seeking out the perpetrator. With a whisper he inquired, "Andy, Lywcnda, ken yea tell who did this? Can yea sense presence or hidden beings or anythin' like that?" He didn't wait for an answer, and a dagger appeared in one hand as the gnome ran to the stairs and the secret door, insuring that no-one lay in wait to ambush them there.

That no scream emerged from the gnome's lips assured the others that no one had waylaid him. "Nay, no signs `o d'ere being anyone by 'ere, nor d'ere being anyone 'ere," he said.

Andremar surveyed the room with a shocked look on his face, that then turned to a look of wonder. "Well..er I..umm guess that..that this umm, could er seem umm out of place, but I er well umm ....it doesn't", Andremar stated as he appeared to be coming to some realizations.

Andremar them began to talk in soft tones, as if whispering to himself, "...may have practiced magic in the ..er...well past,...clean..er...spotless library, and well...er ...YES...thank you...THAT'S IT.. umm well it may be it."

Andremar addressed the group with his conclusions, "Grummie...I believe ...umm even though..er we kinda ummm sorta need to check it out...it should be safe here...kinda...er I think. With the history that we ummm, suspect .maybe...of having praticed the arts ...well in the family, and ...umm...as you know the libray is ...er ..well a sacred place...to ummm anyone that...well...you know....dabbles. Sometimes...well..er... the more...powerful. types ...summon...servants...as a such to ...take care of...not usually guards though.. and.. if I am...er well...right for once....that would explain the "THANK YOU", and well.. umm the clean room. Does that clear it up???" Andremar looked to his companions for a hint of what they might think.

Cassandra looked at him as if she thought he was rather confused, but then again there was a vague inkling of what he was trying to say. "Magical servants? Or cleaned by magic? Either way this room sure looks nice. Wonder if anything was done down in the dusty dining hall? Or any of the other rooms we've been in for that matter."

"We should still ..um ..secure the area...well...just in case...yeah." Said Andremar.

So saying, the Seekers secured this room once more.

Now satisfied that the room was as safe as could be expected, Grummie again prepared his pillow and removed and rolled up his cloak into a ball. He then grabbed a handful books from the shelves; selecting those titles that most interested him. Finally he settled down, and browsed through the pages; catching the highlights and only pausing when he found an interesting passage. His eyes began to flutter as he yawned and said, "Ifen I fall sleep. Wake me fer da next watch, will yea?"

Lwcynda said that she and Gork would take first watch. "Maybe that 'ghost' that was so happy about Grummie smashing the bookworm cleaned the place up?" She spent some of that time looking through various books.

Andremar browsed through the books looking for something interesting to entertain him when his watch came up. Satisfied with his selection, he put the books to the side and started his nightly ritual of studying his spells before falling asleep.

Finding it difficult to fall asleep mid-day; Grummie lay quietly with his eyelids closed, and overheard Lwycnda's comment about the "ghost" and the book worm. Sitting up slightly, and chuckling, he filled the time with idle chatter, asking, "So, do yea really believe d'ere be a ghostie here? Cassie, Andy... you've been doin' dis adventurin' thing for a while now. Hab yea ever seen a ghostie? Just curious, bout' yer experiences wid dis kinda stuff." The gnome chatted a while, browsed through a few of the books again... and eventually nodded off to sleep, snoring loudly... through his monster of a nose.

Cassandra had been busying herself with her bedroll, setting herself up in a corner of the room, when she heard the gnome's question.

She toured her memory bank. "A real ghost? hmm. There was that alleged returning ghost, but it turned out to be a flying monster of some sort. Remember that one, Andremar?" Here she muffled a laugh. "That was our first adventure in Chatwin. Just me, him and Lwcynda. we had to crawl through a tunnel into a cave, and got set upon by this thing. and just when we thought it was dead, damned if it didn't rise up and attack us once more. I think it was Lwcynda who beheaded it, and tried to keep the head as a trophy. course, the sight of the head caused Andremar to faint dead away!"

She paused for effect. "Then, we did visit that land of the fairies, pixies, whatever, and i do believe there were some odd spirits there." He voiced drifted off, as she mussed about with her blanket.

"But real ghosts? those of dead people who now haunt in some way? No, don't think we've ever come across any."

She rolled away from everyone, facing the wall and drifting off. "At least not yet anyway," was her last remark.

Andremar pulled his head out of his studies and went bank in time with Cassie as she told Grummie of their heroic time in the past. Until she came to the part about him fainting," I passed out from er mental and physical exhaustion, and ummm besides the heat sometimes gets to me." Andremar shook his head in friendly disagreement and went back to his studies by covering his face with his spell book. Underneath, he silently grinned to himself as he thought back to some of their first adventures. Was it Lwcynda that wanted to keep it as a trophy...he couldn't remember...it seemed so long ago.

Cassandra whispered, "The heat, yes, the heat," and left it at that. She would swear there being snow on the ground as they hunted for that cave, but she could be wrong. As long as her close friend remembered his spells, nothing much else mattered.

While Cassandra talked, Drist made his own place to rest. Before everyone was asleep, Drist queried, "Who's going to keep watch? I will do it if no one else is. I do not feel particularly tired right now."

Lwcynda reminded him that she and Gork were. And so they did.

Blaine offered to take watch whenever it was his turn. He bedded down with the rest.

The afternoon passed quietly, with only the occasional creak or crack common to an old house. Each member took turns on watch, but saw nothing. Those who read books found a wealth of information on such topics as battle tactics, philosophy, and old history and literature. The leaves of the books were yellowing, but in solid condition.

Eventually true night fell. All had had a good rest. It was about 8PM as all were awake.

Grummie awoke with a stretch and a hunger to boot. He started diggin around in his pack and with a yawn said, "Yaaaawwwwwnnnnnnnnnnnn... Gosh, me goodness bein! Twas a good rest, it was. Now, let's see. We should check da rest o' da doors we not yet checked up on dis floor, right? Den we ken check sumfin'... I thinks there be a room we not found da door to yet. Me dreamed about it, me did... Tis like a mine shaft wid no tunnels... there just be sumfin wrong wid da hallways down near the balcony. But, we ken check those later. Off to da closest door, aye?"

Andremar awoke with a disorientation that came from sleeping during the day. Nonetheless, he packed his pack and readied himself for the investigation that lay before them. "I guess, I'm umm somewhat ready whenever, er everyone else is."

With that said he placed the books back were he found them. The rest of the party prepared for a night time foray. As they did so they became aware of the din of a storm raging outside. Rain slammed the windows as torrents of water poured from the sky.

"Picked the perfect night to move about, said Cassandra as she began to roll up her bed. Then she snapped her fingers. "Don't know how well this will work, but gonna give it a try." She left her bedroll unmade up on the floor, moved a bit of the furniture about, and took three random books from the shelves and left them on the floor. "Let's leave the place lived in."

She then pulled out two pieces of her hair. Running one through her mouth, and then lighting a torch, she traipsed down the back stairs. In a minute or two she had returned. Seeing the quizzical looks on the others' faces, she opened the door to the mirror room, [#32] ushering everyone out of their safe room, and shut the door. She licked the other strand of her hair and stuck it across the opening side of this door. "Same thing on did on the downstairs door. Might just tell us if our housekeeper is mortal of not."

Andremar had his lantern lit while Cassie carried a torch. The Seekers headed west along this corridor to the other door on this north wall. Once it was inspected, it was opened. [#31] It seemed immediately to be a man's bedroom. A sturdy bed dominated the west wall, a wardrobe the east. A large chest rested at the foot of the bed. Lightening flashed outside the window.

Grummie nodded as he peered inside the room. "Twas wonderin' ifen dere be any men's quarters about dis place." He smiled at his companions and nudged Sir Blaine.

"Cassie, if yea don't mind doin' da honors and checkin da wardrobe an da chest for booby-traps, I'll be inspecting da floor and walls fer anythin, ususual. Den we ken take a looks inside 'em eh? Best we have more light though, movin' about in da dark o' night. I fer one would like me own' torch or lantern ta study wid." The gnome started digging about, searching inside his pack... and grumbling to himself about forgetting the necessary gear again.

Cassandra inspected the chest. "Very good quality, well made. But, not trapped in any way," she declared. She handed her torch to the gnome so he could further the search of the chest.

"Andremar, shine your beam over here on the wardrobe." As he did so, the light glinted off something metallic on the bed.

Drist, forever practical, immediately searched out things of importance, like any source of light, and anything unusual about the room. He was immediately attracted to the bed where he found a shield bearing a pegasus rampant lying there. It seemed to be covered in something like blood, dried blood.

Lwcynda helped search the room. Mindful that it was night she readied her 'protection from evil spell 10' r' should it be needed. She accompanied Cassie to the wardrobe. Once it was opened she found what were once fine men's clothing, now rendered valueless by the effects of time.

Grummie took the torch and almost crawled into the chest, "Getting ta thee bottom `o tings." And so he did. He began hauling out some well crafted arms and armor. By the time he was done, he had collected a dagger, a horseman's flail, an incredibly fine long sword, a full helm, and a suit of man sized elven chain mail. All appeared to be in mint condition.

Andremar continued to cast his lantern wherever it was needed. He took up a tactful position behind the others, in case something jumped out. Andremar, alert as always, was on the lookout with Gork while his friends searched the room.

Grummie sat upright in the chest, as though it were a tub. He smiled and gleamed at each piece of armament and garment. He was stricken with awe at his discover. "Quite fine, aye, quite fine indeed." He held up a corner of the light-weight chain armor, "Dis be fine elven quality. Rare, yes rare indeed it be. Very nice Sir Blaine, it is." The gnome was so busy baskin in the pool of treasure, he didn't bother to get out, nor did he notice the blood-stained shield.... He simply admired his findings.

Drist nodded admiringly at the treasure trove the gnome had discovered. "Perhaps it is things like these that are the real treasure in this place." Putting that aside, Drist hauled the shield up and onto the bed where it could be seen more closely in the light.

Andremar cast the lantern's bean directly on it. The `blood' seemed to be a drawing, a rather crude drawing. Blaine stepped forward. "The pagasus rampant is our family's coat of arms. But that blood outline - it looks like a bird, now doesn't it?"

Others took turns interpreting the 'drawing.' Bird was the general consensus. And it did appear to be real blood, very old, very dry, but real blood.

Further search revealed nothing else of interest. Lightening continued to flash outside. .

The appearance of the bird-like visage on the shield reminded Grummie of the bird, the note, and the skull. He leapt out of the chest with inspiration plastered across his face. The fanciful arms and armor fell back into the box, as if forgotten, but the gnome smiled and jumped about, as if excited. "Me got it, me got it... Me understand da note, me tinks! We go to da mirror room, da one dat made Andremar a twin. We show da portrait of da viscount to da mirror. Dat be what the note means. What do you think? Aye?" The gnome waited, rather impatiently.

Lwcynda said, "Maybe you are correct, Grummie, but then we might see two skulls trying to 'fight' each other. Or maybe it will speak. We can try and I'll keep my spell ready. What does everyone think?"

Andremar stifled the cold chill that shot up the back of his spine when Gummie mentioned that room. Even though it created a very handsome likeness of the mage, he was somewhat hesitant to return to the evil room. He thought back to what had happened in the room, and had an idea. "We should er take some precaution when we return to that room, in the umm event one of us would get , well duplicated. Maybe think up a signal or action that the evil counterpart wouldn't ummm do. I would hate to get whacked by one of my friends....then er again I would hate to get whacked at all"

With that said, Andremar waited for the others to lead off to the room, and try Grummie's theory.

Grummie nodded in agreement, "Great idea Andy. But what do you hab in mind? We need to expect a battle, so da aggressor may or may not be da real person. It'll had ta be something really odd, for instance... say 'kill me' and point to yeaself. Dat should confuse da copy, aye? What ya think? Oh' course best idea is ta make sure our reflections not be cast in da mirror to begin wid. Let's take a big sheet from dis room and hold it up when we go in da room. Den cover da mirror, not lettin' any reflections in it, till we be ready, aye?"

The gnome seemed quite proud of his idea, as he stood with his hands propped on his hips. "Oh, and not show da skull to da mirror, but show da portrait. Da one o' da viscount dats in da same room. Dat we, mayhaps we'll get a talkin' portrait, dat can't do much harm, but ken tell us much o what we want ta know. What ya think?"

