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

Mithalwen · 11-09-2009, 07:28 AM

The flame gave Jessamy all the confirmation she needed - she did not know what she saw but she definitely saw something..

"There IS something in there and it's alive" she cried. As she spoke she stepped backwards cannoning into Edwin and then losing her footing tumbled over. The gravel grazed her outstretched hands but she knew that to show any pain would only add to the shame of having backed away from the entrance. She started to scramble to her knees, wiping her bloodied hands on her breeches as she did so then steeled herself to turn and look back at the barrow's mouth.

Bêthberry · 11-13-2009, 09:37 PM

Meg, thankful for the sudden appearance of a distraction, slunk back against the wall of the barrow as much as she could to avoid the noxious spray of the skunk. She watched the proceedings while her mind considered options. She wasn't sure if the skunk had hit anyone, but she watched as the girl careened back into Edwin and the two went tumbling just after Edwin had thrown the flaming wick. The other children shrieked and ran off, scrambling to get as far away as possible from whatever it was that Jessamy had seen. And from the scent.

That girl has poise and courage, Meg thought; she didn't cry out when the gravel scraped her hand. Meg contemplated trying to win the girl over as an ally but finally decided against it. She didn't know the girl well enough, had only seen her on market days in Bree. No, something else was needed.

Watching the flaming wick gave her an idea. It might not work, but was her best chance. Meg stepped sideways towards her cart. The wood was smelling now; it had caught a direct salvo from the skunk. Maybe that will keep it safe; who would want a stinking cart? she thought. Coming closer she was able to dig her hands into the pile of peat she had collected. Deep into the dirt her fingers dug, filling her nails and wrinkled skin with dirt. She grabbed a piece of peat without much time to take a good aim and threw it towards the entrance. Would it land before the wick?

Yes, yes it did. And seconds later the flames buried themselves into the dry mound of peat, sputtering at first and then suddenly bursting into glowing red embers, like an evil red eye come to spy on intruders. Some of the children screamed for real this time.

Meg saw her chance; while the children were watching the sudden appearance of burning embers she slunk out the far side of the barrow, rounded the corner, and hobbled away as fast as her aged hips would carry her. Another barrow, she thought. Let me find another barrow. Or better yet, a standing stone to hide behind. She tripped in the dark and rolled over, coming up against a stone. It would have to do. She pulled herself behind it, gasping for breath, feeling the gritty dirt in her nails as she ran her hands over the stone.

Durelin · 11-18-2009, 04:04 PM

As the small flame flashed through the darkness of the barrow, a shape shifted and eyes glinted in the light. Edwin went to take a step back, but not as quickly as Jessamy did. She slipped, falling onto the stones in front of the barrow, and taking him with her. He fell on his fear, and scrambled backward and up onto his feet again.

"What was that?" The words came out of his mouth practically before he could form them in his mind, crying out almost simultaneously with the girl. He heard a strange scratching in the barrow, and then he was hit by an awful stench.

"What is that?" he echoed himself.

Suddenly the flame disappeared, only to reappear as a deep and eerie glow. Some of the others cried out, but Edwin couldn't find the breath to do so. The scratching he had heard turned into heavy shuffling.

A low, guttural noise came from the barrow, and Edwin took another step back. The shape shifted around the smoldering light, part of it glowing red like the fire. Someone took off running behind him, and he was not sure why he didn't follow. In moments the creature crawled slowly into the afternoon light outside the barrow, growling and eyeing the humans.

Edwin felt his face redden, forgetting about the barrow and about the transforming flame. That was all it was...some big rodent. "Get," he yelled at it, prepared to chase it off. He looked for a stone nearby to toss at it.

Mithalwen · 11-20-2009, 10:59 AM

Jessamy's freckled nose wrinkled at the smell and her eyes provided mere confirmation of the nature of the beast. "Oh it's only a skunk!" she said and laughed with relief at the all too natural horror. She hoped that she hadn't caught the smell on her clothes - she was going to have to change back into her dress anyway before she got home but that wouldn't help her get the smell from her skin.

Back on her feet now she drifted away from the barrow's mouth so she could tell if she carried the stench with her - seems like she was lucky but there still would be her grazed hands to explain. Jessamy remembered seeing a little rivulet over the way, she would only be a moment and the others were scattered but not far away. And though she spent only a couple of minutes rinsing the blood and dust from her palms when she stood back up she could not see the others and though she heard voices it was hard to decide where they came from. Jessamy tried to retrace her steps but there was something strange about this place and she began to feel quite disorientated - and alone.

Durelin · 11-26-2009, 06:05 PM

"Oh it's only a skunk!" Edwin heard the girl say. Oh yes, he knew about skunks (or at least thought he did), though this was actually his first encounter with one. This was the farthest he'd been from the town himself, as it was for most with him. So he threw a good sized stone at the animal, foolishly not prepared for more of its stench. As soon as it triggered its defense mechanism all over him, Edwin cried out in disgust and took off, trying to escape the awful smell. Of course it only followed him, as it seeped into his clothes.

