Arty Fox

Avonshire - D&D Based Adventure

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Baronfjørd "Blackberry" Chedgusah Dragon Born, Monk (Astral self), Level 03 HP: 9 / 24 Armor Class: 15 Conditions: N/A Location: G13 -> G10 Action: Hold Breath Weapon Bonus Action: n/a Reaction: Opportunity Attack (hit:21 dmg:6) Ki: 1/3

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It had damn near been a moment of bliss fe BlackBerry when, hearing Maritas command rising above the din of the fight, the beast had turned and lumbered away from him an the hostages. He hopped to the side to let the beast past, lunging out with a snapping strike with his phantom limbs as it went.

Spinning around he now had a different view of the world and a lot had happened while he had had his back to it. The other beast was now rampaging through fire, throwing the small broken bodies of BlackBerry could only guess had once been rats, and the Constable he could just make out through the flames seemed to be having some trouble. But the glaring fire from the barrels made it had to see anything more than fleeting shapes and shadows

I would wager he didn't think the beast would turn on him.

Yes, it looked to BlackBerry that the tables were slowly starting to turn. He allowed himself a moment of hope thinking perhaps they could beat the beasts and get all the hostages free. But they would have to handle themselves for now at least as there was too much else to consider at that moment.

Still cradling his injured arm BlackBerry dashed forward towards the others to lend a hand but stopped mid way, next to Kosara. Beyond the burning barrels he saw the Beast, from his viewpoint it had completely eclipsed Cavendish standing directly on the other side of it. A straight line from here to there. He cast his gaze from the Beast to the other surrounded and battered by the others, weighing up the options.

The Beasts had been single minded in their attacks and mostly ignoring him and the others. But that had been when it was under Cavendish's control with a direct goal in mind so now it might just be lunging out in a maddened rage, blindly attacking whatever it saw as a threat.

No… He looked back to the Beast surrounded by the others, and then at the one attacking Cavendish. The Constable didn't attack first, The Beast attacked through it's own volition. He grinned. An idea had arrived.

BlackBerry took a few steps back keeping roughly enough room between himself and the barrels for a Beast. He double checked the distance as best he could from behind the flames and with Cavendish out of sight he could only hope the ruffian was still infront to the Beast.

"Get the Beast in front." He turned to Kosara with the other Beast looming behind her, hoping the others could hear him. "I can hit them all"

He pulled upon another power, another energy that sat in his core. This one didnt swirl and twist, it jumped and jittered on it's way. He Clamped his mouth closed down hard, locking the power behind his teeth as much as he could. Some.escaped however and danced across his snout, filling his nose with the a pungent sweet smell and his vision with blue arcs of lightening.

@sigil back to guard 1 wherever the blighter is...

Avonshire - D&D Based Adventure

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Baronfjørd "Blackberry" Chedgusah Dragon Born, Monk (Astral self), Level 03 HP: 9 / 24 Armor Class: 15 Conditions: N/A Location: G13 Action: Unarmed Strike W/ Astral Arms (hit: 10, dmg: 5 ) Bonus Action: Dodge Reaction: Ki: 1/3

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In time with Marita’s cry BlackBerry saw the shimmering golden light race across his scales, and was quickly followed by a beam of light from Kosara, and felt the energies from the two mingle together and merge with his spirit and bolstering the flames of his astral limbs. A shinning light in this moment of darkness, he would have to thank them both for it later.

He then returned his attention to the Beast in front of him. Its humongous arm filled his vision. All BlackBerry could do was hide behind his arm and brace himself.

The blow from the beast hit harder than before. It caught his elbow, battering straight through and into his chest driving the air out of him. BlackBerry felt something in his elbow, and in his ribs, tear and snap. The world became dark again, the floor seemed to roll beneath his feet when he stumbled back under the Beasts brute strength, only just managing to stay standing. The first breath came slow, with a wheeze and so much pain. He felt something rattle deep in his chest. That wasn’t just one broken rib, that was several.

