To Touch & be Touched

[Old Dwarf]

To touch & be touched
(ATOE Game Report)

The Private Field Notes of Anne Marie,OES/TR-ED

Sept.12,1796

My journey begins,I am almost giddy.My Order has finally
given me with a Mission on my own.
I am leaving my class room & moving out to the
larger world to confront evils that plague humanity
from the shadows.I have waited so long for this
& shall succeed in Shadowbrook.

Sept.15,1796

The stage ride is wearing & the road (if I dare call
it that)keeps getting worst,but at least as we travel
deeper into the country I have time to collect my thoughts.
My only fellow traveler a wealthy merchant named Hiram Prigg.
Mr.Prigg is a huge gentleman who fully takes up one side
of the coach.He seems little interested in conversation
(thank goodness) & somehow manages to sleep
much of the time.I guess his sheer bulk cushions
him from the jarring of the stage.

Sept.16,1796

Mr.Prigg is snoring again,it is truly a glorious noise,
but he has informed me he is ending his trip at Jonesburg
our next stop.I will then barring any new passengers
have the stage to myself for a day & then finally
Shadowbrook.

Sept.16,1796 Addenda

What adventure,it was terrifying & yet electric.
I am so jumbled up in my feelings -I need to
write this down to try to get my mind in order,
although this will never make it into my official report
to my Orders Chapter Mistress.

It was late afternoon & we were due in Jonesburg
shortly when the stage abruptly halted followed up
by a loud thud & the sound of running.I was thrown
into Mr.Priggs ample stomach & as we untangled ourselves,
the stage door was pulled opened & a husky voice ordered
us "OUT".We emerged to face a dark figure pointing a
wicked looking crossbow pistol at us-something was not right
then I realized what it was-our assailant was a WOMAN,
a very attractive woman.

She ordered Mr.Prigg to turn over his purse & he began
to protest,puffing himself up & then she slapped him hard
across his jowls.The man just collapsed & fell to his knees
blubbering to spare his life & holding his fat purse.
She took it & ordered him back into the stage.His
efforts to comply were almost comical to watch him try
to scramble up into the coach,the outlaw helped him
with a swift kick with her great boots to his backside.

She then turned to me,I quickly held out my purse &
said its not much but its all I have.She smiled and moved
close to me,so close our bodies connected.She said
"I think not" & with a hand at the back of my head,leaned
forward & kissed me!!.It was so sudden & unexpected,
strange feelings & excitement race through my blood
& God forgive me I kissed her back & then swooned.

I awaken back in the stage,Mr Prigg who was fanning me
said the outlaw had carried me back into the stage.The
stage driver shortly returned saying he had run off
to a neighboring farm to get help but could find no one,
neither Mr.Prigg nor I believed him.We then all continued
on to Jonesburg with Mr.Prigg bemoaning his losses &
from the smells in the close quarters of the coach,
it appearers he lost more than his purse.

The Inn here is pleasant & I have arranged for a bath
to sooth out the excitement of the day.I must concentrate
on my mission but I keep seeing that kiss over & over
in my mind.

Sept.17.1796

By late afternoon I shall finally be in Shadowbrook &
having the stage to myself has allowed me to review
my mission. Mrs Chambers a widow that I am to stay with
is an old friend of my Orders Chapter Mistress & has
requested help with a series of unusual murders that have
occurred recently in Shadowbrook.Several town residents
have disappeared & in a couple of cases their bodies have
been found drained of blood.Mrs.Chambers does not
accept the popular explanation of animal attacks based
on reported sighting of wolves & has asked the help
of my Order.

I fear the woman is correct & I will need to confront & destroy
a supernatural & unholy being.I am ready,my years of training
& progress through the degrees of my Order have prepared
me for this mission.I am calm in the face of the dangers
I will encounter,but I still feel the outlaws lips upon mine & my
blood races.

