"Outside? Yeah, that'd be worse. Probably safest would be to go back to Thavol and sit by his fire, away from the creepy slendermen town. Kinda wish we had an old cleric, a young cleric, and a paladin, do some exorcisin'." Daventry props the bugbear toy onto the sidetable as she gets ready to try to sleep. "Least the kiddo made it out, sounds like, though equally sounds like his mom did not... If she's roamin' around, maybe keep a close hold on a tie to life."

Perception (Third Watch): 3

Ludolf raises his eyebrows at Klin's statement. "So some clerics you met were stuck up and haughty and therefore all clerics, no matter which god they revere, are the worst? Interesting conclusion there. What kind of philosophy were you studying at your monestary Klin?" He says dryly, but he doesn't seem to expect an answer as he returns to the books brought from the library.

You all settle into the master bedroom as Ludolf's servent comes back with an arm full of tomes. As the others settle into their slumber Ludolf beings reading, and is perhaps not as diligent on his watch as one would hope. Thankfully Edgar is on the job. Ludolf is perhaps a bit surprised as he reviews the titles of the books and finds some of these books are familar to him from his uncle's library. Many of these are tomes on the Far Realm. While none are particularly rare there is one that his heavily annotated with pieces of paper stuck between pages and chaotic scribblings in the margin. One chapter is particularly marked up. It is entitled, "Meenlocks, Fear Incarnate" The title is circled perhaps hundreds of time and written in a sloppy, shakey hand is a notations, "Could this be the answer?" Reading through the chapter you learn the following of meenlocks:

• Meenlocks are creatures of the far realm that spontaneously manifest in response to fear in places where the border with the realm is thin.
• Meenlocks create more of their kind by transforming humanoids through a process of psychic torment that takes hours or days.
• Meenlocks live in subterranean nests.
• Meenlocks are sensitive to bright light and can sense shadows and darkness.

DM Rolls:

 To be continued in next post. Please hold.

During Ludolf's watch he noticed nothing as he reads through the library books. As the rest of you sleep your dreams are filled with horrid visions. Each of you toss and turn, groaning and mumbling in your sleep. You each sweat and grow pale trying to find some way to rest. 

At this point you all have the same dream. You are being buried alive. You lie in a wet grave. Paralyzed and unable to move as dirt and mud is thrown on your helpless body. At first you feel the cold rain tickling your throat as you choke on it. The freezing rain is soon replaced by the coarse, heavy dirt. All goes black as the weight of the earth crushes you, suffocating you and smothering any ability to breathe. You should be dead but you are not. You continue to feel mounds of dirt and earth pile upon you as you lie there, helplessly. Worms wiggle and worm through your hair and into ears. Beetles crawl up your legs, biting viciously into your flesh.

As Ludolf's shift comes to an end and he awakens Klin and Pardot for thier turn. The first hour seems quiet but as Klin looks out the window he catches a glimpse of the strange creature he encountered on the roof it is peering into the room staring at all of you as your friends sleep. At the moment it seems to be unaware that it has been noticed. 

Ok camera back to you all for the moment.

As Ludolf wakes Pardot and Klin he would inform them on his findings on Meenlocks which most certainly are responsible for what happened at Vermeillon. Perhaps the fear at the cave-in at the platinum mine set off these tragic chain of events. He speculates that they might have a nest back at the mine and that the team should prepare with bright light when facing them. Ludolf would then try his best to sleep, ready for the nightmares to come.

(I presume at this point Triäsa and Daventry are still asleep so not a lot we can do.) 

Quote from Culuril >>

(I presume at this point Triäsa and Daventry are still asleep so not a lot we can do.) 

 That is correct 

As Ludolf passes the light dagger to him, Pardot takes it and holds it close as he hears of the Meenlocks, comforted in the thought that the light will keep them safe while they sleep, but still unable to shake the fear from his dreams. He adds quietly before Ludolf goes to sleep, "Let us hope that in our case it will not be hours..."

Just as he was creating the next days goodberries, Pardot hears Klin gasp out and looks to see his friend and then slowly follows his gaze towards outside the window where Klin is staring, wide eyed. ((can Pardot also see it?))

As Klin calls out Pardot looks out the window and sees a strange and horrifying figure glaring back in the window at him. For just a second Pardot locks eyes with the creature. It has elongated arms that end in claws like a crab. It's legs are also unnatural with clawed feet that are digging into the wood of the house. It's face is a strange amalgamation of an insect's maw with long tentacles forming a grotesque beard. It almost appears to smile at you as the form becomes pixelated and it disappears.

 Klin you have never read or heard anything of meenlocks. There is no physical description in the book.

Pardot simply blinks a few times to make sure he’s awake and actually saw what he did. But seeing the look on Klin’s face, he knows it wasn’t an illusion, or at least not one only in his mind. He then says quietly to Klin, “Let’s not wake the others. The light seems to keep it at bay for now. We all need as much sleep as we can get, even if it’s restless. I only pray that it wasn’t that thing that is invading our dreams. Tomorrow we can all discuss this.” He then is silent in his thoughts for a while, though is happy to join Klin is simple conversation to take their minds off it for the rest of their shift.

The remainder of Pardot and Klin's shift is pretty unremarkable. Those sleeping continue to toss and turn restlessly as they continue to dream of drowning deep within the dirt.

As the shift ends Daventry and Triäsa are awoken for their turn to watch the night. 

Rather weary when awoken from her fitful sleep, Triäsa is a bit relieved. "What horrible nightmares! I was being burried alive!" She looks at Daventry, "I certainly hope you slept better."

Finally collecting herself,  she looks at Pardot and Klin. "Have an uneventful watch you two?" 

"There is something watching us." Pardot says, explaining what he saw. "So the nightmares aren't over it seems. But it seems to stay away from the light." He then hands over the light dagger, gives any more details that Tri wants, and prepares himself for another couple hours of restless sleep.

(Pardot has mentioned "light dagger" a couple of times now.  I might have missed it, but what is this?) 

Triäsa asks for a description of what was seen and where it was. She confirms that both saw it - and saw the same thing.  "Did it leave? Or just hide?  Why didn't you say anything! What do you suppose it is?" she asks. She takes a look around at whatever lights are currently set up while she talks to Pardot and Klin. 

As Daventry also awakes, she mutters to Triasa, "Hells, worst sleep I've had since that nasty nightmare a few weeks back." Triasa notices beads of sweat on her forehead, which Daventry wipes away before getting armed and armored up, and the bed was not well-constructed enough that Tri missed the other woman tossing and turning all night.

As Pardot and Klin speak, she summons a orb of starlight, holding the ball loosely in her hand. "Ah. Yeah, next time let's make sure that the ones of us who can bring about light aren't both asleep at the same time, if'n it keeps the creepers away." She peers out the window, leaning up against the wall next to it so she can see. (Perception rolled previously)

To Triasa, once the boys have settled in: "If it isn't coming in to harass us directly, probably good we got what sleep we did." She yawns, almost countering her own point. "Not gonna lie, this place gets my jimmies all rustled. Hopefully Ludolf dredged up some info, judging by the pile of books he's sleeping on like some sort of tome-fort."

Triäsa nods, yawning as well. "Yea, wish I knew what he might have learned." She looks over where Ludolf is sleeping. "I would read some myself, but I think we should keep alert. This place bothers me too."

She will cast Light on her dagger again, setting it to where it will help the most in keeping the area lit. She then settles in to sit facing Daventry, so that each is watching the other's back.