Upstairs Skitterlung's exploration of the turn in the corridor leads to another long halway terminating in a window which opens out over the front of the house, offering an oblique view of the guest accommodation over to the left, and one more door on the right side of the corridor.

***

After a fairly short wait the sound of footsteps heralds the arrival of Dr Fran who bursts into the dining room in his normal gregarious fashion. He has changed, exchanging his previous travelling clothes for a garishly coloured caftan and brightly shaded gloves which clash horribly with the robe.

He takes a seat at the head of the table and waves you down into the other seats unceremoniously. Almost hot on his heels are Orson, who pushes a trolley laden with food, and Felix who bears a tray holding a carafe and several glasses. The two proceed to provide everyone with crockery, cutlery and glassware leaving two additional places set. Orson then lifts from the tray and places a platter of roasted vegetables and a mighty side of roast meat in the center of the table. As Felix starts to pour everyone a generous glass of red wine Dr Fran claps his hands together with undisguised glee,
"Aah lunch, I do so love a good meal! My dear girl Delphi is on her way down and will be with us presently." He puts a hand over the side of his mouth and whispers conspiratorially, "We so seldom get visitors I think she wants to make herself look nice.

He then looks up as if he has suddenly noticed something. "Wait, aren't we missing someone? Wasn't there a small thi...fellow who accompanied you?"

Gren looked over at the doctor " our friend stepped out for some air, he's not accustomed to such fancy surroundings. You understand goblins tend to live on the fringes of society and being a guest of honour to such an important person as yourself went to his head a bit and he felt a bit faint he will be back shortly. If it is acceptable to you I well place some food on his plate in anticipation of his arrival."

Kaine struggled to find words to reply to Fran, for though the roasted meat was tantalizing and made his mouth water, Dr Fran's fashion sense on the other hand made him slightly nauseous.

Both appeared to cancel each other out somewhat and so Kaine said with mock surprise, "You never mentioned you had a daughter before good sir. Did she accompany you from the main land or was she...ah born here?"

He pushed his plate forward to Felix to cut him a piece of the roast, hoping Skitterlung was having some luck in finding out what actually went on here.

Felix artfully carves the meat and serves everyone thick slices with a heaped side of still steaming vegetables. Dr Fran for his part seems to accept Gren's explanation for Skitterlung's absence without comment, instead stuffing a large mouthful of potato into his mouth and nodding sagely.

In response to Kaine the old man's eyes twinkle, this is clearly a topic of which he has great interest, "Delphi is not my daughter, though I would be proud to call her such. I found her washed up on the shore many years ago, the result of a shipwreck no doubt, and have raised her as my ward ever since. Despite being raised in this backwater she is quite the young lady and I could not be prouder." His chest swells slightly with pride.

"But how about you fellows? Where were you bound before you ended up in my little slice of paradise?"

***

Upstairs Skitterlung hears movement and the sound of one of the doors behind him down the corridor opening...

"My master is gone, and I no longer have a purpose."

Cavalier doesn't shift his gaze where it has lingered on a wall for a few good minutes. His tone remains hollow, mimicing his lack of focus.

Skitterlung moved back around quickly to sneak, and spy and eavesdrop, on whoever had just opened a door. He was eager to see what he might see, and went out of his way to get the best possible angle.

Then, he fell into an awful coughing fit, by which virtue he had in fact earned his name of Skitterlung.

Kaine listened to the good doctor while chewing on a chunk of the roast, smiling as he mentioned his adopted daughter with pride. She certainly sounded like quite an up and coming lass, though he did wonder what affect living here would have on a young girl, especially with no other women for company.

"I have been on the move for some time...something to do with my old master's death. Something killed him though I managed to escape, and the thing has been hunting me trying to finish the job," Kaine answered, taking a sip of water to wash down the meat. "I've been on the run ever since, getting in all sorts of trouble not of my own making," he added, putting the mug down and smiling grimly.

"Truth be told, this place seems as good as any to lay low. Less of a chance of anything or anyone tracking me down here."

when the room fell quiet for a moment Gren took a deep breath " I am the last of my clan, I'm nobody special, a gem miner by trade I spent most of my time away from my clan caves but they were still my family."

He took a moment to gather his thoughts " I was returning after a long delve into an uncharted cave system when I came upon my home being attacked. I tried to help but got knocked out cold when I came to I found all my family, my whole clan dead. With nothing else to do I gathered what little I could and headed away from my life before. I eventually found myself on the surface and decided that I would travel, see the world a little and mine enough gems to pay surface dwellers to return with me to exact revenge on those creature that had taken my life away from me."

