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Message: <blockquote data-quote="the Jester" data-source="post: 2686817" data-attributes="member: 1210">The night after Jorgen’s capture of the spy ring, Kyle, Cara, Sir Cedric, Dahlia and Jorgen approach an abandoned house.  The rusty iron gates are locked.  A brick wall surrounds the place.  The yard is tangled with weeds.  The house itself is dilapidated and rickety.  “This is the place,” confirms Dahlia.  “The haunted house we heard about.”Kyle moves up to the lock, trying to pick it open, but after a few minutes he gives up with a shrug.  “It must be rusted shut,” he declares.  Jorgen clambers up the wall and ties a rope off, then throws down the other end to the rest of the party.  They all climb up; then they drop the rope down the inside of the wall and scramble down into the overgrown yard. “This place is creepy,” whispers Cara.The group moves forward.  Though there is noise in some of the bushes, they reach the house in short order.  Jorgen pushes the door open and the group moves within.  The planks of the walls have warped over time, and the weather has clearly gotten in here.  Various molds and mosses grow within; dirt and grime are all over.  Slowly our heroes start to check the place out, soon finding a painting of an impressive-looking gentleman.  After some consideration Sir Cedric takes it, lest the elements ruin it further.  Kyle, searching a desk, finds a single locked drawer with a trap on it.  But before he can disable it, Cara gives a high scream and suddenly a loud babbling sound starts up.  It is fascinating, really, and Kyle stops to give it his full attention.  It’s beautiful, he thinks.Jorgen and Sir Cedric each leap to their friend’s defense.  A strange, shimmering figure, half in and half out of the ceiling, is gradually drifting down towards him!  Their weapons pass through it impotently. “Guys, this place really is haunted!” shouts Dahlia.  “Run!!”The ghostly figure passes a hand through Kyle’s forehead and he groans.  He can feel his will weakening, his senses dulling.  He staggers in shock, the hypnotic effect of the babbling broken, and tumbles away from the figure.The group begins a disorderly retreat.  “Not even the power of my pinky finger can harm thith thing!” Sir Cedric cries, as his bastard sword slashes through the thing without harm again.  “We mutht flee!”  Jorgen takes a defensive stance, trying to cover the others as they leave, but the thing swipes at Dahlia as she stumbles past it.  She moans in fear and doubles her pace. “Sheriff Jorgen, it’s a vampire!” shouts Cara.  “Run!!”Jorgen’s eyes go wide, and he backs off, then flees with his friends.  None of them even look back until they are on top of the wall.***Cur is tired by the time he finally reaches Kamenda City.  It’s a long walk, but he is used to long walks.  He is pleased to at last reach his destination, but when he discovers that there is a toll to enter the city much of his pleasure evaporates.  He pays it grumpily- even the fact that he is a messenger for Sir Martin doesn’t get him in for free, and the fact that the term “baron” slips his mind just makes him look silly.  (“I have a message for... um... that guy in charge...”)Nonetheless, before long he has found the Spinning Dice and made himself known at the baron’s citadel in the center of the city.  Sir Harth, one of the baron’s advisors, smoothly dismisses him for the moment, telling him he will be called upon when the time comes.  “Keep us informed of your location,” Sir Harth orders.So Cur ends up spending his time eating and drinking.  Goer shows him the half-orc bar and the two of them enjoy a few rounds together (and, of course, Goer picks a few fights).  When they return to the Spinning Dice, they are surprised to find the others there, pale and shaken.  When they relate the tale of the haunted house, Cur and Goer listen in awed silence.Well, I’m glad I missed that one, Cur thinks.  He reflects on his adventures so far and shakes his head.  I still owe Sir Martin for a donkey.Next Time: After the Tydonian raiders!</blockquote>

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