CLOSE THIS THREAD AND PROCEED TO "More Horn" IF IT IS VISIBLE TO YOU

I have made a new thread for this, since I will probably have to alter visibility as people come and go.

I have given up Everybody can read the post now, since I no longer have any idea who is where.

first edit: Riccoco, Nuyok and Cas are visible.
EDIT: Beka has just exited and discovered you all in a clump.
EDIT: Anyone who wants to has left the inn and is outside listening. Until someone speaks up, however, assume they are hanging back, hiding or still inside.
EDIT: Worked on visibility problems

The setting: The inn courtyard. From the original thread: the daylight is warm and pleasant, and the ground damp under your feet. Looking about the area, you see the stone manor to your left, gate closed. Across is the armory, where a couple of soldiers are hacking at fencing dummys. To your right is the little courtyard of the inn, bounded by a stone wall of local material.
There are two tables there and Horn is at one of them. He is sitting there with a thousand yard stare. Kind of creepy, actually, but not so bad as he looked during the dark and rainy night.

[EDITED on Fri January 17, 2003 @11:35 PM (PST)]

[EDITED on Sat January 18, 2003 @1:54 PM (PST)]

[EDITED on Sun January 19, 2003 @7:35 PM (PST)]

[EDITED on Mon January 20, 2003 @9:30 AM (PST)]

[EDITED on Tue January 21, 2003 @11:06 PM (PST)]

Riccoco is talking to Horn, who is rather incoherent. Nuyok is watching intently, and Cas has just bumped into him as she rushes out the door.

I eye all of them suspiciously.
.oO(Nuyok is acting weird.)

.oO(Cas is acting weirder!)

"Hi Ricocco, what's going on?"

Riccoco is standing next to the bench where Horn is seated. He's got his trident butted into the ground and is leaning on it.

OOC: I believe the other two are still standing near the inn doorway.

At Beka's hail, Riccoco turns to her and offers a weak smile. "Peaches be finished breaking his fast? The Inn still be having a larder for the rest of their customers?" His chuckle is a little off, falling like raking nails on a chalkboard in the transpiring day.

"Riccoco was just speaking with Mister Horn here." His eyes dart momentarily to Nuyok and Cas at the door before continuing. "This 'coon thought a walk-a-bout might be just the thing to get a good grip on the happenings hereabouts." The invitation is wooden but sincere.

.oO(Hmmm, perhaps Beka is involved, she has a suspicious look about her...)

.oO(This fool couldn't be behind anything, but maybe it's just a ruse? The timing of his arrival is too suspicious, but perhaps it's just being used as a cover by someone else?)

As Horn's 'Tale' subsides into incoherrent repetitionk, Riccoco eyes Nuyok with BIG eyes before moving away from the obviously deranged Horn. He motions for his companions.

Those that approach and join Riccoco are able to hear his blinking oration.

"This Horn be a strange one! he must be havin' somethin' to do with these Reavers joinin' forces! What a strange tale he be tellin'!" Riccoco shakes his head with unabashed wonder.

.oO(What might Master Ash have to be doin' with it, now?)

"From Horn's appearance, including spiritual, and demeanor, it seems unlikely that he is behind anything, though deep down he may know more. How he got this way is the clue... Maybe Ash could fix his psyche and we could learn more - that is an area I lack skill in, but perhaps Ash has such skill, though of course he would have to have the time to perform such a fix..."

"Could he be head riven?" I say to no one in particular.

Riccoco seems to respond to Horn's ramblings, only a few key words carrying to the Inn door."... The Moon!...Demon Kings... Horn?"

Then, the raccoon Beast glances around the yard. His eyes land on his two companions for a short moment and he quickly looks down and away as his shoulders slump once more. Loudly, Riccoco continues, "That be a problem for an Adept's mind, not this poor 'coons. Perhaps, you can speak with one Mister Horn."

With that, Riccoco slips from the bench and stands. His gaze touches the two, again for a scant moment, before moving on. He stands there for a moment of apparent indecision.

Cas senses an opening, "Mister Horn, you have a tale? It has been a good long while sense any have told me a tale. I have a good ear for stories and would love to hear what you have to say."