Andremar looked at Grummie with a puzzled look. "Now that I think about it, that wouldn't work. Any, er, kind of signal that we could give each other would be known by each of us when our reflection would be cast, therefore if the reflection is an exact copy it would know what we know, and give the same signal. Ummm a simpler solution may be standard precaution. Mirrors reflect light, so one person gets a mental, well picture of the room and where the mirror is in relationship to the room, enter while its dark and cover it with a blanket. As an added precaution we could tie one end of the rope to whoever enters the room, and one to an anchor. That would be hard to duplicate!!! We better get there to put your plan in motion Grummie." With that Andremar followed the rest of the group to their destination.

As Andremar began to walk, he had a unsettled feeling growing in his stomach. Slowly the 'why' of it came to him. "Course, a magic mirror could in theory duplicate anything, string, rope, cause magic has no limits."

Cassandra overheard her friend's concern. "Nyssia." She said aloud.

"What? Er, wasn't that where we met?"

"That is correct my friend. I doubt that a mirror can read minds, or can it? Anyway, if any of us is duplicated this time, he or she should yell 'Nyssia.' I doubt the duplicate would know to do that."

So, armed with a sheet, a rope and a secret word, they trudged over to the mirror room. They had been in this room a few times, for it was the only way in to their abode room. But that had shut the portrait back over the mirror after the first altercation. Grummie opened the door, and the lantern beam was carefully cast nearer and nearer the fireplace. Then Andremar raised it slightly above, so that the bottom of the portrait could be verified. It was still shut.

It was time to put the plan into operation. A rope was tied about the gnome, but then there was the height issue. Could he reach up to first remove the portrait somehow, and then hold it in front of the mirror, all the while holding a sheet, and in the dark?

This puzzle could have kept the Seekers in debate for quite some time, till Blaine uttered a disturbing sentence. "I hate to ruin these festivities, but as I recall, well, would anyone like to make a little wager?"

"What sort?" asked Cassandra.

"The sort that might make render our current debate moot." Blaine's old haughty air had re-emerged. "For you see, I seem to recall that the portrait in this room, the one that covers the mirror, is one of a woman." He seemed very self assured. "Anyone care to bet otherwise?"

Drist, who had been following along with the group silently, pondered this momentarily. "If Blaine is correct, then perhaps the painting we need is somewhere else in the house. Does anyone remember if we saw other paintings in the bedrooms?"

Andremar shone his beam upon the portrait. Andremar confirmed, "You are right, the portrait is of a woman, but what is this of consequence....I believe the plan will still work."

Grummie's jubilant spirit diminished quickly as he realized the grave flaw in his plan; not to mention, the evident problem with his senility and waning memory. He shook his head in disbelief, as he signed and solemly stated, "Aye, must hab been in anoder room, da portrait I be thinkin of. Den 'gain, mayhaps we not even seen a portrait o' a man. Me think dis house be gettin' da best o me.. But, I agree wid Andy. Cannae' hurt ta try it? Mayhaps dis lady knows more dan da viscount." Grummie nodded in delight, finding new ideas creaping into his mind's eye. "As for da rope, Andy. Tie it outside ta something... Da mirror cannae' see what you tie it too, aye? Would be hard for da mirror to duplicate that which it nae see, does that make logic?"

Cassandra had time to ponder the overall situation. "From my professional, logistical, not logical, perspective, let us review what we are facing. The portrait is this room is attached by hinges to the wall. When closed, it covers the mirror. So, first we must open it, while avoiding glancing in the mirror. Then we must unhinge this portrait which is above the fireplace. The bottom of the portrait is six feet off the ground while the top is nine. The point of this is that someone must get up above nine feet to cover the mirror, and also unhinge the top hinge. "

As she spoke she moved over to the right side of the room where the door to their safe room was. Andremar, a little light here please." She bent to the door jamb. "Humph, my hair strand is still there," she said absently. "Anyway, so once we get this portrait off and down, one of us will show it to the mirror, while someone else removes the sheet, in the hopes that a female face will have some effect. Is that about correct?"

She allowed this to sink in, then added, "Logistically, how are we to accomplish these feats?

Blaine took another tact. "Not to mention logically. The clue we are following is, 'My father needs to looks at himself more,' or something similar. I doubt that woman in that portrait is anyone's father. Now, I am willing to be part of this plan of yours, anyway you want to try it, but as I said, this portrait is female."

Grummie admitted, "Aye, tis a far-stretched plan now dat we re'tinks about it. And even ifen we weren't tryin' ta use dis portrait o da lady, we'd still be needin' ta stand on something very high up ta acomplish da task." The gnome paused as the wheels in his head began to churn and turn, "I say this. Let us use da bed, a chair, a desk, what'er we ken find ta stand on ta **slip** da sheet behind the portrait o' da lady and cover da mirror. We ken go ahead and do this now, since we already be in here. We ken do so widout opening da portrait cover but a tiny bit... den slip da sheet between da layers, aye?"

"Second," he inquired. "Anyone have caltrips, spikes or anythin' we can nail da sheet to da wall, above da mirror... ta hold it in place once we get it up there? Surely we ken find somethin' in da manse ta work fer nails? Scavenge nails from a door hasp. I be willin' ta use two o' me daggers for spikes ifen need-be."

Excitement surmounted, "Den we can open and close da portrait cover wid'out worrying about da mirror, aye? Will make da task o' openin' and closin' da portrait safer. We could leave da portrait open or take it down if we cover it securely wid a sheet. Plus, we ken use da bottom o' da sheet to reveal da mirror as we see fit. We could even be standing wid' our backs to da fireplace, so as not to be reflected in da mirror when we do it, aye? Again, tis just an idea, but tink o' da possibilities!"

He caught his breath and concluded, "Den we ken search da house for other portraits, mayhaps one o' a man somewheres. If it works, we should show every darn picture in da house to da portrait... cause would be excellent way to get information, aye? Ifen no one objects, den let us get started. What say you?" The gnome listened as he began searching for the necessary implements, a standing support, nails, spikes, a think enough sheet, etc.

As any seasoned adventurer, the gnome carried his hare of spikes, to the attaching of the sheet above the portrait before opening it cold be done and enough furniture could be gathered to fashion a means of getting above for this purpose. Cassandra took the time to examine the portrait as it was hung on the wall. "Reminds me of the way wealthy people conceal a safe, a wall safe. The portrait is flush with the wall, then the safe is inserted into the wall. What is odd here is twofold. First, what we know to be back there is a mirror, not a safe. Second it has been done on an exterior wall. If there were a safe, it would extend out of the house. This is the front wall of the mansion. Very odd, very odd." She continued to ponder. "So how one would remove the mirror is beyond me."

Andremar took in the whole situation as it was presented by the group. "Err maybe Grummie it is best that we search the rest of the house first, and locate all the portraits and images in the house before we go to all the trouble of taking down the picture, and blah, b-blah, blah. This way when we do go to work on the mirror, we will have all more clues to help us determine what will need to do. Or if you want to do this now, I'll help, either way." Andremar exhaled as the run-on statement ended, in an exhaustive breath and grin.

Grummie nodded, "Okay, we ken do dat. Let us gather all we need in dis room, so when da time comes to try our plan, we be ready... So, where to next? What room hab we not yet checked up here?" The gnome prepared to follow the others to their next stop.

Lwcynda has no inspiring ideas and so she agreed to follow along. After all, her specialty was making inquiries, and so far no one had been found with whom to communicate.

A look at their rough MAP pointed up two as yet unopened doors nearby, both of which could be reached by heading back towards the balcony area. One door would be on the left as they turned the corner, the other further on and in a hallway. "Could be a room or more behind them," noted Cassandra.

"And there was a door in the library as well that we did not bother to open at the time," reminded Blaine.

The sounds of the storm still raged, causing creaks and groans both within and without the house.

Drist had taken his time before responding and reacting to the plan in the mirror room. He thought back to their first experience with the mirror and found one major flaw in Grummie's new plan. "Wait a minute. When Andremar was copied by the mirror, wasn't the copy just a mindless creature that did not speak, or even act intelligently? And how do we know that the mirror will work on non-living things?" Drist looked apologetically at Grummie. "We can still try, though, if you like."

By this time, the nimble gnome was having severe second and third thoughts about dealing with the mirror just yet. Grummie nodded, "Aye, Me think of dat too Drist. Might nae work, but da note made me tink it worth a try. 'Course, dat was before da embarrasment o' findin' out twas a portrait o' a woman. It just seemed logical when me first thought o' it. And it might work yet. We ken try it. Did seem like a mindless attacker. But we didnae really given it much time ta speak did we? Might hab beena ble to ifen it weren't so bent on bashin in Andy's... err ... dat is, da REAL Andy's skull!" The gnome shrugged, "Aye, when we done wid other stuff, I'd liken ta try it... ifen ya don't mind. But no rush, we ken work on it later, ifen nothin' else works."

Andremar waited until the group decided on where to search next, "Wherever we start is fine with me".

He then suggested the overall search continue, at least till this upper floor was fully explored. "Lets us check da first door we come to, for we check the rest. Simple be it that way."

The Seekers, led by the gnome and the rogue headed out from the mirror room, and turned right along the hallway towards the open balcony area. Andremar, lantern in hand, took his position in the second rank aside Lwcynda. The leaders turned left with the intention of checking the door they knew to be there.

Grummie began to approach the first door along this path, the one near the balcony, his fine short sword in hand. He motioned to Cassie to check and give the okay to enter. Cassie's torch moved closer to this door. ['D' on the map]

But then he stopped her, and looked, and wonder, "What be dat dere?" He pointed forward a bit. "Anyone be leaving dat candle `dere?" For as sure as his name was Grummie, there was a candle sitting on the floor of the hallway, some 15-20' away, burning slowly in the darkness. ['C' on the map]

Grummie stuttered a bit, drawing his sword close. "Who...whoo.. who left dat dere?" He glanced around and over the balcony rail as he slowly made his way toward the candle and the corner. He was at first inclined to "call-out" the perpetrator, demanding that they show themselves; but he'd tried that already once before, to no avail. This time, he hoped to sneak up at first... ready to leap around the corner, confronting anyone or thing that might be standing there.

Andremar reaffirmed his grip on the lantern, as he felt it loosen in his grasp. With the wave of fear that swept over him, he felt the beads of sweat pour over him. Slowly as everyone was taking one step forward, Andremar caught himself taking one step back....Wait a minute, Andremar thought to himself, you can do this. He mustered the courage and finally took a baby step forward, and another, and another-(Thunder and lightning). Andremar was starting to quiver from fear, but containing it very well...that is until his teeth started chattering and he was forced to clinch his jaws together. and another, and another, and another. Dang, I wish Grum would go ahead and find out what's down there, Andremar thought to himself. And another, and another, and another until he paced himself with the group thinking, "I wonder where's the closest privy!"

Grummie moved slowly forward, to the right of the candle, towards the balcony rail. He could not really see the floor below, but he could sense it, and he got a strong sense of cold. Nor was there anything lurking on the stairs ahead. Doing his best to lull what he felt was his real prey, that which might be laying in wait around the corner, he continued to concentrate below. Once he pulled even with the left hand corridor he slowly, ever so slowly scanned to his left, till the corridor was in his vision. But, alas, nothing seemed to be there.

Cassandra had moved up also, till she reached the candle. She watched as it burned, wondering if it had any special qualities. But in its own light, and her torch light, it seemed perfectly normal. Just a candle, no holder. Just a candle. She picked it up and moved to the corner where the gnome was looking , and added light to his search. But, once again, there seemed nothing there.

The gnome quickly realized there wasn't anyone hiding around the corner, and he couldn't see anything downstairs. In a swift twirl, Grummie wheeled around ... turning on his heels. He now looked back toward the candle and the closed door. He tippy-toed back toward the door and whispered to his companions, "Da bugger be in dere! Cassie ken ya check da door and I'll spring into da room, and catch 'im red 'anded! Andy, ready wid da light? Lwycnda... say a prayer, we may need it." He awaited the *go* signal.

By now Gork, Blaine, and Drist had rounded the corner and joined the others. All gathered at the door, breathing down the neck of the poor rogue.

