Molar's Rock is...well.  It is.

A stub of a village by the shoreline.  You count seven shacks Bella.  There's a couple of stunted docks jutting out into the water and at the end of one of them is what passes for the tavern.  They might have one room for let.  It you're lucky.

But even if you'll be begging for the stables, it's probably a good idea to find shelter.  The sun seemed to fall behind the horizon, and you can tell some rather angry looking clouds are rolling in from the ocean.

It's going to be one hell of a storm.

And Molar's Rock is the only handy shelter available.

Well.  You could go camp under a tree in the nearby forest.  If that's your thing.

Welcome to it.  Questions?

"E equals MC squared with three minus two tinmes four with a extension of five followed by...." Heck not even Bella knows what she is saying! The young girl has been travelling for a few day not sure where she is going. Just grabbed her things, pick a direction and stsrts well walking. Flying at times. Yeah she's one of those crazy people. With wings not organic wings. Construct things. She just though about it and well made them. Poof. Just like that. Well more too it then that but that's a different story....

The girl stays away from the water. Probably because she's can't swim. Or something else. Something ruffled in her pack and a strange bird pokes out over her shoulder. Well not a real bird so to speak. But to Bella its her only friend and needs work. She pets the bird lightly on its head and her goggles flopped down. Stumbling around she puts the goggles over her head "Well that would have been bad right? Yeah. Silly me." Her gaze stops on Molar's Rock and the dampness kicks in. She sighs. Been awhile since she had a warm hot cooked meal but got no money to spare-not even for a room. Maybe they will just let her stay. She's seen worse. Wait nope. Can't recall. Whats up with that?

Well she had a family. Everyone had one but can't really recall them. Simple really, if she can use her vast array of mathematically skills followed by her amazing ability to figure things out. Nope. Doesn't work. Strange indeed.

Bella starts to head for the village as the bird curls up inside her pack. Snoring. Well she made it really but seriously? Damn good for nothing bird. But it does quiet. As much as the lass doesn't like to fight or whatnot she has a nice well made musket but not sure how she made it. And a pistol. Sword. Dagger. She just makes things but not sure how.

Something creeps into Bella and well she builds whatever is in her mind.

In reply to Bella Donna (msg # 2):

Molar's Rock turns out to be as lively as a cabbage field after the harvest is over.  As you stroll into town, you notice there's no smoke coming from most of the chimneys.  Only from the Tavern's chimney and the cottage farthest east.

As you walk into town, you get the odd feeling of being watched.  But that could just be nerves and being tired from the walk,

You glance around, trying to figure out where to go next.




Map!

As noted, only signs of life are from the Tavern and the house with the corral on the eastern side of town.

Questions?

Taking a deep breath-Bella does stick out. Good thing she has her wings  not out in plain view. Doubt anyone would understand the construction of her wings, why she made them (well if she even knew) or the bird creature in her backpack.

Hell she's still trying to figure that out. She glances around, not sure if coming here was a good thing but she heads for the tavern.

21:05, Today: Bella Donna rolled 11 using 1d20+9.  Perception.

In reply to Bella Donna (msg # 4):

The tavern looks old and weathered.  Like an old man who should have retired years ago, but refuses to.

The windows are shuttered from the inside, though you can see some light creeping out.  As you try the door, you find it barred.

From inside you can hear a voice whispering.  "It's jus' a lass-"

"How do we know it's jus' a lass?  Could be the Gilly. Jus' hush up until she goes away."

Knock knock down goes the door as Bella waits. She shivers a bit and glances up at the sky then back to the door "Excuse me? Can I come inside please? The storm is brewing and I could use a safe place to let it go bye. It looks horrid by my calculation and approximate view of the vast equivalent storm coming down upon this village approximatly in about..." She looks towards the ocean, biting her lip "Sorry I talk when I don't need to. Nervous habit. I'd appreciate it and can work for board and food if allowed if I may ask. If not I understand your unwillingness to aid a poar girl. I can go elsewhere but I do not know where to go and you may find my huddled up deceased body beneath a tree as I have tried my best to wait it out. Oh nevermind I will bring myself elsewhere. Take care. Perhaps I will see you later on if I survive the horrid weather beaten down to my petite body. Oh I feel so faint." She stumbles around and sits down and leans against the wall with her musket across her lap.