He looked around " unfortunately that seems to have been cut short by the untimely sinking of the ship I was on but them as the great earth mother says everything has a reason.... I just need to work out the reason behind finding myself here"

Dr Fran listens intently to everyone's stories as he eats, his eyes glittering with genuine interest at every one, "Three strangers without a plan ending up here, my my what are are the chances? This is certainly a fine place to hide out if that's what you're after - bar occasional supply ships we're pretty much off the beaten track. You would be more than welcome to stay if that is what you desire. However, if you're looking for a purpose then I may just have one for you. How would you feel about helping me end the curse on this island forever?" As he finishes he leans earnestly forward and lowers his voice, albeit still louder than some people shouting, as if involving you in some form of confidence.

***

Skitterlung's peek around the corner reveals the occupant of the room he had seen from the rear starting to head down the stairs. It is a young woman, either late teens or very early twenties, of noticeable beauty (for a tall anyway) with a long sweep of luxurious dark hair running almost down to the small of her back. She turns deep eyes instantly at the sound of the cough and catches a second's glance of Skitterlung before he ducks back behind the corner.  Abandoning the steps she starts to walk in the goblin's direction calling out, "Hello, is someone there?" in a tone which suggests more curiosity than surprise or anger.

Embarrassed, Skitterlung slowly stepped into view from around the corner, showing his ugly, near-fiendish lizard-like hide in the open. "Hakk, HaKK, KOFF wheeze, I'm, hakk, hkhkh, Skitterlung. Me was, er, looking for the water closet or a chamber's pot, yes. I'm a short what's come here on the boat that crashed. Are you- do you know- is the food set?" He cleared his throat one last time, cursing his crackling and whistling lungs.

Intruiged, Kaine feigned only the slightest interest while he chewed, appearing to consider Dr. Fran's offer. "I must admit we are indebted to you, we would likely have succumbed to the island's inhabitants or starvation , or disease had you not offered us refuge," he said finally.

Shrugging a bit he added, "Or not. We are also resourceful, but of-course not as much as yourself."

Scratching his chin out of habit he went on, "But assuming we are interested, why don't you tell us what you know of this curse, and how you would propose going about ending it?"

Dr Fran's face creases into a smile when he feels he may have piqued your interest, "I've spent half a lifetime looking into this curse and can say, as far as I or anyone I have contacted is aware, it is truly unique. Something about this island warps the form of creatures here, mixing them and blending them together. There are several different types of hybrid animals abroad on the island, in fact virtually no 'normal' fauna seems to exist here. Simple animals aren't the only thing affetced, the native inhabitants were not unscathed and fused with creatures to become the broken ones you have encountered. The poor things seem to barely function above a child's intellectual level, driven by instinct as much as reason. They congregate in several large villages around the island and we here do what we can to educate and help them."

There is a short delay as Fran takes a large mouthful of food and washes it down with a mighty swig of wine. "The curse appears to affect things born here but not anyone who visits or lives on the island after birth. So the broken ones slowly increase in population as they breed and my attempts to help individuals at a time are of limited use. However, through my research I believe I have discovered the very source of the darkness. There used to be a religious order based on the island, missionaries I think, but they seem to have uncovered a foul artefact from a forgotten age and been corrupted in their purpose. It is that artefact that I believe has this island in it's evil thrall and that artefact I hope you will consent to obtain so that we can see it destroyed!" His eyes shine as he finishes, it's the most serious you think you have ever seen him.

***

Upstairs the young lady seems but momentarily taken aback by Skitterlung's appearance before she frowns in concern, You poor thing!" she says in a singsong voice "Did you manage to find a chamber pot? You're welcome to use mine if you still have a need?" She points back in the direction of the room you know to be hers, "It is a bit of a maze in here isn't it? I keep telling father he doesnt need somewhere so big but he always wants to add more rooms. I was just heading down to dinner myself if you would care to join me?" She holds out her arm to be taken, bending somewhat uncomfortably to ensure it is at a height Skitterlung can access, "I'm Delphi by the way." She talks with the fast pace and obvious interest of someone who may have been desperate for someone new to talk to for some time...

"A strange artifact that managed to corrupt an entire order of religious people, those whom are usually of great willpower and zeal, and us misfits are the ones you imagine would be the ones to finish this task? I am skeptical."

Cavalier remained seated as it did, awkwardly with its long gangly legs trying to fit with the human-sized chairs.

Kaine listened to Fran with great interest, though trying to to let it show. He nodded at Cavlier's words and added his own doubts. "You want us to steal this artifact from the cult and bring it to you," he said flatly.

Leaning forward over his plate he steepled his fingers under his chin, stared at Fran with steely eyes and added with a thin smile, "You would prefer to have outsiders do it so if we get caught you can disown us and avoid the Cult's wroth."

