The Giant | Drew Schhultz

When you first arrived on the grounds, you were told about the basic layout of the area. The head gardener stood on a short ladder and spoke out to the entire search party before they split up.

The Richmond’s grounds were formidable to say the least; the Richmonds owned at least five acres of the land behind Proudspire Manor, with a majority of the land being untouched forest. The area is largely set up by sectors, depending on their cardinal direction.

The northern sector is the only non-forest sector of the grounds. It’s the sector that lies directly behind the manor as the “backyard”. The massive garden was beautiful, especially covered in the white powdered snow. A few of the bushes were covered in thick green blankets to protect them from the killing frost. The center fountain was turned off, but not yet frozen over, just the top surface layer had begun to freeze. To the left was a large greenhouse, the glass dome fogged up from the temperature difference. Next to the greenhouse was a small shed-like house with fresh cut logs and gardening tools out front.

The western sector is often denoted as the river sector, as there is a small stream that passes through it into a small pond. This sector, like the south and the east, is mostly made up of forest and has a very rough terrain. You should certainly watch your step here. Not only is it easy to misplace your steps, wild animals tend to enjoy drinking from the stream, or catching a small fish from the pond.

The southern sector is a newly added sector of the Richmond grounds. Originally the sector was bought by a housing development company to create a new neighborhood. However, Seeing the neighborhood as a threat to their peace and quiet, the Richmond’s bought the land from the company to cease production. A couple of houses and foundations remain unfinished in this sector and is forbidden by the parents. Naturally, it was not off limits for the game.

The eastern sector has a much higher-density forest area than all the other sectors. Trees and bushes clump together to obstruct pathways and vision. You have been told that there is an old shack out in this sector, but that’s it. There’s not a lot of information on this sector at this time.

The sent you have been tracking seems to point to every sector, with the strongest coming from the northern sector. But each sector has plenty of good hiding spots and dangers along with it. Should you forge deeper into the woods? Or perhaps ask the gardener more about these places? The choice is yours, just remember,

Notes:
Due to confusion on how DM'ed threads work, the Rules of Engagement have been updated to further set down the rules.

"You don’t talk much, do you mister?”

Penelope spoke as they trenched through the thick forest. “Look, If you’re gonna help me find the twerp you need to at least give me your name.” When the giant complied, Penelope would respond with a “Well Mister ‘Drew’, you need to learn how to speak properly and regularly. That’s what my Daddy always says.” However, If Drew decided to ignore her, either grunting her off or just flat out remaining silent, she would stop dead in her tracks putting on a pouting face. “Hmmph! I’m not moving one more step until You tell me your name.” and stand there she would pouting with her arms crossed over her chest until he complied. Clearly, Penelope was not one to take “No” for an answer.

When they finally got to the shack, Penelope naturally began to walk up to the entrance. As Drew blocked her path, she’d put on her pouting face again. The five of them always came to the shack to play. Every one of them has hid there before and often. So much was clear from the scents that lingered. Five distinct scents still hung in the air, two of which stood right behind drew. The strongest one, however, was not one of those.

The girl let out a sigh at the request. “There’s no way Jonny’s in there.” She said, placing her hands on her waist. “This was where Richie was hiding. And there’s no way that little twerp managed to change hiding spots without being caught. He’s not very good at that.” Her shoulders relaxed and her eyes grew dark, shifting their gaze to the ground. “But Fine, I’ll humor you.” He cupped her hands around her mouth and shouted at the shack “JONNY THE GAME’S OVER YOU TWERP! GET YOUR BUTT OUT HERE OR YOUR PARENTS WILL GROUND YOU TIL YOU’RE A HUNDRED!”

There was a tiny noise that came from the shack, but it didn’t seem like a child-like noise, Perhaps a small animal? But overall the shack remained quietly creaking in the wind. It appears that if there was anything hiding inside, you’d have to actually go in to find out.

“See Mr. Drew, He’s not here.” Penelope said with a toss of her hair, “That would have scared the pants off the little sissy. He would have come crying out of the shack in a heartbeat.” She took a hand and began to wipe some of the falling snow off her shoulder. “What now?”

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The door was stiff at first; enough that drew needed to put an abnormally high amount of effort to open it. But when it finally did give way the door opened with a loud bang. The source of the difficulty wasn’t hard to find, as a medium-sized cabinet seemed to have fallen in front of the door.

Looking around he could see the layout far more clearly. The inner room held an old rusted wooden stove to the left unlit and frosted over. There was a broken down sofa, and what looked to be an old table with long mice eaten table clothing. Strange odd and end trinkets scattered the old home. In the back there rested a small sink and at least five different cabinet doors blow the sink and three above; One above having been opened with the skeletal remains of a bird who lost their battle against the cold. To the left was an open doorway with broken hinges. Inside there rested an unused moldy bed, a closet, and a trunk at the foot of the bed. Long curtains rested spread out at the window, ripped and torn.

There were no photos of a family, nothing to suggest a personal connection to the shack. It was clear that this place was used as a hide out or a safe house at some point, enough to live but not much else.

As drew looked around the floors would creek. Making sure that anyone within the shack would know he was there. And as he grew closer to the bedroom he could hear the slight scurrying of something coming from the trunk. Upon investigation the scurrying grew more frantic with each creak of the floorboards. The stench in the room smelled like wet fur and mold, blocking out many other scents.

“Richie was hiding in that trunk”

Penelope’s voice was sudden; amazingly the child didn’t make the floor creak as Drew did. She stood there almost half hidden behind the door frame with her arms crossed but the slight hint of nervousness in her eyes. If Drew said anything about telling her to stay outside, she’d reply with a haughty “You don’t tell me what to do. Besides if anyone was in here the door would be the last way they’d leave after you burst through it.”

“However, after I found Richie here I know for sure we left that thing open…” her voice definitely had a note of uneasiness to it. She for sure didn’t believe that Johnny was here but she knew that something was.

If and when the Trunk would be opened, the sounds of scratching would reach to the point where the trunk began to move. And then Bursting from the lid came a very traumatized and ferocious raccoon. The creature jumped at Drew’s face with claws extended, ready to dig itself and bite into any flesh it can find.

This is seriously the only thing in the shed. Not much else to tell ya. Have fun with your raccoon.

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