The Sacrifice Camp (RP)

- Albert -

"I never saw the camp." Daryl apologises. "When I got away I ran in the opposite direction. If we can get to the cage --it is just over there-- we may be able to free Theo and Phil." He agrees, though that does not address the possible issue of the mayor's daughter --who is also Theo's sister-- and Theo is unlikely to leave without her.

- Olden -

Your prisoner looks offended at your comment about her feet. You get the feeling you have accidentally pushed on a metaphorical sore-spot. You can't know this, but she is rather proud of how her feet look, and has been worrying about what all this traipsing around unclad has been doing to them.

She does not seem to hear the rest of your words at all, fixated as she is on the perceived insult.

- Norbert -

Your 'sentry' is less of a sentry and more 'just another woman doing her own thing', it is easy to skirt around her, and then to use her tracks to get you to where you can hear the sounds of many feet, and some light chanting.

You don't know this part of the valley, but you had not heard about there being a stone table in the middle of a clearing. The table stands below an old crooked oak tree, which leans east over the clearing.

Sunlight streams into the clearing, forming a rough circle around the dancers. The dancers are all adult women --of various ages-- and all naked. There are eleven of them dancing --of you look close enough to count-- which might seem a strange number to anyone who knows about such things. There are at least two other women out there (your prisoner and the 'sentry' you passed).

You don't see any sign of the mayor's daughter, or Theo or Phil (presumably you did not get to see the cage while dodging 'sentries'?). All the women look like locals to you. Some of them are friends of your mum. There are a few trying to guide some of the less nimble to the 'correct steps' but no one looks to be 'in charge'.

What do you do?

'' Please think very hard, have you seen them? ''
He looks the woman in the eye. She presses her lips in a tight line, indicating she's not going to speak.

damnit, maybe one last push...

''Hey Olden, how long since the others left? Maybe we can start packing to head back to the village. What do you think we should do with this one? Do we need to tie her up? I don't want to get strangled this night when we have to share my cloak''

Roald winks at Olden in a way that she has to notice it.

- Roald -

"Wait." She says. "I will be a good girl, just don't leave me here. I want to go home." It is almost as though she does not hear the the rest of what you say, fixating on the talk of leaving. Her lip quivers and you realise she was trying not to cry instead of refusing to speak.

After a little probing you get her admit guiltily. "I didna 'spect it to go like this. By the time they started talking about sacrifice I's in too deep... and I didna know what they meant." (You suspect this is only partially true.) "I didna speak to the girl --none of us did-- but she seems nice, and, you know, just a girl in the end. I don want to hurt her, please take me with you."

She seems quite willing to betray her fellow women, but also willing to leave the mayor's daughter to her fate just so long as she does not have to do the deed herself. At least she has confirmed that the girl is here.

What do you do?

- Albert -

You don't meet anyone on you way to the cage, it is easy to hide in the forest foliage. However, the ground around the cage is bare, with nowhere to hide, so getting closer will be more challenging.

From your vantage point a dozen or so paces away you can see that Theo is alone, he looks in bad shape, either sleeping or unconscious, but still breathing.

What do you do?

- Roald -

"What? They're 'witches'?" She asks, grasping at straws. "So... it's ... not my fault?" If she can blame her actions on 'witches' that would absolve her of 'blame' in her mind.

The promise of heroics is not yet a significant factor in her decision process, but you may be able to use such ideas to gain her aid in whatever you do next.

- Albert -

"No." Daryl agrees. "I did not see Phil after I woke up before I left. Theo was inconsolable and not making sense except to go get you, but we never knew about a girl. Sorry"

At your instruction he quickly runs back to Roald, Olden, Limpy and the woman to tell then what you know.