Wight Fright: "Fog on the Barrow-Downs" RPG

[Mithalwen]

At Woodseaves Farm

"Mum? Where are you?"

"In here Seth.... I mean Silas". Sukey had seen the tall figure looming in the shadow of the kitchen doorway and not unreasonably had assumed it was her resident son not her first born. The two eldest were fairly alike having their father's height and lean build but their mother's hair.

"Can't you tell us apart yet, Mother?"

"Of course, I can dear - I just wasn't expecting you. What brings you here?" She left her wool and returned to the kitchen to put the kettle on the stove, correctly anticipating that tea was unlikely to be refused.

"We broke a haul chain this morning - I have been in the workshop trying to mend it but it's no good. I'll have to take it to the forge and get Bryn to fix it properly - I have to take a load of firewood to the Pony anyway later and I thought Seth might lend me a hand in return for a pint" .

"I think you can take that as a given - he is up in top field ploughing at the moment but they shouldn't be long now... why don't you bring Fern with you and she can stay with me while you go into town and tell me what she wants me to do with that wool. Then you can both stay to supper.. I have made too much again" she added ruefully.

"That sound's like a plan... what have you done with Jessie?"

"Oh she has gone to see Cal Boffin - you can round her up for me if she isn't back by the time you go". This information stirred something in Silas' memory but it was only later, back in his own cottage, when he relayed the invitation to his wife that he remembered that the Boffins had gone away to the Shire and that it would be odd if Jessamy hadn't known that full well.

On the Downs

Jessamy's imagination was too full of wolves to pass off the faint regular thudding noise as merely the sound of her own blood pounding as her heart rate increased with her fear. She knew the sound of a dog running well enough but now was convinced that this faint beat belonged to a larger fiercer version. She started to run full pelt no longer heeding the direction of woods or fading sun only caring to get as far away as possible from the beast that followed her. She hurtled along seeking a route between the mounds having dismissed the idea of sheltering in one... the skunk incident hadn't dismissed the notion that things more sinister might lurk within. She'd take her chances in the open.

However quick she was, two feet were never going to outpace four. The footfalls got closer and closer; she did not dare to look round yet even so, in her haste, she tripped and fell for the second time that day and as she fell she knew that the beast had caught her up. She closed her eyes and steeled her self for whatever was to come, curling into a ball her arms over her face.

The lick to her hand was not what she expected at all she uncovered her face and opened her eyes to see a dog, large and dark and a bit rough looking but still a perfectly ordinary dog. And one she thought she knew.... Prince was it? No.....

"Hullo Duke" she murmured stroking his ears, "you did scare me, you silly thing, what are you doing up here?"

[Durelin]

As Karl went after Duke, jogging a bit but not really rushing to catch the dog, he thought he heard a voice -- a female voice. Soon he discovered the source of it, as he came upon Duke and what he had found.

"Jessamy!" Karl could not help by cry out. "What...what are you doing out here?" he asked with great concern. "And alone, that's even worse..." he continued, rambling a bit in his surprise.

~*~

Edwin wandered in what he believed to be the general direction of home. He was surprised when he came across a small pool of water, really a puddle, though it had been several days since it last rained. He eyed it for a moment -- it was not the most pleasant looking water -- but shortly he bent down and splashed some of the water on his face to feel at least a little less...disgusting.

Drops of the water unavoidably passed his lips, and when he found himself licking them off the inside of his lips by habit, he discovered he was quite thirsty and the water did not seem so bad after all. It tasted almost...sweet. So he cupped his hands in the pool and put them up to his mouth. Feeling refreshed and, strangely, far less afraid, Edwin went to stand from his crouched position, and instead only wobbled a bit before he fell over beside the pool, the world suddenly lost to him.

~*~

Meanwhile... There was a crispness and coolness about the air, and the whole world had turned a bit grey even as evening approached. It always snuck up on you around this time of year, the approach of darkness and supper time. Soon pieces of heaven began to fall from the sky, white flakes fluttering down to stick tentatively to the cold grass.

[Mithalwen]

On the Downs

"Hullo Karl" , answered Jessamy. She didn't know Karl well - noone seemed to really - but so relieved was she to see someone that wasn't a spectre or a werewolf that she couldn't care less that most Breelanders thought that he was a queer fish. Besides she remembered her father's words when he had chided the youngest of her brothers for some derogatory comment about him "He walks to the beat of a different drum but that doesn't mean there is any harm in him". Erling Woodseaves had been an outsider himself, having migrated up the Greenway after the floods that followed the Fell Winter destroyed Tharbad. Nearly thirty years on this was seldom remembered save by the few who bore a lingering resentment that he had acquired by marriage a fine farm as well as a fair wife. He had become a part of the community but he would not tolerate narrowmindedness in his children.