Ow

He pushed the breath out of his lungs. Pain. He pulled his eyes back up to the Beast, it was already turning its focus back to to the cage. Pain. He could feel his power falter and the flames of his astral arms flickering in turn, reflecting his physical state. Pain. His form was now loose and drooping as if under a great weight, and his forearm hung from his elbow at an odd angle, barely holding onto his sword. Pain. BlackBerry gritted his teeth bolstered himself with a deep breath, pulling the world around him back into sharpened focus. Pain. The astral arms snapped out at the Beast, a quick step forward to reclaim the distance, lashing out at its arms trying to deflect them from getting any further into the crate. But again the Beast didn’t seem to care. Pain.

The hostages screaming drew his attention back to the present. Pain. His gaze snapped to the cowering hostages and he spotted Lea in the flickering firelight. Pain. Realisation brought a new found horror as he understood her silence from earlier in the night; she had been taken right from under his nose.

But there was hope, he noticed that beast had snapped one of the bars of the cage and created a hole that the hostages might be able to escape through, if it were big enough and if the Beast weren’t blocking the way. Pain. One problem at a time. His sword was useless against the Beast but against already weakened wooden beams it might prove useful. Pain. While his vision swam BlackBerry eyed the other bars of the cage and knew wouldn’t have a chance to cut them apart himself while also fighting the beast. Pain. From where he swayed he passed the sword beyond the corner post and into to the cage itself. Pain. He couldn’t reach much further as his elbow felt as if it were grinding against itself beneath his scales.

“Hurry. Cut your way out if you must.” He let the blade clatter to the floor, trying not to show the relief on his face when he let it go.

Marita had mentioned fire and something had loudly crashed behind him just a moment earlier. Pain. He no longer dared to take his eyes off the Beast in front of him to check what had happened, though he had some idea and some hope about Lady Kathryn and Kosara had managed to do. Pain. BlackBerry took another deep breath and pooled his power in his core, folding it in and over itself, sending a frantic buzz through his limbs. Pain. BlackBerry focused his mind on the Beasts next movements, trying to avoid the next attack, knowing he couldn’t take another hit. Pain. He pulled his arm in close to his stomach to protect it.

“The Beast.” He shouted, his voice rattling with injury and panic. “Nearly through.”

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@sigil Guards turn! Please be gentle...
Edit: added heals from Kosara

Avonshire - D&D Based Adventure

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Baronfjørd "Blackberry" Chedgusah Dragon Born, Monk (Astral self), Level 03 HP: 14 / 24 Armor Class: 15 Conditions: N/A Location: H11 -> G13 Action: Shortsword (hit: 10, dmg: N/A ) Bonus Action: Reaction: Unarmed Strike (hit: 21, dmg: 7) Ki: 2/3

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Kathryns warning of possible other Guards in the trees rang in his ears.

BlackBerry saw the attack coming from the beast, its grotesque tree trunk of arm twisting his way. He braced himself ready to lunge out the way or brace hard against it. The Beasts swing came hard and faster, faster than he expected. Blackberry felt his teeth rattle when the massive fist slammed through his defence and almost sent him sprawling. For a moment, his vision went dark.

Blinking furiously, the world came back to him as blurry shapes, dulled colour, and muted words of someone behind him. He saw fire reflecting off the metal in front of him from the now familiar form of Lady Kathryn’s armour. Beyond her, he saw a large shape in front of him, turning and lumbering away. The Beast! BlackBerry snapped one of his Astral limbs out at the creature, and again he felt the blow strike true and hard but the beast didn’t even flinch.

Maritas suggestion to use blades made him pause for a brief moment. As he remembered, using a blade hadn’t served him well in the previous fight. While the others had outfitted themselves with silvered weapons he was still using his own standard short sword from when he arrived. The horrid beast certainly looked rat-like but who was to say that meant they were.

“If you are certain.” He replied, already withdrawing his own blade, dull metal barely reflecting the plume of bright fire behind him. “Lady Kathryn, help Kosara. Marita, Lets us target the other.”