Horn actually seems to respond to Cas' prompt.
"Story? I had a story, but I lost the middle and the end is not good. All that's left is the beginning. In the beginning, in the beginning, in the beginning.
"None are left now who were there in the beginning. They fell into the hole in the night and were melted in the rain, like sugar an' spice, sugar an' spice, sugar an' spice.
"We picked it up. Shouldn'ta, o' course."
At this point someone will naturally ask, "Picked what up?"
Horn looks panicky for a moment, almost as if in physical pain. "NOTHING! We picked up nothing and put it in our pockets and now the nothing lives in here." He taps his head.
"It ate a hole in the story. I used to have the middle, the middle, the middle. Gone all gone. Doesn't matter, soon it'll all be screaming and melting and you'll all be screaming and melting, and I'll be screaming and melting. Melting all away like sugar and spice in the rain..."
He continues like this for sometime, often repeating himself and saying nothing more substantive.

Removed due to visibility issue

[EDITED on Mon January 20, 2003 @2:47 PM (EST)]

OOC: By changing the visibility... We can only respond to the parent post. That post is only visible to Ricco, Cas, Beka, and Nuyok.

I'm pretty sure that Faliol is headed into the courtyard, but, I'm not sure. So... Where do you want us to respond?

OOC: I've fixed the visibility; thanks for the heads-up. Respond to the main post. It should be visible to all, now.

OOC: Thanks, Bruthah!

Nuyok quietly says "Perhaps Horn is Riven after all, just Riven in the head unlike his former companions..."

Nuyok, you are not positive, but (after an incredible spirit sight PER roll), you tend to think more that this was deliberate. Hard to say. Of course, Master Ash is a nice guy and wouldn't have done anything to him...

Interesting, but since Ash is so nice I'll have to think about how/if to mention anything about this to anyone else...

For those just joining, Cas is currently talking with Horn. Now for those who understand what is going on:

Cas nods as if she understands this story, "What about before the beginning? Do you have any stories before the beginning of the story?"

OOC: I just watched the Utena movie for the first time. Most people were baffled because it didn't make any sense, I was baffled because I understood it perfectly. Some how this story by Horn makes more sense than most things to me right now.

Horn actually looks a little coherent. His speech is halting, as if trying to search for words or fight some inner demon. Slowly and haltingly, you piece together:
"The beginning, the beginning, the beginning? So long ago... There were three brothers. One-two-three Gimmy, Pol an me. Gimmy fought like cats in a bag, Pol loved a fancy rag. Needed scratch to fill the bag. There was a long time a waitin' and the belly gettin' thin. Thin as a stick, three sticks on a limb. Limb's all broken fer me, him an' him. Fat guy pork pie comes to town, lookin' for guards to take him roun'. Gimmy an' Pol wanna get it all so they sign up quick to leave the walls. Take our time and mind the road, guiding guy a path he showed, no time now for seeds we sowed..."

There is a long silence...

Horn looks as if he might say more, but it may require hours of coaxing and prompting. It's an hour or so after noon now, leaving about five hours till sundown. Who wishes to stay and listen/prompt, and who wishes to do something else?

"You have a good story my man. Perhaps you would like to have something to eat or drink while you tell it?" Cas turns towards Nuyok, "I'm going to need someone to help me with the occasional big word our storyteller might have. Do you think you could sit by to help me with the big words?"

"I've asked Faliol to check on Mako to see if I can be of help, but until then, I'll remain here, and help you as needed," Nuyok thinly smiles at Cas while appearing distracted in thought.

OOC: EDITED TYPO

[EDITED on Tue January 21, 2003 @1:36 PM (EST)]

Vagrant comes from off to one side and abruptly sits next to Horn. He nervously looks from side to side and then speaks in a raspy whisper, "Mr. Horn, I have some news for you. It seems that some of the folks here are thinking that you may have something to do with the attacks. I fear that their worries may be getting the best of them. There is talk of abduction and torture due to the fact you seem to be an obvious scapegoat for the violence that is happening to the fort. I'm just a lowly trader but have known the eyes of prejudice myself. The friends I have in my company include some very capable people that could defend you from those that are looking to start trouble with you. I'd hate to see something become of you but my friends need something to go on. Look, if there is something you can dig out of that brain of yours that would help us make some sense out of the monsters that rest at our doorstep, I emplore you to speak now. Save the fort, save me and my friends, save yourself. Speak now."

Where man in the land?
He goes who knows?
Gimmy and Pol take it all?
Go with guy wonder why?

