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To Touch & be Touched
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10-13-2008, 12:28 AM
(This post was last modified: 12-30-2010 12:08 PM by Old Dwarf.)
Post: #1
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To Touch & be Touched
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. Sighing like the night wind and sobbing like the rain,— Wailing for the lost one that comes not again: |
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