The beast that had struck him had already moved over to the cage furthest away from him, with Kosara already hammering it with her magic. BlackBerry turned to focus on the other beast attacking the other cage of hostages. Drawing up to the beast he tried to through a reassuring grin to the captives but didn’t spare more than that. A jolt of pain shot through his arm as he went to strike the beast, the blow from before had done more damage than he had thought, but the blade still hit and sunk into the beast. For a second BlackBerry hoped that luck was on his side, but those hopes were dashed when he pulled the sword and saw that there was no lasting wound.

BlackBerry swore. He should’ve known, he called over to the others. “The Beasts are charmed also, my blade is useless.”

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@Sigil Back to Guard 1!!

Avonshire - D&D Based Adventure

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Baronfjørd "Blackberry" Chedgusah Dragon Born, Monk (Astral self), Level 03 HP: 24 / 24 Armor Class: 15 Conditions: N/A Location: L15 -> H11 Action: Unarmed Strike (11. DMG: 5) Bonus Action: Summon Astral Arms (DC: 12. DMG: 4) Reaction: N/A Ki: 2/3

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His gaze spun backwards to see one of the barrels behind them all collapse and unleash a wall of fire, blocked off the road they had arrived through. Their escape, and for the hostages as well, had been cut off. BlackBerry swore. Another commotion, this time from the fountain, demanded his attention just in time to see two disgusting forms pull themselves out of the fountain. It was almost hilarious to see their grate forms emerge from the relatively medium sized fountain. Water dripped off the beasts disgusting forms as they rose out of the fountain.

What obscene acts had Cavendish been doing to produce such creatures?

Instinct blared warning bells in his mind, demanding he turn and flee from the putrid smell rolling off the beast. Instead, he took hold of that fear, that frantic energy burning through his veins, and pushing himself forward. He slipped between Marita and Morty, charging forwards to put himself next to Kosara and between the creatures and the Hostages. His back to Cavendish and his guards.

“Stay back!” He snarled at the beast.

Mid-step, he tapped into the familiar feeling of churning power at his core. He pulled and pushed that power out across his shoulders where fire bloomed into loose, wreathing columns sculpting themselves into shape. A force flung out towards the vile beasts but only one seemed to be hit, the force passing harmlessly through the other. Without a second to waste he continued his surge forward, right foot cracking down on the cobbles, using the momentum from his mad dash, twisting at the hips to drive a fiery fist into the beast.

The limb connected with the beast with a satisfying thud, but devoid of any reaction from the beast. More warning bells rang in his mind. BlackBerry snatched back the limb, right foot snapping back half a step also, and looked up into the eyes of the beast. It’s eyes were entirely red and gazing down at him without thought. The beast had been hit and he was certain he had left a mark on it as well. But the beast in front of him simply did not care.

“What is this thing?” He asked, casting a look to Kosara for an answer or at least some support. His confident snarl wavering.

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@Sigil guard 1's turn!!

Avonshire - D&D Based Adventure

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Baronfjørd "Blackberry" Chedgusah Dragon Born, Monk (Astral self), Level 03 HP: 24 / 24 Armor Class: 15 Conditions: N/A Location: Town Center Action: N/A Bonus Action: N/A Reaction: N/A Ki: 3/3

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Despite not being what BlackBerry had imagined a Soldiers March to sound like, not that he had ever heard one before, Victorias music did wonders for his mood and bolstered his confidence. He would have to ask Lady Kathryn or Marita about it later once this horrid business had been taken care of. But the music still did its job of bolstering his confidence and he tried not to put on his best guess to a Soldiers March, but it was hard not to with Lady Kathryn and Marita nearby as the pair made a fine display in their armour marching ahead of him down the empty streets.

But all too soon they arrived and Victoria brought her song to an end, leaving only the flickering of the flames and the cries from the hostages to fill in the space.

He took position to the outer left of the group, hovering by Maritas shoulder, and cast his eyes and head about in quick, sharp movements trying to get a better lay of the land as Lady Kathryn and Kosara spoke their piece up at Cavendish. The latter somehow being much louder than usual.