Cassandra looked up. "Think I could have an inch or two here?" Once everyone had stepped back slightly, she examined the door. "Looks OK to me." She turned the latch and pushed the door open.

With their lights blazing they could see a large room [#34]. From the doorway, it seemed a woman's bedroom very primly arranged, with the usual bed, cabinets and dressers. The was a tapestry of some sort on the south wall.

"Mee keep watch again," announced Gork, as he took up his usual position aside the doorway. Blaine was next to him for the time being.

As per their usual, the others entered the room. No sooner had they done so than they heard Gork's voice. The goblin called out. "Mee hear someone. Heee speaks!" As they turned in his direction, all could see the little fellow point across the way into darkness. Blaine stood half in, half out of the doorway. "Seth?" He said.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ meanwhile

The rain drops fell hard to the ground as Seth ran to the old mansion. He flinched each time the sky flashed its bright light. Noticing the light coming from one of the upstairs windows, Seth thought to himself that maybe Jennison had returned due to the storm. Or worse, the dark hair women they had seen a few days ago was back!

Seth's muddy boots squished on the wooden porch as he slid to the front door. He quickly opened the front door and entered the dark mansion, closing the door behind him. Happy to be out of the strong wind, he dropped the two small bales of horseweed that he recently collected to the side of these double doors.

Seth found himself in the wide portion of the entry hallway, a place he had been just a few days earlier. Seth listened to the wind howling throughout the old building. He reached into his shoulder bag for his flint and steel, and a candle. Lighting the candle's wick, he winced under the flash of lightning as he watched his candle's flame start to glow. He was momentarily taken aback as a dark haired woman hovered off his left shoulder. "Silly me," he cautioned, "that tapestry scared me the other day, too."

He enjoyed the feeling the warmth upon his hand and the lack of rain upon his head. He could see a door on his right, a open double door slightly ahead on his left, and another closed door slightly in front of him. The candle light also allowed him to see the hallway narrow as it continued south in front of him. He his body enjoyed the respite from the storm.

Seth decides that he will need to wait out the storm. He removed his cloak and shook the water from it, scattering droplets of water about the wood floor. He removed his wet cotton tunic, and muddy boots that were making a wet puddle where he stood. As Seth removes his shirt and the goose bumps trailed up his arms. He started to rub his arms with his hands as he said, "Goddess of nature, beauty and earth, allow my body to withstand the cold as if it was a warm summer day." He felt the comfort of his endure cold spell.

As he stood still and quiet, he was certain he heard many footfalls somewhere above him. He tried to remember what he could from his brief time in the manse. Dead straight ahead would be a large open area with stair to the second level. He and Jennison had climbed them in search, in vain search, of the mysterious female a few days back.

Seth moved his muddy boots and wet clothing over near the wall, out of the way from view. He then picked up his shoulder sack and sickle, and began slowly moving towards the stairs. He took a careful and cautious approach, as the blood message alone was enough to have the hair on the back of his neck standing up. He creeped quickly up the stairs, on the balls of his bare feet being as quiet as possible. Watching his candle flicker as he moved, shadows jumped on the wall with each step. Seth bemoaned to himself, "Why am I here again, ohhh yea Jennison my good ole buddy, who is not here!"

The staircase proved to be surprisingly solid, with only a few creaks and groans. Seth soon found himself at the top of the stairs, with a wide open area before him. Or at least it seemed that way it the flickering candle light, his vision was limited. He could see a wall on his right, a hallway, more wall. In the distance he heard something. Was it the murmur of voices? Or was it something else? Did he see a faint light coming from somewhere? Or was it his imagination playing tricks?

Seth stopped in his tracks, listening for the sounds that he thought he heard as his eyes adjusted to try to look to see if he sees the faint light again, if he had seen one at all. Subconsciously he thought about the sounds of thunder claps outside, and the timing between them trying to decide if the storm is passing yet or not.

Between the sounds of thunder, Seth heard once again that which he thought he had heard earlier - voices. And now footfalls. They were louder and louder. Gradually shadows, long shadows began to enter his area from the northeast. Playing it cautious, he set his candle down ['C' on the map] and moved forward and off to his left where he could take cover by the corner wall ['S' on the map] From there he carefully nosed round to see whatever.

And what a whatever it was! A party of some sort turned the corner and seemed to stop at the door. ['D' on the map] The one who seemed to lead it was short, very short. He brandished a short sword in his right hand which he used to point to the door. His nearest companion, a female who held a torch, started to examine it.

But then the short one spoke. "What be dat dere?" he said, pointing forward towards where Seth had set his candle. "Anyone be leaving dat candle `dere?"

Seth could see at least two others. One, a female with a shield. The other a man dressed in gaudy robes and a floppy pointed had garnished with stars, staff in one hand, lantern in the other. And there were more footfalls behind them.

Seth stood very still as he watched the group. He saw the small one, likely a gnome, move towards the balcony rail, look down into darkness, then move forward some more till he seemed to gaze down a corridor to his left, passed where Seth's candle still rested.

Till the female moved forward, examined the candle, then carefully picked it up. She brought it and her torch to that corridor and used the light to examine it. For now both still had their backs to Seth, but for how much longer.

The robed man inched forward, inch by stinking inch, ever sooooo slowly, never quite reaching the other two. The other female remained behind, almost across from Seth. But she too looked forward, rapt up in whatever they were doing. By his count, so far he had three humans, one male, two female, and a gnome.

Seth watched the gnome move back towards the door and speak in low tones to his companions. They all gathered around the door. In fact. They were joined by three more, an elf, a goblin, and a male human who reminded Seth of someone. "Jennison?" Seth asked himself.

He could see the door to this room open, and all the light sources were used to look inside. The goblin spoke. "Mee keep watch again," he said, as he took a post aside the south of the open door. As the others entered the room, the male human, who now really looked like Jennison, stood next to him, half in and half out of the doorway.

Rather than startle them, Seth said softly, "Hello, I'm Seth Bluetick from the country side of Chatwin."

The goblin called out. "Mee hear someone. Heee speaks!" He pointed into the darkness were Seth stood. That who looked liked Jennison turned in his direction, "Seth?" he said.

Grummie the gnome lurched back into the hallway... sword at ready. His first inclination was to rush toward the target and confront 'it.' On second thought, he decided to see if this "Seth" had anything to say first.... and prepared to pursue only if the culprit decided to run away.

He saw a figure slightly off to the right. A male voice, 'Seth' looking at Lord Blaine with a confused look, said, "Jennison is that you?" Seth then looked around to everyone else for their reactions.

The one female, Lwcynda, turned to Blaine/Jennison asking "Who's Seth? Is it our ghost?"

Blaine stepped slowly forward. Meanwhile, the one in robes, Andremar had chills running up his spine at this new revelation and discovery. And he wondered, as the rest did of course, 'Who's Seth?' without advancing toward where the suspicious character may be. He did manage to lean back through the door to shed some light on the discovery.

Some 10-15' away the Seekers could see a young man, maybe 20 years of age, 6' tall, lean, wearing brown pants and a white cotton tunic. He seemed a bit wet, as if he had been out in the storm. He had a leather pack, and carried what appeared to be a sickle.

"Oooooo nnnooooo," squeaked Gork the goblin, "Heeee's theeee grim reeeeper." Gork made as if to bolt down the hallway.

Blaine reached out quickly with one hand, grabbing Gork before he could take off. "No, no," he said with a laugh, "he might look the worse for wear, but I know this fellow. He is my old friend Seth, Seth Bluetick to be exact." Gork seemed to be running in place while Blaine kept a tight grip on is arm. "Now, I admit he is a fright messed up as he is, that sickle is more for cutting herbs than people." He released the goblin, who had calmed slightly.

Blaine walked over to the newcomer. "Seth, though you'd be back in Narwell by now. What's kept you here?" Before the young man could answer, Blaine turned back to the Seekers. "Seth was one of those who accompanied me here the first time I visited this house. He was one of the last to leave, with me. We did split up when I mentioned that I might go to Chatwin to try and recruit another party."

He turned back to Seth. "So, my friend, you see I have found another group to help me search this place. You never answered my question. How come you are still here? Decided to move in? Like the rural location?"

Again, before Seth had a chance to respond, Cassandra interrupted. "Lord Baline, who is this 'Jennison' he keeps mentioning?"

"What? Oh, yes, well, you see, Jennison is my first name, my boyhood name. Seth and I go way back, don't we?"

At last Seth had a chance to answer. And others had a chance to speak.

Seth looked at the female, then to the goblin with a large grin, "Me? A ghost, the reeper? Naaaa spooky though here on this stormy night". Seth then looked at Jennison's face, studying his eyes in the flickering of light while he said, "Aye you know me, I was leaving when a found a nice patch of Horseweed, so I spent some time harvesting a few bails of the herb. I left them down stairs by the door with my muddy boots." He looked down at his bare feet, his toes moving. "Hahahahaha, Bad storm this night my friend?" Seth looked around at everyone in the hall, trying to gauge the reactions upon their faces.

Grummie, the gnome, studied the newcomer with his typical hesitation and disbelief. He was instantaneously curious and suspicious of this Seth character. Addressing Seth, the gnome inquired, with a cynical tone, "You been a pickin' herb e're since you got scared out'a dis manse? Dat be along time ta pick herbs, don'ya tink? Where ya been sleepin, all dis time? And what you'se been eatin'." Grummie returned the stare, awaiting a reaction in return, and hoping his companions would have inquiries of their own.

One did. Cassandra spoke. "So, Seth is it? Friend of Lord Blaine's here? Hmmm, you married?"

Grummie's jaw dropped and his mouth gaped widely as he slowly turned his head to Cassie in amazement. As the shock of her inquiry sunk in, the gnome's maw clasped shut suddenly, and he frowned openly, shaking his head in disbelief. He then returned his attention back to Seth, and shrugged while awaiting a response.

She grinned back at him, "Hey, a girl's gotta try doesn't she?"

Drist raised his eyebrow slightly, but displayed no other reaction, other than putting his sword away, which he had drawn only moments before. "Perhaps you can shed some light on a few things, Seth. We've come across some strange things around here, and if you inadvertently caused any of them, it might be helpful to know. Where exactly have you been since parting with Blaine?"

Seth began to talk. As he did so, he used his hands to point to the north of the building, looking down at the gnome then to the goblin. "Right after Jennison, Lord Blaine here, left I was searching around the area for some herbs. Figuring that this area hasn't been touched or maintain for some years, near the fence line around the outbuilding."

Seth then started to move toward Cassandra who still held the burning candle, leaving a wet puddle where he had been standing. He talked as he walks, smiling at Cassandra as he reached her, "No dear I am not married, have not found a special lady yet."

She asided to Grummie, "See, if you don't ask, you don't know."

Seth took the candle from her, "I believe this is mine." In the glow, they could all see large iron sun disk hanging from his neck, glowing in the candlelight. He continued, "I came across a very large patch of horseweed on the back side of the mansion. You know what horseweed is good for?" Not waiting for a reply he answered,"If a generous amount of the leaves are fed to a horse, it will be able to travel all day without tiring, even if moving at a gallop."

He took a breath, "Anyway, oh yes been eating berries and such, sleeping under the moon and stars, you know mother nature will watch over her flock". His arms moved about, his wet shirt caused a sizzling with the flame of the candle as he is explaining all of this. He stopped for a second, as if lost in thought, then looked towards Drist the elf. "Naaa, have nothing to do with the strange things here at the old mansion, seen the lights when I ran up, must have been you." He shrugged his shoulders with the last statement.

Cassandra spoke, "Soooo, a horse could run all day with that horse weed? Hmmm, wonder how it might work on a . . ." She let her thought drift off.

Blaine spoke. "Well, then Seth, since you came here to originally be part of my party, and you are still here, then why not team up with us. At the very least you will be in out of the rain." He waited for a response from Seth, then added in afterthought, "That is if none of you object?"

He seemed fairly confident of everyone's acquiescence on this issue, so he continued, "And maybe we can get back to this room while we're at it."

Grummie relaxed a bit, lowering his sword and inquiring, "So, did you leave dat candle dere Seth?" as he made his way back toward the room they had just discovered. "I don't suppose youd've been writin' on da walls, ransacking da storage rooms, o' lightin' candle's in library windows ore da last few days, hab ya?" The gnome again completed his inspection of the bedroom while listening to Seth's response and the others.