Really Bella. Just....really. Well she is small standing about 5' and petite with her gear. Maybe she can sneak inside-she has the tools but what then? What if they mean to harm her? Or something. Think girl think! Her goggles flop down and she sighs once more. Her bag shifts and goes to her side as the parrot construct peaks out nudging her hand before slipping back into its confines. Maybe it will work. Maybe. "Gilly has several meanings other then a possible name. A male attendeant I believe of some leader. Or a lumber wagon which I don't have. Or a possible location of a type of circus which not sure what it is but I could figure it out. Possibly you could mean a gilly of flowers but by your phase you mean someones name. Or carried on a gilly which doesn't make sense. I don't know a Gilly unfortunatly." She seems to just talk to herself pondering.

19:37, Today: Bella Donna rolled 16 using 1d20.  Perform (Why not?).
19:36, Today: Bella Donna rolled 16 using 1d20.  Diplomacy (Go Bella go!).
19:26, Today: Bella Donna rolled 12 using 1d20+6.  Knowledge (Geography).
19:25, Today: Bella Donna rolled 16 using 1d20+10.  Knowledge (Nature).
This message was last edited by the player at 04:03, Tue 05 Dec 2023.

In reply to Bella Donna (msg # 6):

That is a lot of rolls.  I am assuming most of them have to do with what is mentioned in her speech

The storm will probably be a bad one.  Typically, storms at this time of year, and in the atmospheric circumstances that seem to be prevailing this evening, are bad ones.

The voices inside stop speaking as you go on.  You can hear a floorboard creaking.  Than another creak.  And finally, a third.

"Jus' cos you say you don't know what a Gilly is," says one of them at last ina loud booming basso, "Don't mean you ain't a Gilly!  So prove it!  Prove you ain't no Gilly!"

"Uh...Rardo?  She's sayin' she don't know what a Gilly be.  If she don't know what no Gilly is, how can she prove she ain't no Gilly?"

There's a long moment of silence.

"How can she prove she ain't no Gilly?"

"Well we could ask her to prove it-"

"She don't know what to prove.  So how can she prove what she don't know what it is?"

"It's bad that I understood that."

"Look.  It's simple.  If she ain't a Gilly, she won't do nothing bad, right?  So she just's gotta do somethin' good. HEY!" "Rardo" seems to be speaking to you directly again.  "CAN YOU DO SOMETHIN' THAT'D SHOW US YOU'RE GOOD?"

"Well I need to know what this Gilly thing is. I can guess but you haven't given me a clue on who or what this person is so how can I do something that I know nothing about? See? What do you view as something that is indeed good? Well I can do a variety of things. Well I could partake in drawing. Maybe well..." Bella looks in her pack and a cawwing sound comes from it "Yeah I know you want to come out but right now isn't a good idea. Now shush." A moment later, she pulls out some pieces of paper and a ink pen. Ruffle ruffle. And a ink battle that's empty "I knew I should have gotten some more. Oh by E equals MC square. Why do I keep saying that! Drat! Now...." She throws her hands up and puts the parchement and pen back into the bag. Standing up, she crosses her hands over her chest.