When he stopped, trying not to breathe through his nose, he looked around him. It seemed to have gotten darker, though they could not have been here in the Downs that long. He felt like he could not see as far as normally, as he could not see any of his companions. Even the barrow that he swore was the one the skunk had emerged from looked different.

Turning around, Edwin found himself looking at the edges of the Old Forest only meters away. How had he gotten here? Surely he had not run that far. He shuddered as he gazed into the trees, and into what was already darkness even though it was still in the afternoon. Or at least he thought it was. He looked up at the sky, but all he saw was a hazy glow low on the horizon.

Oh he'd better beat his father home. He had to head back. So he picked a direction, and called out nervously to his friends whom he expected to still be nearby at least. "Hey! Where'd you all go? I'm heading home to wash up!" "Ick," he added to himself.

A barrow seemed to suddenly rise up in front of him. He started to step around it, and found himself nearly standing under the stone lintel of its entrance. He scrambled away from it, only to find himself looking again into the wild shadows of the Old Forest. And he thought a pair of eyes were looking back at him.

Mithalwen · 11-28-2009, 01:28 PM

Jessamy really wasn't sure where she was now. The voices seemed to have led her deeper into the downs - she was sure she was now a long way from the road. Though it wasn't late in the afternoon, the days were short at this time of the year and already it seemed the light was fading. Maybe it was just the shadows cast by the mounds and standing stones. She started to feel scared and fought off the sudden urge to cry.

She shivered. It was really getting quite chilly now and she drew her hands up the sleeves of her jersey before remembering she had a cloak in her knapsack. And some food. She was too anxious to be really hungry even though it was a long time since breakfast but she felt she might just have a bit of the parkin Mrs Butterbur had given her at the Pony that morning. It's sweetness and the warmth of its ginger spice lifted her energy and spirits and she decided to climb one of the barrows to better spot her companions from a high vantage point.

Brushing away the crumbs and drawing the soft grey woollen folds of her cloak closer about her she made her way carefully up the steep sides of the nearest barrow.

11-09-2009, 07:28 AM	#1
Mithalwen Pilgrim Soul Join Date: May 2004 Location: watching the wonga-wonga birds circle... Posts: 9,461	The flame gave Jessamy all the confirmation she needed - she did not know what she saw but she definitely saw something.. "There IS something in there and it's alive" she cried. As she spoke she stepped backwards cannoning into Edwin and then losing her footing tumbled over. The gravel grazed her outstretched hands but she knew that to show any pain would only add to the shame of having backed away from the entrance. She started to scramble to her knees, wiping her bloodied hands on her breeches as she did so then steeled herself to turn and look back at the barrow's mouth. Last edited by Mithalwen; 11-14-2009 at 05:44 AM.

11-26-2009, 06:05 PM	#5
Durelin Estelo dagnir, Melo ring Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 3,063	"Oh it's only a skunk!" Edwin heard the girl say. Oh yes, he knew about skunks (or at least thought he did), though this was actually his first encounter with one. This was the farthest he'd been from the town himself, as it was for most with him. So he threw a good sized stone at the animal, foolishly not prepared for more of its stench. As soon as it triggered its defense mechanism all over him, Edwin cried out in disgust and took off, trying to escape the awful smell. Of course it only followed him, as it seeped into his clothes. When he stopped, trying not to breathe through his nose, he looked around him. It seemed to have gotten darker, though they could not have been here in the Downs that long. He felt like he could not see as far as normally, as he could not see any of his companions. Even the barrow that he swore was the one the skunk had emerged from looked different. Turning around, Edwin found himself looking at the edges of the Old Forest only meters away. How had he gotten here? Surely he had not run that far. He shuddered as he gazed into the trees, and into what was already darkness even though it was still in the afternoon. Or at least he thought it was. He looked up at the sky, but all he saw was a hazy glow low on the horizon. Oh he'd better beat his father home. He had to head back. So he picked a direction, and called out nervously to his friends whom he expected to still be nearby at least. "Hey! Where'd you all go? I'm heading home to wash up!" "Ick," he added to himself. A barrow seemed to suddenly rise up in front of him. He started to step around it, and found himself nearly standing under the stone lintel of its entrance. He scrambled away from it, only to find himself looking again into the wild shadows of the Old Forest. And he thought a pair of eyes were looking back at him. Last edited by Durelin; 04-27-2011 at 10:51 PM.

