"Hmph!" Willem says aloud and blinks as the Wildpyre disappears.
"What do you make of that?" he asks Reaper but then looks this way and that and realizes he doesn't see Reaper around either. "Mr. Reaper? You around? Hello??" (His stealth did certainly beat Willem's passive perception...))
"Well then, what do I make of this?" he asks himself, bouncing the iron ring in his hand a couple of times and then brining it up to give it a sniff. "Could this have been holding the poor beast here?"
(Will wait on responding to Greel til I see if he is indeed brought to Willem and Reaper or...?)
You are led into the awaiting passenger car, and whilst expecting to make yourself acquainted to whomever may be present, but you see no others here. What you do see is a few flits of a light ghastly green in the shape of different humanoid shapes in random intervals, however each sighting is rare, and hard to guess where the next will be, as they are gone in the blink of an eye and you’re not sure you even seen it to begin with.
The Vagrant offers a gently laugh along with you, and replies, “Indeed not, my friend! Quite right, indeed. However, you and I have no need ta worry about the food here, as it never runs out a you can ask for what ever your heart desires. All of this and more awaits you in the Dining Car. If you’d follow me, I can take ya there, and just so happens we will be passing some of the others that have arrived just moments before you.”
——Meanwhile: Back to Reaper and Whistler——
Whistler, you hold this warm Iron ring in your hand, oh, actually it’s uncomfortably warm to touch or hold. Though it does not burn you, you get a sense it was made for someone else, that could maybe take the heat, perhaps.
Reaper, you feel a weird presence right beside you, and just as you are about to turn,
”AHhhHhhHHH!!!!! Please! Help me! Man, please, arghhhh, ahhhh- gahhh!!!!” A visage of a man appearing to be in pain, holding his stomach and chest which is the same glowing green of the spirits before now. He is clearly an otherworldly passenger, though he is clad in a black and white striped jumpsuit, with a nametag that reads “INMATE”.
He does not seem to be taking any aggressive action, just in pain, and shouts again, “Ah shit, man! I’m starving here! I was never given my last meal man, and they came and strung me up in my cell, see?” he pauses for a moment to clench his aching stomach, and stifles a groan.
Just in that moment, there comes the sounds of the Vagrant chatting with the new arrival, coming in your direction. The ghost grabs you gently by your jacket front, and says, “Please, ya gotta help me man, I’m so hungry!“ It in this moment he hears the vagrant coming, and seems to have a flashback of that horrific time for him.
His eyes snap to yours through the pained tears, and he places a finger quickly over his pursed lips as he lets out, “They are coming for me…” As he does so, he does not drift off into that green smoke but just fades into the surrounding area and incorporealizes even more into nothing at this current time, clearly frightened.
In the same moment the door slides open, and Before you is the Vagrant with the newest arrival, none the wiser to any of the things that have passed in this car. “Hello, friends. Good to see you are well. Now, this here is another pick of the Druskenvalds, and I’m sure you’ll have much to talk about along the way.” It is at this point the vagrant seems to have taken a horizontal lounge position, hovering through the air about head height to all of you, laying on his side.
you may speak with him more, but he is gently hovering towards the door not yet explored.
As the train lurches to a stop and again as it starts, a sheet of dust is dislodged and drifts across the baggage car. Reaper looks at the tags on the luggage and bundles that have fade to the point of being almost unreadable. Those closest to him have started to come apart apparently from age. Reaper takes a moment to see what he can find out from what he can see. (Slight of Hand 24 to open one that doesn't look like it is going to fall apart.)
Reaper, as Greel speaks to you, your deft hands rummage through these tattered trunks and cases finding 75 Silver pieces, a delicate silver ring, set with a ruby, 10 sets of odd mismatched traveling clothes, and a pair of Goggles of Night.
What you also find, is the convict is completely vanished, without a trace. But as you search these various containers, a book slides in front of you. It is a cook book that starts to open and the pages fly like a thumb was flipping pages at incredible speed, and land on a page that is very old and worn, the only thing you can make out on the two pages before you:
Steak Eggs P L with ease!
This was clearly a cryptic message from the scared, hungry ghost.
You spy the nice new trunk marked “D” in silvered metals, as the Vagrant is fully aware of the task you had just completed, as it were several trunks, and does not mind a bit, but just mentions as he drifts over the trunk itself, “These here are the Lord and Ladies bags, and the are magically protected, so take whatever else you find, friend. I’m sure those who have passed won’t miss them things.”
