Wight Fright: "Fog on the Barrow-Downs" RPG - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Durelin · 11-01-2009, 07:46 PM

As soon as he was convinced that his feet had stepped over whatever border there was between the quiet hills of western Bree-land and the even quieter hills of the Barrow-downs, Edwin felt a chill come over him and hoped dearly that no one would see the goosebumps on his arms. He thought about unrolling his sleeves, but that would be too obvious. They passed the first barrow a little ways off to their right, as Edwin could not quite bring his feet to veer in that direction. He stared up at the stone, which looked like it was being swallowed up by the barrow, as it was half grown over with green. It really was a bit chilly... No, no fidgeting, he told himself. Too awkward.

He turned around to walk backwards pretend-casually. As he turned, though, he thought he caught a glimpse of movement behind the barrow, but when he turned his head to look directly at the barrow again, there was nothing there. His stomach tied itself into a knot, and for a moment all of his being was focused on that barrow.

Edwin found himself tripping backward, barely catching himself from falling, as someone bumped straight into him. Apparently he had stopped walking, as well. barrows and wights all but forgotten, Edwin did his best to recover. "Watch where you're going! Is this just an afternoon stroll, or do you actually want to check out one of these barrows?" He was still looking at the barrow they had just passed, not sure if he wanted to know if he really did see anything or not.

Mithalwen · 11-02-2009, 07:03 AM

Jessamy who had found her clothing a little too warm on the walk was now grateful for the hairy wool sweater. It's mustardy coulour was not the best complement to rusty hair but its hem fell near to her knees and having forgotten to bring gloves she allowed the too long sleeves to slip over her hands. Even so she too shivered a little but would not think of getting her cloak from her bag while there were boys still in shirtsleeves.

The Downs did not seem such an enticing place now. She had seen them before but only from the road - her father had taken her along on a short trip to the Shire a few years ago when he had been looking in to growing pipeweed, and in the early light of a clear midsummer morning they had seemed ripe for exploration and quite unthreatening. But now she was not safely tucked in the back of the little farm waggon with the reassuring presence of her father and eldest brother on the boxseat. She only had the company of some other children scarce older or larger than herself and suddenly she felt a little scared. she had never been so far without adults or at least one of the big brothers, who, much as they had grumbled at times at having their pesky little sister tag along, had succesfully protected her from any peril of the world greater than bramble scratches or grazed knees.

But they were all grown now or nearly - the eldest Silas was married and living in Archet where he worked with his father-in-law, a woodman, Seth worked with his father on the farm and the younger two, Bryn and Filbert apprentices in Bree-town and so not free to join the expedition even if they knew about it.

Her nerves made her answer to Edwin more scornful than she really intended.

"Of course we do! You aren't scared are you". The sun seemed to have faded from the sky and she silently chanted to herself "I am not scared, I am not scared"...

Durelin · 11-02-2009, 06:49 PM

Edwin turned his attention from the oaf of a boy who had bumped into him toward the girl. She wasn't that much shorter than him, he realized, which made him feel even more self-conscious. Where did she come from? He didn't remember seeing her join the group. He had seen her before, though, always hanging around, pestering the older kids rather than spending time with those closer to her age and in the sight of her parents.

"That's what I want to know of you all! Are you too scared?" he spoke half to the hobbit girl, and half to the rest of the party, hoping he would not have to go near that barrow by himself. "It's alright if you are - it's brave enough that you came all the way out here without your mother."

Edwin turned his back to the others a bit dramatically, and began strolling toward the barrow as casually as he could manage, listening for following footsteps. His eyes were again locked on the barrow. He tried to tell himself that he had not seen anything, but he could picture in his mind the glimpse he had of the figure all too easily.

Mithalwen · 11-03-2009, 12:42 PM

Jessamy bristled. Her blue eyes flashed with anger, "I go lots of places without my mother!" she pronounced. She did not elaborate, having the wit to realise that School, her brother's place and other routine errands round Breeland, where just about everyone knew everyone else and watched out for each others' children, weren't in the same league as wandering the downs amongst these strange stones and mounds. She remembered that her father had said that they were tombs of the ancient kings, that they were many strange tales about them and the old forest beyond but though Jessamy was a great one for stories of the old days she pushed them to the back of her mind now.

