Shepards Vampires 6

[22:17]	<[GM]Mary>	Last time, on Vampires!
[22:24]	<[GM]Mary>	<[GM]Mary> The coven arrived in the town of Diethelm, and after a short conference, parted ways. Shepard and Leticia left to find lodging, Phrine and Judith set out to examine the night's activity and refill themselves. Sidney is still trying to hitchhike from the castle.
[22:26]	* [Owen]Phrine	wanders around the main street of town, observing inns and pubs randomly, whispering to herself.
[22:27]	<[Owen]Phrine>	"...eeney, meeny, mieney, moe...?"
[22:28]	* [Pyg]Judith	finally catches up to Phrine, her mood still a bit sour. She tries to relax her expression before approaching Phrine and snagging the tracker bat out of the air.
[22:31]	* [Owen]Phrine	observes the bat-snatch from the corner of her eye.
[22:31]	<[Owen]Phrine>	"Oooo...That's neat, Mom. How'd you do that~?"
[22:32]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"I'll teach you later."
[22:32]	* [Pyg]Judith	smiles as the bat melts into the skin of her hand.
[22:35]	* [Owen]Phrine	watches intently. There's so much about herself she still doesn't know...or maybe she just forget after 40 years. Same difference, really.
[22:36]	<[GM]Mary>	Jude & Phrine: You make your way through town. Upon reaching the central hub, you become aware of a large crowd formed around a wooden platform. There a man speaks to the people, and at your distance you can only catch references to people you've never heard of, however the words "witch" and "devil" make their way to your ears with great frequency.
[22:37]	* [Pyg]Judith	's attention is caught by the rather large gathering and moves closer to have a listen.
[22:37]	* [Owen]Phrine	follows her, hopping up and down to try and see the shouting man.
[22:39]	<[Owen]Phrine>	"Unffhh...can't see good...what's that about witches...?"
[22:39]	<[Owen]Phrine>	"Mom, can you see anything?"
[22:40]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"...Barely."
[22:40]	* [Pyg]Judith	also tries looking above the wall of people on her tiptoes.
[22:41]	<[GM]Mary>	Judith & Phrine: Listening more closely, you discover that the topic is on the recent failed invasion of the castle, and that the man suspects certain townspeople to be involved in the peasant's deaths, claiming one young woman to be a witch. From your perspective, she's obscured from view.
[22:41]	<[Owen]Phrine>	"Uuu-uun, that doesn't sound very happy..."
[22:42]	* [Owen]Phrine	thinks to herself... (I wonder if that's our castle they're talking about...?)
[22:44]	* [Owen]Phrine	looks around for a ladder or a balcony somewhere nearby so she can see the scene better. This seems awful interesting, now. Beats wandering around town, at least.
[22:44]	* [Pyg]Judith	hears something about a young woman...Wait a minute...Aww, crap!
[22:47]	* [Pyg]Judith	sharpens her hearing so she can hear some more.
[22:48]	<[GM]Mary>	Phrine: going around the crowd, you find a small stone bridge that's raised about four feet above the crowd. There's a few people watching from there, but it's sparse enough to give a good point of view, although it shows you the speaker's back.
[22:52]	<[GM]Mary>	Judith: "...ean to tell me that the sole survivor of the invading militia is a seventeen-year-old girl? Preposterous! I Say she's in league with the monsters, and her presence here is poison to our society and an abomination against God!"
[22:53]	* [Pyg]Judith	is now 100% sure of who the speaker is referring to. She can't help but feel responsible for whatever trouble had fallen on the young woman from that night.
[22:55]	<[GM]Mary>	Phrine: You can see a young woman tied and held behind the platform. She has short, brown hair, a dirtied white dress, and emerald green eyes. She's struggling against her two captors, but she's too weak to break free.
[22:56]	* [Owen]Phrine	mutters to herself as she twirls around a lock of hair... (Hmm...is she familiar, or not...?)
[22:58]	* [Pyg]Judith	finds her way to Phrine on the bridge.
[23:00]	<[Owen]Phrine>	"Oh, Mom. Hi. Do we know her?"
[23:00]	* [Owen]Phrine	asks innocently.
[23:00]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"...I do."
[23:00]	* [Pyg]Judith	grips the side of the bridge thinking up of what to do.