Seth smiled at Cassandra and her remarks about the horse weed, thinking to himself how he tried the herb himself many times. He turned his attention back towards Blaine, looking into his eyes as he spoke to him about joining once again. He answered Grummie's query. "Na, not my writing on them walls, candles in the library?" He looked to the gnome, "not sure if I remember where the library is�but this candle near those stairs is mine, as well as the muddy boots and two bales down stairs."

Seth looked back at Blaine again, "Still storming outside so where do we go from here?"

Blaine answered, "We were just about to investigate this room here, as you no doubt noticed while we were captivated by your candle trick." His lordship smiled. "We, you and I, never got as far as the library. Last night we, these fine adventurers and I, visited it. That door over there." He pointed across the open balcony area to a door on western wall. Some strange occurrences in there, indeed." He noted as the gnome and some others went into the nearby open door. "I usually bring up the rear. You are welcome to fall in with me, or if that curiosity of yours is more pressing feel free to investigate."

By now Grummie and Cassandra, having solved the mystery of the candle in the hallway, had re entered the room. [#34]. It still seemed a female's bedroom. A thorough search of the dresser, cabinet, and other areas suggested that the woman who once inhabited this room was older than any of the other females whose rooms had already been visited. The only item of any interest was the tapestry sitting in the corner. A half finished tapestry which depicted a handsome young man in warrior's garb bearing the shield of the Mistmoors. Grummie ruffled it about in the hopes that it might conceal a passage or some other clue, but none was to be found.

Checking their rough map, there seemed only two areas left on this floor yet to be examined. They headed south to the end of this room's exterior wall, then turned left to a door they had walked by earlier. Cassandra examined it and felt it was safe to open. [#36 on the MAP]

It, too seemed a bedroom, except for one noticeable exception- there was no bed! There were some cabinets, a desk, a chest of drawers, and some comfortable chairs. But there was no bed in the central wall area where one would have expected to find one. One wall, the west one, was covered with star charts.

The other female finally spoke. "A, excuse me Seth, my mind must have wandered off for a bit. I am Lwcynda and the goblin is Gork. I was just wondering just how long have you been here. I mean if you came with Lord Blaine, well that's a long time ago. And Lord Blaine had to come to find us & then we came here and have been here a while. So, did you go back & forth to town a few times with the horseweed or have you just been here all that time or what?" As an afterthought she added, "Oh, and be welcome to search with us."

The gnome turned to Seth as well, "Aye, forgib' me suspicious nature. Goes hand-in-da-hand wid me excitement nature, which gets me in trouble sometimes, when me finds something shiny and I runs off half-ready." Grummie glanced at his companions, hoping they would refrain from comment.

Cassandra merely grinned.

"Anyway, I be Grummorald Featherfoot, but me friends calls me Grummie, or hey shorty, or nosey-nose, ... but I prefers Grummie. I am part owner in da pawne shoppe at da Knight Owl's Inn, back in Chatwin. I prefers ta leave da haggling o' da business to me cousin Rafur, and I goes out wid dese fine folks in search of baubles and wares, ta sell in da shoppe."

For reasons known only to himself, Seth stayed silent. Maybe he was overcome by Lwcynda's beauty.

The gnome then turned his attention back to the room, and his typical inspection of the floor and walls, leaving the research of the maps and such to those more intellectual and learned in such things. He was particularly interested in the area where the bed, was NOT.

From what the gnome cold gather there had once, not that long ago, been a bed, a good size bed, similar in size to the other beds which had been found, on the spot where he expected to find a bed. The floor showed signs of recent scratches, and was discolored around this area. The floor which would have been under the missing bed seemed solid, with no tricky or trappy parts.

No longer worrying about Seth, Drist glanced around curiously. "An observatory, maybe?" Drist walked over to the star charts and examined them, looking for anything out-of-the-ordinary, or similarities that connected all the charts.

The charts reminded him of Andremar's robe. And soon the elf was joined by the gangly mage in exploring the heavens. It was the mage who declared, "These are fairly standard maps of the night sky round these parts. Old maps, I'd say. Nice condition for old maps though."

Gork and Blaine remained in the doorway. Cassandra and Lwcynda went through the drawers and wardrobe. They found woman's clothing from a bygone era. They were about to declare this room a bust, when Cassandra noticed something amiss with the rear of the wardrobe. "Not an uncommon way to conceal things, but notice how thick the rear of it is." She began tapping about until she sprung something open.

With great care the two women removed a small silver box. Cassandra directed that it be set down in the center of the room to examine it. "This just might blow up," she declared, waving everyone away. "You all better clear out while I tackle it."

Seth had been standing near the doorway watching the group search through the bed-less room. He said, "Maybe not so strange, more like a work room". He was smiling due to that the view reminded him of being a kid. His group of ants that he had as pets would search every cranny in that old wooden cigar box looking for a little bit of treasure which in their case was food.

Looking towards Lwcynda he said, "I do enjoy the outdoors, maybe even more then the indoors, so staying in the area since Lord Blaine left wasn't that big of a deal to me, kinda pleasing." Seth looked as if he was listening to the storm outside.

"Grummie it is then", Seth said, looking towards gnome, "Are you looking or hoping to find something in the mansion that you can sell at your shop? I understand that this old mansion was in Jennison's family from way back." Seth pauses as he then says, "Never have been to the pawn shop there in town, maybe I could sell some horseweed there?" He raised his shoulders once again.

Grummie might have responded to Seth, but at the mention of explosions, he darted out of the room, nearly knocking Seth down on the way out. He moved clear of the doorway and stood with his back to the wall, as if expecting a massive ka-pow. He noticed the puzzled look on Seth's face, a result of the gnome's odd behavior.

"Reminded me o' when we tried to open a few old trinket boxes back in da shoppe. Some o' dem had nasty trappies in dem. My bet is Cassie found somefin on dis one already. We checked a many a door, and she never said ta clear out like dat a'fore!"

The gnome gulped, and his eyes were bulging, when he suddenly remembered, "Oh, and we'll chat about dat horseweed deal later. Mayhaps, we can set up some kinda consignment, er somethin'. Maybe even trade out livin' space? Where you stayin... " The gnome realized there were more pressing matters, "Aye, later..." Grummie's suspicious nature gave way to barter and deal just like always. Not only was Seth no longer a suspect, but a possible partner in cri... trade, yeah, trade!

In a walk-run Andy hurried himself out of the room, and fell in line behind Grummie. Looking over his short friend, he called out, "Let us know if there is anything we can do to help". With that he waited.

Cassandra grinned to herself, "Can't believe he fell for that one." She readied to examine the treasure alone when she heard a voice of dissent.

Drist gave one of his rare smiles. "Or perhaps you're expecting treasure within that box that some people might not want to share. Though you're not one of those people, of course." Drist stepped back anyway, but stood firmly near the wall of the room, watching the rogue's every move.

Cassie remained calm. She knew how quick her fingers could be.

Seth stood still with a surprised look upon his face. His jaw dropped open as most of the party vacated the room. . He was intent upon watching the silver box. But from the door way, this was difficult at best. He looked around at the others, then reaches down and found his leather wineskin. He opened the wineskin and took a large drink, wiping his lips dry with one hand. He offered the wineskin to those near him, his view of the silver box now blocked by the rogue's back.

Cassandra glanced nervously around, making sure it was safe to open the item. "You sure you want to stand so close?" She asked Drist.

But the elf seemed intent upon staying. He thought he heard her say, "Drat," under her breath, but could not quote her on it. From his angle he could see the box reasonably well. He watched as a more relaxed Cassie moved her fingers slowly over the edges, he eyes close to the top. Then, with a quick move, she flipped open the lid, turning or flinching suddenly as she did so.

The rogue had but a moment to process what she found, and to try and slip something into a pocket. But her dexterity, or was it her conscience?, betrayed her. She dropped the blue thing.

The quick eyed elf saw something hit the floor and bounce twice before settling down. It was blue in color. Meanwhile Cassandra turned to the doorway. "All clear. Guess it was the storm which spooked me. Nothing really wrong with it after all." There were some beads of perspiration on brow. "Not sure what fell, but I did take care to retrieve these unscathed." She held out her right hand it which could be seen four vials each of which seemed to contain liquid of some sort. Looking down with a bemused expression she said, "That looks like a gem of some sort."

Drist moved forward and bent down to it. He picked up the blue 'gem.' "Yes, a gem indeed. And it has something on it, picture of a serpent engraved upon it."

Seth gave Grummie a quick smile at his comment about partner in trade. Seth moved more into the room to get a better look at the blue gem which the elf held. Of Cassandra he asked, "What does the liquid smell like?".

Andremar moved in closer to get a look at the mark on the gem. As he came by Seth, Andy gave him a slender smile and asked, "And just what kind of wine were offering a swig off, " in hushed tones. Seth absently handed the mage his wine skin. Andremar "tested" the newcomer's concoction with a hearty smile, and then move around the others to get a look at what Cassie had found.

She was rolling her eyes at the sight of her friend sampling what might be alcohol. She knew too well its effects on him. She still held four vials each of which appeared to contain nondescript liquid. She examined each one closely to determine if she should open them. "They do seem safe to open," she declared.

She was about to do so when, at the mention of a gemstone; Grummie dashed into the room, nearly knocking Andy over in the process. Cassandra pivoted quickly, carefully clutching the fragile vials from the agile gnome. Grummie paused not for and 'excuse me.' He simply HAD to get a gander at that stone. "Ahhhhhhh," he signed in admiration. "Blessed be, the stone is but beautiful. Don'tcha say?!" He gleamed at the stone, as if entranced by it. He was so caught up with the blue stone, he totally forgot about the vials, and the toes he was trampling trying to get up high enough to see the gem.

Drist was tempted to hold the gem even higher, tempting the gnome into some trick as in roll over or play dead. But, he simply lowered his hand so Grummie and Seth could examine it more closely. It was blue, "A jasper it be" pronounced the gnome, a relative expert in such things. And someone had intricately carved a serpent, head, body and tail, spiraling on it. "Nay, never did I see any one like dat before," said Grummie.

Lwcynda offered a thought. "Perhaps we can check to see if any of these," indicating both the gem stone and the vials, "are magic. I can do it if Andremar does not wish to."

Since it was her idea, there seemed no harm in allowing the priestess the honor. For the moment, all the items, even the gem, which never got more than a noses' length away from that of the gnome, were placed centrally on the floor of the room. Lwcynda concentrated deeply, and looked at all the items. "Unless someone is playing games with us, I am pleased to report that each and everyone of them has some sort of magical dwoemer. Oh, not the silver box, just the vials and the gem."

"Dat be a fine gem dat," praised the gnome, "and it be magic?" He began to dance a gnomish jig to the music which apparently played in his head.

Cassandra decided to follow through on Seth's earlier thought, "I will carefully open each, one by one." And so she did. After opening, she sniffed, offered a sniff to Seth, "In case they contain horseweed or some such thing, then closed each in turn . "Nary a smell did I get. No hint of what they might be," said Cassandra

Seth was saddened to report a similar finding.

Lwcynda informed the others, "Well either we taste test a bit of each, or we wait to have them identified. Unless someone has a better idea."

With a final glance around the room, Drist returned to the doorway. "Well, that appears to be all there is to this room. What next? We've nearly finished our exploration of the second floor, should we rest, or keep going?"

Cassandra reminded him that they had slept much of the afternoon, "Our plan was to explore after dark in the hope that the 'ghost' might show itself once again."

Grummie had to mentally and physically pry his attention away from the gemstone. It wasn't an easy task, and while speaking, he continuously stole glances at the magnificent stone. Finally, he managed to turn his attention to Drist and say, "Eh.. er. Yeah, yeah... we should... Wait!"

He pointed from wall to wall, turning around, calculating, thinking... as if measuring up the entire house, room by room in his mind. "Aye, I recall da place not checked yet. I recalled it once a'fore, da corner o' da library, end opposite da poem book; where we found da book'orm. Metinks dere might be a room dere."

After smelling the vials of liquid, Seth looking at Andremar as he said, "Wine....naaaaa, its sweet spring water!" Then he lowered his eyes back upon the blue jasper, "Magical Serpent gem, can never be good?"