Pressing in closer.

"What guy, pork pie?
Same name?
Who choose?
Some guy say hi?

OOC: I have no real interest in questioning this Horn fellow. I think 3/4 of the caravan is enough to handle him.

"Miss Beka, I am going to look in on Mako. See how he is doing."

I pause to watch Celeste fence with Able.

.oO(Those two are pretty darn good!)

I go towards the gatehouse, asking soldiers where Mako can be found.

As Ricco sees Faliol exit the Inn and move on his merry way out of the courtyard, he hurries over to join him. With a grateful sigh and quick glance back at the strange cookie Horn, Ricco says, "You be needin' someone to join you, Faliol? A bit of a walk would be doin' a world a good."

Assuming Faliol concurs Riccoco will eventually bust out, "By the Toad's Hairy Goat this day be too good to be so strange!"

OOC: I limited visibility to see if I could get Keith another headache!

"Please join me, Ricco! Glad to have your company. Yes, this day has started in a decidely weird fashion..."

After a few steps, "Been meaning to ask you, are all 'coons as fast as you? I never would have believed that such chunky thighs could propel someone with such velocity..."

Riccoco snorts out a chitter of happy laughter, his manner loosening the farther from the Inn the two Beasts get. "No, no. Ol' Riccoco be quick one even among the 'coons a' 'Coon Lake. There be no tellin' I be guessin'. Those spiney-dogs had a bit of the quick to 'em, too."

As the two continue, Riccoco murmurs, "What ye be thinkin' about all a' this, Faliol? We done wandered into a lick o' trouble, eh? This 'coon been thinkin' a walk by the Harbor might be just the thing." He adds quickly, grinning knowingly, "After we be visitin' ol' Mako o' course."

"A walk by the harbor sounds good. We can tell Nuyok what we learn about Mako on the way there."

Riccoco trundles on next to the fox kit, "Mako be good one for a hooman, Faliol. Ol' Riccoco talked to some of the Beasts sorts under him and they be havin' nothin' but good talk of 'im."

A few moments later, "This 'coon can't help but think findin' the place Horn an' his troupe got Twisted might save the lot of us."

Also, for discussion fodder, "What Riccoco been hearin' 'bout that master Ash be givin' him the shivers, Faliol."

OOC: Use whichever of these ice breakers Faliol. I'd like to discuss all of them during this little jaunt if possible. Strangely, the Caravaners Ricco trust has become a handful all of a sudden.

I ponder Ricco's words about finding the Twisted spawning grounds.

As I am thinking about this, he drops a bigger bombshell that makes me stop in my tracks.

"What stories have you heard about this Ash fellow?"

I resume walking as Ricco answers...

As the two resume their walk, Ricco answers, "It be a feelin' only. This 'coon be knowin' that Master Ash alone be the reason the hole of the Fort not be a mass o' Twisted Folk."

Riccoco shakes his head unable to decipher the riddle. "Why else be Master Nuyok comin' back with the Evil Eye, then?" He shakes one slightly clawed finger under Faliol's muzzle, "There will be comin' a time, Faliol. We all be gettin' to the bottom o' this mess."

"Uh, Ricco, could I ask a favor? I know that amongst ourselves (beasts) that we sometimes refer to humans in not so favorable terms. I am guilty of this. I have felt the sting of specism many times and it hurts almost as much today as it did when I was little. Whenever a human makes some sarcastic remark about me being a beast, I feel angry and sad at the same time. I imagine that it also hurts the humans much in the same way when they hear a beast treat them with less respect than they deserve simply because they are human.

I heard what you said to Mako about 'pinks' and I heard what you said to Celeste about rats being more human than beast. I am not your father or your boss. I have no right to order you to stop saying these things. I am simply your friend and as a friend, I ask that you exercise a little more diplomacy when talking to the humans. Celeste is our friend. She was the one that came after us in the rain when the carnobrocs tried to kill us. She also watched over both of us on the wall yesterday. She has treated us like equals. I ask you to please consider her and the other human's feelings when next you speak. As a favor to me."

I slap Ricco on the back, "Sorry for the long lecture, my friend, but I felt it necessary."

Ricco pauses agian and scowls at Faliols back as he moves past a few paces. "Faliol, ol' Riccoco don' be knowin' much about Foxes." A slight glancing up of Ricco's eyes tell otherwise, "But, you don't seem to be much like the stories this 'coon be hearin'!"