[23:02]	<[Owen]Phrine>	"Oohh...does that mean we gots to save her or something...? She looks in trouble, I guess..."
[23:02]	<[GM]Mary>	Judith & Phrine: The man becomes more frightening in his accusations, using examples of what might happen to people he knows in the crowd. Their xenophobia is beginning to pick up, as testimonies of strangeness and wickedness are called out from the crowd. The speaker uses this to his advantage, instilling fear into the horde. Some remain unconvinced and return to their homes.
[23:02]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"We could, but..."
[23:03]	* [Pyg]Judith	turns to Phrine with a serious expression.
[23:04]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"...You have to promise that the Boss doesn't know about this."
[23:05]	* [Owen]Phrine	leans against the stone railing, looking at the scene below, thinking...
[23:07]	<[Owen]Phrine>	"...but I'm huu-ungry, Mom. Aren't you? It'd be real hard-like, hard like this bridge."
[23:07]	* [Owen]Phrine	taps the stones for emphasis.
[23:08]	<[Owen]Phrine>	"Can't we just...I dunno, save her later? She'll still be there, right~?"
[23:09]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"I don't think so. It looks like they're getting ready to get rid off her anytime now."
[23:11]	* [Owen]Phrine	stares blankly for a while, as she often does. She comprehends perfectly, she's just...a little slow.
[23:11]	<[Owen]Phrine>	"...............oh."
[23:11]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"...Damn."
[23:12]	<[GM]Mary>	P&J: One of the men tie a cloth over her head, not minding her neck much.
[23:12]	* [Pyg]Judith	still can't think of a solution that would ensure success. Alerting this town to a paranormal presence would only make it harder for the coven to blend in and hide.
[23:13]	<[Owen]Phrine>	"Awww, and Sheppy said we're supposed to be all subtle and stuff..."
[23:13]	<[GM]Mary>	Judith: from your point of view, the only eyes on her are are those of her two captors. It seems whatever defense she has given the townsfolk is already over.
[23:15]	* [Pyg]Judith	sees the young woman now out of sight from the rest of the mob, and the gears in her head start turning.
[23:15]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Phrine..."
[23:16]	<[Owen]Phrine>	"......Mom."
[23:16]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"You see those two men behind the platform?"
[23:16]	* [Pyg]Judith	tries to point it out for Phrine.
[23:17]	* [Owen]Phrine	bobs her head twice, trying to be all serious.
[23:19]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Do you think you can get back there somehow and keep them busy while I take another way?"
[23:19]	<[Owen]Phrine>	"Like...talk to 'em and stuff...?"
[23:20]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"There's that, but you can also lead one of them away from there somehow and make them a meal."
[23:21]	* [Owen]Phrine	thinks about that proposition for a while.
[23:21]	<[Owen]Phrine>	"Ooo, maybe I could do BOTH~..."
[23:22]	<[Owen]Phrine>	"But I still gotta be sub-tell, like Sheppy said, right?"
[23:23]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Right, right."
[23:26]	<[Owen]Phrine>	"Should I, ummm....say anything important? It's been a while since I've had to be all sneaky, I guess..."
[23:26]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"What did you have in mind?"
[23:28]	<[Owen]Phrine>	"Well, umm...maybe if I told them I was, like, a vampire or something, they'd go after me and not her?"
[23:28]	* [Owen]Phrine	has not considered the complications that may cause, but at least she's trying!
[23:29]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Hmm, they might not believe you."
[23:29]	* [Owen]Phrine	points to her hat.
[23:30]	<[Owen]Phrine>	"What about these~?"
[23:30]	* [Pyg]Judith	quickly checks the area behind the platform to make sure the young woman and the two men are still there then returns her attention back to Phrine.
[23:30]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"They'll think you came back from a costume ball."
[23:32]	* [Owen]Phrine	sighs. It seems silly, but Mom is pretty smart most of the time.
[23:33]	<[Owen]Phrine>	"Well, I guess I'll do...somethin', then. Maybe we should hurry, right?"
[23:33]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Yeah, you're right."
[23:36]	* [Owen]Phrine	gives Judith a little hug for good luck.
[23:37]	* [Pyg]Judith	quickly returns the hug and smiles at her.
[23:37]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Don't forget, stay subtle, all right?"
[23:39]	<[Owen]Phrine>	"Don't worry, Mo-om...I'm not gonna be that stupid. Well, I won't try to be..."