Sept.18th,1796-Morning

My first full day in Shadowbrook.Mrs. Chambers was waiting to collect me when the stage arrived.She is a well off widow,
who now rents out her farm lands.She has provided me with
a cottage not far from the main farm house.It used to
house the hired hands but its cozy & will serve as an excellent
base from which to conduct my investigations.I have assumed
the persona of her niece to give me a local connection,so
after breakfast I will go to the Town Hall,which Mrs.Chambers
assures me will be a hot bed of gossip about the local murders.

Evening

Great Lord what a day! I am distracted from my duties & I DON"T CARE!!Save me from my folly!I went to the Town Hall at midday
to introduce myself & inquire about making arrangements to
send & receive posts.The Town Hall,like in most small towns,
serves several purposes,a rather quaint Inn/Tavern is
attached for travelers & for the locals to gather.The smell of
roast mutton drew me to the Inns Great Room doorway.

I entered deciding to start my investigation by listening
to the local gossip over lunch.Upon entering I missed the step
down into the Great Room & skited several steps before
grabbing a table edge to steady myself.Embarrassed I looked
up to excuse myself to its occupant & came face to face
with the OUTLAW from the stage!!

She smiled & said set down & without thinking I did.She looked at me with a wary expression "I don't think we have met"&
I instead of calling for the authorities said NO,we haven't.
She relaxed& smiled wider & then called a serving wench over
to take my order.Introducing herself as Katarina & I
managed to blurt out Anne Marie.She said she would pay
for my lunch.as she had just come into some money,followed
my a mischievous wink.

The afternoon was a pleasant blur,my mission quite
forgotten.Katarina said she was a war widow & did
what she could to get by.I gave her my cover story &
must have babbled on about something,at some point she
took hold of my hand & I was lost in her green eyes.As
the clock struck 4PM,I realized the day had fled & began
to make my apologies that I must go.Katarina asked
me if I would like to share a drink up in her room before
going.I must have turned 12 shades of red & stammered out
Mrs.Chambers was expecting me.She laughed & said
some other time then?and I found myself saying why not
come to my cottage tomorrow night for supper(where
oh where did such boldness come from).She hugged me,
her bosoms pressing mine & whispered in my ear..
"tomorrow then".

I am filled with thoughts about this woman,I have
no experience in the ways of attractions.My studies with my Order & my teaching duties have left me quite sheltered.
I have never paid much attention to the compliments of men
& have always been more comfortable in the company
of my own sex.But to feel like a school girl with a crush
over this woman??,is........is,I don't know.I know I shouldn't
encourage this friendship but I can't help myself,her touches inflame me & I need her.And all of this in just a few hours!

My mind reals,reading what I have just written but still
I will be the moth to the flame I fear.In any case I
do have a duty to my order and I must at least keep
my honor to it.Tomorrow morning I will post my Order
to let them know I have arrived & then begin to investigate
as planned yesterday.I can ignore Katarina during the day,
knowing I will see her that night.

Sept.19th ,1796-Mid Day

Upon arriving at the Town Hall & inquiring about the local
Magistrate,thinking he would have the most information
on the murders.I was again seduced by the cooking smells
from the Inns Kitchen & ordered a late breakfast. I found
my self lingering over my food & looking up the stairs
toward the Inns lodgers rooms.Katarina however never
appeared & I wished myself a fool for setting there like
a love sick swain.

My visit to the Magistrates Office proved uneventful,I
played my visitors role,concerned about the safety of
my dear aunt but learned nothing.The Magistrate
had only the information about the missing towns folk
& the two murder victims that I already knew.Perhaps
a visit to the site where one of the victims was found
will turn up something.

Late Afternoon

A brief entry I fear as today has been rather wasted.I
went to the Covered Bridge to see where one of the bodies was found.It is a creepy place,with its shadows but I found nothing.
Oh,well more time to prepare for Katarina visit tonight.
Mrs.Chambers has stacked my larder well & I have obtained a couple of bottles of port.I feel so nervous & rather weak
in the knees when I think of her coming here.

Midnight

This will be another censored entry but I cannot sleep
& my feelings are just to jumbled to sort out.Katarina,has no such
problem,she lays steadily breathing on her stomach a
long leg thrown over me,with her dark reddish hair
cascading over my left shoulder.Her pale sweat soaked
skin glowing in the light of my writing candle.She is beautiful
& I am damned.