He continues with a small addage to Greel, “As far as a reward, I’ve been told wild riches, ancient artifacts, knowledge——” he turns to you and says, with a smile, “Or a limitless supply of meats, my friend.”
He finishes saying this and as if on queue, when he opens the next door, the smell of food makes its way to your nostrils
"Greetings, Mr. Greel. I am Willem the Whistler," Willem says with a dramatic bow. "A pleasure to make your acquaintance! This gentleman here goes by Reaper. We've only just met but are well on our way to become fast friends, I am sure..."
"As for promises from Mr. Vagrant, I am afraid I can only speak for myself but I can assure you there were none made,' Whistler continues. "Oh the scamp did make vague reference to a reward at the end but it was the lure of the train and the enticement of adventure that got me on board..."
Turning to The Vagrant, Whistler holds up one skeletal hand with the iron ring lying in his palm out to him. "I found the source of the snoring we heard before you left to fetch our newest companion," he says. "It was a Wildpyre. Asleep. With this stuck around his tail. Removing it seemed to allow the creature to... Well, move on, I suppose. Do you know anything of this ring? Or such like it? It feels... quite warm."
Whistler, the Vagrant turns to you as you speak on the moments that transpired just before the train had stopped.
He looks about like you have just spoke of a secret out loud, making sure nobody else was around to hear, though not fearful.
”Can’t say I was aware of a Wildpyre, but to be truthful with you folk, I do know of restless spirits from time ta time. In fact, these spirits, we call em Haints, sometimes go wayward. A simple as I can explain it is when they do go a bit wayward, their spirit is trapped between the worlds of the living an the dead. They are not free souls, my friends, usually due to some lingering guilt or an unresolved connection to the mortal world. Not all haints are inherently wicked, as you have already seen, but their lack of freedom to cross over into their next form of existence takes a toll on their psyche and disposition. Some haints repeat actions and phrases from their past lives, trapped in a loop of obsessive memories, while others might repeatedly relive moments of joy, sorrow, or fear. As haints, they are tethered to the train forever until their burden is lifted or they crumble into soul coal and become fuel for the train. I myself would prefer to have them pass on, and not be burnt up, so I appreciate the help.”
He continues, hesitating before entering the next car, “My only concern is that it will cause a commotion, and bother the Druskenvalds, but more importantly, cause some other haints to lash out and become some terrible bloodthirsty spectre.”
Greel, you rummage through these same trunks and bags that Reaper had searched, unbeknownst to you, and you find nothing,
Reaper, as Greel speaks and you turn to look at him and back to the book, the letters and pages have deteriorated since being opened, and are now unreadable.
however the floor is yours if you care to enter the dining car
As the smell of food drifts through the fog in the direction that Vagrant has disappeared, Reaper walks through the door into the Dining Car and looks around. (Perception 22 upon entering the dining car) .
This dining car is decorated with an eerie elegance, with plush velvet booths, ornate brass fixtures, and wax candles casting a dim, mystical glow, that matches the rest of this train. The air carries the scent of gourmet food, though the booths are mostly empty, haunted only by the faint traces of deceased diners.
The Dining Car has six small, square booths that each seat four people along each side of the dining car, as well as a larger half-booth and chairs that seats eight people toward the end of the car. While mostly empty, occasionally the spirits of souls riding the train appear sitting in front of empty plates, gazing out the windows into the mists. The large booth is always empty.
With that roll, you see the visage of a ghostly male child. Sitting in a booth in one of the corners of the Dining Car is a wayward haunt of a youthful boy in overalls, hungrily eating all manner of food that he repeatedly conjures forth, from long links of sausages to whole turkeys. All the while, his face is wracked with what seems to be sadness from this distance.
The Vagrant leads you over to the large table, and asks, “Y’all hungry? You can get all kinds of things here an at the Lounge, in the same manner, however the Lounge don’t serve food. All ya gotta do is sit on down, and ask for it, real nice like.”
He hovers in a seated position towards the booth as he speaks and on approach he does take this position on a solid seat, waiting for you, with a smile, to sit and try this out.
