Hengist moves closer to the open space, his eyes adjusting to the shadows. As he approaches, he notices a number of boxes, chairs, stools, and small tables stacked along the walls of the workshop. These all appear to be of fine workmanship. Another chair, nearly complete, sits near the centre of the opening in the front of the building, clearly still being worked on. There is something immediately disquieting about the chair, though Hengist can't quite place what it is about the half-finished jumble of wood that should set his nerves on edge. Something about the lines of the chair is somehow wrong...and markedly different from its more ordinary companions against the walls.
After standing, frowning at the chair for longer than he intended, Hengist has the feeling of being watched. Looking up, he notices a shadowed figure standing towards the back of the workshop, motionless and watching him.
Kaul moves around the building adjoing the carpenter's workshop, quickly out of sight of the rest of the party and any others that might be passing on the street. This building sits against the outer palisade. Unfortunately, there doesn't appear to be space between the building and the palisade to approach the workshop. Kaul could either try climbing out of the palisade, or climbing over or through the adjoining building, a small half-timbered home, much like the others...
I will try to climb over the palisade.
Hengist the Fair
“Fine work. I’ve heard of the skill of Neddy the carpenter; you must be him?”
[quote="Kaul"]
I will try to climb over the palisade.
[/quote]
Glancing about for observers, Kaul moves towards the palisade, sliding his hands along the cut logs, searching for handholds. The wood is rough, and easily climbable by one of his particular skills. With one last glance over his shoulder, Kaul nimbly clambers to the top of the palisade, then slips over it, lowering himself until he's able to drop to the ground. There are a few people in sight, farmers by the look of them, but none seem to have noticed a lone man slipping over the village's defenses.
Kaul looks to the top of the palisade, moving carefully along the perimeter until he can see the second floor of the carpenter's house above the tops of the logs. Brushing his hands off on his breeches, he once again mounts the barrier with practiced ease, climbing up to outer wall of the labourer's home. Sidling along the edge of the buildings lower stone walls, he moves over to the closed shutters of a second-floor window...
[quote="Hengist the Fair"]
"Fine work. I've heard of the skill of Neddy the carpenter; you must be him?"
[/quote]
The man's ice-blue eyes clearly narrow at the question, and he shifts slightly before speaking, the details of the movement lost in the shadows of the worshop.
"Who wishes to know?" he asks, his voice quiet.
Hengist the Fair
“Men call me… Hengist! Which is fitting, because that’s my name. This is my traveling companion Dagmar. We are, as you might suppose, travelers. And, having traveled such a distance as we have, it seemed a shame to stop in Orlean without seeing the sights, including such fine craftsmanship as yours.”
While he talks, Hengist wanders over to one side of the workshop and eyes the stacked items, picking up, examining and setting down a box, then a stool.
[quote="Hengist the Fair"]
"Men call me... Hengist! Which is fitting, because that's my name. This is my traveling companion Dagmar. We are, as you might suppose, travelers. And, having traveled such a distance as we have, it seemed a shame to stop in Orlean without seeing the sights, including such fine craftsmanship as yours."
[/quote]
The man in the shadows inclines his head, queerly, the motion triggering a slightly sickening sensation in the pit of your stomach...
[quote="Hengist the Fair"]
"While he talks, Hengist wanders over to one side of the workshop and eyes the stacked items, picking up, examining and setting down a box, then a stool.
[/quote]
Dagmar follows you, looking over your shoulder. You're not quite sure what you expected to find, but the items here are decidedly ordinary, although of fine craftsmanship. Nothing like the stange lines of the half-finished chair. As you are turned examining the wares, you hear the man speaking. It takes a moment before you realise the words are in no language you can understand. As he finishes, there's an odd sensation of pressure that you can feel in your ears, then it's gone. You whirl about, but the man still stands where he did before...
"And what is it, exactly, that you are hoping to find, my young...friend?"
Hengist the Fair
"I don’t know… puzzle boxes, maybe? I met a woodcarver once who made the most amazing puzzle boxes. You could only open them if you moved everything in the exact right order. Some of them I never could get, even though I spent hours on them.
Or… nesting dolls? I saw some that a trader had once. What it is, is it’s a kind of rounded wooden doll," (Hengist sketches an oval with his hands) “but it comes apart in the middle, and inside is another wooden doll. Then that one comes apart too, and there’s another one inside that one that comes apart, so the dolls just keep going. Good toys for kids, really, because it keeps them busy, if you know what I mean. Do you have any yourself? Kids, I mean, not nesting dolls. But, actually, nesting dolls too, if you have anything I don’t see out.”
Kaul
Does it look like i can open the shutters from outside, maybe using a wire or a probe to move the lach?
You’d have to give it a try, but you can’t imagine the lock on a pair of shutters would be any match for your deft fingers.
Kaul
ill pass a strong wire in and try to open the latch.