BlackBerry wouldn’t describe himself as a strategist by any stretch, but he knew his strengths as a close range fighter, even when going against beings immune to being stabbed through the gut and so had no desire to fight any bowmen again anytime soon. To him the best course of action would be to rush Cavendish, put him down quickly like the rat he was, and take care of his followers if needs be. The barrels of fire caused him the most worry if they were to be knocked over, the fire could spread to either the cages or to the surrounding trees. Beyond that though he couldn’t see much else beside the two pairs of eyes glowing, glaring at them all from behind the barrels Cavendish had stood in front of.

“No other souls about. Just the two ruffians hiding behind him.” He muttered out the side of his mouth to the others. “I think this is all he has.”

He sunk down slightly on his hips, preparing himself for the inevitable fight, and locked his gaze squarely on the pair hiding behind the flames.

Avonshire - D&D Based Adventure

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Baronfjørd "Blackberry" Chedgusah Dragon Born, Monk (Astral self), Level 03 HP: 24 / 24 Armor Class: 15 Conditions: N/A Location: outside Bed & Breakfast -> following Kosara Action: N/A Bonus Action: N/A Reaction: N/A Ki: 3/3

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BlackBerry chewed his cheek and listened to the others discuss their next steps. Frustratingly, it seemed that it wasn't even their choice at this point with their enemies holding all the cards; dictating the time, place, and even now the manner of their arrival. He adjusted his robes in thought, and then rested on the pommel of his sword. They had collectively missed a prime opportunity somewhere along the way, and he personally missed one to properly prepare himself, and now here it was now, metaphorically and physically, biting them in the backside.

He listened to Maritas explanation of the situation which did fill in a few more details than Kosaras had done. The fact there was some sort of bargain on the table had been completely missed before, and revealed a whole new angle to consider. But Maritas talk of previous training did assure him somewhat. But with Lady Kathryn pointing out the possibility of more archers than last time he found himself feeling just the same; being more suited to close quarter fighting than anything.

"Sometimes the simplest solution is the best."

Despite the dire and very real danger of the circumstances, despite the looking dread twisting his stomach into a frenzy, BlackBerry found a wicked grin splitting his face with Kosaras giddy, vengeful glee infecting him as well. The remaining calm parts of him quickly pointed out Kosaras plan to go marching through the town with a glowing sword and music would only point an even larger target on their backs, and their current target was already large enough if they were getting letters. Their current plan sounded daring, exciting, and full of opportunities to give those ruffians a damn good taste of their own medicine. He turned to face Marita, at this point seeing her as leading the party in this endeavor.

"As stealth seems out of the question, perhaps a March playing would be suitable, like the heroes and armies of old going off to battle? Show the ruffians that despite it all we shall not bow beneath them." The idea was as absurd as it was dangerous, but he let the thought go with a shrug and then pointed to the darkness where the Rat had scurried off to. "And at this point I fail to see how it would make our location any less known."

He took a few steps after Kosara so he was no longer under the swing and what little safety it may have offered against the darkness. However, he would wait for the others to make their move as well before heading after Kosara, not wanting to leave her or he himself be left entirely exposed and alone.

Avonshire - D&D Based Adventure

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Baronfjørd "Blackberry" Chedgusah Dragon Born, Monk (Astral self), Level 03 HP: 24 / 24 Armor Class: 15 Conditions: N/A Location: outside Bed & Breakfast Action: N/A Bonus Action: N/A Reaction: N/A Ki: 3/3

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“Oh.”

Madame Cicily L’Rose; Aunt Ceecee. His fears had been confirmed. He looked back into the gloom of the B&B, and then shooting a glance upwards through the awning, hoping that Lizbeth wasn’t listening in from some unseen corner.

There wasn’t anything else BlackBerry could say when Victoria explained the meaning behind the axe. But still he tried to hunt for the right words to say, something he could do to at least ease their fears a bit if not rid them entirely, he opened his mouth a few times but without any luck of finding the magic words.. He took a quick step back to allow Lady Kathryn to rip the axe from the wood. It was an awful thing to watch, even from behind the closed helmet BlackBerry had no doubt of the expression of anguish and fury written on her face.

His own looming sense of dread was not helped in the slightly by Kosara seemingly losing the plot as she descended into giggles, which then morphed into a concerning hysterical laughing fit. BlackBerry had turned, at Victorias direction, just in time to see a rat scamper into the shadows. He managed to restrain a flinch when Kosara came skipping over to them all, still wearing a giddy grin as if she had won a prize, and handing a note to Marita.