Willem the Whistler follows along to the dining car, his Dancing Skull lights following in a trail behind him like some kind of decapitated back up band. When invited to sit he takes a seat and with a little whistled note sends the skull lights slowly floating around the the edges of the car, each maintaining a distance from one another. Willem then taps his fingertips above the plate before him, "What shall I have... what shall I have?" he wonders aloud.
"Ah! I know! Frog leg...." But he cuts himself off and gives an embarrassed shrug to The Vagrant. "Perhaps some pasta?"
If no other chaos or drama comes up over the course of the next ten minutes, Willem casually eats his spaghetti while also ritually casting Detect Magic - He's curious about just what this iron ring is, if anything, and also wouldn't mind a peak around at his surroundings.
Reaper, you make this order, and you wait for a bit as the sounds of sizzling from the unmanned kitchen intensifies.
Whistler, at the stammering of your words mentioning frogs legs, the Vagrant turns to you as the skin of his face begins to drip off revealing a skull head while saying, “Worry not, friend, as there nothing I haven’t ate before-” as he finishes he winks, and his face is normal, sporting a wide grin.
He laughes, ”I’m just having fun! And as while I myself am dead, and of death, such is the land. I however am a bullywug and take no kin ta frogs, and no offense to anything.” While he speaks, food starts to hover gently in your direction, on plates.
Reaper, your food arrives at the table as you hear a “AhhhHHHUUUuuhhh…” accompanied with the sound of a rumbling stomach that reverberates through the car. It looks and smells amazing, and you know this meal of this quality would be quite pricey in your life before.
Whistler (again) as you’re taking a look at this ring, you do not get the sense of any magical properties, though it is half corporeal, and quite hot. You see engraved into the metal “-TIGER RESTRAINTS- CIRCUS PROPERTY- if found please return to the jesters court handlers-“
Reaper stands and picks up the plate. "Wait for me here gents and enjoy your meal. I am about to take a condemned prisoner his last meal." With that being said, Reaper purposefully strides back into the Baggage car and says, "Mister Convict sir, I have an order of steak and eggs for you as requested."
Greel's stomach rumbles as he smells the delicious food and his tongue extends from his mouth to taste the air. He unconsciously gnashes his teeth as he thinks of what he wants to order.
He opens his recipe book and flips through it for inspiration. If he can have anything then he wants something he hasn't had before.
"Grave-fed worms shredded and baked into bread and eyeball stew thickened with blood for the starter. Then wild bear meat fried in its own rendered lard and drenched in gravy with a side of hard-boiled eggs for the main course. And apple pie with a slice of cheddar cheese on top for dessert."
Drools fills Greel's mouth, he was alive the last time he had an apple pie.
The Vagrant joins you with the look of puzzlement, but digresses, as Greels chosen food items arrive with multiple plates.
The bread comes as a dark loaf with a bit of a purple tinge to the glutinous pockets, served on a cutting board for convenient slicing, a stew resembling beef stew but with a braised eye in the middle, properly cooked if ever you had seen it done by another, a Bear meat country fried steak then follows, garnished with a sprig of greens and a common berry, and a side of rich quail eggs, though small but plentiful. The next dish floating to the table is a cloche, that you can only imagine is that delicious pie. It does open the bass polished lid as it sets itself on the table revealing a delicious golden brown solid top pie, with the images of harvest season carved and baked into the surface, allowing the spiced golden apple filling to expand these grooves and allow the large slice of cheese, that has seen the heat of the grill but just a moment to initiate that melting process.
"Some things deserved to be buried and forgotten," Whistler says quietly as he side-eyes parts of Greel's meal but otherwise goes about his own business with his casting and eating.
Once he has cast Detect Magic he looks first at the iron ring. He spots right off that there is nothing magical about it and he finds that a bit curious but not altogether surprising. He was no expert in such things but he had heard here and there in stories and such that certain metals could have certain effects on such things as ghosts and spirits and such. Perhaps it was not all just superstition after all.
"Does 'The Jester's Court' mean anything to anyone?" Whistler asks all within earshot as he reads the engraving upon the ring. (Unless someone asks for a look at it for some reason or such, Willem then packs the ring away into his Bindle. It was a bit uncomfortably warm and he was happy to put it away...)
With his spell still up and working (it lasts 10 minutes) Willem the Whistler would take advantage of it and look around the room and at the others in the car with him. Just out of curiosity to see what may be revealed... He would even excuse himself for a moment and follow Reaper into the baggage car to take a look around there. If there was anything magical laying around in old, discarded luggage then certainly he would be interested in spotting it!