Too much has happened between us in too short of time,
dinner did not go as planned.I opened the door at her knock,
she entered apologizing for her lateness , she had been called
to the stable as her horse & another had died.I hugged
her in comfort & then...& then.....my Lord I blush even now,
we kissed.Who kissed who I don't know it was so sudden
& we were in each others arms.My table & roasted chicken
forgotten as she carried to the bed as we both raced to
remove the others garments and we were lost in each other.

Later,we supped on cold chicken & Port which Katarina brought over to our bed,finger feeding each other like the new
lovers that we were.Playfulness soon turned to passion as we surrendered ourselves over to Eros.Now I lay here in the
sweet afterglow of our passion & realize for the first
time in my adult life I don't care about my Order or its
mission.Yet I must not fall.I must find a way to have
Katarina & do my duty.

Sept.20th,1796 Early Morning

Can my life become more complicated??My passions have
led me to the edge of betrayal.I awoke to Katarina's warm body pressing on mine & unlike last night I became the aggressor,until she lay exhausted in my arms.I finally rose to get us
some breakfast,fastening on my necklace medallion I had
thrown aside in the eagerness of last night.Katarina
eyes went wide as she recognized the medallion of the O.E.S.
& asked me bluntly why I was in Shadowbrook.I was
shocked to be found out,but she pulled me down to her,
embracing me & I told her about my mission!

I expected disbelief but instead she kissed me & said we share the same mission but for different goals.She the identified
her self as an Illuminati ,our heretic sisters & brothers.Both
of us now knew the position in which we had placed ourselves.
She dressed quickly and said we need to think & talk on this.
I was still stunned but managed to tell to return tonight.
My mind can simply not hold the infamy of my actions,I
have compromised my mission & my Order & yet still need
her touch.Does she feel the same? Nevertheless I will push
forward with my investigation & let tonight take us where
it will take us.

Midday

Nothing discovered so far,I ventured into the wooded area
not far from the Covered Bridge.It seemed an obvious place
for a murderer to hide but nothing.For lack of any other ideas
I took the road leading to an Old Keep the locals had
told me about.It seems to have a strange reputation.

Late Afternoon

Well I may have stirred something up in exploring the Old
Keep.I was attacked! whoever it was or why I don't know,
suddenly he was right in front of me.He hit my left arm
with a fierce blow & grabbed my purse.I made a vain
attempt to fight him off but he was too strong,so leaving
my purse I fled.Now Mrs.Chambers tells me that Magistrate
Kroft has been found dead!So were my attack & his death
just a day after I visited him related?Whatever evil exists here
still remains hidden.I shall tend my arm before Katarina
arrives.

Midnight

I need to turn to Katarina sleeping arms again but a few
short sentences to clear my mind.Katarina & I talked over
dinner tonight & I who am use to the certainty of my duties
am now living in a state of greyness.The Illuminati are
my Orders sworn enemies but I can not think of Katarina
that way.We have reach an understanding of sorts,as our
missions if not our goals are the same.We shall each pursue
our investigations,I to expose & destroy an evil fiend & she to
conquer him.We may share some information but she
has plainly told me if I interfere with her she will stop me.
I told her the same but really wonder if the time comes could
I stop her or more correctly would I want to?Enough,out
with the candle & into the soft arms of my enemy.

Sept.21,1796-Mid Morning

Katarina & I left for our separate missions after breakfast.
Its strange that after our morning love making we will
spend the day on opposite paths.Would that the hours
fly until we are united again tonight.Nevertheless,I continue on,
returning to the Old Keep as something seems to draw me there.
So far nothing to show for listening to my instincts.I did
find an old musket in excellent condition,which I hid it being
too huge to be of use to me.

Late Afternoon

I linger on at the Keep determined to reveal its secrets,
but again without success,with just a broken musket
for my efforts.But I am now hearing a scratching sound
coming from the Keeps ruined tower.I shall investigate......

