Staunton Bluffs Episode I: To the Borderstone

Le Noir Faineant · Post by **Le Noir Faineant** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 4:21 am

So, you begin your seemlingly endless walk through the snowy waste, already exhausted and trembling.

After three or four hours of travelling without any sense of direction, and battered by the hostile weather, you suddenly find yourselves on the hedge of a high cliff.

No rocks or natural signs warn of the sharp bend that now opens only a few feet before you.

You are standing on a huge, neverending coastline that stretches as far they eye can see.

Hundreds of feet below you, you can see dark water break on the rocky shore, but when the waves crush against the wall of stone, no sound can be heard.

Right before you, a small, fragile-looking bridge of stone and earth goes on over the sea miles into the nowhere.

kintire · Post by **kintire** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 4:59 am

Shana gazes out rather hopelessly across the rolling sea, and then eyes the bridge doubtfully.

"do we cross? it looks... artificial. It must lead somewhere..."

DamienJ · Post by **DamienJ** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 12:39 pm

Panting from the exertion of carrying Lodissio, Nicolas is glad for the break while the group studies thsi new obstacle.

"Well, we can't stay here, and we can't go back. Can anyone see anything further down the coast? Perhaps there is a village nearby...if not, one of you not carrying him" he gestures to Lodissio with his chin, "could test the bridge, make sure it's safe for the rest of us...until then, can we set him down for a moment?"

[If the other two assent...]

Carefully laying Lodissio on the hard ground, Nicolas stands back up, rubbing his shoulders with a look of relief.

"I must say, I am not accustomed to such exertions. I spent more time studying in my school's library, and even more time studying in my city's bars and cafe's, than I did practicing carrying heavy objects..."

Tavian · Post by **Tavian** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 2:46 pm

"Being that I weigh the least of the group, I suppose I should go first. If you still have that rope, perhaps now would be a good time to tie ourselves together. That way, if something happens I won't fall," says Tavian.

He looks nervously at the bridge.

"It's got to lead somewhere."

BigBadQDaddy · Post by **BigBadQDaddy** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 8:20 pm

Alain eyes the bridge with complete distrust.
"perhaps the Idea of looking for a village may be a wiser course. This bridge might support us at first, but who knows how long before it could give, or how long before the tide may sweep up to take us. I say we head in this direction..." He says pointing to the right while facing the ocean.
"It is highly likley that there may be a coastal village, or if we are lucky, a port." He then runs his fingers throuigh his hair in his usual nervous gesture before continuing.
"Also it may be a fatal decision for our freind."He says gesturing to Lodissio.
"the wind over the sea may prove too cold and wet for him in this condition." He then looks to the party for a response.

Mad Skipper · Post by **Mad Skipper** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 9:41 pm

Rolling his shoulder with a slight wince, Stocker looks from Tavian to Alain. One wants to go ahead and cross the bridge, while the other wants to avoid it completely. Personally, he thinks that where there is a bridge then its builder is, or was, somewhere close by.

Rubbing his chin (by now anybody who has noticed Stocker do this knows that this is what he does when he is possessed by his thoughts), his eyes look upward to scan the bleak sky in its entirety.

((Survival check to predict the weather.))

Le Noir Faineant · Post by **Le Noir Faineant** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 2:50 am

Mad Skipper wrote:((Survival check to predict the weather.))

[Fails... There something strange about this place... Don't forget that you don't hear any sound from the sea...]

Boccaccio Barbarossa · Tue Jan 17, 2006 3:39 am

"We have no choices - our path is set before us. I agree with what was said: yes, the wind may be fatal to Lodissio, but it will be fatal up here as well. I suggest we try the bridge - it must lead somewhere. And people only build bridges where they feel there is a reason to cross."

Avra looks over at some of the others. "I believe it is my turn to carry the satyr."

kintire · Post by **kintire** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 5:07 am

Shana looks around, eyes narrowed;

"People...yes... but what kind of people will live here? is anyone else worried that we can't hear the sea? This place is wierd. If I didn't know better I'd say there was some illusion going on..."

As I gaze around I examine the terrain and view, looking for the telltale signs of figments. You know, all the little errors I try to iron out of mine. ..

Don Fernando · Post by **Don Fernando** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 5:54 am

"I do not trust this at all" Jarryd says looking curiously to the bridge. "However, I must agree with Avra, this path has been set before us.." he doesn't finish the sentence, for the shivers of cold are becoming stronger.

"I can go ahead, and check what's on this bridge...Just tie a rope to me and hold to it very well. Maybe t will hold our wight ...then again maybe not..." Jarryd takes the rope out of his backpack, and with small difficulty he ties it arround his body. Then gives the other end to Avra. "Here, I hope you dont let go..."

Tavian · Post by **Tavian** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 9:21 am

Tavian eyes Jarryd curiously.

Isn't that what I just suggested? Does he think he will do a better job of crossing a bridge than me? he thinks to himself.

Tavian steps to the side and, crossing his arms, he watches Jarryd with an annoyed look, half hoping the bridge crumbles beneath his larger weight.

CapN · Post by **CapN** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 9:38 am

kintire wrote:If I didn't know better I'd say there was some illusion going on..."

"That's an interesting posibility". I try to disbelieve it.

Mad Skipper · Post by **Mad Skipper** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 9:41 am

Stocker approaches the sketchy bridge and squats to one knee to inspect the ground for both fresh and partial tracks. But upon hearing Shana's remark, he raises an eyebrow and turns to look at her.

"If that were the case, then I can't help but wonder as to the reason why somebody would go out of the way to keep people away..."

Once again he falls into a contemplative state consisting of a frown and lowered gaze, and only after a long few moments does he snap out of it and turn his attention back to Jarryd and the bridge.

There are more important things to focus on than mere speculation. But, then again, what if she's right? What, what if...?

He suddenly stands from his crouch and says to Jarryd, "Hold up a minute. I want to try something."

I'll be a bloody ass if this doesn't work. I can't believe I'm even thinking of this!

He looks back down to scan the ground for a fist-sized rock ((I assume this is not a difficult feat. :) )). Finding one, he then underhands it a couple of feet from the edge of the bridge, where by all rights it should plummet down into the sea.

kintire · Post by **kintire** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 10:43 am

Shana nods approvingly at Stocker and (Cap's character... thingy...) and watches the stone with interest as it plummets towards the sea.

Noticing Tavian's glare I grin at him and shrug before returning my gaze to the stone

Le Noir Faineant · Post by **Le Noir Faineant** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 1:28 pm

The stone thrown by stocker falls on the stone bridge, producing a dull sound, then rolls dto the side and falls into the sea. You hear no splashing.

At least the nearer parts of the bridge seem real...

Café de Nuit

Welcome, friends, to our establishment.

Staunton Bluffs Episode I: To the Borderstone