“Is she quite all there?” He whispered, leaning to the side closer to Lady Kathryn. “I know some diseases could cause hysteria, if she had been bitten, but to happen this fast…”

BlackBerry tried to lock eyes with the rest of the party for their reactions to see if this was just a ‘normal’ Kosara occurrence or something else entirely. He had already gathered that the woman wasn’t entirely…there, or at least she was just very excitable at every opportunity to cause violence and chaos. He wasn’t sure which he preferred. Admittedly though, he was also excited by the prospect of a fight, of the opportunity to get his revenge on those ruffians who had managed to beat them all earlier and get away with it.

He quickly gave Kosara a visual once over and couldn’t see any fresh bites, plus he hadn’t heard her cry out in pain at all. So decided that she likely hadn’t been bitten.

“The middle of town. That would be by the fountain would it not?” Jabbing a thumb in his best guess-timate of the firection. “If we head now we can get these quickly, and in good time too.”

He let the words hold for a moment, and then in a much quieter voice, trying hard to make sure only the party around him could hear he said. “If we are to try anything else I suggest we keep our voices down.” He cocked his head to the side at the sound of scuffling from outside their meager circle of light beneath the awning. “Im certain our Audience is still about. Call me paranoid but I suggest we follow Mr Mallards advice and be wary of any prying eyes or ears in the shadows.”

Avonshire - D&D Based Adventure

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Baronfjørd "Blackberry" Chedgusah Dragon Born, Monk (Astral self), Level 03 HP: 24 / 24 Armor Class: 15 Conditions: N/A Location: outside Bed & Breakfast Action: N/A Bonus Action: N/A Reaction: N/A Ki: 3/3

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BlackBerry waited. He waited some more, hearing his heart pounding furiously in his chest. And yet, nothing happened. It became apparent to him that nothing was going to happen, at least not yet anyway. He let his arm fall from his cheek, and pulled up from his slight slouch he had curled up into in preparation for the absent fight. He looked to the others with a frown and expecting similar looks of confusion.

Once again, it was Kosara who was the first one to act. BlackBerry sucked on his teeth as she damn near bounced out the door, with the loud warning outside still ringing in the air. But at the very least, he felt a little safer not being out in the middle of the street just that moment. His limbs were tense and he felt like a spring coiled far too tight, he needed something to punch, something to do to get all this frantic energy out of him.

“Kosara, please wait a moment for the rest of us.”

He hurried over and out of the door, but something embedded in the door frame caught his wandering eyes . Not getting past the porch he spun to a stop to investigate the what had caught his gaze. It was an axe embedded in the wood of the door frame.

“Well…Someone was definitely here.” Tentatively he reached out a hand to the axe handle, but then quickly pulled it back. Instead choosing to look back into the room around the door frame. “An axe has been buried in the door frame. What are the odds, do we suppose, it is a warning from our Audience?”

Avonshire - D&D Based Adventure

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Baronfjørd "Blackberry" Chedgusah Dragon Born, Monk (Astral self), Level 03 HP: 24 / 24 Armor Class: 15 Conditions: N/A Location: Inside Bed & Breakfast Action: Insight (22) Bonus Action: N/A Reaction: N/A Ki: 3/3

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“Ah, of course not. My mistake.” The ridges of his brow rose with the animated apology to Lizbeths response, and he mentally crossed out that idea. Turning to Lady Kathryn he added. “Made of some pretty stern stuff, is she not?”

BlackBerry was glad to see Lizbeth managing to hold firm against the situation, but understandably still distressed. Momentarily BlackBerry wondered if she had gone through something similar before, his smile tightening a little at the thought. He watched her red eyes, clearly still raw from crying earlier dart between the three of them who had come to reassure her. It was heartwarming to see the party come to the childs aid. With the other two now chiming in with their own reassurances he took a step back from Lizbeth hoping to not overwhelm her any further. It looked to him that Marita was currently having the best luck with the child, in any case.

