Cecil opens the door and steps from the vestry in full vestments, passing through the chancel and sanctuary to light the candles around and finally on the altar.

Maggie looks aside at Doctor's explanation with a softly-voiced "Oh." of impatience. Men and their pretenses of honour, indeed. Well, a promise of mercy is something at least.

Then, she whispers urgently to the man before her.
Her glance darts to Fox and his bride-to-be.

[[assume all Martin posts for this week to be under my guardianship - Keeper]]

The Doctor hesitates in the pleased and expectant hush that had spread at the Vicar's reappearance, watching his friend brighten the holy heart of the church in cassock, surplice and silver-worked white stole. He motions for Polzeath to hand him his bag, not very willingly.

 Martin continues his soft conversation with Maggie, cautiously handing her a vial of diluted blood to hold by the nearest candle whilst general attention is elsewhere. He hesitates again as the bride and her party form up to proceed, first Hessie and then other village women coming up with increasing boldness to equip the blushing girl with the minimum assortments of trinkets for luck - a blue ribbon, a gift of silver in the form of a sixpence, a long-treasured Mary Bean - as her mother takes charge of the ring.

The Doctor shakes his head. Master Fox seems to be taking a moment to steel himself and remember his vows.

Master Fox arranges himself as best he can, bloodstained coat, sword and all, and approaches the altar. "All ready, Vicar?" he asks, just the slightest tremor of excited nervousness in his voice.

Maggie shivers at the sight of bloody coat and blood-stained blade at the nuptial altar. It seems ill-omened at the least. Returning the vial to Doctor, she leans yet closer.
She looks about the assembly for Goody Westcott.

[[GM edit: aggressive autocorrect weirdness]]
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:20, Wed 31 May 2023.

Maggie sees that the midwife remains absent. Martin clears his throat to distract himself from the sudden, silly impulse to reach over to Maggie and fuss her whilst she's leant so close, answering quietly.

He says nothing of trouble finding the midwife, sharp-toothed or otherwise. Out in the aisle, Mr. Criddle gives his daughter an encouraging grip of the shoulder and offers her - fair, blooming Janet, fairest of all the village in this moment - his arm to be led solemnly to her bridegroom's side.
This message was last updated by the GM at 21:14, Sat 03 June 2023.

In reply to Janet Criddle (msg # 77):

"I... I am not sure if it was our community or some other, and... I'm not sure it's Her, or something else. Either way... I think I need to speak with Master Fox about it."

As he saw the couple embrace, he silently felt a longing for what could be, were the church not so insistent on it being so damned wrong.

After a moment the doctor leans in close to Maggie again, obviously sharing a quiet word.


He let's silence hang on his last words, but turns his head to meet Maggie's gaze, hoping that he has not distressed her too greatly.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:17, Thu 08 June 2023.

Maggie's eyes go wide. Her lips compress to the thinnest line and she nods once.


Maggie is suddenly conscious of the warmth of Doctor's body so close to hers and that she's breathing in the air he's breathing out. She pulls back a bit, but not so much as a step, and pulls her shawl tighter around her shoulders. Her eyes dart about the shadows of the church.

[[GM edit: relations dead, living and undead]]
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:52, Wed 07 June 2023.

In reply to Samuel Hartman (msg # 85):

"He'll not have time for tavern talk any time soon," Mrs. Criddle remarks absently, leaning on the back pew lately vacated by her daughter. Her husband delivers the young bride to the altar. The motley congregation keeps a pleased hush, awaiting some words from the vicar.

Cecil raises his hands in welcome. "Dearly beloved: We come together in the presence of God to witness and bless the joining together of this man and this woman in Holy Matrimony. The bond and covenant of marriage was established by God in creation, and our Lord Jesus Christ adorned this manner of life by his presence and first miracle at a wedding in Cana of Galilee. It signifies to us the mystery of the union between Christ and his Church, and Holy Scripture commends it to be honored among all people." His gaze slowly sweeps across his assembled flock.

"The union of husband and wife in heart, body, and mind is intended by God for their mutual joy; for the help and comfort given one another in both prosperity and adversity; and, when it is God's will, for the procreation of children and their nurture in the knowledge and love of the Lord. Therefore marriage is not to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly, but reverently, deliberately, and in accordance with the purposes for which it was instituted by God."

Extending his arms, Cecil turns his palms to bless the pair before him. "Into this holy union Nathan Fox and Janet Criddle now come to be joined. If any of you can show just cause why they may not lawfully be married, speak now; or else forever hold your peace."



[[GM edit: addition of paragraphing for ease of reading, no alteration to text.]]
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:38, Thu 08 June 2023.

Doctor Matrin notes Maggie's albeit subtle actions and, being acutely aware of such in her presence he gives an almost imperceptible cough of embarrassment and straightens his spine to sit more upright, an act that moves him a little away from her without risking drawing attention by actually taking a step.

