DAY 004

[allthekeys]

|| Day 004: GENERAL It is impossible to see the dawn with how heavy the snowfall has become; huge drifts are piled against the castle, making travel anywhere within the town difficult at best. It would likely be better to stay indoors today. The strange, cold burrs remain a threat to those who dare to make their ways outdoors, and patches of blood on the snow can periodically be found by anyone who wanders around. There are also small animal tracks to be seen, although it's difficult to tell from what kind of creature. As the morning comes, Asch and his roommates will find a gargoyle, seemingly asleep, as if part of the stone next to his bed. Near morning, the door to the Steward’s Room opens, releasing an exhausted boy who limps slowly away from it, arms wrapped around himself as though seeking comfort. His face is mottled with what at first glance might appear to be bruises, but a closer look will reveal to be scales. The youth could easily be called pretty, though his face lingers too close to gauntness for that to truly apply. His dark hair falls in shaggy waves over his face and his breath comes in quiet gasps, but he seems insubstantial, as though a grip too hard on a limb would find nothing but air. The Cook spies him as he limps into the kitchen, and begins to swear almost at once as they walk to the child’s side, complaining about the inconvenience and how utterly useless the boy is, and how there will be no wasted time to return him to where he goes. The Cook takes the boy by the elbow, dragging the child deeper into the kitchen, all the while listing a steady stream of complaints and curses. The boy allows himself to be led, ill-disguised relief coloring his face. The Cook pushes the lad at one of the heavy tables near the ovens, muttering under its breath about the youth staying out of the way. The boy does so, and the cook continues to swear as they fill a bowl with porridge and a cup with a hot liquid that has appeared on the hearth, adding a powder from one a pocket, shoving both at the boy with further swearing about not wanting to hear him complain about being hungry. The youth barely seems to hear the complaints, shoveling the hot food into his mouth with hungry fingers sucking them clean and drinking the hot liquid. A flour sack serves as a blanket, and the youth quickly curls up beneath it, falling asleep as soon as the food is eaten. The Cook continues to mutter and swear, loudly complaining about the youth’s presence. Though the complaints grow steadily quieter as it becomes obvious the child is asleep. The cook remains at the table throughout the day making bread and refusing to let anyone near to the boy. Any dragons or dragon bonded will feel drawn to the sleeping lad, and will find the cook itself to be an unnervingly soothing presence. For the lad they will feel a strange protective urge, as though they have known him for years and have now found him injured. Several of the maids remain in the kitchen, working on storing the sausages and other foods they made during the night. They welcome the assistance of the work detail and seem surprisingly cheerful. A nice pile of the cooled grain cakes sit on the hearth for any who wish to take them, and the coffee like substance has once more appeared. Three of them work briskly on making three large trays, all piled high with food. Before morning has advanced very far these trays are carried up the servants stair. One of the Grey Maid's seems to be moving a little slowly, though her fellows are doing their best to cover for her infirmity. They will block any attempts to speak to her, standing between the guest and the woman until they obediently leave her alone. Those assigned to the basement will find a few of their numbers handed trays and directed to bring them to to the Crafts People; as today, there are people working in the Crafts Rooms. A feline woman occupies the Porcelain Room, she hums to herself as she works, the fur on her hands coated with the fine paste she works. She offers faint smiles to anyone who brings her food or works to clean the room, but will not speak, seemingly focused entirely on her work. Her fur is dark with russet patterning, though it is mostly covered by the tunic she wears. A large man works in the Carpenter's Room, his red hair bound back from his face as he gently sands a piece of wood. He will nod politely enough to anyone who enters the room, but again offers no words to them. He does however speak to someone no one else can see, explaining what he is doing as though he speaks to a child. He appears to be alone in the room. A very pale woman works at the loom in the Tapestry Bedroom, a small bundle wrapped and placed at her side. She makes very little noise as she works, her eyes locked on the loom and the pattern she weaves, her lips slightly pressed as she works. Though it is occasionally possible to distract her from her work, and she will quickly rise to stop anyone from touching the bundle at her side, she offers no word of complaint. She is also easily overpowered. A young man works quietly in the Pottery Room, casting items and then placing them in the kiln. He seems to want to speak and will watch those who walk around in the room with something close to hunger in his eyes, but he will not speak to them at all. His close are splattered with the results of his work. In the Glassmaker’s room, a small bipedal reptilian about three feet tall is bent over the worktable. The creature is clothed, worn and faded rags that look like they may have once been brighter colors; the lizardlike