"It was meant to be an adventure...but it has turned out quite horribly ... and I didn't come alone ...Edwin and some others were here but we got separated and I didn't like to go home without them... and now it is getting dark and I am going to be in so much trouble... " her voice tailed of and she was trying hard not to cry with the relief of no longer being alone.

Breeland

Knowing Jessamy could not possibly be where she was placed her eldest brother on the horns of a dilemma. Silas was torn between sibling loyalty and the fear that something bad might have happened to his sister which would be exacerbated by his silence. Their mother’s heedless request that they fetch her home with them now filled him with guilt.

He hoped in vain that Jessamy would be already home when he returned to the farm and it was only when Fern was safely installed in the cosy parlour with Sukey and the knitting wool that he confided his fears to Seth as they set off.


Seth had laughed at his worries teasing him that it was impending fatherhood that had made him overly concerned and rather enjoying the opportunity to lecture his elder brother. “No, I don’t think we should tell Dad. We skived off enough when we were her age and no harm done. Jessie won’t thank you for getting her into trouble for nothing. Chances are we will find her in the snug of the Pony, pestering hapless travellers for stories and drinking Mrs Butterbur’s hot chocolate - besides Dad’s done in, he was asleep in his chair more or less as soon as we got in. And mum would be frantic... no need to worry them until we know there is something to worry about”.

Silas nodded but his mood did not lighten. Maybe Seth was right and he was going soft but he was particularly fond of his baby sister - after a succession of brothers she had been a novelty, like a foxcub, with her russet hair and bright blue eyes, and when she had curled her tiny fist around his finger she had set a grip on his heart that had not weakened a decade later. And nothing Seth could say would dispel the fear that he might not see her again. It was as well the sturdy ponies that drew the waggon knew the road for they got little guidance from their fretful master.

Soon the waggon reached Bree’s South gate. They stopped first at the forge, dropped off the chain that needed mending and learnt from Bryn some news of their sister. Jessamy had passed by first thing in the morning but he hadn’t seen her since - though he was of a mind with Seth that she was probably fine. Shorter and stockier than his elder brothers he had an easygoing nature that wasn’t prone to flights of imagination. “I’ll just finish off here” he said wiping his hands on his leather apron, and I’ll join you at the inn - if she’s not there I’ll help you look and if she is you can buy me a pint”.

[Durelin]

Karl shook his head again as he tried to control Duke. The dog at least was staying relatively still, though he shook slightly with excitement, and would not heed any indication to sit. As the man looked up into the sky and saw the white flurries drifting down around him, for the moment sparse, he realized why the dog had been so antsy this afternoon. He was still particularly impressed by snow. He had fur.

"An adventure? You should have more sense than to follow that boy Edwin. He hasn't got a decent head on his shoulders, not yet anyway. And at his rate he won't live to grow one. Now what did you think you would find out here, other than a lot of mounds and stones. Has some fool gone and started rumors about treasure again? Whether or not you believe that nonsense about the barrow-men you're a fool to think there's still anything in those graves that hasn't been taken by some scoundrel before our grandfathers were born."

Karl rambled slightly, which was typical for someone who did not consistently talk to another human. He talked to Duke as if he were another man -- though really more as if he was a child -- and was quite accustomed to such speechless if not quiet company. He did not notice any sign of distress in Jessamy's face or voice as he continued to talk half to himself.

"Duke is no good at finding any creatures, but he does seem pretty good at finding kids out here. Not that that's a common find. Should we go look for that blockhead Edwin?" he asked, but then almost immediately furrowed his brow and shook his head to himself. "No, no, maybe we should get you home first, and I can find the boy. And let his folks know..."

[Mithalwen]

On the downs

Jessamy hadn't immediately noticed the snow her gaze had been downcast through a mixture of shyness and shame at her folly and weakness but she followed Karl's gaze upwards and saw the flakes pale against the fading sky. They already started to settle on her hair and chilled her upturned face... she shivered and drew her cloak around her, grateful that she had brought it despite the bright promise of the morning - winter sun had no heat in it and a bright day often was followed by a very cold night. She so wanted to be home, safe by the fire with her family near that she nearly agreed with Karl ...but then she remembered Edwin standing at the barrow entrance in his shirtsleeves....

"No Karl we can't , it is too far... by the time you get me home it will be dark and Edwin hasn't got a cloak or anything... if he is stuck out here he will freeze."


In Bree
Jessamy was not at the Pony and at that point, Seth conceded that maybe Silas had not been worrying unnecessarily. Especially since Filbert, the youngest of the brothers was decidedly shifty when asked if he knew where she was. His brothers knew of old ways to extract the truth; resistance was futile - and potentially painful - in the face of the united front presented by his elders.