[23:41]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"I know you won't, don't worry."
[23:45]	* [Owen]Phrine	breaks off from the hug, and wanders off in a roundabout way away from the bridge and towards the prisoner, trying to figure out things to say...
[23:46]	* [Pyg]Judith	heads toward the other direction, trying to find a way to get around the crowd and get behind the platform without being seen.
[23:52]	<[GM]Mary>	Judith: The bank lowers at the creek the bridge crosses, so if you stay within range of the shrubbery you can lower your profile while keeping eyes off your back from the other side of the bridge. Most of the attention rests on the speaker, so it's quite simple.
[23:52]	* [Owen]Phrine	experiences no amazing epiphanies in her wispy head, and decides to just play it cool, like usual. She silently glides up to the three humans from the side, tilting her head as if watching an interesting play.
[23:56]	* [Pyg]Judith	spots the area by the creek and quickly moves to the shrubs to conceal herself.
[23:57]	* [Owen]Phrine	starts nibbling on her fingernail as she moves a few steps to the side, getting a better view of the situation. To an outside observer, she seems to be trying to understand just what's going on.
[23:59]	<[GM]Mary>	Phrine: One of the men shoo you away, telling you to go back to your home.
[00:00]	<[Owen]Phrine>	"Ummm...hi. I'm Hilda. Whatchya doin'?"
[00:00]	* [Owen]Phrine	is unperturbed.
[00:02]	<[GM]Mary>	Man1: "I told you to get back home, kid. Can't you see we're about to have a hanging? P-hah, such things are no good for your eyes in the first place."
[00:04]	<[Owen]Phrine>	"Hey, I'm pretty old, mister, you know? And I see dead people all the time; this isn't scary. But...I think you're doing it wrong. Actually, no...yeah, you're totally doing it wrong..."
[00:05]	<[GM]Mary>	The woman shakes again, saying something inaudibly through the sack over her head. The second man silences her.
[00:05]	* [Pyg]Judith	moves out of the shrubbery, toward the young woman, her body somewhat crouched.
[00:06]	* [Owen]Phrine	tries to console the woman in her odd way.
[00:06]	<[Owen]Phrine>	"Don't worry, Miss Witch. You're not gonna die. See, these people? They're doing it all wrong."
[00:07]	* [Pyg]Judith	stops herself before going out any further and retreats to her cover.
[00:08]	<[GM]Mary>	Man1: "What're you rambling about? You best not let Reudi here you say such things, or else you'll be in the same predicament! Now out with you!
[00:09]	* [Owen]Phrine	holds out her hands passively, trying to be polite.
[00:10]	<[Owen]Phrine>	"Hey, I'm jus' sayin', you can't hang a witch. It wouldn't work."
[00:10]	<[GM]Mary>	The first man takes Phrine by the shoulders and begins pushing her out of the staging area. Sort of like, walking her like a cart.
[00:10]	<[GM]Mary>	Man1: "Well, perhaps we'll burn her in time. Now out you go!"
[00:10]	* [Pyg]Judith	moves in now to sneak up to the second man left behind.
[00:12]	* [Owen]Phrine	worms around in the man's grasp, but to little avail.
[00:12]	<[Owen]Phrine>	"Bu-ut I'm not done yet...Burning doesn't work either these days, don't you know?"
[00:14]	<[GM]Mary>	The man with Phrine discusses it playfully.
[00:15]	* [Pyg]Judith	reaches the two undetected. Once close enough, strikes the man in the back of the head.
[00:17]	* [Owen]Phrine	is oblivious to the situation behind her.
[00:17]	<[Owen]Phrine>	"Witches use demons, ri-ight? And demons are from hell, ri-ight? And hell is made of fire, ri-ight? So that means witches won't burn..."
[00:18]	<[Owen]Phrine>	"It's...ohhh...isn't is called, like, logic, or something? I forget..."
[00:18]	<[GM]Mary>	The one holding the young woman didn't even see it coming, and quickly falls over.
[00:20]	<[Owen]Phrine>	"So anyways, yeah, burning is right out. Witches are pretty hard to kill these days. Do it wrong and they'll just get mad and curse you~"
[00:22]	<[GM]Mary>	Man1: That's why we drop 'em in the lake tied to rocking chairs! Even if they live, they're stuck at the bottom of the water. Burning 'em's just for fun. Hangin' is just cheaper.