“The Jesters Court is part of the circus, and as such this train has a car just for those folks. I’d imagine that’s who’s tiger that was y’all had helped to pass on.” Just as soon as the food arrives, the Vagrant checks his pocket watch. “Will y’all excuse me for a moment, we have another stop coming up. They are a bit different than y’all, so please try to be welcomin”
He excuses himself with a tip of his wide-brimmed hat, and starts through the corridors back to the passenger car.
———Mirella “Mossgrin” Tallow———
Mossgrin, you are out on a small nightly walk near where you stay now, at the Crescent Court. You try to peer off to the distance to see if the fields do burn this night, but tonight is different. You can’t make any details out in this intense darkness and mist.
What you do see however is a growing stretching beam of pale green light. You know this to be The Ghostlight Express on approach to this location, but you think nothing of it as you are from the area. That is, until you see the train start to slow as it nears you.
You see the Vagrant atop the passenger car in a standing position, pretending to guide and steer the train with non-existent horse reigns, and the train stops nearby. He drifts down to the ground, moving his legs as if there were steps down to where he is now, in front of you with a bow of greetings.
”Hello, friend. Seems like you have seen a lot here recently. The Druskenvalds sent me ta pick you up, as they have a task they feel you are right for. All aboard, dear, and maybe they can help you as well?” He gestures to the door of the awaiting passenger car with his arm held out.
"Hmph!" Willem says aloud and blinks as the Wildpyre disappears.
"What do you make of that?" he asks Reaper but then looks this way and that and realizes he doesn't see Reaper around either. "Mr. Reaper? You around? Hello??" (His stealth did certainly beat Willem's passive perception...))
"Well then, what do I make of this?" he asks himself, bouncing the iron ring in his hand a couple of times and then brining it up to give it a sniff. "Could this have been holding the poor beast here?"
(Will wait on responding to Greel til I see if he is indeed brought to Willem and Reaper or...?)
You are led into the awaiting passenger car, and whilst expecting to make yourself acquainted to whomever may be present, but you see no others here. What you do see is a few flits of a light ghastly green in the shape of different humanoid shapes in random intervals, however each sighting is rare, and hard to guess where the next will be, as they are gone in the blink of an eye and you’re not sure you even seen it to begin with.
The Vagrant offers a gently laugh along with you, and replies, “Indeed not, my friend! Quite right, indeed. However, you and I have no need ta worry about the food here, as it never runs out a you can ask for what ever your heart desires. All of this and more awaits you in the Dining Car. If you’d follow me, I can take ya there, and just so happens we will be passing some of the others that have arrived just moments before you.”
——Meanwhile: Back to Reaper and Whistler——
Whistler, you hold this warm Iron ring in your hand, oh, actually it’s uncomfortably warm to touch or hold. Though it does not burn you, you get a sense it was made for someone else, that could maybe take the heat, perhaps.
Reaper, you feel a weird presence right beside you, and just as you are about to turn,
”AHhhHhhHHH!!!!! Please! Help me! Man, please, arghhhh, ahhhh- gahhh!!!!” A visage of a man appearing to be in pain, holding his stomach and chest which is the same glowing green of the spirits before now. He is clearly an otherworldly passenger, though he is clad in a black and white striped jumpsuit, with a nametag that reads “INMATE”.
He does not seem to be taking any aggressive action, just in pain, and shouts again, “Ah shit, man! I’m starving here! I was never given my last meal man, and they came and strung me up in my cell, see?” he pauses for a moment to clench his aching stomach, and stifles a groan.
Just in that moment, there comes the sounds of the Vagrant chatting with the new arrival, coming in your direction. The ghost grabs you gently by your jacket front, and says, “Please, ya gotta help me man, I’m so hungry!“ It in this moment he hears the vagrant coming, and seems to have a flashback of that horrific time for him.
His eyes snap to yours through the pained tears, and he places a finger quickly over his pursed lips as he lets out, “They are coming for me…” As he does so, he does not drift off into that green smoke but just fades into the surrounding area and incorporealizes even more into nothing at this current time, clearly frightened.