With a smile he decline the vials, "Taste a little of that colored liquid, ummmmmm, I'll pass on that offer"

And so, with Drist in possession of the magical blue gemstone, for the moment at least, the Seekers prepared to move on. Cassandra gently replaced the four vials in the sliver box, and tucked the box away in her pack. Andremar made a mental note to remind his good friend exactly where she had placed them, 'For safe keeping.'

The storm seemed to have subsided as the Seekers returned to the open area. They made their way around the fine wood railings which surrounded the hallway and over to the library door. It was easily opened and the large room looked much the way it had the night before. Soon they were at the north send of the room where there was indeed a door.

"Did we miss dis one `ere last night?" wondered the gnome aloud.

"Maybe we were distracted by the 'ghost.'" Explained Cassandra.

In any event the door was checked, declared safe, and opened. They gazed into a rather large square room which contained many tables. The stone walls seemed blacked in some way and broken glass littered the entire area. . Something in robes lay slumped against the wall in the northwest corner of the room. Stairs went up and down from the corners.

Seth had been following behind the group, looking all around, his candlelight flickering as he took each step. He made a mental note of the patience that it seems that Drist lacks, as if with each search there is something he might miss somewhere else when in truth he was having his adventure now! Seth caught himself wondering what it would have been like growing up in this large mansion, the books and knowledge that this library must have had in its glory days.

"Looks like a laboratory," said Andremar.

The gangly mage's words brought the priest back to the current search. He stared into the room. "The blackened walls doesn't reflect much light but instead enjoys sucking the light from our burning wicks....our ghost in robes, maybe?"

The idea of a ghost did not deter the gnome, not completely anyway. . Grummie skirted the room, drawing his sword... trying to stay clear of the robe lump on the floor. He studied the walls, checking to see if it the soot was fresh. He also examined the scorch pattern.

The soot seemed very old; the scorch pattern consistent with a flash burn, perhaps an explosion.

Grummie wanted to discern if the tables too had been burned, or it there were any inconsistencies in the scene.

He concluded that here had been one hades of a bang in this room, and it had likely caused all the damage.

Once satisfied on this count, he went to each stairway looking up and down. He saw no one and nothing lurking at either site. They were indeed unoccupied by villains, earthly or ghastly.

Cassandra too had been distracted, wondering al the while what the contents of the vials she carried might be. Her Friends declaration of 'a laboratory' held little interest for her. She stood in the doorway watching the gnome.

Drist took note of his surroundings. Then he approached the "something" in robes slowly and quietly, until he was close enough to examine it. It remained perfectly still. Drist could see a skeleton, a well aged skeleton, wearing what he guessed were mage's robes, very old mages robes.

Grummie called out to his friends, in a loud but whispered tone that made his voice sound hoarse, "All clear in da stairs. What make you o' da robes Drist. An' ifen da blast killed de wearer' why did it not burn da fabric too? Is da robes scorched o' burned? Be wary, for I nae believe in ghosts, but I seen walkin' skelton's a'fore!" The gnome gripped his sword tightly and tippie-toed toward Drist. He moved close enough to help. Should the bag of bones decide to move on it's own, he wanted to be ready to thwark it before it got onto it's feet!

But the 'bag of bones' made no movement whatsoever. The elf reported that the robes, what was left of them, seemed to have been burned, and now just plain worn out.

Seth watching the gutsy gnome around the robes and bones, thinking to himself, 'How brave with his sword ready, wonder what he would do if I yelled "booo!"' Grinning widely, Seth asked, "What do ya think, mage gone to visit the reaper himself?"

By now Grummie and Drist had given the skeleton a really thorough physical. "Aye, it be long gone. And less I miss me guess, it be, er, it had been, a herself, not a hisself."

Seth walked over and set his candle on one of the tables, then started to look around the other tables and floor for anything that might seam important or maybe serve as clues as to what the robed one had been working before her 'bright idea.'

Andremar put up his hands in a gesture to Seth that said, "Ohhh don't do that." Andy moved towards his former fellow practitioner of the arts, and checked the corpse to see if she had taken any offense at Seth's comment. But that was not the case. The old female skeleton seemed well beyond caring. Andremar felt some empathy for the would be fellow alchemist. A profession that Andy would certainly be pursuing if he could ever make anything at this dang adventuring bit he was currently dilly dallying with. Ahh...he could already picture it, alone in the lab twiddling with experiments, without the fearsome monsters or dangers to deal with. THAT WOULD BE THE LIFE.Yet, labs were expensive, VERY EXPENSIVE. Andy would need serious funding to go with that venture. So, until then, let the monsters beware....hopefully.

Fortunately these musings were in his head. For had Cassandra heard them, she no doubt would have had some serious reservations and stern warnings. Andremar, alone in a lab, twiddling with anything. Chatwin beware. She still squirmed at the magic missile practice sessions which had kept the village awake.

Looking closer, he investigated the corpse to ascertain the cause of death. He was quite certain she had burned up somehow. He browsed through the lab looking for clues to the nature of the last experiment, assuming that had been the case. He was fairly certain that it had been an alchemical lab, but all that remained of journals or logbooks, were charred leather covers. The pages had burned completely. Inside one of the covers were the letters "Joca ..."

Seth found a few pieces of glass with remnants of labels, as did Andremar. Unfortunately, none of the labels was whole so no full word or words could be gathered. Seth figured that some of the cut off words were natural, herbal items. Andremar knew enough of magical science to guess that these were standard components, and that used in certain ways, an explosion could ensue.

Grummie suddenly realized that the deceased might be distant member of Lord Blaine's family; and a need for respect of the body surfaced. "Ah.. eh.. M'Lord Blaine, Sir. Dis could, well, er... could be a member 'o yer family. I was about ta search da remains for unburnt items, such as rings and such... but... Well, ifen able, you might want to da it y'self. I mean not to rob da body, but ta find clues and may'haps identify it." Grummie stepped away, respectfully, and decided to check the walls, tables and shelving for secret compartments, drawers or storage areas.

Blaine nodded solemnly, acknowledging, and impressed by, the gnome's suggestion. "Yes, she probably was a relative, however distant." He moved slowly towards her, scared or in mourning, and then examined the remains. Nothing in his actions suggested any trickery. He had a slight shake in his hands as he went through what was left. But, as Grummie could see. There wasn't much.

"Alas," said Blaine, "whoever she was she left little behind. At least not on her person."

Andremar nodded in agreement to Grummie's noble gesture, and found a new respect for the scavenging little fellow. After all, it took a lot of restraint to do what he just suggested, for one of his profession. Selling trinkets and baubles out of his shop, he must have some source for all of his inventory.

Andy tried to piece together the half clues that they found, to no avail. He then accompanied Grummie, looking for secret compartments and doors.

What they found was very little. Much of whatever had been lost in the fire or explosion, or explosion caused by the fire, or the fire which resulted from the explosion. All Andremar could conclude was this had been some sort of lab, most likely alchemy, but that was about it.

Seth continued to look through the pile of broken glass, burnt papers and notes. He even resorted to knocking on the walls, desk and floor. But he soon came to the conclusion that any further search would be of little value; everything has been picked over.

Lwcynda helped look around, but too soon her curiosity emerged. "Well, where do we go next? No secrets hidden anywhere? I guess there must be a basement? a crypt?, Lord Blaine do you have any suggestions? It's night now so if a ghost is coming it will come. That's why we rested earlier. There's got to be something we missed."

Drist reacted to Lwcynda's comments. "Well, we still haven't finished clearing the lower levels of this manse. Perhaps that should be our next stop. Lwcynda is also right, all large manors and keeps must have some sort of basement or storage rooms underground.

Blaine pondered. "Since I have really never been here, well not for long," he grinned at Seth, "my ideas are little better than yours. We have found some items, and had some clues. Well, I guess they are clues," here he seemed to drift off as if maybe an idea was forming. Then he returned. "And then there is the deceased here. I know that some where on the grounds is a crypt or mausoleum or some such place. Course, I do not relish the prospect of going there at night. But we could do something with the remains eventually. Whichever way you wish to go, or whatever you want to try, is fine with me. Short of burning down the place and giving up. I really must find that treasure." Here, again he trailed off, wandering over to the stairs which went up, and sat on one of them.

Cassandra began pacing back and forth near the doorway, her boots making cracking sounds in the debris. "Must be here somewhere. Must be here somewhere. Now, if I were a treasure, where would I hide?"

"Yes," agreed Gork, as he followed her pacing with his eyes, "Wheeere? Wheeere?".

Andremar's head was on a swivel. One mentioned a basement, then another a crypt, and even another at night. This didn't bode well with Andy. Looking to Cassie as she paced to and fro, and knowing where her train of thought would lead, it was time to nip this idea in the bud. "Well er...maybe we should lay out all of the clues wwweee have discovered and see if we could put this altogether. I mean if Lord Blaine is a relative and hhheeee had an obvious reluctance to go into the basem...cryp...er downstairs, then it seems quite logical that his family doesn't like basements, and therefore not hide treasure of any sorts in a dusky, damp, dark crypt-like place where all sorts of unpleasentries could lurk."

Feeling like he was making headway with the group, and about to turn the tide to avoid the crypt area, he concluded, "So let's put together, what we have gathered, shall we...."

There were many, many things about her best friend in the whole world that Cassie admired. His sartorial splendor, his way of speaking, his ability to save her bacon more than once with the correct spell. But above all, she admired his caution, or fear. Cause she knew that he had a sixth sense in this regard. If her best friend in the whole world of Greyhawk was suggesting it was time to reflect, then reflect she would.

She went into her pack and withdrew the silver box, the one most recently found. "Well, Andremar, we do have these four as yet unknown vials." She opened the box as if to remind everyone lest they'd not heard her voice. "and, there was that ring." Here her words dragged out as she looked longingly at the elf who carried her, er, ah, that particular prize.

Grummie pursed his lips in consideration and nodded at Andy's reasoning. "Aye, 'tis a good idea, and I follo' yea 'bout da basement. Not likely ta be down there eh?" He seemed to have fallen for Andy's ruse, at least for now.

The gnome then straightened his trousers, inhaled deeply as if about to set off on a long mission, then continued his dissertation, "Well, a'fore we sort out da clues, an' such, why don' we search da rest o' da manse. What ifen we missin' a clue, we'd be wastin' time and ... hehe.. darkness wid'out 'nuf clues. Lets finish scoutin' da ground floor o' da manse first, den take ALL da clues, new an' old, and do some brain-tinkin' den. What ya say, we goes ups dis stairs first, se what be in da corner 'ere, den once done up dere, we finds da REAL way down to da first floor, and start dere?" The gnome moved over to where Lord Blaine rested on the up-bound steps and prepared to ascend, sword in hand, if he met with approval from the others.

No one said anything. The place was still and quiet. Blaine looked from face to face. Seeing the gnome approach, he rose from the step. "Well, I guess we could at least see what is up there," he admitted. And so, with Grummie's accompaniment, he began to ascend the stairs.

Cassandra looked at Andremar and shrugged her shoulders. "We tried," she said. Then she once again put away the silver box with the as yet unknown vials within it, glanced longingly at Drist who had the ring, and followed the other two in climbing the stairs.

The stairs ascended, turned left and ascended some more to a height of about 20'. There are large iron door, barred from the adventurers' side, faced them. Cassandra examined it and pronounced it well made. "Glad to be on this side of it, for it would be quite a challenge to open it from the other side." She could see that it had not been opened for some time.

Having grown up in a manor of comparable splendor and form, Blaine said, "That door will lead outside to what served as battlements." With little hesitation or fear, he removed the barrier, and thrust open the door. The three found themselves looking into the night, a night which seemed much cleared and calmer now that the storm had apparently passed.

"Not much out there," noted Cassandra. As the others could see, it was indeed a battlement, which would serve in time of defense, but had little use to them now.

Grummie shrugged, "Well, we know how ta get on' da roofen parts ifen need be. What say yea we go back down, and check da downward stairs now?" He waited this time, feeling as though he might be rushing the others, and not giving them a chance to decide their own course.