[00:22]	* YoungWoman	enngh...
[00:22]	<[Owen]Phrine>	"Oh, drowning? I think that only works for vampires, mister. Not that I would know~..."
[00:22]	* YoungWoman	shakes herself, after falling to the ground on her knees. She still has a bag tied around her head, and her arms are constricted behind her back.
[00:23]	* [Owen]Phrine	deftly skirts the border of subtlety and conspicuousness with such a vampiric remark! What skill!
[00:24]	<[GM]Mary>	Man1: "I'm telling you, girlie, keep sayin' those things and they'll call witchcraft on you as well. It's a sorry thing we're doing right now, but stranger things are on the rise..."
[00:24]	<[GM]Mary>	Phrine: He inspects you more closely.
[00:25]	<[GM]Mary>	Man1: "...Who's daughter are you, anyway? I've not seen the likes of you about here."
[00:25]	* [Owen]Phrine	shrugs.
[00:26]	<[Owen]Phrine>	"Dunno. I grew up in an orphanage. So I guess I'm no one's daughter, right?"
[00:27]	* [Pyg]Judith	crouches by the young woman, laying a hand on her shoulder. She whispers...
[00:27]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Shh, don't panic. You'll be fine. Just stay still for a minute, all right?"
[00:28]	<YoungWoman>	?...
[00:29]	* YoungWoman	stops for a moment, then quickly springs back, running herself into part of the platform. She seems to recognize the voice.
[00:33]	<[GM]Mary>	No one notices the sound she made.
[00:34]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"What did I just tell you about not panicking?"
[00:34]	<[GM]Mary>	However, she keeps trying to shake herself up from the ground, though to little avail due to clumsiness and lack of coordination.
[00:35]	* [Owen]Phrine	catches sight of Judith and the woman from the corner of her eye. Oh! Must keep man occupied!
[00:37]	<[Owen]Phrine>	"Hey, mister-sir? Since I'm got nowhere to stay tonight...m-maybe, I could stay with you~?"
[00:38]	<[Owen]Phrine>	"I mean, I don't got no money, but...well, I'm a good helper, and I could teach you how to kill witches and stuff..."
[00:38]	<[GM]Mary>	The man, easily twice your (apparent) age, looks at you a little sideways and blushes.
[00:38]	* [Pyg]Judith	grabs the girl's shoulders.
[00:39]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"You calm down right now or I'll leave you to a witch's death."
[00:39]	* YoungWoman	struggles anyway.
[00:40]	* [Owen]Phrine	nods meekly and hushes up, looking pitiably obedient to the man.
[00:40]	<[GM]Mary>	Man1: "Wh-aat? You be of a crazy sort, girlie. Do ya truly haven't a place to stay?"
[00:40]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"I was hoping I'd let you loose, but I think I can thank the cattle for making this easier for me."
[00:40]	* [Pyg]Judith	grabs the young woman and slings her over her shoulder.
[00:41]	* [Owen]Phrine	shakes her head.
[00:41]	<[GM]Mary>	Man1: "You certainly don't look homeless, though I can see you're... lacking in winter clothes. You'll catch a death of cold, like that!"
[00:41]	* [Owen]Phrine	blushes. She's forgotten how odd her clothes look to normal people. Tatty indecent brown things...
[00:42]	<[Owen]Phrine>	"Yeah, it's...it's been a weird last few days for me. Loo~ong story..."
[00:45]	* [Pyg]Judith	looks over at the unconscious second man she knocked out. Hmm, we could make a meal out of him, she thinks.
[00:45]	<[GM]Mary>	Man1: "Hmm. Well, I hate to tell ya, but I gotta stay here until this... punk is done with his little charade. She's gonna get her hand branded, at least, for stealin' from the governor's office."
[00:46]	<[GM]Mary>	Man1: "Hopefully none more of it than that will happen. It's a sorry thing to see these young ladies wasted over superstitions."
[00:48]	* [Owen]Phrine	stumbles upon an idea! Maybe it'll work...
[00:49]	<[Owen]Phrine>	"Well, maybe we could play it safe and brand her with a cross or something. If she's a witch, I bet she wouldn't like thaa-aat..."
