The old man wakes slowly when Guilliame gently shakes his arm and when his eyes open there is a moment's confusion before he asks, "Who are you, young man? And where is the young student who normally brings me my breakfast?"

There is no evidence of the strangeness that Guilliame saw previously in Master Nathaniel's eyes but the room still seems to be colder than it should.

"Don't you recognize me Master Nathaniel. We have met before."

Nathaniel looks at Guilliame for a moment and then says, "Yes, I remember you. What is going on? Where is the young lass who normally brings me my breakfast?"

"I'm not sure what happened sir, but when I came into the room you looked like you might be dead, then you looked like you might have been an awakened dead and now you seem to have just woken up from a sleep."

[OOC: FYI, I am off playing D&D with Jeff Clarke, Dave Berriman and the others tonight.]

Master Nathaniel is quiet for a moment and then he says, "Did you say I looked like I was dead? The Dawn shock was particularly disruptive this morning, but what you say is worrying."

[OOC: Is everything okay with you? Jennifer has told me that you have cancelled Sunday.]

OOC: We just put mum and dad into respite care. A lot of running round and organising. Just need a bit of downtime.

"You looked dead. When you revivied your eyes were dark and burning. Then you went back to what looked like a normal sleep. Do you want me to get you something or fetch someone."

[OOC: Sorry to hear about your mum and dad having to go into respite. Enjoy your downtime.]

"No, no," says Master Nathaniel with a shake of his head. "I will be okay after I have some breakfast and a little bit more sleep."

Nathaniel then hitches himself up in the bed and asks Guilliame to pass him the tray of food on the bedside table.

[OOC: Please make an Insight check for Guilliame.]

4

OOC Based on this very limited conversation is there anything to suggest a change in the Master's behaviour?

[OOC: Nathaniel is acting and sounding as Guilliame remembers him, but there does seem to be a bit of uncertainty behind the man's general demeanour, as if he were leaving things unsaid.

I will assume that Guilliame does pass the tray of food to Nathaniel as requested. Let me know if that is not the case.]

Pass the tray as requested. 

"Velma has gone to try to get someone in case there was help required. I am worried about leaving you alone but is there anyone else who you would like to see?"

"No, no...," he says automatically and then he pauses, as if a thought has just struck him. "Yes. Wamzut. The wizard from Ilbarsis. He might... I would like to talk with him... I wonder if we could get a message to him somehow?"

Then it seems as though another thought occurs to him and he asks, "Do you know if there has been any word concerning the whereabout of the son of Lord Brand? Is he still missing?" 

"I'm not sure. I have seen Wamzut recently but he has changed somewhat. I can try to contact them but I can't guarantee anything."

"That would be good, if you could?" says Master Nathaniel while staring blankly at the food on his tray. "Wamzut is a very wise magus. If anyone can help me, it would be him."

Guilliame becomes aware of the sound of approaching voices, and at the same time Master Nathaniel pushes his breakfast tray aside and says, "I do not want to eat this now. Instead I will sleep. Could you please see that I am not disturbed."

Take the tray away and put it somewhere out of the way. Go to the door. If someone tries to enter tell them that Master Nathaniel has asked not to be disturbed. 

Taking the tray, Guilliame closes the door as he steps out of the old man's bedroom. In the entrance to Master Nathaniel's rooms he meets Velma and Mistress Althea, who for once isn't wearing the thick makeup Guilliame is used to seeing her in.

"So, is he?" ventures Mistress Althea hesitantly. Then, apparently confused by the look on Guilliame's face, she clarifies her question by adding, "Is he dead?"

"He is alive as far as I can tell. He looked dead, then I thought he might have become restless dead. Then he dropped back to what looked like a normal sleep. When he awoke he seemed a bit weak and confused but I think it was him. He then asked to be left alone so he could rest. He asked me to look for Wamzut or Alaric Brand to see if they could help."

"Alaric?" says Velma with surprise. "A man with that name visited Master Nathaniel a couple of days ago."

"Velma," says Mistress Althea sharply, "Please go and find Master Narim. You will find him down in the training grounds with a class. Get him to come here as soon as possible."

A little taken aback by Althea's tone, Velma says, "Yes Mistress Althea. I will go at once."

Velma hurries away and Mistress Althea waits until she has gone before saying to Guilliame, "Master de Guilliame, you said you thought that Master Nathaniel might be one of the restless dead. Why did you say that? Have you had any experience with the restless dead?"

"I have never seen one before. But when I went in I thought he was dead and then he suddenly awoke with burning red eyes, then he collapsed again."

"Something happened a couple of nights ago," says Mistress Althea earnestly. "I was sent away, but Narim told me that Nathaniel was followed home from one of his astral travellings by a dark spirit. There was a fight... all I know is Narim has not been the same since, he was... drained of his essence, is the closest thing I can think of. He has aged a good ten years since that night."

Still looking worried, Mistress Althea then adds, "Still it is day time. None of the restless dead that I know of manifest during the daylight hours."

Then she asks, "Did the room feel cold? I noticed it was cold the last time I was with him."

"There was a definite chill in the air. Do you have any idea how to find either Alaric Brand. I think I need to tell you something that was told to me in confidence so can you please not tell anyone else unless it is important. Wamzut seems to be inhabiting the body of a young female elf called Attina. I am going to try to send a message to Alaric unless is there anything else you think I can do here."