"I got it! Alright alright. Ventriloquism! Okay, now then...." Bella pulls out the parrot and puts it onto her should. The mechanical creature whoos and flaps its wings and Bella acts like she is doing it. Voila! The bird looks ather and she looks at it "You want a cracker?" Really. It turns from her in a huff. She ponders a moment and puts the creature down next to her backpack. It goes still "Gilly! Maybe its a short versin of a creature or creatures? Or a nickname? By my calculatnion, oh nevermind. Well I can figure it out. Yes of course. Well I haven't done anything bad. Well in my eyes. I don't like doing anything like doing bad things. Yet what is good and bad when its different to each person? There's really no common bond right? I bet you woke up and snuck in to get cookies or whatnot which to some is a bad thing. Yet to you its a good thing because you just wanted a treat. But to your parents you did something that goes against what they would have done. So its a good yet bad thing. See?" She goes to gently put the creature into her pack who seems to have a fit and she gets it back inside and grabs it trying to adjust her guns and put the backpack correctly. She trips and stumbles away from the inn but catches herself "Okay okay I will go alright? If I see this Gilly I will let them know your looking for them. Best of luck and I hope you find them!"

Wow Bella. Real smooth.

OOC:
Yup. Trying to get them to open the door and the knowledge rolls were to figure out where the storm is coming from, how long, ect.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:04, Wed 06 Dec 2023.

In reply to Bella Donna (msg # 8):

There's a silence as you repack your bird.

"Uh...I didn' follow none of that.  But I don't think she's the Gilly."

The sun has set now.  Thunder starts to rumble in the distance.  You figure you have about a quarter of an hour before the storm arrives now.

As you finish situating your bird, you notice something odd.  A thick fog seems to be rolling in from the ocean.

From inside the tavern, Rardo clears his throat.

"Okay.  That was...confusing. But I jus' got one more question like.  Which do you think tastes better:  humans?  Or dwarves?"

"What kinda question is that?"

"It's a trick question!  Jus' gonna see if she answers either or.  Get it?"

Another pause.

"No."

The fog starts to move up the beach and begins to roll towards the village.

"Your intellectual qualities do not match my own. Its not confusing per say, simply obvious.  So, humans or dwarves? Well if I eat a human I would be eating myself which is rather unflattering. Dwarves are big and beefy. Good for gnawing my teath. Elves are rather stringy so I stick clear of them. Halflings are pretty fast but if you can catch them, good treats. Gnomes? Too troublesome. If I had to choose between alll the various from about and for fish such as large bass, trout, catfish I would have to say what I like the most is...." Bella smiles "None of them. Well maybe fish but I can't stand the water. Oh and you do need to know this vastly important fact-I'm a vegetarian. I don't eat meat if you are unsure of what one is." She watts "I assume that is what you called a joke. Wit. Perhaps a pun? It was I believe a punch line. Can I come in now? Seems I have passed the test possibly and the fog seems to be rather odd. I could be possibly wrong but its movements along the beach perhaps tell me otherwise. Wait. I wonder if I can somehow create a fog. That would be pretty interesting with the combined watery texture combined with the earth well can't do that. Something like it. Well no I can use earth. Sand? Maybe. Hard ground? Not sure if it will work....." The girl pulls out a small journal and a sharp stick-a pencil. She writes something down before putting it back into her pack. The parrots head pops out and looks around. Like well a Yoda/Luke thing.

"Wait. What do you prefer? Humans, elves, dwarves, gnomes. Oh halflings? Perhaps a rare type of different species. I should be asking you. Oh silly me. You keep asking me questions and then I don't ask anything in return. I know what you are hinting at. Do you prefer it to be rare, medium or well done?" Well hard to tell if Bella is serious or not. Or thwoing the question right back at the man or men "Surely you can answer it right? I mean logically if you are looking at your friend or ally, or your next meal standing next to you, I bet you are hungry. And thirsty. Maybe have some chardinay. You like wine? I never had it." She takes a deep breath "I wonder where Gilly is? Is it a him or a her? Maybe a thing? You never answered the question. Probably confused. Sorry about all of this."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:16, Fri 08 Dec 2023.

In reply to Bella Donna (msg # 10):

"Fog?"

There's a loud series of clicks, clacks and squeaks.  The door is flung open and a big, hairy dwarven man grabs you and pulls you inside, slamming the door shut behind him.

You blink, adjusting as the dwarf turns back to the door and begins fastening a rather intricate series of bars, chains, and locks to secure it.

