tunes out everything but the voice, being driven on by the sole fact she has to know...
[Storyteller] Exiting the B&B, you find your feet guiding you towards the back side of town, in the direction of the foothills. Glancing around, the song still pulling you along, you notice you're following a well-beat
en trail.
* Audrey's feet walk softly on the earth, her nightgown fluttering in the unseen breeze.
[Audrey] ... He must be nearby... must be... I have to know...
[Storyteller] The voice gets louder as you walk, the wail pulling you in. You see the mine up ahead... you walk in... and the dream ends.
Cassandra's Dream
[Storyteller] You find yourself sitting awake in your bed the Baroton Bed & Breakfast.
* Cassandra looks around.
[Storyteller] Carried on some ethereal wind, you hear a man's voice singing. High in the tenor range, the keening wails of a soul tormented with desire beckon you.
* Cassandra blinks...
[Cassandra] Hmmm...
* Cassandra goes in the direction of the sound.
[Storyteller] You find yourself moving towards the door, opening it, and heading down the stairs.
* Cassandra looks around at her surroundings as she goes towards the singing.
[Storyteller] Exiting the B&B, you find your feet guiding you towards the back side of town, in the direction of the foothills. Glancing around, the song still pulling you along, you notice you're following a well beat
en trail.
[Cassandra] . o O (Looks like I'm not the only one that's been through here... )
* Cassandra continues going towards the music.
[Storyteller] The voice gets louder as you walk, the wail pulling you in. You see the mine up ahead... you walk in... and the dream ends.
Lynna's Dream
[Storyteller] You hear a voice wailing over the wind. You shrug it off, roll over, and go back to bed.
Miriamele's Dream
[Storyteller] You find yourself sitting awake in your bed the Baroton Bed & Breakfast.
* Miriamele looks about... :P
[Storyteller] Carried on some ethereal wind, you hear a man's voice singing. High in the tenor range, the keening wails of a soul tormented with desire beckon you.
* Miriamele throws on some clothing, and enthusiastically goes out to have a look see.
[Miriamele] ?
[Storyteller] The song drags on your soul, pulling the energy from you but not the desire to follow it to its source.
* Miriamele treads onward, a little more wary now... She really wishes she could have slept more... -_-
[Storyteller] The beautiful voice has little threat to it. Your feet guide you towards the back side of town, in the direction of the foothills.
* Miriamele proceeds, ever-diligently onwards...
[Storyteller] You travel up and over all the trail. Arriving at the entrance to the mine you stop, and the dream ends.
Salah's Dream
[Storyteller] You find yourself sitting awake in your bed the Baroton Bed & Breakfast.
* Salah looks about, and sighs heavily.
[Storyteller] Carried on some ethereal wind, you hear a man's voice singing. High in the tenor range, the keening wails of a soul tormented with desire beckon you.
* Salah holds her pendant loosely in her hand. She looks up at the window... hearing the voice.
[Salah] Such... such a beautiful voice...
[Storyteller] The lure of the song bids you to rise.
* Salah stands up and goes over to the door, opening it slowly and quietly.
[Storyteller] Walking down the hall, you feel something brushing against your arm; but it vanishes as quickly as it came. You turn, your feet echoing softly on the stairs as you walk down them.
* Salah is enraptured by the strange singing voice, and loosens her grip on her pendant... dropping it to the ground with a clink.
[Storyteller] The voice wafts through the air, pulling you toward the back side of town. You walk down the trail towards the mine.
* Salah steps out the door and heads toward the hills and on the beaten trail up to the mine.
[Storyteller] As you enter, the dream ends.
The Next Morning
[Storyteller] Finn, Lamont, Lynna, and Will wake in the morning (Criz too). Heading downstairs, they find the dining room conspicuously empty.
* Lamont is, as usual, keeping to himself
* Lynna is taking her sweet time walking to the dining room... when she spots something glimmering on the floor.
* Finn yawns and stretches...
[Finn] Hey... where is everybody?
* Will rubs his eyes, rested, though pale-looking.
* Lynna bends down and swipes it off the ground, walking to join the others.
[Lynna] Alright... I've had enough of this... where's that Salah...
[Will] The... er, Audrey, Miri and Salah are missing... are they still asleep?
[Finn] What did you find, Lynna?
* Lynna holds out her hand.
[Lynna] Guess. :p
* Lamont draws, but perks up at the mention of party members missing.
[Lamont] What about Cassandra?
* Will looks around the dining hall.
[Will] I think... she's also missing... ^^;
[Finn] Mmm...
[Lamont] This does not bode well for our cause.
[Finn] Well, where could they have gone?
[Lynna] What... did they want to go to those damn springs that badly?
[Lamont] Not likely.
[Will] But... they should have taken you along if that was the case, right Lynna?
[Lamont] They didn't get you... Where is that other girl? The skirt chick.
* Will hmms...
* Lynna shrugs.
[Lynna] I'm not much for that purifying mumbo-jumbo anyway...
[Will] Wh-who... ?
[Lynna] Maybe that other girl went with them... she did have that soap that they needed.
[Finn] I highly doubt they went to the springs.