In the same moment the door slides open, and Before you is the Vagrant with the newest arrival, none the wiser to any of the things that have passed in this car. “Hello, friends. Good to see you are well. Now, this here is another pick of the Druskenvalds, and I’m sure you’ll have much to talk about along the way.” It is at this point the vagrant seems to have taken a horizontal lounge position, hovering through the air about head height to all of you, laying on his side.
you may speak with him more, but he is gently hovering towards the door not yet explored.
As the train lurches to a stop and again as it starts, a sheet of dust is dislodged and drifts across the baggage car. Reaper looks at the tags on the luggage and bundles that have fade to the point of being almost unreadable. Those closest to him have started to come apart apparently from age. Reaper takes a moment to see what he can find out from what he can see. (Slight of Hand 24 to open one that doesn't look like it is going to fall apart.)
Out of my mind, be back shortly.
Greel slowly licks his lips. A Relicborn and Plagueborn. They didn't seem hostile, maybe they could be friends instead of food.
Greel waves a clawed hand (his own, he'd already eaten the last of his finger food) at them and gives a grin that shows off his many sharp teeth.
"Greetings! The name's Greel! Now what exactly were you promised to get on board?"
If The Vagrant's misled him Greel's happy to open up his recipe book and turn him into something useful.
Looking away from the object of his interest he looks at the convict and asks "Tell me good sir, what fare suits your appetite?"
Out of my mind, be back shortly.
Reaper, as Greel speaks to you, your deft hands rummage through these tattered trunks and cases finding 75 Silver pieces, a delicate silver ring, set with a ruby, 10 sets of odd mismatched traveling clothes, and a pair of Goggles of Night.
What you also find, is the convict is completely vanished, without a trace. But as you search these various containers, a book slides in front of you. It is a cook book that starts to open and the pages fly like a thumb was flipping pages at incredible speed, and land on a page that is very old and worn, the only thing you can make out on the two pages before you:
Steak Eggs P L with ease!
This was clearly a cryptic message from the scared, hungry ghost.
You spy the nice new trunk marked “D” in silvered metals, as the Vagrant is fully aware of the task you had just completed, as it were several trunks, and does not mind a bit, but just mentions as he drifts over the trunk itself, “These here are the Lord and Ladies bags, and the are magically protected, so take whatever else you find, friend. I’m sure those who have passed won’t miss them things.”
He continues with a small addage to Greel, “As far as a reward, I’ve been told wild riches, ancient artifacts, knowledge——” he turns to you and says, with a smile, “Or a limitless supply of meats, my friend.”
He finishes saying this and as if on queue, when he opens the next door, the smell of food makes its way to your nostrils
"Greetings, Mr. Greel. I am Willem the Whistler," Willem says with a dramatic bow. "A pleasure to make your acquaintance! This gentleman here goes by Reaper. We've only just met but are well on our way to become fast friends, I am sure..."
"As for promises from Mr. Vagrant, I am afraid I can only speak for myself but I can assure you there were none made,' Whistler continues. "Oh the scamp did make vague reference to a reward at the end but it was the lure of the train and the enticement of adventure that got me on board..."
Turning to The Vagrant, Whistler holds up one skeletal hand with the iron ring lying in his palm out to him. "I found the source of the snoring we heard before you left to fetch our newest companion," he says. "It was a Wildpyre. Asleep. With this stuck around his tail. Removing it seemed to allow the creature to... Well, move on, I suppose. Do you know anything of this ring? Or such like it? It feels... quite warm."
"Mr. Greel, I am the Reaper. I was enticed to get on this train as I was needed and a mention of that I might finally settle with my old foe."
Out of my mind, be back shortly.
Greel notices the Plagueborn rummaging through the luggage and hears the Vagrant announce they can take what they find from the other bags.
"Eh? We can just take what we want from there? Don't mind if I do!"
He begins tearing through the luggage, trying to find anything that looks interesting, useful, or valuable.
(Perception check 17)
Spotting the cookbook in Reaper's hands Greel points at it.
"What's that you've got there? The pages are moving on their own, is it magical?"
Whistler, the Vagrant turns to you as you speak on the moments that transpired just before the train had stopped.
He looks about like you have just spoke of a secret out loud, making sure nobody else was around to hear, though not fearful.