She squared her shoulders, and marched determinedly towards the barrow's entrance, her pace enough to overtake Edwin, hissing "I am not scared" defiantly as she did so. Yet she too saw a flicker of something as she reached the stone portal. Just a shadow she told herself knowing full well that the sun was still too high to cast a shadow so long and too pale for one so strong. She could not flinch in front of Edwin now. It would be as bad as showing fear in front of Filbert. The youngest of her brothers, for so long the youngest child, felt less responsibility for her than his elders and bore perhaps a lingering slight resentment towards his usurper which meant he would lead her wilfully into mischief at times.

Jessamy walked on, only pausing under the stone lintel to turn and enquire of Edwin with deliberate insouciance - "I don't suppose you thought to bring a lamp?"

Bêthberry · 11-05-2009, 08:07 PM

Meg held her wheezy breath, feeling her hip ache from the effort of fast movement towards the barrow. Luckily she was able to push her cart ahead of her into the barrow, but she held the line at entering too far into it herself.

That drated Edwin, she thought to herself. Why would he venture out here? And bring a pack of boys full of tomfoolery. She'd been tormented enough lately around Bree with the bratty boys who felt so lordly threatening an old woman. And why that girl was so fond of following after them she couldn't fathom. Slowly Meg's breath calmed down and she took a quick peek out towards the entrance in the hopes the childern would walk past the barrow.

A noise at her back made her start and she gulped air, stale and foul tasting air.

Mithalwen · 11-06-2009, 05:25 PM

Jessamy was annoyed with herself for not thinking about light but she had been so preoccupied with getting away to join the expedition that she hadn't really thought about what they would do when they got there. It would have been hard to explain why she was taking a lantern to visit a school friend but she could easily have smuggled a candle or two from the kitchen. It was too late to worry about it now..if none of the others were better prepared then they would have to do without. Light or no light she couldn't see a way of backing out of this with dignity.

Waiting for an answer she thought she heard something but from inside the barrow not from the boys outside. Her heart froze and instinctively she flattened herself against the stone of the portal. Jessamy could feel its cold through her clothes but it seemed less than the chill within.

Now she heard one of the boys' voices "What's the matter ? Lost your nerve?"

"Shhh I think I can hear something!", replied the girl turning towards the others. Her boots seemed disproportionately noisy as they ground on the small loose stones on the entrance floor. "It was like a creak and a sigh"

"Probably just the wind"

But Jessamy was sure it wasn't the wind . The day was still and this sound had definitely come from inside the barrow.

Durelin · 11-07-2009, 11:58 PM

Edwin grinned at the girl's reply. 'Lots of places!' Like where? His grin, to his own surprise, lingered as he approached the barrow behind Jessamy. But at her question, Edwin's grin disappeared. No, he had not thought to bring any source of light. His hand slipped into his shirt pocket, where he had a flint and steel - it was for some reason just the sort of thing he carried with him - but that would do him little good with nothing to light. He was trying to think of a response that might rescue him from looking like a fool when suddenly a noise came from the barrow.

Edwin fought with himself frantically over whether it had come from inside the barrow or not. The suggestion that it was the wind did not settle his mind. If it was the wind, how could the sound be from inside the barrow?

"Does anyone have anything we can light?" he asked, trying vainly to make his voice even. "Anything at all?" He was not sure why he still felt it necessary to follow through with investigating this barrow, but part of him wanted to now more than ever.

One of the boys stepped forward enough to produce a few long wicks. Edwin lit one and held it in front of him and over Jessamy's shoulder. He was not sure how long it would take him to get himself to take even a step into the barrow, so after watching the flame flicker for a moment, it barely denting the shadows on the edge of which it hovered, he tossed the burning wick through the doorway of stones.