[Storyteller] You hear a large number of voices outside. A good deal of them seem to be yelling about something.
* Finn cocks his head sideways, then heads outside to see what the fuss is about.
[Will] . o O (This doesn't make sense... it's still early morning, and knowing them, they would have waited to tell us, and take Lynna along too. Besides- what's that?)
[Lamont] I bet this has something to do with our missing girls...
* Lamont walks outside
[Will] Let's hope not... !
* Lynna folds her arms into her deep colored robes and looks at all the commotion with a taste of disdain.
* Will goes to see what's happening outside.
[Lamont] I suspect all the women... sans Lynna... are gone...
[Storyteller] All of the town's men are gathered around the well. The elder stands on a platform set in front of it, speaking to the people.
[Lamont] ... As I suspect.
* Finn walks closer to the platform.
[Elder] Of course... The mine workers said that fresh footprints lead up to the mine, but the gate was closed and locked from the inside.
* Lamont gets thoughts in his head . o O (The Women are in danger... you have to do something!)
[Finn] Mine... ?
[Will] Fresh footprints... ? To the mine?
[Storyteller] There's a whole lot of shouting in reply, too much to make anything out.
* Will makes his way through the crowd to find out what exactly happening during the night.
* Lamont looks at Will.
[Lamont] Get the guys together... we need to go the mine.
[Elder] Yes, yes, yes... Of course... But we have to assemble a committee first.
[Storyteller] More yelling, most of the men standing around here look very pissed.
[Will] R-right! Will do!
* Lamont appears to be quite determined at the moment.
[Lynna] Somehow, I doubt they went to strike it rich... :P
* Will approaches a random spectator.
[Elder] It's in our laws! No decision without forming a committee! I'll take volunteers in my house in 10 minutes!
[Will] E-excuse me... sir... what is happening?
[Finn] Dammit...
[Storyteller] The elder fights his way down off the platform, through the crowd, and back to his house.
[Finn] I'm thinking we should just go by ourselves...
[Lamont] We should be part of that committee... Are you sure Finn?
[Will] I think... we should go for the committee. The town guards may be posted by the mine, and... if it's locked, we'll need a key.
[Storyteller] The crowd flows away from the well behind the elder like a horde of ants.
* Lynna scoffs.
[Lynna] I'm not working with some committee... let's get this over with the quick way.
[Lamont] You know, you're right... It looks like the whole town is gonna go up there... Let's go now. We have to save h... er... them.
* Finn casts a quick glance at Lamont and smirks...
* Lamont coughs.
[Lamont] The dust is bad here.
[Lynna] Hell... that guy said it was locked from the inside anyway... lot of good a key will do other than look shiny in your hand.
[Finn] Lynna's right.
[Will] Well then... let's start moving!
[Lamont] That's true...
[Lynna] I'm restless anyway...
[Finn] And besides, we don't want a mob of peasants bogging us down.
[Lamont] Well, we aren't gonna get anything done by standing here.
[Lamont] Let's to at least talk to the elder.
* Will hurries up to his room to draw out his gear, putting on his gloves, goggles and backpack, then hurrying back down.
[Lamont] Agreed?
[Lynna] Ok... But if I see one of them in my way to that mine, I'm showing them my meaning of democracy. :P
* Lynna holds up a shining claw.
* Finn nods to Lynna.
[Will] L-Lynna... ^^;;
[Storyteller] The elder's house is somewhat unavailable... Mainly due to the throng of villagers surrounding it.
[Lamont] Hmm... Well, those girls had to get in there some how. Let's go investigate.
[Lynna] Good idea Lamont. And since you've volunteered, you lead.
* Lynna smirks.
[Lamont] Me what?
[Lynna] Lead... as in go first... you do want to impress Cassandra, right? :P
* Lamont blushes a little.
[Lamont] I dunno if I'm cut out for that... But... I guess I'll try...
[Will] You seem to be the best one at it from us, so lead on. =)
[Lamont] OK... let's go then... . o O (If I am, boy are we in trouble... )
* Lamont starts off toward the mine.
* Finn shrugs and follows...
* Lynna follows Lamont, thinking she might have a new person to tease this trip. ^^
* Lamont appears rather determined, but quite uncertain... a very odd combination.
* Will tugs at the straps of his backpack, proceeding with his cane at hand.
* Finn walks faster...
[Finn] We'd better hurry.
* Lamont nods.
[Lamont] Yeah... who knows what awaits...
[Lynna] See something odd here? Wonder why I didn't up and go mining... ^^
[Lamont] Because we aren't here for money... At least I'm not.
[Will] Hm... Did you notice anything strange, Lynna... ? While you slept?
* Lynna shrugs.
[Lynna] If I did I probably ignored it.
[Lamont] I'm assuming your reconstruction is why you weren't seduced into following the other girls, Lynna.
[Storyteller] You quickly arrive at the mine entrance. The gate is indeed barred and locked.
[Lynna] I still have to get those facts straight... but in other news...
[Will] Strange...
[Finn] You think it was a seduction or a trance, Lamont?