“Silver?” He repeated the word. Then realisation smacked him harder than any blow before. “oh…yes.”

Were-rats and Were-wolves…the two were similar in nature and clearly that also meant their weaknesses and possibly even their strength as well. BlackBerry covered his mouth and let out a long, drawn out breath through his nose as the five stages of grief rolled through him. Did that mean werewolves were also resistant to being stabbed? He stashed the question away for later.

The boom at the door hooked and drew his gaze. His heart nearly stopped with fright, his nerves were well and truly being tested this evening. Kosara was the first to react and lead the charge to the door, meanwhile BlackBerry snapped his attention back to Lizbeth. If there really were more of those ruffians outside trying to break in then he didn’t want the child to be anywhere near the oncoming fight.

“Upstairs. Now.” He barked at Lizbeth, grabbing and spinning her around by the arm, urging the child towards the stair banister he could see looming in the darkness. “Under no circumstance do you come down till sunlight. Understand?”

The last part wasn’t much of a question, and BlackBerry didn’t wait for an answer or to see if Lizbeth had in fact gone upstairs. Instead he turned back to face the door and took the moment Kosara offered to re-wrap his scarf back tightly into place around his neck; he didn’t need the loose fabric either restricting his movements or becoming something to snatch. Finally, with a nod to Kosara, he was ready.

Avonshire - D&D Based Adventure

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Baronfjørd "Blackberry" Chedgusah Dragon Born, Monk (Astral self), Level 03 HP: x / 24 Armor Class: 15 Conditions: N/A Location: Inside Bed & Breakfast Action: Attempting to Calm Lizbeth Bonus Action: N/A Reaction: N/A Ki: 3/3

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Victoria’s answer gave him some relief and BlackBerry visibly relaxed a little in the shoulders; wandering into a lodging house filled with rodent-thropes or were-rats or whatever was the last thing they needed tonight. Granted it was one of many things they didn’t need tonight.

But it was the conversation drifting over from Kathryn and child, Lizbeth, that held his attention. Casting rapid glances at the others he could see they were connecting a few dots, a few pieces of the puzzle as well. The picture it was painting was not a good one, he chewed his cheek with worry. Were-rats becoming more active, people going missing, screams echoing around the town, and a hoard of rats following them. A worrying fear that they had all just put a big target on this place and everyone in it suddenly came to mind.

“I think that would be the best idea.” Whispering a reply to Victoria. He turned round to cast an eye at the door almost expecting it to be broken open right that second. “If you have any spare silver or any weapon at all to give her. Let us take a moment to reassure her though.”

BlackBerry stepped forwards gently towards Kathryn and Lizbeth, hoping he wouldn’t scare the poor child any further. He had to keep calm, or at least keep an air of calm about him in case Lizbeth picked up on the worry and fear currently ruling his thoughts. The best thing to do, in his mind, was to find something to keep her occupied and safe inside for a while. Or at the very least away from their following conversation. Maybe he could ask her to check on the other guests?

“Hello there, Lizbeth? My Name is BlackBerry. I must say it does sound like you have had a scary evening. Were you scared?” BlackBerry asked, looking to watch how Lizbeth reacted and figure out the best way to keep her calm. He continued, in a stage whisper like it were a big secret he was about to say. “You can tell me, I shan’t tell anyone If you were.”

“But.” He raised a finger to emphasise his next very important point. “You did the right thing keeping the door closed until someone you knew came along.” He gestured to Lady Kathryn, and then back to the other party members who had entered. “And I bet your guests would think so too. In fact, I wonder if they might be a little bit scared. Perhaps you could check on them and make sure they are doing alright as well, in a bit?”

A thought came to him in that moment. He paused for a moment and tapped his finger tips with his thumb as he wondered whether he should ask his next question, knowing it could cause the poor girl even more worry if he didn’t smooth out the thought fast enough.

“The note your Aunt left…does it appear to be her hand writing?” He tried to keep his voice calm, make the question sound innocent with a small smile, as if the answer wouldn’t hold a terrifying thought. Hurriedly, he lay down a little lie for the girl to hide in “Or perhaps one of her friends wrote it for her when they came to fetch her?”