Sept.22,1796 Late Afternoon

I awoke to find myself at the Town Hall or more precisely
a room at the Inn.The Inn Keepers wife who had been
setting with me informed me I had been found on the road
outside the Old Keep unconscious.I thanked the lady for
looking out for me & assured her that I felt better than
I looked.I remembered how wolves had attacked
me as I opened the door to the tower.
I had with great effort managed to get the door
closed again cutting off their attack.Then it happened
the pack struck again! They were suddenly in the room,
fangs & fury coming at me I fought to
keep my balance.With my strength ebbing I
managed to flee,finding refuge in the Doctors Office
across the street

The good Doctor calmed & restored me,but I would not
stay & rest,instead insisting on returning to my cottage,
It was a mistake & I suffered a small relapse.Mrs Chambers
was called & she took me back to my cottage & ministered
to me with a healing salve she swears by.It did reduce
the pain but ,its foul oder soon forced me to wash it off
fearing it will drive Katarina from my bed.Mrs. Chambers
also told me that Katarina had come to the Inn shortly after
the attack,I wonder if she were coming to my rescue?
It would be nice to think so.

Evening

Katarina has gently tended my small wounds & now
waits for me in our bed.I linger only to note we both
now feel the wolves attacks were a sign that an evil entity
is beginning to strengthen its hold on Shadowbrook.
I think she has much more more information she is
not sharing & have no doubt she will use it.I dread
the moment when our goals clash.Do I have
the will to oppose her,to place duty over love?
and does she?

Sept.23,1796 Midday

I decided that for my own protection to purchase a
pistol which I secured from the Black Smith's shop.
I also caught a glimpse of Katarina entering the church.
She does not seem overly religious so perhaps she
feels it holds some clue to her investigation?

Late Afternoon

More bad news,it seems Lady Hanbrook is the latest
town resident to be found murdered.I do feel evil is
growing stronger.I had discretely snooped around the
Manor & discovered an old hidden passage leading off
toward the Keep.My instincts about the Old Keep
led me to venture to explore it again,but to no effect.

As I was leaving however a great dark presence
seemed to engulf me such was its strength that
if I had not been so intent on my mission it would
have overwhelmed me.

Evening

Katarina has been most subdued at supper & would
not talk about her day at all.It does seem that the
same feeling of foreboding overcame her.
She even gave in & consulted our good Doctor.
I have seen her to bed with a warming pan &
must be most gentle with her tonight.

Sept.24,1796-Late Morning

Have spent most of the morning tramping around
the swamp south of the town.Thank goodness for
the cooler weather,I fear in summer the stench would be
unbearable.I think I have unearth some useful information.

I did disturb a rather large bat colony but fortunately they
did not swarm in the bright light of day,I hate BATS!

Late Afternoon

I have explored the Old Wood again collecting more
clues.I feel that with but a bit more digging I shall
find the source of these foul murders.I wonder how Katarina
fairs.

Evening

I lie writing besides Katarina,she was her old self at
supper & we both grew quite giddy on wine.We became
quite bold & walked hand & hand on the back yard.The
Crisp Autumn air played over our bodies unhindered by
clothing.I have saved a cluster of small flowers
that we had pressed between our meshed bodies.
We both seem anxious to take our pleasures to
offset the seeming endless Tide of Darkness in this town.

Sept.25,1796 Late Morning

I had slipped out early leaving Katarina still a bed,to
return to the Old Keep.The feeling of dark influence
just hangs over it.Alas I found an old trunk containing
various documents indicating that Lord Hanbrook
is in league with evil.This is indeed dangerous
information & I am must keep to myself for now.

Evening

My God ,Katarina was sorely wounded today exploring
the Fields north of town.Wolves set upon her leaving
her mauled & then the Fiend itself assaulted her.
Somehow she survived & was found at the edge of the field
by a local merchant.They took her to the Inn & the
Doctor was called to attend her.

I meanwhile was across the street with the Doctor
finding out what I could about the condition of the
bodies that have been found.It was getting on in the
day & in the fading light was surprised by a swarm
of bats taking off for their evening hunting.I hate
BATS.When news came of Katarina we both rushed
to the Inn to see to her.