Leaning back he shrugged and went on, "We have no real interest in this place, unlike yourself Dr. Fran. We are indebted to you for your hospitality, but pray tell us why we would risk our life and limb, and the possibility of being subjected to horrendous torture, when we could simply wait out here and give you the pleasure of our company until a supply ship arrives? What is in it for us to get this artifact for you?"

Truth be told, Kaine's interest was seriously piqued by all he had heard of this artifact since they came here, The Altar of Life, if indeed this is what that was. Being a user of some small magics himself he could make use of such a treasure in increasing his own power many-fold as well as for research of his own. Simple minded priests of some backwater cult, be they in this artifacts thrall or not, would never be able to unlock its deeper mysteries, but surely a warlock like Kaine could.

Ofcourse, the good doctor did not need to know this...

Gren had been listening quietly to the doctor " It could be the order was corrupted because it was an order, all those minds thinking and believing the same thing, this artefact only had to work to twist one believe and it could control all that believed. We on the other hand have many believes, we are all different, all think differently. Perhaps the evil in t he artefact would take longer to corrupt us as a group because of this. That may allow us time to find it, steal it and ultimately destroy it."

" it would also mean we would have multiple chances of doing it as we might be corrupted at different speeds. but then this is just speculation and I'm not convinced it is something I wish to partake in yet"

Skitterlung remained frozen for a few seconds, finding it difficult to understand that his excuse had worked. Given the time to absorb his current standing however, he quickly said, "No, Skitterlung found the pot. Thanks, tall Delphi." He reached up to put his arm in hers and walk down with her, not precisely trusting her but grateful that she reacted so much better than the last tall who found Skitterlung in their home unexpectedly. (He had, at the time, been looking into witchery, as had been his habit at the time.)

Fran looks a little crestfallen that his suggestion has not been met with immediate enthusiasm but his tone is no less jovial when he continues, "My friends there is no more simple explanation as to why I think you are best placed for this task than the simple fact that you are here. I am an old fat man who lives here with a young girl, a secretary and a handyman - we're just not well placed to go delving into ruins and hunting for cursed artefacts. You fellows are young, or..." he throws a slightly embarrassed glance towards Cavalier, "well, unconcerned by age and clearly fit or resourceful enough to survive a shipwreck and a trek through a strange jungle. I ask you simply because you are here and seem fit enough to do it."

At this point Delphi and Skitterlung enter, arm in arm, and the young lady delivers a technically proficient - but clearly unpracticed - curtsy before Dr. Fran introduces her as "Delphi, my ward and dear, dear girl." which makes her blush furiously. He glances at Skitterlung with a slight curiosity but asks no questions about where he might have been. Delphi starts to fill her plate with vegetables, studiously avoiding the meat, while Dr Fran finishes his earlier point, "I would hope that you see the benefit that could be had for the poor creatures on this island if you offer your assistance but, let me be clear, there is no expectation that you do so. I am perfectly happy for you to stay here with me until the next supply ship comes and then you can leave with my best wishes. There is very little I can offer you, you can see I have little material wealth, though anything you might find in your quest you may keep as it means nothing to me providing we can destroy this foul thing."

Kaine used the opportunity Skitterlung and Delphi's entrance presented to gather his thoughts before immediately replying to Dr Fran. He was relieved Skitterlung had not been discovered while prowling about, and hoped their little companion had found something interesting.

Of the girl, she did seem quite out of place in Dr Fran's 'court', but also appeared as the good doctor had described her. She looked well brought up despite the circumstances and well cared for.

As introductions were made Kaine offered a pleasant smile to the girl while his mind went over Fran's offer. His curiosity was quite intrigued by the artifact, but he did not want to find it then merely destroy it, or give it to another. He also did not really care about the island and its inhabitants...their suffering was of little concern to him, but if any needless suffering could be alleviated as a side effect of recovering the artifact, then all the better.

"So...you want this artifact destroyed," he replied to Fran, while also thinking out loud. "A noble gesture, no doubt the locals will be thankful if you alleviate the curse plaguing them."

Kaine shrugged and glancing at his companions added, "I do suppose we are indebted to you for saving our life. Helping you in this endeavor would be adequate repayment not to mention the lives we could save on this island, so you can count me in. I can only speak for myself ofcourse, my companions may be of a different mind."

Cavalier was silent for a while - nothing unusualy, of course - but seemed contemplative, more than usual. After a short while, it turned its head to Fran once more, and spoke. "Better to perform deeds than to wait until my body rusts I suppose. However, if you have anything better than this-" it says as it reaches for the table-leg, the makeshift club it carried, and puts it on the table, "-I would more easily be able to perform this deed. Perhaps a sword has been found its way into your collection, where coin may not have."