A halfling and an old human man with a humpback are standing there, staring at you.

The inside of the tavern has been stripped bare.  At a glance, it looks like all the tables and chairs have been broken up and either used to board over the windows, heaped in a pile by the hearth, or sharpened into make shift spears.

The halfling coughs in his fist and asks, "Uhm...How close was the fog?  Did you see any lights in it?"

The fog had been rolling ashore when you were pulled in, about halfway up the beach.  No lights you noticed

Getting puled inside wasn't what Bella had planned and she backed away once inside. She stares at the burly man "Not be rude but that was uncalled for and a bit rude shoving me inside. But with the current predicament coming to the town I can understand. Now then the fog was about half way up the beach. Lights?" Bella tilts her head "Not that I could see. That doesn't mean there wasn't anything. With a correct altitude and a decent view of the fog its possible to figure it out. OH my apologies. We haven't introduce eachother yet. I'm Donna, Bella Donna." The backpack gets lowered to the ground and the strange construct pops its head up "That's Lydia Tesla. Don't worry she doesn't bite. If I may as a simple question, who is Gilly? Or what is Gilly? It is normal for this fog to be a part of this village? Yes I know what fog is-a thick cloud of tiny water droplets suspended in the atmosphere at or near the surface which obscures or restricts visibility thererfore...wait. Yeah you know the fog is right? So..." The alchemist taps her goggles and looks around seeing the hallfing "Oh your a cute child. Is he yours? No way oh I am so sorry. Your a hobbit, halfling to be precise. Accoding to logical terms, there's several different...." The parrot flaps its mechanical wings out almost hitting the dwarf "Lydia! Be care of people. You could have remove his tibia and fibia. That's not nice. All of this and thats how you repay him? For shame." The porrot stares up at Bella who adjust her goggles and fixes her musket and pistol. She feems flustered and sighs "Apologizes. Been awhile since we saw anyone. If you want us to leave, we will." The look on her face is priceless. Saddend. And down go to the goggles over her eyes. But she doesn't put them to her head "Nothing works. I can do some odd stuff but keeping the goggles correctly isn't one of them. Not one!"

In reply to Bella Donna (msg # 12):

The old hunchback human tsks.  "This one's a chatterbox, ain't she?"

The halfling sighs.  "Gar..."  He turns back to you.  "Yeah.  Sorry.  Introductions.  This is Gar..."

The hunchback nods his head in greeting.

"Rardo..."

The dwarf grunts at you, crossing his arms over his thick chest and glaring at you from under bushy eyebrows.

"And I'm Woggles.  Yeah, I can't help the name.  Anyway.  We're what's left of Molar's Rock-"

"We still don't know if any of them at the Boxby's is still alive!"

Woggles nods, looking tired.  "Okay Rardo.  You're right.  Someone might still be alive at the Boxby's."

The halfling turns back to you again.  "A "gilly" is a local legend.  A monster.  Old stories about it coming out of the ocean and killing people in the town decades ago.  Most thought it was a myth.  Until a week ago.

"A fog started rolling in every night.  It will hang around the town until morning, and then roll back out to sea.  There's something in the fog.  None of us know what.  But it's been killing our neighbors since all this started.

"The three of us ended up barricading ourselves in here.  There was a family...the Boxby's.  They own a stables on the other side of town...that barred up inside their house.  We've seen lights on in their house at night.  But we can't get them to respond to us."

"If we try to leave, even during the daytime, it's dangerous.  People disappeared.  Couple of kids tried to make a run for it up the coast.  One of their bodies washed ashore the following day.  We been scared to go outside.  But-"

He shrugs.

Woggles nods dejectedly.  "We're running low on wood, clean water, and food.  We're going to have to do something soon.  I don't suppose you have any food?? Or water?"