Drist glanced around for a moment and turned to Blaine. "Would there be any other way to get up here from inside the house? Perhaps this is how our "ghost" is moving about unnoticed." Drist shrugged. "Just a thought..."

Blaine replied, "And a good one. Most of these old manor houses have passages. I grew up in one which did. Though," he thought, "doubt there would be a secret way to get up here. This is more a cosmetic touch than is it a functional area." He looked off into the dark distance, "But, since we're here, . . ." Blaine moved out onto the battlement to have a look around.

By now Andremar had made his way up the stairs. He looked at Cassie with a shrug and stated, "It beats the basement." After the ascent to the top of the battlement, Andy knew that they were running out of options. They would have to go down to continue the search for more clues to where the treasure would be. "Maybe Grummie's suggestion about searching the first floor wasn't a bad idea. It seems the logical placed to search next. Maybe we can find what we need their and venture no further...." Letting the statement trail off he started in the direction slowly, letting the others take their lead.

There was a bit of a delay as Blaine, Drist and Cassandra explored the battlement. It proved to be as Blaine suggested, well constructed with the doorway being the only way in.

Blaine said, "As I thought, but the elf's suspicion is a promising one. If our `ghost' is corporal, `it' does seem to know more than we do."

With that they began down the stairs to the lab, or what was left of it, rejoining the other members of the party.

It was somewhere around this time that a loud scream broke cut through the night in the distance. Gork, who was still at the doorway from the library, "Meee heeere dat. It comes out from theeeere." He pointed back through the library.

Drist, already excited, as excited as he could get, on this new lead, nearly jumped at the sound of the scream. Looking at the others, he murmured, "Another person? Or one of our 'ghosts'?" That said, he started towards the sound of the scream.

Drist and Gork made a bee line through the library.

Grummie fell in behind the elf, in a fitful scurry and his sword drawn, "Hurry, lest da screamer get away, or da ghostie dat caused it." The little gnome was invigorated with the prospect of something more eventful than the dole-drum task of searching more rooms.

Seth had been still spending time looking around the small lab as many of the others went upstairs. As he saw everyone returning he had a serious look of concern upon his face. All this talk of crypts and basements was just now starting to settle in mixed with the storm thundering and lightning outside... He said softly, "To be back at the farm in my warm bed right now!"

Seth picked up his candle, noticed the wax running down its sides. He tightened his grip on his sickle as he walked quickly over to the doorway where Gork had been standing. He could see the backs of the goblin, gnome and elf as they made their way through the library. He followed.

Lwcynda readied a Protection from Evil 10'R spell and followed along as well. Cassandra and Andremar brought up the rear.

Drist and Gork opened the main library door. Accompanied by Grummie, they went cautiously out into the balcony area. There seemed to be no one there; all was quiet.

"Heeere, eeet came from heeere," said Gork.

As the rest of the party and the light sources gathered at the door, Drist pointed to the floor. "Look! That was not there when we entered." All lights cast upon what appeared to be a dagger, a blood covered dagger, lying some 5' out in the hall area.

"This is very strange", Seth said out loud. Then he looked back to the room where the robed mage rested. "May that there dagger, a gift from a trapped ghost??? be the true reason that the mage lay over his desk?" he gulped as he stared at the bloodied weapon on the floor.

Grummie shook his head unconvinced. While he understood and respected Seth's reasoning, the suspicious little gnome was still convinced that this ghost business was little more than a clever ploy by a corporeal being to swindle Lord Blaine out of his inheritance. "Errr... mayhaps, but wouldn't a ghost hab a ghostly dagger? Dat looks far too real ta me. And dat blood too! Let's spread out, but stay wid'in seein distance o' each other. We may find dis culprit yet." The gnome turned to Andy and Lwycnda, "Does you hab any magics dat can detect someone in hidin' places?"

Andy shuddered at the mere mention of ghosts. "There is no such thing...there is no such thing....there is no such thing.." He whispered to himself. Taking deep breaths in and out, finally found the composure to think this thru, rationally. "I agree with you Grummie, trying to convince himself more than anyone, why would a ghost need a dagger to kill someone. Wouldn't he just "scare" them to death or whatever ghosts do?

Andremar stayed in the middle of the group and looked beyond surveying the balcony area. He turned on his heels to the doorway that they just came through, expecting it to shut off and not be there as well. With all the new developments he decided to lean against the wall, and get his bearings. All of this spinning was making his dizzy.

Cassie came to his side. "There, there Andremar. It is only a dagger yee see before your eyes, the hilt turned towards, well turned towards whatever," as she patted him on the back reassuringly.

Lwcynda had a closer look at the dagger. "Is this really blood?" She asked. Her close inspection reinforced her suspicion. "I think this is just a substance similar to blood." Drist and Cassandra leaned in for a closer inspection.

Lwcynda added. "I do not have any spells that let me see invisible beings but I can try to detect for any evil out here."

Grummie too looked in, encouraged by Lwcynda's idea. The three sniffed the dagger. "Me thinks yee be right, Lwcynda. Dat not smell like blood."

"No," agreed Cassandra, "It smells like berries."

"I think it's jam," Said Drist.

The three got bold and touched the substance. They agreed it smelled and felt like jam. "Funny," quipped Cassandra, "it does not look like a butter knife."

Lwcynda was perplexed. "Well this beats all. I think someone is trying to scare us away, and I'm not sure about ghosts being here at all. Every time we find something it seems to be a 'prank'. Sir Blaine, were there, or are there any pranksters in your family? Let's check the kitchen and see if the jam is in there."

Blaine answered, "In mine, as in any royal family, there are too many pranksters to even begin to count. I wonder if I have any relative competition here?" He seemed genuinely puzzled.

Grummie seemed renewed with vigor as his suspicions seemed to constantly be reconfirmed. At the finding of jelly, and Lwycnda's comments about the situation, he smiled and gleamed. "Aye, 'tis still a good idea to find evil, is it not? Certainly, da prankster behind dis be o' evil sort and intention, right? A spell might be in order." The gnome moved toward the opposite side of the balcony and motioned to everyone to "spread out, look about", in hopes of finding and catching the person who planted to jam-knife, red-handed.

Those with lights did as the gnome suggested. The beam of Andremar's lantern scoured the stairs and the floor below as best it could, but there way no one to be seen. Or no one could be seen.

"They did have some time to get away. We were pretty far removed, back in that lab and all," noted Cassandra, "and there are plenty of ways to flee this area, probably why it was chosen."

Seth strapped his sickle to his belt. He then reached into his shirt and removed his necklace. He grasped the leather straps of his necklace with one hand and held the swinging iron sun disk before him. In his other hand he held his candle at his chest level. Thus he cast a shadow of the sun disk on the wall as he chanted loudly and with stern voice,

"Old Oak standing in the whispering wind, Guardian in the day only to be invisible at night.

"They lingering in the shadows, just out of sight, I can hear their heart beat as if with fright.

"All is silent in the still of the dark, Show thy Evil as bright as day with your mark!"

Seth's eyes were almost closed as he studied the area for something.

The others stood in silent amazement as the young man completed his spell. They all waited for the results. Seth stood patiently hopping for some positive findings. Minutes passed. Finally his eyes opened wide. "No, there is no evil in this area, nor so I sense that there has been any recently. Nor is that dagger, or the jam for that matter, evil."

This new puzzle gave everyone time for pause.

Blaine had been deep in thought. He broke his self imposed silence with, "As I see it, there are three, well at least three, logical explanations for this most recent occurrence. First, someone is playing tricks with us, and that knife is just one of them. Second, someone is shadowing us, maybe someone else from my own family or my original party-Seth showed up after all, - and this most recent event was done to distract us, to get us out of what we were doing." Here he paused, then asked, "What was it we were doing?"

"Searching that destroyed lab," he was reminded.

"Oh yes, quite right. Someone wanted us out of that lab, so pulled this screaming fit to get us out of there." And he stopped talking. Time passed as the others thought about what he said.

Till Gork piped, "Threeeee?"

That got everyone's attention. Lwcynda asked him what he was on about.

The little goblin held up two fingers, "He said threee, me count two. What about threee."

Blaine mimicked the finger routine by counting with the digits on his right hand, "One, two, th-oh yes, I did say three things, didn't I? Oh yes, well, there is a third possibility."

"Well, by all means," said Cassandra, with obvious condescension, "tell us the third of your possibilities."

Blaine stayed Blaine. With a lordly air he said simply, "This place is haunted, and the ghosts want us out." He went to the top or the stairs and sat on the floor, his feet down the steps.

Cassandra stopped in her mood. "Hmm, well he could be right on all three counts. So, as I see it we have three choices." Before elaborating she went over to Gork. "One," she raised the goblins index finger, "we go down those stairs and see what's down there. Two," she raised his middle finger," we return to that lab for one final look, though I cannot imagine we missed anything, and go down those stairs. And, threeeeeeee," raising another of the goblin's fingers, "we go down our back way to the pantry kitchen and check on the jam situation. Cause four, I am not leaving till I find out what in the many hells is going on round here."

Gork scratched his head with his other hand, "But you only said threeee, and you did four!"

Blaine just started to laugh.

Andy winced at Cassie's tone. He knew what the tone in her voice meant for them. They were staying here no matter what!! With a helpless shrug, Andy conceded to Cassie's point and started evaluating the situation. "If Sir Blaine is correct then the culprits may be trying to shift our focus in a different direction. I suggest that we look the lab over once more, and take notice to see if anything has changed or is different. After that is covered, I do agree that we need to investigate those downstairs area with haste. This is getting quite tiresome running in circles, after voices in the night." Andy looked to the others to discern what opinions they may have. He will follow whatever plan the group decides to take without argument.

Grummie found it difficult to contain himself, finding Gork and Cassie's interaction both comical considering their lack of success thus far in unraveling the mystery of Lord Blaine's Manse. "Aye, Me agrees wid Andy. Best take a peek-n' at da lab, den we ken go downstairs an' continue da search."

Turning to Seth, the gnome bowed, "Thankee' for da use o' yea magics. Me not know much about dem, but appreciate ya and what'er deity or element grants you such magics."

The gnome looked heavenward and mumbled under his breath, "Thankee!", before setting off back toward the lab.

And so, undaunted and undistracted the Seekers headed back to the lab. It seemed pretty much the same as before, still a mess, and no signs that anyone had been here in their relatively brief absence.

With no good reason to stay here any longer, and there being stairs just there anyway, with a general collective shrug of the shoulders they tried these new stairs. Made of stone they led down to what was likely the main floor.

The stairs emptied into a bare stone room [#17 MAP, first floor] with dimensions similar to the lab above it. There was a normal looking wood door on the east wall. Cassandra went to the door, examined it, listened, and opened it carefully. "Looks like a hallway heading south a ways," she reported.

Since there seemed to be nothing of interest in this stone room, the open door enticed one and all.

Seth placed his necklace back around his neck, pleased to feel the cool iron upon his skin. He untied his sickle.

Cassandra looked at Grummie to accompany her at the front. As she stepped out into the wide part of the hallway, he did join her, but something about his manner told her he had other plans. He had the look of a sneaky idea plastered across his face, a look she knew only too well, having used it many times in her previous life.

The gnome placed a finger of his lips and said "Shhh!" very softly. As the group moved on into the hall, passing him by, he whispered, "I be stayin behind a bit. Just ta see ifen we be follow'd an ta watch for more jam knives an' such."

Cassandra and Drist began to move along the hallway. Lwcynda and Gork also followed ready for whatever might happen.

Andremar had scanned the area at the bottom of the landing. Trying to be strong of will, Andy used his lantern to help the others peer down the hallway. "Might as well continue that way, and see what's down there", Andy backed away from the door and follows the others out.

Seth and Blaine kept up with the others. The priest shook his head from side to side as he followed a few steps behind the group, wondering to himself how many times he and Lord Blaine had been in this type of situation. Too many times for sure.

With a smile, Seth then said to his friend, "Another hall, aye?"

Blaine nodded in acknowledgement, "Aye, and in this place there seems to be too many of them."

As the group passed, the gnome slid comfortably into the dark corner across from the door which they left slightly ajar. Only someone really looking for him would have any hope of finding him.

Cassandra and Drist led they way as the hallway narrowed to 5'. About 30' along they came to two doors, both on their left, the east side of the passage. Drist allowed Cassandra to do the honors.