[00:52]	<[GM]Mary>	Phrine: The man shakes his head, and pats yours with the hat on top, narrowly missing a touch of your horns.
[00:52]	* [Owen]Phrine	squirms at first, but...hey, that feels pretty good.
[00:52]	<[GM]Mary>	Man1: "Don't believe such things, sweetheart."
[00:54]	* [Owen]Phrine	nods politely.
[00:54]	<[Owen]Phrine>	"I, I'll try not to. It's just...you can never tell when there's monsters in the dark or not, can you?"
[00:55]	<[GM]Mary>	Man1: "Any-way, Art is probably wantin' my help, that little girl has a bit of fight in her. I better get back to m' job. What did you say your name was again?"
[00:57]	<[Owen]Phrine>	"Oh, Hilda, I guess. I never really liked it much myself. What's yours?"
[00:57]	* [Pyg]Judith	crouches down to grab the unconscious man and drags him away with the young woman still slung across her shoulder. Come on, Phrine, keep him busy a little more for Mom...
[00:58]	<[GM]Mary>	Man1: "Gunther. If you're really out on the streets, come to that grey house over there by the grocer's and I'll see what I can do for ya."
[00:59]	* [Owen]Phrine	notices the vague crowd nearby and gets an idea. Come on Mom, don't take too long...
[01:00]	<[Owen]Phrine>	"A-A-actually, could we...go there right now? It's just...I think some of those men over there are looking at me funny. I'm getting a little scared."
[01:00]	<[GM]Mary>	Gunther: "What? Who?"
[01:01]	<[GM]Mary>	Gunther doesn't look pleased at this fact, with his eyes darting to certain people in the crowd.
[01:01]	* [Owen]Phrine	points to the vague crowd of people nearby. She's taking a guess that at least a few men might find her state of dress...intriguing.
[01:04]	<[GM]Mary>	Gunther hmmms silently.
[01:05]	<[GM]Mary>	Gunther: "...Well, my first and foremost duty is to protect the people..."
[01:09]	* [Pyg]Judith	brings her two captives along with her back to the shrubberies taking turn to go follow along the stream.
[01:11]	<[GM]Mary>	Gunther: "...but, unfortunately, I'm assigned to this character for now. Just stay where I can see you, sweetheart, and we should be done in an hour or so."
[01:12]	* [Owen]Phrine	inwardly snaps her fingers. Drat, didn't work! Time for plan B!
[01:13]	<[GM]Mary>	Gunther turns around to return to his station, but stops for a second when he notices the two are gone. He curses something about Art under his breath, and briskly walks behind the platform, checking its surroundings.
[01:13]	* YoungWoman	struggles some more, but to no avail. She's having a hard time breathing with the sackcloth over her head.
[01:14]	* [Owen]Phrine	remains close to Gunther, helping him search for the "two" disappeared people.
[01:15]	<[Owen]Phrine>	"B-B-But...they were just here...and now...poof..."
[01:16]	* [Owen]Phrine	acts more vaguely surprised rather than afraid of "witchcraft".
[01:16]	<[GM]Mary>	Gunther: "argh! Arthur is such a pig! I know what he's done with her, and I am going to beat some good into him when I catch him!"
[01:17]	* [Pyg]Judith	stops a moment while she's under the bridge with her load. She can't stay here long, but there's a problem that needs to be addressed.
[01:17]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Hey, girl, can you breathe in that thing?"
[01:17]	<[Owen]Phrine>	"But what.......oooohh..."
[01:18]	* [Owen]Phrine	takes a while to realize what Arthur would have "done" with her.
[01:18]	<[GM]Mary>	Gunther: "Arthur! Where the hell are you, you bastard?"
[01:20]	* YoungWoman	still shakes, but shakes in a no-ish fashion.
[01:24]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Will you settle down if I take it off your head?"
[01:25]	* YoungWoman	stops struggling, but still breathes heavily.
[01:25]	<[GM]Mary>	Gunther looks behind the bushes and around the bank, but still no sign of Arthur.
[01:27]	* [Pyg]Judith	sets the young woman down.
[01:28]	* [Owen]Phrine	makes an innocent suggestion to Gunther.
[01:29]	<[Owen]Phrine>	"Umm, wouldn't Mr. Art have gone somewhere else if he wanted to 'have done' with the one lady? I'd think he wouldn't want to get found out, right?"