"Actually I don't like to talk but with the current situation followed by three people I know little all of who seem to perhaps want me to go to the Boxby's as they are afraid of what lies within the confines of the fog and you know me for a few moments which could be in turn a variety of effects. Thought not sure why anyone who would wait within the fog. I suggest you wait till the fog lifts therefore giving you time to go to the Boxby's and I suggest very deeply you do not follow the coastline where the children seem to have lost their lives. Go further into the shore away from the beach. Very far away I may add. Apparently you don't have the means to find out what is within this fog. Also do you have the bodies? I could attempt to check them out-possibly see how they died unfortunatly. Losing a child is painful." Course its coming from a child. Bella flips open her goggles "Gilly? Alright. Well the family are probably afraid but if they are known to be safe during the day, everyone should leave the area. I'm not much of a monster hunter nor a myth seeker or wait. I was outside and nothing happened during the day. So maybe the village is possibly cursed or you think you can't go outside hence why you stay inside. Either way, got to choose-stay here and starve or leave coming morning. Starvation isn't what I would choose-having your insides starting to each themselves trying to find a little bit to survive. Water on the other hand you can survive on for quite awhile. You'd get weak from starvation but not without water. But that's not important. If I say I have water and food that would mean I mean little to you and you can take it. Three of you and one of me. Well two of me. Maybe three? Ok three of me. I don't think you will harm ne. So do you have access to the body or bodies? Were they taken by the fog? Or left behind? Its pretty important to figure out what lies within the fog." Bella looks at each of them "Couse I'm just a stranger so if you don't want to trust me I get it and can go elsewhere, take my luck with the fog. Oh has there been anything seen near or in it? I wonder if you got to be in line with the base of the fog. Possibly being on top of say a roof you might be safe. I could send in my parrot into it...." The parrot construct pops its head out and stares up at Bella. It breaks free from the backpack and adjusts its wings with a clicking sound "I'd say we take our chances and run to the home, see if anyone is there and keep running. Though fog can form anyhere I believe not just the water." Man she is a chatterbox but there are things she doesn't know but with her keen intellect and wanting to know things well yeah. Not a ordinary girl.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:01, Mon 11 Dec 2023.

In reply to Bella Donna (msg # 14):

"You talk a lot," observes Gar.

Rardo grunts in an affirmative manner.

Woggles scratches the side of his face.  "Well.  You kinda touched on a couple of our issues.

"See.  We have tried to leave.  And the fog does appear.  Even if we try goin' inland, fog will roll in ahead of us.

"And the Boxbys won't open the door to us.  There were stories.  Some said they saw the ones who'd disappeared come back.  Try talking them to come outside or run away with 'em.  Those that did..."  He shrugs.  "Them that did got disappeared too.

"So we jus-"

He's cut short by someone pounding on the door.

It's a heavy thumping noise.  The three men back up a bit, staring at the door in wide eyed fear.

The thumping becomes a pounding, and for a moment the door is shaken in it's frame.

Rardo picks up a war hammer from a nearby table.  Woggles pulls a servicable looking knife from his boot.

The pounding stops.

You can hear the floorboards of the porch outside creak.

Then it's quiet.

Woggles motions for you to keep still and quiet.

"Remind me that it seems you have asked for help indirectly and now I have to come up with a genious way to escape, something I will ponder and produce. It will take time but I need proper evidence of what we are dealing with. So you are saying people are taking by the fog and used by it. So every time it happens the fog 'grows' bigger so to speak and it uses the people who had perished against well the people who aren't 'in the fog' so to speak?" As for the door I can possibly open it or find a way inside but what is inside could be worse then the fog but I want a close look at it. Figure out how it works if its possible. When the creaking starts, Bella jumps up and bites her lip. She fumbles for the musket, and starts to load it with the black powder and bullets. One of the bullets falls to the ground and the girl kneels down to grab it.

OOC
Is there stairs leading up or a window that's higher up? I want to see if I can get to higher ground if possible.

In reply to Bella Donna (msg # 16):

The tavern doesn't have a second floor. But you do spy a trap door in one corner of the ceiling.  It looks like there's a step ladder folded against the wall that is used to access it.  The trap door is boarded shut.