”Can’t say I was aware of a Wildpyre, but to be truthful with you folk, I do know of restless spirits from time ta time. In fact, these spirits, we call em Haints, sometimes go wayward. A simple as I can explain it is when they do go a bit wayward, their spirit is trapped between the worlds of the living an the dead. They are not free souls, my friends, usually due to some lingering guilt or an unresolved connection to the mortal world. Not all haints are inherently wicked, as you have already seen, but their lack of freedom to cross over into their next form of existence takes a toll on their psyche and disposition. Some haints repeat actions and phrases from their past lives, trapped in a loop of obsessive memories, while others might repeatedly relive moments of joy, sorrow, or fear. As haints, they are tethered to the train forever until their burden is lifted or they crumble into soul coal and become fuel for the train. I myself would prefer to have them pass on, and not be burnt up, so I appreciate the help.”
He continues, hesitating before entering the next car, “My only concern is that it will cause a commotion, and bother the Druskenvalds, but more importantly, cause some other haints to lash out and become some terrible bloodthirsty spectre.”
Greel, you rummage through these same trunks and bags that Reaper had searched, unbeknownst to you, and you find nothing,
Reaper, as Greel speaks and you turn to look at him and back to the book, the letters and pages have deteriorated since being opened, and are now unreadable.
however the floor is yours if you care to enter the dining car
As the smell of food drifts through the fog in the direction that Vagrant has disappeared, Reaper walks through the door into the Dining Car and looks around. (Perception 22 upon entering the dining car) .
Out of my mind, be back shortly.
This dining car is decorated with an eerie elegance, with plush velvet booths, ornate brass fixtures, and wax candles casting a dim, mystical glow, that matches the rest of this train. The air carries the scent of gourmet food, though the booths are mostly empty, haunted only by the faint traces of deceased diners.
The Dining Car has six small, square booths that each seat four people along each side of the dining car, as well as a larger half-booth and chairs that seats eight people toward the end of the car. While mostly empty, occasionally the spirits of souls riding the train appear sitting in front of empty plates, gazing out the windows into the mists. The large booth is always empty.
With that roll, you see the visage of a ghostly male child. Sitting in a booth in one of the corners of the Dining Car is a wayward haunt of a youthful boy in overalls, hungrily eating all manner of food that he repeatedly conjures forth, from long links of sausages to whole turkeys. All the while, his face is wracked with what seems to be sadness from this distance.
The Vagrant leads you over to the large table, and asks, “Y’all hungry? You can get all kinds of things here an at the Lounge, in the same manner, however the Lounge don’t serve food. All ya gotta do is sit on down, and ask for it, real nice like.”
He hovers in a seated position towards the booth as he speaks and on approach he does take this position on a solid seat, waiting for you, with a smile, to sit and try this out.
Reaper decides to give it a try. He sits in the booth and says, "What I would most like is a big plate of steak and eggs, if you please."
Out of my mind, be back shortly.
Willem the Whistler follows along to the dining car, his Dancing Skull lights following in a trail behind him like some kind of decapitated back up band. When invited to sit he takes a seat and with a little whistled note sends the skull lights slowly floating around the the edges of the car, each maintaining a distance from one another. Willem then taps his fingertips above the plate before him, "What shall I have... what shall I have?" he wonders aloud.
"Ah! I know! Frog leg...." But he cuts himself off and gives an embarrassed shrug to The Vagrant. "Perhaps some pasta?"
If no other chaos or drama comes up over the course of the next ten minutes, Willem casually eats his spaghetti while also ritually casting Detect Magic - He's curious about just what this iron ring is, if anything, and also wouldn't mind a peak around at his surroundings.
Reaper, you make this order, and you wait for a bit as the sounds of sizzling from the unmanned kitchen intensifies.
Whistler, at the stammering of your words mentioning frogs legs, the Vagrant turns to you as the skin of his face begins to drip off revealing a skull head while saying, “Worry not, friend, as there nothing I haven’t ate before-” as he finishes he winks, and his face is normal, sporting a wide grin.
He laughes, ”I’m just having fun! And as while I myself am dead, and of death, such is the land. I however am a bullywug and take no kin ta frogs, and no offense to anything.” While he speaks, food starts to hover gently in your direction, on plates.
Reaper, your food arrives at the table as you hear a “AhhhHHHUUUuuhhh…” accompanied with the sound of a rumbling stomach that reverberates through the car. It looks and smells amazing, and you know this meal of this quality would be quite pricey in your life before.
