Prochorus curses under his breath.
The next morning, there is a shriek in the back yard. By the time the magi arrive in the common room they find Dietlinde again reassuring the young cook. Dietlinde points towards the kitchen, "She found a body by the river."
As soon as they get to the back yard, those who went there see the body of a man, half-floating in the river. He is dressed as a common sailor.
Prochorus regards the body with a scorn.
Found someone to play with, didn't you.
He inspects the body for marks and/or anything that could be used as an arcane connection.
The man was fairly big, so it is hard for Prochorus to move the body around. At first glance, it looks like the man drowned.
Get over here. I want to see what they did to him, he grumbles to whoever is nearby, presumably Japik. Prochorus works together to push it so he can see if there is anything noteworthy about the corpse to the naked eye. If not, he asks Dietlinde to deliver the news to the docks.
(OOC: Assuming Japik has heard the commotion and is nearby this morning.)
Japik runs to the backyard and helps Prochorus turn him over to see if they may recognize the man and what happened to him. Japik also looks at Prochorus with a questioning expression "The ghosts?"
"Yeah. At least I think they are ghosts - this sort of thing is not my strong suit. They seem to have a thing for big men. I guess the little delinquents had a hard childhood. I'm not sure what to do about it, though. Do you think you could lure them out of the river somehow? My gut tells me that would help, maybe. "
"If we stay around here for next time they appear I could try something. But it may be they are chained to the water in the river somehow. Do we know if there is a pattern to when they appear or if there is something that triggers it? This happened in the middle of the night, right?" Japik points at the dead sailor.
(OOC: I could use Phantasm of the Human Form to create an image of a person that moves and talks. The question is if we should try a big man again like Prochorus tried and see what happens or maybe try a child or a woman and see if they react differently then.)
A closer examination of the body reveals only a few small bruises on him, as if had been held down. He still has his purse and his knife at his belt.
Yes, it was in the night. Last time was earlier I think. No pattern that I can see; sometimes with people, sometimes without.
You might be right about the river, though. I am not sure that they can leave. Should we just try to slay them rather than trick them? I could probably bodily control one. I doubt the mother would like that, though. And I am not sure it would help. They might come back. Or the mother might stay to haunt our staff.
Edit: Prochorus takes a look at what the man had in his purse.
The purse contains half dozen pennies, along with a few clay chips like those issued by inns to be used for further drinks already paid for.
"Let's try a little image trick on them first to see how they react. As you say slaying them might not take away the problem, in fact it might even make it worse. If we can find out what they want in exchange for leaving us alone and never come back here then I think we can solve it."
"So shall we take turns and sit and watch this site for a couple of days and nights. When the mother comes out to bake her bread the one of us that is here calls the other as quickly as possible."
(Regarding the timing, the ghost has appeared about once a month so far.)
(OOC: Ok so this incident is about a month after the ghost incident that happened just before Japik and Prochorus went back to the sunken ship and found it gone? There were no dead body found in the river last time was there?)
Timeline of events:
- Late June: While visiting the inn for the first time, the magi find a six-day-old loaf of bread.
- Mid-July (three weeks later): First incident involving the young cook.
- End of summer (late August): Latest incident and body of the sailor found the next day.
This is the first time a body has been found, that you know of.
In three weeks' time, we will begin organizing our goings such that one of us is in the vicinity at all times, and both at most. We will attempt the ruse, and if unsuccesful, I will attempt to control one of the creatures. Perhaps I can make it cram the goddamned bread down its throat or something.
On the last day of the summer, in the early days of the morning, the events start again in the kitchen. As it happens, Japik was just coming to relieve Prochorus on the watch for the ghost and the children, so both magi are present.
As before, things in the kitchen get tossed aside to make room for the ghost as it makes its bread. Soon, the ghost goes out in the back yard and starts calling its children. After calling for some time (at least a handful of diameters), the children emerge from the river.
Japik tells Prochorus to stand back out of sight from the children for a while. Then he casts Phantasm of the Human Form making exaggerated gestures but otherwise he makes no sound. (Creo +8, Imaginem +9, Sta +4, +1 for exaggerated gestures, +22 total, need 25 after die roll)
If succeeding he creates an image of Prochorus as detailed as possible and have him approach the children in the river.
"Hello boys do you want to play today? Look what I have brought. Do you want to try it?" The imaginary Prochorus takes out his drum (well a crude image of it as part of his equipment) and holds it out as if inviting the children to come and take it.
The image stops a couple of yards before the water starts to see if the children come up on land.
The children look at the image, then at Japik. They seem to disregard the image almost completely and address Japik instead. "Why don't you come and play with us in the water? It is fun!"
Meanwhile, the ghost pleads with the children to come out of the water and come home.
Japik moves closer to the river as well after the image has stopped.
"I would love to play with you in the water but I have hurt my toe and the doctor said I should keep it dry for a day or two. My friend here would love to get into the water with you but why don't you come up and play on his drum first. Maybe we can sing a song together? Something about big nasty men perhaps?" Japik stops next to the image.
The image takes a step closer to the river and hands the drum in the direction of the children but just out of reach unless they walks out of the water.