Katarina was in a state of shock & has some memory
loss about the attack but otherwise was not seriously
hurt in spite of being bloodied.I shall stay at the Inn
with her tonight & the Doctor says she is ok to leave
tomorrow.She has confirmed that it was a foul
Vampire behind these murders.We know now
what we are facing but things are moving in its
way now & not ours.

Sept.26,1796-Noon

I decided that with things going they way they are
I needed some more firepower.Thus,I purchased
another pistol from the Blacksmith.He also gave
good advice on how to use it.Somehow I feel
that a little of the Darkness has lifted in the town.

Late Afternoon

I was leaving the Blacksmith when I spied Katarina
looking around the Covered Bridge.She notice me
& waived but at her back were several shambling figures.
I screamed a warning & she turned & cut them down.
I was going to rush to her side but she singled me
she was ok,turned & proceeded across the bridge.

Seeing that she did not care to have me join her
I turned & proceeded to the Windmill.It was fortunate
I did, as in exploring the place I found a keg of
gun powder hidden in one of the bins.Needless to say
I secured it for my own purposes.I also talked
to some locals in the area that were very informative
once I had dropped dear Auntie Chambers name.
Their opinion of Dr.Manning was very high & it
seems he is a humble man who would gladly
sacrifice himself for the town.I also learned
enough to firmly believe our Vampire makes
his Lair somewhere in the Manor.How long before
I must confront him?

Evening

Katarina is much recovered but seems preoccupied.
She thanked me for her warning at the Covered Bridge,
still I wonder if she would do the same?I long to
tell her,warn her about my discovery of the Villains
Lair...but to do so would place us at direct odds.
Thus I keep my silence.

Sept.27,1796-Dawn

I have just awaken to find Katarina already gone.I
should have known ,last night her lovemaking
was frenetic,like she wanted to consume me.Now
I fear that it may be our last.I must carry on &
will keep preparing myself for the final confortation
with the Vampire.I have asked the Black Smith to
make a torch & intend to pick it up this morning.
I just trust Katarina has done nothing rash.

Sept.28,1796

I am alone on the Noon Stage out of Shadowbrook,
with just my memories of the past weeks.My heart,
mind, & body ache in their emptiness.I have
failed,betrayed my mission & in turn have been
betrayed.

Horrible,horrible ,my brave,foolish Katarina has
won, alone she attacked the Vampire .
I have discovered there are limits to my love and
have suffered dearly.After picking up the torch,
I saw Katarina with Dr.Manning & Lord Hanbrook
storming into the Town Hall! I just knew she had
cornered the Vampire & this was her show down
with the creature.My Orders mission then overrode
all compassion & God help me I tried to sabotage
her mission.My mind in a flustered state,I ran to
Rev.Harding & accused him of being in league
with the murderous monster,thinking he would
go post haste to warn his master.Oh damn
foolish me ,I forgot what I had heard about him.
He is a braggart & a coward not a servant of evil.
I'm afraid I lost a lot of goodwill in town over my
false accusation.But what really chills me that I
was ready to place Katarina in more danger rather
than see her succeed against the Vampire.

I heard the struggle & ran to help her.I found her
under attack by the Fiend & Dr.Manning ,Lady & Lord
Han brook & Magistrate Kroft all dead at her feet.
I hurled myself at the fiend with everything I had,
the fury of my attack severely wounded the Vampire.
Alas the monster & Dr.Manning turned on me &
I was knocked senseless.

When I recovered,I found the body of Dr.Manning
but of the Vampire & Katrina no trace.She has gone
with her prize,Shadowbrook is now free.I have paid
a high price for the extra armor that has been layered
over my heart.I shall tell my Order only that
the fiend is no longer a threat to Shadowbrook
& that the Illuminati have him.

Katrina,did you ever love me?if you did why would
you just leave me without a goodbye?Perhaps it
was too painful for her as well.


Addenda:

On a bluff near Jonesburg,a lone rider with a bulky
bundle tied to her horse,waves silently to the
stage below.The rider wipes her tears & then
rides North.