[Lamont] Regardless of what it was, Finn... they are still gone.
* Lynna blinks and stares at the gate.
* Will quickly rushes to the entrance, examining the various bars and locks on the gate with his hands.
* Finn leans forward...
[Storyteller] Echoing from inside, you hear a voice raised in song. It's very, very soft... The miners likely didn't hear it, what with all the noise they were making.
[Lamont] Hmm... what do you think?
* Will blinks, lifting his goggles off his eyes, and pressing his ears against the gate.
[Lynna] I'm guessing that's our siren...
* Finn starts humming along softly.
[Will] It sounds like singing... but I don't think it's Salah...
[Finn] No, it's a high tenor...
[Lamont] I hear it too...
* Will takes a few steps backward.
* Lynna goes to examine the gate, seeing if it has any weaknesses to exploit.
[Finn] Probably a male voice...
[Lamont] Any idea on how to get in?
[Will] We'll... have to bash the gate in to enter... and if they disappeared during the night, they must have spent some time there already... so we'd better hurry!
[Lamont] Agreed, Will.
[Lynna] I'm working on it Will... got any bombs in that pack?
* Will lifts his Molten Cane.
* Lamont knocks on the door, seeing how sturdy it is.
[Storyteller] The door is fairly well built. It's wooden and barred with iron.
* Finn stands away from the door...
[Will] S-sorry, Lynna... I'd need a little more anticipation... ^^;
[Will] We'll have to do with magic and weapons for this... !
[Lamont] The wood wouldn't be such a big deal...
[Lynna] Hmm... if only we had some fire... we could burn the door.
[Lamont] The bars, though, are...
[Finn] Can't you cook up some evil little spell to break it down, Lynna?
[Lamont] Finn, I've got a stupid idea.
[Lynna] Hey... are you telling me what to do? Pipe down. ^^
[Lamont] You are a singer, right?
[Finn] Yep...
* Lamont points to the door.
[Lamont] Sing.
* Lynna tries backing up from the door... and firing a beam of darkness at it...
[Will] Wait, Lynna! Let Finn try first!
[Storyteller] Lynna's Negate Beam seems to be negated.
[Lynna] Well that was fun.
* Lynna sighs.
[Finn] Mmm...
[Finn] I'll give it a shot.
[Lamont] What do we have to lose right?
* Will nods.
[Will] If that doesn't work... we'll have to rush it...
* Finn makes motions for Lynna to move away from the door.
* Lynna is already quite far from it. :)
* Lamont stands behind Finn.
[Lynna] Are you going to resonate the iron and weaken it? Could work...
* Finn remembers the song he heard from behind the door, and begins to sing it perfectly...
[Will] Resonate... ? Theoretically, it could work, but... the kind of sound waves you would need for that aren't reachable by human beings without amplification...
[Storyteller] Finn's voice reaches out to the door... The voice barring it from the inside seems to rise in volume with his own.
* Lamont looks on, bashing himself mentally for suggesting such a far fetched plan.
* Will looks at the singing duel with interest.
* Lynna just nods uninterestedly.
[Lynna] I'll take your word for it, Will...
* Finn raises his volume... He easily begins singing louder than the other voice.
[Storyteller] The voice coincides.
* Finn raises AGAIN...
[Storyteller] As Finn belts out his full volume, the other voice stops. The door swings open.
[Will] !!
* Lamont's jaw drops.
[Lamont] It... worked?
[Will] I-incredible!
* Finn exhales loudly.
[Lamont] I suggested something... right?
[Will] Good idea, Lamont! Let's head in!!
* Lynna half smiles.
[Lynna] How about that... maybe all those opera floozies aren't half-bad.
[Lamont] Good job, Finn. Good thing I didn't try... I don't think I'm a good singer at all. :)
[Lynna] You're one for one Lamont... let's get going. ^^
[Finn] I'm glad it worked. Good idea, Lamont.
[Lamont] I'd best not push my luck... Lynna...
* Finn walks into the mine...
* Lamont follows enters as well, side by side with Finn.
[Lynna] There's no such thing as luck. You make your own path.
* Lynna heads inside the dark mine...
Baroton Mine
[Storyteller] The entrance to the mine is barely illuminated by the rising sun outside. Further down the black tunnel, you can see a flickering light, probably from a fire or torches.
[Lamont] Watch yourselves...
* Finn draws his sword uneasily.
* Will looks at the shaft, wondering what it is that the mine yields.
* Lamont draws is claws.
* Lynna walks onward, always ready for the next thing life throws her way.
* Lamont listens for the girls.
[Lamont] They sure picked a nice place to run away to.
[Storyteller] You walk down the straight hallway until you reach the circular opening. Scattered about are a range of mining implements: picks, axes, and what not.
* Lamont examines them, looking for any clues.
[Lynna] This must be where the local store gets most of it's iron.
[Storyteller] The flickering light is that of torches, mounted in brackets on the walls. Exiting from here are three dark tunnels.
[Will] But where is the voice coming from... ?
[Lamont] Good question...
[Will] Finn... can you tell?
* Lamont closes his eyes and summons a light ball in his hand.