[quote="Kaul"]
ill pass a strong wire in and try to open the latch.
[/quote]
There are two windows in the back of the building, neither appearing any different from the other. Facing the building, which window does Kaul attempt to open, left or right?
[quote="Hengist the Fair"]
"I don't know... puzzle boxes, maybe? I met a woodcarver once who made the most amazing puzzle boxes. You could only open them if you moved everything in the exact right order. Some of them I never could get, even though I spent hours on them."
[/quote]
"I-"
[quote="Hengist the Fair"]
"Or... nesting dolls? I saw some that a trader had once. What it is, is it's a kind of rounded wooden doll," (Hengist sketches an oval with his hands) "but it comes apart in the middle, and inside is another wooden doll. Then that one comes apart too, and there's another one inside that one that comes apart, so the dolls just keep going. Good toys for kids, really, because it keeps them busy, if you know what I mean. Do you have any yourself? Kids, I mean, not nesting dolls. But, actually, nesting dolls too, if you have anything I don't see out."
[/quote]
"Must you babble so?!" the man seems genuinely frustrated trying to follow Hengist's twisted thread, "Speak plainly! And what business of yours are my...offspring?"
Edging over to the left, Kaul withdraws his tools and slips a small wedge through the gap, carefully lifting the latch, holding it up while quietly easing the shutters open. Looking through the crack into the gloomy space, you can see a bed, cupboards, several chests, and a table and chairs.
There is a dim glow from the hearth, and in the ruddy light, you can see a woman on all fours near the center of the room, facing away from you. She is nearly prostrate, her face pressed to the floorboards, and has taken no notice of you.
Kaul
I will almost close the window, but try to look a bit more to see what the women is doing, or if she goes.
Hengist the Fair
“Oh, I just like meeting children. They remind me of me when I was younger. I know it’s hard to believe, seeing me now…” (Hengist turns his head in profile and lifts his chin for a moment, the better to see him now) "but I actually still feel like a kid at heart in some ways. So I enjoy seeing children run and play, before the cares of adulthood creep up on them like, like… like something creeping that creeps up on people in the night.
So maybe outdoor toys like hoops or balls are better choices of toys for a man with children. I see your point; you’re a wise man. Although I don’t see any of those either, so perhaps your fine children are already outside playing. No matter.
I see the taste of the good people of Orlean must run to furniture and boxes, since that’s what you have prepared. I’m not in the market for a table and chairs myself at the moment. You can see they’d be awkward to carry around traveling, as travelers such as Dagmar and myself naturally do. But I might be interested in a box, or a box-like object some call a chest. Not, you understand, the feminine kind of chest in this case -begging your pardon, Dagmar- but the kind you carry things in. What have you got?"
The woman remains in her odd position. After a few more moments of observation, it is clear that she is conscious, and actively doing...something...though what that might be, you cannot tell.
As you watch, you realise that you can make out the sound of muffled conversation.
[quote="Hengist the Fair"]
"Oh, I just like meeting children. They remind me of me when I was younger. I know it's hard to believe, seeing me now..." (Hengist turns his head in profile and lifts his chin for a moment, the better to see him now) "but I actually still feel like a kid at heart in some ways. So I enjoy seeing children run and play, before the cares of adulthood creep up on them like, like... like something creeping that creeps up on people in the night.
So maybe outdoor toys like hoops or balls are better choices of toys for a man with children. I see your point; you're a wise man. Although I don't see any of those either, so perhaps your fine children are already outside playing. No matter.
[/quote]
"My offspring, and the fact that they have run away, is no concern of yours!"
[quote="Hengist the Fair"]
I see the taste of the good people of Orlean must run to furniture and boxes, since that's what you have prepared. I'm not in the market for a table and chairs myself at the moment. You can see they'd be awkward to carry around traveling, as travelers such as Dagmar and myself naturally do. But I might be interested in a box, or a box-like object some call a chest. Not, you understand, the feminine kind of chest in this case -begging your pardon, Dagmar-
[/quote]
"Not at all!" Dagmar says, her broad smile appearing forced.
[quote="Hengist the Fair"]
...but the kind you carry things in. What have you got?"
[/quote]
"If it is a coffer that you wish to purchase..." the man says, speaking in an oddly precise manner, "...alllow me to show you these!" he gestures towards the back of the work-space, moving into the shadowy gloom. While your eyes have begun to adjust, it's still difficult to make out more than dark shapes against the back wall.
Hengist the Fair
“Yes… those… look… -no, no, I’ll be perfectly honest. I can’t see a thing in here. Not to worry, though. If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my travels, it’s always carry a light. Hold my pack for a moment please, Dagmar.”
Staying where he is, Hengist begins rummaging through his pack for a torch. Given time, he kindles one with his flint and steel and holds it up to see better.
Kaul
i will leave the women alone for the moment and try open the right window.