Rardo waves at you, trying to shush you.

Gar chuckles.  "I told 'em that there's no point in just hunkering down here, waitin' to get picked off.  But these two are cowards."

Rardo growls at Gar.  "Don't call me a coward."

Woggles steps between the two of them.  "Come on now.  Let's not do the Gilly's job for it."  He turns to you.  "No one knows how big the fog bank is.  Just that it can cover the whole village.  Which ain't saying much.  But that will give you at least some idea.  Might be bigger.

"I'm not sure how knowing what it looks like is gonna help."

With what has happened, the girl with the big gun stands up after getting it loaded. The goggles flop down over her eyes and she sighs "I'm not going to stand here and wait for whatever comes out of the fog. And I want to see what lies within it, is it a creature of some caliber? Or a few? Obviously it is capable of walking or crawling as I picked out from what just occured. Perhaps I have a advantage but would like your assistance in going up through the trap door. Well knowing how big it entrail and what is inside of it could prove to be what may be good to stop it or at least slow it down. Coward? Well could have used scared-cat, yellow-belly. Maybe a poltoon or a dingo depending on the location and area of the world. I like the idea of staying here and remaining alive but there is things I had to accomplish and would prefer help. Of course since we have just met. Not sure what will happen if I apply the potent amount of black powder. We could blow up or cause someone to die which I would dislke it very much. Don't like people arguing or fighting or..." Cours she rambles for a bit before biting her tongue "So will you help me get the proper trap door open or will I have to use this to possibly blow it open? I'm still a bit new to this." She speaks out quietly. Course for someone who is 'new to this' she has a pistol. A double musket. Few daggers. And a sawtoothed saber. Though all of them look well clockwork like or mechanic.

Course doesn't mean she knows how to use it.

Rardo barks a laugh.  "We ain't doin'-"

Gar holds up a hand.  "I think she's right.  We need to try-"

Woggles clutches his forehead.  "Ugh.  Not this again.  Can we all calm-"

The door suddenly shakes in it's frame.  Whatever it out there, it's hurling itself against the door.

Rardo rushes to hold the door shut.  Gar seems to be struggling to pull a table towards the door, perhaps in hopes of barricading it more.

Woggles blinks in confusion and rushes to join Gar in bringing the table over.

You have a chance to rush up the ladder now.  It looks like there are two boards securing the trap door shut.  If you can get those pried off quickly, you could be on the roof before the others know what's going on.

Make me some kind of ability test.  Or do something.  The trap door needs two boards removed so you can open it.  The TN for the test is going to be 10.

Alternately, you can try something else.  What that is is up to you. But something is trying to break down the door.

Thanks

Jumping back, the alchemist bites her lip. Screw it. She climbs up the ladder after getting her tools out. Its a crazy situation. She fumbles a bit, trying to get the wood barrier to snap off with the tools-easier said then done but not for the girl. She's a thief. If she can't, she thinks of what to do-maybe she can shoot it but if she does that there's no way to close it up. Maybe the acid vials. Might work, might not but least it will loosen it up. Think Bella think!

OOC
Would Disable Device work on remove the boards? Probably not but worth a shot.

09:01, Today: Bella Donna rolled 31 using 1d20+14.  Disable Device.

If not I can use the acid vials-perhaps pouring them on the wood but that's a last ditch thing!
This message was last edited by the player at 14:11, Fri 15 Dec 2023.

Hmmm.  Actually, I think Disable Device is a very valid skill to use here.

You whip out a tool and quickly pop out the nails.  Before any of the three men know what's what, you have thrown back the hatch and scrambled up to the roof.

The fog doesn't extend up here.  It seems to stop about a handspan below the line of the roof eaves.

It's thick.  You can barely make out anything going on below.  But you can hear the sounds of whatever this "Gilly" is hammering at the door.

If you want to sneak over to the edge of the roof and take a gander, I will need a stealth check please