[01:30]	* [Pyg]Judith	lets a bat out of her hair sending it to keep an eye out on Phrine from a distance.
[01:30]	<[GM]Mary>	Gunther: "Hmm? Why? Would you have any idea as to where?"
[01:32]	<[Owen]Phrine>	"It...it's just an idea, is all. I mean, when you're being sneaky, you'd want to hide somewhere good and secret, is all..."
[01:33]	<[Owen]Phrine>	"There's not many good and secret places around here that I can see...what do you think?"
[01:33]	* [Pyg]Judith	returns her attention to the young woman she just set down after sending the bat on its way. She undoes the rope on the sack and pulls it off the young woman's head.
[01:34]	<[GM]Mary>	Gunther: "Hmm... What about under the bridge?"
[01:34]	<[GM]Mary>	Gunther returns to the bank, peering over at it.
[01:37]	<[Owen]Phrine>	"Hmm...maybe. But...what if he is? I mean...he'd get mad at you, right?"
[01:38]	<[Owen]Phrine>	"Maybe I could check first. I mean...I'm just that girl who's curious to him, aren't I~?"
[01:39]	<[GM]Mary>	Phrine: Gunther looks at you disdainfully.
[01:40]	<[GM]Mary>	Gunther: "This wouldn't have been a problem if I weren't a listenin' to your chattering! Now leave me alone, I've got to go find him."
[01:41]	* [Owen]Phrine	feels scorned. Oh well, so much for that. She unobtrusively makes herself scarce from him.
[01:42]	* [Pyg]Judith	noticing someone's presence thanks to her bat brings a finger to the young woman's lips.
[01:43]	* YoungWoman	gasps for a breath of air after her release, then she looks up at Judith with a strange look in her eyes, one that's somewhere between fear and fascination.
[01:43]	<YoungWoman>	It's... you...
[01:44]	* [Pyg]Judith	gives the girl a quick smile and nod before returning to their current predicament.
[01:45]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"I won't have time to cut your ropes, so you'll just have to trust me and stay close, unless you'd prefer a one way trip to the gallows.
[01:45]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"
[01:45]	<YoungWoman>	W-why are you helping me...?
[01:47]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Let's just say I'm feeling a little responsible. Anyway, come on, on your feet. We have to get going."
[01:49]	* YoungWoman	slowly nods, making it to her feet.
[01:51]	<[GM]Mary>	Judith: Gunther's footsteps begin to become audible. Phrine has left to some unknown location, as there are none accompanying his.
[01:53]	* [Pyg]Judith	picks up knocked out man and starts moving down the stream trying to keep quiet but also picking up the pace.
[02:00]	<[GM]Mary>	Gunther manages to slip somehow and drop himself into the stream. He curses, something about his night vision.
[02:02]	* YoungWoman	follows Judith.
[02:02]	<YoungWoman>	W-...what are you going to do with that man...?
[02:02]	* YoungWoman	asks, fearing what she may tell her.
[02:03]	* [Pyg]Judith	heaves a sigh at the opportunity they had been giving. She hotfoots it down the stream toward an alley.
[02:04]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"I just needed some insurance so the suspicion would fall on a mere human."
[02:05]	* YoungWoman	doesn't seem to understand.
[02:07]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Okay, how about like this? Who would be blamed for your disappearance if one of the two men assigned to keep an eye on your was also gone?"
[02:08]	* YoungWoman	slowly nods.
[02:09]	<[GM]Mary>	Judith: after traveling the stream for a few dozen yards, you reach a stone base that leads up to some of the town's buildings. There's a shoddy section of steps leading up between two of them, an empty alleyway.
[02:11]	* [Pyg]Judith	lays the man by the wall, realizing she still has the sack in her hand. She's struck with an idea and puts the sack over the man's head.
[02:12]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Hey, come here so I can take those ropes off."
[02:13]	* YoungWoman	looks at Judith inquisitively, but does as she's told, showing her back.
[02:16]	* [Pyg]Judith	unties the rope, releasing the young woman's hands and gets to work binding the unconscious man's hands.
[02:17]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"You seem to have gotten into a lot of trouble with the townsfolk..."
[02:17]	<YoungWoman>	y-Yeah...
[02:17]	* YoungWoman	grasps at her wrists, rubbed a little raw from the rope.