“Ow Seth, get off me... I think she’s gone to the Barrow Downs”.

Seth’s grip released through shock rather than mercy and all looked at Filbert aghast. It was not a place any off them would chose to venture save perhaps in the warmth and light of a midsummer day.

“What do you mean you think she’s gone?”

Filbert’s words now came in a rush “A group of lads have been planning to go for ages ... its been an open secret for weeks...Edwin and his crowd - and they went this morning - I think Jessamy tagged along.. she was here earlier.. Mum sent some stuff to Mrs Butterbur - then I think Jess changed clothes in the barn. Her basket is hidden in there with her dress.. When I saw her going towards the West gate she was wearing breeches and one of your old jerseys...”

He eyed nervously his brothers who were regarding him with something near digust

“You let her go? She’s ten Fil... didn’t you think you should stop her? Or at least tell someone?”

“I knew you were jealous of her, but I didn’t realise you actually hated her” , Seth’s accusation was painfully close to the truth.

“I ..I don’t hate her...” but Filbert had to admit to himself that he had hoped the sister he regarded as a spoilt brat would get into trouble for once.

“Well you better hope she gets back alright then”, Seth snarled and his fist clenched. Silas laid his had on his brother’s arm "I thought I was the over protective one" he observed drily.

Ever practical, it was Bryn who pointed out that recriminations wouldn’t help them find Jessamy.

Bryn and Silas unloaded the cart as quickly as possible while Seth ran to the East Gatehouse for news and Filbert was sent in to find if any new comers to the inn had travelled that road. Seth was back first and gasped his message as his brothers stacked the last of the logs. Jessamy had definitely followed the group but there had been no sight of any of them since the morning. But from the look of the clouds to the East he guessed there would be snow on the Downs ere night fall.

[Durelin]

Karl twisted his lips in consternation. The girl was right, but he felt terribly irresponsible to let her stay out here in the Downs even a moment longer. What would her parents think, if they came out to find her, and saw that she was with him, but he had done nothing to take her back home? Oh, he thought to himself, since when have I cared what anyone sees me as. I am a bit of a fool like they say, anyhow.

"Oh," he voiced his worry, "you're right, you're right. The fool boy, not even prepared for his great journey, of course. And if any others are out... Here, it may not be dark yet, but let me get out my lantern, and hopefully anyone out here will see it and come to us, unless of course there's some stories about deathly lights or some such..." Karl finished with a mutter, and pulled a lantern from a hook on his pack and lit it.

"Let's see if Duke can track another one of you kids. There's little else alive out here, at least that he's interested in. Though there was that skunk he got hung up on...let's hope he doesn't just pick that scent up again..."

"Go, Duke!" he called a command, and the dog did at least stop his happy shaking and started sniffing the ground.

[Mithalwen]

On the Downs

At first Jessamy tried to keep pace with the dog but his four legs had more energy left in them now than her two and after a short while she stopped running, let Duke go ahead and paused to waiting for the man to catch up.

Though the snow seemed to slow the fading of the light the Downs was still an eerie and greying world and looking back the glow of the lantern, small in the vastness of the landscape, made Karl’s talk of willow the wisps seem plausible.

“It don’t know what I expected to find here... I didn’t really think the stories were true ... until I was up here on my own” she added trying to convince herself and chosing to ignore the fact that she had had nightmares for a week after Seth had responded to her demand for a bedtime story with a particularly gruesome version of the legend of the old kings. After all she had only been seven at the time.

“Though treasure would have been nice ...” her voice tailed off as her mind wandered to the old story of the fairy princess and the magic necklace and Jessamy imagined what it would be like to have such a thing. Then she remembered that that story had wolves in it too. But it also had a brave and loyal hound and she turned her gaze back to Duke lest she lose sight of him as the snow fell thicker. The large soft flakes were settling on her cloak hood and she wrapped the ends of her sleeves around her hands. She hoped that Duke would find the others soon or if he found nothing maybe that was a sign that the others had already gone back to town and they could head back with a clearer conscience.

Karl might be an unlikely representative of her normal world but having been found by him she was no longer strictly speaking lost - though her relief was tempered by the certainty she wouuld face punishment on her return. She knew the later she was back the more severe it would be but it couldn't be helped. She couldn't have let Karl see her safe home without a thought for Edwin and the others.

She briefly wrapped her small cold hand around Karl's. "I am sorry to be a nuisance - but I am so glad you found me"

Then before he could react Jessamy remembered something he had said earlier and added "Did you say Duke found a skunk... we did too in one of the Barrows - that was how we got separated running away from the smell - I didn't get squirted 'cos I had alreday fallen over out of the way... but the others might have... and unless there are lots of skunks up there we might not be so far away after all. I don't think I went so far but it seems hard to keep people in sight up here" she added.