He makes a slight noise in his throat "Ahum" and then is silent until the reverend begins speaking, then he whispers again, but this time not inclining his head and turning it only ever so little in Maggie's direction

There is a moment of silence before he continues

The people about the church keep an expectant hush - save for Henry Ragge, who's just thought of a pun on the theme of holding one's peace if unable to marry the bride, but Mrs. Sibley elbows him in the ribs and turns his snickering into a muffled 'oogARg'. Those at the altar ignore the quiet scuffle, the father of the bride nodding solemnly that he has no objections, at least.

Cecil then addresses the bride and groom. "I require and charge you both, here in the presence of God, that if either of you know any reason why you may not be united in marriage lawfully, and in accordance with God's Word, you do now confess it."

Maggie moves away from Doctor into the shadowy space along the outer walls of the church. With everyone's attention set on the ceremony at the altar, she moves slowly, quietly toward the doors at the rear.

[[...hmm. I'll say that's double your base Stealth, Maggie, to go entirely unnoticed, even if no-one wants to disrupt the ceremony at all.]]

"I here so swear before God that we share no blood, nor retain bigamous contracts, nor any other matter of law that might rightly keep us from this pact," Master Fox responds, steady with an effort. Janet shyly looks to the officiant, only half-believing this is truly taking place.

"Being not yet of my age of liberty, I have my parents' permission to marry this man, and do so of my own will," she affirms, looking at her parents to confirm that's wholeheartedly true as her mother brings up the ring.

Maggie sneaks away, slipping some effects from a pew and out into the night without a word. All eyes and ears are turned towards the altar and the young pair that wait there.


[[ Margaret Yendale rolled 64 for Stealth 80 (temporary).]]

Keeper edit: putting something in the post and revealing a roll asked for in public. Remember, if anyone wants to hand me / I've asked for dice rolls in secret, please use PMs if you don't want to make an IC post, and the OOC thread for OOC queries with no accompanying IC text, too.

Maggie, I'll move you over to the other thread once you actually drop me a line in PM this time, see below.

This message was last edited by the GM at 07:09, Sun 11 June 2023.

Cecil first queries Janet. "Janet, will you have this man to be your husband; to live together in the covenant of marriage? Will you love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, be faithful to him as long as you both shall live?"

He then asks Nathan. "Nathan, will you have this woman to be your wife; to live together in the covenant of marriage? Will you love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, be faithful to her as long as you both shall live?"

Janet looks up at Cecil, a little flushed in nervous excitement, but serious. "I will so do."

Her groom nods slightly, and if his gaze roves briefly to the slim shadows not quite banished by church lights, it is just as serious on its return. He takes the oath's weight simply yet wholeheartedly, even if there is just the slightest tremor in his body from tension or blood loss or both together. "I will."

The doctor notes the young squire's gaze, though from behind he cannot tell where the young man looks. As Nathan speaks then, Martin to looks around the darker corners of the church, seeking out anything that might be hidden.

Martin sees the windows seeming like a tangle of dark, glittering vines with the light outside, the decoration and saints' figures hidden in the obscurity. He sees shadows darkened behind the delicate inner glow of candles and further shadows clinging in caliginous corners at the heights of the vaults above, but no living soul to be looked at quite there.


[[Hm. SAN check, Martin.]]
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:55, Tue 13 June 2023.

As the Doctor's gaze lingers a little in the shadows, he too shudders a little as Nathan did, his face blanching, but then recognition registering in his eyes and the breath that had caught in his throat is at last released, his shoulder slumping where they had tensed.

He then looks about, his features with a quizzical look now, and he too tries to extract himself from the church without interrupting proceedings and detracting from the happy couple's moment.


[[21:41, Today: Martin Lovelace rolled 82 using 1d100.  Double stealth (40).]]
This message was last edited by the player at 20:43, Tue 13 June 2023.

A couple of folk look round at Martin's sudden movement, Polzeath uncertainly picking up his master's bag and making the attempt to follow quietly, even if outside and the soil is fairly terrifying to him right now. People nearer the door cast questioning glances as the Doctor softly excuses his way through.

[[where to, Doc?]]

In reply to Mrs. Criddle (msg # 88):

Sam nods at Mrs. Criddle, turning his head and watching her husband and daughter soon come to the altar. And once more, he felt a pang of sadness. Looking back up to her, he continues, "Given all the men had the same dream along with Master Fox, I think that they are connected. I would like to speak with him after everything."

The doctor excuses his actions to the quizzical looks with a quiet "There are still wounds to treat and will likely be more serious injuries with the duel tomorrow, I must replenish my supplies."

He then heads for Goody Westcott's house as she is missing, but also, that is where the Trugred seems most oft 'stabled'.