11-02-2009, 07:03 AM	#2
Mithalwen Pilgrim Soul Join Date: May 2004 Location: watching the wonga-wonga birds circle... Posts: 9,461	Jessamy who had found her clothing a little too warm on the walk was now grateful for the hairy wool sweater. It's mustardy coulour was not the best complement to rusty hair but its hem fell near to her knees and having forgotten to bring gloves she allowed the too long sleeves to slip over her hands. Even so she too shivered a little but would not think of getting her cloak from her bag while there were boys still in shirtsleeves. The Downs did not seem such an enticing place now. She had seen them before but only from the road - her father had taken her along on a short trip to the Shire a few years ago when he had been looking in to growing pipeweed, and in the early light of a clear midsummer morning they had seemed ripe for exploration and quite unthreatening. But now she was not safely tucked in the back of the little farm waggon with the reassuring presence of her father and eldest brother on the boxseat. She only had the company of some other children scarce older or larger than herself and suddenly she felt a little scared. she had never been so far without adults or at least one of the big brothers, who, much as they had grumbled at times at having their pesky little sister tag along, had succesfully protected her from any peril of the world greater than bramble scratches or grazed knees. But they were all grown now or nearly - the eldest Silas was married and living in Archet where he worked with his father-in-law, a woodman, Seth worked with his father on the farm and the younger two, Bryn and Filbert apprentices in Bree-town and so not free to join the expedition even if they knew about it. Her nerves made her answer to Edwin more scornful than she really intended. "Of course we do! You aren't scared are you". The sun seemed to have faded from the sky and she silently chanted to herself "I am not scared, I am not scared"... Last edited by Mithalwen; 02-10-2010 at 07:32 AM.

11-02-2009, 06:49 PM	#3
Durelin Estelo dagnir, Melo ring Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 3,063	Edwin turned his attention from the oaf of a boy who had bumped into him toward the girl. She wasn't that much shorter than him, he realized, which made him feel even more self-conscious. Where did she come from? He didn't remember seeing her join the group. He had seen her before, though, always hanging around, pestering the older kids rather than spending time with those closer to her age and in the sight of her parents. "That's what I want to know of you all! Are you too scared?" he spoke half to the hobbit girl, and half to the rest of the party, hoping he would not have to go near that barrow by himself. "It's alright if you are - it's brave enough that you came all the way out here without your mother." Edwin turned his back to the others a bit dramatically, and began strolling toward the barrow as casually as he could manage, listening for following footsteps. His eyes were again locked on the barrow. He tried to tell himself that he had not seen anything, but he could picture in his mind the glimpse he had of the figure all too easily. Last edited by Durelin; 11-03-2009 at 11:36 AM.

11-03-2009, 12:42 PM	#4
Mithalwen Pilgrim Soul Join Date: May 2004 Location: watching the wonga-wonga birds circle... Posts: 9,461	Jessamy bristled. Her blue eyes flashed with anger, "I go lots of places without my mother!" she pronounced. She did not elaborate, having the wit to realise that School, her brother's place and other routine errands round Breeland, where just about everyone knew everyone else and watched out for each others' children, weren't in the same league as wandering the downs amongst these strange stones and mounds. She remembered that her father had said that they were tombs of the ancient kings, that they were many strange tales about them and the old forest beyond but though Jessamy was a great one for stories of the old days she pushed them to the back of her mind now. She squared her shoulders, and marched determinedly towards the barrow's entrance, her pace enough to overtake Edwin, hissing "I am not scared" defiantly as she did so. Yet she too saw a flicker of something as she reached the stone portal. Just a shadow she told herself knowing full well that the sun was still too high to cast a shadow so long and too pale for one so strong. She could not flinch in front of Edwin now. It would be as bad as showing fear in front of Filbert. The youngest of her brothers, for so long the youngest child, felt less responsibility for her than his elders and bore perhaps a lingering slight resentment towards his usurper which meant he would lead her wilfully into mischief at times. Jessamy walked on, only pausing under the stone lintel to turn and enquire of Edwin with deliberate insouciance - "I don't suppose you thought to bring a lamp?" Last edited by Mithalwen; 11-08-2009 at 11:01 AM.