She gave it the once over, declared it safe, and opened it up. [#13] Their light fell upon several sets of bunk beds organized in rows, a number of footlockers, a few chairs and a table. Nothing stirred inside.

Grummie remained hidden for the time being, unmoving and silent. He listened to every sound of the house; keeping an ear on the party down the hall and as long as he could hear their conversation, even if not able to make out the words, he knew they were close and he could remain in hiding.

Seeing no reason not to, the rest of the party entered. It was obvious that no one inhabited this room at the current time. The bedding was rotted, the footlockers very old and loose fitting. The table and chairs had seen better days. Cassandra went straight for the footlockers. After some time, she expressed her disappointment, "Not even a scrap of anything, but old rotted cloth. Not a coin, not one coin."

Blaine offered, "A room like this would have served as the barracks. Some soldiers would have been kept in the house proper. Guess with no one here thee has been no need of defense."

Others searched the rest of the room, with no better luck. There being no other exits, they returned to the hallway, and tried the next door.

This room [#11] was about 10' wide and 30' deep. Some sorts of broken racks lined the walls.

Seth took a quick peek into the dusty barracks, then looked back up the hall where they just came from, trying to see if he can still see the small gnome. He could not, not unless he shone a light down that way.

Cassandra and Gork went into the room, followed by Blaine. His Lordship identified the broken racks as the kinds that would have held weapons, but there were none to be found now. "Either someone moved 'em out or cleaned 'em out," noted Cassandra, "in either case, not much of interest here."

"Meeee seeee nothing," chimed Gork.

Seth waited in the hall for the others to exit the room and move on to the next. As he stood in the hall he listened for the sounds of the storm outside, kind of admiring the sounds that mother nature provides to mere humans. He noted that the sounds had abated, the storm was moving on. He rubbed his hands over his arms as if providing heat more out of habit as he was still warm for the gift of enduring the cold that his goddess has already blessed him with.

"Guess we best move on," said Cassandra, as she did just that moving south to whatever was next. Just as everyone fell into step, and just as the party realized that they were entering a huge open area, one which Seth recognized, they heard a familiar voice, off in the distance. Grummie's distinct call sounded, "Hold to ... villian, or perish!", from somewhere behind them.

The group stood still as if wondering what Grummie was up to. Perhaps they thought he was playing some sort of joke, as if any moment he might emerge from the shadows and leap upon them. But Andremar's lantern revealed no gnome anywhere to be seen.

At this point both Cassandra and Gork made for the north end of the corridor. They heard a clatter of some sort, followed by their friend's yelling "Bring light." They then caught a glimpse of Grummie as he seemed to flop backwards into the hallway, right himself, and dash back inside. As they neared the doorway they could hear him screaming, "Follow meeeeeeeeeeee."

"Seth hearing Grummie's voice back up the hall where he just came from turns and walks hastily back up the hall with his sickle and candle in his hands. He is being very cautious, as he doesn't want to be surprised or ambushed. He says softly, "Grummie, you okay?"

Gork yelled in response, "Okaaaaaaaaaaaaay," as he and Cassandra enter the dark room. They could hear quick footfalls moving away from them on the stairway. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ meanwhile

As the group moved on, Grummie became less and less aware of their presence, and the sounds of their search. They were for the most part trying to keep quiet. He moved out of his hiding place, but did so quietly and moved every so slowly. He then took up a new position of hiding at the doorway to the room he'd been hiding in. From there, he could observe the majority of the room with the stairs, and still glance down the full length of the hallway with his infravision. There, he waited, keeping very quite... but watchful.

As he waited, he thought he heard the faintest of footfalls. Was someone, or something, coming down the back stairs?

Grummie stood, motionless; barely daring to breath. He was both nervous and excited at the same time. Finally, the proof he'd been waiting for was about to show itself; but in like manner, the evidence might prove unhappy about being caught. Seeing no light source as of yet, he felt confident of his hiding place; and of his infravision.... he awaited a glimmer of what made those slight footfalls...

In the most silent of silences the gnome heard only the beating of his own heart. But he did now see the slightest of flickering within the room. He deduced that whatever it might be was close to the wall, the wall in which the door was, the door outside of which he hid. It would be physically impossible for him to see in at such an angle. And then the flickering stopped. And then he heard breathing, his own. Oh yes, and what sure seemed like that of another being, just inside the door.

He also heard some movement down the hallway, and then the light of his companions moving further away.

Grummie's heart pounded as though a dozen wild horses were stampeding across his chest. He knew he had to act quickly, for that person he heard might very well be listening to his breathing as he was theirs. If they were the careful sort, they were sure to hear him in waiting if he tarried.

Having made up his mind, he went into action. The gnome gripped his sword tightly as he RUSHED through the door and into the adjacent room. He wasn't sure what he would encounter, but the moment he crossed the threshold, he yelled at the top of his lungs, in hopes of attracting aid from the party, "Hold to ... villian, or perish!"

It was Grummie's intent to catch the suspect unaware and by surprise. It was imperative that whomever it was didn't get away. And he knew he had no light source; so infravision would have to suffice. Whatever he saw, he didn't want to kill it, but leap ON it, and hold it down... tackling the bugger long enough to get some help.

Grummie entered the room to the sound of his own voice emitting, "Hold to ... villain, or perish!" In the darkness he could sense to his immediate right someone, or something, at least 5+' tall momentarily frozen in its place, some 5' from him. He made his leap, as was his intent. He leapt at and into whatever, being met by something both metallic and hot, very hot! He managed to slide down to the ground, his small arms trying to encircle legs of some sort. The legs moved quickly to be free.

"Ouch," the gnome reflexively complained upon clashing with the hot metal-clad villain. Grummie gulped audibly; suddenly wondering if he might have bit off more then he could chew. "Those clad in armor like this, were typically very well armed, and skilled in combat," an inaudible worry raced through his mind.

He then saw a bit of light somehow emanate from whatever he was struggling with.

"Wish I'd bought a buckler", he muttered to himself, as he stood up and prepared to fend off the attacks of the armored thing in the darkness. He was suddenly very glad for the blind-fighting tactics Fido had taught him years ago; and doubly glad for the gift of infravision.

But not all that glad as he now faced the direct beam of what he could only guess was an unhooded hooded lantern, the bolt of which was being directly shone in his eyes.

His first attack being ineffective and easily overcome; Grummie opted for the defensive tactic instead. He would forgo any advances and parry any blow that came at him, in hopes of assistance from his friends. For now, then, his best defensive maneuver was to put his hands over his eyes to lessen the effect of this bright beam.

"Light! Bring light." he yelled, again still trying to summon his friends.

He could hear the sounds of running footsteps coming in his direction. Suddenly his world went dark once more. He felt a pressure on his chest as something, a boot perhaps, pushed him backwards, and almost out into the hallway. He struggled successfully to both maintain his balance and to keep the door open. His comrades were getting closer, but he could also hear other footfalls, from within, moving swiftly away.

And so, as the beastie was apparently trying to escape, he began to pursue it, with all his might, screaming as he ran... "Follow meeeeeeeeeeee!" he shrieked as he dashed back into the room and in the direction of the stairs which his party had come down some time earlier. Whatever it was had a bit of a head start, and was already up around the turn of the stairs.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Grummie vaulted up, down and around, in hot pursuit of the lantern-wielding villain. He was intent on at least staying within ear-shot of the creature. His own safety was belittled by the need to catch this perpetrator. Whomever it was, its' presence, sneaking around in the dark, were assuredly the key to this entire mystery. He simply had to catch it, he kept reiterating in his mind. He just had too, it was too important to fail.

With that he began by darting up the utter darkness that was those back stairs. Cassandra and Gork arrived in an empty room. They were quickly joined by Lwcynda who had put on a burst of speed. She was, after all, a very fast runner. They guessed the stairs when their supposition was confirmed by Grummie's voice directing them. "Up the stairs," it rang out. So, up the very dark stairs they stumbled. As they reached the burnt out lab, they could see the gnome exiting the door which opened into the library. "Into the library," he screamed as he headed in. Lwcynda took the lead quickly crossing this room which did have some night light coming in the windows. By the time Cassie and Gork reached this door, Lwcynda had caught Grummie and engaged him in a foot race through that large room and towards the hallway. Grummie, undaunted, continued to yell directions, "Towards that balcony."

Cassandra instructed Gork to slow down and direct the others. He took up a post at the door between the lab and the library. "Up heeeeere," he bellowed. Cassandra moved across the library following the leaders, who appeared to be coming up short as they reached the main library door. Gork waited till Seth, Drist, and an out of breath Andremar and Blaine joined him, then pointed into the library, "This waaaaay," he exclaimed as he dashed in and across.

Very quickly they were all at the main library door and edging out onto the balcony area. Yes, edging, because before them was something none of them had seen before. In the middle of the wide expanse of hallway, maybe 20' from them, was a young woman in light robes apparently dancing about with herself. Looked like a waltz. She appeared to be quite in tune with some internal music. She also looked quite lovely in the night light that graces this great chamber. As intent as Grummie had been, this sight unnerved him, for he was certain that this was not whatever he had encountered and chased to this point. It had been darker clothed at the very least. And there was no sign of the lantern, the one on which he had burned his head, and the sometimes light of which had helped in his pursuit.

The gnome hunched over, resting his palms on his knees as he gasped a few times, for breath. In this effort he was joined by Blaine, who had not done much physical activity in some time. Grummie was a strong little fellow, and pretty quick... but he hadn't been ready for what he'd found. Worse yet, this lady appeared out of no-where and he found himself befuddled ... by her too. He didn't take his eyes off of her, but paused just long enough to catch his breath, and collectively relax his anxiety.

The others equaled his surprise, most of them speechless. Sword in hand, held at low-ready, he asked the woman between gasps, "Where did... Where... Where did it go? Did you see 'em? Oh, an' who pray-tell are you?" The woman continued to dance rather joyfully, still oblivious to their collective presence.

Seth pushed himself pass Gork's body, stopping among the others when he noticed the young woman dancing. "Ummmmm, holy mother of ghost", Seth said as he blinked his eyes to make sure he really was seeing this, wondering if the night light could be playing tricks with his mind. Seth looked around for Blaine, who was still slightly hunched over. Seth asked him, "Family member my lord?" as a sarcastic smile came upon his face.

Blaine blinked a few times as if trying to jog a distant memory. Finally summoning courage far beyond his means, he stepped slightly ahead of the others. Bowing properly he said politely, "Excuse me, fair lady, but my friends and I were wondering just who you might be."

For whatever reason the woman stopped her private dance. She turned to face them once and all. In the now direct beam of Andremar's light, a light which did not make her blink in the slightest, she seemed a girl more than a woman now, maybe in her late teens, dressed in what not clearly showed as a night gown. Very pretty, and somewhat transparent. She did not seem of this corporal world after all.

She looked at Blaine, but clearly did not know him. Or, at least she showed no indication of knowing him. Instead she focused on the elf, Drist. Moving slightly closer to the group, though still 10' away, she said to Drist, "Tommy, Tommy, where have you been? You naughty boy. You are late for our dance." She seemed slightly miffed by his tardiness. "Well," she smiled mischievously, "you are here now, so join me. Let's dance." With that she opened her arms, an invitation to the dance. Her body once again began to sway to some music that no one could hear.

Grummie's eyes widened and blinked repeatedly as he realized just what he was looking at. His jaw gaped open and he was transfixed on the transparent apparition before them. He was astounded, and he began to speak, "B-b-b--bbbb-bb er.. Nnaa.. ghhhh... eeak" ... his eyes rolled back in his head as the gnome collapsed to the floor... apparently having fainted.

Looking away from the robed lady, upon hearing the sounds of something or someone falling to the floor, "Oh Sir Grummie", Seth let out a short gasp of surprised breath. He moved with great haste over to Grummie's fallen body, only to drop to his knees next to the gnome's shoulders. Seth picked up Grummie's head with one hand while saying, "Sir Grummie, it's okay." His other hand brought his leather wineskin around.

Cassandra looked down at the fallen gnome. "Hmmm, haven't seen that in a while, have we Lwcynda?" she asked, jerking her head in a way towards Andremar.