Riccoco adamantly shakes his head, "Listen, now. There be Beasts of a color where they be exceptions... Rats be rats and gators be gators. Just by the nature of the Beast folks be knowin' what they be gettin'. An' hoomans... Hoomans be that-a-way, too." Ricco points a clawed finger of his paw at Faliol, "You be a kit, but, go be askin' Jareek. There be hommans that be unnatural to their kin, like Celeste mayhap... but a hooman is a hooman and they not to be trusted. The Demon Kings and Adepts all be hooman like the way this 'coon be hearin' it!"

Riccoco mumbles a little more under his breath, "By the Toad's hairy Goat! This kit be thinkin' the hooman be his friend... Next we'll be hearin' a dog be a Beast's best friend!"

OOC: Nicely played, Jason!

As the two draw within hearing range of Mako and the otter, I whisper, "Easy big fellow. We can finish our chat later."

.oO(Demon Kings! I had no idea he felt so strongly...)

OOC: But, Ricco doesn't have any red fur... Unless he's stabbed or bitten in a Gator attack. Cue forbidding foreshadowing music!. You're doing a great job, too! Or should I say, yourself?

Keith and players like you give really good game!

This PBeM has the record (from my experience) of going the longest without losing one player... That is a testament in and of itself...

Ricco hurries over to join Faliol as the fox kit steps from the courtyard.

"Faliol, I was intending to check on Mako, but would like to hear out Horn a bit longer - since you're checking on Mako, can you see his condition and let me know if I can assist him?"

"Certainly Mr. Nuyok. Ricco and I were planning on heading to the harbor after checking on Mako. We can stop by on the way."

I come trotting up, carrying all of Ricco's stuff in my arms.

"Master Nuyok!! The harbor's spirit chain is down! Ricco is diving with the otters to fix it. Mako wishes that you would try healing him again after the chain has been fixed. He will meet you in the infirmary once the task is complete. Goto go, Ricco's in the water..."

I turn around and trot back to the harbor.

puff puff puff

.oO(For a little guy, Ricco wears a lot of stuff...)

"What's that Faliol? The harbor chain's down, I'm coming too!"

Nuyok takes off full speed to the harbor.

.oO(By the stones, Nuyok could have carried some of this stuff!)

Puff, puff, puff

OOC: Judging on what Faliol said it sounds like Riccoco is at the bottom of the water.

OOC: By the time Faliol gets to tell you guys this, Ricco is on the bottom of the harbor...

OOC: Riccoco does sound Italian!

OOC: a reference to concrete galoshes?

OOC: Ricco doesn't wear shoes!

OOC: Perhaps a cement raincoat? A la Italiano?

See you, don't be blue. We'll see what he'll give for free.

umm

Right, check on Mako...

If Beka is still in the inn yard, Celeste will approach her and pull her to one side. "Beka, Rath left the fort about two hours ago, he told Abel he was scouting ahead. He's not returned yet. Nuyok knew nothing of this, do you know if he discussed it with anyone else?"

Waits for Beka to respond.

continuing,

"I am going to go after him and bring him back, I think I can catch up to him if I run and leave now. We should be able to get back before dark if I can find him.

Waiting for Beka's response.

Celeste turns back to where Abel is waiting, "Able, Faliol has reported that the harbor chain is down, Ricco and some of the otters are trying to repair it as we speak. Master Nuyok is hastening to the harbor."

"Oh, did Rath say he was scouting on to Adala way?"

If Abel indicates Rath left in the direction of Adala, Celeste will return to the room, and get her stuff (with the bandages and such) She will stop by the kitchen to get some small amount of provisions for the journey (high carb/calorie) and make sure her canteen is filled. She will then head out at an easy run in the direction of Adala. Or whatever path he took.

He did what?

Wait, I need to go with you!

I follow!!!

After checking in with Able, he says, "Yes, Rath said he was going to scout out your road. I thought it was kind of foolhardy myself, but he wasn't on the wall or at the strategy meeting. I figured your lot thought he was expendable, hired muscle, so to speak, and let him go out.
Before I can open the sally port again, we'll need to talk to Mako."
After giving you a amoment to gather your gear the three of you trot off to the Dockhouse.

Please proceed to "Healing Mako"