individual handles their tools deftly, although sudden movements in the doorway may provoke a skittish startle. Thankfully for those employed here, it seems the Steward has realized sending them out side would be a waste of time and energy, likely resulting only in frozen servants. A path has been shoveled clean between the castle and the Blacksmith and Stable, but the guards seem content to let the snow fall otherwise. In the Torture Chamber, one of the guards is kneeling on the floor, next to the rack the man had been bound to during the night. Only blood remains to mark that he had been there at all, though the Guard seems hesitant to move from the spot. The woman is gone, as are the dark cloaked man and the residents of the cells. As morning progresses, other guards make their way to the chamber, the Captain taking a knee on the bloody floor, hand settling on the shoulder of the one who kneels in the blood. No words are spoken, but by midday the guard has been guided to his feet and taken to the barracks. He can be found lying on one of the cots, one of the castle cats curled in the crook of his arm, kneading at the metal of the armor. The servants will find that the Grey Maids have been busy; their beds have been stripped and any loose clothing not contained in the trunks has been gathered, taken to the washing room in the basement. Anyone standing outside the door will hear chatter as the women work; though the moment the door opens they fall silent. The clothes and blankets will be returned by midday, any stains or rips repaired. Someone has left a gift on each trunk, a small paper wrapped parcel. Contained within them is a short cloak made of waxed canvas, with two bars of soap and three candles wrapped inside. Dist, Kaito and Walter will find a small, knotted charm of feathers and beads in theirs. In the Stables the small deer have begun to warm to their new environment, several of the puppies, utterly fearless, are playing a rousing game of tag with one of them. The game is pretend, but it is obvious that both are practicing for how they would fight a battle for their lives. The others are lounging, a few shaking out their wings and nosing around the straw for food. The birds have been moved to another stall out of caution, and the horse who stands guard over them looks faintly bemused, laying in the straw covered in small balls of peeping feathers. They follow the horse as the beast moves around, and share quite happily in the grain the guards bring to him. The guard's Second sits on the ground, holding both of the Gryphon babies. They wrestle his hands and he seems very amused by their antics, entirely relaxed with them. He spends most of the day playing with them, patiently enduring much gnawing and pulling at his armor without protest. The Stable Boy is as usual keeping watch over the outbuildings and the animals therein. He's far less skittish about the Guard than any other guests, and occasionally checks whether he's still there or not. For the most part he's concerned with keeping the animals warm and well fed, and so doesn't take particularly kindly to people exiting and entering too often, as they no doubt let in the cold air and more snow. Those who spend time in the Collector's Library may find their attention drawn to the sound of voices. "Hush! Hush. You'll wake the baby." The voice comes from a woman clad in the grey of the servants and huddled in a corner of the library. She is speaking in low tones with two others, the conversation quiet but frantic. "She's already awake," retorts the second woman, even her voice eerily similar to the first's. "Can't you hear her crying?" "She's my baby," hisses the man. He holds a bundle wrapped in cloth in his arms, squeezing it to his chest so tightly that the fabric caves in the middle. "Don't talk about her like that." The conversation continues on, all three concerned greatly about the fate of the child, for better or for worse. The man occasionally strokes the top of the bundle, but never loosens his grip. All three of them are worried greatly about unidentified people, worrying that "she" might hurt the child or that "he" might take her away. The debate is heated but eventually comes full circle, the cycle continuing on all day. "Hush! Hush. You'll wake the baby..." The Hellhounds laze about the grounds today, content and sleepy. They are friendly enough to anyone who approaches them, seemingly too full and pleased with themselves to be a danger to anyone. There is still blood smeared all over their mouths. The Glass Dogs are nowhere to be seen. The chores for the day have been assigned: Dorm 18 - Basement Dorm 19 - Groundskeeping - Yard/road, Stables/animal tending Dorm 20 - First Floor Dorm 21 - Laundry Dorm 22 - First Floor Dorm 23 - Groundskeeping - Yard/road, Stables/animal tending Dorm 24 - Kitchen Dorm 25 - Laundry Dorm 26 - Basement Dorm 27 - Kitchen

Comments

/slaps down npc request stuff

[serpente]

Mukuro: Guard's Second? or Hellhounds

Murtagh: Scaly kitchen boy obvs; also he'll be hanging around the fawns in the stables, so Stable Boy!

Kaito: Lizardman glassmaker, that Guard in the Torture Room, and then he'll spend time with that horse which has a bird entourage (but I don't think NPC is needed for that?)

/quietly drags hands down face I'm sorry I'm everywhere in mods' business

[chosenfamily]

Well, if Sam's already in the kitchen, he would totally have a look in on the boy. (What? He's got fatherly instincts these days.)

[allthekeys]

Apologies for the delay - feel free to set up a post and link here and we'll tag in!