Gren listened to the others and came to the conclusion that they were going to go find this artefact after all

"Ok count me in if you all think doing this is what should be done " he added to the conversation

OOC: Now you've agreed to undertake his task I was going to wrap up this scene with a bit more spiel from Dr Fran and moves things on to the tour of the manor house. Just wanted to give fair warning in case anyone has any other questions they would want to pose to him at this point. We can assume that Skitterlung has been filled in pretty quickly with the detail of discussions up to that point.

After some full-bodied thanks from Dr Fran for agreeing to undertake his mission and finishing up lunch your host takes you on a tour of the large house. You've already seen the dining room and library which form up the 'east wing' of the building along with a storage room, into which you only get a brief glance but it seems to be mostly filled with furniture and boxes, and a small enclosed courtyard out the back (the rear gate leads to the outside of the compound) in which the only feature is a long stake in the ground to which is attached a short chain. Dr Fran explains this is where they keep livestock when they need easy access from the home.

As you go back past the stairs which Skitterlung recently crept up Dr Fran waves a hand and explains that his and Delphi's rooms are up there but the others sleep in the other part of the house.

He then takes you back to the main foyer and, pointing at a set of large double doors, explains that is where his laboratory and workspace are but, given his sensitive work and research, he keeps that space private. Moving down into the 'west wing' you enter a large and well-equipped (surprisingly so for an island) kitchen which has clearly seen recent use as most of the detritus from the preparation of your recent hearty lunch still lies scattered about. Off to one side, through an open door, you can see what appears to be a pantry and Fran leads you through a different door to an extremely neatly kept living area which he describes, with a chuckle, as "The servant's quarters". A ladder to the side leads to a second floor where you surmise the others sleep as there are no beds down here.

Another set of double doors opens out into another storage area which, this time, Fran leads you in to. Inside he opens his arms wide and does a half turn gesturing around him to what is the most random selection of junk you have ever seen. Bits of timber, barrels, broken figureheads from ships and crates almost fill the space in a haphazardly piled fashion. "Here, my fine fellows, is everything we have collected from shipwrecks or washed up on the beaches over the last few years. Some of you have asked me for equipment and you are welcome to help yourselves to whatever you can find in here." He wanders over to a crate and kicks it, smiling when it makes a metallic clank, "There's definitely some swords and whatnot in here and other pieces laying around. I can't attest for the quality of any of it but, as you can see, it isn't seeing much use with us."

OOC: You can assume there is any basic equipment, weapons, armour etc. that you may want to get your hands on in this room somewhere. Most of it is in pretty bad nick and more perishable items, like fine clothing, are likely to be eaten away by damp but metallic or hardy items (like ship's rope) are useable. The tour is otherwise ended so once you've tooled up feel free to ask Fran any more questions you may have and then we'll move along."

Kaine enjoyed the tour of the house, though he was disappointed not to have seen any of Dr. Fran's experiments. He held his tongue for now though, hoping they could come across something useful.

His patience was rewarded at last when they reached the storage area. Looking through all the scattered items, Kaine identified a scimitar, somewhat rusted and with an edge that appeared dulled in places with age and disuse. He had had training in the weapon during his youth and was glad to find another one here, he suspected he would need it before long.

After some more prodding Kaine also identified a piece of leather armor that appeared usable, and also a few more bits and ends he could see being useful.

---

Kaine will take a Scimitar (w. sheath), Soft Leather Armor, a whetstone and a dagger (w. sheath).
This message was last edited by the player at 13:58, Mon 11 Jan 2021.

Cavalier was not particularly interested or impressed by the house. It was an abode, fit for the strange man indeed. The others may.. Be interested? It was lost on it. However, yes, the strange doctor with his dubious agendas, did give them ample reward. As it reached the armory, it went through the items on display; it felt most at home with larger blades, so it almost instinctivly reached for a sword with a longer grip, a broad blade. It looked like something a soldier had used long ago, but cared for passionately. Ontop of that, it required some additional protection, despite the state of it. A cuirass mixed of cloth and metal plates seemed to look afor its fit. It took some time to don it, and the clockwork looked awkward doing it.

It definitely looked more capable at this point. Someone was prepared to punished the wicked.

---

Cavalier takes a Bastard Sword and Brigandine Armor

Gren looked round the store, ha humans loved their rubbish, he thought but even so he found a leather waist coat that on his short round frame reached down to just below his knees. once on he pulled his simple Molekin robe over it.

He then found a belt attached a number of pouches to it and finally while searching through the mix of old weapons found himself a good quality sturdy club shot with iron studs which he tucked into the belt at his waist.

It was nice to have a back up weapon for when his claws just wouldn't do the job