ajanders
Explorer
Split-screen D&D action
Attempting a new posting technique here...we'll see how this works.
DOWNSTAIRS...
[sblock]
Grandma Godwin smiles delightedly.
"You see, you do know how to win the heart of an old Grandma when you try!"
She smiles reminiscently.
"Well, I was a border ranger when I was much younger. Not as young as Sirtis here "--she ruffles the fur between his ears affectionately --"but young enough to enjoy such things. After I mustered out of the army, well...since Mr. Jaan's not here to be offended, I worked as a --" she coughs demurely-- "treasure hunter and independent explorer for a few years. And you learn a few extra languages when you're exploring."
She folds her hands in her lap.
"I do hope I got the accent correct. I'm badly out of practice."
[/sblock]
UPSTAIRS
[sblock]
The panel tips back as Jaan presses on it, then slides up on smooth tracks set deep enough into the wall it doesn't jam on Theo's sign. Inside are bare boards, dust, and gloom.
Jaan closes his eyes for a moment and concentrates on the god Verdante. When his eyes open again, they shine green with a wisdom old when the world was new. The god guides Jaan's eyes, but nothing in any direction is evil.
When Jaan blinks again, Verdante is gone, but his pupils are widely dilated, gathering in the little light from downstairs.
There is a child-sized wooden sword leaning against the wall. An old potlid is propped next to it, dented where a small boy has used it as a buckler. A wooden box sits at the far back of the room, as well as a cloth sack. A wadded up blanket completes the furnishings.
[/sblock]
DOWNSTAIRS
[sblock]
Grandma Godwin continues.
"As I got a little older I decided to quit while I was ahead. All I needed was one more good --" she coughs again "--exploration to buy a house and retire."
She closes her eyes and gives Sirtis an extra squeeze.
"Six of us walked in. One of us walked out, and he was kind enough to drag me. That was the end of my adventuring days..."
Grandma shakes a lace hankerchief out of her left sleeve and blows her nose.
"I'm sorry, dears. Old memories can be the saddest, and at my time of life, all the memories are old."
She tucks the hankerchief back into her left sleeve and ruffles Sirtis' hair for a few minutes.
Then she smiles and looks back up.
"Well, after that I took my treasure and went to buy a house. This particular house was being used as a --" she coughs again -- "Gentleman's entertainment center and some local--" another cough -- "professional gentleman's organization felt he was behind on his membership fees. So they offered me the place in exchange for some...well, most ... of the treasure. But it was a very nice house."
Grandma Godwin shrugs, in a "what could I do?" fashion.
[/sblock]
UPSTAIRS
[sblock]
Jaan strains his ears to hear anything unusual, whatever that might be. Crouched on hands and knees, he leans forward to listen at the door.
Nothing.
When he looks back, he sees Theo's white face locked on the blankets.
[/sblock]
Attempting a new posting technique here...we'll see how this works.
DOWNSTAIRS...
[sblock]
Kith waited in acqward silence with the rest until he could bear it no longer.
"So, may I ask where you came to learn elvish, my lady?"
Grandma Godwin smiles delightedly.
"You see, you do know how to win the heart of an old Grandma when you try!"
She smiles reminiscently.
"Well, I was a border ranger when I was much younger. Not as young as Sirtis here "--she ruffles the fur between his ears affectionately --"but young enough to enjoy such things. After I mustered out of the army, well...since Mr. Jaan's not here to be offended, I worked as a --" she coughs demurely-- "treasure hunter and independent explorer for a few years. And you learn a few extra languages when you're exploring."
She folds her hands in her lap.
"I do hope I got the accent correct. I'm badly out of practice."
[/sblock]
UPSTAIRS
[sblock]
Jaan follows Theo, trying to keep his face neutral. The paladin is, of course, rather curious about who is singing, but he keeps the quesion to himself for the moment.
Jaan looks at the 'secret door' in wonder. Foortunately Jaan is not that big. He should fit, he thinks. But ht ecrossbow might be a problem. He removes it from his back. This is going to take a bit longer than I thought.
Getting down on his knees he pushes the door open and glances through into the space beyond. At this point, he really has no idea what he expects to see, or hear, or smell, or sense.
The panel tips back as Jaan presses on it, then slides up on smooth tracks set deep enough into the wall it doesn't jam on Theo's sign. Inside are bare boards, dust, and gloom.
Jaan closes his eyes for a moment and concentrates on the god Verdante. When his eyes open again, they shine green with a wisdom old when the world was new. The god guides Jaan's eyes, but nothing in any direction is evil.
When Jaan blinks again, Verdante is gone, but his pupils are widely dilated, gathering in the little light from downstairs.
There is a child-sized wooden sword leaning against the wall. An old potlid is propped next to it, dented where a small boy has used it as a buckler. A wooden box sits at the far back of the room, as well as a cloth sack. A wadded up blanket completes the furnishings.
[/sblock]
DOWNSTAIRS
[sblock]
Grandma Godwin continues.
"As I got a little older I decided to quit while I was ahead. All I needed was one more good --" she coughs again "--exploration to buy a house and retire."
She closes her eyes and gives Sirtis an extra squeeze.
"Six of us walked in. One of us walked out, and he was kind enough to drag me. That was the end of my adventuring days..."
Grandma shakes a lace hankerchief out of her left sleeve and blows her nose.
"I'm sorry, dears. Old memories can be the saddest, and at my time of life, all the memories are old."
She tucks the hankerchief back into her left sleeve and ruffles Sirtis' hair for a few minutes.
Then she smiles and looks back up.
"Well, after that I took my treasure and went to buy a house. This particular house was being used as a --" she coughs again -- "Gentleman's entertainment center and some local--" another cough -- "professional gentleman's organization felt he was behind on his membership fees. So they offered me the place in exchange for some...well, most ... of the treasure. But it was a very nice house."
Grandma Godwin shrugs, in a "what could I do?" fashion.
[/sblock]
UPSTAIRS
[sblock]
Jaan strains his ears to hear anything unusual, whatever that might be. Crouched on hands and knees, he leans forward to listen at the door.
Nothing.
When he looks back, he sees Theo's white face locked on the blankets.
[/sblock]