11-28-2009, 01:28 PM	#6
Mithalwen Pilgrim Soul Join Date: May 2004 Location: watching the wonga-wonga birds circle... Posts: 9,461	Jessamy really wasn't sure where she was now. The voices seemed to have led her deeper into the downs - she was sure she was now a long way from the road. Though it wasn't late in the afternoon, the days were short at this time of the year and already it seemed the light was fading. Maybe it was just the shadows cast by the mounds and standing stones. She started to feel scared and fought off the sudden urge to cry. She shivered. It was really getting quite chilly now and she drew her hands up the sleeves of her jersey before remembering she had a cloak in her knapsack. And some food. She was too anxious to be really hungry even though it was a long time since breakfast but she felt she might just have a bit of the parkin Mrs Butterbur had given her at the Pony that morning. It's sweetness and the warmth of its ginger spice lifted her energy and spirits and she decided to climb one of the barrows to better spot her companions from a high vantage point. Brushing away the crumbs and drawing the soft grey woollen folds of her cloak closer about her she made her way carefully up the steep sides of the nearest barrow. Last edited by Mithalwen; 12-09-2009 at 10:34 AM.

11-13-2009, 09:37 PM	#2
Bêthberry Cryptic Aura Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 6,003	Meg, thankful for the sudden appearance of a distraction, slunk back against the wall of the barrow as much as she could to avoid the noxious spray of the skunk. She watched the proceedings while her mind considered options. She wasn't sure if the skunk had hit anyone, but she watched as the girl careened back into Edwin and the two went tumbling just after Edwin had thrown the flaming wick. The other children shrieked and ran off, scrambling to get as far away as possible from whatever it was that Jessamy had seen. And from the scent. That girl has poise and courage, Meg thought; she didn't cry out when the gravel scraped her hand. Meg contemplated trying to win the girl over as an ally but finally decided against it. She didn't know the girl well enough, had only seen her on market days in Bree. No, something else was needed. Watching the flaming wick gave her an idea. It might not work, but was her best chance. Meg stepped sideways towards her cart. The wood was smelling now; it had caught a direct salvo from the skunk. Maybe that will keep it safe; who would want a stinking cart? she thought. Coming closer she was able to dig her hands into the pile of peat she had collected. Deep into the dirt her fingers dug, filling her nails and wrinkled skin with dirt. She grabbed a piece of peat without much time to take a good aim and threw it towards the entrance. Would it land before the wick? Yes, yes it did. And seconds later the flames buried themselves into the dry mound of peat, sputtering at first and then suddenly bursting into glowing red embers, like an evil red eye come to spy on intruders. Some of the children screamed for real this time. Meg saw her chance; while the children were watching the sudden appearance of burning embers she slunk out the far side of the barrow, rounded the corner, and hobbled away as fast as her aged hips would carry her. Another barrow, she thought. Let me find another barrow. Or better yet, a standing stone to hide behind. She tripped in the dark and rolled over, coming up against a stone. It would have to do. She pulled herself behind it, gasping for breath, feeling the gritty dirt in her nails as she ran her hands over the stone.

11-18-2009, 04:04 PM	#3
Durelin Estelo dagnir, Melo ring Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 3,063	As the small flame flashed through the darkness of the barrow, a shape shifted and eyes glinted in the light. Edwin went to take a step back, but not as quickly as Jessamy did. She slipped, falling onto the stones in front of the barrow, and taking him with her. He fell on his fear, and scrambled backward and up onto his feet again. "What was that?" The words came out of his mouth practically before he could form them in his mind, crying out almost simultaneously with the girl. He heard a strange scratching in the barrow, and then he was hit by an awful stench. "What is that?" he echoed himself. Suddenly the flame disappeared, only to reappear as a deep and eerie glow. Some of the others cried out, but Edwin couldn't find the breath to do so. The scratching he had heard turned into heavy shuffling. A low, guttural noise came from the barrow, and Edwin took another step back. The shape shifted around the smoldering light, part of it glowing red like the fire. Someone took off running behind him, and he was not sure why he didn't follow. In moments the creature crawled slowly into the afternoon light outside the barrow, growling and eyeing the humans. Edwin felt his face redden, forgetting about the barrow and about the transforming flame. That was all it was...some big rodent. "Get," he yelled at it, prepared to chase it off. He looked for a stone nearby to toss at it.

11-20-2009, 10:59 AM	#4
Mithalwen Pilgrim Soul Join Date: May 2004 Location: watching the wonga-wonga birds circle... Posts: 9,461	Jessamy's freckled nose wrinkled at the smell and her eyes provided mere confirmation of the nature of the beast. "Oh it's only a skunk!" she said and laughed with relief at the all too natural horror. She hoped that she hadn't caught the smell on her clothes - she was going to have to change back into her dress anyway before she got home but that wouldn't help her get the smell from her skin. Back on her feet now she drifted away from the barrow's mouth so she could tell if she carried the stench with her - seems like she was lucky but there still would be her grazed hands to explain. Jessamy remembered seeing a little rivulet over the way, she would only be a moment and the others were scattered but not far away. And though she spent only a couple of minutes rinsing the blood and dust from her palms when she stood back up she could not see the others and though she heard voices it was hard to decide where they came from. Jessamy tried to retrace her steps but there was something strange about this place and she began to feel quite disorientated - and alone.