[02:18]	<YoungWoman>	They think... I'm one of you. Because I'm the only one who came back.
[02:19]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"I heard, and I apologize for bringing their anger down on you."
[02:19]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Would you have rather I bit you back then?"
[02:20]	* [Pyg]Judith	secures the rope on the man's hands as she speaks.
[02:20]	* YoungWoman	's gaze goes distant.
[02:21]	<YoungWoman>	...What difference does it make? You've cursed me, all the same. That's why you're here, aren't you? To take me back?
[02:21]	* YoungWoman	speaks quietly, carefully.
[02:24]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"I just thought I'd help...I did put you in this situation after all."
[02:25]	<YoungWoman>	You're a strange creature... First, you seize me...
[02:26]	* YoungWoman	's hand goes to her chest, touching the breast she recalls Judith rubbing over that night.
[02:26]	<YoungWoman>	...and now, you save me... why?
[02:28]	* [Pyg]Judith	smiles bitterly at herself.
[02:28]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Strange... Yeah, strange sounds about right."
[02:29]	<[GM]Mary>	Judith: You become aware of shadows making their way from the other end of the alleyway, followed by the shadowmakers. The area you're in is too dark to notice from this distance, but if they continue to close, they'll surely see you.
[02:30]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Damn it, where'd they come from?"
[02:30]	* [Pyg]Judith	snaps out of her introspection and gets up, picking up the still-unconscious man.
[02:31]	* YoungWoman	blinks at Judith's answer, before turning to see the people coming their way. Knowingly, she maneuvers to the corner, towards the backdoor of a small shop.
[02:31]	* YoungWoman	tries the handle, but it's locked.
[02:32]	<YoungWoman>	...damn... Hey, do you have any pins or something like that?
[02:33]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Huh? Oh...uh..."
[02:34]	* [Pyg]Judith	is caught off guard by the young woman's question. Couldn't she have run away? Bah, no use thinking that now! Judith takes one of the pins that hold her headband in place, holding it out to the young woman.
[02:35]	* YoungWoman	takes it, and with great speed, picks the door's lock and slips inside, holding it open to Judith.
[02:36]	* [Pyg]Judith	's has a brief look of confusion on her face but realizes that escape is top priority and enters the doorway.
[02:37]	* YoungWoman	shuts it behind her, locking it again and crouching down to lower her profile from window's view.
[02:38]	* [Pyg]Judith	also stays down when she sets the man down on the floor.
[02:40]	<[GM]Mary>	The building seems to be a craftsman's shop of some sorts, with a variety of wood works and tools about. You find yourself sitting behind a counter, the wall across from yours bearing the main entrance and a staircase leading up to living quarters to the east of that.
[02:47]	<YoungWoman>	whew...
[02:51]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Looks like it's my turn to be surprised. You could have fled and left me behind."
[02:52]	<YoungWoman>	Well, it's obvious that you won't kill me. I don't know about the rest, so...
[02:54]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"True."
[02:54]	* YoungWoman	's mind wanders back to that night.
[02:55]	* [Pyg]Judith	finally takes a seat, catching her breath.
[02:55]	<YoungWoman>	...what did you do to me when you had me in the castle? Was that some sort of spell? it felt so...
[02:56]	* YoungWoman	trails off again.
[02:58]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"You know, I don't remember anymore. I've been doing it for so many years that I don't think I'm conscious of it anymore."
[02:59]	* YoungWoman	peers at Judith, inspecting her more closely.
[02:59]	<YoungWoman>	Are you really a... "vampire"?
[03:02]	* [Pyg]Judith	looks as if she is seriously pondering the question.
[03:05]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"I suppose I am."
[03:05]	<YoungWoman>	You 'suppose'? Give me a break...
[03:07]	* YoungWoman	sighs sadly, pulling up her knees and lying her face across them.
[03:10]	* [Pyg]Judith	realizes she's sitting against a china cabinet and gets up on her feet, looking at the glass that doesn't reflect her image. She reaches out, touching the surface of the glass as if it might even reflect her hand for even an instant.
[03:10]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"...Yes, I am a 'vampire.'"
[03:12]	* YoungWoman	looks up.
[03:12]	<YoungWoman>	Why?
[03:14]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Why am I a vampire?"
[03:14]	* YoungWoman	nods.
[03:17]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"I'm over two centuries old, little one, you think I'd still remember something like that?"