Whistler (again) as you’re taking a look at this ring, you do not get the sense of any magical properties, though it is half corporeal, and quite hot. You see engraved into the metal “-TIGER RESTRAINTS- CIRCUS PROPERTY- if found please return to the jesters court handlers-“
Reaper stands and picks up the plate. "Wait for me here gents and enjoy your meal. I am about to take a condemned prisoner his last meal." With that being said, Reaper purposefully strides back into the Baggage car and says, "Mister Convict sir, I have an order of steak and eggs for you as requested."
Out of my mind, be back shortly.
Greel's stomach rumbles as he smells the delicious food and his tongue extends from his mouth to taste the air. He unconsciously gnashes his teeth as he thinks of what he wants to order.
He opens his recipe book and flips through it for inspiration. If he can have anything then he wants something he hasn't had before.
"Grave-fed worms shredded and baked into bread and eyeball stew thickened with blood for the starter. Then wild bear meat fried in its own rendered lard and drenched in gravy with a side of hard-boiled eggs for the main course. And apple pie with a slice of cheddar cheese on top for dessert."
Drools fills Greel's mouth, he was alive the last time he had an apple pie.
He spots Reaper leaving.
"What's that about?"
The Vagrant joins you with the look of puzzlement, but digresses, as Greels chosen food items arrive with multiple plates.
The bread comes as a dark loaf with a bit of a purple tinge to the glutinous pockets, served on a cutting board for convenient slicing, a stew resembling beef stew but with a braised eye in the middle, properly cooked if ever you had seen it done by another, a Bear meat country fried steak then follows, garnished with a sprig of greens and a common berry, and a side of rich quail eggs, though small but plentiful. The next dish floating to the table is a cloche, that you can only imagine is that delicious pie. It does open the bass polished lid as it sets itself on the table revealing a delicious golden brown solid top pie, with the images of harvest season carved and baked into the surface, allowing the spiced golden apple filling to expand these grooves and allow the large slice of cheese, that has seen the heat of the grill but just a moment to initiate that melting process.
"Some things deserved to be buried and forgotten," Whistler says quietly as he side-eyes parts of Greel's meal but otherwise goes about his own business with his casting and eating.
Once he has cast Detect Magic he looks first at the iron ring. He spots right off that there is nothing magical about it and he finds that a bit curious but not altogether surprising. He was no expert in such things but he had heard here and there in stories and such that certain metals could have certain effects on such things as ghosts and spirits and such. Perhaps it was not all just superstition after all.
"Does 'The Jester's Court' mean anything to anyone?" Whistler asks all within earshot as he reads the engraving upon the ring. (Unless someone asks for a look at it for some reason or such, Willem then packs the ring away into his Bindle. It was a bit uncomfortably warm and he was happy to put it away...)
With his spell still up and working (it lasts 10 minutes) Willem the Whistler would take advantage of it and look around the room and at the others in the car with him. Just out of curiosity to see what may be revealed... He would even excuse himself for a moment and follow Reaper into the baggage car to take a look around there. If there was anything magical laying around in old, discarded luggage then certainly he would be interested in spotting it!
“The Jesters Court is part of the circus, and as such this train has a car just for those folks. I’d imagine that’s who’s tiger that was y’all had helped to pass on.” Just as soon as the food arrives, the Vagrant checks his pocket watch. “Will y’all excuse me for a moment, we have another stop coming up. They are a bit different than y’all, so please try to be welcomin”
He excuses himself with a tip of his wide-brimmed hat, and starts through the corridors back to the passenger car.
———Mirella “Mossgrin” Tallow———
Mossgrin, you are out on a small nightly walk near where you stay now, at the Crescent Court. You try to peer off to the distance to see if the fields do burn this night, but tonight is different. You can’t make any details out in this intense darkness and mist.
What you do see however is a growing stretching beam of pale green light. You know this to be The Ghostlight Express on approach to this location, but you think nothing of it as you are from the area. That is, until you see the train start to slow as it nears you.
You see the Vagrant atop the passenger car in a standing position, pretending to guide and steer the train with non-existent horse reigns, and the train stops nearby. He drifts down to the ground, moving his legs as if there were steps down to where he is now, in front of you with a bow of greetings.
”Hello, friend. Seems like you have seen a lot here recently. The Druskenvalds sent me ta pick you up, as they have a task they feel you are right for. All aboard, dear, and maybe they can help you as well?” He gestures to the door of the awaiting passenger car with his arm held out.