11-06-2009, 05:25 PM	#6
Mithalwen Pilgrim Soul Join Date: May 2004 Location: watching the wonga-wonga birds circle... Posts: 9,461	Jessamy was annoyed with herself for not thinking about light but she had been so preoccupied with getting away to join the expedition that she hadn't really thought about what they would do when they got there. It would have been hard to explain why she was taking a lantern to visit a school friend but she could easily have smuggled a candle or two from the kitchen. It was too late to worry about it now..if none of the others were better prepared then they would have to do without. Light or no light she couldn't see a way of backing out of this with dignity. Waiting for an answer she thought she heard something but from inside the barrow not from the boys outside. Her heart froze and instinctively she flattened herself against the stone of the portal. Jessamy could feel its cold through her clothes but it seemed less than the chill within. Now she heard one of the boys' voices "What's the matter ? Lost your nerve?" "Shhh I think I can hear something!", replied the girl turning towards the others. Her boots seemed disproportionately noisy as they ground on the small loose stones on the entrance floor. "It was like a creak and a sigh" "Probably just the wind" But Jessamy was sure it wasn't the wind . The day was still and this sound had definitely come from inside the barrow. Last edited by Mithalwen; 11-08-2009 at 11:02 AM.

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11-01-2009, 07:46 PM	#1
Durelin Estelo dagnir, Melo ring Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 3,063	As soon as he was convinced that his feet had stepped over whatever border there was between the quiet hills of western Bree-land and the even quieter hills of the Barrow-downs, Edwin felt a chill come over him and hoped dearly that no one would see the goosebumps on his arms. He thought about unrolling his sleeves, but that would be too obvious. They passed the first barrow a little ways off to their right, as Edwin could not quite bring his feet to veer in that direction. He stared up at the stone, which looked like it was being swallowed up by the barrow, as it was half grown over with green. It really was a bit chilly... No, no fidgeting, he told himself. Too awkward. He turned around to walk backwards pretend-casually. As he turned, though, he thought he caught a glimpse of movement behind the barrow, but when he turned his head to look directly at the barrow again, there was nothing there. His stomach tied itself into a knot, and for a moment all of his being was focused on that barrow. Edwin found himself tripping backward, barely catching himself from falling, as someone bumped straight into him. Apparently he had stopped walking, as well. barrows and wights all but forgotten, Edwin did his best to recover. "Watch where you're going! Is this just an afternoon stroll, or do you actually want to check out one of these barrows?" He was still looking at the barrow they had just passed, not sure if he wanted to know if he really did see anything or not.

11-05-2009, 08:07 PM	#5
Bêthberry Cryptic Aura Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 6,003	Meg held her wheezy breath, feeling her hip ache from the effort of fast movement towards the barrow. Luckily she was able to push her cart ahead of her into the barrow, but she held the line at entering too far into it herself. That drated Edwin, she thought to herself. Why would he venture out here? And bring a pack of boys full of tomfoolery. She'd been tormented enough lately around Bree with the bratty boys who felt so lordly threatening an old woman. And why that girl was so fond of following after them she couldn't fathom. Slowly Meg's breath calmed down and she took a quick peek out towards the entrance in the hopes the childern would walk past the barrow. A noise at her back made her start and she gulped air, stale and foul tasting air.

11-07-2009, 11:58 PM	#7
Durelin Estelo dagnir, Melo ring Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 3,063	Edwin grinned at the girl's reply. 'Lots of places!' Like where? His grin, to his own surprise, lingered as he approached the barrow behind Jessamy. But at her question, Edwin's grin disappeared. No, he had not thought to bring any source of light. His hand slipped into his shirt pocket, where he had a flint and steel - it was for some reason just the sort of thing he carried with him - but that would do him little good with nothing to light. He was trying to think of a response that might rescue him from looking like a fool when suddenly a noise came from the barrow. Edwin fought with himself frantically over whether it had come from inside the barrow or not. The suggestion that it was the wind did not settle his mind. If it was the wind, how could the sound be from inside the barrow? "Does anyone have anything we can light?" he asked, trying vainly to make his voice even. "Anything at all?" He was not sure why he still felt it necessary to follow through with investigating this barrow, but part of him wanted to now more than ever. One of the boys stepped forward enough to produce a few long wicks. Edwin lit one and held it in front of him and over Jessamy's shoulder. He was not sure how long it would take him to get himself to take even a step into the barrow, so after watching the flame flicker for a moment, it barely denting the shadows on the edge of which it hovered, he tossed the burning wick through the doorway of stones.