[03:17]	* YoungWoman	nods.
[03:23]	* [Pyg]Judith	shrugs.
[03:23]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Then I'm afraid you're mistaken."
[03:25]	<YoungWoman>	Just a devil's child, huh...
[03:26]	<YoungWoman>	...why didn't turn me back there? You could have killed me, but you let me live...
[03:27]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Back to that, eh?"
[03:27]	* [Pyg]Judith	sits back down, leaning her back onto the cabinet.
[03:28]	<YoungWoman>	I haven't slept in two days... That's all I've been able to think about.
[03:29]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Oh? My charms have affected you so much that you're lacking sleep?"
[03:30]	* [Pyg]Judith	chuckles softly to herself before her mind returns to thinking about the question she managed to temporarily avoid.
[03:33]	* YoungWoman	blushes a little, looking down.
[03:34]	<YoungWoman>	I guess you could say that... But I've been in trouble before I met you. I..sorta...got...caught... stealing stuff... and I had to accompany the group to the castle as punishment. They wanted me to open some of the doors for them, I guess...
[03:37]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Ah, so they're just looking for any old excuse to put you down."
[03:38]	<YoungWoman>	Well... They're justified, aren't they? A lot of people were killed that night... and now you're here.
[03:38]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"They haven't seen me yet, you know."
[03:40]	<YoungWoman>	I could go out the door and shout... but you'd probably just turn into moondust or something like that.
[03:41]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"And that would certainly look bad for you. Hmhmhm, I suppose being a vampire is not without some conveniences."
[03:43]	<YoungWoman>	What're you going to do now?
[03:44]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"I'm waiting for my child."
[03:45]	<YoungWoman>	Your... child?
[03:45]	* [Pyg]Judith	nods.
[03:46]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"I was worried she had wandered off, but it looks like she's on her way toward us now."
[03:47]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"...She's taking the long way 'round though. Aah, I suppose it can't be helped."
[03:52]	<YoungWoman>	How can you have a child? You hardly look that much older than me... and aren't you a centuries-old demon or something? You'd outlive all your children, unless... oh.
[03:52]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Hmm?"
[03:53]	* [Pyg]Judith	seems a little curious of what else the young woman was going to say.
[03:53]	* YoungWoman	looks uneasy.
[03:53]	<YoungWoman>	Did... you turn your child into a vampire too?
[03:54]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Oh no, I met her a few decades ago."
[03:57]	<YoungWoman>	...huh... must be something, to live so long...
[03:57]	* YoungWoman	seems to numb more and more, becoming less responsive.
[03:58]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"I'm still a woman after all. My maternal instincts had to kick in sometime."
[03:59]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"And as the one responsible for turning her, of course I'd think of her as sort of my own child."
[04:02]	<YoungWoman>	I see... I guess...
[04:04]	<[GM]Mary>	shadowy figures pass by the store's windows, sending the woman silent. Once they disappear, she resumes.
[04:06]	<YoungWoman>	Well... I could spend all night asking you questions, but I guess it won't do me any good. I don't know what I'm gonna do now, though...
[04:07]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Hmm, that's right, I have to find a place for us to stay as well..."
[04:10]	* YoungWoman	shuffles around, putting herself under the counter.
[04:11]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Does anyone own this shop?"
[04:12]	<YoungWoman>	Yeah... They're probably sleeping upstairs.
[04:12]	<YoungWoman>	I'm going to stay here for a little while longer... then I guess I'll try to get out of town. What're you going to do?
[04:14]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"We should be gone before sun rises."
[04:16]	<YoungWoman>	Really...
[04:16]	* YoungWoman	looks ready to fall asleep, but she does perk up a bit one final time.
[04:17]	<YoungWoman>	You asked me my name before...
[04:17]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"I did."
[04:18]	<YoungWoman>	It's Josephine.
[04:19]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Josephine..."
[04:19]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Well, a pleasure to meet you, Josephine."
[04:19]	* Josephine	closes her eyes, cradling her knees once more.
[04:21]	<Josephine>	Yeah...
[04:22]	<Josephine>	It's so... unreal...
[04:22]	* [Pyg]Judith	remains vigil keeping an eye out on the window, for the residents upstairs and for Phrine to finally arrive.
[04:24]	<[GM]Mary>	Fade out!