Seth took a quick glance up at the robe lady as he opened the wineskin and poured some of the spring water over Grummie's forehead. "Sir Grummie, Sir Grummie� it's okay."

When the mouth of the wineskin waved before Grummie's over-sized nostrils, the gnome didn't open his eyes, but his sniffer started sniffing and his lips instinctively puckered. Although his head lifted slightly, he still appeared to be unconscious. And when the cool spring water crossed his lips, the gnome grimaced and his head fell limply again into Seth's arms. A faint grumble could be heard escaping from his lips in a whisper, but it was unintelligible. Something about... "not wine"... or so it seemed. But the poor gnome was out of sorts at the moment, and his words couldn't be clear, nor should they be held against him.

The dancing girl had stopped swaying, momentarily concerned with Grummie's person. Once she concluded that no great damage had been sustained, she began to sway again. However, her attention was no longer directed at Drist. She now focused in on Seth. Looking at the kneeling cleric, still offering comfort to his reclining colleague, she beckoned him with a come hither hand wave. "William, oh it is you William. Tommy is much too shy. But I can see you are man enough to dance with me. She held out a waiting hand towards Seth.

Cassandra turned towards Andremar. "Hope he makes a move. I'd hate for her to have to settle for you."

Lwcynda looked to Seth and said aloud, "Yes William, why don't you have a dance with the lady?" Lwcynda then leaned over towards Seth and whispered, "I can put a protection from evil spell on you if you wish."

Seth was smiling at Grummie's reaction to his spring water, when he heard the dancing lady saying something about a 'William' person, not realizing that she was talking to him. Lwcynda's whisper clued him in. Seth turned his face quickly to look into Lwcynda's eyes with a little fear at first, but his hand had found his sundisk hanging around his neck. Seth's mind was racing to collect all of the conversation recently spoken.

Grummie began to stir a little and sat up under his own power. He didn't appear to be ready for anything traumatic quite yet, but Seth's non-wine appeared to have done the trick, even if the gnome would have subconsciously preferred a more alcoholic awakening. The gnome shook his head, and rubbed his temples as he sighed and batted his eyes in an attempt to regain full consciousness.

Seth slowly raised to his feet while looking at the robed female dancing, his hand still rubbing his iron sundisk. He had left his burning candle, wineskin and sickle on the floor next to the gnome's body. He walked towards the lady, and he softly said, "No thanks Lwcynda, thy Lady only wishes to dance."

Seth stopped short of the lady, and bowed. "Sir William would very much like to dance with you, milady?" He offered his open palm.

The young woman said, "Miss Rebecca is ready." She 'placed' hers in his, but he felt nothing as there really was no corporal form. For the next few minutes Seth did his best to 'dance' with her, a very difficult task. Somewhere in his early life, Seth must have taken dance lessons, for he ably faked whatever she was doing. From time to time one of his hands went right through her, no doubt causing Grummie to swoon again. But the young cleric acquitted himself well.

After a full stepping waltz she stopped. Seth realized that the dance was over and stopped soon after. She said, "William, you still dance divinely." She curtsied cutely. Then she said, "Do you remember what we used to do after the dance?"

Seeing Seth's slight hesitation here, she leaned in a whispered in his ear, "Meet me in the loft at midnight." She then 'kissed' him and semi floated through the nearest wall.

Cassandra turned to Grummie, who had witnessed this last bit of ghostliness. "Looks like our new friend has himself a date. Good thing we cleaned out that loft yesterday."

Grummie stood, and with a blushed countenance said, "Eh, 'xcuse me. Did me heart a flutter ta see a ghostie in real life, it did." He thought about what he said. Ghost, Real life... He shivered plainly, and the blush turned pale... but he didn't faint again - only swaggered, "Oohh. creepies it gives me, it does. But me still tinks dat ghostie not be a'hind da mischief. There be more a'work 'ere dan just a dancin', kissin' ... well... you know." He blushed again. He turned to Andy, "So, what time ya reckon' it be? A'fore midnight, I hope." Grummie began to gather his belongings, rehitched his backpack, and took a quick inventory of himself.

Cassandra took the liberty of consulting Andremar's sand watch. "Seems to me to be about 9PM. shouldn't take William here," indicating Seth, "that long to get to the barn." She let go of Andremar's wrist. "What shall we do in the meantime?"

"Oh my!" exclaimed Grummie, his memory having a painfully reoccurrence of the burns he had sustained, "Tha sneaky b..." he caught himself short and looked at the ladies in the room. "Sorry, but was a sneaky one who came up 'ahind us. Tall he was, I recon, and very silent. I moved out da door, so I could listen to da room ahind us, an' watch down da hall to see ifen you needed help. Den I saw light comin' down da stairs, outa me corner o' me eye. About da time I was ready to pounce back into da room, da light went out, and I could hear 'im breathin. T'was no ghostie, was breathin, minda ya. Well, I jumped, and run smack into his hooded lantern. Thought it was armor at first, scared me bad... burned me though. Den it blinded me wid 'is lantern and ran off--- swift it was. Den we came here to da ghostie. Tis a real person minda ya. One dat uses a lantern, and breaths air. And' twas followin us."

Having related his recent experience, he then made ready to head to the loft.

Seth's hands and arms trembled noticeably as he was still stretched out as if still holding a dance partner. His heart beat faster than a mare's in full gallop, his eyes being fixed upon the area where the female ghostliness had disappeared. He turned his head, his eyes glassy, his face sweating. He looked at everyone as if to say something, then he looked back towards the wall where she had gone.

"Oh my goddess", he exhaled barely loud enough for everyone to hear. With haste Seth walked over to where he left his belongings. He bent down and picked up his wineskin, uncorked it and took a long gulp of water. He then poured a small stream of the spring water over top his head. Shaking his head to remove the excess water he said, "I know one thing fer sure, NO WAY I am going to a loft at MIDNIGHT to roll in the hay with a ghost!"

He strapped his wineskin around his shoulder, bent down and picked up his sickle and burning candle. Seth looked at Lord Blaine. "Ole friend, Dancing with Ghost was never part of any deal, yea know me almost wet my pants, let alone even begin to think what she wants with me in the hay loft!�.. Nevertheless at MIDNIGHT��Mother holiness!" Seth shook his head from side to side, "AND WHO IS WILLIAM?"

Blaine shrugged his shoulders. "I have no idea, but she sure was fond of him, er you, er him? Don't worry. I know it is your first date, but you'll do fine, I'm sure." He smiled broadly, stifling a laugh.

Cassandra reacted to what Grummie had said earlier. "So, you are saying that there was another one, a person, who created the fuss downstairs?"

The gnome spoke. "I has a plan, but let's discuss it when we hab more ... quiet..." He looked around the room, and held a finger to his lips as the excitement starting to abate. In a whisper he concluded, "Might be ears' a listenin' to us... so we need ta discuss da plan in secret, later."

"Maybe we should retire to our safe room to discuss this plan of yours," Cassandra said.

The gnome nodded at Cassie, "Aye, but not in da safe room. Da walls in dis house have ears, and eyes... and I not feel safe inside. Mayhaps ou'side, where we ken make sure no one be lurkin' in a hidden passage, listenerin' to us." He awaited agreement or dissention from the others.

Only Cassandra spoke. "Mayhaps, er, perhpas you are right. These walls are very thin to say the least," said Cassandra, still wondering where the dancing lady might have gone. "Might as well take some air. It will give young Seth here the time to spruce up for his big date." She started to head for the stairs. "Don't see why he'd be afraid of a role in the hay," indicating Seth. "Worst he could do would be to find that long lost needle."

So the Seekers headed down the main staircase, through a huge open area, along the main entry hall, and out the front doors.

It was about 10PM. The weather was damp and chilly, the sky clear. Cassandra gathered them round in a circle with the gnome hidden in the middle. "OK, we're outside. Now, unless they have the ears of an elephant, I think you can let us in on your plan."

Blaine added, "And while he does so, I'll help spruce Seth up for his big night!" He went into his pocket and produced a hair brush. The proud little gnome bristled up, tugged on his belt, cleared his throat, inhaled deeply, and prepared to make his speech. After all that fuss, he produced a whispered voice and said, quite sneakily, "Ok. See, dis person who follow'd me is solid, breathes, an uses a lantern, eh? So, only reason I not caught 'em was I was nae prepared. I was jus' goin' on ah... eh... what ya call it.. a hunch? Aye, dats it, a hunch." He smiled as he struggled with his accent, wanting ever-so-badly to be understood.

"So, now we know, we ken set a trap... or traps ta catch'em. An' we have faster runner' ta chase ifen' da sneaker gets away fro' us again," he looked down at his short legs. "But we mus' do it as discreat'ly as possible. Dat lanter'-weildin' bugger ma' be watchin' at all times, sneakin' about.. We will hab ta create dis-dis-, eh, distractors ... to let da trap-setter's time ta do dey work. Den, when all is set, we set da bait." He paused. "Not sure wha's we use fer bait. Mayhaps, we split up, some hidi'n like I did, some movin' on? Oh we ken p'tend ta find some'tin valuable, magical even, make a bit scene 'bout it, and den leave it un-guarded as bait, whiles we sleeps, o' somefin'"

The gnome glanced between the long legs standing around him, peering out at the house, and the barn, making sure it was still clear. "Dey sur'ly watchin' us now, so lets not tarry too long, eh?"

Cassandra had been hanging on the gnome's every word, for a good plan always impressed her. "my only fear would be the old adage, 'once bitten, twice shy.' That you came so close to catching him might make him much more careful, especially from following us too closely. Now, the lure of something valuable might be more tempting. After all, that is why whoever else is here, is here, isn't it?" She looked about at the silence of the others.

Gork seemed confused by the double 'is here.' "If heeee's heeeeere, then heeee's heeeeere? Yes, then I guess heeeee's heeeeere. But not heeeeeere, heeeere. Heeees' somewhere else, right?"

Cassandra debated trying to explain it to him, then thought the better of it.

"So, then how and when will we put this trap into effect?" she asked. "and what will we do while the chosen one," indicating Seth, "is keeping his big date with the see-through woman?"

Grummie shrugged, "I dunno! We ken look around ou-side a bit whiles we waits fer midnight I guess. Den we ken hide in da barn, an watch... er ... I mean... well, ya know Seth won't really... well, case he gets in trouble, ya know." The gnome stopped and looked away, blushing, awaiting everyone else's ideas... Seth pushed Blaine's hand away with the hairbrush as he is huddled around the gnome. While Grummie told of his plans, Seth busied himself with deep breaths of the fresh cool night air. These types of night always awoke his senses and inner self, freeing his spirit from the weight of everyday choirs with the magic of nature.

Seth then cracked a large grin from listening to Cassandra as she tried to explain her opinion to the gnome, only the grin disappeared when she mentioned, the reminder of, the 'big date'. He glanced over his shoulder towards the barn, as he listened to Grummie talk of the barn with his comments. Seth took a large gulp then said quietly, "I never been that way with a lady before, yet be with one that I can't even touch." His head was bent down as if a little embarrassed.

Blaine gave Seth a reassuring pat on the back. "I doubt she expects much. Just do your best William imitation and you should do fine."

Lwcynda said, "Well, you all know that I am not very good at coming up with plans, but I will follow whatever you decide. If we can't think of anything then we should probably just go with Seth and see what happens. Maybe the unknown person will follow us there and we can get him there. Maybe Grummie and Cassandra can hide in the shadows and watch for anyone coming into the loft."

Cassandra had listened to Lwcynda's idea. "I'm sure we two could hide in this dark night, and any enhancement shadows might give us would provide perfect cover. If we pick a good vantage point, or points, then we could likely see anyone who follows us there." Cassandra took out her rough MAP of the estate and began to share it with Gummmie. "So where should we position ourselves?"

Blaine said, "Lwcynda and I will enter the barn with Seth. But I think only he should ascend to the loft. That young lady, er, her name was, ah, Rebecca I think, expects only him. We really shouldn't horn in. But we would only be a ladder away from Seth should he need us."

"What about meeeee?" Asked Gork. "Where should I go?"

And, so, it was up to Grummie and Cassie to choose their position(s) and for all to place the goblin. Drist seemed to have wandered off somewhere. As they were doing this, the time neared midnight and a new day was beginning.

Midnight, the 9th of Reaping

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